Chapter 84: I Cannot Do This

Hearing the eunuch say this, the emperor’s heart skipped a beat.

“Is it truly impossible to wake Qiao Qingyun?”

The eunuch lowered his head. “In response to Your Majesty, I would not dare to lie. When this servant went in, Her Highness’s face was deathly pale, she was completely unconscious, and if she were to be awakened now, she might die on the spot.”

“Those people also said that this sleep might last for an unknown length of time.”

At this, the emperor’s heart turned utterly cold; he could only end the audience and look for another way.

On the way back to the Crown Prince’s residence within the palace, Yuan Zaichun could not stop replaying the words “Qiao Qingyun is gravely ill” in his mind.

It was only natural. She had not rested for such a long stretch; even someone made of iron would have reached their limit by now.

Let alone a woman like Qiao Qingyun.

As soon as he entered the residence, Bu Shenglian came running toward him.

“Greetings, Your Highness.”

“Mm,” Yuan Zaichun replied, not sparing Bu Shenglian a second glance, which left her puzzled. She hurried closer. “Your Highness, has something happened?”

“No.”

He did not wish to say more to Bu Shenglian. For reasons unknown, he always unconsciously tried to keep her at a distance.

This made Bu Shenglian anxious and uneasy. Since their return, Yuan Zaichun’s attitude toward Qiao Qingyun had driven her nearly mad with jealousy.

Now, Qiao Qingyun’s life hung in the balance. Bu Shenglian had thought victory was within her grasp, yet seeing Yuan Zaichun’s demeanor, she sensed things were not so simple.

But within the palace, Bu Shenglian had no confidants. Even if she wished to inquire, she would not be able to find out anything.

Yuan Zaichun entered the study. Staring at the memorials stacked on the table, he found himself utterly uninterested in reviewing them.

He glanced at Liu Fu, who stood beside him, and frowned. “When you went there, why were you driven out?”

When Liu Fu had returned, Yuan Zaichun hadn’t asked much, assuming Qiao Qingyun was sulking, just throwing a tantrum.

As the Crown Prince, how could he humble himself to beg a woman’s forgiveness?

And so, the cold war had dragged on for this long.

Liu Fu hesitated, looking at Yuan Zaichun, then quickly cupped his hands. “Your Highness… it was because, at that time, the plague was raging, and Her Highness could not leave. Also, you had slapped Her Highness in the face.”

“Hong Ying and Zhong Shi have always been by Her Highness’s side to protect her. When they saw me, they thought I was there to help you discipline Her Highness. No matter what, they refused to let me in—not even for a glance.”

At these words, Yuan Zaichun felt as if all his strength had been drained away. He sat, dazed, in his chair.

That night, Yuan Zaichun still could not think of a solution. Qiao Qingyun was at death’s door, and the plague in the capital had not abated. There were quarantine points, but the epidemic was far from under control.

“Your Highness.”

Suddenly, a soft, alluring voice called out. Yuan Zaichun started and looked up to see Bu Shenglian approaching him, dressed only in a thin undergarment, her steps measured and seductive, a hint of shyness in her eyes, like a woman about to experience her first intimacy.

“Your Highness, would you care to spend the night with Shenglian?”

Bu Shenglian draped her arms around his neck, her breath fragrant and warm, her eyes inviting.

For her, the only way to feel secure was to establish a rightful relationship with Yuan Zaichun. Otherwise, nothing else mattered.

But as things stood, it seemed impossible. If this continued, she might not even qualify as a concubine in the future.

“Shenglian, don’t do this.”

He stopped her from untying her undergarment, frowning slightly. “The decree from the Directorate of Rites has not yet arrived; I cannot act before then.”

Yuan Zaichun had used this excuse many times before. Each time, Bu Shenglian dared not voice her anger.

But this time, she seemed to have made up her mind. Hearing yet another rejection, she immediately burst into tears.

“Is it because Your Highness despises me for having been married before?”

“No.”

He pinched the bridge of his nose, frowning, feeling inexplicably exhausted these past few days.

“Go back for now. We’ll speak of this another time.”

Hearing this, Bu Shenglian knew she could not press further, especially after seeing the disgust in his eyes.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Resentment seethed in Bu Shenglian’s heart. She had already tried to find out from several palace maids, all of whom said that Yuan Zaichun had visited Qiao Qingyun’s bed.

This was a humiliation she could never overcome.

She had not yet succeeded, and another woman had already beaten her to it. She could not accept it!

Qiao Qingyun slept for three days straight. When she finally opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Zhong Shi’s face covered with a messy stubble.

“Oh dear.”

She frowned, rubbing her temples. Zhong Shi was stunned for a moment, but then, overjoyed, cried out—

“My lady! You’re awake!”

“Zhong Shi, did you go on the run? Why do you look so disheveled?”

Outside, Chun Cheng, Xu Lu, Qing Luo, and Hong Ying all rushed in at once, overjoyed at the sight.

“My lady! You’re finally awake!”

“Yes, my lady.”

With Zhong Shi’s help, Qiao Qingyun sat up and took in the scene before her. It took a while before she could collect herself.

“How is it? Has the plague been contained?”

“It’s under control, but…”

Chun Cheng started to speak, but Xu Lu pinched her arm, cutting her off.

Seeing this, Qiao Qingyun knew something must have happened and hurriedly asked, “Are you hiding something from me?”

Xu Lu shook her head, forcing a smile. “No.”

Seeing that no one would speak, Qiao Qingyun turned to Zhong Shi. “You tell me.”

Zhong Shi hesitated, glancing at the others, who all looked at him. But seeing Qiao Qingyun’s anxious expression, he couldn’t bear it.

After much thought, he sighed. “While you were unconscious, His Majesty sent people with an imperial edict, hoping you could treat the plague.”

“Then why didn’t you wake me?”

Qiao Qingyun grew anxious at these words, tearing off the glucose drip from her hand and, after pressing it for a moment, started to dress.

Terrified, the others hurried forward to stop her. “You can’t, my lady! You’re too weak. We never disturbed you because your body was already at its limit, and it was only with glucose that your vital signs were stabilized.”

“That doesn’t matter.”

Qiao Qingyun was stubborn to the core; she would never refuse to save someone in need.

Besides, if she stood by and did nothing now, there would only be more problems and more deaths in the future.

“My lady, you can’t go!”

“Hurry, bring the medicine and syringes. You’re coming with me.”