A tear slid down her cheek and landed in Lu Huai's palm.
Scalding hot.
It feels like there's a hot spot on my heart.
Lu Huai tightened his grip on her hand.
She did nothing wrong; the mistake was her identity, and the mistake was the Emperor Qi.
When Nanzhi woke up, her eyes were still a little sore, but the red marks on her lips from the burns had healed.
Although Lian'er really wanted to tell Nanzhi what happened last night, the steward suddenly warned her this morning that if she dared to divulge even a single word about what happened last night, he would kill the princess.
Lian'er didn't want anything to happen to Nanzhi, so she didn't dare say a word.
For a long time afterward, Nanzhi stayed in her own little world, not seeing Lu Jing or Lu Huai for a long time, and unable to leave the Prime Minister's residence even for a moment.
Her belly was starting to show some curves, and if this continued, she would eventually be unable to hide it.
Fortunately, just as the people in the manor were about to discover it, someone from Emperor Qi's side suddenly arrived, claiming that Consort Mei was ill and requesting that Nanzhi be sent to the palace to take care of her.
Lu Huai happened to be at the mansion at that time.
Now that Emperor Qi is at his last gasp, Lu Huai doesn't think he can cause any more trouble. As for Nan Zhi...
This Prime Minister's residence is not her home; perhaps it's time for him to let her go.
Lu Huai agreed to release the people.
He had no reason not to agree.
After all, Nanzhi and he had no connection whatsoever.
As Nan Zhi followed the people from the palace who came to fetch her, she glanced back and saw Lu Huai sitting in the armchair, not even looking up at her, as if she had never been an important person.
Nan Zhi looked back dejectedly and left the mansion with Lian'er.
Unbeknownst to her, the moment she turned around, Lu Huai also happened to look up.
He watched her figure gradually disappear through the doorway until she was completely gone.
As she disappeared, the sky seemed to gradually darken, and not a single ray of light could be seen anymore.
Nanzhi returned to the palace.
She was not taken to see Consort Mei immediately, but instead went to see Emperor Qi.
In just a few months, Emperor Qi seemed to have aged more than ten years. His hair had turned completely white, and his eyes were cloudy. It wasn't until he saw her that his eyes became much clearer.
He stepped down from the dragon throne and strode excitedly toward Nanzhi, "Zhizhi, my good princess, my good daughter, now only you can help your father."
He grabbed Nanzhi's shoulders, and Nanzhi felt a sharp pain from his grip. She dared not move and looked at him in fear: "Father, what do you need your daughter to do for you?"
"Lu Huai is trying to force Father Emperor to his death. Father Emperor has nowhere to go." Emperor Qi gritted his teeth in anger when he thought of Lu Huai.
But looking at Nanzhi, he paused, adopting a loving expression, and said, "I will send an envoy to the neighboring country tomorrow. You can discuss with them and ask them to send troops to support Qi, okay?"
"neighboring countries?"
"Yes, Yi Kingdom, Dayuan, Dongli... all these countries near Qi Kingdom, as long as they are willing to support Qi Kingdom and support me, I will marry you, my favorite, the most beautiful little princess of Qi Kingdom to them."
Nanzhi looked at him in disbelief, "But Father, I only have one daughter, how can I arrange marriages with so many countries?"
"It's alright. You're so beautiful, they'll definitely all come to support our Qi Kingdom in their fight for you. Whoever contributes the most will be chosen for the marriage alliance."
Nan Zhi refused: "Father, I am not beautiful. I can't even bewitch the Prime Minister, so I can't bewitch them either. Can I not go?"
"No." Emperor Qi's face suddenly turned cold. "You are your father's only way out. If you don't go, do you want to watch your father and your mother die?"
Nanzhi remained silent.
Emperor Qi knew that she was always soft-hearted, so he said, "Go see your mother, she misses you very much."
Nanzhi was taken away.
Upon arriving at Consort Mei's palace, I immediately heard coughing.
She strode inside and saw Consort Mei lying on the couch, her face haggard.
"What's wrong with Mother?"
The head maid who was taking care of Consort Mei sighed, "It's all because she misses and worries about the princess..."
"Shut up." Consort Mei pretended to scold her, trying to sit up, but she didn't have the strength, so Nanzhi quickly reached out to help her.
Nanzhi placed a pillow behind her back and patted Meifei's back when she coughed.
Consort Mei looked at her with concern, "Zhizhi, why are you back?"
"It was my father who sent people to bring me back."
Consort Mei tentatively asked, "Then, does the Prime Minister have...?"
Nanzhi shook her head. "The Prime Minister doesn't like me. He has never touched me."
Consort Mei was very disappointed.
Nanzhi suddenly threw herself into her arms and hugged her tightly. "Mother, why don't we leave? Let's leave the palace with Father, give the throne to the Prime Minister, and live happily together as a family..."
"Nanzhi!" Consort Mei didn't expect her to say that and quickly reprimanded her, "The current situation is not one where we can leave as we please. Your father is the King of Qi. If he leaves, what will the world think?"
"But this world never belonged to Father Emperor."
Consort Mei fell silent.
When Nanzhi mentioned Emperor Qi's plan, Consort Mei patiently coaxed her, saying, "Zhizhi, just listen to your father and go with the envoys to the neighboring country for a marriage alliance. Let them help Qi. If it succeeds, your mother will definitely not let you stay there. Your mother and father will come to pick you up personally."
"But Mother, what if we fail? It's so dangerous outside. Aren't you worried that your daughter might die out there?"
Consort Mei fell silent again.
What's wrong with her daughter? Why do she always seem to escape her control when she says things these past few times?
Consort Mei never imagined that Nan Zhi would die. She had lived with Lu Huai for so long, and she wouldn't die easily outside.
Even if I die...
Consort Mei didn't know what her feelings would be at that time, but at this moment, the Qi Kingdom was on the verge of collapse, and her position as empress was also in jeopardy. She couldn't allow such a thing to happen.
"Zhizhi, stop talking. Your mother is scared too. You stay here and I will talk to your father and ask him to think of another way. We absolutely cannot send you away."
Consort Mei struggled to her feet, but before she could take more than a few steps off the bed, she closed her eyes and fainted.
Nanzhi rushed forward to support her: "Mother, Mother, what's wrong?"
The head maid and Nan Zhi helped Consort Mei back onto the couch, while the other maids went to fetch the imperial physician.
After examining her, the imperial physician solemnly said, "Consort Mei has fallen ill from worry. In the coming days, try not to agitate her and let her rest well."
After hearing this, Nanzhi indicated that she understood.
She sat by Consort Mei's couch, watching over her. In the latter half of the night, she couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep leaning against the bed.
Consort Mei opened her eyes, her gaze clear and lucid, without a trace of sleepiness. She lifted Nan Zhi's sleeve and sighed when she saw the crimson mark of virginity on her arm.
Lu Huai indeed didn't touch her.
However, things are better now. Namgyal is going to the neighboring country with a clean slate, which gives her a better chance of success.
"Zhizhi, don't blame your mother, your mother had no other choice..."
*
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