"The Crown Princess dislikes me so much that she even went so far as to give me a potion that would prevent me from having children. Even if I marry you, as long as I live, she will still be wary of me."
Mi Rao's eyes reddened, and she began to sob.
"Since ancient times, there have been stories of rulers taking the wives of their subjects and masters seizing the wives of their servants. The Crown Princess is well-informed and must know these things, so she would not be happy to see me marry you and give you the opportunity to protect me. Her threat not to marry you probably still means she wants to get rid of me."
Zhuang Xin's face turned deathly pale.
The hands that were holding her shoulders slowly loosened.
But his eyes gradually reddened: "I'll go talk to His Highness the Crown Prince about this. I've followed His Highness the Crown Prince for many years, and he's been very good to me. He'll be willing to grant our request. At worst, we can leave the Crown Prince's residence and live elsewhere!"
“But Brother Zhuang, the Crown Prince is the heir apparent. If you work by his side, you will rise to the top when he ascends the throne. Your future is limitless. How can I let you sacrifice so much for me? If you insist on this, then Mi Rao has no choice but to die!”
Zhuang Xin shouted loudly, "Mi Rao!"
For a moment, he was speechless, not knowing what else to say. Zhuang Xin felt as if his heart had been shattered a thousand times in that short time.
—I never knew what longing was, but now that I do, I am consumed by it.
Mi Rao looked up at him, her eyes filled with tears, her expression pitiful yet incredibly resolute.
"Brother Zhuang, don't worry. I've come up with a way to solve our current problem. Once the Crown Princess discovers that I have no romantic feelings for His Highness and that I serve her sincerely, she will let me go. This will also protect your future, Brother Zhuang."
"What method?"
Mi Rao wiped away her tears. "Brother Zhuang, please sit down first, and let me tell you slowly."
Zhuang Xin took a deep breath and sat down. Mi Rao poured him a cup of tea, sat opposite him, and slowly explained her thoughts.
As Zhuang Xin listened, his eyes reddened even more, as if he was about to shed tears, but he forcibly held them back.
The more Mi Rao spoke, the more bitter he felt. Finally, he couldn't help but say, "The Crown Princess has already treated you like that, yet you still think about her. Mi Rao, how... how can you be so kind!"
Mi Rao smiled wryly and comforted him, "Brother Zhuang, I don't feel wronged. The Crown Princess just misunderstood me, that's why she can't tolerate me. Once the misunderstanding is cleared up, we'll be together! But... Brother Zhuang, are you willing to help me?"
Zhuang Xin said, "Of course! Your business is my business!"
Mi Rao laughed: "Then, Brother Zhuang, you mustn't be angry or sad, otherwise the Crown Princess will think that we conspired to poison her, and the misunderstanding will be even deeper."
Zhuang Xin was still angry and bitter, but after listening to Mi Rao's words, he suppressed those emotions.
For Mi Rao's safety and for their future, he will do his utmost and not reveal any flaws before things succeed!
Early the next morning.
Zhuang Xin continued to follow Yun Zhuo out to work.
Mi Rao still sent him snacks on time so he could take them with him and eat them with everyone on the way.
However, after returning home in the evening and washing up, Zhuang Xin personally went to the kitchen to help serve the dishes, which were then delivered to the main dining hall.
Sitting next to Ye Qingxue, Yun Zhuo tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, watching Zhuang Xin's behavior with a leisurely air.
"After a long day outside, isn't it enough that you still have to work in the kitchen when you get home?" Yun Zhuo asked.
As is customary, Chunqian stood to the side, using a silver needle to test for poison, before Yunzhuo picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.
"It tastes good. Is it a new dish you recently developed?" Yun Zhuo asked as he served Ye Qingxue some food.
"Yes, Your Highness has been very busy lately and has lost a lot of weight. The Crown Princess is worried about you and hasn't been eating well, so she has also lost weight. That's why I asked the kitchen to develop new dishes and have them make them for Your Highness and the Crown Princess to try," Zhuang Xin said with a smile.
Yun Zhuo glanced at him, remained silent, and continued eating with Ye Qingxue.
For five consecutive days, new dishes appeared on their dining table.
That evening, Ye Qingxue didn't have a good appetite and even experienced acid reflux after dinner. It was already late, and Yun Zhuo was still busy in the study.
In addition to excavating the Tianyuan Grand Canal, the emperor also urged him to expedite the construction of the mausoleum.
Despite being physically and mentally exhausted, Yun Zhuo remained incredibly busy.
Zhuang Xin personally brought Ye Qingxue a late-night snack.
"I just heard that the Crown Princess had a poor appetite tonight, so I asked Granny Xu in the kitchen to make a late-night snack. Please try it and see if it suits your taste."
There was indeed an old lady named Xu in the kitchen. When Yun Zhuo asked Zhuang Xin who made these new dishes, he replied that it was an old lady named Xu.
Moreover, the person in charge of the kitchen at the Crown Prince's residence was indeed Granny Xu.
Feeling nauseous from acid reflux, Ye Qingxue looked pale and weakly said to Zhuang Xin, "Put the midnight snack down... Ugh..."
Ye Qingxue started experiencing acid reflux again.
Granny Xing and Chunqian were busy taking care of her.
Once inside, Ye Qingxue vomited up everything she had eaten for dinner, rinsed her mouth, and then, seeing the late-night snack, her mouth watered.
Mi Rao quietly followed Zhuang Xin in, but she stood guard outside the door. It was already late at night, and when she raised her eyes slightly, she saw Granny Xing place the midnight snack in front of Ye Qingxue.
Watching Ye Qingxue begin to eat her late-night snack, Mi Rao smiled. After lying low for many days, she had been preparing for this night. She quietly slipped out.
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