Chapter 55 There is no one in the world more clingy than him…

The next morning, Chi Ying woke up slowly in the soft morning light. When she opened her eyes, the man's handsome and refined face was right in front of her.

In the past, she wouldn't even have had the courage to look him in the eye.

Today, on a whim, I reached out my finger and traced his eyebrows, cheeks, and nose. His skin was fair and flawless, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. He had a jade-like and golden appearance, a kind of handsome beauty that combined strength and gentleness. He truly deserved the title "beautiful".

In her entire life, she had never seen anyone more handsome than him.

If Chi Yingyue had met him earlier, she probably wouldn't have been forced to marry in his place.

Just as she was engrossed in watching, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her fingertip. He had gently bitten her fingertip with his lips, and his wet tongue licked it. Startled, Chi Ying quickly pulled back.

A smile spread across the man's lips.

Chi Ying smiled and whispered to him, "Husband, you're awake?"

Yan Xuecui's voice was still hoarse from just waking up: "What time is it?"

Chi Ying didn't hear the water clock. "I don't know, anyway, it's already dawn."

Yan Xuecui: "Do you still want to sleep?"

Chi Ying nodded: "I'm still a little tired."

Her main problem was back pain and weak legs. He kissed her for too long yesterday, and she couldn't even stand up afterward. He had to carry her back, even though he's blind.

Yan Xue pulled her closer, nuzzling her forehead affectionately with her chin, her voice lazy and magnetic: "Then sleep a little longer."

Chi Ying pressed her cheek against his chest, thought for a moment, and said, "Let's have a simple lunch. After I've rested, I'll cook you dinner myself. Is there anything Your Highness would like to eat?"

She is quite familiar with mountain ingredients, especially after summer rains, when there are many delicious wild vegetables to eat.

Yan Xuecui recalled asking her about her preferences before, and she mentioned that she liked to cook. As long as she was willing to cook, he was not picky and said, "Anything you make is fine."

...

Life in the mountains is peaceful and serene, but yesterday a change occurred at the villa in the capital.

The Ning family was destroyed overnight. Knowing his predicament was difficult, Prince Xuan maintained a facade of marital bliss with his wife, Fu Jingze, and for some time did not set foot in Chi Yingyue's place.

The villa invited him over several times, but he declined each time, citing his busy official duties.

Chi Yingyue was already unhappy about this, and coupled with the sensitivity of her pregnancy, she was so angry yesterday that she threw a teacup at the maid that Prince Xuan had arranged to serve her during her pregnancy. The scalding tea splashed all over the maid, and before the broken porcelain on the floor could be cleaned up, Chi Yingyue accidentally stepped on the broken porcelain when she got off the bed. She twisted her ankle and fell heavily to the ground, and blood immediately appeared on her body.

The maid was so frightened that she hurriedly went to fetch a doctor, but unfortunately, the four-month-old fetus could not be saved. Knowing that this accident was no small matter, the chief servant left by Prince Xuan immediately returned to the mansion to report.

King Xuan had been working tirelessly on the Ministry of Works during the day, and was already exhausted when he returned home at night to enjoy a peaceful time with his wife. Upon hearing this terrible news, he didn't even have time to hold the documents in his hand before he immediately rode his horse to the villa.

Chi Yingyue was pale and bloodless, lying on the bed with tears streaming down her face. The doctor prescribed Bazhen Tang (Eight Treasures Soup), but she refused to drink it no matter what.

Upon hearing the news, Lady Yin rushed over to take care of her, but no matter how earnestly she tried to persuade her, Chi Yingyue insisted on waiting for Prince Xuan to arrive.

Yin was also very anxious, but fortunately, King Xuan arrived not long after.

This was the first time King Xuan had seen her so weak and pitiful. He couldn't bear it and personally brought her the medicine, saying, "Drink the medicine. Your health is the most important thing."

With red eyes, Chi Yingyue asked him, "Now that the baby is gone, does Your Highness not want me anymore?"

King Xuan sighed, “What nonsense are you talking about? I have been busy with state affairs these past few days and have indeed been unable to attend to them. I have neglected you, but you should also understand that our relationship is awkward and cannot be made public for the time being. Especially at this critical juncture in the struggle for the crown prince position, I cannot afford to make any mistakes, nor can I offend the Fu family.”

