ebookland Chapter 169 The Eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival
Chapter 169 The Eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival
Inside the bustling restaurant, the air was filled with the sounds of people and the aroma of wine. Shen Wanqing frowned slightly, looking at Zhao Xiong with a worried expression, and said urgently, "Brother, the wedding is tomorrow. In the future, please don't act so rashly and impulsively again!"
Zhao Xiong scratched his head and replied with a sheepish grin, "I know, I know! Hehe."
Seeing this, Shen Wanqing shook her head helplessly, her eyes filled with doting affection and helplessness towards him.
At this moment, Du Hai, who was standing to the side, put his arm around Zhao Xiong's shoulder with a big smile and teased, "Brother Zhao, you are really a winner in life! After getting married, you not only have a spacious house to live in, but you also get an official position. What's most enviable is that you also won the heart of a beauty. Tsk tsk tsk."
Zhao Xiong laughed heartily, patted Du Hai on the back, and said, "What's the big deal! Once I'm settled, I'll introduce you to a few more nice girls!"
Du Hai's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Oh my, General Zhao is so generous! It's a deal then, hahaha!"
The two chatted amiably, one after the other. Shen Wanqing looked at them, and couldn't help but shake her head helplessly again, yet a smile involuntarily crept onto her lips.
Inside the Su residence —
On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moonlight, like frost, spilled over the courtyard of the Su residence. Su Yao'er leaned alone against the railing, gazing at the gradually full moon. The moonlight illuminated her thin face, revealing her weariness. The heavy burden of the upcoming marriage weighed on her like a boulder, causing her to become emaciated.
She gently stroked her cheek and murmured, "The moonlight is beautiful, but it cannot illuminate my path. My parents' wishes and the matchmaker's words hastily decided my fate. All my aspirations have vanished like bubbles. But what can I do? I am nothing more than a helpless person in this deep mansion." With that, she sighed softly, her sorrow blending into the cold moonlight.
Mother Su walked in slowly. Seeing her daughter's haggard appearance over the past few days, she felt genuine worry and heartache. She approached her and said softly, "Yao'er~"
Su Yao'er subconsciously turned to look at her, her eyes brimming with tears. She quickly wiped away her tears and choked out, "Mother, it's so late, aren't you asleep yet?"
Su's mother reached out and gently stroked her cheek, her face full of heartache and helplessness. She said, "Child, you've suffered so much!"
Su Yao'er's heart skipped a beat, and her body trembled involuntarily. She looked at her mother with her big, watery eyes, "Mother~"
Mother Su gently held Su Yao'er's hand, her eyes filled with tenderness. "Yao'er, I know you are very unhappy about this marriage. How can I feel good about making you suffer like this?"
Su Yao'er could no longer hold back her tears, which streamed down her face like a burst dam. She threw herself into her mother's arms and cried out in a sob, "Mother!"
Mother Su hugged her tightly, gently patting her back with her hands. Her voice trembled, almost choking with sobs: "Yao'er, your mother's heart aches for you! You were carried for ten months and gave birth to me with great difficulty. You are a piece of my flesh. How could I bear to see you suffer?" As she spoke, Mother Su couldn't help but sob.
Su Yao'er raised her tear-streaked face, her heart filled with grievance as she questioned, "Mother, then why didn't you refute Father, and just watched me marry a complete stranger!"
Madam Su sighed deeply, her eyes filled with helplessness and bitterness: "Yao'er, arranged marriages are the way of the world since ancient times. Besides, this is a marriage bestowed by the Emperor. Disobeying the decree is a capital offense, so it's really hard to disobey! You have to be more open-minded. At least we are marrying openly and legitimately. Look at your half-sister Su Wan'er. Although she married into the Prince's mansion, she can only be a concubine. Compared to her, we already have a much higher status."
Su Yao'er sobbed, her voice trembling with tears: "But at least she married someone who truly loved her and whom she also loved! But what about me? I don't even know what the other person looks like, and I'm going to marry him in such a muddle."
Mother Su gently stroked Su Yao'er's hair and earnestly advised, "Yao'er, feelings can be cultivated slowly. In this world, mutual affection may not last; but couples brought together by matchmakers can also be happy as long as they find each other agreeable!"
Hearing this, Su Yao'er, though still resentful, felt that it wasn't entirely unreasonable. She pouted slightly and fell into deep thought.
Inside the Ninth Prince's Mansion:
Inside the west wing, Su Wan'er, dressed in plain clothes but still undeniably beautiful, sat alone, her eyes anxious, constantly glancing towards the door. She deliberately made herself look haggard, her face pale and sickly, her thin frame making her appear even more frail.
She gently touched the hem of her dress and murmured to herself, "It's already this late, why isn't he here yet?" Her voice was full of anxiety and anticipation, and it sounded particularly clear in the quiet room.
Just then, a familiar voice came from outside. Huan'er called out anxiously, "Your Highness, this servant really doesn't know what's wrong. The Princess Consort keeps saying that she feels tightness in her chest and insists on seeing you."
Upon hearing this, Murong Yi frowned instantly, her face full of worry as she said, "Wan'er... how could this happen? Why don't you quickly call the imperial physician to take a look!"
Huan'er quickly replied, "This servant originally intended to fetch the imperial physician, but the Princess said it was too late and she didn't want to trouble the physician. She kept mentioning His Highness, so this servant went to fetch you instead..."
Murong Yi quickened her pace as she walked into the house, complaining with concern, "Wan'er, how can you just endure it when you're not feeling well? You even said you'd trouble the imperial physicians, but that's what they do for a living."
Huan'er followed behind, looking bewildered. Though full of questions, she dared not say anything more.
