Half a month has passed again.
Yelyu Lie left on the day Lian Qiao arrived.
Lian Qiao diligently and without complaint took care of Yun Chunnuan, never uttering a word of grievance.
Yet every time she fell asleep, Lian Qiao would sit by her bed and shed tears silently.
That little fool, willing to risk her own life to bring a child into this world, a child belonging to her and the General.
Is it worth it?
Is it truly worth it?
But when she thought of herself, if He Lang returned and accepted her, they too could have a love child of their own, she might also... go all out...
On this day, Lian Qiao was pushing the small wheelchair Yelyu Lie had specially crafted for Yun Chunnuan, soaking up the sun at the doorway.
The man who had vanished for half a month finally returned, covered in dust and traveler’s weariness.
Yun Chunnuan was asleep in the wheelchair. Upon awakening, she saw someone she hadn’t seen for a long time.
For a moment, she thought she might be dreaming.
"Mother?"
Ayimu, her eyes filled with tears, crouched before the young girl, holding her hand, dry as twig, unable to speak a word through her sobs.
"Silly child... silly child..."
Yun Chunnuan’s belly was already six and a half months grown.
Covered with a thick quilt, without seeing her belly, her appearance would suggest she was gravely ill.
She was weary, endlessly weary every day.
Most of these days, she spent in slumber.
It’s good to sleep, sleep frees her from the physical torment.
Her sickly appearance made Yelyu Lie’s heart contract tightly; he even thought maybe time could rewind, and he would make a decisive decision regardless on that day.
"Is the child that important?"
Ayimu, a mother too, did not consider herself a great one who could sacrifice everything for her child.
Yet this child, pained her to silence.
The young girl gently nodded, "Mother, you shouldn’t have come, over at the King..."
"Are you silly or what! In this state, you’re still worried about others!"
The more sensible she was, the more Ayimu’s heart ached.
Clutching those emaciated hands, she gently embraced her, "Nuannuan need not fear, mother will deliver the baby, we won’t go through a normal birth, your body can’t take it."
A girl barely wounded months ago now facing the pain of childbirth, even a body as stout as a bull’s couldn’t withstand it.
Especially with her current condition...
"Grandmaster... hasn’t come?" Yun Chunnuan strained to lift her eyes toward the man she hadn’t seen for many days.
He stood there like a fool, not daring to approach, suppressing the redness in his eyes with all his might.
Thinking of that woman, Ayimu was full of ire, "No idea where she vanished to again! Nuannuan need not seek her, she can do it, mother also can, definitely won’t let you face any danger!"
Hasn’t come again.
Yun Chunnuan was a bit disappointed.
She longed to see Grandmaster, always believed that Grandmaster said she would save this disastrous world, wouldn’t let her simply perish.
The Storage Ring was given by her, now could all this be within her foresight?
Impossible to know...
She was so tired, she didn’t have the strength even to open her eyes.
*
Royal Palace
A man dressed in black night clothes, traversed the majestic Fengtian Hall, swept past the nine-stone steps, arriving at the splendid Palace of the Polestar.
This was the Imperial Study Room of the King of Bianliao, more rigorous in defense than any place in the palace.
The man in black moved as though in an empty space, entering Zhenghe Hall unfailingly, without encountering anyone.
Upon stepping into Zhenghe Hall, he straightened his creased clothes, bent over with head lowered, respectfully approaching the table.
He never lifted his head but distinguished accurately the direction of the King’s presence.
Bowing his hand, he said, "Report to the King, the illness of the General’s wife seems to worsen! Afraid she doesn’t have many days left!"
In front of the table, the middle-aged man holding a memorial paused momentarily, then slowly raised his head, "Where is the General?"
He seemed unsurprised that the Great Xia Princess had fallen ill.
"The General... left the mansion half a month ago, returned at midday." The black-clad man appeared extremely tense, his tall and robust figure trembling like a sieve, "Jifeng fast as Lightning, my subordinates were left behind at the border.
However, the General returned today, bringing back a woman, whose figure... resembles Ningxiang Hall..."
As the man in black spoke, the King of Bianliao abruptly raised his head, "She’s back?!"
The excited voice rang in his ears, the man in black dared to lift his head look over, "The woman wore a black robe, her face veiled in black, unable to see her appearance, but her figure, remarkably similar to the Lady.
My subordinates surmised, the General should have gone looking for..."
’Bang—’
A memorial slammed down on the man’s head, the King of Bianliao hooked his lips, teeth emitting a frigid scolding tone, "Useless thing! I require your speculations?"
The man in black shivered, his towering and muscular frame hastily kneeling down, "King stay calm! The General Mansion is heavily guarded, I could only make this deduction as I wasn’t able to gather information from within! Should I directly storm in with men?"
"With you?" the King of Bianliao laughed coldly, "Keep watching, don’t startle the snake. Utilizing the connection between you and my unfilial son... did you understand?"
"I understand!" The man in black had a troubled expression but still retreated respectfully.
The flickering candlelight, illuminating that stern and majestic face, appeared even more somber.
Eunuch Su, waiting by the side, dared not breathe loudly.
After a while, it was the King of Bianliao who spoke first, "That day, Imperial Physician Cui’s diagnosis was really just vertigo?"
Eunuch Su observed silently, now relayed the already prepared statement respectfully, "It was vertigo, but this servant finds Imperial Physician Cui’s response a bit odd, seemingly avoiding me deliberately.
Afterwards, Imperial Physician Cui visited several times, each prescription was to treat vertigo symptoms."
The King of Bianliao nodded thoughtfully.
Swiftly, the corner of his lips curved into a content smile, "Should that wicked child know, the brother he trusts most betrayed him... ah, I can’t wait for that day."
Eunuch Su sighed inwardly but dared not respond visibly.
He was simply perplexed, wouldn’t the King be concerned about the woman with a figure like the Lady’s?
The King almost searched all over Qingxuan Continent, up to now has not given up finding the one from Ningxiang Hall; how could he not react when she seemed close at hand?
"You wonder why I don’t inquire about that woman?"
Eunuch Su’s face tightened, hurriedly replied, "This servant doesn’t dare to presumptuously guess the King’s thoughts!"
The King of Bianliao stroked his beard, scoffed with a smile, "That woman is cunning and selfish, left ignoring even her own son, how would she easily appear for a Great Xia Princess?"
Cheek puffing up rhythmically, the King of Bianliao’s eyes were full of hatred, "Continue searching! Continue investigating! I will make her realize the cost of fleeing!
That Na Jiezhe, also keep an eye on him, I am not entirely assured about him."