8 Bullying Only You

ger, so I cannot give her to you."Only now did Night Tianqin see that the arm with which Rong Jing had caught Qin Yucang was covered in blood. His face softened a little and he reached out to take the...Chapter 8: Bullying You Alone

Upon hearing this, Yun Qianyue snorted coldly and glared at Rong Jing before falling silent.

"Hm" Rong Jing looked down at Yun Qianyue, carefully observing her brows and eyes, which were filled with a deep smile.

“So what if I’m jealous” Yun Qianyue angrily glared at Rong Jing. She raised her hand to harshly pound on his chest. Even if the princess of Donghai Kingdom was coming to fulfill their engagement, did he have any reason to be this happy

Rong Jing neither dodged nor flinched; the impact produced a muffled groan but he still smiled and said in a low voice, “So, Linglian should give you vinegar instead. I won’t stop you from drinking as much as you want.”

"Rong Jing!" Yun Qianyue gnashed her teeth. Seeing Rong Jing’s smile made her even more furious; she pushed him and was about to get off the carriage, cursing herself for being weak. Even though the person hadn’t arrived yet, she felt so sour already, let alone if they really showed up—her mouth would be full of sourness.

Rong Jing held onto Yun Qianyue tightly as she tried to leave and said gently with a softened smile, “I only have eyes for you. A hundred princesses from Donghai Kingdom wouldn’t matter.”

Yun Qianyue snorted, "Who would believe that!"

"Whether ghosts believe it or not isn't important; what matters is whether you do!" Rong Jing smiled warmly and bent down to lightly kiss Yun Qianyue's lips. “Be good, don’t drink vinegar, let me be the one who does!”

“Linglian, go get a full vat of vinegar for Shizi.” On hearing this, Yun Qianyue immediately instructed from outside.

"Miss, I couldn't find where to buy vinegar. Let's return to our mansion and drink it with Shizi there!" Linglian finally gave up and threw away the empty wine jar, speaking inside.

Yixue glanced at that empty wine jar and chuckled in secret, thinking that Miss Yun Qianyue and Rong Jing were the most interesting people she had ever seen.

Rong Jing looked at Yun Qianyue, sighed helplessly, hiding a hint of laughter. “See It's not that I don't want to drink vinegar; it’s your maidservant who couldn’t find where to buy it.”

Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes and said, "There's plenty at Yun王府 (the text is cut off here in the original Chinese input).

"With such a beautiful day today, would returning home to lounge be too much of a waste" Rong Jing was silent for a moment before suddenly speaking.

Yun Qianyue blinked her eyes. The weather today indeed was very nice; it would be somewhat wasteful to return and rest at home. She raised her brows and looked at Rong Jing.

"Let's go eat at Wen Bo Houfu (the Marquis Wen’s Mansion)!" Rong Jing thought for a moment and said, "Rong Feng moved from the Prince of Honor王府 (the text is cut off here in the original Chinese input).

Yun Qianyue recalled that the old emperor granted Rong Feng the title of Marquis Wen at his birthday banquet, effectively integrating him into the political arena. She nodded and said, "Alright then! Let's visit Wen Bo Houfu to see how well it has been renovated."

"Let’s go!" Rong Jing reached out to grasp Yun Qianyue’s waist; as soon as he spoke, they were gone from the carriage like a gust of wind.

Linglian and Yixue looked back; not even the shadows of Rong Jing and Yun Qianyue could be seen. They pulled up the curtains to find that the carriage was empty inside. Exchanging glances, they had no choice but to continue driving towards Yun王府 (the text is cut off here in the original Chinese input).

Wen Bo Houfu was on the same street as Xiaoqin Wangfu (Dowager Princess’s Manor). Rong Jing and Yun Qianyue arrived at Wen Bo Houfu without delay. Since he was claiming to recuperate, Rong Jing naturally couldn’t enter through the main gate; they climbed over the wall instead.

Wen Bo Houfu had been in ruins for a decade but now had been completely renovated and looked brand new. Anyone who didn't know about the massacre ten years ago would believe it was a newly built mansion.

