Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan was extremely astonished. What he had thought was an unsolvable problem was now answered so fluently by her. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words: "Are you deliberately trying to misinterpret my meaning?"
Yi Shangyun smiled, slowly lowered her head to her abdomen, and said, "Yun'er knows Your Highness's feelings, but Your Highness is an exceptional person, and there are better women in the world to match you. Yun'er... was already unworthy of you, and now... Please, Your Highness, let Yun'er go..."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan's eyes suddenly sharpened, and he said in disbelief, "What did you say? Let me go? Is my love for you now so terrifying that you're begging me to let you go?"
Recalling the tender moments they shared in the past, Xuan Yuanhan asked with a belly full of doubt, "Have you forgotten all the promises you made to me?"
Unbeknownst to her, Yi Shangyun's eyes were already brimming with tears. Countless warm moments from the past seemed as vivid as if they had happened just yesterday. How could she possibly forget?
However, she knew that a short, sharp pain was better than a long, drawn-out one, and she was well aware that she could not bear the consequences.
If the two countries really reach that point, should she fulfill her mission as the guardian of Western Qin to protect Western Qin, or should she protect the people of Dongning?
So, steeling her resolve, she secretly wiped away her tears, finally turned around, and said, "To be honest, Your Highness, I will soon be traveling to Nan'an Kingdom with the Third Young Master. This trip back home is just to take some time to visit my parents in Xi Qin and let them know I'm safe."
As he spoke, he casually placed one hand on his stomach and gently patted it: "See, even if I can wait, he can't wait any longer..."
However, it was precisely because of her action that she successfully attracted Xuan Yuanhan's attention. He murmured repeatedly, "Child?" as if he suddenly had an idea.
Xuan Yuanhan narrowed his eyes slightly, then slowly moved forward, closing in on him. Yi Shangyun was startled and immediately retreated, asking, "Your Highness, what are you doing?"
Xuanyuan Han said, "I have never liked to use force, but this time, I don't mind using force once and taking a gamble."
Yi Shangyun stared intently into his eyes, wondering what he was up to: "What is Your Highness talking about? What do you mean by a bet?"
Xuanyuan Han stared intently into her eyes and said, "Fortunately, you reminded me. Since the father of the child in your womb is still undetermined, I have plenty of time. Once the child is safely and fully born, the truth will come to light. If the child is indeed my flesh and blood, I will not let you off easily!"
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun was instantly stunned.
After regaining her senses, she hurriedly and stubbornly explained, "Your Highness, you can't do this. This child has nothing to do with you..."
Unexpectedly, as soon as he opened his mouth, he realized that he had been cornered against a wall on the street by Xuan Yuanhan and could no longer move.
Xuanyuan Han then slammed a large, powerful hand against the wall behind her head, blocking her view and interrupting her.
"You little liar who always loves to deceive people, don't even think about fooling me again! Haven't I been fooled by you enough times before? This time it concerns the bloodline of my Xuanyuan royal family, such an important matter, and I almost fell for your tricks again."
"I……"
Yi Shangyun wanted to say something, but Xuan Yuanhan forcibly picked her up in his arms: "In this lifetime! You will never leave me again."
Yi Shangyun struggled in his arms, saying, "Your Highness, please have some self-respect! Put me down right now, what exactly do you want to do?"
Xuanyuan Han walked steadily, his gaze fixed ahead, warning her: "If you do not stop this futile struggle and quiet down, and if you harm the child in my womb, I will not mind going through the hardship again, but I do not know if you can bear it?"
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun immediately turned her head away, blushing with embarrassment, and indeed stopped struggling and became obedient.
Upon seeing this, Xuan Yuanhan secretly rejoiced: "I can tell at a glance that he's hiding something!"
Only after forcibly carrying Yi Shangyun back to the Yunshui Pavilion did they carefully put her down.
Xuanyuan Han braced himself on the soft couch where Yi Shangyun was sitting, leaned down and stared intently into her eyes, warning her, "Without my order, you will never leave my side or the Qin Prince's Mansion again in your entire life."
Yi Shangyun was both anxious and angry, arguing, "Your Highness, you can't treat me like this! You can't imprison me here! I've been gone for a long time; my third brother and third young master must have been searching for me everywhere. If this causes any unnecessary misunderstandings between the three kingdoms, then..."
Xuanyuan Han's gaze remained sharp and intense, both passionate and domineering: "What are you worried about? Are you worried for me, or perhaps you're worried that I'll see through your conspiracy to deceive me?"
Seeing Yi Shangyun standing before him, looking like a frightened bird, Xuan Yuanhan felt a strange joy: "Whatever it is, let them come to me. I'm not afraid they won't come!"
"you……"
Upon hearing this, Yi Shangyun felt so guilty that she didn't know what to say, and could only hurriedly avoid her uneasy gaze.
Just then, taking advantage of Yi Shangyun's unpreparedness, Xuan Yuanhan suddenly cupped her head in one hand and leaned down to place a deep kiss on her soft lips.
