Chapter 98 Secretly Crying Are you crying because of me? ...
At first it was just a light drizzle, but then it suddenly became heavier, with loud raindrops pattering against the tiles, making an annoying sound.
Lu Lingyue didn't use an umbrella, nor did she intend to seek shelter from the rain. She let the rain wash over her, the large raindrops hitting her body with a dull ache.
“Master, the rain is getting heavier. Zhengqing won’t let you go see His Highness. We can’t just wait here like this. Let’s go back first and think of another way.” Hengwu advised him.
"Hengwu, you should leave on your own. Don't try to persuade me anymore. His Highness is not in good condition and has not yet woken up. I don't know how many more times I will be able to see him..." Lu Lingyue's voice choked slightly as she said this, and she couldn't continue.
"I will not leave until I see Your Highness." His voice was very soft, but there was no room for negotiation.
Water dripped down Lu Lingyue's face, and for a moment it was hard to tell whether it was rain or his tears.
"Never mind, let him in."
Yuan Yan frowned as he watched this scene. After a pause, he said to Yang Lingyi, "Have someone let Lu Lingyue in."
This gave Lu Lingyue the opportunity to come and visit.
Every time he entered the room, he would sit in front of Yuan Yan's bed, checking whether the servants had neglected their care, tucking Yuan Yan in, and moistening her lips with a damp cloth.
But most of the time Lu Lingyue had nothing to do, so she just stayed by Yuan Yan's side, quietly watching her without saying a word.
He would usually sit for a long time, sometimes even more than an hour, until Yang Lingyi and Shen Lianzhou repeatedly urged him to leave.
Because Yuan Yan didn't trust him, he would pretend to be unconscious every time Lu Lingyue came. After a few times, Yuan Yan was exhausted from lying there, and even regretted letting Lu Lingyue in.
Just like now.
Lu Lingyue's gaze lingered on Yuan Yan's face as if it were a tangible entity. Even with her eyes closed, Yuan Yan could keenly sense his gaze, which seemed to never leave her body.
"Ayan, if something happens to you... what should I do?"
"I owe you so much that I haven't paid it all back yet. If you just leave like this, I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to go down with you to repay it."
He had clearly not rested well these past few days; his long eyelashes fluttered slightly, his face was pale, and his voice was soft and somewhat ethereal.
Lu Lingyue's jade-white fingertips brushed across Yuan Yan's brows and eyes, like feathers, lightly sweeping, not daring to settle. She was afraid that any larger movement would shatter the illusion before her.
Since the breakup, how long has it been since they've had this much quiet time alone? Every time they meet, it's either an argument or a cold war.
But now, seeing Yuan Yan lying lifelessly on the bed, Lu Lingyue felt another sharp pain in her heart.
He would rather go back to the time when the two of them were in a cold war than see Yuan Yan now seriously injured and unable to wake up, completely losing his former vibrant and lively spirit.
If only he could exchange his life for hers, he would gladly give his own wretched life to Yuan Yan so that she could regain her vitality.
Yuan Yan didn't hear Lu Lingyue's murmur at first, but when he realized what he meant, his face darkened slightly.
What do you mean "gone like that"? She's perfectly fine now.
Aside from being a little stiff from lying down for so long, my body is in great shape.
Lu Lingyue was speaking as if she were about to die, which made Yuan Yan unable to bear it any longer.
[Host, you have only yourself to blame. Who told you to use the status card from the shop to fake a serious injury? Right now, in Lu Lingyue's eyes, you're practically half-dead.]
"Plus, those rumors you had spread, so detailed and convincing... now not only Lu Lingyue, but all the uninformed people outside the manor probably think you're going to die," the system clicked its tongue.
Yuan Yan finally understood what it meant to lift a stone only to drop it on one's own foot.
To be honest, Lu Lingyue's crying wasn't actually that annoying.
Each time he shed tears, it was almost silent; only a single, clear tear slowly slid down his cheek. His pupils were dark but lacked luster, carrying a hint of sorrow, like lusterless gemstones, dull and desolate.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, like a butterfly with wet wings, fragile and beautiful.
Yuan Yan didn't find him noisy. But Lu Lingyue's tears kept falling on her, like a never-ending drizzle, damp and continuous, making Yuan Yan suffer along with her.
"...Alright, stop crying. If you keep crying, I'll make things worse for you."
Yuan Yan mentally prepared himself for a while, held back for a while, and finally opened his eyes and spoke.
A familiar voice came from inside.
Lu Lingyue paused in her act of lowering her eyes and shedding tears, a hint of bewilderment appearing in her eyes.
He, who was usually so intelligent, was momentarily stunned and unable to react. He felt as if he were hallucinating, imagining Yuan Yan waking up, and he even looked somewhat dazed.
Lu Lingyue couldn't help but hold her breath and reach out to touch Yuan Yan's eyes.
When Lu Lingyue felt Yuan Yan's eyelashes flutter in her palm, her fingertips trembled slightly, and she withdrew her hand as if burned, finally believing the scene before her.
"Your Highness...you're awake."
Lu Lingyue stood up, her lips barely moving, feeling as if she were in a dream. Heaven must have heard her heart's plea to awaken Yuan Yan at this moment.
A glimmer of light appeared in his dark, silent eyes, and his thin lips unconsciously twitched, revealing a smile tinged with tears.
