Chapter 51 Tears fell into his palm
Chi Ying stood frozen in place, not reaching out to him.
After a long silence, she finally heard her own voice, which she had been suppressing for so long: "Princess Yuxi, Princess Huizhen and the others are still inside..."
Yan Xuecui paused slightly, then patiently spoke: "The Imperial Guards have rebelled, but they are only fighting like cornered beasts. They will all be fine."
Chi Ying's slightly dry lips moved slightly as she asked, "Is there... a rebellion today? Who is it?"
Yan Xuecui replied calmly, "It is Prince Rong."
Chi Ying paused for a moment before realizing that Prince Rong was the prince who had plotted to murder the Queen Consort and was imprisoned...
Yan Xuecui's hand was still suspended in mid-air, waiting for her.
Chi Ying's mind was in a daze, and the words of Princess Xuan just now still echoed in her ears: "Prince Zhao dotes on you so much, how could he bear to let you put yourself in danger?"
A seemingly casual remark appeared to shatter something she had long held dear in her heart.
It was clearly agreed beforehand that he would send people to protect her, and the one who launched the palace coup was his enemy, so he had to go and deal with it...
Yet, a deep bitterness welled up in Chi Ying's heart.
Like those five hours of fear and helplessness when she returned to Prince Qing's mansion, she watched helplessly as the maids and servants who were laughing and joking just a moment ago lost their heads protecting their master, as Rouyi cried so hard she couldn't breathe, and as some people tried desperately to break through the encirclement but failed and were killed on the spot by the Imperial Guards... Everyone, regardless of status, was shrouded in the shadow of death, and no one could guarantee that they would leave alive.
Including herself.
For a moment, she even wondered what her mother would do if she were to die here today. Her mother had been plagued by illness for a long time and had depended on her for so many years; how could she bear the pain of losing her daughter...
Chi Ying clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug deep into her flesh. The man seemed to notice, frowned, and stepped forward, holding her cold fingers tightly. "Are you hurt?"
He seemed so at ease, yet so unfamiliar, as if he had everything under control.
She suddenly realized that they were the imperial nobles who stood at the pinnacle of power, capable of ruling the world, and she was someone like her, struggling at the bottom of society, far from conflict, and only wanting to live a peaceful life. They were ultimately from two different worlds.
Chi Ying smiled bitterly, tears falling into his palm.
Yan Xuecui's knuckles trembled slightly, as if she had been burned. Even through the silk gauze, she could almost see her red and moist eyes.
He sighed deeply, and finally pulled the person into his arms without saying another word.
Chi Ying felt a chill and bitterness in her heart, but her body instinctively craved this strong and powerful embrace. He held her tightly, and the panic and fear that had been hovering over her all day gradually dissipated, and her tense body slowly relaxed.
She wanted to cry out loud, but she bit her lip tightly, swallowing the emotions surging in her heart, and leaned against him, trembling and weeping silently.
Yan Xue had experienced countless bloody battles. Even when Prince Rong raised an army to force his way into the palace and stormed into Fengtian Hall, he remained calm and composed. But now, hearing her suppressing her tears in his arms, her sobs felt like needles pricking his heart, causing him a dull ache.
He stroked her slender, trembling back, his Adam's apple bobbing, and finally whispered, "Don't cry, let's go home."
Throughout the journey by carriage, Yan Xuecui let her lean on his shoulder. When they arrived at the gate of the mansion, he tore off the blindfold, picked her up horizontally, and carried her back to Shuyu Zhai by the dim light of the stone lanterns.
As Chi Ying passed through the gate of the mansion, she smelled a strong stench of blood. Guards were washing away the bloodstains on the ground, and in the distance, she could hear the sounds of dragging corpses and weapons. Clearly, the Zhao Prince's mansion had just experienced a fierce battle.
Her heart tightened. "How is Mother?"
Yan Xue said, "It's alright, don't worry."
It turns out that even the Prince Zhao's residence is not safe. No matter where she is today, as long as she is still the Princess Zhao, Prince Rong might send troops to kidnap her and Consort Zhuang and force Prince Zhao to submit.
Thinking of this, Chi Ying felt a little less of the inexplicable suffocation in her heart.
Back at Shuyu Zhai, a guard came to report on matters. Chi Ying thought about the great changes in the capital today and the many things that still awaited his attention. After a moment of silence, she felt that she should be more sensible and let go of his hand, saying, "Your Highness, please go and attend to your business."
