After nightfall, Ah-Xuan soon fell asleep and was taken away by an attendant. The house filled with the smell of medicine was suddenly quiet, as if there were no trace of life. Ling Li was lying on the bed, leaning on the headrest with black hair scattered, bearing a dull expression and a clenched lower jaw. His whole person was pale and haggard.

He didn't know how long it had been, the door was gently pushed open and a red figure flashed in quickly.

Ling Li looked over with indifference, when he saw that the person was Rong Hua, he straightened up slightly, a little surprised, "Rong Hua, what are you..."

Rong Hua closed the door and pounced straight on the bed, she hugged him hard. Ling Li fell back because of her strength. He had just raised his hand to pat her back, but Rong Hua suddenly sat upright again, grabbing his shoulders with both hands. Her reddened eyes stared at him and she said in a distressed and puzzled tone: "Ah-Li, what on earth do you want to do? Using Rong Ci to turn away the guards that the Crown Prince gave to you, drinking that in the wizard's side hall... Did you know how scared I was? I was almost scared to death by you when I saw you like that! Can you at least tell me why you did this? Don't you like His Royal Highness?"

Why did you do this? Ling Li's breath slowed slightly, his long eyelashes dropped, and he hissed after a while: "Rong Hua, His Royal Highness told me that he wanted to make me his concubine."

Rong Hua was stunned, "Really? Isn't that good? Why did you..."

"Good?" Ling Li raised his face and stared at her beautiful and bright face, he shook his head and smiled shallowly. Those clear eyes seemed to be determined, and his low and slow voice was mixed with a little self-deprecation, "Ah-Xuan and I struggled to survive in that small town for so many years. If I followed him into the Palace, do you think everything would suddenly be alright?"

Rong Hua slowly let go of his grasped hand and said nothing.

Ling Li said: "So what if I become a royal concubine? Even if my identity's concealed and my past erased, I'll still be a civilian who had never even dreamed of getting close to that identity. I have no foundation, I won't be able to sit firmly in that position, and I don't have the ambition to sit in that position. Besides, Your Highness merely has a young and vigorous love for me. It'll only last for a while, and how long can royal relationships last? My child and I will be swallowed clean with no bones left. What's more... his temperament had always been moody. Now he has greater affection for me than others to give me this grace, but... in his eyes, back then, I lied to him with one of his guards. This had always been a thorn in his heart. I can't say that one day he'll stop asking questions, and when that happens, everything related to me will become the sand that entered his eyes; the stone that's stuck in his heart. If he wants to get rid of it quickly, then I'll be able to bear it, but Ah-Xuan..."

Ling Li paused, showing a gloomy expression. Suddenly, he raised his hand in frustration and gently stroked his lower abdomen before continuing to whisper: "I don't want this child, because if I can't get out of this quicksand by then, at least he won't have to suffer with me."

If he could get away with it, he wouldn't want anything that had something to do with the Royal family. It was a sheer accident to keep Ah-Xuan back then, he didn't want to have another one.

Listening to Ling Li's words, Rong Hua's mind ached for some reason. She knew that what Ling Li said was reasonable, but she vaguely couldn't agree with it. She knocked her sore head with her hands, frowning at Ling Li and saying: "Ah-Li, it'll definitely not be like this, you don't have to be like this. His Royal Highness treats you..."

Ling Li stared at her lightly: "His Royal Highness treats me..."

Ling Li always knew that Ming Zhan had some feelings for him, at least he did back then.

——Ling Li had actually known him for a month before paying off Liu Yue's gambling debt to accompany Ming Zhan. When he told this to Su Jingyang, he deliberately blurred this passage of the past that he didn't want to mention.

At that time, Ming Zhan was completely ruined because of poisoning. He travelled to Rongcheng to obtain a solution, because he needed to be closer to Wuqun Mountain to have a better effect, he lived in the town for treatment.

Ming Zhan was only seventeen or eighteen years old, because his father was partial, his second brother was arrogant, his face was ruined and turned ugly. As the first Prince of the dynasty, the honour of the East Palace, he could wrap his face in gauze and stay in the house. He couldn't come out and his heart was full of hatred, his temper became more and more violent, and his body was full of frightening hostility. The things in his room had to be renewed every day because it wasn't rare for him to drop something to vent his anger, even the door of his room was replaced several times.