However, after laughing, Lu Lingyue realized that the tears in his eyes had not yet stopped.
Yuan Yan's deep eyes gazed at him silently. Lu Lingyue's pupils trembled slightly under her gaze, and he subconsciously turned his back and wiped away the tears on his face.
Yuan Yan's gaze remained fixed on Lu Lingyue's movements, showing no intention of turning away.
In that instant, Lu Lingyue felt as if Yuan Yan had seen right through his fragile heart.
"Are you crying because of me?" Yuan Yan said slowly.
"No... I didn't cry, Your Highness must have seen wrong."
Lu Lingyue's eyes were still a little red, but he turned his face slightly away, not wanting Yuan Yan to see how ugly he looked when he cried.
"Oh," Yuan Yan replied. "Then you may leave. Let Yi'er look after me."
"Your Highness has only just woken up, and you're already sending your servants away and replacing them with the Chief Minister. Does Your Highness really not want to see your servants that much?"
Lu Lingyue was slightly stunned, Yuan Yan's words echoing in her mind. She clenched her fingers involuntarily, a hint of hurt flashing in her eyes.
"Haven't you always been unwilling to take care of me? Now that you've been watching over me for so long and I've woken up, there's no need for you to continue guarding me."
Yuan Yan was referring to the time he was drunk last time.
"I..." Lu Lingyue's face paled slightly, revealing a hint of astonishment. "What does Your Highness mean? I have never had such a thought before."
"Even if Your Highness intends to convict me, you must clearly state the charges."
"Regardless of what happened before, I am now Your Highness's husband and I would never do such a thing to Your Highness."
Lu Lingyue sensed a misunderstanding, and her eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Yuan Yan, slowly shaking her head.
"Then how do you explain what happened last time?" Yuan Yan asked him.
"When I was drunk and was taken to a secluded courtyard, you ignored me completely."
He listened in silence, and only then did he realize what Yuan Yan was talking about.
“I dare not. I stayed by Your Highness’s side all night until morning. I have never disliked Your Highness. I know I am not qualified and there is absolutely no way I could do such a thing.”
Lu Lingyue stood in front of the bed and subconsciously spoke her mind.
He is the one who betrayed Yuan Yan's affections; what right does he have to say he hates him?
It's understandable that Yuan Yan harbors resentment towards him, and even Lu Lingyue can't forgive herself for what she did back then.
Now, whenever he is alone in the dead of night, recalling the time he regretted his decision to marry his wife, his heart is overwhelmed by waves of regret and filled with bitterness.
He always dreams of going back to the time before everything happened, and seeing Yuan Yan, who still loves him. He's overjoyed, but when he wakes up, all that's left is pain.
Seeing Lu Lingyue's confident tone, Yuan Yan inquired with the system.
"Is what Lu Lingyue said true?"
[Host, so that's what you were thinking... You were drunk that night and didn't see Lu Lingyue when you woke up, so you probably didn't know.]
He did indeed take care of you all night, until dawn when he was persuaded to go home and rest, and a male servant took over to look after you.
Yuan Yan felt unhappy after waking up that day, but she didn't mention it. The system was unaware that she harbored resentment. Seeing that Yuan Yan was asking about it now, it honestly told her what had happened that night.
"So that's how it is." Yuan Yan realized he had misunderstood, and his furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
"Lu Lingyue, I have misunderstood you about this matter."
She readily admitted it, but felt little emotionally affected.
Lu Lingyue: "Your Highness, there's no need to say that. It was my fault."
It was his past actions that created a rift between the two of them.
"In the end, this matter is all the bitter fruit of what I sowed back then. What wrong has Your Highness done... It's only human nature to think this way."
Lu Lingyue lowered his head with a bitter smile, tears welling in his eyes again, but he spoke slowly. He then raised his eyes again, looking at Yuan Yan with a suppressed gaze.
Yuan Yan understood the emotion in his eyes but did not respond.
The atmosphere inside the room fell silent for a moment.
Not wanting to continue the topic, Yuan Yan pretended to be completely unaware of the current situation and asked Lu Lingyue, "After I was assassinated, I was unconscious for several days. Did the imperial physician say anything?"
Lu Lingyue vaguely sensed Yuan Yan's evasive and refusing attitude, but her attention was still diverted by her question.
After all, the current entanglements between the two are minor matters; Yuan Yan's safety is the most important thing.
Lu Lingyue was very clear about Yuan Yan's physical condition and could repeat the imperial physician's words almost without thinking.
"The imperial physician said that Your Highness was fortunate that his heart meridian was not damaged..." he said in detail, and also mentioned some of the situation inside the Prince's residence.
It can only be said that Lu Lingyue, as a man from a noble family, still possesses the necessary sensitivity.
Although he hadn't left the mansion during Yuan Yan's serious injury, he still had some understanding of the situation in the capital, and he told Yuan Yan all of this now.
"I understand." Yuan Yan nodded.
"You must be tired after staying here for so long. Go tell the servant to send someone else."
Lu Lingyue parted her lips slightly, wanting to say that she wasn't tired, but when she met Yuan Yan's gaze, she stopped talking.
He knew that Yuan Yan had just woken up and had a lot to do, so he obediently withdrew.
"I will go and fetch someone right away."
As Lu Lingyue reached the door, Yuan Yan suddenly called out to him.
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