There was no sound in the hall for a long time. Ah Ye poked her head in, uneasy: “Your Highness?”
“Did you let him in?” Feng Lezhen asked. From the front gate to the main hall, there were five layers of guards. For Qi Jingqing to show up unannounced, it was obvious someone had brought him in.
Ah Ye rubbed her nose and stomped into the room, defiant: “You can punish me however you like, Your Highness. I just couldn’t stand that Marchioness. Can’t control her son’s feelings, so she comes to trouble you? Who does she think she is? She didn’t want Qi Jingqing to know, so I made sure he did! If she dares provoke our princess, don’t think anyone’s getting away clean!”
The more she spoke, the angrier she got—like she was ready to charge out with a knife and cut someone down.
Feng Lezhen’s expression remained calm. “If Qi Jingqing were in good health, she wouldn’t be trying to deal with me like this.”
“Your Highness!” Ah Ye grew anxious hearing her speak in the Marchioness’s defense.
“It’s enough. No need to bring it up again. I too overstepped. I knew some things should not be done, some paths can’t be taken, yet I still let things drift. Now… it’s time to set things right,” Feng Lezhen sighed. “If Qi Jingqing comes again in the future, don’t even report it. Just refuse him outright.”
“What if he refuses to leave and stays at the gate?” Ah Ye worried.
Feng Lezhen chuckled. “He’s a sensible person. He knows my temper. He won’t make a scene.”
Ah Ye pressed her lips together and nodded.
In the following days, Qi Jingqing did indeed come every day—but each time, without exception, he was turned away. The last time, he stood staring at the tightly shut gates of the Eldest Princess’s residence for a long time. Then, without a word, he left. His thin, lonely figure stirred even a bit of sympathy in Ah Ye.
“Honestly… the more I think about it, the more I think he’s pretty pitiful,” she said to Chen Jinan.
Chen Jinan glanced at the carriage fading in the distance. “Who in this world isn’t pitiful in their own way?”
Ah Ye frowned. “That’s not what I meant—”
But before she could finish, Chen Jinan had already turned and walked off. Ah Ye made a face and huffed back to her room.
Without Qi Jingqing as a companion, Feng Lezhen’s days felt a lot duller. Occasionally, when the mood struck her to play chess, she could only drag Ah Ye or Chen Jinan into a game. Unfortunately, neither of them had any real skill. Even giving them a seven- or eight-piece handicap didn’t stop them from losing disastrously.
After losing too many times, Ah Ye would slip away the moment she heard the word “chess.” Chen Jinan, on the other hand, was endlessly patient—except his skills were even worse than Ah Ye’s. Every time Feng Lezhen saw the board, she’d get a headache.
“…You lost again. How did you manage to lose again?” Feng Lezhen sighed, placing another piece.
Chen Jinan paused. “My chess is not very good.”
“‘Not very good’ is putting it lightly. You’re hopeless,” Feng Lezhen laughed at him.
A faint flush rose on Chen Jinan’s face, and he looked a bit flustered. “This subordinate will study hard.”
“This isn’t something you can learn just by studying—it takes intuition. Look at Qi Jingqing…” Feng Lezhen mentioned his name without thinking, and Chen Jinan silently looked at her.
Feng Lezhen let out a small laugh. “He never formally took a teacher. He figured it all out on his own… Forget it, let’s stop playing. Pack up—we’re heading to the yamen.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
After playing chess with others for a few days, Feng Lezhen quickly lost interest again and returned to her old routine of visiting the government office regularly.
Ever since she had sent a secret letter to Feng Ji in Qi Zhen’s name, her alliance with the Qi family army had become increasingly overt. Feng Ji had originally sent her to Yingguan hoping to see them tear each other apart, but instead of fighting, they had joined forces. This infuriated him to the point of falling seriously ill for a few days.
Feng Lezhen couldn’t care less whether he was sick or not. After auditing a few days of accounts at the yamen, she drew a line through the final tax amount to be submitted to the court and wrote a new number beside it.
“This is how much we’ll submit this year,” she said.
“Just this…” Hu Wensheng was nearly scared to death. “Th-this is impossible! This is way too little!”
“Yingguan fought a battle this year,” Feng Lezhen replied calmly. “You, as the border governor, should know how costly warfare is. Isn’t it normal for us to submit a bit less?”
Hu Wensheng’s eyes widened. “Submitting a bit less is one thing—but this much less is not normal!”