At that time, Liu Yue was still alive. Apart from occasional gossip, Ling Li hadn't reached the point where he would be scolded whenever he went out later. He worked as a helper in the kitchen of the largest restaurant in the town. Because of his good cooking skills, when several chefs were too busy, he'll temporarily serve for them and fry some dishes. Unexpectedly, the dish he cooked was delivered to Ming Zhan's table by accident. Ming Zhan rarely didn't break the bowl that day, he singled out the dish and ate two more mouthfuls.

Ming Zhan's guard, Qin Yu, secretly remembered it. He finally found Ling Li and took him to the house, where he was responsible for taking care of Ming Zhan's diet and daily life.

When Ling Li first went there, he was frightened by Ming Zhan. His face was covered with only a pair of beautiful but gloomy eyes showing. He had a weird and violent temper. Just because he accidentally glanced at him when he was serving the food, he almost got caught and split with a sword. Although Ling Li escaped in embarrassment, a long section of his hair was still cut off.

Ling Li was afraid that he was going to die, hiding in the corner of the kitchen and not daring to get out. After that, he bowed his head all the way when delivering food to Ming Zhan and ran after delivery. Sometimes when he meets him in the yard while coming out to breathe, he'll immediately turn around and leave.

Seeing him hiding like a frightened rabbit, Ming Zhan became more upset, treating him as not pleasing to his eyes, so with maliciousness in his heart, he forced him to be an arrow target for more than half a month.

Probably it was the nervous blushing appearance and the apple on Ling Li's head that pleased him, or the fact his face had begun to recover a little bit, but Ming Zhan's mood gradually became more open. He often used language to tease Ling Li, making jokes about his courage.

Ling Li dared not say anything, but he received the month's wages, and the house was full of guards. He couldn't run even if he wanted to, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.

Finally, one day when Ming Zhan was practising his arrows, Ling Li suddenly fainted because of the cold, his body couldn't support itself. When he woke up, Ling Li found that Ming Zhan had fallen asleep by his bed, holding his hand tightly. Ling Li didn't understand why Ming Zhan didn't play with him anymore since then, and he was no longer always so gloomy as when he saw him. His temper was reduced and his smiles increased. It's just that his face with only eyes exposed would always follow him, yelling Ah-Li, Ah-Li, his attitude was a bit intimate.

Ming Zhan's change was so obvious that even Ling Li felt that something was wrong. Just a few days later, after his one month's work was finished, he flusteredly bit the bullet and bowed his head to tell Qin Yu his resignation and left. Before leaving, he didn't dare to meet Ming Zhan.

Only two days later, Liu Yue suddenly owed a large sum of gambling debts. Ling Li was desperate, Qin Yu found him again and gave him enough banknotes to repay the debt, but offered him the condition of continuing to accompany Ming Zhan until his face recovered and he left.

Of course, this companionship was naturally no longer just pure companionship. To make it clear, it means that whatever Ming Zhan wanted him to do, he had to obey.

Ling Li agreed with Liu Yue. At first, he thought it was Ming Zhan's plan, but when he returned to the house and saw Ming Zhan's surprised eyes, he faintly guessed that Qin Yu should've also seen that Ming Zhan treated him differently. To make his master feel happy and heal his injury, he used money to get him back.

Ming Zhan didn't know, and he didn't suspect for a moment that his Chief Guard, who had lived and died with him for twelve years, would have the courage to deceive him! Ming Zhan just asked him to go and find Ling Li, and Ling Li did indeed come back. Ming Zhan also mistakenly thought that Ling Li agreed to come back because he was reluctant to leave him, that he also had feelings for him. The emotions swirling in his heart became more turbulent, and at that time, he hugged him fully into his arms, very happy.

Ling Li was very obedient to him because he received the money. Ming Zhan's experienced love for the first time in his life, and his youthful affection was even more intense and eager. On the fifth night of Ling Li's return, Ming Zhan finally removed the gauze, although his face wasn't completely healed, the beautiful and picturesque face was already clearly identifiable. Ling Li was stunned for a while, Ming Zhan kissed him when he was moved, he stiffened but didn't hide. Ming Zhan could hardly restrain himself anymore and took him that night.

