Qingying returned to the General's Mansion in a daze. After calming down, she ordered someone to deliver a visiting card to Chu Lingyu.

Coincidentally, Chu Lingyu happened to arrive at the General's Mansion.

She was clearly there to find Qingying. She was one of the people who went to search for Wei Huaixu after he was in danger, and she knew the most detailed information about the incident.

"I heard that Miss Liu sent someone to deliver a visiting card to me? There's no need for that." Chu Lingyu, dressed in a blue robe, surprisingly exuded a heroic and dashing aura.

She took her seat and Qingying quickly called Yuyue to serve tea.

"General Chu, I want to know the whole story of how we found His Highness the Crown Prince," Qingying said, getting straight to the point.

"Miss Liu, please don't be anxious. I came here today to tell you about this matter."

Chu Lingyu took a sip of tea and then truthfully recounted the scene: After the Crown Prince fell into the water, he was swept downstream by the river and was discovered by Meng Shushu, who happened to be passing by while gathering herbs. She rescued Wei Huaixu, took him home, and treated his injuries.

The girl was an orphan who lived alone in a small courtyard in the mountains. Because her father was a doctor, she was also skilled in traditional Chinese medicine and made a living by treating the villagers in the vicinity or collecting herbs in the mountains.

The crown prince had lost his memory, and Meng Shushu had saved his life, so it was only natural that he would fall in love with the girl. When they found the crown prince, he insisted on bringing the girl back with him and would only drink the medicine if she stayed by his side.

As Qingying listened, her heart grew colder and colder.

"So... he truly wants to marry that Miss Meng now..."

Chu Lingyu comforted her, saying, "Miss Liu, don't worry. Although that girl saved His Highness the Crown Prince's life, she is a commoner with no parents. The Emperor will not allow the Crown Prince to marry her."

"Is that so?" Qingying smiled sarcastically and said, "Now he thinks I'm the obstacle that prevents him from being with the girl he loves, but he clearly went to ask for the imperial decree to marry her himself."

She was already frail, and now her face was filled with sorrow, making her look as if she might shatter at any moment. Chu Lingyu couldn't help but feel sad as well.

“Miss Liu, the imperial physician said that these symptoms are only temporary. His Highness the Crown Prince loves you so much, he wouldn’t want to make him sad or upset. Please relax and wait until he gets better, then everything will be alright.”

Qingying, as if grasping at a lifeline, grabbed her sleeve and asked earnestly, "Is it true? Will he really get better?"

Chu Lingyu nodded vigorously, "Yes, it will be alright."

Qingying felt a little relieved. She thought that the result might not be so bad. After all, Xu had been so good to her. How could he bear to make her sad for too long?

She just needs to wait quietly.

But she never expected that she would receive news that Wei Huaixu was kneeling outside the Hall of Diligent Governance, begging His Majesty to dissolve the engagement.

Qingying sat frozen in her chair, utterly incredulous. "How could this be? How could he do this to me..."

Tongxia said anxiously, "Miss, this news has spread throughout the capital. Many people outside are waiting to see the General's Mansion make a fool of itself. What should we do?"

"What should I do? How am I supposed to know what to do?" Qingying's mind was a complete mess.

Just as the group was getting anxious, Wang arrived.

Upon seeing her, Qingying immediately felt as if she had found a pillar of support, and she grabbed her arm, crying, "Grandmother, His Highness the Crown Prince wants to break off our engagement, what am I going to do..."

"Don't worry, Shushu, Grandmother will stand up for you." Madam Wang patted her back tenderly.

She had never agreed to Qingying being with the Crown Prince. In her opinion, the General's Mansion held military power, and the Crown Prince's deliberate approach was obviously not for pure purposes.

At that time, Qingying said, "I know the stakes involved, I understand the Emperor's suspicion and fear, and I know what he can gain by marrying me. But feelings don't weigh the pros and cons. I don't want to enter the palace, but I want to marry him."

She felt that since her granddaughter liked it, she couldn't be the one to break them up, so she let her be.

Who would have thought that the crown prince would be so ungrateful!

After some reassurance, Qingying gradually calmed down.

Wang said, "Let's not rush him into the palace. Let's leave him out for a few days and let him suffer a bit so he'll learn his lesson."

Qingying was in low spirits and nodded obediently.

As she came out of the courtyard, Madam Wang saw Mu Jin and asked coldly, "Where is Madam? Such a big thing happened and she didn't show up. Where did she go? Is this how a mother should act?"

Upon seeing her, Mu Jin quickly curtsied and replied, "Madam is not in the manor at the moment. I will inform her when she returns."

"Not at home?" Madam Wang frowned, noticing the strange look on her face. After a moment's hesitation, she didn't ask any further questions, but simply said, "Have her come to see me as soon as she returns."

"yes."

...

Three days passed in a flash. Qingying stood by the window, looking at the drizzling rain outside, and asked the servant who had gone to inquire, "Is His Highness the Crown Prince still kneeling?"

The servant hesitated to answer, and she knew that His Highness the Crown Prince was still kneeling, trying to force His Majesty to compromise.

Granny Zhang brought over a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup, and said cautiously, "Miss hasn't eaten anything today. Please eat something, don't ruin your health."

Qingying shook her head. "I can't eat."

Xie Jiaoying came to stay with her early in the morning, and felt heartbroken as she watched her hard-won health deteriorate at a visible rate. "Sister Liu, why are you doing this? Not eating is harming your own body, but it's those two scoundrels who are enjoying themselves."

"I really have no appetite." Qingying sighed, gazing at the hazy sky outside, but the pent-up frustration in her heart just wouldn't dissipate.

She still hasn't been able to accept the fact that Wei Huaixu has forgotten her.

Just a month ago, he had sent her a letter saying that once he returned to the capital, he would have the Imperial Astronomical Bureau choose an auspicious day to marry her. But now, he was kneeling before the Hall of Diligent Governance, begging the Emperor to cancel their engagement.

Just a month ago, he said he couldn't wait to see her. But now, he's begging her to let him be with another woman.

Why? The man who promised to marry her, to wish her peace and happiness, and to let her live a long and healthy life—how come he seems to have suddenly disappeared?

After a long silence, she looked at the rain outside, which was gradually intensifying, and made up her mind: "I need to go to the palace."

Lady Wang entered the palace with her. When they arrived outside the Hall of Diligent Governance, they saw a figure with a straight back kneeling in front of the hall from afar. The rain soaked through his black robes, making him no longer the handsome and refined man he once was.

They walked over, and Wang was invited into the hall by Eunuch Yu, while Qingying stood outside, with Yu Yue holding an umbrella for her. She took another umbrella from Tongxia, opened it, and walked to Wei Huaixu.

Qingying rarely looked down at him. The man in front of her still had a high nose and deep-set eyes, and was gentle and handsome, but he felt completely unfamiliar to her.

His face was so pale, and even though he was so weak, he still had no intention of giving up.

Qingying's heartache returned.

Wei Huaixu was still recovering from his new injuries, and after being soaked in the rain for so long, he was barely holding on. It took him a while to realize who was standing in front of him. He kept his eyes fixed ahead, his voice hoarse and cold: "Miss Liu, there's no need for you to hold an umbrella for me."

Qingying watched him quietly without moving, so he moved to the side and laboriously stepped into the rain.

This inability to avoid her made Qingying feel somewhat embarrassed.