Chapter 120: I Want to Take You Back with Me

Yuan Zaichun had kept vigil by Qiao Qingyun’s side, sleepless throughout the night. From the moment his gaze first fell upon her, he found himself unable to look away.

The next morning, as soon as Qiao Qingyun opened her eyes, she was met with the sight of Yuan Zaichun sitting right across from her. Yesterday, to make her feigned illness look convincing, she had splashed herself with plenty of cold water and stood for a long time before changing, ensuring she would appear sufficiently sickly. It was fortunate that it was only a cold and not a fever; in this imperial palace, there would have been nowhere to seek proper treatment.

"How are you feeling?"

Yuan Zaichun had only managed a light nap in the latter half of the night. Seeing her wake, he immediately leaned forward, reached out to help her up, and escorted her to the bathing quarters before calling out for Qingluo. He then turned and stepped outside.

Soaking in the warm water, Qiao Qingyun felt her senses returning, and her entire body relaxed. Looking at her own skin, smooth as cream, she laughed softly. "Well, look at that. My skin has improved again."

"Your Ladyship, how long do you intend to keep up this pretense of illness?" Qingluo asked quietly. Because they were shielded from the outside, they could speak freely without fear of being overheard.

"Let’s wait and see. We have to observe the situation. If I were sick yesterday and recovered today, wouldn't that be too suspicious?" Qiao Qingyun teased without hesitation. Qingluo thought about it, realized she was right, and nodded with a smile. "Indeed, Your Ladyship is correct."

Dressed in a water-blue gown and properly groomed, Qiao Qingyun emerged to find Yuan Zaichun waiting in the main hall, where a meal had already been prepared. Ordinarily, she would have dined in the side hall, but since Yuan Zaichun was a man, they had to be mindful of propriety.

"Qingyun, I’ve checked—everything here is to your taste. You didn't eat all day yesterday while you were ill, so you must eat well today." Seeing her, Yuan Zaichun stood up immediately and stepped forward to assist her, as if afraid that even a slightly louder voice might startle her.

"My thanks to the Crown Prince. I didn't expect you to go to such trouble." Rare for her, Qiao Qingyun offered no sarcasm, her tone instead tinged with a hint of softness. This gave Yuan Zaichun a flicker of hope; if he could only draw closer to her, perhaps there was still a chance? Remembering how he had treated her in the past, a deep regret welled up within him. He forced a smile. "You have always been picky with your food, so I remember these things clearly."

Qiao Qingyun remained silent.

***

The group made their way to the Imperial Garden. Because Qiao Qingyun was unwell and could not travel outside the palace, Yuan Zaichun decided to stay within the palace walls for a few days until she recovered.

"I discovered the peacocks here by chance. They are quite beautiful, so I come here occasionally to walk and clear my mind," Qiao Qingyun remarked. Yuan Zaichun took the opportunity to take her hand, but the slight chill of her skin sent a sharp pang through his heart. He lowered his eyes, realizing she had not yet recovered, and felt a wave of guilt. "Are you cold?"

"No, it is just a bit windy. There is a pavilion over there; shall we go rest for a while?"

Yuan Zaichun nodded and led her toward it. As they sat alone in the pavilion, Qingluo brought out hawthorn cakes for them to enjoy. Qiao Qingyun picked up a bamboo skewer, speared a piece, and placed it in her mouth. As the cake dissolved, a lingering sweetness filled her palate.

"Mmm! Qingluo, your skills are getting better and better!"

Qingluo smiled without answering. Yuan Zaichun remained silent, his gaze still fixed on Qiao Qingyun’s face. The intensity of his stare made her feel uncomfortable. "Staring at me like that makes me uneasy," she said.

Yuan Zaichun started, realizing his lack of decorum. He offered a sheepish, embarrassed smile. "My apologies. I lost my composure."

"The Crown Prince is a busy man; you shouldn't waste your time here with me. You didn't return yesterday, and I fear others may be worried. Perhaps you should..."

"Qingyun."

The man interrupted her, his eyes filled with a level of remorse that seemed ready to drown her. "I... I want to take you back with me."

"Pfft."

Qiao Qingyun couldn't help but laugh. Her pale cheeks flushed with mirth, as if the suggestion were the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard. "Does the Crown Prince always make a habit of abandoning people, only to come back looking for them later?"

"I..." Yuan Zaichun was struck speechless. Ever since he had raised his hand against her, the distance between them had only grown wider.

"I hope you understand: since I am now a Princess by title, that is all I shall ever be. This talk of being a future Empress—I have no interest in it. In the past, I hoped for someone to shelter me, but as the old saying goes, the more you crave something, the more surely you will lose it. So now, I ask for nothing; I only wish to live out my days in peace. Is that, too, something you cannot grant me?"

***

Her words left Yuan Zaichun utterly speechless. Just as he was about to defend himself...

"Your Highness!"

A cloying, affected voice drifted toward them, making Qiao Qingyun shudder. Who else could it be but Bu Shenglian?

Yuan Zaichun frowned, and even Liu Fu’s expression soured. Just when there was a chance for his master to finally express his feelings, this uninvited guest had to ruin the moment!

Bu Shenglian had spotted Yuan Zaichun speaking with such concern to Qiao Qingyun from afar, and her jealousy had already boiled over. Accompanied by her servants, she hurried over. Upon reaching Yuan Zaichun, she made sure to bow. "Greetings, my Lord."

"Hmm." Yuan Zaichun frowned but offered no further acknowledgment. His investigation into Bu Shenglian had yielded some leads, but he could not afford to startle her just yet.

Bu Shenglian, maintaining proper etiquette, turned to Qiao Qingyun. "Greetings, Your Ladyship."

"I did not realize Miss Bu was in the palace. I don't recall any banquets being held recently. How did you manage to get in?" Qiao Qingyun struck directly at the heart of the matter. Under normal circumstances, a young lady of the court could not enter or leave the imperial palace at will; any mistake could result in the execution of one's entire clan.

However, when Qiao Qingyun noticed the token at Bu Shenglian’s waist, she understood immediately. With the Crown Prince’s token, no one would dare stop her, even if she were to march straight into the Xuanwu Hall.

"It was the token the Prince gave me. He did not return to the manor yesterday, and I was worried, fearing something might have happened to him. I came to check, and I did not expect to find the Princess here." Her implication was clear: Qiao Qingyun was nothing but a burden to Yuan Zaichun.

Qiao Qingyun chuckled. As expected, Bu Shenglian was a master of the "white lotus" art, knowing exactly how to twist her words to avoid blame while casting aspersions.

"In that case, I shall take my leave. I will leave this scenery for the two of you to enjoy."