My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 85: Ending (Part 2)　

　　　

　　Bā Liè, after a string of defeats, exploded in a fit of rage, taking it all out on Su Le. He kicked Su Le hard, shouting, “That Crown Prince of Great Jin is a military genius, full of cunning tricks! At this rate, we won't last much longer!” 

　　“Isn't there anything we can do to counter him?” 

　　Su Le, nursing his bruised ribs, felt a throbbing pain in his head. He hadn't expected such a devastating defeat. It was all Bā Liè's fault, that fool! 

　　After a long moment of thought, a cruel smile slowly spread across his lips. “There might be a way.”　　

　　“I have informants planted in the Capital. The defenses there must be weak right now. If we can launch a surprise attack and take his Crown Princess hostage, it's sure to unsettle Xie Jue on the battlefield, making him distraught with grief!” 

　　Bā Liè roared, “Then what are you waiting for? Go do it now!” 

　　Su Le hesitated. “Contacting my informants in the Capital will take some time. It won't be easy.” 

　　Bā Liè's anger escalated. “If you can't do it, I'll kill you!” 

　　Su Le quickly responded, “Don't worry, Crown Prince, I'll do my best.” 

　　As soon as he finished speaking, a soldier burst in, panicked. “No, no good! The Jin army is attacking!!!” 

　　“What?!?!?!”　　　　

　　Bā Liè was shocked. 

　　In truth, he knew he was already at the end of his rope. His father had sent a letter yesterday expressing his intention to surrender. 

　　Bā Liè wasn't particularly intelligent, but his guess was correct. Within a month, Xie Jue captured another city, and the King of Che Luo retreated to Yaguang, sending an envoy with a letter of surrender. 

　　In this war, Che Luo lost three cities, suffering heavy losses in both manpower and resources. For at least several decades, Che Luo would have no choice but to submit to Great Jin.

　　……　　　　

　　With Che Luo's surrender, the war was over. 

　　Xie Jue, leading a small contingent of elite soldiers, prepared to ride back to the Capital as quickly as possible. 

　　The remaining army and subsequent peace negotiations would be handled by General Shen and others. 

　　The victory was resounding, and the army celebrated wildly. There were no pressing matters in the Capital. 

　　But why the rush back to the Capital? 

　　General Shen, concerned, tried to dissuade him. “Your Highness has been on campaign for months, exhausted and weary. You should rest for a few days before returning to the Capital.” 

　　Xie Jue turned to General Shen, his gaze distant, his tone calm. 

　　“The Crown Princess is about to give birth.” 

　　“She's waiting for me in the Capital, and I'm worried.” 

　　General Shen was momentarily stunned, then quickly responded, “Ah, I understand. Congratulations, Your Highness.”

　　——　　　　

　　The Capital City. 

　　News of the victory had not yet reached the Capital. 

　　A ray of sunlight streamed through the window, falling on Yun Ling's sleeping face. She was dreaming, and her smooth brow was furrowed in a deep frown, her expression one of fright. 

　　Suddenly, Yun Ling awoke with a start. 

　　She gasped for breath. 

　　She had just dreamt that he was injured. 

　　But it was only a dream. 

　　One victory report after another arrived. Within two months at most, the war should be over.　　　　

　　Why would she dream of such a scene? It's absurd. Yun Ling touched her large belly, slowly calming herself. She had lost her ability to have prophetic dreams, so nothing that happened in her dream was real. 

　　All she had to do was wait for him to return safely to the Palace. 

　　Nothing would go wrong. 

　　While the Crown Prince was away at war, the Young Master Chen and Xiao Qibai remained in the Capital. 

　　There were troops stationed in the Capital, but constant vigilance was necessary. Su Le was cunning and treacherous; his ability to steal the late Prince Ping's posthumous son proved that. His informants in the Capital had yet to be discovered, so caution was essential. 

　　For safety's sake, Yun Ling rarely left the Palace unless absolutely necessary.　　　　

　　Even when she did leave the Palace, she was always accompanied by the Shadow Guards, and Hua Mei, Xi Que, and the others were ever vigilant, never allowing a single lapse in security. 

　　Now that she was heavily pregnant, Yun Ling found it difficult to move around, so she stayed in the East Palace waiting for his return. 

　　Still, she was worried, and summoned her brother to the Palace for reassurance. 

　　Xiao Qibai said, “The Crown Prince is valiant, capturing two Che Lou cities. This war will end soon; you needn't worry, Ah Ling.” 

　　Yunze is far away from the capital; even with fast horses, it would take half a month for news to travel back and forth.

　　Yun Ling stroked Jinyue's soft, chubby face. Jinyue had grown considerably; her skin was fair, her eyes bright and dark, and she smiled at everyone, a charming and delightful child. 

　　“I know, but I had a strange dream last night. I dreamt that he was injured…” 

　　Xiao Qibai paused for a moment, then quickly said, “Dreams are the opposite of reality. The Crown Prince is invincible; how could he be injured? Don't overthink it.” 

