144 Rules

Inside the Quiet Abode, I had already coaxed the baby to sleep, and his rhythmic breathing could be heard. The tear stains were still fresh on his little face; the poor child had truly been heartbroken this time.

I lowered my voice on purpose: "Zi'er, the handkerchief."

A large hand appeared before me, holding a handkerchief.

"Your Highness..." Hadn't Li Yexuan left? Why had he appeared here again?

"Don't wake the child." With that, he moved to wipe the child's face.

"Let me do it, lest he wakes up and starts fussing again." I reached out and took the handkerchief from Li Yexuan's hand, gently cleaning the baby's face. I signaled Zi'er with a glance to watch over the baby properly, and then stepped outside with Li Yexuan.

"What tea would you like?"

"Accompany me for a walk."

I said nothing more, following closely behind Li Yexuan as we left the Quiet Abode.

"What does the baby like?"

"Hm?" Surely I hadn't heard wrong? He was inquiring about the baby's preferences?!

"He likes me best." I lowered my gaze, feeling rather shy as I looked at the ground.

Li Yexuan said nothing in response, simply walking on without regard for me. Yet I had merely spoken the truth; the baby had said I was his favorite.

"Li Yexuan!" I hurried after him for a few steps, catching hold of his hand. Even those few hurried steps left me breathless, and I pressed a hand against my chest. Li Yexuan stopped, though a slight frown crossed his brow as he looked at my condition.

"Why must you run in such a rush?" Seeing that I was still clutching Li Yexuan's hand, I had no choice but to let go in embarrassment, and for a moment the atmosphere grew somewhat awkward.

"It is only natural, given my status, that you should guard against me, and even your disdain for me is entirely understandable. But the baby is still so young; can you not be so severe with him? The gyrfalcon was his friend, and he takes that very deeply to heart. I am afraid it might leave some shadow upon his mind." My words tumbled out in a somewhat disjointed manner, essentially trying to tell Li Yexuan to treat the baby better. Seeing that he remained silent, I felt compelled to continue, "I mean no offense by this; I merely hope that you and your son can truly connect."

People are always like this, never knowing what the next second might bring—just as even the most powerful individuals cannot control what happens in the very next moment. Li Yexuan as he was now had already exceeded my imagination.

I had not expected Li Yexuan to pry my hand loose with his other hand, and the words he uttered next plunged me once more into an abyss.

"I have told you before, marrying you was merely to give my son a rightful name. You interfere far too much."

"What do you mean by interfering too much? I am your wife, and Mufeng is my son. If I do not care for you both, who will?"

"Do not forget, the great Princess Ziyun was married off for the sake of the entire nation. What qualifications do you have?"

"Li Yexuan, do not be like this."

"This is neither the Lingyun Kingdom nor your Fantian Pavilion, Murong Ziyun. Is my given name something you are free to address? Do I need to personally teach you your proper place?"

His words left my mind blank for a fraction of a second. Li Yexuan turned to leave once more, but I boldly seized his hand again.

"Your Highness, I know I was wrong. Can you please let the child stay by my side and let me care for him personally..."

"It is against the rules."

"Rules are made by people; there is always a way to change them... Ah—"

Before I could finish speaking, Li Yexuan violently shook off my hand. I tumbled to the ground, my head striking the sharp corner of a rockery stone. Blood began to stream down from my forehead, and the whole world turned dizzy and dim. I tried to struggle to my feet, but as my head tilted to one side again, a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed directly onto Li Yexuan, who was just stepping closer to me.

"Ziyun..." His voice began to tremble as he scooped me up in his arms.

"Someone come! Come quickly! Summon the imperial physician..."

Li Yexuan's voice was loud, and servants quickly scrambled outside. I had no strength left to push away from his embrace, leaving him no choice but to carry me off. Yet the shred of reason remaining within me told me I must not faint; once the physician arrived, the ruse might well be exposed. Indeed, I did not lose consciousness.

Mindful that the baby was still nearby, Li Yexuan carried me to the study, where there was a bed he customarily used to rest.

I was laid upon the couch, my face ashen, unwilling to spare another glance for the man standing before me.

"It is my fault. You must not be gravely injured." Li Yexuan grasped both my hands. At this moment, he was just like he had been on so many gentle nights, nearly making me lose my resolve.

"Your Highness, this concubine is quite well." I turned my head away, refusing to look at him. If I had retained even an ounce of strength, I would have gotten off the bed and left—out of sight, out of mind!

"Ziyun, I am sorry." He pulled me tightly into his embrace once more. My hands hung limply at my sides, the first time I failed to return his embrace.

The imperial physician arrived promptly, prompting Li Yexuan to loosen his grip on me. I drew my hands back into myself, silently refusing the physician's pulse-taking. The physician looked at Li Yexuan, entirely at a loss as to what to do.

"Attend to the wound on her head first."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The physician respectfully applied medicine to my wound and wrapped it round with white gauze, though even so, dark stains of blood could still be seen seeping through.

"Imperial Consort, please allow this humble official to take your pulse."

I was dead set against offering my hand, but Li Yexuan hauled my arm over by force, pinning my body down with his own.

"Hurry."

The physician anxiously felt my pulse.

"Her Ladyship's pulse is somewhat faint, likely due to excessive toil and overthinking in daily life. However..."

