“Greetings, Your Highness…”
Very quickly, the servants from the Princess’s residence who had come looking for Xiao Wanyu were brought into the room. When they finally saw her, their faces lit up with smiles and excitement.
“What is so urgent that it’s considered a matter of utmost importance? And it’s about Qin Yan?” Xiao Wanyu immediately asked as her gaze fell on them, curious about what had happened.
“Princess, we aren’t sure either. Nanny Rong is very anxious and has been looking all over for Your Highness. She didn’t say much, just urged us to find you as quickly as possible so you can ask her directly.”
“You don’t know what happened?” Xiao Wanyu’s brows furrowed even deeper. She had no idea what kind of trick Nanny Rong was playing to make such a fuss.
Her eyes drifted toward Ji Yuanyi lying on the bed, and she hesitated, unsure what to do.
“Qin Yan again…”
Seeing her gaze and hesitation, Ji Yuanyi felt a surge of fury in his heart. The jealousy he had managed to suppress was once again ignited, and his sharp eyes burned with anger as he silently cursed Qin Yan’s name.
“Princess, if there’s something important, you should go. No need to worry about me.”
Though enraged inside, Ji Yuanyi didn’t show it on the surface. He looked at Xiao Wanyu with gentle eyes and spoke considerately, pretending to be understanding.
“Alright then, Brother Yuanyi. I’ll go first. I’ll come back tomorrow to see you.”
To his shock, Xiao Wanyu agreed instantly without hesitation, as if her mind was already preoccupied with finding out what was going on with Qin Yan.
“She didn’t even hesitate… could it be she still has feelings for Qin Yan?”
The fire of jealousy roared in Ji Yuanyi’s heart. Just as Xiao Wanyu was about to step out the door, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
“Ah! Young Master! What’s wrong?!”
The Ji household’s steward was startled and rushed forward, shouting in alarm.
Xiao Wanyu immediately turned around. As soon as she re-entered the room, she saw the blood on the ground and blood seeping from the corners of Ji Yuanyi’s mouth.
“Brother Yuanyi, what happened? Why are you coughing up blood?!”
Her heart skipped a beat, her face went pale, and she hurried to his side.
“It’s nothing. Just a little blood. I’ll be fine.”
“Princess, you don’t need to worry about me. It’s getting late and Nanny Rong still has something to tell you. Why don’t you go back first?” This chapter was taken from novelping dot com without permission.
Ji Yuanyi looked up at her with pitiful eyes, still pretending to be considerate and strong.
“You’re coughing blood and say it’s nothing?!”
“Brother Yuanyi, don’t talk anymore. Lie down quickly. I’ll send someone to the palace to fetch the imperial physician right away!”
By now, Xiao Wanyu had no mental capacity left to care about anything related to Qin Yan. Seeing Ji Yuanyi like this made her deeply anxious.
“No need. Don’t trouble the imperial physician. I’ll be fine. It’s just stagnant blood. Once I’ve coughed it up, I’ll be fine. If this reaches the palace and His Majesty or Her Majesty hears about it, I’m afraid… they’ll think I’m too weak to marry you, and oppose our union.”
Ji Yuanyi reached out and stopped her, speaking tenderly, not wanting to be seen as a sickly man.
“Are you really alright like this?”
Xiao Wanyu’s heart faltered. She knew that if her father and mother heard Ji Yuanyi was ill, it would complicate the marriage greatly. They had already been unhappy about her divorcing Qin Yan—this would only make matters worse.
But seeing him in this state, she couldn’t help but feel heartache.
“It’s nothing. I’ll feel better after some rest. There’s a physician here at the residence—no need to worry.”
“Alright, then lie down and rest for a while.”
“Princess, you have matters to attend to. I’m alright. Just go back.”
Ji Yuanyi lay down again and looked at Xiao Wanyu, suggesting she leave if she had something urgent to do.
“No matter how important it is, can it be more important than you? I’m not going. I’m staying here to keep Brother Yuanyi company.”
Xiao Wanyu looked at him seriously. At this point, nothing else mattered to her.
“But… the nanny…”
“No buts. Nothing is more important than you.”
“You all go back and tell Nanny Rong that whatever it is can wait until tomorrow. Today, I’m staying here with Brother Yuanyi.”
Xiao Wanyu interrupted Ji Yuanyi and then turned to her attendants from the residence.
Naturally, none of them dared argue with the Princess. They agreed at once and quickly returned to report back.
Seeing Xiao Wanyu decide to stay, Ji Yuanyi felt a surge of satisfaction inside.
“Qin Yan… Qin Yan, what right do you have to compete with me? In Changning’s heart, I, Ji Yuanyi, am the only one.”
…
“What? You’re saying the Princess isn’t coming back?”
Back at the Princess’s residence, Nanny Rong was stunned by the attendants’ report.
“Yes. That’s what the Princess instructed.”
“Did you clearly tell her it’s about her former Prince Consort, Qin Yan?”
Nanny Rong frowned tightly, pressing for confirmation.
“We did. But the Princess said she’d deal with it tomorrow. Today, she’s staying at the Minister of Revenue’s residence to accompany Young Master Ji.”
Sigh “It seems… Her Highness no longer holds any feelings for the former Prince Consort.”
Nanny Rong let out a long sigh. She had originally believed that Princess Changning still had some lingering affection for Qin Yan. But now, it was clear they had all been overthinking it.
Three years of companionship, yet Princess Changning didn’t show even a shred of emotional attachment toward Qin Yan.
Thinking that way, perhaps even if Qin Yan were truly together with Princess Jinyang, Princess Changning wouldn’t care at all. After all, she already had Ji Yuanyi by her side.
“Nanny, should you go to the Minister’s estate yourself?”
Seeing her remain silent, one of the attendants offered a suggestion.
“No need. Since the Princess said that, we’ll do as she instructed.”
Nanny Rong shook her head. There was no need anymore. It was better this way—each living their own lives. If she went in person, it might only cause trouble between Xiao Wanyu and Ji Yuanyi.
…
“Father…”
Inside the Ji residence, Ji Yuanyi sat up quickly when his father, Ji Shou, the current Minister of Revenue, stepped into his room. Seeing his father arrive, Ji Yuanyi immediately got out of bed and bowed.