CHAPTER 693: CHAPTER 279: HEZHEN, DON’T TRAMPLE ON WU XUFAN’S FEELINGS (FOURTH UPDATE)

Ye Qichi finished treating Song Yanqing’s wound and gave him anti-inflammatory medicine, instructing the servants to wait by the door for Song Yanqing to wake up, then left the guest room with Little Wu.

"Can Lord Song still be saved?" Little Wu asked.

He had previously thought that Lord Song was going to die.

When the Princess Consort was treating the wound, Song Yanqing didn’t move at all, which made him even more convinced that Lord Song wouldn’t make it.

"If it were someone else, they would have died," Ye Qichi said with a light smile.

"You mean Lord Song has a strong will to live," Little Wu deduced.

"What I mean is, my medical skills are exceptional."

"..." Could he admit that he liked Princess Consort’s immodest and unrestrained character?!

"You should go back to the Imperial Palace early," Ye Qichi advised Little Wu.

"No, the Prince has ordered me to accompany the Princess Consort, and I must do so," Little Wu said resolutely.

Ye Qichi rolled her eyes.

She truly had no doubt about Little Wu’s loyalty.

She then walked towards Yuan Wenkang’s room.

Working in Prince Chen’s Mansion, Yuan Wenkang naturally had his own quarters.

Little Wu also wanted to check on Yuan Wenkang’s injuries.

Since Yuan Wenkang had been working for the Prince, they had also developed a friendship.

Entering the room.

She saw Xiao Hezhen sitting by the bedside, feeding Yuan Wenkang his medicine.

With such tender affection, if Wu Xufan saw it, he would surely be in utter agony.

When Xiao Hezhen saw Ye Qichi arrived, she quickly got up, "Princess Hezhen pays respect to sister-in-law."

Yuan Wenkang also tried to get up in a hurry.

It was obvious that Yuan Wenkang’s injuries were still quite severe.

"Lord Yuan is badly hurt; there is no need for such formalities," Ye Qichi said, "I just came to see how you are."

"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness – I am not seriously harmed," Yuan Wenkang hurriedly replied.

"Sit down, Hezhen," Ye Qichi beckoned, "Finish feeding Lord Yuan his medicine.

"I can drink it myself," Yuan Wenkang said immediately.

In fact, Xiao Hezhen had been visiting him every day, insisting on feeding him his medicine, but he had always refused.

However, unable to withstand Xiao Hezhen’s persistent efforts, he eventually gave in.

Now with the Princess Consort present, he definitely did not dare to let the Princess feed him.

"With your arm so badly injured, the house doctor said you mustn’t move it, or you risk severe complications. Do you still want to wield a sword? Do you still want to protect my third brother by his side?" Xiao Hezhen threatened.

Every time Yuan Wenkang refused, Xiao Hezhen would say the same thing.

Yuan Wenkang glanced at Ye Qichi.

He knew this was not proper.

"It’s okay, Hezhen, I appreciate your life-saving grace, and it’s only right to take care of you," Ye Qichi clearly saw Yuan Wenkang’s difficulty.

Little Wu, on the other hand, was sweating on the sidelines.

Princess Hezhen had a Prince Consort.

Moreover, everyone inside knew about the Princess’s feelings for Yuan Wenkang; the Prince knew, and the Princess Consort must surely know as well.

To still engage in such matchmaking...

Although his relationship with Yuan Wenkang was better, still he felt really sorry for Young Master.

Hearing Ye Qichi say this, Xiao Hezhen cheerfully hurried to feed Yuan Wenkang his medicine.

"Little Wu," Yuan Wenkang suddenly called out to the very anxious Little Wu.

Little Wu quickly responded, "Wenkang."

"Could you help me with the medicine?" asked Yuan Wenkang.

Little Wu glanced at Ye Qichi and then at Xiao Hezhen, not daring to make any rash moves.

Xiao Hezhen clearly looked a little disappointed.

Yuan Wenkang risked his life to save her; if it weren’t for him blocking the blow, the Sword Mother would have struck her directly, and she would likely have met with misfortune.

However, now Yuan Wenkang is keeping her at arm’s length.

"Little Wu, go feed Yuan Sir his medicine. Zhen, come out, I have some words for you," Ye Qichi instructed.

Xiao Zhen reluctantly handed the medicine to Little Wu.

Little Wu hurriedly took it.

Ye Qichi then took Xiao Zhen outside.

"Why aren’t you at the Imperial Palace? Your father, the Emperor, and your great-grandmother have passed away; you should be at the Imperial Palace to hold vigil," Ye Qichi said outright.

"I go there every day. I only come here to visit Yuan... Sir Yuan after holding vigil in the evening," Xiao Zhen explained.

Ye Qichi seemed indeed to have seen Xiao Zhen at the mourning hall.

"Then don’t you sleep?"

"When I’m tired, I just rest on the chair for a while," Xiao Zhen said.

"Yuan Wenkang is out of danger now."

"I know, it’s just that, Sir Yuan was hurt because of me, and I want to take care of him more. Without him, I would have died at the hands of Sword Mother," she said.

"Zhen, I understand your gratitude to Yuan Wenkang for saving your life, but if you have further thoughts, I advise you not to," Ye Qichi said bluntly.

Xiao Zhen looked at Ye Qichi.

She knew her sister-in-law was astute and could instantly perceive her thoughts.

Not wanting to hide it any longer, her eyes even reddened at this moment, "Why not?"

"You are already married to Wu Xufan."

"We have never consummated our marriage."

"That is Wu Xufan’s respect for you," Ye Qichi said with added weight in her voice.

Xiao Zhen bit her lip.

Being chastised like this by Ye Qichi, she ultimately felt somewhat ashamed.

"Don’t trample on the kindness Wu Xufan has shown you."

"But we have no affection between us," Xiao Zhen said uncontrollably agitated, "The one I like is Yuan Wenkang!"

In that moment, she finally spoke her thoughts out loud.

Xiao Zhen never thought that she would reveal them.

And she never imagined that Ye Qichi would be the first person she told.

Perhaps, it was because she truly regarded Ye Qichi as family that she trusted her enough to confide her thoughts.

She even wanted to gain her sister-in-law’s support and approval.

"You and Yuan Wenkang have no future. Consider Yuan Wenkang’s age, and both of your social statuses—you two are simply not destined to be," Ye Qichi said coldly, naturally aiming to dispel Xiao Zhen’s thoughts.

"Now that the Emperor has passed away, my mother won’t bother with me."

"You think your third brother won’t care about you?" Ye Qichi raised her eyebrows.

"I will explain it properly to my third brother."

"Do you know who played the biggest role in ensuring that your third brother could escape danger and even ascend to the throne?" Ye Qichi asked.

Xiao Zhen bit her lip.

"It was Wu Xufan, your Prince Consort," Ye Qichi stated slowly, "Do you think Prince Xiao Jinxing would allow you to divorce Wu Xufan and be with Yuan Wenkang? Of course, Yuan Wenkang is also a subordinate of Xiao Jinxing, but compared to the two, whose feelings do you think Xiao Jinxing would care more about?!"

"They can’t bind my marital happiness to their political power," she retorted.

"Zhen, you are a Princess! Along with your noble status, you should also have that sense of righteousness and responsibility for the country and its people," Ye Qichi said with commanding presence.

Xiao Zhen was rendered utterly embarrassed.

Indeed, at the moment Yuan Wenkang was injured and nearly lost his life.

In her eyes and her heart, all she thought of was Yuan Wenkang.

All she wanted was for Yuan Wenkang to be alive, for she would pay any price to be with him.

At this moment.

However, she was left speechless by Ye Qichi’s words.