"The old emperor is quite thoughtful; every tree and shrub in Wen Bo Houfu still looks as they did before." Yun Qianyue said softly.

“Yes, although Rong Feng is the collateral branch of Prince of Honor王府 (the text is cut off here in the original Chinese input).

Yun Qianyue recalled her mother’s visit to a snow mountain elder who wanted to take her as his disciple. She refused and they became friends instead, teaching her medical skills. Later she met Night Tianyi, impressed by his talents, he became the elder's disciple for half a year; during this time Wen Bo Houfu was destroyed and she saved Rong Feng. After much deliberation, she sent him to Snow Mountain where the elder made an exception and took him as his last disciple due to her influence. Thus, Night Tianyi and Rong Feng became brothers in martial arts. She never expected that ten years later, Rong Feng would return to the capital and enter politics because of this reason and was granted a high position by the old emperor.

"We arrived at a bad time!" said Rong Jing suddenly.

“Hm” Yun Qianyue raised her eyebrows, puzzled about what Rong Jing meant.

"The marquess' son is having a beautiful companion. Our arrival would disturb their affair," Rong Jing led Yun Qianyue to the rear courtyard and landed on the roof beam, pointing at the courtyard below him while speaking.

Yun Qianyue followed Rong Jing's gaze and saw two people standing under a peach tree in the courtyard, one man and one woman. The man was standing stiffly, while the woman seemed to be crying as she leaned on him; her cries were very soft but still audible. The man was none other than Rong Feng, the owner of this yard. The woman's face was buried in Rong Feng’s chest, making it hard to see her features, but from her silhouette alone, one could easily recognize that she was the Seventh Princess who had been seriously ill for many years. She withdrew her gaze and whispered to Rong Jing, "Since we're interrupting something good, shouldn't we leave"

"There's no harm in looking," said Rong Jing softly.

"Aren’t you hungry" Yun Qianyue raised an eyebrow.

"I ate two large pieces of steak last night; how could I be hungry" Instead of leaving, Rong Jing embraced Yun Qianyue and sat down on the beam above them.

Thinking back, she realized that this man must have been fully awake last night and pretending to be drowsy just to torment her. She glared at Rong Jing but didn't say anything, returning her gaze to the courtyard. In the past, she used to visit the Seventh Princess regularly, but after losing her memory, she hadn't gone again. Two days ago, when she saw the Seventh Princess at the birthday banquet and noticed that despite being silent, her eyes were clear and normal, she had assumed she must be recovered. Back then, when the Wen Bo Hou residence was destroyed, the Seventh Princess witnessed the entire tragedy; after losing her mind for so many years, it seemed her recovery now aligned with Rong Feng's return.

"Alright! Stop crying!" Rong Feng pushed away the Seventh Princess and his voice wasn't as cold as usual when dealing with Wen Rusheng.

"Rong Feng, I thought you were dead... These past years... I was so scared..." The Seventh Princess stepped back slightly from Rong Feng, her beautiful face streaked with tears.

"I did die but then came back to life," Rong Feng seemed about to reach out and wipe away the tears on the Seventh Princess's face, hesitated, then took a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. His voice was low, "Stop crying; your eyes are red!"

The Seventh Princess sniffed and reached for the handkerchief to dry her eyes, looking incredibly frail.

Rong Feng looked at the Seventh Princess but didn't say anything.

After wiping her eyes with his handkerchief, she handed it back to Rong Feng. He took it from her and said, "I'll take you back to the palace; if Minister Ming doesn’t see you, she will worry about you."

"Mother knows I’m here," said the Seventh Princess softly.

Rong Feng seemed surprised, "Minister Ming knows you're here"

The Seventh Princess nodded. "Mother checked my pulse yesterday and was very happy knowing that I'm better now; she allowed me to come."

"Is that so Minister Ming is indeed kind," Rong Feng's voice suddenly softened.

"Rong Feng, I..." The Seventh Princess looked at him with some embarrassment. "I’m hungry; I didn’t have breakfast this morning."