In recent years, Yingguan had grown increasingly prosperous, and the yamen’s accounts were flush with silver. By law, most of it should be turned over to the imperial court. But the princess had said the money should first go toward paving roads and setting up private schools. For the time being, they’d keep remitting the same as before. Privately, he agreed—the people mattered more—so he followed her instructions.
Now that the roads were paved and the schools built, life for the common people was visibly improving. He had thought this year they could finally remit normally. Yet now, she not only didn’t plan to pay the proper amount—she wanted to pocket seventy to eighty percent of it.
“This—this amount isn’t even what a small city pays! The court will definitely notice something’s wrong. Once they investigate, I’ll be finished!” Hu Wensheng was panicking, and could only beg for mercy.
Feng Lezhen gave him a glance. “If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up. What are you afraid of?”
“That’s easy for you to say! You’re the emperor’s own sister! What am I? I’m nothing but a fart!” He was so frightened by the number she wrote that even his speech became vulgar. “Your Highness, I beg you—please spare me! I really don’t dare!”
Feng Lezhen curled her lips slightly. “Fine. Don’t be so hasty. Just don’t report it yet. Take a few days to think it over. Who knows, you might change your mind.”
“There’s no chance of that!” Hu Wensheng replied firmly.
Feng Lezhen blinked but said nothing more.
After leaving the yamen, Ah Ye immediately asked, “Your Highness, Hu Wensheng seems easygoing, but when he gets stubborn, not even eight oxen can drag him back. If he never agrees, what will you do?”
“He will agree,” Feng Lezhen smiled. “And even if he doesn’t, Feng Ji will make him agree.”
Ah Ye asked, “Why?”
“Just wait and see,” Feng Lezhen replied, offering no further explanation.
Starting that day, Hu Wensheng seemed to have realized something and began deliberately avoiding Feng Lezhen. Even when it was impossible to dodge her, he only forced a stiff greeting before fleeing as quickly as he could.
Feng Lezhen didn’t mind his change in attitude. She simply told Ah Ye to keep an eye on him and prevent him from impulsively sending word to the capital, which could ruin her plans. Luckily, although Hu Wensheng was sometimes muddleheaded, he wasn’t a fool and didn’t try anything stupid like tattling in secret.
Five or six days later, news from the capital finally arrived—
The emperor intended to establish a new Supervisory Office in Yingguan, and officials from the capital were to be selected to take up the post. The new office’s rank was just half a level above that of the Yingguan Governor—Hu Wensheng’s own post.
When this news spread, Hu Wensheng ran to the Eldest Princess’s manor in the middle of the night.
“These past years I’ve worked myself to the bone for Yingguan! Everyone flatters the Marquis just to get by comfortably here, but I’ve always thought only of the people, never once giving in to him! I’ve walked a tightrope every day—if I don’t have merit, I at least have hard work to show for it! But now, His Majesty—he doesn’t appreciate me at all, and wants to send some Supervisory Office? And what’s it supposed to supervise—Zhenbian Marquis?! Obviously, it’s aimed at me… sob sob sob…”
In the dead of night, Hu Wensheng was crying like his soul had been ripped from his body. Feng Lezhen forced herself to stay awake and listen to his ramblings, then gently comforted him, “Don’t think like that. Maybe His Majesty simply thinks you’re overworked and wants to send someone to help.”
“If he wanted to help, he should’ve sent a son! Why send a father?!” Hu Wensheng exploded. “This official’s rank is just a little higher than mine! Who’s helping whom here?!”
“Don’t worry about who’s helping who. Just focus on doing your own job well.” Feng Lezhen finally couldn’t help yawning and covered her mouth.
“I thought so too,” Hu Wensheng fumed, “but this Supervisory Office is clearly coming for me. I bet his first act in office will be to burn me to the ground! Your Highness, you have to save me!”
“Why should I save you?” Feng Lezhen replied lightly. “Are you one of my people?”
Hu Wensheng was speechless. When he opened his mouth again, even his gaze faltered. “I-I’ve done quite a bit for Your Highness these past years… surely that counts for something…”
“Counts for what?” He couldn’t finish the sentence.
Feng Lezhen chuckled. “You’re a clever man. I imagine you’ve heard the whispers blowing through Yingguan lately.”
“Th-this subordinate doesn’t know what Your Highness is talking about,” Hu Wensheng stammered, drenched in sweat.
Feng Lezhen chuckled lightly. “Governor, are you sure you don’t know what I mean?”
“…Your Highness, I’m just a low-ranking official with no background and no abilities. Why must you make things difficult for me?” Hu Wensheng was nearly in tears.
