The tears in Sheng Xiyan's eyes were like pearls that had broken off the string, and each drop hit Qi Yan's heart hard, making him heartbroken.

Since they met again, they had never had a formal conversation about the past.

Today, for the first time, I will speak frankly about the thoughts that are buried deep in my heart.

Qi Yan subconsciously reached out his hand and wanted to wipe Sheng Xiyan's tears.

Just as his fingertips were about to touch her delicate cheek, Sheng Xiyan turned her head away.

Qi Yan stood quietly behind her, looking at her trembling shoulders, his heart filled with guilt and self-blame, and he even lost the courage to turn around and face her.

Outside the window, a breeze blew quietly, carrying the sweet fragrance of tuberose and peony flowers into the house.

It was just like the sweet time they spent together in the quiet bamboo garden after their marriage.

But now, the beauty of the past has been drowned and eroded by bitter tears.

The sweet smell also became like a fish stick in the throat.

Qi Yan walked up to Sheng Xiyan with heavy and firm steps.

Those beautiful eyes were already red and swollen from crying, like two ripe peaches.

Qi Yan felt so distressed that he carefully supported her delicate shoulders.

The voice was hoarse:

"Ayan, it was all my fault in the past. I failed to fulfill my responsibility to protect you, which is why you suffered so much hardship and grievance.

From now on, I will definitely compensate you double and will never let you suffer any harm again.

I am willing to use my life to protect you, cherish you, and love you deeply..."

Sheng Xiyan's eyebrows twitched, and she bit her lips hard, so hard that her red lips turned white. She raised her eyes and stared at him resentfully.

Qi Yan felt a cool breeze blowing on his face and sliding into his heart.

"Qi Yan, don't you understand?

At that time I wanted to go back to my parents' home, but I couldn't take Jiang Jiang with me.

Stay in the palace and watch the general being kidnapped.

Desperate and shattered, he swallowed his tears with blood.

Just when we had nowhere to go, the Emperor was like a savior, providing warm shelter and solid support to Jiangjiang and me.

He was the only man I had any connection to in my rebirth.

Because of him, I learned to laugh again, found joy again, and rekindled my hope for the future."

She talked about Emperor Xuanwu's expression and tone of voice,

Qi Yan's body suddenly shook as if struck by lightning, and his lips trembled involuntarily.

"Ayan, are you in love with the emperor?" The voice was filled with tears that were hard to conceal.

Sheng Xiyan's peach blossom eyes were filled with indignation, and she asked back:

“Can’t I?

Should I remain faithful to you, clinging to my love for you, and living a miserable life being bullied by my in-laws?"

Qi Yan said with a sad heart: "Ayan, that's not what I meant."

It was a miracle that he came back, so how could he ask her to be faithful to him?

The sun shifts, and nears midday,

Because of the emotional excitement and pregnancy, Sheng Xiyan's originally fragile body felt exhausted.

My legs lost strength and I was about to fall.

Qi Yan hurriedly supported her.

"Ayan, are you exhausted? Come on, lie down and have a good rest."

He carefully helped her sit down on the rocking chair beside him.

The rocking chair was covered with a soft cushion in her favorite pattern of flowers and full moon.

Sheng Xiyan slowly lay down, closed her eyes weakly, and waited for important news from the palace.

Actually, last night, after taking a hot spring bath, I returned to the Dragon Couch in the Yangxin Palace.

She overheard what Xuan Ling said in a daze.

Half asleep and half awake, she felt a drop of hot tear falling directly on her eyelashes, and then she heard the emperor's muttering in her ears.

Only then did he realize that Xuan Ling had already recognized the mute female doctor as her and had always loved her.

Not only that, Xuan Ling said he was willing to let go and let her pursue happiness.

Based on her understanding of Xuan Ling's condition and what she heard, Sheng Xiyan made up her mind.

In accordance with the will of marriage, a treatment plan specifically for Xuan Ling's illness was planned.

This is also the reason why she went straight to the Marquis' Mansion as soon as she left the palace.

Qi Yan took a goose down blanket and covered her with it, then stayed quietly by her side.

In the palace, after Xuan Ling finished listening to the report, when he returned to the Yangxin Palace from Sanchunhui, there was still a faint scent of medicine lingering in the palace.

He glanced across the empty palace, as if he could still feel the warmth when Sheng Xiyan left.

"emperor..."

Eunuch Fu stepped forward cautiously, "Madam Sheng has already left the palace."

Xuan Ling clenched the jade ring tightly, and his knuckles turned white.

He walked slowly towards the throne, each step feeling like he was walking on the edge of a knife, the pain reaching from the soles of his feet straight to his heart.

The midday sun was dazzlingly warm, but it couldn't illuminate his dark heart.

"Royal brother!"

Prince Yu rushed into the palace without even bothering with etiquette.

"Why did you marry the Concubine Chen to the Marquis of Wu'an?"

"What is Concubine Chen?"

There is no longer any Concubine Chen in the world, and since Sheng Xiyan asked to leave the palace, she will no longer have this title in the future.

"Royal brother, are you really willing to let your beloved marry someone else? You will regret it!"

"Are you willing to give it up?"

Xuan Ling interrupted him, his voice hoarse,

"What is Shede?"

He leaned on the throne, staring blankly at the Panlong caisson on the ceiling of the palace.

"Only the one who lets go knows what it means to be willing to let go."

Prince Yu stamped his feet anxiously:

"Brother Emperor, do you know that as soon as I left the palace, I rushed to the Marquis' Mansion without stopping!

They might be discussing the wedding date enthusiastically right now!"

Xuan Ling's originally dark eyes as deep as a pool of water suddenly shrank, his two black eyebrows were tightly twisted together, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

Sheng Xiyan...

You are so eager to marry Qi Yan!

Don't you even care about the modesty that a woman should have?

Am I so insignificant in your heart that I am not even worth your slightest concern?

Thin lips and a wry smile,

Have you ever thought about how I feel?

Never before, in your heart, Qi Yan's feelings always come first!

A picture emerged in Xuan Ling's mind:

Sheng Xiyan was wearing a wedding dress, with a shy and happy smile on her face, walking towards Qi Yan step by step.

Every step he took was like a heavy hammer hitting Xuan Ling's heart.

Suddenly, he felt dizzy and everything went dark before his eyes.

A strong fishy-sweet smell suddenly rushed from the chest to the throat.

"puff--"

A mouthful of black blood spurted out like an arrow and landed heavily on the imperial desk.

Immediately afterwards, two more mouthfuls of blood spurted out, splashing onto the white jade dragon-patterned floor tiles, forming shocking blood-colored flowers.

"Royal brother!"

Prince Yu was horrified and rushed forward to support the shaky Xuan Ling.

"President Wu! Come quickly! Quick!"

Eunuch Fu screamed, and chaos broke out inside and outside the hall.

Judge Wu followed Sheng Xiyan's instructions and waited outside the palace gate.

Hearing a scream from inside, he ran in.

Entering the hall, he saw Emperor Xuanwu leaning on the dragon throne, his face as pale as paper, with shocking traces of bright red blood at the corners of his mouth.