"Let me take you back to the palace! They must have prepared your meal there," Rong Feng started walking towards the exit.

The Seventh Princess bit her lips and looked at him, her eyes dim. She whispered, "I want to eat here."

Rong Feng paused in his steps.

The Seventh Princess took a step forward and grabbed his sleeve with an imploring tone. “Remember how I used to come here often to play with you Every time I had meals at your place before returning to the palace..."

"What happened before doesn’t apply now! You are the princess; it's inappropriate for you to eat in a minister’s home," Rong Feng gently pried her hand off his sleeve, voice cool and dismissive. "I'll take you back to the palace. Staying here too long will make Minister Ming worry."

The Seventh Princess lowered her head, silent.

Rong Feng walked forward, not looking back if she followed him or not; when he left the courtyard, the princess finally caught up with him. They quickly exited the main residence and didn’t notice anyone on the roof corner watching them.

"Ahh, another tragic case of a devoted wife but an indifferent husband," Yun Qianyue sighed at their distant figures.

“Let’s go back!” Rong Jing lifted her up with one arm and leapt away from Wen Bo Hou residence.

Yun Qianyue wondered if the incident involving the Wen Bo Hou residence was related to Minister Ming; did Rong Feng know something Otherwise, why would his attitude change when the princess mentioned Minister Ming She turned her head towards Rong Jing and asked, "Did you find out who's behind the Wen Bo Hou’s destruction"

"No!" Rong Jing looked ahead with a calm expression.

“Have I offended you” Yun Qianyue frowned. Was everyone in the Prince Ren王府的人換臉和翻書一樣快。

"You should start preparing the wedding gift!" Rong Jing glanced at Yun Qianyue.

"Hm Whose Yours and the Princess of Dong Hai" Yun Qianyue raised her eyebrows.

"Return to the manor! Let's all drink vinegar! You're indeed the one who needs it most." Rong Jing did not answer, instead he sped up with Yun Qianyue.

Yun Qianyue rolled her eyes and stopped talking. She wondered whom she should prepare a wedding gift for Feng Rong and Seventh Princess Not likely! At present, the old emperor was bedridden while the Crown Prince was in jail. The air of Heaven Saint was dark and oppressive. Would they need a wedding gift or manage to get married

Upon returning to Yun Manor, Rong Jing led Yun Qianyue directly back to Qianyue Pavilion.

The pearl curtain lifted up as the two flew into the room. Someone was sitting inside dressed in plain clothes; it was indeed the Empress. Yun Qianyue froze and called out in surprise, "Aunt"

"You're back!" The Empress looked at both of them and her gaze turned to Rong Jing as she saw him unharmed, a hint of understanding in her eyes.

"Aunt!" Rong Jing also called out. He pulled Yun Qianyue over.

"Why are you here, Aunt" Yun Qianyue had never imagined the Empress would leave the palace at this time. Judging by her plain clothes, she obviously snuck out of the palace in secret. She guessed that there must be something going on; otherwise, a servant could inform them and it wouldn't matter if she personally left the palace.

"I came to tell you something." The Empress was originally drinking tea but put down her cup at this moment and said to Yun Qianyue, "I'm pregnant!"

Yun Qianyue froze in disbelief. She looked at the Empress, "Aunt You're saying that... My mother didn't tell you that it's impossible for you to have children again in your lifetime What happened"

"I want to know too! That’s why I came looking for you." The Empress glanced at Rong Jing and continued, "And I know that Lord Shizi is with you. Your medical skills are good; please check what's going on."

Yun Qianyue stretched out her hand to take the pulse of the Empress. Her pulse had signs of being slippery, which looked like a pregnant woman's pulse. She checked for quite some time but did not find anything unusual, so she gave up and looked at Rong Jing, "You come give Aunt your diagnosis!"

Rong Jing nodded and placed his hand on the Empress' wrist.

Yun Qianyue and the Empress watched Rong Jing's expression. His face was calm; there were no signs of anything unusual. After a moment, he pulled back his hand and told the two, "Aunt is indeed pregnant!"

