Chapter 89
**Chapter 89: Together Through Life and Death**
Mo Shenyi extended three slender, white fingers.
The Crown Princess and Prince Yan exchanged glances.
Prince Yan asked, “What does this mean?”
Mo Shenyi shrugged and sighed, “Your Highness, the Crown Prince was in poor health during his youth, and later, overwork led to a decline in his condition. Even if I exert all my efforts, I can only extend his life by three more years at most.”
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Leaning against the bed, the Crown Prince managed a bittersweet smile of resignation. The Crown Princess felt a lump in her throat, fighting back tears.
“I’ll go write the prescription,” Mo Shenyi said, stretching. He turned to Prince Yan, “It’s too stifling in the Prince’s residence. I plan to take a boat ride in a few days, so don’t even think about stopping me.”
Though the Prince’s residence was luxurious, staying inside day after day was unbearably dull. Mo Shenyi longed to step outside and see the blooming lotus flowers on the lakes of Yanjing in summer.
Prince Yan nodded, “Alright.”
Mo Shenyi leisurely left the Crown Prince’s chamber.
With a heavy heart, Prince Yan approached the Crown Prince’s bedside and said solemnly, “Brother, don’t worry. I will find a better doctor for you.”
The Crown Prince patted Prince Yan’s hand reassuringly, “Yuanjing, our father is old and ill, and my time is short. The State of Yue is eyeing us, and the ambitions of Nanzhao are becoming clearer... This heavy burden will fall on you in the future.”
Prince Yan lowered his gaze, feeling as if his heart were being gnawed by ants.
Over the past few years, as the Crown Prince entrusted him with state affairs, Prince Yan had begun to suspect the truth.
Yet, he had never wanted to believe that his brother’s time was limited. They were blood brothers, having supported each other since childhood, their bond deep and unbreakable.
As night fell, Prince Yan returned to the palace with weary steps.
The Empress had sent Mama Qian to inform him about the arrival of four elderly nurses to assist with the children. Meanwhile, the Crown Princess, heartbroken, locked herself in the Buddhist hall, chanting scriptures.
Prince Yan went to check on his three children.
Li Yao, still recovering from poisoning, was already asleep before nightfall. Prince Yan then summoned Chengke and Chengzhen to the study.
With a calm demeanor, he said, “From now on, with the elderly nurses to guide you, you won’t need to stay up late to finish your studies. You’re still young; take your time learning etiquette, archery, and horsemanship. There’s no need to rush.”
Chengke and Chengzhen both lowered their heads.
The children showed little joy at their father’s decision. Seeing Prince Yan was like a mouse encountering a cat, filled with dread.
Li Chengke cautiously asked, “Father, did you lock Mother in the Buddhist hall?”
Prince Yan rubbed his temples, “No, I did not.”
But Li Chengke was skeptical, muttering, “But... but Mother has been crying in the Buddhist hall. Father, she is your first wife; you shouldn’t treat her this way.”
Having often heard the Crown Princess’s complaints, both Chengke and Chengzhen gradually came to see Prince Yan as a cold-hearted man.
They feared their mother’s oppression and were also intimidated by Prince Yan’s sternness.
Prince Yan felt as if a bucket of icy water had been thrown over him, chilling him to the bone. He could clearly see a deep chasm stretching between him and his two children.
“Go back to your rooms and rest,” he said, utterly exhausted, signaling for the children to be taken away.
The night grew darker.
Prince Yan sat in the room for a long time.
His beloved brother was nearing death, his wife and children did not trust him, and his first wife harbored resentment in her heart.
Suddenly, a wave of unprecedented confusion washed over him. He was a noble prince in this world, yet felt like a lonely man with nothing.
Slowly, he rose and left the cramped study. The night was stifling, and as he walked, he found himself at the Liuli Pavilion. Beautiful palace lanterns hung from the eaves, and the faint fragrance of lotus flowers wafted through the courtyard.
He instructed the servants not to announce his arrival and walked steadily into the main room. Shen Wei was sitting at her desk practicing calligraphy, the gentle candlelight casting a warm glow around her.
With her head slightly bowed, she held the brush, diligently writing each character.
Prince Yan stood quietly at the door, watching. In the candlelight, Shen Wei looked like a radiant sun shining in the night.
As if sensing his presence, Shen Wei looked up and her eyes lit up upon seeing Prince Yan at the door. With the sun’s rays illuminating her, she cheerfully set down her brush, “My lord, you’re back!”
Shen Wei happily walked over.
Noticing the sweat on Prince Yan’s forehead, she tiptoed and used her handkerchief to wipe it away. The moment her hand touched his, Prince Yan suddenly grasped her hand tightly.
He locked his gaze on Shen Wei, speaking each word with intensity, “Weiwei, will you leave me?”
Shen Wei understood Prince Yan’s state all too well.
He was feeling down.
A man in despair often seeks a refuge for his soul. Since her arrival in this world, Shen Wei had always seen Prince Yan as spirited, proud, and dedicated to his people, embodying all the qualities of a ruler.
Now, for the first time, he revealed his vulnerability to her.
This was a good sign; it meant he had fully opened his heart to her.
Shen Wei clasped Prince Yan’s hand in return, the candlelight warm and inviting. Her gaze was gentle yet resolute, “Together through life and death, we will never part.”
Prince Yan’s heart trembled.
He held Shen Wei tightly, feeling his heart soften completely.
As night fell, rain began to patter against the eaves, creating a soothing sound. Shen Wei lay in bed, unable to sleep for a long time, with Prince Yan sleeping soundly beside her.
The room was quiet, filled with the elegant scent of lotus flowers. Shen Wei’s mind was racing, pondering how Prince Yan had rarely shown such vulnerability, perhaps due to the Crown Princess’s influence. The Crown Princess had raised their three children to be frail, causing a rift between father and children, which weighed heavily on Prince Yan’s heart.
This situation had caught the Empress’s attention, prompting her to send four experienced elderly nurses to reside in the Kunyu Courtyard, to supervise and take over the care of the children from the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess would surely not let this go easily.
However, this had little to do with Shen Wei. With the Crown Princess distracted by her children, she had less time to manage the concubines in the inner palace, making Shen Wei’s pregnancy a bit safer.
Shen Wei gently caressed her still-flat belly, determined not to follow the Crown Princess’s path. She wanted Prince Yan to be involved in raising their child, ensuring that the bond between father and child remained strong.
...
On the same night, the Buddhist hall in Kunyu Courtyard was brightly lit.
The Crown Princess knelt on the mat, her fingers gripping the prayer beads tightly, making a creaking sound. Mama Liu entered the hall and knelt beside her, “Your Highness, the four elderly nurses have settled in Kunyu Courtyard. They will be responsible for the three young masters’ meals, clothing, and studies.”
The Crown Princess, clutching the prayer beads, seemed to age suddenly under the weight of recent events.
She murmured, “What about the Prince?”
Mama Liu replied, “The Prince is staying at the Liuli Pavilion tonight.”
The Crown Princess let out a scoff.
This was the cold nature of men; the old servants in the palace could never compare to the fresh, beautiful newcomers.
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