Feng Lezhen spread her hands. “I don’t want to make things hard for you either, but once you’re in the game, you can’t keep yourself completely untouched. Don’t you think so, Governor?”
Hu Wensheng let out a long sigh and stayed silent for a while.
Feng Lezhen didn’t press him—she simply told him to go back and think it over, and to come find her once he’d made up his mind.
“Don’t take too long. Once the emperor’s decree comes down, even if I had the power to move heaven and earth, I might not be able to help you anymore,” she reminded him gently.
Hu Wensheng nodded miserably and took his leave.
Once he was gone, Ah Ye immediately asked, “Shall we give him another push?”
“No need. He won’t keep us waiting long,” Feng Lezhen said confidently.
Sure enough, within three days, Hu Wensheng returned.
“This subordinate asks only one thing from Your Highness: no matter what happens in the future, please ensure the safety of the entire Hu family,” he said stiffly.
Feng Lezhen’s expression remained calm. “I swear on my life—even if I end up completely ruined, I will see to it that your whole family lives out their days in peace, untouched.”
“With such a promise from Your Highness, I couldn’t ask for more,” Hu Wensheng said with a sigh, finally resigning himself.
Feng Lezhen smiled. “Then, about the yamen’s accounts…”
“They’ll be done exactly as Your Highness says,” Hu Wensheng replied at once.
Satisfied, Feng Lezhen invited him to stay for lunch before sending him off.
Fan Gonggong escorted him out, then returned quickly. “Your Highness, just now Lord Hu mentioned something about the emperor establishing a Supervisory Office in Yingguan. This old servant has never heard of such a thing.”
“That’s because there’s no such thing,” Feng Lezhen replied calmly.
Fan Gonggong paused, then understood. “I wonder when the Governor will realize the truth.”
“The moment he pledged loyalty to me, he had no road left to turn back on,” Feng Lezhen said, sipping her tea.
Fan Gonggong gave a wry smile, but a hint of concern crept in. “What if he regrets it?”
“He won’t.” Feng Lezhen set her cup down. “He may be spineless, but he’s a man of his word. Since he’s agreed, he won’t go back on it.”
Fan Gonggong nodded, just about to mention something else when Ah Ye suddenly cleared her throat.
“Not feeling well?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Ah Ye stood up straight at once. “N-no, not at all.”
Feng Lezhen gave her a glance, then turned and went back into the room.
“Fan Gonggong! What do you think you’re doing?” Ah Ye whispered angrily.
Fan Gonggong looked helpless. “What else? Naturally I was going to inform Her Highness that the Marquis’s wife came by this morning.”
“What’s the point of telling her? I already turned that woman away. What’s left to say? She came to the princess’s manor before and ran her mouth full of nonsense. Just because Her Highness has a big heart doesn’t mean I’m going to pretend it never happened. If she dares show her face again, just turn her away. Don’t report it to Her Highness,” Ah Ye said, frowning.
Fan Gonggong didn’t quite agree. “What if it’s an important matter?”
“If it’s truly important, Qi Zhen will come himself,” Ah Ye shot him a look.
Fan Gonggong thought about it and sighed. “Alright, I’ll remember.”
Only then did Ah Ye feel satisfied.
Although the talk of a new Supervisory Office was just a trap Feng Lezhen set to reel in Hu Wensheng, Feng Ji, upon sensing an alliance forming between Zhenbian Marquis’s household and the Eldest Princess’s manor, genuinely began considering taking action in Yingguan. After much deliberation, he issued an imperial edict, under the pretense of missing his royal sister, summoning Feng Lezhen back to the capital.
This move was meant to pull the rug out from under her. After all, she could return to the capital, but the Qi family was not permitted to enter the city without cause. Separating them by force would make even the strongest alliance difficult to maintain.
But of course, Feng Lezhen had no intention of agreeing.
Not only did she refuse, but she did so decisively.
“These past few years, my health is not what it once was. I fear I cannot endure the hardships of the journey. If His Majesty truly misses his royal sister, perhaps he should come visit Yingguan in person. I will surely welcome him with the highest courtesy,” Feng Lezhen said, looking at the imperial edict in front of her, refusing to even touch it.
The messengers sent with the edict were the same group as before. Seeing the slight roundness to her cheeks, they broke out in a cold sweat. Where exactly does she look unwell?
Feng Lezhen didn’t care what they were thinking. Just before turning to go back inside, she glanced at Ah Ye. Ah Ye immediately handed each of them a pouch of gold.