Yan Xuecui was silent for a moment, then stood up and said, "Yes, you should rest well. We'll have some food later."
Chi Ying pursed her lips and agreed.
She was also very tired and wanted to rest alone for a while. After Yan Xue left, Qingzhi came in to help her wash up, and Xiangqin brought in the food.
Chi Ying had been trapped for a day and was already starving. The near-death experience in Prince Qing's mansion made her almost unable to feel hungry. At that time, she only felt that her hands and feet were cold and the cold was penetrating to the bone. It seemed that she felt colder.
Chi Ying had no appetite for dinner, so she only ate some hot porridge. After a simple bath and cleaning, she clutched the blankets and went to sleep.
Perhaps due to the excessive fright during the day, when she closed her eyes, those bloody and horrific scenes kept replaying in her mind: severed heads falling onto the grass, rolling into the pond, turning the entire blue water crimson; terrified screams echoing in her ears again and again; stumbling and running helplessly amidst the flashing swords, but the road ahead was endless, and she could never reach the end; endless darkness and despair swallowed her completely...
In a daze, she heard "Ah Ying" called in her ear, and she woke up with a start, only to find herself curled up in a warm embrace.
Yan Xue pulled her closer to her, wiping away the tears on her cheeks with her fingertips, and asked softly, "Did you have a nightmare?"
Chi Ying's body was still trembling, but she nodded gently: "Mm."
Yan Xuecui: "Did today's events frighten you?"
Chi Ying didn't answer. She glanced at the sky outside the window and asked him, "Why has Your Highness returned?"
The night was still dark, and she didn't know when he had returned. She thought he would go to the palace to investigate a case like last time, and it would take him at least several days to return home.
Yan Xuecui simply said, "Everything has been explained, there's no need for me to be present. Besides... my wife is still living in fear, why should I care about others?"
Upon hearing the word "wife," Chi Ying's eyes welled up with intense tears.
Yan Xue Cui lowered her voice: "I was careless today and frightened you."
“It has nothing to do with Your Highness…” Chi Ying shook her head. “It was Prince Rong who forced the abdication of the throne. Your Highness has already sent people to protect me.”
They were simply worlds apart. Being in the royal family meant they were destined for conflict and bloodshed, while she and her ilk, who were originally just ordinary people living in a remote corner of the world, were suddenly caught in the eye of the storm and couldn't bear it for a while.
Yan Xuecui didn't say that today's situation was all part of his plan, but silently hugged the delicate body in his arms even tighter, "With me here, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Chi Ying nodded: "Okay."
Yan Xue urged, "Forget about what happened today. There are still some hours until dawn. Shall I hold you while we sleep?"
Chi Ying curled up in his arms, then suddenly noticed the slightly bleeding wound on his chest and quickly sat up: "Your Highness's wound has reopened... I'll change your dressing."
Yan Xuecui then released her and let her go.
He had been exhausted for several days. He had lured Prince Rong into the trap, investigated all of his henchmen for days, and secretly made arrangements, proceeding step by step, not allowing Prince Rong to be careless in the slightest.
Even the slightest mistake could lead to even more severe casualties or more serious consequences.
Chi Ying carefully unwrapped his bandages. His wounds had reopened several times last night, and he had been running around all day without getting proper rest. The wounds were still raw and gruesome.
As she applied the wound medicine to his wounds, her fingertips trembled uncontrollably. "Doesn't Your Highness feel pain?"
Yan Xuecui pursed her lips and said, "It does hurt a little."
He was extremely sensitive to pain, but after losing his sight, the sensory satisfaction brought by pain gave him a strange pleasure. Pain would make him clear-headed and also excite him.
But telling the truth might scare her, making her think he's some kind of weirdo.
He chuckled and coaxed her, "Want me to blow on it?"
Chi Ying then gently breathed on his wound.
Yan Xue clenched her fists, tilted her head back, and let the tingling sensation spread freely from beneath her skin, her Adam's apple bobbing several times.
Seeing his strange expression and the bulging veins on his forehead, Chi Ying couldn't help but panic: "Is Your Highness alright?"
Yan Xuecui shook her head and chuckled, "Your blowing has indeed relieved the pain a lot. Why don't you blow on it for a while longer?"
Chi Ying didn't want to talk to him anymore, but she didn't know where he was plotting something.