Chi Yingyue clenched her fists tightly, her whole body trembling as she cried.

Originally, Prince Xuan was her only lifeline, and the child in her womb was her greatest support. Now that the child is gone, the so-called status of a mother who gains wealth through her son, the so-called birth mother of the eldest prince, and the immense wealth have all become a mirage.

She thought her luck had turned around and that she was destined to become an empress, but now, given her current situation, she could be discarded at any moment and forced to hide her identity with nowhere to complain...

King Xuan knew what she was afraid of and promised, "Don't worry, once things have calmed down, I will definitely give you a title, a high position and honor, and you will have children again."

With teary eyes, Chi Yingyue asked, "Really? Will His Highness continue to love me?"

King Xuan said gently, "Of course, you just need to stay here and recover. I will welcome you into my residence."

Watching her obediently finish her medicine, the Prince Xuan bestowed upon her many pieces of jewelry and precious medicinal herbs. Not wanting to linger any longer, he got up and prepared to leave.

Chi Yingyue looked at him expectantly: "When will Your Highness come to see me again?"

King Xuan looked at her pitiful appearance and his heart stirred slightly.

With her usual glamorous makeup removed, Chi Yingyue's pale face was no bigger than the palm of his hand, which reminded him of Princess Zhao. She was also pitiful, gentle and weak, which made people feel sorry for her.

"Rest assured and take care of yourself. I will come to see you whenever I have time. If there is anything important, please send a servant to deliver a message to me at any time."

Chi Yingyue finally nodded and watched him leave.

As King Xuan walked out of the villa, he felt a strange sense of relief, his tense nerves relaxing slightly. He had been anxious and heartbroken over her stillbirth.

He no longer needs to consider how to explain the existence of this child in the future, or how to admit that he has an eldest son outside without offending the Fu family.

As for Chi Yingyue, once he successfully ascends the throne, it will simply mean two more favored concubines in his harem, and at that time, no one in the Fu family will dare to object.

After Prince Xuan left, Madam Yin wiped away her daughter's tears and comforted her, "I asked your father. Consort Li has lost power, and the Ning family is not as powerful as before. But Prince Xuan still has Chief Minister Fu backing him up. He is still the most promising prince. We just can't offend the Fu family right now, so we can only ask you to make do for now."

"But if he can't ascend the throne soon, won't I have to wait forever?" Chi Yingyue blurted out in her anxiety, "Until I'm old and faded, and the emperor still hasn't come..."

Before she could finish speaking, Madam Yin immediately covered her mouth, saying, "Don't spout such treasonous nonsense."

Lady Yin lowered her voice and said, "Prince Ding and Prince Rong are both gone, and Prince Zhao is blind. Everyone is eyeing that position. They will only be more anxious than you. Just wait patiently."

That was all Madam Yin could do to comfort her daughter; she couldn't possibly say anything discouraging that might make her contemplate suicide.

Chi Yingyue slowly stopped crying. "Speaking of Prince Zhao, how is Chi Ying doing these days? Last time during the Spring Festival, I saw her strolling through the lantern market with Prince Zhao."

Madam Yin had been keeping an eye on Prince Zhao's residence and had heard rumors of a harmonious relationship between Prince Zhao and his wife. She cursed Chi Ying a thousand times in her heart. Now that Chi Ying had misappropriated her dowry money and taken advantage of Ying Yue's marriage, she had gained a respectable and glorious life. She had probably long forgotten her own origins.

However, we cannot touch her now, otherwise it will lead to the matter of a substitute marriage, and the Chi family will suffer the consequences.

Madam Yin gritted her teeth and said to herself, "Let her be smug for a couple of days. When you become an empress, it will be a piece of cake for you to deal with her."

Chi Yingyue nodded. For the sake of future wealth and pride, she also needed to take good care of her health.

She got pregnant so easily before, so she will definitely gain status and prestige because of her child.

Hot Spring Resort.

After resting for a while in the afternoon, Chi Ying took Lian Yun to the mountains to pick mushrooms.

She was familiar with all kinds of mushrooms and could distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous ones. Lian Yun was light and agile, picking wherever she pointed. In less than half an hour, the two of them had picked a full bamboo basket and even found chestnut mushrooms, morel mushrooms and green-headed mushrooms that were rarely seen.