Yun Qianyue’s expression changed, "What happened"

"That's what I need to ask Aunt! Within the last year or half-year, what did you eat" Rong Jing looked at the Empress. Seeing her puzzled look, he lowered his voice slightly, "If my diagnosis is correct, then Aunt should have eaten a fertility fruit."

Yun Qianyue's expression darkened.

"A fertility fruit What’s that" The Empress looked at Rong Jing.

"Fertility fruits come from Dong Hai. Supposedly, it is one tree on a Dong Hai fairy island; only once every twenty years does the tree flower and bear fruit. The fruit produced then is called a fertility fruit. Fertility fruits are hard to get hold of; each year, the same tree bears no more than two fruits. These two fruits are twin fruits—one is yin while the other is yang. Yin fruit is poisonous; when consumed, it renders one unable to bear children. The yang fruit is actually the true fertility fruit. Aunt was previously unable to have children because she had eaten a yin fruit and ingested its poison which sealed her uterus. Now that she can be pregnant again, it's because she ate another yang fruit which lifted the seal."

The Empress reached out and touched her abdomen while looking at Rong Jing; her voice trembled slightly, "So it’s true I really am pregnant"

"Yes! Aunt is indeed pregnant." Rong Jing nodded, confirming.

"I haven't had my period in two months. My body feels tired all the time so I thought something was wrong with me; I privately went to find a court physician for a diagnosis. The physician said it might be pregnancy but I didn’t believe him. So I came here to ask you both. It turns out that I'm really pregnant." The Empress seemed slightly surprised, reaching out and grabbing Yun Qianyue’s hand tightly, "Yun Yue, I’m pregnant; I’ve always wanted a child. Back then when your mother diagnosed me, she said it was impossible for me to have another baby but I didn’t believe her. Now unexpectedly... It's really true… I actually have a child…"

Yun Qianyue looked at the Empress who had tears of joy in her eyes; however, there was no hint of happiness on her face as she said softly, "Aunt, did His Majesty give you the fertility fruit"

"Perhaps… I have no idea when." The Empress shook her head with an indescribable look of joy.

"Who else knows about this now" Yun Qianyue asked again.

The Empress shook her head, "Aside from that court physician, nobody."

Yun Qianyue nodded and looked at Rong Jing. She pursed her lips and after hesitating for a moment when looking at the Empress' joyful expression, she solemnly said, "Aunt, you can't keep this child!

The Empress suddenly stopped smiling, "Moon兒"

"Earlier, Rong Jing also mentioned that the fruit of conception is divided into yin and yang fruits. The yin fruit is poisonous but it also has one benefit: it can beautify the skin. Do you know why your skin is so good and your face looks young It's because of the beautifying effect of the yin fruit. However, it causes infertility. Since you've been affected by this yin fruit for all these years, its toxicity has seeped into your heart and spleen. Although the poison has now been removed, once you're pregnant, it requires all of your vital energy to nurture the child. During pregnancy, blood loss will accelerate rapidly, leading to premature aging. When you give birth, you'll die from blood exhaustion; this is when you'll grow old and pass away."

The Empress's expression changed drastically as she abruptly stood up from her chair, looking at Cloud Qianyue in disbelief.

"I'm telling the truth! If you don't believe me, ask Rong Jing." While looking at the empress, Cloud Qianyue really didn't want to tell her such a thing. She knew how much her aunt liked children. Now that she's finally had one, how could she not be happy However, this child truly cannot be kept.

The Empress turned to look at Rong Jing.

Rong Jing nodded, "What she said is correct!"

Upon receiving Rong Jing's confirmation, the empress' body began to tremble violently and her face paled. "There's no other way"

"No!" Rong Jing shook his head. "Unless you terminate the pregnancy, there is no other way."

The Empress stepped back, covering her abdomen with her hand as she nearly fell onto a chair. Rong Jing gently waved his sleeve and supported her body; she collapsed into the chair in a somewhat defeated state.

