The silence around us was terrifying.
Chu Changning couldn't discern his expression; the pain from her wound made her face grow even paler.
She forced herself to stand up to him and analyzed the pros and cons.
"The world is currently in a state of prolonged war, with various warlords vying for power and the land fragmented. His Majesty in the capital, who rose from humble origins to become emperor, is vigorously supporting officials from humble backgrounds and suppressing powerful families. Your Majesty is extremely busy with many affairs—"
She paused, then looked directly at him.
“I am willing to step down and let the whole lord and the noble families unite through marriage to achieve hegemony.”
The torrential rain poured down relentlessly, leaving the surroundings desolate.
Her face was deathly pale as she stood silently in the rain. The alluring red flowers licked at her skirt, which swayed in the wind. The entire garden was empty, as if no sound could be heard.
Yan Beimo looked down at her from his high vantage point, with someone holding an umbrella for him behind him.
Chu Changning couldn't see his expression. The heavy rain lashed against her body, her soaked clothes clung to her skin, and the cold made her face grow even paler.
In the rain and mist, he looked as clean and beautiful as a jade maiden, while she looked as disheveled and pitiful as a lone beast.
"Killing you is all I need to do."
Suddenly, he chuckled softly, his seemingly gentle eyes scanning her from head to toe with an ambiguous look.
Chu Changning tightened his grip and said calmly, "My life is nothing to you, Lord Jun."
Yan Beimo raised an eyebrow. He didn't speak, but his gaze shifted to her fair and slender shoulders and neck.
The girl's skin was smooth and tender, as if coated with a layer of honey. Under the relentless onslaught of the rain, her exposed collarbone glistened with moisture, and her wet and disheveled dress clung to her body, outlining her exquisite curves.
Chu Changning didn't see his gaze. The pain from the broken bone nails made her feel as if her whole body was being cut and gouged out by sharp blades. Waves of excruciating pain spread throughout her body, and her face was pale and bloodless.
Just as she was about to say something more, suddenly, her body went limp, her vision went black, and she collapsed to the ground.
Yan Beimo noticed it.
He didn't make a move, but calmly watched her fall to the ground.
"My lord," Night Hawk stepped forward, "the man is already dying."
Yan Beimo looked down at the girl lying on the ground. After a moment, he threw away the handkerchief in his hand and turned to walk back.
"Never mind."
Night Hawk paused, glanced at Peach Branch who was being held captive not far away, and spoke.
"yes."
The rain in Yandu was heavy and dense, and it continued to fall all night.
Peach branch was awakened by the heavy rain in the middle of the night.
She struggled to open her eyes, looked around, and then focused her gaze.
Under the dark moonlight, the princess, dressed in a light green silk dress, lay quietly under the pear tree, her face pale and bloodless.
"Princess--"
There was no one around, and she couldn't sense the presence of any of the guards.
Her eyes immediately welled up with tears, and she stumbled and ran towards the pear tree.
"Princess, wake up--"
There was no sound, and the breathing was so weak it was almost nonexistent.
Despite the pain, Taozhi dragged the person up and headed towards the house in the backyard.
Chu Changning remained unconscious for several days, and no doctor dared to come to the mansion.
Taozhi had no choice but to go out and buy a prescription, then come back and brew the medicine.
Everyone in the manor was a snob. She was always bullied when she went to the kitchen to brew medicine, but she didn't dare to cause trouble, so she could only pick up a jar and brew medicine in the backyard.
The caning she received only caused superficial injuries, and she recovered much better after a few days of rest.
However, Chu Changning's injuries were severe, and she remained unconscious for a long time. Yan Beimo had initially come with the intention of killing her, so he showed no mercy. The three bone-breaking nails almost took her life.
Taozhi tended to the servants with utmost care every day, but she was also constantly worried that the people from Yinlouge would come and urge her on, living in a state of constant anxiety.
That day, when she brought in the medicine, she saw the princess curled up, her pale face covered in tears.
She quickly ran over and put down the bowl of medicine.
"Princess--"
There was no response; the person remained unconscious.
She sighed and forced the medicine down her throat.
Few people come to the backyard, and the maids and nannies who serve are eager to have some free time and are used to shirking their duties.
Besides feeding Chu Changning medicine, Taozhi also had to handle the trivial matters in the courtyard and deal with people who came to cause trouble, leaving her physically and mentally exhausted every day.
But she took meticulous care of the eldest princess every day.
Later, as Chu Changning gradually regained consciousness, he could faintly hear the sound of peach branches.
She lowered her guard and willingly took the medicine offered to her.
"Princess, you are conscious—"
Taozhi looked at the person whose expression had softened with surprise.
Chu Changning was in a daze, extremely tired. He drank the medicine in a daze and then passed out again. He didn't wake up until late at night.
"Peach branch--"
A weak voice came from the inner room. Taozhi, who was cooking porridge outside, heard the sound and quickly went inside.
"Princess, you're awake."
While Chu Changning was unconscious, he kept hearing the little girl muttering to herself, and he knew that she didn't have any bad intentions, so he wasn't so wary of her.
She nodded slightly and glanced at her injuries.
The recovery is going quite well.
She leaned wearily against the bedside and rested for a while, her brow furrowing as she recalled what had happened before she fainted.
Taozhi brought in the cooked porridge from outside.
"Princess, have some porridge."
Chu Changning hadn't eaten much for several days, and her face grew increasingly thin.
She felt sticky all over and shifted uncomfortably.
"I'd like to take a shower first."
Upon hearing this, Taozhi helped her up.
"This servant will serve you."
"No need, you go eat first."
Chu Changning pointed to the porridge on the table, gesturing for her to eat.
Taozhi couldn't bear to eat it; she had secretly sneaked into the kitchen to steal it and wanted to save it for the princess.
Chu Changning didn't know what she was thinking. After taking off her dirty clothes, she went to the washroom at the back.
Yan Beimo was naturally extravagant. The inner rooms of his main residence were equipped with natural bathing pools with underground running water that was warm all year round, saving him the trouble of going to the kitchen to boil water in the middle of the night.
She entered the bath barefoot, enduring the pain in her body, quickly washed herself against the side of the tub, and then hurriedly came out to apply medicine.
Lately, the sky over Yandu has been gloomy.
A fierce wind whipped up a sudden downpour that pounded against the quiet, secluded Qi mansion. Corpses lay strewn across the eaves, and the stench of blood permeated the mossy stone steps, a horrifying sight.
The main hall was heavily guarded by soldiers, making it impossible to move.
The head of the Qi family was forced to kneel on the ground, a knife held to his neck, his face extremely pale.
He glared at the man in the main seat and roared.
“Noble families never get involved in the struggle for imperial power. Your father is still alive, yet you have the audacity to openly threaten us.”
The cold blade whistled closer, and Qi Tian felt as if his throat was being choked, his words stuck in his throat.
His eyes widened, and he couldn't suppress the anger in his heart.
“The scions of noble families in Yandu and even throughout the Nine Provinces enjoy the protection of centuries-old aristocratic clans. Those who oppose these clans will not have a good end.”
"Your duty is to take over the Yan family, and even the entire Yan capital aristocratic family, after your father's death, not to disregard the family's century-old reputation and interfere in the struggle for imperial power."
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