The people inside were startled, and the wet nurse and maids all knelt on the ground.
Xiao Chizhan glanced at the spilled medicinal bowl and looked at her with a faint gaze.
His deep pupils were eerily still, with no trace of emotion.
Ye Luan pinched her palm, forcing herself to calm down.
"You doing this is disrespecting me, it's coercion."
"Coercion?" His voice was cold, "I just don't want to see you suffer the pain of childbirth like women in noble households."
He was afraid, afraid she would die because of it.
He would rather not have a child.
Ye Luan didn't want one either, but it had already happened, and she had to face it.
She softened her expression, sat up straight, and tugged at his robe, "You're pressuring me like this, your emotions are fluctuating too much, it's bad for my body. Regarding the child's fate, let me think about it."
Her tone softened, and Xiao Chizhan didn't want to argue with her. He put his arm around her, pulling her onto his lap, his voice sounding a bit hoarse.
"Can we not have a child? I only want you."
Ye Luan was slightly stunned.
Only her?
Xiao Chizhan, you've fallen for me!
But you'll never know, I can't forget the humiliation I once suffered, I can't forget the pain of being imprisoned, I will never love you in this life.
I want to never see you again.
"Luan Luan."
His cold lips brushed across her cheek, her earlobe, her neck, and slowly landed on her lips.
Ye Luan suppressed her emotions and took a slight step back, glancing at the people crawling on the ground.
Xiao Chizhan caught her gaze. "All of you, leave."
"Yes."
After everyone had retreated, Ye Luan looked at him seriously. "I'm hungry, let's eat first."
Inside the room, a bitter medicinal scent lingered.
After eating, Xiao Chizhan kept staring at her, as if waiting to hear the answer from her.
Ye Luan ignored him and lay down on the soft couch, picking up a book to read.
He was busy with official duties and couldn't stay in the room staring at her all the time. It was a test of who would break first.
"Luan Luan?"
He walked over and sat by the couch. "My face hurts."
Ye Luan glanced sideways at his left cheek and pursed her lips slightly.
She had been furious just now, and her strength had gotten out of control. She had slapped him with all her might.
He hadn't argued with her, nor had he exploded in rage as he usually did.
Xiao Chizhan, you're becoming more and more soft-hearted.
"Let me apply the medicine for you."
Ye Luan got up, took out the medicine, stood beside him, and slowly applied it.
The cool medicinal scent spread across his face.
He opened his narrow, red eyes and stared intently at the girl in front of him. His rough fingertips couldn't help but caress her.
Why did it feel like she was getting further and further away from him?
Xiao Chizhan's eyes darkened. He flung the porcelain bottle from her hand, yanked her fiercely, and pulled her into his embrace.
His movements were always rough, and Ye Luan frowned, feeling as though she couldn't breathe due to his tight grip.
"Let go."
"No."
"-----"
"You're going to strangle me, I can't breathe."
Hearing her complaint, Xiao Chizhan loosened his grip slightly and lowered his gaze. "Does your stomach hurt?"
Ye Luan was stunned and said faintly, "No, it doesn't."
His eyes kept fixated on her stomach, sending a chill down her spine.
She quickly pushed him. "Aren't you going to the palace soon?"
"Yes, it's cold outside, so you should stay in the room."
Ye Luan, "Oh."
After Xiao Chizhan left, she ordered someone to clean up the debris on the ground, put on a duck-feather cloak, and went outside.
Recently, the weather had been cold, with occasional snowflakes falling, covering the courtyard in white.
She looked at the scenery in the garden, her gaze gradually growing colder.
The end of the year was approaching, and they would surely return to Da Liang before the new year. According to Lu Feibo's letter, Xie Beihan's burning of the post station was still ten days away.
Ten days!
Just ten more days!
She was finally nearing the end of this caged life.
However, Lu Feibo had actually told her about Xie Beihan's actions. Wasn't he afraid she would frame Xie Beihan?
She took a deep breath, lowered her eyes slightly, and realized she owed him another favor. She wondered if he had found all the medicine he needed?
The cold wind was biting, sharp and chilling.
Ye Luan withdrew her thoughts, indifferently lowered her head, and touched her stomach, her expression unreadable.
"Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince has sent tea snacks from Lihua Garden, for your health. Would you like to see them?"
Since she became pregnant, Qi Linzhou had been sending her many things and showing her attention.
Was Xiao Chizhan helping him with something?
Ye Luan forced a smile. "Bring them into the room."
----
There was a Meiyuan Pavilion at the post station, where the plum blossoms were blooming beautifully, like amber peach blossoms and jade branches in a misty frost, their petals adorned with specks of white snow.
The winter was cold, and with nothing to do, many people at the station went to admire the flowers.
Lan Murou, dressed in a lotus-green brocade cloak with cranes, came to find her to go sightseeing.
Ye Luan had been cooped up in the room every day and was feeling bored.
"Wear more clothes, it's cold outside."
She had a weak constitution. She wore many layers, and on top of that, a honey-colored red feathered gauze crane cloak. When she went out, she didn't feel the cold.
There were many people admiring the flowers in the plum garden. As soon as the two arrived, they saw several young women laughing and chatting under a plum tree.
"Miss Ye, Miss Lan."
A cheerful voice suddenly came from behind them. The two turned around and saw a richly dressed noblewoman smiling and waving at them.
Ye Luan narrowed her eyes slightly, appraising the woman in front of her.
On her head was an eight-treasure phoenix hairpin with a rising sun, her body clad in a black cloud sparrow gold fur robe, and her feet adorned with green brocade court boots with red soles. She was exceptionally vibrant and dignified.
These clothes... someone from the palace?!
The main hall in front was where the Crown Prince of Zhongzhou and the Third Prince were negotiating with envoys from various countries. She had met the Crown Princess at a palace banquet, so the woman in front of her must be the Third Prince's consort.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
The Third Prince's consort, Gao Yue, was the daughter of a great general. In the eighth year of Zhong Emperor's reign, she married Qi Linshen as his consort.
"Oh, please rise quickly."
Gao Yue helped the two up and then took Ye Luan's hand, her face full of smiles.
"I was originally going to Mo Xuan Pavilion to look for you, but when I heard the maids say you were out sightseeing, I came to find you. You are indeed beautiful. It was a pity I didn't see you at the last palace banquet."
Ye Luan subtly withdrew her hand and said with a smile, "Your Highness, are you looking for me for something?"
Gao Yue's smile faltered slightly, and she used her handkerchief to pat the jade hairpin on her head.
"Since you two are distinguished guests, I should offer my hospitality as the host." She paused, then smiled again. "I have long heard of Miss Lan's peerless beauty, and indeed, it is even more impressive in person."
"Your Highness is too kind."
Lan Murou had always disliked dealing with people from the palace, and her expression was cool and indifferent.
Neither of them intended to get close to her, and Gao Yue did not feel awkward.
"There's an ice lake ahead. Will the two of you accompany me to take a look?"
Ye Luan did not believe that Qi Linshen's people would be friendly to them, so she directly refused.
"Your Highness has a refined taste, but we have been here for a while and are a bit tired, so we'll be heading back."
Gao Yue's beautiful eyes turned sharp. "Miss Ye, do you look down on me?"
Ye Luan raised an eyebrow, a cold smile forming in her heart. This woman had really come to cause trouble for her.