"Auntie, you don't like the Emperor, right For men you dislike, you wouldn't bear their children. Get rid of it!" Cloud Qianyue steeled herself; she had to ensure her aunt was safe. This child is Old Emperor's offspring, it would be better not to keep him.

The Empress did not move and seemed as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Cloud Qianyue turned to look at Rong Jing; he took her hand in his with a hint of concern etched on his brows.

In the room, silence reigned for a while. The three of them didn't speak for a long time.

A long while later, the Empress looked up at Cloud Qianyue and said, "Moon兒, I know you're doing this out of concern for me, but I want to keep this child!"

"Auntie!" Cloud Qianyue's heart tightened. "You can't have it..."

The Empress waved her hand and cut off what Qianyue was saying with a bitter tone, "For these years, I've lived in the palace as if I were rotting wood; every day feels like a year. Since your mother took my pulse that day and told me I couldn't have another child, I thought my life had no hope left, just to die in this place. Back then, when she didn’t say that I was affected by the yin fruit, I assumed it was some poison which caused permanent infertility. So, there was never any hope. But do you know how much envy I felt seeing all those women in the palace having children around them"

Cloud Qianyue suddenly fell silent. Every mother must want a child

"Although Crown Prince and Fourth Prince are under my care, they're not mine after all. I can’t muster up much affection for them." The Empress slowly stroked her belly. "This child came unexpectedly; I don't know when I took the yang fruit to rid myself of the poison. But now that I have a child in me, even though he’s his child, he's growing inside my body – how can I bear to abort him"

"But he will take your life!" Cloud Qianyue reminded her.

"Compared to spending the rest of my life alone, I would rather keep this child. My own flesh and blood." The Empress sighed.

"Auntie, this might be a trap set by His Majesty! Think about it, why haven’t you been pregnant for so many years Why did the conception fruit's poison suddenly dissipate Don't you have any suspicions" Cloud Qianyue looked at the Empress. At this moment, she couldn't help but suspect that her old emperor had another scheme.

"Even if it is a trap, I accept it! All I want is a child." The Empress said.

"But giving birth to him will take your life; he'll lose his mother and how can he grow up" Cloud Qianyue's voice rose involuntarily.

The empress fell silent.

"Auntie, listen to me. Please don't keep this child. After Mother passed away, you're the closest person to me. I never treated you as an aunt but rather as a mother. You still have me; maybe one day I can bring you out of the palace and live a life that you've always desired." Cloud Qianyue took a step forward and kneeled before the Empress, grasping her hand. The Empress's hands were icy cold, causing her own to tremble as a chill rushed up from her palm.

"Moon兒, I see you as my daughter," said the Empress as she held Cloud Qianyue’s hand, tears spilling out of her eyes and falling onto their clasped hands. She softly said, "A woman is incomplete without having a child of her own. I don’t want to leave this world with regrets."

Cloud Qianyue tightly pursed her lips as she looked at the Empress.

"If you die, I'll raise him in your place and burn incense at your grave when he grows up; that will make me happy!" The Empress said again.

Yun Qianyue suddenly turned her face away and couldn't bear to look at the Empress. Her mother had left early, and over the years she truly treated her aunt as her mother. But after all, her aunt was still her aunt and she was still her niece; they could never become a mother and daughter. No matter how much she loved her aunt, she didn't have the right to take away the child that her aunt wanted so desperately.

The Empress said nothing more, using her cool fingers to brush against Yun Qianyue's eyebrows and eyelashes; her fingertips trembled slightly.

Yun Qianyue finally couldn't hold back a single clear tear, which slid down her cheek between the Empress' fingers.

"Don't cry. Auntie is actually very happy! Having a child is something I never dared to dream about," the Empress said softly.

Yun Qianyue didn't say anything; she wasn't yet a woman but at most, just a girl, and couldn't understand this kind of maternal love.

"Miss!" Ling Lian's voice came from outside.

"What is it" Yun Qianyue asked, trying to suppress her distress.

"Eunuch Wen has come from the palace. He says that His Majesty woke up and wants to see the Empress; knowing she isn't in the palace, he was sent here to summon the Empress back," Ling Lian said softly.

