Mu Wanyu cried for a while, then felt a little short of breath. The doctor quickly stepped forward and said, "Master Mu, Miss Mu's lung inflammation has not yet healed. She still needs to stabilize her emotions, rest in bed as much as possible, and exercise mainly by walking."
"Thank you, doctor." Scholar Mu nodded, then turned to his daughter and instructed, "Did you hear what the doctor said? You mustn't cry anymore. If you cry yourself sick, your father will be heartbroken."
Mu Wanyu nodded obediently, her former arrogance and madness in the palace gone: "Father, I understand. Then... does that mean I can't enter the palace anymore?"
In that dim space, she had been asleep since the day she was confined to the cold palace, but she could see everything that was happening, yet she could not wake up.
Only today, when this body could no longer bear the strain and fainted, and another person fell into a deep sleep, did she finally wake up.
When Grand Scholar Mu heard her question, his face turned green. Was that little emperor really that good? Even better than his father, making his daughter so devoted to him that she was willing to risk her life for him.
Upon hearing this, Li Li's worried expression dimmed considerably; he was ultimately no match for the emperor.
After thinking for a moment, fearing he might frighten his daughter, Grand Scholar Mu suppressed his dissatisfaction, dismissed the servants in the room, and left only Li Li behind.
Then, he gently patted her hand: "Yu'er, you said you liked the Emperor back then, and I also tried to get you into the palace. Over the years, although you have a high position, you still haven't won even a fraction of his sincerity. He could take your life with just a word. Such a person is not worth so much from you."
Grand Scholar Mu naturally knew about Mu Wanyu's situation in the palace over the years. Although no one dared to mistreat her, he knew how much neglect she had suffered from the emperor and how many tears she had shed.
Upon hearing this, Mu Wanyu nodded after a long pause, "Daughter understands." Her voice was very low, and she looked extremely disappointed at that moment.
Scholar Mu sighed softly, patted her lowered head, and stood up: "Yu'er, think it over carefully and get some rest."
"Take good care of Miss, make sure nothing else goes wrong." He pushed open the door, gave this instruction, and left.
"Yes, sir."
Only the two of them remained in the room. Li Li stood a meter away from the bed, looking sadly at the woman in front of him. She had no feelings for him, or perhaps she never had.
Looking at the familiar person in front of her, Mu Wanyu didn't know how to face him for a moment. She gripped the blanket tightly with both hands, lowered her eyes, and remained silent.
Li Li stared at her for a long time, then smiled bitterly to himself and broke the silence by speaking first.
"Yu'er, may I call you that?"
Mu Wanyu pursed her lips and nodded weakly.
Seeing her nod, Li Li finally felt some comfort. He stepped forward and came to her side: "Yu'er, when you're feeling better, in the spring, I'll take you to fly kites. How about that?"
Mu Wanyu could hear the caution in his tone, but she had not yet let go of the emperor she had loved for many years and did not know how to respond.
Receiving no response, Li Li gave a bitter smile and continued, "Yu'er is still ill, so let's not talk about these things for now. Does Yu'er have anything to say to me?"
Mu Wanyu finally looked up at him, and he was overjoyed. Last time he came, he was the one talking, and Mu Wanyu barely said a word, hiding under the covers the whole time. Now that things were much better, he couldn't be happier.
Mu Wanyu thought for a moment, and looking at Li Li's surprised and expectant eyes, she felt guilty and still spoke up: "Brother Li, I'm sorry."
Upon hearing this, Li Li felt a surge of heartache. Even someone as proud as Yu'er was apologizing to him like this; it was clear how deeply the Emperor had hurt her. He quickly sat down by the bedside, his eyes filled with tenderness.
“Yu’er, why are you apologizing? I’m the one who should be apologizing. It’s my fault for being useless and unable to help Yu’er.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Wanyu fell silent again. Li Li began to pour out his feelings, and Mu Wanyu listened quietly, deeply moved.
“Yu’er, we have been childhood sweethearts. I know that you have loved the current emperor, who is the crown prince, since you were a child, but that does not hinder my love for you. Later, I finally mustered up the courage to express my feelings to you, and you agreed. I know that you could not bear to refuse me.”
"The time I spent with you was the happiest time of my life. Although Yu'er's gaze was always fixed on the Emperor, I was content. Later, Yu'er, you finally got your wish and entered the palace. I never mentioned our past to anyone else. I only hope that Yu'er can pursue what she wants."
As Mu Wanyu listened to his recollections, she also remembered how Li Li used to take her on trips and make her happy, but it seemed that she had never really cared about him.
“Yu’er, I’m happy as long as you find your own happiness. I swear I will always protect you silently in my own way, but… the Emperor is now infatuated with a foreign woman and is not worthy of Yu’er’s sincerity.” Li Li said this with a hint of righteous indignation.
Mu Wanyu nodded hesitantly. Li Li was right. She suddenly realized that she had become unrecognizable after these past few years in the palace. Only now did she see clearly who was the most worthy of her cherishing. Fortunately, there was still a chance. However, she needed some time.
She reached out and took Li Li's hand, which was hanging by his side, and said softly, "Brother Li, don't be sad. Give me some time. I... can't let go completely right now."
Li Li was overjoyed to receive her reply and grasped her small hand in return: "Yu'er, don't rush. Your health is the most important thing. We can take it slow. Your brother Li will always be waiting for you!"
Hearing this, Mu Wanyu felt immense comfort. Looking back, she realized there were so many people who loved her. Right, what about Yilan? How is Yilan?! Yilan was the only person in the palace who truly cared for her. Is she still alive?
A sense of fear gripped her heart, and she tightened her grip on Li Li's hand: "Brother Li, can you do me a favor?"
"you say!"
"I have a palace maid in the palace, Yilan, whom I brought with me when I entered the palace. You should know her. I wonder how she is doing now. Could you please find out for me?"
Upon hearing this, some memories vaguely surfaced in Li Li's mind: "Yu'er, don't worry, leave this to me, you just focus on recovering."
"Thank you, Brother Li, you are so good to Yu'er." Mu Wanyu was deeply moved.
Today's events naturally reached Emperor Jingcheng's ears. Emperor Jingcheng thought that Mu Wanyu was going to conspire with Vice Minister Li to do something malicious again, so the Mu Grand Scholar's residence strengthened its surveillance, and Li Li was also kept under constant surveillance.
As night fell, Mu Wanyu, preoccupied with Yilan, tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Suddenly, the window was opened, and a black figure flew in. Mu Wanyu screamed in fright, hugged the blanket, and shrank into the corner, her eyes filled with fear and her breathing becoming rapid.
The man in black lifted the curtain in front of the bed and approached the woman on the bed step by step.
"What are you doing! Help! Someone help me! Huichun..." Mu Wanyu cried out urgently, but there was no response from outside the door.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
