Taking the handkerchief and wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Consort An suddenly realized...
This... this is actually the handkerchief I embroidered for my cousin many years ago.
Surprisingly, after all these years, my cousin still carries it with him.
When Qingxi took out the handkerchief, he suddenly realized something was wrong.
He silently cursed himself a couple of times in his heart.
Oh dear, why did I bring this out? I'm so stupid, always doing such mindless things.
"Cousin, you..."
Consort An was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say, so she could only make up an excuse for herself.
"I didn't expect you to like this handkerchief so much, but it's quite old, and I've gotten it dirty again. How about I get you a new one?"
Upon hearing these words, Qingxi was momentarily agitated for some reason, and the words he had been holding back for a long time finally came out of his mouth.
He really wanted to tell her how he felt.
Stepping forward, Qingxi gripped An Pin's hand tightly, his eyes filled with deep affection, his deep voice ringing in her ear.
"Cousin, do you know that what I love isn't this handkerchief, but the person who gave it to me? We've known each other for over a decade, but I don't know when it all changed for you. All I know is that I truly love you and want you to be my wife."
Seeing Consort An's incredulous expression, Qingxi continued.
"Back then, I was young and, because of our families, I didn't have the courage to propose to my uncle. Later, you entered the palace as a concubine, and we missed our chance. I know that telling you this now violates the rules of the palace, but I just want to tell you my feelings."
The corners of her eyes, which she had just wiped clean, were filled with tears again. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face and finally dripped onto the ground.
At this moment, Consort An was stunned and did not move. A huge amount of emotion kept surging in her heart, leaving her with mixed feelings.
Qingxi was also filled with a thousand emotions. He was nervous, uneasy, and scared, wondering how the person on the other end would answer him.
Many images flashed through my mind, and long-dormant emotions seemed to awaken quietly at this moment.
After a long silence, Consort An finally spoke, her voice barely audible, "Cousin, you have always held a special place in my heart. I did indeed have feelings for you before. But now, my heart belongs to His Majesty. The past is gone and cannot be recalled; you should look forward."
Gently withdrawing her hand, Consort An comforted her.
Feeling extremely nervous, Qingxi felt a warmth in her heart upon receiving her cousin's reply, followed by deep regret, and finally a sense of relief.
It turns out my cousin had said the same thing: if I had been braver back then, everything would be different today. But he also knew that what's done is done, and he could only choose to let it go.
Seeing the calm and relief in each other's eyes, the two smiled at each other. They would remember everything that had happened in the past, but in the future, they would only be a concubine and a subject.
Having offered advice and said everything that needed to be said, Qingxi took the handwritten letter from Consort An and prepared to leave Changchun Palace.
Just as he stood up, a woman's fragrant body rushed into his arms. Qingxi was stunned for a moment, then slowly embraced her.
A buzzing, nasal voice came from inside his arms: "Cousin, for your safety, don't take any more risks. Let's not see each other again."
Savoring this moment, feeling the warmth of my beloved in my arms—a scene I've imagined countless times.
It is a wife seeing her husband off in the morning, a wife waiting for her husband to return home in the evening, a reunion after a long separation, and daily companionship.
Little did they know that their only embrace would be their last.
"Okay, I understand!" Despite feeling bitter inside, Qingxi still responded in a low voice.
Reluctantly withdrawing his hand, Qingxi looked up one last time, wanting to imprint that face deeply in his heart, before leaving the place with heavy steps.
A creaking sound came as the door opened and then immediately closed again.
The young palace maid curtsied to Consort An and then turned to see Qingxi off.
Seeing that he was no longer in front of her, Consort An slumped down and patted her chest, the lingering emotions from earlier still present.
Her peripheral vision caught sight of the small porcelain bottle on the table, and she paused, shaking her head to calm herself down.
Let it go. Now is not the time for sentimentality. Not seeing each other again is the best choice for both of us, Consort An told herself.
It seems I need to get pregnant as soon as possible. She picked up the small porcelain bottle and played with it in her hand. Many ideas flashed through her mind, and she considered the feasibility of each one.
Here, Consort An had just secretly met with her cousin last night, and Wu Yaxin had already received the news.
Wu Yaxin, who was more than eight months pregnant, had a very large belly. She was being supported by Yu Yin as she walked back and forth in the inner room.
According to the midwife, women should move around frequently in the later stages of pregnancy to make childbirth smoother.
Wu Yaxin was afraid of encountering any danger, so she rarely went out and spent most of her time in her side hall.
At this moment, she was somewhat surprised to hear the news that Yu Yin reported to her.
"What, you mean..."
Surprised, Wu Yaxin Yue turned to look at Yu Yin. Seeing that Yu Yin nodded affirmatively, Wu Yaxin Yue lowered her voice.
"You mean Consort An secretly met with a man outside the palace last night?"
Seeing her mistress's large belly, Yu Yin nervously supported her, afraid that something might happen to her. Hearing Wu Ya Xin Yue's surprised words, not only her mistress but also she herself was quite astonished.
"Yes, Your Highness. According to the spy in Changchun Palace, she saw and heard the conversation between the two people. This person is Consort An's cousin."
After Yu Yin finished explaining, she continued to report.
"Consort An had previously asked her family to help her find fertility-enhancing drugs. Our people, following Your Highness's instructions, gave the drugs to Madam Li, and the drugs have now successfully reached Consort An's hands."
At this point, Yu Yin's tone changed slightly, "I just didn't expect that the person who delivered the medicine was not some lowly palace maid or eunuch, but Consort An's cousin. When Dingzi received this news, he knew it was of great importance, so he immediately told me."
Wu Yaxin Yue had no desire to continue walking; she was completely captivated by the news.
Sitting on the soft couch, her hand unconsciously tapped the table repeatedly, a small gesture she made when she was thinking.
Consort An, cousin, interesting, very interesting. It seems my plans have to change.
I originally intended to frame her by faking a pregnancy, but unexpectedly, fate was on my side and gave me a fantastic opportunity.
A brilliant plan formed in her mind, a calculating glint flashed in her eyes, and Wu Yaxin's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sinister smile.
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