Seeing Qin Yan turn to leave, Xiao Wanyu suddenly grew anxious. She instinctively blurted out to stop him, as if there were a voice inside her urging her not to let him go.
“Um… Princess…”
But just as she was about to chase after him, Ji Yuanyi suddenly bent over and clutched his stomach, a look of pain appearing on his face.
“Ah! Brother Yuanyi, what’s wrong?”
Seeing Ji Yuanyi crouched down holding his stomach, Xiao Wanyu immediately rushed back to his side, her face full of concern.
“Princess, it’s nothing. Just a bit of stomach pain. When I was exiled to Lingnan with my father, I contracted a miasma-related illness. Though I was eventually cured, it left behind lingering symptoms. It’ll pass soon.”
Ji Yuanyi explained gently, trying to reassure her as if there was nothing to worry about.
“Ah… how could that be? Why have you never told me this before?”
Hearing this, Xiao Wanyu’s expression instantly turned to one of deep worry. Her eyes even reddened a little. She was clearly distressed. Just imagining the hardships Ji Yuanyi endured during his three years in exile left her heart aching.
“It’s no big deal. You’ve already been troubled enough because of me, Princess. How could I burden you further?”
Ji Yuanyi forced a weak smile, speaking with such affectionate sincerity.
“Brother Yuanyi, stop talking. What should we do now? Let me take you to a physician. I’ll send someone into the palace to fetch the imperial doctor.”
Xiao Wanyu looked at him, heartbroken and anxious.
“No need. I have a prescription at my residence specifically for this condition. A bowl of medicine is all I need to feel better. There’s no need to trouble a physician.”
Ji Yuanyi immediately stopped her and reassured her that medicine at home would suffice.
“Then what are we waiting for? I’ll go back with you.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Wanyu lost all appetite for food. She quickly said she would accompany him home.
“Alright.” This story is hosted at g.com.
Ji Yuanyi didn’t decline and accepted immediately.
“Sure enough… in her heart, no one can replace Ji Yuanyi. The white moonlight… the cinnabar mole.”
At the top of the stairs, Qin Yan witnessed everything and simply shook his head. There was no envy, no jealousy, just a sense of resignation.
“Young Master, is it true? I heard Princess Changning is here?”
As soon as Qin Yan came downstairs, Zhou De came rushing over, asking in a low voice.
“Mm, they’re about to come down. Quick, come with me. Don’t let her see you—it could stir up unnecessary trouble.”
Qin Yan immediately pulled Zhou De toward the kitchen. Since Zhou De used to work at the Princess’s residence, if Xiao Wanyu saw him here and found out he was the manager of this restaurant, even someone as dense as her would grow suspicious.
Qin Yan didn’t want any unnecessary trouble, and he especially didn’t want to get entangled with Xiao Wanyu any further.
“Princess, what are you looking for?”
After coming downstairs, Xiao Wanyu instinctively scanned the restaurant, searching for that familiar figure in the crowd. Ji Yuanyi noticed her behavior and asked at once.
“Oh… it’s nothing. Let’s go.”
Xiao Wanyu responded casually. She had been looking for Qin Yan, but couldn’t find him. For some reason, not seeing him left her with a sense of disappointment. Still, Ji Yuanyi’s voice distracted her, and soon the two of them, along with the Princess’s attendants, left the restaurant.
“Ji Yuanyi… so he really came. As expected, once he returned to the Capital, the Princess put all her attention on him.”
“I really don’t understand what’s so great about him that makes the Princess act like this. In my eyes, Ji Yuanyi isn’t even one-tenth of what you are, Young Master. The Princess must be blind.”
Zhou De and Qin Yan hid in a corner as they watched Xiao Wanyu and Ji Yuanyi leave. Zhou De had recognized Ji Yuanyi instantly and, seeing him with the Princess, couldn’t help but speak in frustration. In his eyes, Ji Yuanyi’s fame was nothing compared to Qin Yan’s worth.
Only he truly knew how exceptional Qin Yan was—an outstanding man who had hidden his strength too well for anyone to notice. Even putting aside Qin Yan’s capabilities, just considering everything he did for Xiao Wanyu over those three years, Zhou De thought Xiao Wanyu’s choice to let him go was utterly foolish.
“Old Zhou, don’t say things like that again. Everyone has their own fate. Wealth and rank are up to the heavens. If you’re not the same kind of person, you’re bound to walk different paths. Now that we have our own lives, we shouldn’t hold grudges about the past. Just live well and do our jobs properly.”
In response to Zhou De’s indignation, Qin Yan was far more composed. He had never harbored deep feelings for Xiao Wanyu, so naturally, he wouldn’t get angry now. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
“You’re right. Young Master, you’re a true talent. One day, those people will understand that you were always the real chosen one.”
Zhou De nodded and didn’t press the topic further.
Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace, in the Empress Dowager’s quarters—
“What did you say, Jinyang? Who do you want to marry?”
The Empress Dowager’s voice rang out in disbelief. When she heard that Princess Jinyang had already requested a marriage decree from Xiao Yuanwu, asking him to betroth her to Qin Yan, even someone as experienced as the Empress Dowager, who had lived through three reigns, couldn’t help but be shocked. She looked at Xiao Chuo in astonishment.
“Qin Yan. Princess Changning’s former Prince Consort.”
Princess Jinyang, Xiao Chuo, had expected this reaction. Her gaze remained steady as she looked at the Empress Dowager and answered calmly.
“Qin Yan…”
The Empress Dowager murmured his name, now completely sure she hadn’t misheard.
“Yes, Mother. I want to marry Qin Yan.”
Xiao Chuo said again, firmly.
“Good. Qin Yan is a good man. If you marry him, I believe you’ll be very happy.”
To Xiao Chuo’s surprise, the Empress Dowager wasn’t angry or opposed. On the contrary, she approved of her choice and even praised it.
“You don’t mind, Mother?”
Now it was Xiao Chuo’s turn to be surprised. She had thought the Empress Dowager would be furious—after all, Qin Yan was formerly Princess Changning’s Prince Consort. He had no background, no fame. Even his appointment back then had caused a stir. Now that she wanted to marry him, she expected even more backlash.
“Hehe, what would I mind? As long as you don’t mind, that’s what matters.”
“Besides, Qin Yan is a good man. For three years, he cared for that Changning girl with unwavering devotion. Among so many Prince Consorts, how many could compare to that kind of consistency?”
“A gentle and thoughtful man like that… if Changning wasn’t blind, she would never have divorced him for someone like Ji Yuanyi.”