Volume 1, Chapter 8: Behave, and I Shall Allow You to See Lady Lin

Thinking that he might need to rely on Yun Feihan in the future, Mo Lingxuan sat back down in the carriage.

"That woman is none other than the childhood playmate I mentioned to you before. She came to the Imperial City with her mother this time specifically to betroth herself to me."

Yun Feihan’s mouth hung slightly open, his lips trembling. His mind froze at the sudden news, and for a moment, he had no idea what to say. After a long silence, he finally regained his senses and asked in disbelief, "You mean that little troublemaker you used to talk about? The one whose handkerchief you’ve been keeping all this time?"

Yun Yuying huddled in the corner, not daring to speak; her brother’s look just now had been as if he wanted to kill her—it was terrifying.

Mo Lingxuan closed his eyes and nodded. Perhaps no one would believe that ever since he first saw her as a young girl, he had hidden her in the depths of his heart, hoping to marry her when they grew up.

"If that is the case, I can understand why you care so much." Yun Feihan sighed. "But how should I put it? Try to look at the bigger picture. That woman will sooner or later be a concubine to the Crown Prince. War is not something one can rush into, and military merit is not easy to obtain."

Having followed Mo Lingxuan to the battlefield, he knew the cruelty of war all too well. Those generals who earned their rank—which of them hadn't walked through the gates of death? By the time he actually earned his stripes, the lady would likely already be registered in the imperial lineage.

"She does not like the Crown Prince."

If she wanted to be with the Crown Prince, she wouldn't have desperately tried to leave the Imperial City after spending the night with him. His mother had told him that after the Crown Prince left the estate, she had taken Madam Lin and tried to flee the city, only to be brought back to the Eastern Palace by His Highness for reasons unknown. Madam Lin had come from the relay station to the General's Mansion, weeping incessantly to his mother, deeply worried about her daughter's current situation.

"And what if she doesn't like him? If His Highness wants her, she must submit."

Mo Lingxuan could not refute Yun Feihan's words, but he was unwilling to accept it. "Then tell me, what should I do? Should I ask her to wait for me?"

"No. You should forget her. Have your mother arrange a marriage for you with a lady of equal standing as soon as possible." Yun Feihan sneered. To still be pining for the Crown Prince's woman? He must be insane. Did he not value his own life?

"If my wife is not her, I would rather never marry in this life."

The Mo family house rules were clear; it was a collective belief among the clansmen that one should only have one wife in a lifetime. If he could not marry the one he loved, he would rather remain alone, unburdened and free.

"Are you trying to emulate your third uncle? Don't! Are you not afraid that Madam Mo will beat you to death with a wooden plank?" Yun Feihan retorted. "You are the legitimate son of your family, and the only one of the younger generation of the Mo family in the military. The General's Mansion is waiting for you to inherit it. If you don't take a wife, what will become of the General's Mansion in the future?"

Mo Lingxuan looked at Yun Yuying, who was huddled silently in the corner, and cupped his hands in a salute. "I wonder if Miss Yun could do me a favor?"

Yun Yuying glanced at her brother, then at the man bowing before her. "Please speak, General."

Although he knew that spying on the Crown Prince's residence was not the behavior expected of an official, he desperately wanted to know how Qingwan was faring. If the Crown Prince treated her well, he could let her go. But if not, he would fight to the very end.

"As the only female physician in the Imperial Academy, could you keep an eye on her condition when you go to re-examine Qingwan?"

Yun Yuying nodded. This was a small matter. Even if he hadn't asked, she would have reported the situation to her brother anyway, as her brother needed to adjust the prescriptions based on the patient's condition.

"My thanks, Miss Yun."

***

In the Crown Prince's residence, Chu Linyuan waved his hand, and the group of maids standing in the room retreated.

He removed Lin Qingwan’s clothing and, using the tools provided by Yun Feihan and following the physician's instructions, applied the ointment evenly and slowly inserted it into the affected area.

A strange, uncomfortable sensation washed over her. Lin Qingwan opened her eyes slightly, weakly pushing with her hands to stop the man’s movements.

"Don't move."

Chu Linyuan felt his throat go dry. He swallowed hard and turned his flushed face to the side. "The physician said this will help you heal faster. Don't be afraid. I will be gentle; I won't hurt you."