As the familiar voice drew closer, Su Wan'er quickly lay down on the bed, feigning weakness and clutching her chest, sighing repeatedly. Yet, her eyes held a hint of barely perceptible anticipation and cunning, as she occasionally stole glances at the door, waiting for Murong Yi to enter.
As soon as Murong Yi stepped into the room, he saw Su Wan'er lying weakly on the bed, her face as pale as paper, her chest heaving violently, and she occasionally letting out painful moans. He was extremely anxious and rushed forward, tightly grasping her hand. His brows furrowed, and he said softly with heartache in his eyes, "Wan'er, what's wrong? How did you suddenly become like this?"
With tears in her eyes, Su Wan'er called out weakly, "Your Highness~ My chest feels so tight, like countless needles are pricking it, it hurts so much~" As she spoke, her body went limp, and she involuntarily leaned into Murong Yi's arms, hugging him tightly with both hands, and murmured with a sob, "Oh, it hurts so much, Your Highness, save me."
Murong Yi was extremely anxious. She turned around and glared at Huan'er, shouting, "Wan'er is in such a state, why haven't you gone to fetch the imperial physician yet!" Huan'er was startled by the shout and instinctively turned and ran towards the door.
"No!" Su Wan'er hurriedly reached out to stop her, her voice weak but resolute.
Murong Yi looked on in astonishment and anxiously asked Su Wan'er, "Wan'er, you—"
Su Wan'er pouted, her eyes reddening, and looked at Murong Yi pitifully, her voice carrying a hint of coquettishness: "Your Highness, even if we invite the imperial physician, it will be of no use."
Murong Yi looked puzzled: "Why?"
Seeing that he had taken the bait, Su Wan'er slightly raised her eyes and gave Huan'er a look. Huan'er understood and obediently withdrew, gently closing the door behind him.
Murong Yi asked again urgently, "Why exactly?"
Su Wan'er slowly took his hand and gently placed it on her chest. She looked up at Murong Yi with deep affection and tenderness in her eyes and murmured, "Your Highness, I am indeed ill, but only Your Highness can cure this illness in the whole world."
Murong Yi was even more bewildered, her face blank: "What? I can cure it?"
Su Wan'er nodded gently, a blush rising on her cheeks, and said sweetly, "Because I am lovesick."
Murong Yi was shocked. Her eyes widened instantly, and she frowned, blurting out, "What!"
Su Wan'er's eyes reddened, glistening with tears as she gazed deeply at Murong Yi. Her voice was soft yet filled with sincerity: "Your Highness, you have been away from Wan'er for so long that I have lost my appetite and miss you every day. Your Highness promised me that you would be truly devoted to me. Have all those vows gone unfulfilled?" With that, she trembled slightly and gently rested her head on Murong Yi's shoulder, as if she were using all her strength to express her deep affection.
Murong Yi was filled with guilt, his expression complex, a mixture of helplessness and inner turmoil. He slowly lowered his head, lost in thought, his brows furrowed, as if trying to untangle the tangled mess in his heart.
Seeing his appearance, Su Wan'er's heart tightened. She quickly and gently took his hand, her eyes filled with grievance and sorrow, her voice choked with emotion: "Your Highness, we have known each other since childhood, and we have always been in love. Have you forgotten all those sweet times we shared? You once told me with deep affection that you would only love me in this life, and your vows still echo in my ears. Has Your Highness truly changed your heart now?"
These words struck Murong Yi like a heavy hammer. He froze instantly, his eyes filled with panic and helplessness. He stared blankly at Su Wan'er, speechless for a moment, stammering, "This..." At this moment, his heart was in turmoil.
Yes, he had once loved this woman so deeply. In his heart, she was unique and irreplaceable, the most important and precious person in his life. But he didn't know when it started, yet he had become so cold towards her. He was filled with confusion, his mind a jumbled mess, constantly asking himself, did he still love Wan'er? Or...?
Just as his thoughts were in disarray, Su Wan'er gently took his hand, slowly placed it on her face, tilted her head slightly, looked at him pitifully with eyes full of expectation and pleading, and said softly, "Your Highness, please stay with me tonight, okay?"
Looking at her pitiful appearance, Murong Yi was instantly overwhelmed with tenderness. His lips trembled slightly as he gently stroked her face, his voice filled with affection: "Wan'er~"
Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still. Looking into Su Wan'er's eyes, filled with deep affection and expectation, Murong Yi felt a pang of pain in her heart and involuntarily nodded.
He gently pulled Su Wan'er into his arms, as if trying to make up for his neglect of her these past few days, and whispered, "Wan'er, it's my fault for making you suffer."
Su Wan'er's lips curled up slightly, revealing a hint of smugness, before she nestled tightly in Murong Yi's arms, like a little bird that had found its home.
Meanwhile, Lin Qianqian was intently preparing a festival gift for the Empress Dowager. She carefully selected the finest silk, intending to personally embroider a "Birthday Celebration at Yaochi" painting. Her needle flew across the silk, the delicate stitches depicting the celestial realm of Yaochi. The Queen Mother of the West had a kind and benevolent expression, the fairies were graceful, and the peaches were plump and tempting. Every detail was imbued with her best wishes for the Empress Dowager.
Seeing Lin Qianqian's focused expression, Xiaodie couldn't help but advise, "Miss, it's getting late, you should rest early."
Lin Qianqian didn't even look up, and said softly, "It's okay, it'll be fine in a bit. You should go to sleep too, don't worry about me."
Xiaodie sighed helplessly, pursed her lips gently, and said nothing more, but her eyes were full of tenderness and heartache for her young mistress.
Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft, veiled glow on Lin Qianqian, draping her in a silvery halo. Her slightly lowered eyes and focused expression, bathed in moonlight, resembled a serene and beautiful painting. The way she concentrated on her embroidery made it seem as if the entire world had shrunk to the gift she held, a gift imbued with filial piety.