Yun Qianyue pursed her lips and looked at the Empress.

The Empress stood up, releasing Yun Qianyue's hand. She spoke affectionately, "Auntie must return to the palace! I'll decide this matter now, don't be sad; you should be happy for Auntie."

Yun Qianyue said nothing; how could she possibly feel joyful

The Empress looked at Rong Jing and said, "Young Marquis Jing, Yue doesn't accept this right away. Could you persuade her on my behalf You're always by her side, taking good care of her— even if I die one day, I'll be at peace knowing that I can entrust Yue to you. The two of you should take care of the child for me; it will fulfill a wish that's been in my heart these years."

Rong Jing glanced at Yun Qianyue and said smoothly, "Auntie, please be assured!"

The Empress nodded, no longer saying anything else. She stepped out of the door; Ling Lian escorted her out of Shanyu Pavilion.

Yun Qianyue watched as the Empress's figure disappeared from outside Shanyu Pavilion and suddenly covered her face with a hand, tears streaming down.

Rong Jing reached his arm around her waist and held her gently. "If you want to cry, then just let it out!"

Yun Qianyue removed the hand from her face, wrapped her arms around Rong Jing's body, buried her head in his chest, and sobbed with resentment. "Why can't I even keep a single relative They leave one after another— first my mother, then my brother, now my aunt. Who will be next Will they leave until there’s only me left"

"Don’t talk nonsense! You still have me—I won’t go anywhere!" Rong Jing patted Yun Qianyue's back.

"Rong Jing, I feel so miserable…" Yun Qianyue's voice was choked and barely audible.

"Auntie is right— you should be happy for her. She loves children; instead of spending her days alone in the palace until she dies, having a child would give her some comfort. Now that His Majesty has been poisoned by an arrow and will recover, he still has his yang energy damaged. He likely doesn't have much time left, perhaps a year at most or just several months. If Emperor is dead, Auntie would spend the rest of her days in the palace as Grand Empress Dowager; do you want that for her Living every day among cold and empty palaces" Rong Jing sighed lightly. "This might be better, though sad, it's also beautiful."

"But this is an old emperor’s plot!" Yun Qianyue couldn't feel happy at all.

"What does it matter if it's a plot For Auntie, she only wants a child. All we can do is help her keep the child," Rong Jing said. "We should remember that whether it's a boy or girl, this will be Auntie’s child."

Yun Qianyue clung tighter to Rong Jing and asked in a choked voice, "What if I can't do it I don’t want my aunt to keep the baby."

"It's okay if you can't; there's always me," Rong Jing tightened his embrace around Yun Qianyue’s slim body. To others, she appeared heartless and arrogant, while he saw a woman with many facets beneath her tough exterior. Behind her strength was a soft heart that only he understood— it was melting in pieces at this moment from her tears. He felt an urge to help remove the child for her sake alone.

"Rong Jing…" Yun Qianyue sniffed softly, calling out his name.

“Mm!” Rong Jing responded.

“Rong Jing…” Yun Qianyue called again.

“Mm!” Rong Jing answered once more and tightened his arms around her.

"Rong Jing..." Yun Qianyue called out again, her voice soft and slightly congested.

"I'm here!" Rong Jing tightened his embrace around her once more.

Yun Qianyue didn't speak anymore. Once, she thought herself very strong, capable of shouldering all the responsibilities placed upon her shoulders. Until that day when Xiao Qi was sent on a mission and the plane exploded in Vienna's airspace; she fainted instantly then realized that she wasn’t as strong as she once believed. After regaining consciousness three days later, she no longer had any smile left. It wasn't until rebirth that she saw her mother, father, brother, aunt, grandfather… Later, when her mother left and her brother was replaced, she kept telling herself there was nothing after the explosion above Vienna's airspace that she couldn’t bear. But now, upon learning of her aunt's pregnancy, and being willing to sacrifice her own life for a child, she realized she wasn't as strong as she thought. She felt powerless every time she watched loved ones leave.

