Difficult to cure

"The child... is gone..."

These words made Yan Shu feel a sudden clench in her chest, as if a piece of it had been forcibly ripped out. She instinctively clutched her chest, curling up in pain.

Why... even though she was extremely careful and stopped using the "medicine" early on, why couldn't she keep the child?

Yan Shu's vision blurred, and Ling Yuan's anxious voice faded into the distance. The last thing she saw was his pair of eyes filled with panic.

She felt the darkness engulfing her.

It was that familiar hunting ground again, dust swirling, figures jostling about. This time, she saw it more clearly—a man in princely robes stood with his back to her, his posture upright. That back was all too familiar, so familiar it made her heart race.

Before she could think it through, an unexpected event occurred!

The same woman in palace attire suddenly rushed out from the side and pounced on the man's back without hesitation.

"puff--"

It was the dull thud of an arrow piercing flesh.

A cold arrow struck the woman squarely in the back of the heart.

The woman's body went limp and she collapsed, her magnificent palace dress quickly stained crimson with blood.

Almost simultaneously, Yan Shu felt the same sharp pain in her chest! It felt as if she had been pierced by an arrow.

"Ah—!" she screamed in pain.

"Shu'er! Shu'er!"

Lingyuan's voice pulled her back from the nightmare. Yan Shu opened her eyes abruptly, her chest still heaving violently, the pain of being shot by an arrow still lingering.

She rolled her eyes blankly and met Ling Yuan's red eyes.

His hair was disheveled, and he looked incredibly haggard. Seeing her awake, his eyes lit up, and he quickly reached out to touch her face, his voice hoarse: "Shu'er? Are you feeling unwell? The imperial physician is outside..."

child……

The pain of reality returned instantly, more piercing than the arrows in her dreams. The child who had stayed in her womb for seven months, kicking and moving, carrying all her hopes... was gone.

Is history truly unchangeable? She did so much, yet she still couldn't escape it… So, must they face their tragic end as well…?

A chill ran up from the soles of her feet, making her feel cold all over.

“Shu’er,” Ling Yuan held her hand tightly, trying to warm her cold fingertips, “The imperial physician said… that if you recover, you will… you will have children again.”

He paused, pressed her hand to his face, and stared at her intently: "You still have me."

You still have me.

These words seemed to shatter Yan Shu's carefully maintained composure.

She abruptly pulled her hand back, covered her face, and burst into uncontrollable sobs.

It wasn't a quiet sob; it was a heart-wrenching cry, as if she were crying out her heart and lungs. Tears streamed down her face, quickly soaking her palms and sleeves, and her thin shoulders trembled violently.

Ling Yuan's heart broke at her crying. He wanted to hug her, but she pushed him away. He could only stand there, listening to her desperate cries and watching her curl up in the blankets, her fists clenched tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms.

But there was nothing he could do.

All I can do is stay by her side and share her pain.

When the news reached the Prince Chen's residence, Xuan Gui was talking with Yu Xue'er in the study.

"Do you think my aunt will like this jade lock?" Xuan Gui asked with a hopeful smile as he held the newly made longevity lock in his hand.

Just as Yu Xue'er was about to speak, Qingfeng rushed in, his face looking very unpleasant.

"Your Highness, news has come from the Prince Duan's residence... the Princess Consort has miscarried."

The jade lock in Xuan Gui's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

"What?" He jumped to his feet. "When did this happen? How is my aunt?"

"Last night, it was a fully formed male fetus... but it couldn't be saved. The princess is out of danger, but..." Qingfeng paused, "I heard her uterus was damaged, and she may have difficulty conceiving in the future."

Yu Xueer covered her mouth, her eyes instantly turning red.

Xuan Gui stood there stunned for a long while before finally managing to speak: "Prepare the carriage, we're going to Prince Duan's residence!"

......

The Lingxiao Pavilion was eerily quiet.

Chun Tao tiptoed in and whispered, "Your Highness, Your Highness, His Highness Prince Chen and Miss Yu have arrived."

Ling Yuan nodded, gesturing for them to come in.

Yan Shu had already cried her heart out, and now she was staring blankly at the top of the tent, tears streaming down her face silently.

Xuan Gui and Yu Xue'er walked in. Yu Xue'er bowed respectfully, and Xuan Gui greeted them as "Royal Uncle and Royal Aunt".

Seeing Yan Shu like this, Ling Yuan felt as if his heart was being torn apart. He said to Xue'er, "I'll go check on the food and medicine prepared for the Princess. You talk to her for a bit, I'll be right back."

Hyun-gyu went out with him.

"Uncle..." Xuan Gui called out to him from behind, looking at Ling Yuan's haggard figure, feeling very sad. He had never seen his uncle like this before.

Ling Yuan stopped walking, but did not turn around.

"I'm going to check on the medicine," he said and left.

Xuan Gui stood there, watching his figure disappear under the corridor, feeling a tightness in his chest.

Soon, Lingyuan returned with a bowl of porridge.

Yu Xue'er took the bowl of porridge, and Ling Yuan sat down on the edge of the bed, gently helping Yan Shu sit up: "Shu'er, eat something."

Yan Shu turned her head away, not wanting to eat.

"Shu'er," Ling Yuan's voice was low.

Yan Shu trembled slightly upon hearing his tearful voice. She slowly turned her head, looked into his red eyes, and finally nodded gently.

Lingyuan let her lean against him, and Yu Xueer carefully scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it to cool it down, and brought it to her lips.

Yan Shu forced down two sips and then shook her head.

"Your Highness, please have some more," Yu Xue'er gently urged.

Hyun-kyu chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty, you must take care of yourself."

Yan Shu shook her head again, and tears fell down her cheeks once more.

Seeing this, Ling Yuan had no choice but to say, "Alright, if you don't want to eat, then don't."

Yu Xueer and Xuan Gui sat for a while longer, but seeing that Yan Shu was not in good spirits, they got up and said goodbye.

......

Inside the Cui residence, the study was quiet.

Cui Chong sat in a grand chair reading a book.

A trusted aide tiptoed in and whispered, "Prime Minister, news has come from the Prince Duan's residence... The Princess Consort miscarried; it was a fully formed male fetus, but she couldn't save it."

Cui Chong paused in his flipping through the book.

The study was so quiet that you could hear the crackling of the charcoal fire.

After a long while, he put down his book, his voice devoid of emotion: "How is he?"

"The princess is out of danger, but... her uterus is severely damaged, and she may have difficulty conceiving in the future."

Cui Chong didn't speak, but his fingers on the armrest tightened slightly.

Suddenly, an image of his youngest daughter flashed before his eyes—a rosy-cheeked little bundle, following behind him and softly calling out "Daddy." She was his daughter, born late in life, and he had truly cherished her.

Although she had long suspected that the "tonic" would harm her health and might cause infertility, when she actually heard the news and confirmed that the drug had indirectly killed her grandson and might prevent her daughter from ever becoming a mother again, her heart still felt like it had been pricked by a needle, a dull ache.

In the end, she was still his Shu'er.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, the slight ripple in his eyes was gone.

"Pick out some good medicinal herbs," he waved to his trusted aide, "and have the madam send them over. Let her... take good care of herself."

"yes."

The trusted confidant has stepped down.

The study door closed gently, and the room darkened again.

Cui Chong put down his book and sat alone in the shadows for a long, long time. In the empty room, only a barely audible sigh remained.

"Shu'er..."