Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Doesn’t the Heir Apparent Know?

Could it be Sheng Zhi Wan?!

“It doesn’t matter, it’s only three months…” Qi Shu Xian’s voice was soft, barely audible, as if comforting Meng Yang, or perhaps just convincing himself.

“But how can you bear such pain for three whole months?” Meng Yang burst into tears. She had already guessed the truth. “Is it Princess? Did she force you to take poison before giving you the Heavenly Pearl Fruit?”

Qi Shu Xian did not deny it.

He had no strength left to deny it.

[It’s merely Cold Poison…how could it be this painful?]

In the past, did Sheng Zhi Wan endure like this too? Without the Heavenly Pearl Fruit, would she have to bear this agony?

A pang of guilt suddenly arose within Qi Shu Xian’s heart.

“How can she be so cruel? How can she watch you suffer like this? Heir Apparent, let me go find her. I don’t want the Heavenly Pearl Fruit anymore—I’ll give my life back to Princess! I’ll beg her, plead with her for the antidote!” Meng Yang wiped her tears and tried to rise from the bed.

Qi Shu Xian, who had endured silently all this while, grabbed her arm tightly.

The taste of blood from biting his own lips filled his mouth. “Enough! Isn’t this chaotic enough already?”

Meng Yang froze, coming to her senses.

Softening his tone again, Qi Shu Xian spoke gently, “Don’t provoke her. You’re no match for her. Just stay calm and safely bring our child into this world.”

“Yes. Please don’t talk anymore. I—I’ll listen to everything you say,” Meng Yang nodded tearfully.

Qi Shu Xian spent the night drifting between pain and restless sleep until dawn arrived.

Meng Yang stayed awake with him until dawn, finally succumbing to exhaustion and falling asleep before breakfast.

Qi Shu Xian gently settled her onto the bed, carefully instructed Qing Xing to look after her, then quietly left Endless Courtyard.

The agony of the previous night still lingered vividly.

Yet, his feet carried him uncontrollably toward Pinglan Residence, as if pulled there by an unseen force.

It was just before dawn, too early even for the morning court. Qi Shu Xian found himself wondering what Sheng Zhi Wan might be doing.

Was she sleeping soundly in bed? Or was she so angry about his taking the Heavenly Pearl Fruit last night that sleep eluded her?

If not for Meng Yang and the child she carried…

By right, he should now be sharing a bed with Sheng Zhi Wan.

At this thought, Qi Shu Xian pressed his lips tightly together, an inexplicable frustration rising in his heart.

The girl who had once looked upon him with adoration, gentle and obedient, had now turned fierce and decisive. With a single move, she had plunged him into unbearable pain.

Yet, he had done nothing wrong—it was merely someone’s plotting that tied him to Meng Yang.

Could she really not tolerate even this?

“Heir Apparent?”

Lost in thought, Qi Shu Xian was startled when the door to Pinglan Residence opened slightly. Huan Zhu appeared, initially surprised, then quickly her beautiful almond-shaped eyes turned red.

“Huan Zhu?” Qi Shu Xian immediately recognized her among the low-ranking maids. Seeing her humble attire, he frowned, “What happened to you?”

“Maidservant… maidservant angered the Princess.” Huan Zhu knelt swiftly, lifting her chin slightly, revealing her slender neck.

Her fingers trembled with excitement.

At last, she had waited for the Heir Apparent.

If only he would ask further—ask why the Princess was angry, why she had been reduced to a fourth-class maid.

Then she could reveal all she had done for him, show her loyalty and true feelings…

She waited expectantly, rehearsing her prepared words again and again in her mind.

As expected, Qi Shu Xian dismissed the other maids around them.

“Heir Apparent…” She lifted her face, eyes filled with adoration.

“Sheng Zhi Wan truly suffers from Cold Poison?” Qi Shu Xian’s voice drowned out her own.

Huan Zhu was stunned, all her carefully prepared speeches scattered by his unexpected question.

She couldn’t understand why he asked something everyone already knew.

Even those unfamiliar with the Princess were aware of her fear of the cold and how each winter she withdrew to the Detached Palace.

Why would the Heir Apparent ask such an obvious thing?

“I asked if it’s true!” Qi Shu Xian felt uncomfortable under her puzzled gaze, as if he’d asked something shameful.

“Heir Apparent… doesn’t know?” Huan Zhu ventured cautiously.

“Should I know?” Qi Shu Xian asked coldly.

“The Princess was born with Cold Poison. It was nearly cured until she rescued you from Ice Lake. After that, her condition became much worse.”

“Worse? How severe?” Qi Shu Xian suddenly recalled the incident clearly.

Before Sheng Zhi Wan’s wedding, he had been summoned by the Empress Dowager for instruction. He had remembered only the humiliation and annoyance, completely forgetting her final warnings.

“You mean how painful it is? Sometimes…the Princess would beg maidservants to tie her up or stuff her mouth with cloth just to endure the pain,” Huan Zhu replied honestly.

Despite how the Princess treated her, Huan Zhu still hoped the Heir Apparent and Princess could reconcile.

Only then would she have more opportunities to see him.

Qi Shu Xian clenched his fists beneath his sleeves.

Huan Zhu continued speaking, but he no longer heard a word. His gaze lingered deeply toward the inside of Pinglan Residence.

After a long silence, he abruptly turned and strode away.