My Darling, Coax Me.
CHAPTER 91: If Line 4 - Feed Medicine.
Xie Jue stood still, letting her embrace him. The body in his arms was so soft and warm.
Her light scent filled his nostrils, her voice as soft as spring water, causing him to lose his composure for a moment.
Did he miss her...?
The fatigue from his overnight journey back to the Palace still lingered, and a word that desperately wanted to leap out of his mind seemed to be tormenting his nerves.
Xie Jue swallowed, forcefully suppressing his emotions.
Ridiculous.
He married her solely for her status.
A long time passed.
Xie Jue grasped her slender shoulders and pushed her away. His voice was low and cold. He didn't answer her question but said, “I returned to the Capital overnight for important matters. Leave.”
With that, he turned his back, not looking at her again.
Yun Ling stood behind him, looking at his tall, lonely back, stunned for a moment.
She pursed her lips, then said, “Yes.”
“Then Your Highness, please attend to your business. I'll take my leave.”
Her figure disappeared outside the door, and that light, captivating scent gradually dissipated, leaving the study silent and empty once more.
……
Xie Jue was busy dealing with the aftermath of King Dingyang's rebellion. Even after returning to the palace, Yun Ling barely saw him.
Perhaps because of Pei Yuan's oversight, the matter of King Dingyang became even more complicated.
Fortunately, although Xie Jue punished Pei Yuan, he didn't ultimately demote him.
Yun Ling didn't want to interfere further and simply handled Palace affairs.
On this day, the sky was high and clear, the wind gentle and refreshing.
Yun Ling was drafting a list of palace maids to leave the palace next month when Xie Jinjia came to visit.
Since learning about certain things in this world, Yun Ling tried her best not to interfere too much or get involved too deeply, all in an effort to avoid becoming entangled.
It was only at this moment that Yun Ling understood why Xie Jinjia had endured not seeing Xiao Jinyue after giving birth to her.
If parting is inevitable, every extra meeting adds to the reluctance and the torment.
It's better not to let oneself sink into this hopeless swamp from the beginning.
After all, here, Yun Ling had seen her mother and her brother and sister-in-law, who hadn't yet divorced. They were all alive and well, and that was enough.
She just didn't expect the Princess to come to the Palace to see her.
Xie Jinjia wore a deep blue brocade robe, her smile bright and vibrant, completely different from the deathly pale appearance Yun Ling had last seen her in at Guanyun Temple.
The noble Fifth Princess of the Great Jin Dynasty had lived a life of luxury and privilege since childhood, spoiled and willful. She should have been as vibrant and radiant as this her entire life.
Seeing her smile again, Yun Ling felt a pang of bittersweet emotion. She quickly walked over to greet her. “Princess, why have you come?”
Their relationship was more like sisters than sisters-in-law.
Xie Jinjia also smiled and took her hand. “Nothing much, Mother and I both miss you. I had nothing to do, so I came to the Palace to chat with you.”
Her eyes scanned the hall. “I heard that the Crown Prince has returned from Qingzhou?”
Yun Ling nodded.
Xie Jinjia didn't see the Crown Prince in the hall and recalled what the two maids, Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ, had said to her on the way. They said that after the marriage, the Crown Prince rarely came to the Crown Princess's quarters and had never shared a bed with her. The maids had sounded quite worried when they said this.
She knew her sixth brother's temperament all too well.
Back then, the entire Xiao family had been extremely reluctant to marry Yun Ling into the palace. But the imperial decree was difficult to disobey; even their grandfather couldn't resist the Crown Prince's order.
Seeing the subtle worry on Xie Jinjia's face, Yun Ling knew that Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ must have told her something.
She smiled immediately. “It's alright, everything is fine here. Don't listen to those two maids' nonsense. The Crown Prince is actually very good to me.”
He gives her status, power, and respect, and doesn't interfere with any of her decisions. In fact, it's quite good.
Although, he remains distant and cold towards her. But that's not a big deal.
Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ, upon hearing this, both looked hesitant to speak.
Their lady only reported good news, not bad.
Xie Jinjia didn't let go of her worries after hearing Yun Ling's words.
“The Crown Prince has a cold and violent temper. He's not a good person,” Since they were all close, Xie Jinjia spoke frankly. “But you've already married into the Palace, and you'll spend the rest of your life here. If the Crown Prince remains indifferent to you, how will you endure such a difficult life?”
Every word she spoke was filled with worry.
