Gan Qiongying was heartbroken and rushed forward, opening her arms to hug Gan Lin tightly.

The moment she embraced Gan Lin, Gan Qiongying felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction rising within her. This satisfaction came not only from herself but also from the very body she embodied.

In an instant, it was as if two souls existing in one body had merged together, sharing the same life and feelings, and finally, their wish was fulfilled, and they embraced the person they cared about most in this life.

To Princess Duanrong, Ganlin was her younger brother and the person she loved.

For Gan Qiongying, Gan Lin was the first person who risked his life and safety to drink poison for her after she transmigrated to another world.

When Gan Qiongying finally held Gan Lin in her arms, she realized that Gan Lin was even thinner than she had imagined.

It has only been a few months since he last entered the palace, but Gan Lin has already transformed from a normal-sized adult man who was only slightly thin into a skeletal figure.

Gan Qiongying even had the illusion that she could wrap her arm around Gan Lin's entire waist.

"How could you get so thin... How could you get so thin..." Gan Qiongying's throat tightened, as if someone had tied her neck with a belt. Every word was squeezed out from her throat, mixed with deep heartache.

When Gan Lin was embraced by Gan Qiongying, he was momentarily dazed before immediately hugging her back, his arms trembling violently.

He thought his elder sister would never forgive him again. His elder sister was proud and had a strong sense of self-respect. She would never bow her head or give in the slightest, even in front of the late emperor.

Last time, in order to protect my elder sister from being harmed by the Empress Dowager, I so rudely drove her out of the palace and ordered her not to enter the palace without being summoned.

Gan Lin thought that even if he knelt down and begged for mercy, his elder sister would no longer love him.

Gan Lin just wanted to see his older sister today, even if she wouldn't forgive him, at least he could see her.

To Gan Lin, the vast palace was nothing more than a desolate and cold palace, and he was the prey in the mouth of the monsters on the palace walls. Gan Lin even felt that if he could cut off all contact with his elder sister, it might be a good thing for her.

Even if the dynasty falls one day, at least my sister will still have a husband who is good at business. Gan Lin had to beg the Empress Dowager for a long time in order to secretly leave the palace to test the prince consort.

That prince consort is definitely a kind-hearted person and will take responsibility for his elder sister.

Gan Lin didn't expect that his older sister didn't blame him at all.

His older sister came to see him and hugged him. She's still the same as when he was a child; she'll always love him the most.

Gan Lin, who was already unable to hold back her tears, suddenly burst into tears like a flood bursting its banks, like a child who had fallen to the ground and was enduring the pain, but then someone asked him if he was in pain. His tears flowed like a mountain collapsing and his heart was like a torrent.

“Sister…Sister…” Gan Lin hugged Gan Qiongying tightly, struggling to pull away from her body as tears streamed down his face. He almost immediately collapsed by the bed, his face covered in mud from the tears, revealing his true, grimy complexion underneath.

Gan Qiongying was held tightly by him, causing her to bend over. Fortunately, she managed to grab the dragon head relief on the headboard in time, preventing it from falling on Gan Lin.

Gan Lin's sobs started as choked sobs, but quickly turned into wailing.

Gan Lin has always been a weak and incompetent person. He always walked around ant nests since he was a child. He was full of kindness but never dared to speak harshly to anyone. He was born to be bullied and never grew any strong bones like a steel spear.

He dedicated his entire life, all his courage and strength, to protecting Princess Duanrong.

Gan Qiongying could clearly see in Duanrong's memory that Gan Lin was suited to be a wealthy and leisurely young master, reading by the window, boating on the lake, never lifting a finger, and being neither physically active nor knowledgeable about farming.

But what has become of this child?

Gan Lin rarely reveals his true nature in front of outsiders, but he grew up with Princess Duanrong since childhood. Even though he is now more than a head taller than Gan Qiongying's body and looks like Emperor Huicheng, with a pair of majestic phoenix eyes, he can still look quite convincing when he puts on an act.

But he remained that child who huddled in a corner of the palace, too afraid to beg a single cake from the wicked servants to survive and fill his stomach.

Princess Duanrong was also sent to the imperial palace. When she first saw Gan Lin, she thought she was seeing a kitten. He was thin, pitiful, and timid.

Princess Duanrong protected him, rescued him from the clutches of those wicked servants, watched him become the crown prince and then the emperor, and raised him to be tall and strong. Unexpectedly, despite all her efforts, she has now turned him into this hunched and frail figure once again.

Gan Qiongying stood by the bed, holding Gan Lin's head, a strong sense of resentment and hatred rising in her heart again.

She felt hatred for Duanrong and Ganlin. How unfair was God! This pair of unfortunate siblings had only wanted to live a good life from beginning to end.

Gan Lin's voice was broken and indistinct, but Gan Qiongying could vaguely make out some of it: "I miss you so much... Sister, it's so dark and cold in the palace at night."

Gan Qiongying could only feel heartache and silently shed tears. She reached out and touched Gan Lin's head, pressing his head tightly against her waist and abdomen. She felt that the thick dress around her waist and abdomen was soaked through by Gan Lin's tears.

Gan Lin cried for a long time, burying her face in Gan Qiongying's waist without looking up.

He cried so hard that he started hiccuping. Gan Qiongying's overwhelming grief finally subsided like the receding tide amidst his loud, hoarse hiccups, which sounded like a goose quacking.

Gan Qiongying's own eyes were red from crying. She patted Gan Lin's shoulder and said, "Don't cry. I brought you some radish cake. I guess it's already passed the imperial kitchen's inspection and been brought back by Eunuch Li."

"Eat some radish cake to settle your stomach."

After crying, Gan Lin felt embarrassed. After all, he was already so grown up. The last time he cried in his older sister's arms was when he was just a few years old.

Gan Lin lifted his head from Gan Qiongying's stomach. His face had been cleaned by crying and rubbing, and because of his crying, rubbing, and coughing, his complexion did look much rosier. Although his cheekbones were very thin, his emotions had changed visibly after a hysterical outburst. The gloom in his eyes was like a clear sky after a storm, shining brightly.

Gan Qiongying flicked Gan Lin's forehead, her voice still slightly nasal, and teased him, "How old are you, Your Majesty? Don't you know any shame? You're crying like a goose."

Gan Lin's face was already red, and Gan Qiongying's words made him blush even more.

She called out softly, "Sister..."

When he was a child, he would always call Princess Duanrong that when he begged for forgiveness, and then no matter what naughty he did, Princess Duanrong could not blame him.

Gan Qiongying also fell for this.

But Gan Qiongying looked down at her ruined dress, which was covered in makeup, a messy, colorful mess.

Gan Qiongying patted the damp fabric around her stomach and said, "I'll go to the palace banquet tonight like this. If anyone asks, I'll just say it's because you cried."

Gan Lin was stunned for a moment, then her face turned even redder, and her lips moved but she didn't know how to respond.