With a few hours to go before dawn, Zhao Cong instructed the kitchen to prepare a midnight snack.
Lin Qingwan had been lying down for several days and her body was a little weak. Mu Xue and Qiu Hong helped her walk around the inner room a few times to move around before she felt better.
"Miss Qingwan, would you like to have something to eat with me?" Zhu An called out warmly.
Lin Qingwan, having miraculously returned to life, was indeed very hungry. "Okay."
Zhao Cong sat in the main seat, with Zhu An and Lin Qingwan on his left and right respectively. Every time a dish was served, the two of them would wait for him to pick up his chopsticks before eating.
"Miss Qingwan, try these meatballs. They're a little spicy, but they're incredibly fragrant." Zhu An chewed on his food and eagerly recommended them to her.
Lin Qingwan picked up a piece and said, "It's really delicious."
"It's not spicy, there's just too much minced garlic."
Zhu An looked at her, "Miss Qingwan also likes the taste of garlic?"
Lin Qingwan nodded. A feeling of fullness always brings new hope and anticipation. Her eyes lit up. "Doctor Zhu likes it too?"
The two hit it off immediately and found they got along very well as they talked.
Zhao Cong was caught in the middle, and the rice in his bowl didn't taste good at all.
Unable to bear it any longer, he interrupted their conversation and urged Zhu An, "Father is seriously ill."
Zhu An: "Your Majesty, I understand. I'll leave after I finish my midnight snack."
"You've already eaten three bowls of rice, and you're still not full?"
Zhu An smiled and said, "I haven't eaten much these past few days."
Zhao Cong paused, his eyes darkening slightly. "Eating too much will cause indigestion. Someone, accompany Imperial Physician Zhu back to the palace to help him digest."
Zhu An knew what was going on, but he still felt like the sky was falling. "Your Highness, this humble subject..."
"Shen Xu, you accompany him personally."
Zhu An didn't even have time to say goodbye to Lin Qingwan before Shen Xu dragged him out.
Once outside the courtyard, Shen Xu mocked him, "Imperial Physician Zhu is incredibly audacious, chatting and laughing with Miss Qingwan right in front of the Crown Prince."
Zhu An sighed, "What do you know? I'm just disappointed in you."
"With the Crown Prince's straightforward nature, when will he be able to find a mother for the young prince?"
Shen Xu didn't understand, "Does this have anything to do with you being disliked today?"
Zhu An clicked his tongue, his face saying, "You're just as clueless as your master."
"The fact that the Crown Prince kicked me out shows that he's jealous. He immediately became unhappy when I said that anyone could donate blood to Miss Qingwan."
"And look at how eagerly he came over, taking off his clothes and getting into bed for a blood transfusion!"
Zhu An raised an eyebrow. "Although you can't judge a man by what he says, but by what he does, the Crown Prince is a man of few words, but he still has to speak his mind."
Shen Xu frowned. "At your current speed, it will be dawn by the time you get back to the palace."
Zhu An instantly felt dejected; he didn't want to take another step.
Inside the house.
As soon as Zhu An left, Lin Qingwan put down her chopsticks. "Your Highness, I'm done eating."
Zhao Cong picked up a piece of cucumber shreds with his chopsticks, paused, and said, "I eat a lot when Physician Zhu is here, but I stop eating as soon as he leaves."
"It seems I've disturbed your enjoyment?"
Lin Qingwan dared not nod.
Previously, when I was eating with Feng'er, the moment the Crown Prince sat down, I felt a sense of oppression, and I couldn't eat in a relaxed manner.
With Physician Zhu present today, the atmosphere was cheerful, and she was naturally happy as well.
With Physician Zhu gone, could it be that she was joking around with the Crown Prince?
Seeing her silence, Zhao Cong felt even more frustrated; it seemed he was right.