　　The Crown Prince had indeed been injured, but Xiao Qibai had kept it a secret from Yun Ling, not wanting to worry her, and the Crown Prince himself didn't want her to know. 

　　Ah Ling was heavily pregnant and couldn't be subjected to any stress.　　

　　If it were to happen again like with Xie Jinjia's dangerous premature birth...he couldn't bear it again. Xiao Qibai was always the more cautious one. 

　　After Xiao Qibai left, Yun Ling stared blankly at his retreating figure for a long while. 

　　Her brother hadn't told her the truth; Yun Ling could see that. 

　　She also knew he was only trying to protect her. Yunze had sent consecutive victory reports; he must be alright. 

　　But being kept in the dark about certain things made her uneasy. 

　　War is unpredictable; who could guarantee complete safety? As long as he remained on the battlefield, Yun Ling couldn't rest easy. 

　　Day after day passed, Yun Ling's belly grew larger, and Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ served her with even greater care and caution.　　　　

　　Thankfully, the child in her womb was well-behaved and didn't cause her much trouble. Imperial Physician Zhang said this pregnancy was special and advised her to take short walks in the Imperial Garden daily to aid in labor. 

　　There was only a month left until the birth, and the Palace was making urgent preparations to prevent any unforeseen complications. 

　　Before he left, he promised to return before she gave birth. 

　　Yun Ling didn't know how much longer the war would last; even if he couldn't make it back, she wouldn't mind. She just wanted him to be safe. 

　　Shen Chunxiang brought some of Yun Ling's favorite pastries from outside the Palace to visit her. 

　　The last time she'd seen Yun Ling was months ago, and seeing how large her belly had become, Shen Chunxiang's eyes widened. 

　　She wanted to touch it, but hesitated. This usually boisterous woman had never been so hesitant before.　　　　

　　“When I was little, my mother told me babies were put in from the bottom of the feet. I wondered how a belly could get big if the baby was put in from the bottom!” Shen Chunxiang chuckled, “Later, I found out she was teasing me. I made such a fool of myself.” 

　　Yun Ling couldn't help but laugh. 

　　Shen Chunxiang thought for a moment, then gently placed her hand on Yun Ling's belly. Then, surprised, she exclaimed, “I think I feel it moving!” 

　　“Ah Ling, you must be close to giving birth, right?” 

　　A woman giving birth is a momentous occasion, but the Crown Prince was still at war and hadn't returned. 

　　Thinking of this, Shen Chunxiang also began to worry.　　　　

　　She wondered when this war would finally end. 

　　The worry only showed for a moment before Shen Chunxiang recovered herself. Ah Ling's belly was already large; how could she bring up such a thing in front of her, causing unnecessary worry? 

　　So she quickly changed the subject. “Hey, where's that girl, Lǜshuǐ?” 

　　Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ were utterly devoted to Yun Ling and rarely left her side. Why was only Lǜyī present today? 

　　Yun Ling replied, “She went to get me some medicinal food. She'll be back soon.” 

　　Seeing that Yun Ling's spirits were still good, Shen Chunxiang breathed a sigh of relief.　　　　

　　In the distance, several palace maids passed by the moon gate, unaware of their presence, whispering amongst themselves. 

　　“I heard...the Crown Prince is injured!” 

　　At these words, the other maids were startled. “Are you trying to get yourself killed? Where did you hear such a thing?” 

　　The maid said, “I heard it from a little eunuch. Young Master Chen and Lord Xiao were discussing something, and he overheard it outside…” 

　　“I heard it's very serious…” 

　　“What do we do…” 

　　The maids continued whispering, but Shen Chunxiang saw Yun Ling's face paling and quickly moved to stop them from gossiping.

　　She comforted Yun Ling, saying, “Ah Ling, don't listen to their nonsense! Those maids deserve to have their mouths slapped!” 

　　Yun Ling tried to calm herself and nodded. 

　　At that moment, Lǜshuǐ rushed over, anxiously calling out, “It's not good! It's not good, Your Highness! An assassin has infiltrated the East Palace and is heading towards the sleeping quarters! They're definitely after you! We need to hide! It's too late if we wait any longer!” 

　　An assassin in the Palace? What should they do? 

　　The maids around Yun Ling were instantly thrown into chaos, not knowing what to do. 

　　Hearing this, Shen Chunxiang immediately shielded Yun Ling, saying, “Let's go.” The assassin could be anywhere; the Imperial Garden was not safe.　　　　

　　Lǜshuǐ stepped in front of Yun Ling to lead the way. “Your Highness, let's take the side path; it's safer.” 

　　Yun Ling, already shaken by the news of the Crown Prince's injury, simply said, “Okay.” 

　　She followed Lǜshuǐ onto a smaller, less travelled path. 

　　Shen Chunxiang, fearing danger, tried to step forward to scout ahead, but Yun Ling secretly squeezed her hand tightly. 

　　Shen Chunxiang's eyes narrowed, but she remained silent. 

　　Lǜshuǐ had already led them to a secluded and hidden spot. There was no one around, and seeing no sign of the assassin, she relaxed. 

