Chapter 98
**Chapter 98: Letting Go**
The voice was soft and gentle, imbued with a reassuring power.
Zhao Yang lifted her head in a daze, her vision shifting from blurry to clear, and there was Shen Wei’s fair and delicate face before her.
“Shen... Shen Wei...”
Tears streamed down Zhao Yang’s face in an instant as she threw herself into Shen Wei’s embrace, sobbing, her feelings of grievance and pain soaking Shen Wei’s clothing.
Shen Wei gently patted her back, her tone soothing, “It’s all in the past now. There’s no need to rush, no need to be afraid.”
Zhao Yang cried for a long time, as if trying to weep out all her grievances.
When she finally cried enough, Shen Wei instructed Yun’er to bring over the medicine for the cold. Using a small porcelain spoon, Shen Wei fed Zhao Yang the medicine, one spoonful at a time.
After finishing the medicine, Zhao Yang slowly stopped crying. She couldn’t sleep, curling up into a ball, like a cat nestled deep in the corner of the bed.
Yun’er entered the chamber quietly and whispered to Princess Zhao Yang, “Princess, a male corpse was found in the East Lake woods. There are several bloody holes in his throat...”
Zhao Yang remained silent, her eyes vacant.
Shen Wei sighed inwardly and instructed Yun’er, “Have the guards dispose of the body at the potter’s field to feed the wild dogs. As for the princess’s disappearance last night, everyone must keep their mouths shut; it must not reach the ears of the people in Yanjing.”
This was a matter concerning the reputation of the princess of Da Qing, and last night’s events had to be kept under wraps, not allowed to spread among the citizens of Yanjing.
Yun’er understood the gravity of the situation and nodded quickly. At the same time, she felt a newfound respect for Shen Wei.
This Shen lady appeared delicate, yet she remained calm in the face of danger. While Yun’er had nearly lost her wits last night, Shen Wei had maintained her composure, arranging everyone’s tasks with ease.
Shen Wei spent the morning accompanying Zhao Yang in the chamber.
Zhao Yang still wore a gloomy expression, clearly having suffered a tremendous blow. In the morning, a servant outside the courtyard reported that Yan Yun Ting had come again.
Zhao Yang lifted her head in a daze, and after a long pause, she hoarsely said, “Have someone drive him away... I... I don’t want to see him again.”
Zhao Yang lowered her gaze.
The storm from that night, the ugly man who had lunged at her, had washed away all her hopes for Yan Yun Ting. She finally realized that he was not a good man.
He always toyed with her, like a child teasing a well-behaved puppy. As long as he tossed a bone, the puppy would follow him faithfully.
“Alright! I’ll go chase him away right now!” Yun’er exclaimed, her spirits lifted as she called the guards at the door to drive him off.
The room fell silent.
Shen Wei set down her teacup and noticed Zhao Yang’s tears falling silently. After a long while, Zhao Yang finally spoke in a hoarse voice, “Shen Wei, I don’t want to like Yan Yun Ting anymore...”
She would make an effort to strip him from her heart, to sever all ties completely.
Shen Wei’s lips curled into a slight smile, feeling greatly relieved. After weathering the storm, Zhao Yang had finally seen reality; this was a good thing.
...
At the entrance of the courtyard.
Yan Yun Ting frowned, repeatedly confirming with Yun’er, “The princess really doesn’t want to see me?”
Yun’er raised her chin and coldly replied, “Yan Shilang, I’ve made it very clear. The princess doesn’t want to see you, and from now on, she won’t! You and Miss Dantai are a perfect match; the princess will not interfere!”
Yan Yun Ting fell silent, feeling quite upset.
Zhao Yang was being too willful!
He had simply been delayed by the storm and missed their appointment. Such a trivial matter had caused Zhao Yang to make such a fuss.
What a spoiled child.
This was also where Zhao Yang fell short compared to Dantai Rou. Dantai Rou was always gentle and considerate, able to understand all his difficulties. Zhao Yang was always overly willful, unreasonable.
Men have their pride, and after repeatedly hitting a wall, Yan Yun Ting’s self-esteem took a significant blow. He said unhappily, “Please tell Her Highness that Yan Yun Ting will be leaving the capital soon. It may be three to five years before I return.”
With his departure imminent, a farewell meant countless moments apart. Before leaving, Yan Yun Ting wanted to meet Zhao Yang to make a promise. When he returned to Yanjing in the future, he would definitely seek the Emperor’s decree to marry the princess.