Surprisingly, Yi Shangyun readily accepted the situation and became quiet.
She did not resist, but held onto his broad shoulders tightly with both hands, letting him slowly and gently push her body down.
Slowly, her wide-open eyes, startled, met the familiar, long-lost silhouette and the faint sandalwood scent emanating from him, and she gradually became mesmerized.
Just when Yi Shangyun thought Xuan Yuanhan had pried open her teeth and was about to take the next step, he suddenly withdrew and stopped abruptly.
"It's getting late, you should get some rest." As soon as he finished speaking, Xuan Yuanhan got up, turned around, and left.
Watching Xuan Yuanhan's departing figure gradually disappear, Yi Shangyun murmured, "You are a gift from heaven, but also a tribulation in my life. I fear that in the end, mountain birds and fish will not walk the same path, and I will only end up like Zhuangzi dreaming of being a butterfly!"
"Has everything been investigated thoroughly?"
When they returned to Lin Yuexuan, Cheng Liang was already waiting outside the hall. Upon seeing him, Xuan Yuanhan quickly pulled himself out of his thoughts, which had been immersed in the tenderness between the two of them on the way, and asked with a stern face.
Cheng Liang followed closely behind, stepping over the threshold with a troubled expression, and said, "Your Highness, as you expected, the Dowager Consort did indeed meet with Miss Yi this evening."
Xuanyuan Han sat down, poured himself some tea, and asked, "What did Mother Consort say?"
Cheng Liang said, "So, Miss Yi's return to Western Qin this time is because of the ephedra matter."
"Ephedra?" Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuanhan stopped what he was doing and asked with a puzzled look on his face.
Cheng Liang nodded and continued, "It is said that Miss Yi has developed the prescription needed to cure the epidemic, but it is missing one ingredient, ephedra, which is used in large quantities. Now that I think about it, the fact that she appeared in front of the Prince's mansion as soon as she returned to the country must have meant that she was not ready to face His Highness before leaving."
Xuanyuan Han then asked, "Did Mother Consort agree to give her ephedra?"
Cheng Liang said, "The escort team carrying the ephedra will depart from the eastern suburbs in three days and head straight for Longhu City. However... if the epidemic in Longhu City is truly eradicated, it will inevitably put great pressure on our country. In Your Highness's opinion, should we intercept this shipment of ephedra?"
Xuanyuan Han swallowed the tea in his mouth, toyed with the teacup in his hand, and said, "Send the exact amount of ephedra to Dongning Kingdom, not a single ounce less. Not only that, you must personally send more capable people. You must make sure this matter is handled properly, and there can be no mistakes."
“But Your Highness…” Cheng Liang looked worried, and wanted to say something more, still puzzled.
Xuanyuan Han put down his teacup and interrupted him, saying, "Nowadays, news of individuals contracting the plague is frequently reported on the borders of Western Qin and even Southern An Kingdom. It seems that this epidemic is indeed very critical. Now that we have a good remedy, saving lives is the most important thing. There's no need to say more; just do as I instruct."
"Yes!" Although Cheng Liang was annoyed, he also felt that his master's words made sense, so he accepted the order.
The next day, at daybreak.
The news that Xuanyuan Han had personally carried Yi Shangyun back to Yunshui Pavilion at night reached the ears of Consort Chun.
Inside the Zihe Hall.
As Zhang Mama was carefully doing Consort Chun's makeup, she said, "I never expected that girl to be so trustworthy and keep her word. But this time, I'm afraid His Highness will misunderstand Her Highness's good intentions."
Looking at her aging face reflected in the mirror, which bore the marks of time, Consort Chun said, "My son, you could have planned everything in your life precisely, but you never planned for that girl's appearance..."
As if he hadn't finished speaking, he suddenly noticed a tranquil picture of clouds and sunset on a screen inside the hall. The poem inscribed on it read, "The setting sun returns to the mountains and seas, the mountains and seas hold profound meaning, the profound meaning is always slow to be understood, and love is only for late autumn."
He paused, then said meaningfully, "Actually, after experiencing everything, one will realize that no matter how carefully one plans life, it cannot withstand the arrangement of fate! What is destined to be yours will be yours, and what is not, you cannot force. In a person's life, some wait for the rain and mist, some wait for a soulmate, some strive for fame and fortune, and some fight for the world. But it is only later that they realize what they have missed along the way."
Thinking of many things from the past, Consort Chun continued, recalling, "I once heard a Taoist priest say something."
Cherish those who come, let go of those who leave. Life is like a journey; not everyone will go to the same place. Spring has a hundred flowers, winter has snow, summer has cool breezes, and autumn has the moon. If you have no worries on your mind, then every season is a good season.
After thinking for a moment, he let out a self-deprecating laugh and said, "But even so, how many people in this world can be so magnanimous? Now that my son's obsession runs so deep, I'm afraid that in the future..."
As the two were talking, Huan'er rushed in to report...
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