“T-this reward is really too much…” With how wary the emperor was of the Eldest Princess now, holding this gold felt like clutching a burning coal.
“Just take it. If you carry out your duty well, there’ll be more rewards in the future,” Ah Ye said with a smile, then turned to the oldest eunuch. “If I remember right, Li Gonggong entered the palace after twenty—had a wife and child before that, didn’t you? By now your son should be eleven?”
The eunuch trembled, face instantly pale. “Th-this servant…”
“I hear he’s good at his studies, but because your family isn’t of good standing, he can’t take the exams. Her Highness is kindhearted and can’t bear to see a bright pearl covered in dust. So she’s had someone change his household registration. When you return, make sure to tell him to study hard and not let Her Highness’s efforts go to waste,” Ah Ye said with a smile.
The eunuch swallowed hard, then knelt down trembling. “This servant understands. After I return to the capital, I will persuade him earnestly.”
Ah Ye nodded in satisfaction, said a few more words to the others, and finally returned inside.
“All settled?” Feng Lezhen asked.
“Don’t worry, Your Highness, all settled.” Ah Ye smiled. “Fan Gonggong really is impressive. He’s been out of the palace for years, but he still remembers every detail about the old palace staff. Good thing we had him this time—those people definitely won’t go blabbing after they return.”
Feng Lezhen smiled. “Fan Gonggong has always been thorough. If not for his personal bias in favor of me, the one serving by Feng Ji’s side now wouldn’t be Li Tong.”
Ah Ye glanced at her carefully. Seeing no hint of sadness on her face, she relaxed a bit. “Li Tong hasn’t had an easy time in the palace these past few years. Word is he made several mistakes that cost the lives of three officials ranked fifth-grade and above. Even if His Majesty wanted to use him, he couldn’t risk public outrage, so he had no choice but to send him to the Cold Palace to serve a consort who had fallen out of favor.”
A place like the Cold Palace—anyone sent there is fated to be trampled underfoot. What’s more, Li Tong made too many enemies with his ruthless methods in earlier years. His days would likely be harder than most.
Feng Lezhen wasn’t surprised by Li Tong’s fate. After all—
“With Fu Zhixian around, how could he possibly live comfortably?” Feng Lezhen curled her lips into a smile.
Ah Ye chuckled. “It’s been a while since I heard you mention Lord Fu.”
“What reason would I have to bring him up?” Feng Lezhen walked to the window. “Though, if I think about it, the day we meet again isn’t too far off.”
“What?” Ah Ye didn’t catch that.
Feng Lezhen only smiled and didn’t answer.
Ah Ye looked at her back and hesitated for a moment before cautiously saying, “Your Highness, ever since the shizi stopped coming to the manor, he’s shut himself in and hasn’t been seen for days.”
“Perhaps he’s thought things through,” Feng Lezhen replied. “That’s for the best. Saves me a headache.”
Ah Ye thought of how Song Lian had come by again in recent days, but after some hesitation, she chose not to mention it.
Soon, the eunuchs who had delivered the edict returned to the palace with news of Feng Lezhen’s severe illness. Feng Ji flew into a rage and demanded, “Did you see her sick with your own eyes?!”
“Y-Your Majesty, she truly looked ill. Her complexion was pale, she seemed thin and frail… as if she didn’t have much time left,” one eunuch lied through his teeth, sweating profusely.
Standing to the side, Fu Zhixian’s eyes flickered slightly, but he said nothing.
Feng Ji made a huge scene, sending everyone else away before turning to Fu Zhixian. “Minister Fu, do you also believe she’s sick?”
“If she were truly ill, the rumors should’ve spread earlier. How could it only surface when the imperial edict summoning her back was issued?” Fu Zhixian asked calmly in return.
He didn’t go along with the eunuchs’ lie, which soothed Feng Ji’s temper a little. “If you ask me, those d*mn dogs were all bribed! They deserve to be torn limb from limb!”
“Your Majesty, please calm down. The Eldest Princess has always been clever. If she truly intended to deceive, no servant would be able to see through it. If Your Majesty punishes them rashly, it may draw criticism from the court.” Fu Zhixian advised.
Feng Ji glared. “So we just let it go?!”
“Of course not. But we must plan long-term,” Fu Zhixian said, setting an overturned chair upright. “Right now we don’t know how far she and the Qi family have aligned. If we act rashly, it may force them into true cooperation.”