　　Turning around, she took a gold-thread soft armor from her bosom and approached Yun Ling. “Your Highness, please put this on quickly. Don't let yourself get hurt.” Lǜshuǐ approached Yun Ling step by step, smiling, about to reach out and touch her, when Shen Chunxiang suddenly drew a short dagger from her sleeve and lunged at Lǜshuǐ. 

　　Lǜshuǐ blocked a few blows but was still struck in the left chest, stumbling backward, her smile disappearing. “Miss Shen, what is the meaning of this?” 

　　Shen Chunxiang sneered, “If you were truly Lǜshuǐ, you'd already be dead!” 

　　Lǜshuǐ released her hand from her chest, revealing unharmed soft armor beneath. She laughed, “You're quite clever.” 

　　With a clap of her hands, a dozen of black-clad assassins sprang out from the surrounding area. ‘Lǜshuǐ’ looked triumphantly at Yun Ling. “I thought Xie Jue's Crown Princess was some clever woman, but it seems I've easily tricked you.” 

　　Even with Shen Chunxiang's high martial arts skills, she was no match for so many opponents. Lǜshuǐ's voice hardened. “Today, you and your child will die!” 

　　Just as Lǜshuǐ was about to signal her men to attack, she suddenly saw the group of ‘panic-stricken’ palace maids standing in front of Yun Ling, drawing short blades from their waists. 

　　Lin Ying looked coldly at the assassins. “Today, you will not leave alive!” 

　　Lǜshuǐ stared in disbelief. “How...how is this possible...?” 

　　As soon as the words left her mouth, the Shadow Guards engaged the assassins in battle. 

　　Shen Chunxiang retreated to Yun Ling's side, constantly watching over her safety. “Ah Ling, how did you know she wasn't Lǜshuǐ?” 

　　Yun Ling, protecting her belly, replied, “Her shoes were covered in mud. Lǜshuǐ is meticulous; she wouldn't have walked through mud to get medicinal food.”　　　　

　　“And although Lǜshuǐ is intelligent, she never acts on her own initiative.” 

　　Before the Crown Prince left the Capital, he told her that Su Le had hidden informants in the City. With Che Luo’s army suffering repeated defeats, Su Le would undoubtedly try to capture her to use as leverage. 

　　The maids' earlier gossip was clearly intended to unsettle her. 

　　She had seen through it. 

　　These assassins were highly skilled; Lǜshuǐ was adept at disguise, no ordinary killer. The Shadow Guards fought them for several rounds, eliminating half the assassins. 

　　The remaining half continued to fight, but soon, one by one, they all fell, leaving only Lǜshuǐ standing.　　　

　　Seeing the situation turn against her, she tried to escape. 

　　Several Shadow Guards pursued her onto the roof. “Don't let her get away!” But Lǜshuǐ, turning back, unexpectedly lunged towards Yun Ling. 

　　This was a suicide assassin. 

　　However, due to the Shadow Guards' relentless attacks, Lǜshuǐ was already severely wounded. The thrust of her sword lacked force and was easily blocked by Shen Chunxiang, who retaliated with a swift strike to the heart, killing her instantly. 

　　A few drops of hot blood splattered onto Yun Ling's face. 

　　The ground was littered with the bodies of the assassins, awash in blood. 

　　Yun Ling wiped the crimson blood from her face, her heaving chest slowly calming. 

　　It was finally over.　　　　

　　Eliminating Su Le's informants finally resolved a major threat. 

　　The patrolling Imperial Guards arrived. Yun Ling calmed herself and calmly directed them to dispose of the bodies, ordering a thorough search of the Palace to ensure no one escaped. Only after making all the arrangements did she finally breathe a sigh of relief. 

　　Su Le's desperate attempt to capture her indicated that the Che Luo army was cornered. 

　　It also meant the war was nearing its end. 

　　Just as she was thinking this, a contingent of elite soldiers suddenly poured in from outside. Before Yun Ling could react, she saw the Imperial Guards and her personal guards bowing. “Greetings, Crown Prince!”

　　“Ah Ling.” 

　　His voice sounded from behind her.

　　Yun Ling's eyes widened in disbelief. She turned to see him, his figure dusty and weary, hurrying towards her. 

　　He had returned. 

　　Her eyes welled up uncontrollably. Yun Ling walked towards him, faster and faster, almost running. 

　　Xie Jue quickly approached, opening his arms to catch her, holding her tightly in his embrace. He whispered softly, “Ah Ling, don't cry.” 

　　He truly couldn't bear to see her shed tears.　

–The End–

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T/N: Alright, MDCM officially ends at Chapter 85, but we'll continue with 22 extra chapters. I won't post them daily; instead, I'll post them in bulk. Thanks for your patience. 😁 

Release Schedule: 

- Wednesday, February 5, 2025: Chapters 86 & 87 

- Friday, February 7, 2025: Chapters 88 - 94 

- Sunday, February 9, 2025: Chapters 95 - 101 

- Wednesday, February 12, 2025: Chapters 102 - 107

-The End-

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