CHAPTER 694: CHAPTER 280: XIAO HEZHEN DEFENDS YE QICHI (FIVE UPDATES)

Ye Qichi could also feel Xiao Hezhen’s sadness.

The courage she had mustered with such difficulty, was so mercilessly extinguished by her.

She was not trying to prevent lovers from ending up together.

Rather, Xiao Hezhen’s best destination was Wu Xufan.

No matter how much Yuan Wenkang loved Hezhen, it was impossible for him to really be with her.

The pressure from Xiao Hezhen might even lead to Yuan Wenkang’s death.

All she could do now was to "break up the pair of lovebirds"!

"Hezhen." Ye Qichi called her, her voice somewhat gentler, "I understand your feelings, and I know the pain of not being able to be with the one you love. I have gone through heart-wrenching agony myself, but as people live in this world, they must have their own aspirations and responsibilities. They must weigh carefully what should be done and what should not. As a Princess, every word and action of yours represents the royal family, represents Daxuan. You absolutely must not act impulsively based on your emotions."

Xiao Hezhen looked down, her gaze lowering.

The sadness on her small face was evident.

"Additionally." Ye Qichi continued as she looked at Hezhen’s expression, "You also know how tense the current court situation is. It’s not easy for your third brother to stabilize the court right now; he urgently needs support. If you insist on divorcing Wu Xufan now and disrupt the relationship between your third brother and him, have you thought about the predicament your third brother would be in?!"

"I..." Xiao Hezhen really felt ashamed after being spoken to by Ye Qichi.

"Hezhen, I’m not trying to blame you for anything. I’m just speaking based on the facts and hoping that you won’t go down the wrong path."

"I know, it was Hezhen who was willful," said Xiao Hezhen hurriedly, "Third sister-in-law, I truly admire you. I always feel that your perspective is greater than all of us, and I even think that my third brother is not as generous as you, let alone Bai Mowan. I sincerely hope that you and third brother can stay together forever. Only you deserve to sit on the throne as the Empress, not anyone else."

Ye Qichi wanted to say something.

Xiao Hezhen spoke somewhat excitedly, "I can see the feelings between third brother and Bai Mowan. During these past days of vigil, I also saw Bai Mowan by third brother’s side, and the third sister-in-law was always absent. Is it because you didn’t want to trouble the third brother?"

Ye Qichi was on the verge of tears.

She just went to sleep.

The death of the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had nothing to do with her.

Besides, neither of them were good people.

So she didn’t feel kindly enough to accompany Xiao Jinxing in his act.

"Hezhen is ashamed of not being able to match the third sister-in-law’s feelings for third brother and the magnanimity in your conduct. I have also heard that from a young age, third brother had a fondness for Bai Mowan, and I know that third sister-in-law is not the jealous type. You have your broad-mindedness, and besides, if third brother ascends the throne, there will be three thousand beauties in his harem, and certainly, third sister-in-law, you wouldn’t expect third brother to be devoted to only one person." Xiao Hezhen’s tone was consistently impassioned as she spoke up for her, "But Hezhen hopes that the third sister-in-law will still fight for your proper status and get everything you deserve. Even if third brother does indeed prefer Bai Mowan more, the third sister-in-law should not give in, and don’t forget, you are the wife third brother married in a grand ceremony. Even if Bai Mowan were to follow third brother, she can only ever be a concubine."

Ye Qichi managed a smile.

She looked at Xiao Hezhen’s face, which was flushed with evident indignation.

She said, "You don’t need to worry about your third brother and me. Rest assured, I won’t suffer any disadvantage."

"But..."

"You care so much about me, you might as well pay more attention to yourself and sort out your own feelings. Wu Xufan is not bad, I believe, if Wu Xufan must risk his life to save you, he definitely wouldn’t choose his own survival. What Yuan Wenkang can do, Wu Xufan can do as well."

Xiao Hezhen pursed her lips.

At that time, she indeed saw Wu Xufan charging towards her regardless of everything.

It was just that Yuan Wenkang was a little closer to her.

But she always felt that Wu Xufan’s care for her was merely his duty as a subject.

After he killed the nanny to save her, he did not even spare her an extra glance, but left swiftly with his men.

Leaving her with Yuan Wenkang and a line of Bai Family troops to protect them.

Later, she encountered Wu Xufan in the Imperial Palace.

Wu Xufan did not engage her in conversation, seemingly busy through the entire encounter.

"I won’t say any more." Ye Qichi spoke, "You should now go back to Marquis Wu’s Mansion to rest a bit, and then head to the Imperial Palace to keep vigil for your father the Emperor and your great-grandmother the Empress Dowager. I will arrange for someone to take good care of Yuan Wenkang."

Xiao Hezhen still looked reluctantly towards Yuan Wenkang’s room and slowly nodded her head, "Then Hezhen will take her leave."

"Be careful on your way."

"Aren’t you going to the Imperial Palace, third sister-in-law?"

"I still have some matters to handle, I’ll go once they’re done."

"Then Xiao Hezhen will wait for the third sister-in-law in the Imperial Palace."

"Hmm."

Xiao Hezhen made his salutations and left.

Ye Qichi watched Xiao Hezhen’s retreating figure, then turned and entered Yuan Wenkang’s room.

It was obvious that Yuan Wenkang gave a few glances behind Ye Qichi.

"Hezhen has left," Ye Qichi stated simply.

Yuan Wenkang nodded, "Thank you, Princess."

Ye Qichi naturally knew what Yuan Wenkang was thanking her for.

"Official Yuan, there is no right or wrong in matters of the heart, so don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Just remember, let feelings arise according to emotion but end according to propriety."

"Your subject obeys the order." Yuan Wenkang was somewhat moved.

He truly appreciated the Princess.

The Princess did not look at his feelings for Xiao Hezhen with strange eyes, nor did she blame him.

For the first time, it made him feel that his feelings for Xiao Hezhen were not so despicable.

It was merely that.

Propriety did not allow it.

"Then I won’t disturb Official Yuan’s rest any longer, Xiao Wu."

"Yes."

Xiao Wu followed Ye Qichi and left.

Just after stepping out of the room.

A servant hurried over anxiously, "Princess, Master Song has awoken."

Ye Qichi nodded.

And then she went to the guest room with Xiao Wu.

Song Yanqing was still exceptionally weak, lying on the bed, surveying everything around him.

He must be confused about how he got here.

And where was ’here’?

He turned his gaze to Ye Qichi.

He did not know if he was hallucinating.

He only felt dizzy and couldn’t distinguish whether he was in reality or dreaming.

"I brought you out from the cell," Ye Qichi said bluntly.

In Song Yanqing’s eyes, still a flicker of surprise shone.

"The King of Chen said to have you pledge allegiance to him, so he allowed me to bring you out of the cell, and then to treat your wounds," Ye Qichi explained dispassionately, "The injuries on your body are severe, and you’re well aware of that, plus you have a fever. If I had arrived any later, you might not have survived."

"Hmm," Song Yanqing responded.

It was his way of acknowledging to Ye Qichi that he was now lucid.

"I examined your wounds, and fortunately, they are within my ability to treat. However, your body is very frail, and full recovery will probably take about three months—it’s all a matter of time. The only thing that might be tricky is that scar on your face; it’s too long and too deep, not that easy to repair."