After the medicine was reapplied and the bandages were bandaged, the two fell asleep in each other's arms.
Yan Xuecui kissed her hair and whispered, "Once this storm has passed, I'll take you out for a walk to clear your head."
Chi Ying was slightly taken aback: "To relax? Where does Your Highness intend to go?"
She now avoids these banquets altogether, and unless absolutely necessary, she never wants to get involved in these disputes again.
Yan Xuecui said, "I have a hot spring resort in the suburbs of the capital. It was a gift from my father when I lost my sight. I have been repairing it every year. The scenery is beautiful."
Chi Ying thought for a moment. It would be good to go out for a few days to relax her tense nerves. She could also leave Xiangqin behind and take the opportunity to go out of the mansion to take care of her mother. So she nodded and agreed: "Okay."
Chi Ying slept soundly, occasionally having nightmares, but she could feel someone holding her and comforting her, and soon she fell asleep peacefully again.
...
Princess Yu Xi was also quite frightened today. After returning to the palace, her eyes were red and she was still in tears. The Empress had no choice but to bring her to Kunning Palace to comfort her personally.
Hearing that today was the day Prince Rong forced the abdication of the throne, Yu Xi sobbed, "Brother Prince Rong used to treat me quite well. He would make kites for me and invite me to his palace for snacks... But who would have thought that he would secretly plot against Brother Prince Ding and cause Brother Prince Zhao to go blind, and now he's even..."
The Empress said, "You are the legitimate princess, his younger sister, so naturally he dotes on you and cherishes you."
Yu Xi pursed her lips and tears welled up in her eyes: "But what's so good about being emperor? Does it make him disregard even the bonds of father and son, and brotherhood? Wouldn't it be better to be a dutiful prince? If he's fond of martial arts, then he can be a general; if he's devoted to literature, then he can join one of the Six Ministries. Both can earn him respect and benefit the people. Even if he does nothing, he can be a carefree prince, enjoying life's pleasures and wealth without worry. Why must he fight to the death?"
The Empress stroked her head and sighed softly, "Human desires are endless. When one is in a position, especially when the supreme throne is within reach, who can resist temptation?"
The Empress looked at her daughter. How much she had longed for her to be a prince, so that everyone would behave themselves and respect the legitimate heir, and perhaps all the strife would be over.
But she happened to be a princess.
Even now, the Empress is grateful that her daughter was innocent and naive, spared from the bloodshed, and lived a peaceful and happy life.
Yu Xi held the Empress's hand and lay down, closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again and asked, "As the head of the six palaces and the mother of the nation, does Mother still have desires?"
The Empress's expression changed slightly, and the hand that was patting her back paused gently. "Of course, there are some."
Yu Xi hurriedly asked, "What are your desires, Mother?"
The Empress was silent for a moment, then smiled softly and said, "Of course I hope my Yu Xi is safe, happy, and carefree."
After putting her daughter to sleep, the Empress went to the Buddhist hall to chant Buddhist scriptures. However, when she put the prayer beads back into the wooden box as usual, she found many round balls the size of soybeans in the brocade lining of the box.
Curious, she lifted the lining, and eight pitch-black pills came into view. The empress's face immediately turned pale, and her pupils dilated violently.
"Someone, someone, someone!"
Hearing the commotion, the palace maid He Xiang hurried into the hall to ask, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
The Empress stared intently at the pills. "Who touched this prayer bead box today?"
He Xiang was so frightened that she didn't know what to do: "No...no one has touched it."
The Empress's lips turned pale, and she said in a trembling voice, "Go, fetch Physician He."
He Xiang immediately ran out to fetch the imperial physician. It just so happened that He Lianqing was on duty that night. Upon hearing the Empress's summons, he hurriedly brought his medicine box over.
The empress took out one of the pills and handed it to him, saying, "Take a look at this and see what it is."
After repeated examination, He Lianqing said, "If I am not mistaken, these are dark wood beads, which do have the effect of warding off evil and calming the mind. They are not poisonous."
The Empress's palms were already drenched in cold sweat. The main concern wasn't whether the wooden bead was poisonous, but rather... why it had ended up in her wooden box!
Was someone warning her about what happened back then?
The Queen clenched her fingers, closed her eyes, and let out a deep sigh.
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Author's Note: Here we go! Let's begin our honeymoon! [shy]
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