Chu Lingyang ultimately listened to Chu Qianli and returned to the prince's manor to rest.
Although he felt uneasy, always sensing that something would happen that he would deeply regret upon his return.
Yet, he still chose to trust Chu Qianli.
"Advising him to return to the manor to rest, are you planning to take on all the responsibilities yourself?"
After Chu Lingyang left, Feng Yexuan lowered his gaze and stared at the woman who was still applying medicine to him.
Chu Qianli's slender fingers paused slightly, and a few drops of ointment from the cotton swab stained his wound.
However, she quickly regained her composure. After their conversation, she no longer held back.
"There are some things I can do, but they cannot."
"The 'they' you speak of are your second imperial uncle, your father, and your fourth imperial uncle?" Feng Yexuan frowned.
Chu Qianli felt a slight urge to laugh, "Prince Xuan seems to understand me very well."
"This prince would rather not!"
This damned woman was courting trouble again!
Taking everything upon herself, shouldering every burden alone!
If he had remained ignorant, perhaps he, like Prince Jing and Prince Ling, could have rested with a clear conscience.
But, he had the misfortune of guessing what she was planning!
"Do you know how much pressure you will bear by doing this? In the future..."
"I might not even live much longer, so what's the point of talking about the future?"
"Chu Qianli!" This damned woman! Was she trying to anger him again?
Why would she say such disheartening words out of the blue?
Chu Qianli merely looked at him and smiled faintly, "Prince Xuan is caring about me again? Should I remind you that we aren't actually that close?"
"This prince is indeed caring about you, so what? Am I afraid to admit it just because I care?"
He was truly angry! Angry at her nonchalant attitude!
Angry that she cared deeply about many things, yet in the end, appeared more indifferent and heartless than anyone else.
Angry that although she cherished life more than anyone and longed to live well, whenever danger or difficulty arose, she was always the first to consider sacrificing herself.
He was also angry that she believed her life belonged only to herself and could be squandered at will.
Little did she know that in reality, there were many people... who cared about her, who cherished her!
Chu Qianli looked at Feng Yexuan, her thin lips moving slightly as if she wanted to speak, but didn't know what to say.
She had expected this fellow to laugh at her for being overly sentimental, perhaps even mocking her.
But he didn't. He had actually openly admitted that he cared about her.
Such an event happening to Prince Xuan was truly a rare sight, occurring perhaps once in a century.
"Have your emotions truly been sorted out? Do you know who you truly love?"
When Chu Qianli asked this question, she felt a pang of disappointment.
What she had once been so certain of, her feelings for him, had been so easily stolen by Feng Ling's hypnosis and蛊术 (gu techniques).
Chu Qianli knew that she couldn't blame him for this.
Reason had always told her that she shouldn't oppose him, that she should help him.
But emotionally, she found it difficult to accept.
She felt unwilling.
Wronged.
Annoyed.
Resentful!
Feng Yexuan lowered his head, gazing into her eyes, which were filled with complex emotions.
He suddenly raised his hand and gently enfolded her small hand in his palm.
"If I say that what happened to me over the past month was neither my wish nor my intention, would you... forgive me?"
Could she forgive him?
The hurt, the humiliation, the oppression.
Could she completely forget it all?