“Plan long-term, plan long-term… I’ve heard that phrase a thousand times since I ascended the throne, but what has come of it?” Feng Ji snapped, then suddenly narrowed his eyes at Fu Zhixian with suspicion. “Minister Fu, don’t tell me… you still harbor old feelings for her and are deliberately misleading me?”
“If Your Majesty no longer trusts this subject, then I shall no longer involve myself in these matters,” Fu Zhixian replied, turning to leave.
“Come back!” Feng Ji called out in displeasure.
Fu Zhixian halted and looked back calmly. “Your Majesty, the late emperor showed me boundless grace. I promised him I would assist Your Majesty with all my heart—I dare not bear even a shred of disloyalty. If Your Majesty doubts me, then by all means strip me of all my posts and exile me from the capital.”
At the mention of the late emperor, Feng Ji’s expression softened. “Forget it… I was just momentarily blinded by anger. Don’t take offense.”
“I would not dare,” Fu Zhixian replied with a bow.
The two spoke a while longer before Fu Zhixian left. Feng Ji stared after him for a long time, his expression darkening.
Ding-ling-ling… ding-ling-ling…
The sound of bells rang, and before long, a man with a bell at his waist appeared in the imperial study.
“Greetings, Your Majesty.”
Feng Ji took a deep breath, waited a moment, then slowly said, “Go to Yingguan. Investigate whether Feng Lezhen is truly ill. If she is, return and report immediately. If she’s faking… kill her.”
“Yes.” The man turned to leave.
“Wait.” Feng Ji called him back.
“Your Majesty, do you have further instructions?” His voice was clear, like jade striking stone.
Feng Ji’s expression shifted several times before he slowly said, “Hold off for now. The situation is too sensitive. Even if you go, there may be little you can do. Better to wait a while, until everyone in Yingguan lowers their guard…”
“Yes,” the man replied, lowering his eyes.
Feng Ji turned to look out the window. This year, summer had come especially early. It was only April or May, yet already sweltering. He wondered if Yingguan was the same.
As it turned to May, Yingguan had indeed begun to heat up—but compared to the capital, the heat was negligible. At least in Feng Lezhen’s eyes, Yingguan had the mildest summer she had ever known.
Since refusing Feng Ji’s edict, the capital had remained unusually quiet for a while. But knowing Feng Ji as she did, Feng Lezhen was certain things weren’t over. So after some thought, she made a special trip to the military camp to speak with Qi Jingren about strengthening the city’s defenses.
“With Feng Ji’s temperament, when force doesn’t work, he’ll turn to killing. If he’s going to strike, it’ll likely be at me—not you. After all, he fears the military power in your hands. Ah Ye has trained many guards in the past two years, and people from the capital have also been trickling in, but it’s still not enough. I can only ask that your men be extra vigilant.”
“Yes…”
“It’s almost time for the yamen to submit this year’s accounts. I’ve already redone them and made a copy for you. Take a look—if Feng Ji sends someone to investigate and our versions don’t match, it’ll be trouble.”
“Alright, I’ll remember.”
Feng Lezhen nodded. “And also—”
Before she could finish, she looked up and saw Qi Jingren looking distracted. Her brows furrowed immediately. “Qi Jingren.”
Qi Jingren paused. “Your Highness…”
“Ever since I entered the tent, you’ve been absent-minded. Did something happen?” Feng Lezhen asked patiently.
Qi Jingren hesitated for a while before cautiously speaking. “Your Highness, are you still angry with my mother?”
At those words, Feng Lezhen’s brows furrowed deeper.
It wasn’t a secret that Song Lian had come to see her, so it made sense that Qi Jingren knew. But the two of them had agreed silently not to speak of it again. Now, nearly a month later, she suddenly brought it up again.
“Is something wrong?” Feng Lezhen immediately sensed something was off.
Qi Jingren gave a helpless smile. “My brother and I already reprimanded our mother for going to see you without permission. She knows she was wrong and genuinely wants to apologize. But we stopped her. If you’re still angry, then I apologize on her behalf. She really regrets it.”
“I didn’t take it to heart,” Feng Lezhen said calmly.
Qi Jingren paused. “Then… why won’t you see her?”
Feng Lezhen was caught off guard. She squinted slightly and looked toward the door at Ah Ye. Ah Ye looked up at the sky guiltily, pretending nothing had happened.
“Did the Madam come to the Eldest Princess’s manor?” she asked directly.
Qi Jingren replied, “She did, but was turned away at the door… Your Highness didn’t know?”
“What did she come for?” Feng Lezhen avoided the question.