"However what?"

"This official always feels that Her Ladyship's pulse differs somewhat from that of ordinary people. With my limited learning, I am unable to determine the exact cause..."

"This official takes his leave."

"You have my thanks, Old Wu. Go write the prescription."

"Old Wu is a veteran of the Imperial Hospital, yet even he could not determine the cause. Just how many things are you still keeping from me?" Li Yexuan sat down on the edge of the bed, his hand gently stroking my cheek.

"Mufeng's birth was premature, and he was not properly cared for afterward, which is why his constitution is rather weak. My cousin sought out numerous rare spiritual herbs for me to consume; it is merely that my pulse appears somewhat irregular as a result."

"I am sorry for harming you."

"Your Highness is my husband, and the character for 'husband' bears the heavens upon its head. It was merely this concubine who lacked proper decorum earlier. Yet I still wish to earnestly entreat Your Highness to let the heir stay with me for a time; afterward, he shall follow Your Highness's wishes."

"I shall send a message for Kong Yueling to come."

"There is no need." Guteng was always urging me to let Kong Yueling examine me, claiming that under the heavens he might be the only one capable of treating my condition, but I had refused him countless times. I was already doing my utmost to avoid him; why on earth would I eagerly ask for him to come?

"His medical skills are exceptional..."

"I have no grave illness, simply a frail constitution. Your Highness, please return my son to me."

"Murong Ziyun, do you not think you are far too stubborn?" Li Yexuan stood up and looked down at me.

"Mufeng is my very life."

"And what of me? If our son is your life, then what am I?" At that moment, his gaze seemed intent on seeing straight through me, piercing past my physical form and striking directly at my heart.

I got up from the bed, and the moment my feet touched the floor, a wave of dizziness washed over me.

"What are you doing?" My body was caught and supported by Li Yexuan.

"If you cannot tolerate our mother and child, I shall simply take my son and leave."

"When have I ever been unable to tolerate the two of you?"

"Then I must ask Your Highness for a promise."

"Speak."

"I will obey Your Highness in all things, but the child must remain by my side. Rules or no rules, I care nothing for them."

Li Yexuan scooped me up into his arms once more.

"Very well."

He had agreed. He had finally agreed. The matter weighing heavily on my heart was finally laid to rest, and as darkness consumed me, I slipped into unconsciousness, the sound of Li Yexuan calling out to me gradually fading away.

When I awoke, candlelight flickered throughout the room; it appeared to be deep into the night.

I slowly got down from the bed and walked out into the outer chamber.

Li Yexuan was reading by the candlelight. I had scarcely ever taken the time to truly look at him; he seemed to have shed the raw greenness of his youth, the heroic bearing between his brows now touched with a deeper maturity.

"Would you care for some evening meal?"

"No need. This concubine takes her leave."

At the very instant I turned to go, my body was caught from behind in a tight embrace.

"Rest here tonight. The child is already asleep. Come with me."

Li Yexuan took my hand and led me to the front of the bookcase.

"This is what you gave me back then."

Looking at the *Zhenghe Classic* that Li Yexuan placed in my hand, I no longer knew what to say. Li Yexuan unfolded a painting in his other hand, depicting the two of us in our childhood days.

"Beneath that cherry blossom tree, two jars of wine we brewed back then are still buried." Li Yexuan's eyes seemed to brighten.

"Such wine can be purchased at Fantian Pavilion as well, though it naturally cannot compare to those two jars. If Your Highness desires it, I can have someone fetch them and send them over."

"Very well. Wait here."

Li Yexuan had some food brought in. Come to think of it, since our wedding day, we had never once shared a relaxed meal together. Having lost that lingering sense of anticipation toward him, I felt far less constrained.

"Drink your medicine."

"It is merely a minor injury; surely there is no need to drink this medicine?" I utterly loathed medicinal broths—they were intensely bitter, and my usual medications were always prepared in pill form.

Li Yexuan said nothing, leaving me no choice but to swallow it in one go.

The evening meal consisted only of a light, clear porridge, of which I drank but a little.

"Why not drink a bit more?" Li Yexuan actually bothered to ask me such a thing.

"No more. Have them clear it away. Can I return now..."

Li Yexuan picked me up in his arms. This was already the third time he had lifted me this day. The maidservants who came in to clear the table flushed scarlet upon seeing this, retreating swiftly and pulling the door shut behind them.

"What are you doing?"

"Sleeping."

With that, Li Yexuan laid me upon the bed and reached out to undo my outer garments.

"No, I am not feeling well, do not..."

"How can one sleep without removing their outer robes?"

In the end, Li Yexuan stripped away my outer garments, shedding his own as well.

"Do not hold me so tightly."

"Ziyun, do you not think you are asking for too much? Be careful lest I..." Li Yexuan trailed off without finishing.

"Lest you what? Lest you take me by force once more?"

I felt the body holding me grow rigid all at once.

"Indeed, I am utterly ungrateful. There are plenty of places in the Prince's Manor where you can sleep; why must you crowd into this space? Li Yexuan, you cannot simply hand out a slap and then offer a sweet date expecting me to smile and act as though nothing happened. You overestimate me."

After a long, unbroken silence, I was once again pulled tightly into the embrace of the silent Li Yexuan. Utterly exhausted, I finally drifted off to sleep...