The guards split into two groups: some went up the mountain to hunt, while others went down to the market to buy local vegetables, oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. Since they were going to stay here to escape the summer heat for a month, it wouldn't hurt to buy more. Moreover, they had heard that the princess was cooking herself, so they had to prepare more ingredients for her to use as she pleased.

The guards of Prince Zhao's mansion were all top-notch experts who had followed Prince Zhao through life-and-death situations in the northern frontier, enduring wind and rain. Hunting was naturally no problem for them. They had only been out for half a day when they brought back a wild goat.

Chi Ying's eyes widened in disbelief. She had only hoped to hunt some pheasants and ducks to make soup or cook mushrooms, but she never expected to find such a fat sheep, enough to feed all of them for several days.

Thinking that it would be more lively with more people, Chi Ying suggested that everyone eat roasted lamb skewers together, and everyone clapped and agreed.

Cheng Huai carried the goat to the lakeside to process it, while the other two guards picked up tree branches, split them into skewer-sized pieces, and helped skewer the meat.

Everyone else had something to do, but Yan Xuecui was idle. He asked his "Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices," "What can I do?"

Chi Ying was busy making mutton soup. When she turned around, she saw him dressed in a spotless white robe, with the warm fragrance of garland emanating from his sleeves. She really couldn't think of anything she could ask him to do.

"How about... Your Highness goes fishing?"

Since he can't see it anyway, I'll just sit quietly and wait for someone willing to take the bait.

Yan Xuecui smiled and said, "That works too."

He went to the lake alone, carrying his bamboo cane.

There were ready-made fishing rods in the village, and fermented bran was kneaded into balls to serve as bait. The guard brought them to him, and Yan Xuecui picked out a smooth stone and slowly sat down to fish.

Seeing that the mutton in the pot was almost cooked, Chi Ying turned the heat down to a simmer. Suddenly, she remembered something, was startled, and hurriedly went to the lakeside to check on Yan Xuecui.

She hadn't thought of it just now; how could a blind man go to the water's edge? What if he accidentally fell in?

He hurriedly ran out of the courtyard, but saw the man sitting alone by the lake in the distance, holding a long pole. His spine was as straight as a pine or bamboo, his posture elegant and composed, solemn and dignified, like a deity.

The only downside was that the bucket was empty; they hadn't caught a single fish all day.

Chi Ying stepped forward and took his arm. "Why don't we go back? There might not be any fish in this lake, and besides, we have plenty of food today, so we don't need a few more fish."

Yan Xuecui was helped to her feet and put away her fishing rod, but she had no intention of leaving. "Since we've come all this way, how can we leave empty-handed?"

Chi Ying couldn't figure out how he wouldn't leave empty-handed. Suddenly, a thought struck her: could it be that what he wanted was...?

So she opened her palms and intertwined her fingers with his, saying, "My husband is holding my hand, so I won't be leaving empty-handed."

Yan Xuecui paused for a moment before realizing what was happening, then a smile spread across her face. "Aying, what are you thinking about?"

Chi Ying said helplessly, "It's all because of you. I've suffered a lot because of you."

There is no one in the world more clingy than him.

Yan Xuecui laughed for a while before saying, "Gather some branches for me."

Chi Ying was puzzled, but she still picked up a branch from the nearby grass and handed it to him.

Yan Xue casually scattered the prepared wheat bran onto the lake surface, and the fish in the water immediately jumped up to eat. He listened intently to the movement on the lake surface, pinched a few twigs between his fingers, and waved his hand into the lake. The soft twigs immediately shot out like sharp hidden weapons, each one piercing the belly of a fish. In just one move, seven or eight fish had already floated to the surface of the lake.

Chi Ying stared in disbelief.

He clearly couldn't see, yet his strength and accuracy were second to none.

Chi Ying vaguely recalled the night she returned to her parents' home. He was still inside the carriage when he managed to shoot an arrow through the assassin's throat from afar, almost killing her on the spot.

Yan Xue sent someone to catch fish. After washing his hands, the person took Yan Xue's hand, but the palm that had been warm just moments before was now ice cold.

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Author's Note: Xiao Yan: The bullet fired in my youth hit me right between the eyebrows years later [sunglasses]

You think you can scare your wife? [question mark][question mark]