Chapter 53 (Second Update) She didn't need him, it turns out...

Xiao Mingzhang's first day at Yunzhu's house.

Early in the morning, Yunzhu took Mu Zhaozhi to school. Ayan was too lazy to stay at home and stare at him, so she simply went out as well. For a moment, only Xiao Mingzhang was left in the house.

He still had a fever and had nothing to do, so he began to look around the small house where Yunzhu lived.

The houses in remote border towns, compared to those in royal palaces, are hardly spacious or bright, but they are cozy and clean.

Yunzhu's bedroom was small and warm, and everything was neatly arranged. Her sheets and blankets were a light cherry blossom pink embroidered with wisteria, and the pillowcases and bed curtains were all part of a complete set. Last night, when Xiao Mingzhang lay on it, he felt that he could smell a faint fragrance of orchids.

Her desk in her bedroom was placed in front of the window, and right next to the window was a row of flower stands. During the day, opening the window would reveal a direct view of the courtyard, where flowers bloomed in a fragrant and vibrant display. It was currently autumn, and the first autumn rain had fallen last night, so all the flowers and plants in the courtyard still looked a little dewy.

Xiao Mingzhang walked and looked around. When Yunzhu was around, he pretended to be weak and had a headache, which was indeed true. But after Yunzhu left, he became somewhat unrestrained. Despite his illness, he walked from Yunzhu's bed to her desk, and then from her desk to her kitchen and yard.

He saw traces of Yunzhu's life everywhere. The thick stack of calligraphy practice books on the desk was proof of Yunzhu's hard work over the years, and the various books and notes next to it were strong evidence of her literacy and continuous self-study over the years...

Yunzhu's calligraphy... Over the years, Xiao Mingzhang had repeatedly studied the calligraphy books she left behind, clearly understanding how each stroke was written. He had long heard Yu Zhouling tell him that Yunzhu seemed to have become very fond of reading in recent years, and her calligraphy was quite different from before, remarkably good. But these things, like Yunzhu becoming a teacher of horseback riding and archery, were things he had always heard about but never witnessed firsthand, and he had no real understanding of them. Only now did he finally know what "remarkably good" truly meant.

Yunzhu's handwriting has changed significantly since she left Yunzhou. This proves that Yunzhu is indeed a very gifted student. Once she grasps the essence of something, she can learn it very quickly.

Clearly, she has gradually come to understand the principles of calligraphy and has begun to develop her own unique style.

It was a style completely different from his calligraphy, yet quite sharp and beautiful.

No wonder the old scholar in the school left, and they asked her to temporarily take over the teaching position.

Yunzhu was really different from what he remembered.

She lived well here, had neighbors, friends, students, and an old scholar who trusted her... Even without him, she seemed to be doing just as well.

Xiao Mingzhang originally wanted to be happy for Yunzhu, but after looking around Yunzhu's house and sitting on the steps she walked on every day, looking at the scenery she saw every day, he felt empty inside and could not be happy at all.

Perhaps it was because he knew that the better Yunzhu fared here, the more it meant she truly didn't need him, and that his existence was a mistake. He was the one who brought all the pain to Yunzhu; he was the one who placed all the suffering upon her.

The fact that Yunzhu was living so happily without him only made him seem like a demon determined to drag her to hell, as he wanted to take her back to Yunzhou, back to the royal palace, and even to Jinling.

But he had no choice. Xiao Mingzhang thought, he couldn't live without Yunzhu, he couldn't bear to part with Yunzhu, he wanted to be with Yunzhu for life. Heaven knows how he had been counting down the days all these years. All his efforts over the years were for the day when he could openly bring Yunzhu back, and his father would no longer be able to stop him.

Now that he has accomplished it, how can he just give up?

Not to mention, they also have such a lovely daughter...

Xiao Mingzhang had just seen Mu Zhaozhi's calligraphy copybook on Yunzhu's desk.