Qi Jingren was silent for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. “My brother… he’s not doing well. Perhaps she wanted to ask you to see him.”
Feng Lezhen’s gaze flickered. After a moment of stillness, she said, “I’m not a physician. I don’t treat illnesses.”
“It’s an illness of the heart… never mind. If you don’t want to go, then don’t. After all, it’s our family matter, and we shouldn’t trouble Your Highness.” Qi Jingren knew her limits and didn’t press further.
Feng Lezhen made a noncommittal sound in response, her own thoughts drifting elsewhere.
After meeting with Qi Jingren, Feng Lezhen returned home. As for Ah Ye turning the Madam away without permission, she didn’t reprimand her harshly—only told her not to do so again in the future.
Ah Ye gave an awkward laugh but obediently agreed.
Feng Lezhen thought the matter would end there. She also tried not to inquire about Qi Jingqing. But just a few days later, the Qi couple came to see her together.
The moment Feng Lezhen saw the swelling around Song Lian’s eyes, her heart skipped a beat. “Has something happened to Jingqing?”
“Your Highness,” Song Lian started to kneel but stopped herself, remembering the last time she had done so and fearing it would look like she was trying to pressure Feng Lezhen. After some hesitation, she merely bowed. “Your Highness, please, I beg you to go see Jingqing.”
“What’s wrong with him?” Feng Lezhen asked again.
Song Lian’s tears instantly fell. “It’s my fault… I shouldn’t have gone to see Your Highness that day…”
She choked with emotion as she spoke.
Qi Zhen looked haggard as well. He sighed and explained hoarsely, “After Your Highness stopped seeing him, he shut himself away. But he still took his medicine and ate regularly, so we thought he was moving on. We didn’t realize…”
“He’s gotten thinner and paler, and starting two days ago, he hasn’t been able to stand at all. Only then did we learn he hasn’t been sleeping at night and vomits after every meal. The physician said… if it continues, he’ll only live another six months.” Qi Zhen clenched his jaw, his cheeks twitching.
He actually hadn’t known about his wife’s visit to Feng Lezhen. It was only after noticing his son’s deterioration that his wife confessed. That’s when he realized just how deeply his son had felt for Feng Lezhen.
There was no time to oppose it like his wife once had. Hearing the doctor’s prognosis, how could he care about anything else now except saving his son?
Qi Zhen stared at Feng Lezhen for a long time before suddenly kneeling. Song Lian gasped and quickly followed suit.
“Your Highness, for the sake of all I’ve done in service to Great Qian, I beg you—please save my son.” Qi Zhen lowered his head, appealing to her as a father.
Feng Lezhen frowned and reached out to help them. “Lord Marquis, Madam, what are you doing…?”
“Please, Your Highness,” Qi Zhen’s eyes were bloodshot.
Feng Lezhen took a deep breath. “Ah Ye!”
“The carriage is already prepared,” Ah Ye answered at once.
Feng Lezhen nodded and strode straight outside. The Qi couple immediately followed.
The carriage raced through the streets and arrived swiftly at the Qi Manor. Feng Lezhen, familiar with the layout, headed directly to the main residence. Before she could even knock, the pageboy sensibly opened the door. She made to enter.
“Your Highness,” the pageboy quickly called out.
Feng Lezhen paused.
“Your Highness, the shizi is very weak now. He really can’t bear much… Please… speak gently.” The boy pleaded in a low voice.
Feng Lezhen’s gaze shifted slightly. She lifted her foot and walked inside.
It had been a long time since she last came. The smell of medicine in the room was even stronger. As she stepped forward, she saw Qi Jingqing lying pale on the bed, though it was unclear whether he was asleep or unconscious.
He was visibly thinner. Lying there, he seemed to have almost no presence, as if he might vanish at any moment.
Feng Lezhen stared at him for a long time before smoothing her clothes and sitting down beside him.
Qi Jingqing, eyes tightly shut, seemed to sense her presence. In a daze, he opened his eyes. Feng Lezhen met his gaze briefly, then reached under his pillow to pull out a handkerchief. As expected, the embroidery in one corner was frayed.
Who knew how many times he had touched it for it to become so worn?
“…Am I dreaming?” he asked slowly, his voice weak and hoarse.
Feng Lezhen lowered her gaze and folded a handkerchief into a neat square, stuffing it into his hand. “When did you steal this princess’s handkerchief?”
Qi Jingqing froze slightly. Once he realized the person before him wasn’t just a figment of his dreams, his breathing suddenly became ragged.
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