Chapter 555 Returning to the Capital
Li Mingshu knew that her body wouldn't last much longer. These days, she would fall asleep every night and always dream about things from her youth.
She knew her days were numbered, so when her second brother asked if she wanted to return to the capital, she quickly agreed. She was worried that if she didn't make proper arrangements for Yue'er and Changning before she left, something might go wrong after she was gone.
Changning is a woman, and she knows that. This one identity alone is enough to make her a target of political enemies in the future. Her body is now like a fallen leaf in autumn, and she doesn't know how much longer she can hold on.
Parents who love their children plan far ahead for them. The only thing she could think of was to entrust Yue'er to Changning. Among all the people she knew, she only trusted Changning.
It's not that I don't trust my father and mother, it's just that people in high positions inevitably have times when they feel lonely. Whether it's my father and mother or my elder brothers, their status makes it inevitable that they can't always take care of Yue'er.
Just like when she was forced to marry into the capital, she could endure some grievances, but she would never allow her daughter to go through the same path.
Changning initially held a gentle and kind attitude towards Yue'er. To her, Changning was her husband, her best friend, and her reliable ally.
Her daughter was born with white hair, and she could almost imagine the countless rumors that would inevitably circulate about her in the capital in the future.
The Emperor and Empress Dowager can now treat people better because Yue'er is their daughter, but what if someone uses their daughter's extraordinary appearance as a pretext?
She'd gamble on anything, but she wouldn't take the slightest risk with her daughter.
Therefore, when she knew that her days were numbered, she had to return to the capital first to pave the way for Changning and Yue'er.
At the very least, it must guarantee that the two of them will live a life of wealth and prosperity.
She had been married into the Lin family for some time now. The Lin family came from a farming background and had no connections to officialdom or the complexities of the inner quarters of the capital. Lin's mother and her two sisters-in-law were all kind and honest people.
The children treated Yue'er as usual, and even took good care of her.
The Lin family are all good people. Under the protection of Changning and the Lin family, my daughter will surely grow up healthy and happy.
Her moon doesn't need to be rich; as long as she can live a healthy and peaceful life for the rest of her days, that will be enough for her.
Therefore, Li Mingshu insisted on going to the capital despite her illness, using the last moments of her life and her feelings before her death to pave the way for A Ning and Yue'er's future.
However, she was conflicted. Changning's identity as a woman was ultimately a major disadvantage, and she couldn't keep it a secret forever.
Before she dies, she must secure a position for Changning that can protect her daughter and the Lin family.
Li Mingshu was now pondering how to use her father and mother's guilt to arrange a proper identity for Lin Changning.
However, due to his weak constitution, he felt a splitting headache before he could think for a while and fell into a deep sleep again.
Li Mingshu had just fallen asleep when the outer door creaked open, and Lin Changning, carrying a chill, entered the room. The maid at the door saw Lin Changning return and hurriedly stepped forward to help her remove her cloak.
"How is Madam feeling today? Has she taken her medicine? How much did she eat for dinner?"
The maidservant removed Lin Changning's cloak along her arm, then handed her a hot water bottle. After hanging the cloak on the nearby clothes rack, she lowered her head and replied, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the princess was awake for about fifteen minutes today. She had already taken her medicine while she was asleep. During that short time, she ate about half a bowl of rice porridge. The pickled vegetables made in the kitchen today were quite good, and the princess ate a few more bites. However, she was still a little weak. After eating and taking her medicine, she fell asleep again not long after."
Lin Changning nodded to indicate that he had heard, warmed his body with a hot water bottle, and sat down on the edge of the bed after feeling the chill dissipate.
The candlelight flickered gently. The maidservant, seeing Lin Changning sitting on the edge of the bed with a handsome face but a sorrowful expression, obediently left the room and closed the door behind her.
The charcoal fire in the room was burning hot, and in no time, it drove away all the chill from Lin Changning's body, and he soon felt warm.
Lin Changning's slender hand grasped Li Mingshu's pale, thin wrist, and upon touching that warmth, he felt a slight pang of pain in his heart.
He sat down on the edge of the bed and carefully held the seriously ill Li Mingshu in his arms. He gently rubbed Li Mingshu's cold fingers with his warm hands. Perhaps it was because Lin Changning's hands were calloused from years of holding knives that they were too rough, because Li Mingshu woke up in a short while.
"A-Ning? You're back?"
Lin Changning slowly rested his chin on Li Mingshu's thin shoulder, gave a muffled "hmm," and continued to rub Li Mingshu's cold hands.
Warm breath brushed against Li Mingshu's earlobe, causing her to involuntarily lean closer.
Are you still cold?
Li Mingshu slowly turned her head and looked up at Lin Changning. Her eyes, which were once as clear as a stream, were now filled with sorrow. Her heroic brows were also calm as she quietly warmed Lin Changning's body with her own.
"It's not cold. There's a charcoal fire burning in the room every day, so I'm not too cold."
Lin Changning burrowed in again, pressing his warm body against Li Mingshu's. Even through her clothes, he could feel Li Mingshu's chilly body; it was unbelievably cold.
After staying in the room for a short while, Lin Changning was sweating profusely, but Li Mingshu's body was still cool: "Ashu, you're lying, you're very cold."
As Lin Changning spoke, he pulled her into his arms: "I'm warming up for Ashu. I'm feeling warm, so this is just right."
Li Mingshu forced a smile and leaned closer to Lin Changning, resting her pale face against his chest, feeling the warmth and softness in his embrace: "You must be exhausted, waking up every morning covered in sweat. I can sleep by myself. The maids are all here in the evenings. Go to the room next door."
These past few days, I've heard from the maids that A-Ning changes her clothes every morning because she's afraid of the cold. Charcoal is always burning in her room, and Lin Changning always sweats profusely when she wakes up.
Lin Changning rubbed his chin against Li Mingshu's dark hair and hummed, "What? Does the princess think I'm not serving her well while I'm sleeping in the room? Sister~ I'm not hot, I just like sleeping with you at night."
Li Mingshu couldn't help but laugh out loud, but because she was too weak, it caused a series of coughs, which startled Lin Changning, who quickly patted Li Mingshu's back gently.
Li Mingshu's eyes were filled with tears from coughing. After the coughing subsided, she smiled at Lin Changning, her tears glistening in the candlelight: "You! You little rascal!"
She knew Lin Changning was deliberately trying to make her happy. After calming down, she nestled back into Lin Changning's arms, but this time her smile faded. She lowered her eyes and said, "Have you packed everything? Ah Ning, I miss my father and mother..."
Lin Changning's body stiffened slowly for a moment, then lowered her trembling eyelashes. The knuckles of her loosened hand were white from the force: "A-Shu, the bumpy road will not help your illness..."
Li Mingshu propped herself up and turned her head, her dark hair cascading down her thin shoulders. Her hands, still warm from Lin Changning's touch, cupped Lin Changning's face. Her soft gaze fell on Lin Changning's face, and she sighed gently.
"A-Ning, I don't want to die alone in Taiyuan..."
Lin Changning slowly buried her face in Li Mingshu's shoulder, a warm, moist sensation seeping into Li Mingshu's heart. After a while, Li Mingshu heard Lin Changning's suppressed sobs: "Okay, A-Shu, let's go back to the capital..."
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