Chapter 827: Chapter 825 Together

He wanted to make Lu Tingli the Crown Prince mostly because he was afraid Lu would end up like his third son and also because he needed a Crown Prince to stabilize the dynasty.

This outcome was expected by Lu Tingli, but he still showed surprise and joy as if he had never anticipated such a result, hurriedly thanking him: “Thank you, Father Emperor.”

“Good child.” The emperor patted his shoulder, then suddenly coughed violently several times, even coughing up fresh blood.

Realizing something was bad, he quickly extended his arm to cover it up.

In fact, the emperor’s health was not as the Imperial Physician had described; he always had hidden illnesses, and this episode meant his body had almost reached its limit.

Although aware, Lu Tingli still pretended to know nothing, coming urgently to his side: “Father Emperor!”

“What are you all standing around for, didn’t you see the emperor coughing up blood? Go call the Imperial Physician immediately!” Lu Tingli shouted angrily.

The palace attendants hurriedly scurried away in response.

The Emperor looked at him, his eyes filled with a hint of tenderness, and also a bit of guilt at the bottom of his heart.

He did not expect that in the end, it would only be this humble son of a palace maid who cared about him and regarded him as a real father.

If he had known earlier, he certainly would not have ignored him so much during his childhood.

But these words, as the emperor, he would absolutely not speak them out because he could do no wrong, and even if there were wrongs, he would never admit them.

This was the dignity and authority of an emperor, allowing no challenge or dispute!

How could Lu Tingli not understand, his eyes faintly carried a slight, unperceivable sarcasm, but more of it was indifference.

Even if he apologized to him, how could it erase his painful childhood memories? Could it heal the scars in his heart? Or could it bring his mother, the Queen, back to life?

No, none of these could! Absolutely none!

So, he had long since stopped caring about his apologies.

While the Imperial Physician was treating the Emperor, Lu Tingli stood by with his eyes downcast, his expression obscure as if he were very worried.

But in reality, he didn’t even blink once, his pupils revealing a coldness, as if the other’s physical condition had nothing to do with him.

The results came out quickly, the Emperor had injured his heart and lungs, he needed to be well taken care of, but the prognosis was not optimistic, he probably wouldn’t live long.

Hearing this, Lu Tingli really wanted to let out a long cry to heaven and loudly curse, “Serves you right!”

He watched as so many consorts died at the hands of Noble Consort Lang yet did nothing; now, to be agitated to this state by Noble Consort Lang, it served him right! Truly deserved!

But even though Lu Tingli felt a strong satisfaction inside, his eyes reddened and his voice choked up with a deep despair, “Father Emperor, your son will definitely find the world’s best physicians to treat you.”

The Emperor’s face was pale, as if he had already seen through everything, and he shook his head, “Forget it, don’t bother wasting the effort, I know my own body.”

After speaking, he closed his eyes, waved his hand to let Lu Tingli go, telling him to return tomorrow.

Lu Tingli was already anxious to leave, but still acted a bit before eventually being sent off by the Emperor.

“Jianren, go back. Your Queen will be happy to know you’re still alive.” The Emperor was wise his entire life but had suffered two huge blows this evening, his heart unbearably pained.

Unable to overcome his insistence, Lu Tingli bowed and cupped his hands: “Then this son will return first, and will bring the Queen to visit Father Emperor tomorrow.”

After leaving the sleeping palace, Lu Tingli did not take a sedan, but directly ran across the rooftops of various houses with his lightness skills, rushing towards the Queen as fast as he could.

Xia Ningxing had been waiting inside the Prince Mansion ever since she heard that Lu Tingli had gone to the rescue. Hearing from a servant that he had returned, she immediately rushed out of the house without a second thought.

In just a few short days, Xia Ningxing looked haggard as if she had aged several years, her face sunken, absolutely devoid of any color, even her lips were as white as paper.

But a beauty is still a beauty, her haggard appearance did not affect her looks at all.

She wore a white cross-collared dress that reached the corners, wrapping around her slender fragile figure, like a trembling willow branch, incredibly pitiful.

“Lu!”

“Lu!”

With tears in her eyes, she called out to him twice, staggering towards him, and almost tripped over her dress because she was running too hastily.

The ground was paved with hard bluestones, a fall would certainly not be light.

Lu Tingli’s brow furrowed with a “thump, thump”, he immediately strode forward with long steps, catching her just before she hit the ground in his arms.

Xia Ningxing thought she would definitely fall this time, but instead, she was enveloped by a refreshing and pleasant scent of a man, engulfing her completely like a tide.

She paused, lifting her slightly red eyes and met the man’s worried gaze.

The man slightly scolded, “Why are you so careless?”

“Seeing you, I got anxious.” In just four words, Xia Ningxing was already in tears, stretching her arms out to tightly hug him.

She swore, during these days she had missed him and worried about him so much!

Listening to her, Lu Tingli’s heart also ached, he quickly embraced her in his arms: “Silly girl, haven’t I come back now?”

As he spoke, he gently wiped her tears with the soft tips of his fingers, his movements extremely gentle, as if he was afraid of damaging her skin.

Then, he asked, “Ningxing, have you fallen in love with me?”

He suddenly cradled her delicate white face, forcing her to look him in the eye, his narrow eyes examining her like a prisoner, his sharp, bright gaze as if trying to see right through her.

Caught off guard by his insight, Xia Ningxing’s face flushed at a visibly rapid pace, like a tomato ripening in just a few seconds.

“I… I haven’t!”

She almost dared not meet his eyes, her gaze flickering to avoid his, and she struggled to break free from his grasp.

But the man refused to let go of her, even deliberately leaning closer to her ear: “Don’t deny it.”

“I haven’t, I just haven’t…”

Before she could finish her sentence, Lu Tingli cut her off: “I love you too.”

After these four words, Xia Ningxing stood still, the wind stopped blowing, and the falling pear flowers also halted, the world seemed to freeze at this moment.

Only his thin lips continued to move as he spoke: “During these days away from you, your face, your voice, and your smile uncontrollably appeared in my mind, Ningxing, I’ve fallen in love with you. I can tell you love me too, otherwise why would you be so worried about me?”