Compared to her mother's calligraphy practice books, Mu Zhaozhi's calligraphy practice books are now truly appalling, just like Yunzhu's when she first started practicing calligraphy.

But she was only two years old, not yet three, so Xiao Mingzhang naturally didn't think there was anything wrong with his child.

On the contrary, he thought Mu Zhaozhi was very clever.

There are many people who can pick up a pen and practice writing at the age of three, but very few who can write so many characters at the age of three.

His daughter could.

Xiao Mingzhang felt genuinely proud of his daughter.

But I also feel worried.

Even without him, Yunzhu could raise her daughter very well...

Apart from the period immediately following the news of Yunzhu's death, Xiao Mingzhang had never felt so lost, unsure of his true significance to Yunzhu.

If she goes home with him, is there really no benefit for her at all?

Although he was still burning up, Xiao Mingzhang sat on the steps of Yunzhu for almost half an hour.

It had rained last night, and the courtyard was chilly and devoid of sunlight. He didn't care. It wasn't until half an hour later that he got up, slowly returned to the house, took off his outer clothes, and went back to bed.

He was gambling, gambling on Yunzhu's soft heart, gambling on a chance for him to win her back.

No lunch today? No problem. No dinner today? No problem. Even tomorrow or the day after, he can skip meals. As long as Yunzhu feeds him a bite of food and a spoonful of medicine before he dies, then he has won.

Xiao Mingzhang held onto this hope, knowing that his guards were nearby, but they gave him no hints, did not call them to bring him food, and did not call them to bring him medicine.

He endured it all until nightfall. When Xiao Mingzhang noticed that it was very late and none of Yunzhu, Ayan, or Mu Zhaozhi had returned home, he called over a guard to ask, "What happened outside today? Where are the Princess Consort and the others?"

The guard cautiously observed Xiao Mingzhang's expression and said, "Your Highness... you... you never asked us to come and disturb you, so we didn't dare to say anything... Your Highness's wife went to see the new courtyard after school this afternoon."

"A new courtyard?" Xiao Mingzhang asked, puzzled.

"Yes." The guard relayed Yunzhu's words verbatim, saying, "The Crown Princess said that the young lady will soon be three years old. Recently, she has been taking the young lady to school and found that the house is quite far from the school. So she wants to buy a house closer to the school and then sell this house. When the scholar's wife heard this, she said that she knew which houses near the school were for sale and took her to see those houses! Moreover, they seemed to be having a very pleasant conversation and planned to stay at the scholar's wife's place tonight. After nightfall, we saw that Miss Ayan also went there!"

As expected, Xiao Mingzhang's expression changed as soon as the guard finished speaking.

His face was already pale from the fever, and now it was as dark as a cloud.

Xiao Mingzhang was surprised that Yunzhu had become so averse to him. She didn't want to be near him at all, not even for a single night, let alone share a room with him...

Xiao Mingzhang's composure, which he had been maintaining all day, finally crumbled at this moment. His face was grim, and he couldn't suppress the dryness and itchiness in his throat. He coughed a few times before asking the guard, "Didn't that scholar's wife mention me? Didn't she remember that she had a sick person at home?"

There are no secrets in this small town. Xiao Mingzhang did not believe that Yunzhu could disregard the opinions of outsiders and abandon him.

"Yes!" the guard replied immediately.

After answering, he cautiously stammered, "The scholar's wife asked about last night's events, and whether you were still there. Then the Crown Princess said..."

"say what?"

The guard bowed, closed his eyes, steeled his resolve, stamped his foot, and finally answered Xiao Mingzhang's question in one breath: "The Crown Princess said she would temporarily hire an old nanny with free time to take care of you. The old nanny will arrive first thing tomorrow morning. Once you recover, she will dismiss you and sell the hospital to settle the matter..."

"cough--"

Another cough escaped from Xiao Mingzhang's throat.

He lay face down on the bed, his eyes wide open, but he couldn't support his frail, rain-soaked body and slowly collapsed.

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Author's Note: Here it is, the regular nighttime update!