"I don't want this."

Lin Qingwan struggled with all her might, but her body was burning with a high fever and she was exhausted; even with all her strength, she could not stop him. Thinking of the physician's warning that the patient’s cooperation was required and that resistance could cause further injury, Chu Linyuan softened his tone.

"Qingwan, be good. It will only take three days. Endure it for a little while, and in three days, I will allow Madam Lin to come to the Eastern Palace to see you."

Hearing this, Lin Qingwan stopped struggling. Her gaze was hazy from the fever as she turned her head to look at him. Seeing the man's deeply reddened ears, she was momentarily dazed. Was he shy, too? Had she seen it wrong?

"Really?"

Chu Linyuan nodded. "My word is gold. Rest well these three days. You wouldn't want Madam Lin to worry about you in three days, would you?"

Thinking of her mother, whose whereabouts were unknown, Lin Qingwan nodded. She could not let her mother worry; she would try her best to recover over these three days.

He pressed Lin Qingwan’s head down slightly and pecked her lips. She was injured now, so he dared not touch her properly. If he became aroused, he would only be the one to suffer. The more Chu Linyuan tried to remain calm, the more his body burned with heat. The process of applying the medicine was more like a torture for him. It was truly agonizing!

After applying the medicine, both of them were blushing and dared not look at each other. Lin Qingwan couldn't help but think of her past life. In that life, although their intimacies were always initiated by him, she had always been very cooperative, so she had never been injured. This was the first time she realized that even that place could be hurt.

Chu Linyuan pulled back the quilt, and Lin Qingwan trembled in fear. Seeing her subconsciously shrinking away from him, Chu Linyuan furrowed his brows, his voice raspy. "I won't touch you."

Lin Qingwan’s nervous gaze left Chu Linyuan feeling a mix of amusement and frustration. What did this woman take him for? Even if he wanted her, he would still prioritize her health.

Although Chu Linyuan said he wouldn't touch her, Lin Qingwan was still a bit afraid; after all, the man's eyes were filled with desire. It was only when she saw that he was merely holding her and not making any other moves that she felt at ease, resting against the crook of his arm until she fell asleep.

Chu Linyuan didn't know what to do with this woman. He loved her body, yet she loved another man. If it were anyone else, he would have killed them. But Mo Lingxuan was the legitimate son of the Mo family and the grandson most valued by the Old General. He had only threatened her last time to scare her; he hadn't expected she would actually be willing to please him for that man's sake.

Where exactly was he inferior to Mo Lingxuan?

"Your Highness, Lady Mei says she has received a visiting card and would like you to take a look at it." The young eunuch at the door bowed his head, relaying the message.

"Send it in." She was a very clever woman; she wouldn't bother him unless it was truly necessary.

Taking the card from the eunuch, he saw the signature at the end: "Mo Qiao of the General's Mansion, and Lin Feiran."

Lin Feiran? Qingwan’s mother? No wonder Ji Qingmei had sent the card over.

"Someone come."

The eunuch entered from the door immediately, kneeling with his head bowed. "This servant is here."

He handed the card out from behind the bed curtains. "Tell Ji Qingmei to arrange for the two ladies to come to the Eastern Palace in three days."

"Yes." The eunuch took the card with both hands, kowtowed to the man by the bed, rose slowly, and retreated.

***

In the Yimei Courtyard, "Sister Mei, I'm so angry!"

"That woman is just faking illness. I only had my maid slap her face; how could that possibly warrant the Crown Prince calling for an imperial physician in the middle of the night?"

Ji Qingmei looked at Liu Sisi, who had rushed into the Yimei Courtyard in a fluster, and gently poked the woman's forehead. "You! I told you not to provoke her. But it’s no big deal. Didn't His Highness refrain from blaming you?"

Although the Crown Prince hadn't blamed her, her brother had lectured her harshly. That woman was truly a jinx! Liu Sisi sat listlessly in a chair. Her parents had told her not to seek favor, but the Crown Prince was so outstanding; how could she not want to compete? Who wouldn't want to be the one held in the palm of the Crown Prince's hand?

"Sister Mei, I heard that the General's Mansion sent you a visiting card? And that you're supposed to bring that woman's mother?"