Rong Jing held Yun Qianyue tightly; all her weight rested on him. He knew there was no need to say anything else, just holding her would be enough.

A long while later, Yun Qianyue whispered softly, "Is there really no way Is there any way that we can have the baby and also save Aunt's life"

"There isn't!" Rong Jing shook his head. "The Yin-Yang fruit cannot be ingested by one person at once."

Yun Qianyue fell silent; although she knew there was no solution, she couldn’t help but ask.

"Your eyes are swollen from crying!" Rong Jing pulled out his handkerchief and gently wiped her tears. Seeing the wetness on the handkerchief, he sighed, "You shouldn't cry anymore in the future, at least not in front of me; I can’t bear to see it."

"I'll cry right in front of you." Yun Qianyue snatched the handkerchief from him and scrubbed her eyes fiercely.

"Alright! Then go ahead and cry, best if you keep crying your whole life long; my household won’t need to use water for washing faces then." Rong Jing remarked.

Yun Qianyue threw back the handkerchief at Rong Jing. She had no heart for jokes now as she pushed him away and walked over to the chaise lounge, feeling more exhausted than ever that day when she said goodbye to two brothers in the morning and heard about her aunt’s pregnancy wanting to exchange a child with herself; it made her feel an unprecedented sense of weariness towards this world.

"Yun Qianyue, look at me. I'll always be here for you," Rong Jing walked up to the chaise lounge and squatted down in front of Yun Qianyue, making eye contact with her as he said each word deliberately: "Your father, mother, brother, grandfather, or aunt – none of them will accompany you through your entire life. Only I will always be here by your side."

Yun Qianyue’s heart stirred at his words; she looked at Rong Jing.

"In the countless days ahead, even until we grow old and die together, right up to the moment you close your eyes for the last time, I will still be by your side," he held her icy hand, feeling warmth from his palm transfer to hers as he whispered earnestly: "No matter if you have a betrothal agreement or not, no matter who is in that agreement with me and you; what does it matter As long as our hearts are connected, who can break us apart"

Yun Qianyue pursed her lips.

"Remember, you're never alone," Rong Jing took Yun Qianyue’s hand, pressing his lips to the tips of her fingers.

The sorrow in Yun Qianyue’s heart slowly dissipated; yes, everyone had their own choices. If Aunt felt happiness in sacrificing her life for a child that was hers, she couldn’t force it otherwise. She still had Rong Jing, who would always be there no matter what happened. This sufficed. She smiled at him and leaned forward, resting her head against his forehead, saying softly: "I know this, I believe you; also, you with your black heart. You’ll keep tormenting me until you’re satisfied."

"Yes, as long as you understand that! I plan to bully only you for the rest of my life," Rong Jing pressed his forehead against hers and nodded with a smile.

The two did not speak further; silence settled in the room. A faint sorrow mingled with profound affection.

"Qianyue..." Accompanied by hurried footsteps, someone called out urgently from outside.

Yun Qianyue looked up to see Cloud King stumbling into Qing Yue Hall while shouting: "It's bad news, the emperor has issued an imperial edict to depose Prince Zhuang and appoint…."

"Appoint who as prince" Yun Qianyue tugged Rong Jing to stand up and asked further.

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This chapter was so tear-jerking that it nearly flooded my keyboard...

I sighed for Empress, feeling deeply moved by the beauty of Jing...

Thank you all who sent me votes and support! I love you!

Thanks to those who sent me diamonds, gifts, flowers:

NH533 (10 diamonds), Doryzh (2 diamonds), Japindy (200 gifts), Xinyong121 (1 diamond), Shuzi Wan Zi (1 diamond), Mama579 (3 flowers), ZF199212 (2 flowers), Xiaozhi1208 (2 flowers), Yang Liu Qingyang (1 flower), Hongyan 831206 (1 flower), 520121900 (1 flower), CYDHW (1 flower), HCL996688 (1 flower).! I'll see how long you can keep it up!" Still with those lines of poetry about his beauty, still calling himself Prince Jingshi, Mr. Jing She looked at him and mocked: “When everyone finds out what a...