Even though his expression was icy, he still placed the cucumber shreds on her plate and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"
Lin Qingwan looked at the cucumber shreds in front of her, hesitated for a moment, and then picked up her chopsticks. Zhao Cong's complexion also improved slightly.
"I'll find a place to settle down somewhere far from the capital. My business with Manager Tao is going quite well, so I shouldn't be short of money and won't have to worry about making ends meet."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at Zhao Cong and met his cold and sharp gaze.
Zhao Cong's expression was unreadable. "Well, with money, you can not only make a living, but also find young and healthy bodies to donate blood to. In that sense, your future is truly enviable."
Lin Qingwan's mind raced. What did the Crown Prince mean by this? It didn't sound like a genuine blessing.
“If Your Highness has some free time, you are welcome to come and sit down. I will prepare tea and refreshments,” she said carefully.
Zhao Cong's lips curled into a cold smile, "I am too busy with state affairs to spare any time."
"Then..." Lin Qingwan pursed her lips, "I pray for the Crown Prince day and night, hoping for favorable weather and abundant harvests in Great Ning?"
Zhao Cong pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed on her with a complex expression, though he himself couldn't quite put his finger on what was making him feel awkward.
"You're more powerful than the Temple of Heaven; just pray to me and everything will go smoothly."
Tsk, Lin Qingwan rubbed her handkerchief. What does the Crown Prince want to hear?
“Sincerity moves mountains.” She added, “The Crown Prince is Qingwan’s savior. I thought I was going to die, but now I can still look forward to the future, all thanks to the Crown Prince.”
"I will certainly wish you a long and healthy life for the rest of your days."
Zhao Cong took a sip of the lukewarm tea and thought to himself, "She's saying all nice things and her attitude is very sincere, so why does it make me feel uncomfortable?"
She doesn't owe him anything; he owes her something.
Although he protected her all the way, he still failed to do enough in several life-threatening situations, including the fact that she was poisoned, which was also due to his negligence.
Zhao Cong imagined her life in seclusion in a paradise, and compared it with his own struggle with his father and the need to appease the Prince Jing's faction, realizing that his path to the throne could not be rushed.
Even if you manage to get that position, you'll have to work your whole life on it.
Around me...
There's no one who can speak up.
Torn between these conflicting thoughts, Zhao Cong grew somewhat anxious.
"Hmph, how many people sitting on the throne can enjoy a long and healthy life? Don't waste your time." He chuckled self-deprecatingly.
Lin Qingwan's heart tightened slightly. "In the future, Your Highness will also help you share your burdens."
Zhao Cong laughed in exasperation, "All he does all day is find me a proper wife. When he grows up, he'll probably be busy finding a good match for himself. How can I expect anything from him?"
When Feng'er and the principal wife brought it up at the same time, both of them felt awkward.
Zhao Cong had no idea what he was hoping for, afraid of missing the slightest expression on her face.
Lin Qingwan lowered her eyelashes, concealing her emotions very well. "The little prince is straightforward and lively. He'll be even better when he's older. The Crown Prince doesn't need to worry."
Zhao Cong's fingers curled slightly, and only one thought remained in her mind: she didn't even care about Feng'er anymore!
Feng'er liked her so much, and she was so cute, that she didn't even hesitate!
That's right, she's made such good arrangements for her future, how could she possibly take care of a small child?
Anyway, Feng'er thought she was dead and even cried himself unconscious. If he knew that Lin Qingwan didn't care about him at all, who knows how heartbroken the little brat would be.
let her go!
Zhao Cong was furious and decided to make it clear that he would never have any contact with Zhao Cong again, which was his original decision.
But when he spoke, he was filled with anger, "I've saved you so many times, and you just want to leave?"
"They don't even mention repaying kindness?"
Lin Qingwan's cold eyes narrowed, her lips moved slightly, but she didn't say anything.
Zhao Cong himself was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but say in a deep voice, "Feng'er thought you were dead, and cried herself unconscious. She was still sobbing in her sleep, calling your name over and over again!"
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