“Ah Ling, aren't you worried?”
Yun Ling was so calm and composed, while Xie Jinjia was so worried she didn't know what to do.
The East Palace wasn't like the Xiao residence, with loving elders. If the Crown Princess didn't win the Crown Prince's heart, wouldn't Yun Ling face difficulties at every step in the East Palace, and how would she manage the inner Palace in the future?
Seeing Xie Jinjia's worry, Yun Ling patted her hand reassuringly. “There's nothing to worry about.”
Xie Jinjia didn't understand why Yun Ling could remain so calm. “But—”
Before she could finish, she heard Yun Ling say, “Really, don't worry. Please go back and tell Mother and Grandmother. The Crown Prince is very good to me. There's no need to worry.”
Xie Jinjia heard the certainty in Yun Ling's tone.
She didn't understand how Ah Ling could be so calm and certain.
But since Ah Ling had said so, she must have a way. Xie Jinjia could only nod.
Yun Ling, not wanting her to worry, had a servant bring tea. After taking a sip, she changed the subject. “How is everyone at home lately?”
Xie Jinjia replied, “Everything is fine at home. Grandfather and Grandmother are in good health.”
“That's good.”
Yun Ling's greatest regret in her past life was probably Xie Jinjia and her brother's relationship. They clearly loved each other, yet were separated by Yu Fei's blood, preventing a happy ending.
In this life, even if it was short and illusory, Yun Ling hoped they could be together happily.
In this life, they were finally not separated by blood feud.
“Princess, are you happy with my brother?” Yun Ling suddenly asked.
Xie Jinjia was taken aback by Yun Ling's sudden question about her and Xiao Qibai. After a moment, she said, “Of course.”
“The luckiest thing in this life is probably marrying into the Xiao family. My mother-in-law is kind and treats me like her own daughter. Grandfather and Grandmother are loving, and there's you, Ah Ling. Being your sister-in-law makes me very happy.”
“Why wouldn't I be happy?”
Yun Ling looked at her raised eyebrows. “What about my brother? You talked about me, and the Xiao family, but the person you married is my brother, and the person you'll spend your life with is also my brother. I'm asking you, are you happy being married to my brother? Do you regret it?”
The image of Xie Jinjia's heartbroken expression was still imprinted in Yun Ling's mind.
That year, Yun Ling hadn't yet seen through things. She only thought that the Princess and her brother had broken up because of Yu Fei's death.
Certainly, because of Yu Fei's death, and for the sake of the Xiao family's future, her brother killed Yu Fei and severed ties, making it impossible for him and the Princess to be together.
But Yun Ling belatedly realized that Xie Jinjia's decisiveness wasn't out of hate, but powerlessness and resignation.
Why was that?
Once, the Princess would have done anything to marry her brother. Before the incident with Yu Fei, they should have been very happy, shouldn't they?
But why was Xie Jinjia so sad?
She mentioned the Xiao family, and she mentioned Yun Ling, but she didn't mention her brother.
Yun Ling's gaze was too intense, too serious.
Even Xie Jinjia was unusually taken aback.
She had happily married the man she loved, and their marriage was harmonious and respectful. The whole Capital said that she, Xie Jinjia, a useless Princess, was incredibly lucky to have married the renowned and illustrious Xiao Qibai, who loved and cherished her. What more could she possibly want?
Only Ah Ling asked her if she regretted it.
And she…
“No regrets,” Xie Jinjia said.
But… was she happy?
Even Xie Jinjia herself couldn't say for sure.
She had married the man she longed to marry; she should have been happy.
But in day after day of life, in countless sleepless nights filled with uncertainties, Xie Jinjia had wondered: did her kind husband truly love her?
Elegant and refined, an unparalleled gentleman. Xiao Qibai was a man of such caliber, yet everything he did was so understated.
Marrying her was to protect her reputation; cherishing her was to give her the status of his wife. Beyond that, did he have even a shred of affection for her, Xie Jinjia?
Xie Jinjia couldn't see clearly, and she didn't want to see clearly.
Like this, it was good enough.
In life, getting what one wants is enough. Contentment is happiness; why delve into everything?
“I'm happy,” Xie Jinjia said quietly, looking at Yun Ling with a smile.
Yun Ling looked at her for a long time, just as she was about to smile, a young eunuch came in to report that Xiao Qibai was waiting outside the Palace to take Xie Jinjia home.
