Xiao Wang Manor
In the quiet and serene bedroom, the weak candle light flickered and dimmed. A wisp of green smoke wafted out from the incense burner, seeping into the woman's lungs.
"Shi Rou… Remember the first time we met? " Xiao Jin Feng lovingly hugged his wife, his eyes as bright as the stars!
"You little thief…" The girl in his embrace had an extremely beautiful face. Her cherry lips were gently parted with a hint of a smile in them, causing others to feel a sense of familiarity with her. However, her face was a bit too pale, which didn't hinder her beauty.
"It was your handkerchief that scraped against my armor... However… I am truly thankful to the heavens that I have the honour to meet you… From the first glance, I knew that you were the woman I had been searching for all my life..." Xiao Jin Feng's hands tightened their grip as his handsome face pressed against Chu Shi Rou's silky-smooth hair. His heart was in so much pain!
"Senior Feng… A Eunuch from the palace came today to deliver an imperial edict?" Her gentle voice was mixed with a faint sense of curiosity. Chu Shirou struggled to turn her body and looked at Xiao Jin Feng!
"Mm... It's nothing serious. It's just a compliment of my achievements in the battlefield…" Xiao Lingfeng casually said. When his gaze met Chu Shirou's eyes, it spilled a layer of deep affection!
"The emperor bestowed you a marriage… It was the Third Princess… Right? " A hint of desolation flashed in Chu Shirou's eyes. Who in this world wouldn't care about such news?
"Is it abominable?" The clear and cold voice had a hint of displeasure, but it was still as soft as before, as if it was afraid that the slightest bit of heaviness would scare the beloved wife in his arms!
"I ask you not to blame her... Actually, I find it comforting... My illness is about to reach its end. If there is a girl who can continue taking care of you in my stead, then I can leave in peace…" Although she couldn't bear to let go of him, Chu Shirou knew that her time was almost up and she wouldn't be able to accompany Xiao Jin Feng for the rest of his life. She didn't blame him, but it was already a great favor to be Xiao Jin Feng's wife once in a lifetime.
Xiao Jin Feng's hand tightened around Chu Shi Rou's shoulders, a resolute look in his eyes.
"Shi Rou… I won't let you leave me! Absolutely not! In this world, no one can take your place. Even if she is a Heavenly Immortal, I don't care about her. In my heart, you are my wife! I, Xiao Jin Feng, am only with you, no one can barge in again… I won't allow it either …" A thick palm slapped fiercely on his chest as Xiao Lingfeng poured out his endless love for his wife.
A single teardrop flowed down from Chu ShiRou's face into Xiao Jin Feng's hands. At this moment, it was completely silent. In such a large room, one could only hear their hearts beating rapidly.
There were still ten days until the marriage ceremony. To everyone, these ten days were like torture and training in hell, but the two of them were in tacit understanding. The pain was not limited to just ten days, what awaited them was an world-shattering calamity.
The Imperial Palace
The sky was still clear and bright, the clouds were unpredictable. The wind was blowing lightly, giving off a slight chill. The summer had already passed, and the autumn smell was getting stronger.
Ever since the imperial edict had been issued, Duan Moyan had practically been by Ling Ziyan's side every day, taking good care of her. The number of days they had together could be counted on one hand.
At this moment, Duan Mu Yan was carrying the medicinal soup she had just finished in the Imperial Hospital as she hastily walked back to the Jade Pear Palace with a solemn and heavy expression. Worry appeared in her eyes, and the instructions of Doctor Zheng Yu continuously echoed in her mind.
"Consort Li is already exhausted and is unable to hold on for half a month. Even if I do my best, I can only keep Imperial Consort alive for half a month… I hope that the Third Princess would prepare herself... During this period, Imperial Consort must not get agitated, otherwise… the Third Princess should know what will happen..."
Thinking of this, Duan Mu Yan lowered her gaze and quickened her pace. Her light green clothes fluttered in the wind as she fluttered her sleeves.
Without any warning, a figure appeared in front of Duan Mu Yan, causing her to retreat two steps in shock. She almost fell to the ground, but after calming her mind and confirming that the medicinal liquid in her hand had not spilled any medicine, she raised her gaze, and saw a woman of about the same age as her blocking her way!
The woman was in a jade-green water brocade dress and a jade-green smoke shirt outlining her tantalising body. Her head was adorned with a jade-green dragon headdress and a phoenix hairpin, her hair randomly decorated with few smooth-plump pearls. She appeared delicate and pretty yet luxurious!
The person before her looked unfamiliar, but her attire didn't resemble that of a maid. Duan Mu Yan couldn't help but speak, but she didn't have any intention of reprimanding her!
Noticing that the lady in front of her was rushing towards her, Duan Mu Yan couldn't help but pout her cherry lips as a gentle light flickered in her eyes.
"Excuse me…" Before she could finish her words, the woman had already raised her hand in front of Duan Mu Yan!
"Since I'm standing in front of you, I just want to tell you who I am, so you don't need to ask! You don't have to be courteous to me, because I won't be lenient to you either! " The woman's eyes turned cold, her gaze as cold as ice!
Duan Mu Yan silently pursed her lips, waiting for the opposite woman to say something shocking.
"My royal father is the current Heavenly Son, Duan Chen. My mother's wife is called Qin Yu Die! I, on the other hand, have just been conferred the title of the Seventh Princess of the Mo Dynasty — Duan Zitong! You must be very curious, why would the empress dowager send a decree saying that Qin Yu Die would never enter the palace gates and die in the Royal Tomb? Alright, let me tell you, because my mother passed away … Do you know what Immortal death means? Just dead! As for me, I was only accepted into the palace with my brother after the death of my mother's father! You're clear now?!" Her clear and cold voice was abnormally biting cold, and it seemed as if a thousand year old ice had condensed between her brows. Duan Zitong's eyes surged with a terrifying rage!
"You're Qin Yu Die's daughter …" Duan Mu Yan looked at the woman called Duan Zitong in astonishment. Her heart couldn't help but tightened; this woman was her father's daughter outside the palace, and in her father's heart, she should be the real princess.
"That's right!" I am Qin Yu Die's daughter! Not only that, I also know that you're Ling Ziyan's daughter, Duan Mu Yan. If it wasn't for your mother, who was a concubine that year, my brother and I wouldn't have been left behind and suffered so much. I hate my mother for not being able to see royal father even when she was about to die. It was all thanks to Ling Ziyan! Currently, Ling Ziyan is ill, and will not live for more than a few days. I, Duan Zitong, will place this debt on your head! Duan Mu Yan, listen up! From today onwards, I will not let you have a good life! However… I heard from the palace that you are going to get married and to become the side concubine of the King Qi… Tsk tsk!… For a princess to become someone's concubine... This is really unheard of. " Duan Zitong's cold gaze was like ice, each word containing ice!
"Are you done?" Duan Mu Yan's gaze was indifferent, and when she looked at Duan Zitong, there wasn't the slightest bit of emotion in her eyes! However, she was worried for her mother. She was afraid that her father would anger her mother because of Qin Yu Die's death. She wanted to return to the 'Jade Pear Palace'. She wanted to stay by her mother's side!
Thinking up to this point, Duan Mu Yan felt indescribably flustered and anxious. She really wanted to return to her mother's side, but she was stopped by Duan Zitong in the next second!
"You want to leave now? I haven't finished speaking yet!" The venomous gaze was mixed with deep hatred as Duan Zitong coldly looked at the soup in Duan Mu Yan's hand.