Chapter 158 Marrying You

Xiao Yongjing quickly stepped forward and supported the swaying green bamboo:

"Tell me, what exactly happened at the Song residence today? And what's the deal with the poison in her body?"

Despite the excruciating pain, Qingzhu briefly recounted what had happened in the Song family's warehouse that day, albeit haltingly.

"As for the poison... I'm afraid it's also inseparable from the Song family."

With each sentence he heard, the chill in Xiao Yongjing's eyes deepened.

"Good, very good... Song family, Zhao Jieyu... none of you will escape."

He leaned down slightly and gently brushed away the stray hairs that had fallen across Shen Yiqiu's forehead.

"When she wakes up, I will personally accompany her to collect this blood debt, one by one, with interest, and make it all come back to her!"

Just then, Qingzhu suddenly remembered the people in the prison, and hurriedly knelt on the ground, kowtowing and pleading with tears in her eyes:

"Your Highness, I beg you! Quickly save Aunt Yun, Miss Ruoling, and Miss Sanchun! They were beaten so badly by those beasts from the Song family while trying to save Miss... I'm afraid their fate is grim!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yongjing frowned and immediately gave an order to the guards:

"Go to the dungeon and immediately move the three most seriously injured people out. Summon the imperial physicians to treat them with all their might!"

However, the news brought back by the guards stunned the two of them.

"Your Highness, the four people imprisoned in the dungeon are Bai Mei, Yun Shi, Song Ruoling, and Song Sanchun, who are seriously injured and unconscious. Your Highness has already moved them out and handed them over to the imperial physicians for treatment."

Qingzhu found it hard to believe:

"What? Then... what about Song Qingming, Madam Song, the young masters of the Song family, and Song Sangyu?"

The guard bowed his head and reported tremblingly:

"When my men arrived, there were only Marquis Yongjia, you, and these four seriously injured girls in the storeroom. The main members of the Song family... had all disappeared."

A surge of furious anger at being fooled instantly overwhelmed Xiao Yongjing.

How could he let the main culprit escape right under his nose?

Clearly, the Song family had made preparations in advance. There might have been a secret passage in the storeroom, and they had already taken the opportunity to escape when Aunt Yun and the others rushed in and created chaos.

Xiao Yongjing's face was ashen, and he forced out the words through clenched teeth:

"Search! Search the entire city! Seal all the city gates! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find these bastards from the Song family!"

His chest heaved violently. The Song family was incredibly audacious to stage such a dramatic escape right in front of him.

He turned around, his gaze falling on Shen Yiqiu's pale face, a mixture of murderous intent and heartache.

We can't wait any longer!

"Prepare the sedan chair; I must enter the palace immediately to see Zhao..."

"Um……"

A very faint groan came from the bed.

Xiao Yongjing suddenly turned his head, and Shen Yiqiu's long eyelashes trembled a few times before she slowly opened her eyes.

Her eyes were momentarily confused, but when she saw Xiao Yongjing guarding her bedside, they instantly cleared.

She opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but the movement aggravated her wounds, causing her to furrow her brow in pain.

Xiao Yongjing immediately bent down, his movements gentler than ever before, his voice much softer, and carefully tucked the blanket around her.

"You're awake? Don't move around. The imperial physician just treated your wounds."

Shen Yiqiu ignored his instructions and looked straight at him:

"You...why...are you only arriving now..."

Xiao Yongjing sensed the lingering fear in her words, and he felt the same way.

Yes, if he had arrived any later... he couldn't imagine.

Xiao Yongjing held her hand:

"It's my fault. I'm too late... I've made you suffer so much."

He looked at her weak yet determined appearance, his heart aching and his eyes reddening.

He lowered his head, his forehead gently touching their clasped hands, and repeated:

"I'm sorry, Yiqiu... I'm so sorry."

Shen Yiqiu reached out and squeezed his hand back, then closed her eyes and took a deep breath:

"It's not your fault... it was my own fault for underestimating their ruthlessness."

She paused, her gaze sweeping across the hall, and asked:

"Qingzhu... Baimei and the others..."

Xiao Yongjing immediately said:

"Qingzhu is being treated next door and is out of danger. I have sent people to do everything I can to treat Baimei, Aunt Yun, and your two half-sisters, so you can rest assured."

Hearing that they were still alive, Shen Yiqiu breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, she looked at Xiao Yongjing:

"The Song family... ran away, didn't they?"

Xiao Yongjing nodded silently.

Shen Yiqiu let out a cold laugh:

"You can run away from the monk, but you can't hide from the temple. Since Consort Zhao is the root cause, then..."

Xiao Yongjing picked up where she left off, interrupting her attempt to continue:

"I know. You take good care of your injuries, and leave the matters outside to me."

Shen Yiqiu shook her head and struggled to sit up:

"No... I want to go myself. There are some things I need to ask her personally."

Xiao Yongjing held her down: "Your body right now..."

How could he possibly say what came next?

Should we tell her that the imperial physician has predicted she only has three months to live, and that forcing herself to die now would only hasten her demise?

Looking at her pale face, a thought began to grow wildly in Xiao Yongjing's mind.

He had to protect her firmly under his wing, and in the most legitimate way, spend every second of her remaining time with her.

He took a deep breath:

"Yiqiu, let's get married."

Shen Yiqiu was taken aback by his sudden suggestion and was completely caught off guard by his leap of thought:

"……What?"

Xiao Yongjing held her hand; her fingertips were icy cold, but his palm was burning hot.

"The situation is chaotic right now. The Song family is on the run, and Consort Zhao is in the palace. We can't guard against any attacks, whether open or covert. Only if you become the rightful Crown Princess and move into the Eastern Palace can I use all the power of the Eastern Palace to protect you without any scruples and mobilize resources to help you investigate the case and heal your wounds. This is the fastest and safest way at present."

He explained the pros and cons, but his gaze remained fixed on her eyes.

Looking at Shen Yiqiu's bewildered eyes:

"Of course... there are also my own selfish reasons in this."

He leaned slightly closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear:

"I want to be by your side, openly and honestly protecting you. I want to be able to see you every day in the future... perhaps in the peaceful years after the storm has passed, without any pretense of righteousness."

Looking at the complex emotions in his eyes, Shen Yiqiu felt a growing sense of worry.

A pure, unseen longing in a man for the woman he loved—a longing he had never seen before.

Her once hardened heart seemed to have been gently cracked open by something.

She remained silent for a moment, not pressing him for an explanation for his sudden urgency, but instead meeting his burning gaze, she softly asked:

"Even though I am now infamous, have countless enemies, and may not live much longer..."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Xiao Yongjing abruptly interrupted her, his fingers instinctively tightening.

"I don't care about any of that! All I want is for you to live and stay by my side."

His reaction was so intense that Shen Yiqiu looked at him and unconsciously nodded slowly.

"good."