Lin Shenghè countered instead, “How does Your Highness know she wouldn’t be willing?”
“Why not wait until she wakes up and ask her yourself, Your Highness.”
Xiao Yan shook his head solemnly, “She is Xie Yunye’s fiancée. How could I take her away?”
Lin Shenghè had guessed that this was the reason for the Crown Prince’s hesitation.
“But Your Highness, Xie Yunye is already dead.”
“Or does Your Highness still dislike the Third Young Lady as much as before?”
Xiao Yan replied gravely, “No.”
“I don’t dislike her either. Both Your Highness and I know she is a good person. Before Xie Yunye left, he asked her to look after Your Highness, and she has been preparing meals for Your Highness ever since.”
“Now that Your Highness has fallen from grace, her first thought isn’t to distance herself but to worry about Your Highness.”
“Does Your Highness intend to leave her with the Meng family just because she was Xie Yunye’s fiancée?”
“Can Your Highness really bear to watch her die?”
Seeing Xiao Yan’s expression soften, Lin Shenghè pressed on.
“Moreover, Your Highness, have you forgotten what Xie Yunye said before he left? He said that if he were to die…”
Xiao Yan certainly remembered. Xie Yunye had entrusted Meng Jinyue to him before his departure, as if it were only yesterday. Many of Xie Yunye’s words still echoed in his ears.
“Consider this my final request to Your Highness. If I truly die, and if she wishes to remarry, please arrange a good marriage for her.”
“If she does not wish to remarry, I hope Your Highness will reserve a position as a Liangdi in the Crown Prince’s residence for her, so she won’t have to remain in the Meng household.”
…
Xiao Yan had never seen Xie Yunye beg anyone like this before, yet for Meng Jinyue, he had done so for the first time.
“Enough.”
Xiao Yan made his decision. “When she wakes up, I will ask her. If she is willing, I will take her with me. From then on, I will be responsible for the rest of her life.”
Hearing the Crown Prince’s words, Lin Shenghè felt a sense of relief, yet also a pang of sorrow and regret.
It was for Xie Yunye and Meng Jinyue, as well as for the Crown Prince.
Xiao Yan had liked Meng Jinyue, yet he had died young, falling in battle.
The Crown Prince had no interest in women and felt no romantic affection for Meng Jinyue.
Yet, to save her life, the two would be bound together from now on.
Wasn’t this a twist of fate?
Meng Jinyue was severely injured but woke up the next day.
Poor Lin Shenghè, who was not only preoccupied with the Crown Prince’s affairs but also concerned about Meng Jinyue’s injuries.
In just two days, he had grown much more haggard.
“You’re awake!”
Meng Jinyue woke up in a daze, clutching her head.
Lin Shenghè caught sight of her bewildered yet beautiful eyes and felt a flicker of unease.
“You… have you been knocked silly? Do you still remember who I am?”
Meng Jinyue nodded blankly, “I remember. You’re Lin Shenghè.”
“Sent by the Crown Prince to protect me.”
Meng Jinyue pressed a hand to her head, “Huh? But… why would His Highness send someone to protect me?”
Meng Jinyue hadn’t intended to lose her memory, but she had to forget certain things—like Xie Yunye.
If she still remembered Xie Yunye, how could she grow closer to the Crown Prince?
Even getting slightly closer to the Crown Prince would feel like a betrayal of Xie Yunye.
Xiao Yan might also think she was scheming and had ulterior motives.
It would hardly fit her character to show affection for another man so soon after her fiancé’s death.
She had always been innocent and kind-hearted. Whether it was Xie Yunye or the Crown Prince, it should be their own choice to like her.
She had done nothing and schemed nothing.
Moreover, the world is so unfair. It is common for men to be fickle, but if a woman behaves the same way, she is labeled as promiscuous.
After careful consideration, Meng Jinyue could only do this.
She planned to selectively forget Xie Yunye. Her head injury was so severe that the Imperial Physician would naturally have an explanation.
“You… you really don’t remember?”
Lin Shenghè stared blankly at Meng Jinyue for a long time and asked many more questions.
He confirmed that she had only forgotten Xie Yunye. Every time Xie Yunye was mentioned, Meng Jinyue’s expression became extremely pained.
“Alright, alright, I won’t ask anymore. Rest well, and I’ll come back to see you later.”
Lin Shenghè could only hurry to report to the Crown Prince.
“Your Highness, the Third Young Lady… her head injury is too severe. It seems her mind has been damaged.”
Xiao Yan’s gaze turned cold, sharp as a blade: “Explain clearly. What happened? Has she lost her wits?”
“Not entirely. She remembers who she is and everything from before, but she has completely forgotten Aye’s existence.”
“The Imperial Physician said that some people, when overwhelmed by grief, subconsciously forget the people and things that cause them pain. She must be the same.”
Xiao Yan: “Bring her here.”
Lin Shenghè brought Meng Jinyue into the Crown Prince’s tent and asked her once more in front of the Crown Prince.
“Do you really not remember?”
Lin Shenghè looked at Meng Jinyue.
“I only remember I have a sweetheart. Are you my betrothed?”
This question left Lin Shenghè stunned.
“Your Highness, you see.”
“Are you my betrothed?” Meng Jinyue stared directly at Lin Shenghè and asked again.
“I am not.”
Meng Jinyue’s gaze then shifted to Xiao Yan.
“Only you and His Highness have shown concern for my injury. If it’s not you, could it be His Highness?”
“But how could that be?”
Meng Jinyue’s bright, beautiful eyes looked toward Xiao Yan.
Her eyes no longer held the lifelessness and sorrow from days before. Instead, they sparkled, vivid and lively.
This formed a stark contrast to the heartbroken, desolate state she had been in just days earlier.
Xiao Yan thought, perhaps it was for the best that she had forgotten Xie Yunye.
After all, before Xie Yunye left for the battlefield, he had hoped for her well-being.
Now, like this, Aye might be pleased.
“I am not.”
“But if you are willing, I could be in the future.”
These words left not only Meng Jinyue stunned but Lin Shenghè as well.
Lin Shenghè: “Your Highness?”
What Xie Yunye had originally said was to give Meng Jinyue a status, a place of security.
But what His Highness was saying now…
The Crown Prince ignored Lin Shenghè. His dark eyes fixed on Meng Jinyue as he spoke in a deep voice:
“Your previous betrothed was Xie Yunye, my sworn brother. Before he left, he entrusted you to me.”
Meng Jinyue froze, clutching her head: “Xie… Xie Yunye? But… but I don’t remember him at all.”
Her expression once again turned pained.
“Do not dwell on it. If you have forgotten, perhaps it is fate’s will. Maybe Aye wanted you to forget.”
Aye was no longer here, and Meng Jinyue was the woman Aye loved most in this world.
Xiao Yan treated her with even greater leniency.
Meng Jinyue had not expected the Crown Prince and the others to accept this so quickly, even providing her with a flawless excuse.
“I have been deposed and will henceforth be confined. Now, even if I wished to arrange a marriage for you, I lack the means.”
“You have forgotten matters concerning Aye, but you likely still remember Meng Jinrong. If you remain with the Meng family, you will not survive. If you follow me, although you may barely stay safe, you will share my confinement and suffer hardships without a doubt.”
“How will you choose?”
After Xiao Yan finished speaking, two dark gazes simultaneously fell upon her, awaiting her decision.
The “Shared Adversity, Growing Affection” quest has begun ^O^