“Su Yunmo, whether your apology is sincere or not, we accept it, and I’ve accepted all the business deals you mentioned on Qing’er’s behalf. But you must understand, this is far from enough to make up for the grievances Qing’er has suffered. Even so, Qing’er doesn’t want me to hurt you!” General Leng, facing this man his daughter both loved and hated, watched him squander his fortune, and he was powerless to say anything. His children’s affairs were for his son to handle; he could only watch from afar. If he was truly resentful, he could only utter a few words, merely to vent his frustration.
"Thank you, General Leng." Su Yunmo sighed weakly, with a glimmer of hope, and suddenly walked to the gate of the Prince's Mansion.
Looking at the busy people, he smiled self-deprecatingly. In just a moment, everything changed: "Leave! There's no more prince, and no more princess!"
Su Yunmo smiled meaningfully, resolutely stepped out of the Prince's Mansion, and never looked back.
He had to find her and explain things clearly. No matter the outcome, he had to try his best. Only by trying could he avoid lifelong regret, even if he failed.
However, although the capital city is small, finding someone is still very difficult. After searching the Crown Prince's residence and the General's residence to no avail, Su Yunmo could only wander around the streets and alleys, hoping to catch a glimpse of that figure.
A whole month had passed, yet they hadn't even seen a trace of her. Utterly disappointed, Su Yunmo pinned her hopes on General Leng. But Leng Yiqing had been gone for so long without contacting anyone; she was like a passerby, appearing briefly and then disappearing just as quickly from their lives.
Recalling what she had once said about her origins, a sense of fear arose in Su Yunmo's heart. If she returned, he would search the entire earth and still not be able to find her!
"Qing'er..." After searching for many days without success, Su Yunmo saw that familiar figure on the bustling street. She was being protected by a warm embrace as they walked through the crowd of people.
Su Yunmo's eyes were filled with endless helplessness and pain. He was now single, while she had another person by her side who was willing to protect her.
In just one month, had she completely disappeared from her heart? Had she already found someone else to rely on so quickly? She really lacked a sense of security!
Su Yunmo laughed at himself, wondering if he had overestimated this woman.
"Prince Yun! It's a pleasure to meet you!" Leng Yiqing looked at the person in front of her indifferently, her eyes revealing no emotion.
The unfamiliar address deeply stung Su Yunmo. He pulled her forcefully into his arms.
Leng Yiqing remained unmoved, calmly saying, "Please be mindful of your status and don't act recklessly!"
“I didn’t do anything reckless! It was you…you…you’ve only been gone for thirty days, how could you…” Su Yunmo was very unwilling.
"Oh, then I must thank Prince Yun for his patronage. He transferred so many shops to me without even telling me. I was walking into a shop on the street, and suddenly someone told me I was the owner. I really couldn't accept it. How can I thank Your Highness?" Leng Yiqing thanked Su Yunmo without any politeness, which seemed to distance them, but it also seemed to bring them closer together.
In truth, only Leng Yiqing knew that true love couldn't be let go so easily. Having been here so long, only Su Yunmo's concern had left a deep impression on her; regardless of whether it was genuine affection, she was profoundly moved.
But those words from that day were etched into Leng Yiqing's mind, refusing to fade. She could never forget the deception and exploitation she had suffered at the hands of the man she had loved.
She ruthlessly pushed him away, smiling faintly, "Prince Yun, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave!"
But the Su Yunmo of today no longer seemed to be the spirited Prince Yun who could protect her. With just a gentle push, she sent him flying far away. He seemed somewhat unsteady on his feet.
His heart clenched painfully. Now, besides being all alone, he even seemed to have lessened his guard around those around him.
In a split second, a speeding carriage came rushing towards them, but he made no attempt to dodge. Whether it was for her sake or he was genuinely distraught, Leng Yiqing stared blankly.
On the already narrow street, pedestrians scrambled to make way, leaving only a narrow passage for the carriage. As the carriage was about to collide with Su Yunmo, Leng Yiqing, though believing he could avoid it, believing it was just a ruse, and believing the coachman wasn't blind, still nearly rushed out.
The carriage suddenly stopped, and the coachman jumped off in fright: "This servant deserves to die! Prince Ranyun has been frightened!"