Ling Li thought the same as Qin Yu. Ming Zhan just had a momentary affection. After he turns his head, he'll forget him. When the time comes, he'll go his own way and they'll have nothing to do with each other. So although he probably knew what's going on in his heart, he never dared to expose anything.

But who knew that Ming Zhan was more serious than ever, and was even more unstoppable in the following days. He slept with Ling Li every night. Ling Li's clearness and meekness seemed to have become a cure for his dryness and depression. When he sees him, he will be full of tenderness. If he doesn't see him, he'll be cold and unhappy. Only when he finds him in the yard, hold his waist, and give him a kiss would he be willing to quench his anger.

They lived in this pattern, and in another month, Ming Zhan's face was completely restored and he finally planned to leave the town. Ling Li felt relieved, thinking that he would be free, but unexpectedly, Ming Zhan confessed his identity to him and said that he would take him back to the Palace to be with him.

Ling Li hadn't yet recovered from the shock of his true identity and was immediately overwhelmed by his words. He was afraid and panicked. After all, the incomparable identity of His Royal Highness was as far away as the sun in the sky to him before, but now, he actually deceived him.

Ling Li subconsciously broke away from Ming Zhan's embrace, staggered back a few steps, and glanced at Qin Yu who was guarding the door, casting his eyes for help.

With this glance, Ming Zhan immediately noticed that there was a problem, he asked Qin Yu to come in, interrogated him clearly in a few words, and learned the truth.

Then, the anger that swept through was like a violent wind, and Ming Zhan's heart was completely shattered!

It turned out that his true feelings were just a deal for others! ! ! A botched scam! ! He was the only one who was immersed in it like a fool, unable to extricate himself from it! He was deceived by his most trusted guard and loved one! What's even more ridiculous was that the person he loved approached him only to pay off debts for other men. Ming Zhan was completely furious and ruthlessly killed Qin Yu, who had been with him for more than ten years, on the spot, in front of Ling Li.

Blood splashed on Ling Li's face, he fell sitting on the ground dumbfounded. When Ming Zhan positioned the sword on his neck, he only shuddered and didn't hide.

In the end, Ming Zhan still couldn't kill him. He threw the sword fiercely, walking away and disappearing from Ling Li's life ever since.

But Ling Li couldn't forget the blood that sprayed on his face that day, it was so hot, as if it could burn human skin. He knew that Ming Zhan couldn't tolerate such deception at all, and the reason why he spared him was because he still had feelings for him and couldn't bear to end him.

But Ling Li knew that if he went back to the Palace with him, he would have a more tragic ending than Qin Yu one day.

Therefore, even though Ling Li was afraid of angering him, he still wanted to resist hard and didn't want to go back to the Palace with him.

Ling Li recovered from his moment of contemplation and said: "Rong Hua, do you think that this is all just my speculation? Although I don't have much knowledge, I also know that love is more terrifying than hate. Not to mention, he'll become the Emperor in the future, once suspicion is buried in his heart... it'll happen sooner or later."

As soon as Rong Hua heard what he said, a sharp pain came from her heart, and suddenly, a large tears fell one by one without warning.

"Why are you crying?" Ling Li wiped her tears with his hand, but Rong Hua shook her head vigorously, unable to tell what the reason was. She finally simply buried herself in Ling Li's arms and wept.

Ling Li patted her on the shoulder, he was sad to hear her crying. After she stopped crying, Ling Li hesitated for a moment before saying, "Rong Hua, I want to ask you for something."

Rong Hua stared at him with reddened eyes and said, "Ah-Li, you say it."

Ling Li said, "I want a kind of Gu, the kind of Gu that needs me to stay in Rongcheng for many years for treatment after being detected."

"Ah-Li, you... "

Ling Li tightened his hands, grasping her shoulders firmly, he looked at her with firm eyes: "I want to stay here because of illness, so that he can't take me back temporarily. When he ascends the throne of heaven, he'll also achieve great cause," He'll gradually own three thousand beauties in his harem, after a long time, Ling Li will naturally become a mere sight not worth mentioning in front of him. "And Ah-Xuan, Ah-Xuan hasn't yet healed his illness, he'll need to stay in Rongcheng as well. He has other heirs, after all, he'll forget us. In short, I'll only need to try my best to procrastinate until he gets tired. I won't be able to go anywhere, so I'll just stay here."