But now, Zhao Yang was throwing a tantrum and refused to see him. Yan Yun Ting knew that Zhao Yang would surely regret it in the future, regretting not seeing him today.
Yun’er was delighted, “Fine, fine, fine! Three to five years without seeing him is a good thing.”
Princess Zhao Yang was currently disappointed in Yan Yun Ting; time was the best medicine. After three to five years, Zhao Yang would likely have already let go of him.
After being mocked by a little palace maid, Yan Yun Ting was filled with anger. He angrily waved his sleeve, “Yan Yun Ting takes his leave.”
He turned and left without looking back.
Yun’er couldn’t be happier to see him go. She scoffed, “A mere little Shilang, what does he think he is? Does he really believe our princess can’t live without him?”
When Yun’er returned to the courtyard, Zhao Yang was already up.
Zhao Yang’s complexion was pale, still showing signs of illness. She calmly instructed Yun’er, “Sell all the red hairpins in the sandalwood box at the shop in Yanjing.”
Yun’er nodded repeatedly, “I’ll take care of it right away!”
Princess Zhao Yang had a delicate sandalwood box filled with red hairpins that Yan Yun Ting had given her. She treasured it dearly, always wearing the box wherever she went.
Looking back, Zhao Yang was suddenly struck with astonishment.
She had given Yan Yun Ting hand-sewn clothes, hairpins, and rare medicines, wanting to offer him the best of everything in the world.
Yet after years of adoration, all she received were five or six ordinary hairpins.
Love was inherently unequal.
Yun’er clutched the sandalwood box and dashed out of the courtyard, fearing that if she delayed even a moment longer, Zhao Yang might change her mind.
...
The next morning.
As dawn broke, Yan Yun Ting departed from Yanjing in a carriage. The carriage stopped by the roadside, where Dantai Rou had long been waiting at the entrance.
She wore a simple long dress, standing quietly at the road’s edge, looking particularly delicate and pitiful. As Yan Yun Ting stepped down from the carriage, he quickly said, “It’s cold today; you’re weak. If you catch a cold again, I’ll be very worried.”
Tears glistened in Dantai Rou’s eyes as she softly said, “Brother Yun Ting, today’s farewell leaves me uncertain when we’ll meet again. The border is dangerous; please take care of yourself. I will always wait for you in Yanjing.”
Such gentle and considerate words would move any man’s heart.
Yan Yun Ting felt his resolve soften, secretly deciding he couldn’t let down such a tender woman. He said, “On the day I leave the capital, Zhao Yang may target you. Rou’er, remember to take care of yourself.”
Dantai Rou nodded lightly, her eyes filled with affection, “The princess is not a willful person. If I don’t make mistakes, she won’t deliberately target me.”
Yan Yun Ting replied coldly, “Zhao Yang has always been willful.”
It was just a matter of breaking a promise once, and Zhao Yang wouldn’t even come to see him now. Yan Yun Ting turned back to gaze at Yanjing, where morning pedestrians came and went, yet he still didn’t see Zhao Yang’s carriage appear.
A sense of disappointment welled up in Yan Yun Ting’s heart.
He was about to leave for a long time, and Zhao Yang didn’t even come to see him off.
Time was running short. After a lingering farewell with Dantai Rou, he returned to the carriage for his journey. As the carriage slowly moved, Yan Yun Ting felt an inexplicable sense of loss, even a hint of anxiety about what he might lose.
He would be gone for three to five years, leaving Zhao Yang alone in Yanjing, surrounded by many talented young men vying for her attention. What if the princess changed her heart...
Yan Yun Ting lifted the carriage curtain, wanting to see if Zhao Yang was following. In the dim morning light, he suddenly spotted a slender figure hiding behind a goods rack at the city gate. He couldn’t see her face clearly, but he recognized the white jade plum blossom hairpin at the tips of her hair.
That was the hairpin he had given Zhao Yang!
The heavy stone that had been hanging over Yan Yun Ting’s heart fell to the ground. Zhao Yang had indeed come to see him off secretly, but to avoid drawing attention, she had disguised herself as an ordinary girl.
Yan Yun Ting lowered the curtain and let out a sigh of relief. He could set off without worry; Zhao Yang would be waiting for him in Yanjing.
As the carriage slowly departed, at the city gate of Yanjing, two young women were chatting. One of them exclaimed, “Sister, your hairpin is so beautiful! Where did you buy it?”
The other girl replied with a smile, “I got it at the shop in Yanjing; it was quite cheap.”
“You’re so lucky! This hairpin looks like it’s not an ordinary item.”
The city gate of Yanjing bustled with people, just as lively as ever.
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