Xie Jinjia's eyes lit up instantly. She said happily, “My husband has come to pick me up. Ah Ling, I'll go back now. I'll come to the Palace to see you again next time.”
Yun Ling sent someone to escort Xie Jinjia out.
Still uneasy, she got up and followed her out.
A carriage was parked outside the city gate. Xiao Qibai, in a white-pheasant blue robe, stood on the stone bricks. Even the stiff official attire seemed to convey a sense of calm tranquility on him.
Seeing Xie Jinjia come out, he reached out his hand and chuckled softly, “Let's go home.”
Xie Jinjia smiled and said, “Okay.”
Yun Ling watched the carriage gradually disappear from sight, then lowered her eyes and slowly turned around.
Perhaps, this was a kind of fulfillment.
Just as Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ were about to help Yun Ling back, they suddenly saw her clutching her head, the pain causing her smooth forehead to wrinkle.
The two maids exclaimed in alarm, “Your Highness! What's wrong with you?”
Yun Ling pressed her hand to her forehead, easing the pain, slowly straightened up, and shook her head. “Nothing, let's go back.”
Perhaps it was the wind. She'd be fine after resting.
After returning, Yun Ling drank a bowl of hot soup, but the throbbing pain in her head didn't subside. The Imperial Physician checked her pulse but found nothing wrong, prescribing some medicine and instructing her to rest and avoid the wind.
Yun Ling drank a few sips of the prepared medicine, but feeling unwell, she stopped. The medicine had a sedative effect, and she soon fell asleep, skipping dinner.
But the pain was unusually severe. Yun Ling broke out in a sweat, her face pale, and she tossed and turned restlessly even in her sleep.
Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ were terribly worried, not knowing what to do.
——
As dusk settled and night enveloped everything, the matter of King Dingyang was finally settled. Xie Jue put down his writing brush and rubbed his aching temples.
A sudden gust of wind blew in from outside, opening the window and breaking the silence of the room.
Grand Eunuch An quickly instructed a few young eunuchs to close the window. Then, he nervously asked, “Your Highness, it's getting late. Should we serve dinner?”
Xie Jue rested his long fingers against his temples, without answering.
An Zhong's heart grew even more anxious.
After a long while…
Finally, a cold voice came from above. “How is the Crown Princess?”
His Highness was clearly not close to the Crown Princess; why would he suddenly ask about her?
An Zhong didn't know much about the Crown Princess's affairs, and just as he was panicking, a clever young eunuch whispered a few words in his ear.
An Zhong's pupils widened. He quickly stepped forward, his voice trembling slightly. “Reporting to Your Highness, I heard that the Crown Princess seemed to be unwell today…”
Xie Jue's eyes immediately darkened. “Did you summon the Imperial Physician?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The Imperial Physician prescribed medicine, and the Crown Princess has fallen asleep after taking it.”
Xie Jue closed his eyes and responded faintly, “Hmm.”
Then there was silence.
Just when An Zhong thought His Highness had dropped the matter, he saw him suddenly stand up and leave quickly before An Zhong could react.
……
Inside the sleeping quarters.
After the Crown Princess fell asleep, Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ retreated, careful not to make a sound that might wake her. But seeing the Crown Princess's pale face, they were very worried.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached. Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ looked up and saw a noble figure in dark-colored robes. They quickly bowed. “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Xie Jue strode directly into the sleeping quarters. “Is the Crown Princess feeling any better?’
Lǜshuǐ immediately replied, “Not yet. The Crown Princess has taken her medicine and has fallen asleep.”
Xie Jue had already entered the room and approached the bed. He lifted the layers of peony curtains, revealing the sleeping figure within.
Yun Ling lay on the pillow, her dark hair scattered around her, her brow slightly furrowed. Her usually rosy face was completely devoid of color, making her look terribly unwell.
Xie Jue lowered his hand, turned, and walked out, his lips pursed in anger. “How are you serving her?!”
Lǜyī and Lǜshuǐ immediately knelt down in terror. “Your Highness, forgive us.”
“We don't know why the Crown Princess has a headache. The Imperial Physician examined her and said she was fine, prescribing some medicine. But the Crown Princess found it bitter and wouldn't drink much.”
“Where's the medicine?”
Lǜshuǐ quickly brought forward the warmed medicine. Watching His Highness enter the sleeping quarters with the medicine, they exchanged glances.
His Highness… was he going to personally feed the Crown Princess her medicine?
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