Chapter 260: Live for Mother

“Hmm—”

The room was too quiet. Yan Mu opened his eyelids which felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, endured the pain in his body, and slightly turned his eyes to the side, only to see an unexpected person beside the bed.

"Royal brother... cough cough..." Yan Mu only had time to call out before he couldn't stop coughing.

"Finally waking up?" Yan Ci stuffed a slice of orange flesh into his mouth and said nonchalantly, "You had a high fever and fainted for two days before waking up."

Yan Mu struggled to stand up and looked around, but the beautiful figure was nowhere to be seen.

"Don't look for her anymore." Yan Ci passed a piece of cut apple to his mouth and said in a deep voice, "She is a spy from the enemy country and the daughter of the great wizard of the northwest. Her name is real, but her surname is not Xi."

Yan Mu was like a little squirrel, with his mouth full and chewing woodenly.

"Why, are you feeling bad?" Yan Ci looked at him inquiringly, "You've only been together for a month, and you've already fallen in love?"

“It’s not uncomfortable.”

Yan Mu supported himself with his arms and stood up. Yan Ci quickly stuffed a soft pillow behind him.

"It was she who accompanied me through the most difficult and bitter days of my life." Yan Mu lowered his head, his expression calm. "I really regarded her as one of my own... Brother, where did she go?"

"I'm in jail, right next to Somon." Yan Ci said nonchalantly, lowering his head to peel the orange peel carefully. "Try this orange. Your voice is hoarse when you speak. Eating this can clear away heat and reduce internal heat."

"I heard that Yun Ya was once Somon's fiancée, and they had a verbal engagement. Now, it's ruined." Yan Ci said briskly, completely oblivious to his brother's annoyance. "It's a good thing you don't have any feelings for her. If you really have developed feelings for her after spending these days together, that would be troublesome."

Yan Mu paused, a look of loneliness flashed across his eyes, "Royal brother is right, but... can you let me see her again?"

Yan Ci was stunned for a moment, his hand holding the orange peel froze in mid-air. Just as he was about to agree, he saw a young eunuch running in hurriedly. Perhaps he was too anxious and forgot to lift his foot when he ran to the threshold, and fell heavily to the ground.

Yan Ci was startled by the commotion and turned around abruptly, "How dare you! How reckless! What's wrong with you? Which palace are you from?"

"Your Highness, please forgive me... Your Highness, please forgive me!" The young eunuch lowered his head, tears falling to the ground. "I have an extremely urgent matter to report!"

Yan Ci glanced at him sideways and said calmly, "Let's forget about it this time. Now, what's the matter?"

"Your Highness... Your Highness... Consort Zhe of Zhongcui Palace has passed away..."

The hall was silent for a moment, as if time had stood still.

"What...what?" Yan Ci came back to his senses and subconsciously looked at his brother who had just recovered from a serious illness on the bed.

Yan Mu lay stiffly on the bed, his hands curled up unconsciously, tightly clutching the sheets beneath him, and cold sweat gradually appeared on his temples.

"How could this happen?" Yan Ci looked at the young eunuch kneeling beside him and immediately became annoyed. "Tell me, what on earth is going on?"

"Your Highness, I heard it from others. This afternoon, a palace maid went in to deliver lunch, but didn't see Nanny Gui coming out to greet them. Upon looking inside, I saw Concubine Zhe hanging herself inside the room." The young eunuch trembled like a sieve and whispered, "Nanny Gui has also died for her master. They sent me here to tell you that Concubine Zhe left a letter addressed to His Highness the Third Prince."

After saying this, the young eunuch held up the letter with both hands and said, "A palace servant has already gone to the Qinzheng Palace. By this time, the emperor has probably heard about it."

Yan Ci reached out to take the letter, looked back, a trace of pity flashed in his eyes, and handed the letter to the bedside.

Yan Mu lowered his eyes and looked at the words "Mu'er personally addressed" written on the envelope. His fingertips trembled slightly as he took the letter.

The envelope was carefully torn open, and the letter inside was poured out. When it was unfolded, Concubine Zhe's voice, appearance and smile jumped out on the paper.

——My son Yan Mu, your mother has passed away, please don’t be sad.

It was always my fault. I was blinded by my growing ambition, lost my mind, and tried to compete with the sky.

Your mother feels guilty towards you and the Lin family. Only by dying can I clear the demons in my heart. It's a pity that I can't see you get married and have children, and I can't be filial to your father.

You have a long life ahead of you, live well and live for your mother.

Sinner Lin Yiting, I wish you peace.

"Why..." Yan Mu's hands trembled even more violently, his face even paler than the letter in his hand. "Why is it always like this... Why can she decide her own life and death at will, but she wants me to live well in this world!"

"Third brother, you..." Yan Ci's words of comfort were stuck on his lips, but he didn't know whether he should say it. In the end, all his words turned into a sigh.

"I've clearly told her that my brother wants to plead for the Lin family, why does it have to come to this!" Yan Mu's eyes were bloodshot, and he raised the credit card in his hand.

"Third brother!" Yan Ci hurried to take the letter, his face showing anxiety, "This is the only letter left by Empress Zhe. No matter how anxious you are, you can't--"

Before he could finish his words, he saw the person on the bed covering his face and crying, using tears to vent his dissatisfaction and collapse.

Yan Ci approached him hesitantly and patted his shoulder gently.

-

Ministry of Punishment

"Go in!"

Yun Ya was pushed and staggered, her toes were caught on something and she fell to the ground.

"Behave yourself! Don't even think of any evil intentions!" The leading teaching nanny glared at her and shouted, "You despicable spy! How dare you get close to our Third Prince? If you're ever sent to the Ministry of Punishment, you'll have a hard time!"

Yun Ya struggled to get up, ignoring her scraped wrist, and hurriedly patted the dirt on her skirt.

This skirt was bought by Yan Mu for herself, and it must not get dirty.

"Are you mute? Didn't you hear what Matron Qing said?" the nanny beside her cursed loudly, her eyes full of contempt. "From now on, when Matron Qing speaks, you must answer her. Do you understand?"

"You're so arrogant, using a chicken feather as a token of authority?" Yun Ya slowly raised her eyes, her gaze settling on the few people. "You were once the lowest of the low, but now that you've gained some power, you think you're the masters. In reality, you only bully those weaker than you."

"Ridiculous!" Nanny Qing's cloudy eyes widened, looking ferocious. "Are you rebelling? When will it be your turn, a little bitch, to frame me?"

"Madam Qing."

There was a sound behind them. Nanny Qing's face changed and she quickly turned back. "Chief Fulu, why are you here?"

Eunuch Fulu waved his hand, covered his mouth and nose with a scented handkerchief, and looked around with disgust. "This place stinks. I just have one word to say and I'll be leaving."

Aunt Qing could only shamelessly put on a flattering smile and said, "Sir, please speak."

"I don't care how you used to bully people in the Ministry of Punishment, but things are very different now. If Miss Yun Ya gets hurt, be careful that someone from higher up might cause trouble for you."

Eunuch Fulu waved his whisk and said, "You might even lose your life."