Where his light is, where he'll be.

Rong Hua's teary eyes stared at him for a long time before finally agreeing, "Alright, I'll help you. However, only after your body recovers will I help you arrange it."

A gleam of light flashed in Ling Li's eyes, he nodded excitedly, "I'll listen to you."

Rong Hua thought for a while, getting closer and saying to him: "We've noticed that Song Hui is a member of His Royal Highness's personal guard. Rong Ci had locked him up, he hasn't tried to flee or resisted yet, he probably knows that he'll die. If you agree, we will..." Rong Hua's eyes were fierce and she made a gesture of wiping her neck.

Ling Li was stunned for a moment and said, "Can't kill." Ling Li knew that Song Hui would send out letters every other time. If there were no letters to send out, the person waiting outside Rongcheng would probably notice something wrong.

Song Hui was the prince's personal guard anyway. If something happens in Rongcheng, it'll actually just bring trouble, and this kind of obvious mouth-shutting behaviour will arouse suspicion, maybe the situation will be made even more difficult.

Ling Li leaned on his back and closed his eyes tiredly for a long while, "Forget it, let him out." They should take small steps.

The next day, Su Jingyang came to visit and soon left. Ling Li didn't want to lie down anymore, so he half leaned on the bed and closed his eyes to rest. Song Hui came in again with the medicine, but before leaving, he bowed his eyes and spoke to Ling Li in a low voice. "It was Song Hui's dereliction of duty. He didn't urge the son to rest well and caused the Emperor's heir to be lost because of exhaustion. In the future, this subordinate will plead guilty to the Crown Prince."

He left after speaking. Ling Li raised his hand to cover his heart, staring in surprise at his leaving back. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and he couldn't breathe for a long time.

Su Jingyang had only left Ling Li when he received a letter from Xu Mei. When Su Jingyang and Rong Ci got married, Xu Mei and Mu Jin also came to participate. Xu Mei still wanted to see Rong Hua, but in the end, they always missed each other for odd reasons. Mu Jin had other things to do so they left after the wedding banquet. Xu Mei was still full of regret when he left.

As soon as Su Jingyang opened the letter, the first sentence there was to invite them to go to the Moonlight Villa to play in the future, it especially mentioned Rong Hua. It seemed that because he haven't seen her the whole time, he had developed a kind of obsession. Su Jingyang couldn't help being amused, and continued to read, laughing from time to time.

Seeing him smiling happily, Rong Ci leaned over and glanced at it. It turned out that Xu Mei said in the letter that he had followed Mu Jin to visit Mu Zhuang's old friend a few days ago, but they actually met his former in-laws there. He said that his husband was dumbfounded when he saw his bulging belly. His ex-mother-in-law acted very strange and suspected that he was cheating and actually wanted to touch his belly, fortunately, Mu Jin stopped her. Naturally, she didn't succeed and was chased away by Mu Jin unceremoniously. Finally, when they left, their faces were all coloured blue.

At the end of the day, Su Jingyang felt inexplicably guilty in his heart and had an extra bowl of dinner!

After taking a bath, Su Jingyang sat on the bed and didn't lie down. He patted his protruding lower abdomen through his clothes. It was probably because of the twins, but he always felt that his belly was getting bigger every time he wasn't paying attention.

The first time he noticed the bulge on his belly, Su Jingyang only felt that his whole person was bitten by a dog. Now he could stabilize his emotions a little bit, but he still had that weird feeling in his heart.

While Su Jingyang was touching his belly and digesting food, Rong Ci also came to the bed. As soon as the warm breath approached, Su Jingyang raised his head and was kissed by him. Su Jingyang bound his neck and kissed him back. He was used to making out with him every night before going to bed. After all, they were married, but they are only confined to hugging.

When he felt that his clothes being half torn off and slipping from his shoulder, Su Jingyang snorted, and hurriedly pushed aside Rong Ci. He separated from his lips and pulled his clothes back on, staring at him with dark eyes. "What are you doing?"