He was unknown, but throughout the capital, anyone with even a slight reputation knew him. Not to mention the owner of this arrogant carriage. Although Leng Yiqing didn't know who was in the carriage, someone who dared to drive so recklessly must be no ordinary person! Moreover, even the coachman knew Su Yunmo.
Su Yunmo glanced coldly at the carriage beside him, then abruptly turned to look at Leng Yiqing behind him, a hint of despair flashing in his eyes. He knew that this woman would never believe him again; otherwise, how could she still stand by and watch coldly at this moment?
With a resolute smile, Su Yunmo left without saying a word, then departed dejectedly.
“Miss, Prince Yun, he…” The man beside Leng Yiqing suddenly spoke.
"Thank you, Xiaochunzi," Leng Yiqing said politely. Thinking back to the moment she saw Su Yunmo at the intersection, how much she wanted to provoke him and deflate his arrogance. She had successfully witnessed his pain.
Was that pain feigned? Didn't you stop loving me? Even if you don't love someone, can you still be jealous and feel pain?
Chapter 52: Difficult to Continue
"Miss! Forgive my bluntness, but I think Prince Yun might truly love you. Look at how he comes to the General's Mansion to find you time and time again, so desperately begging to come in. If the General hadn't hidden you and let him in, he could have searched the entire mansion, and he probably still wouldn't be satisfied!" For the past month, General Leng had arranged for this considerate Xiao Chunzi to stay by her side.
“You don’t understand!” Leng Yiqing told him coldly.
She sneered. If even she couldn't understand it, who could? Perhaps only Su Yunmo himself could, but Leng Yiqing was no longer willing to believe him.
“Miss, this servant thinks you should go and see him! Prince Yun is really acting strangely, and the expressions he made when he saw you just now really didn’t seem fake!” Because General Leng has always trusted him, this Xiao Chunzi also manages all kinds of affairs in the General’s Mansion, which is why he dares to be so bold in front of Leng Yiqing.
"You think so too?" Those words shattered the defenses Leng Yiqing had painstakingly built up. She clearly saw the helplessness and pain in his eyes. She remembered her father telling her that Su Yunmo had truly given up all his ambitions; he had petitioned the Emperor to resign from all his duties.
She also learned from her father that Su Yunmo had said that if he couldn't find her, he would retreat to that island and never again concern himself with any of the conflicts in Yilong Kingdom.
If all of this is just an act, then Su Yunmo seems to have taken a huge gamble. He has practically given up everything here.
If she hadn't met him, so be it; but after meeting him, Leng Yiqing gradually began to waver.
Xiao Chunzi nodded, and Leng Yiqing, without any further hesitation, hurriedly followed Su Yunmo's footsteps and left.
They followed him all the way to the familiar seaside.
"You finally caught up with me!" Su Yunmo turned around, knowing that she had been following behind him all along. He felt a surge of satisfaction and longing, hoping that she would call out to him.
"I'm just returning my things!" In her awkwardness, Leng Yiqing came up with this excuse that wasn't really an excuse. But then a small thing flashed through her mind. Ah, but would he really cherish this insignificant little thing? Would he really keep it with him forever?
"Is this it?" Su Yunmo easily pulled the little fox from his pocket.
"Yes!" Leng Yiqing said, taking advantage of the moment when she reached out and snatched it away.
Looking at the only thing he could keep as a memento, now in her hands, he weakly protested, "You've already given it to me!"
"Would you still care about this piece of junk?" Leng Yiqing mocked herself. This little Ali was as rough as it could be. With such childish handiwork, how could a prince like him treat it like a treasure if he wasn't trying to please her for some reason?
Thinking this, Leng Yiqing forcefully threw the little fox in her hand into the sea.
Watching Ahri drift further and further away with the seawater, Su Yunmo finally came to his senses. He lightly touched his toes to the ground, wanting to leap in and retrieve the little doll. However, due to his long-term indulgence and decadence, Su Yunmo found that he was not only mentally exhausted, but also physically weak.
He had been using his light skimming technique with practiced ease, but suddenly slipped and fell into the sea. He struggled to grab the plush toy, laughing loudly as he raised his hands high. Turning around, he looked at Leng Yiqing with delight and said, "I found it!"
Leng Yiqing stared speechlessly at everything before her. Was he putting on a show?
However, in the blink of an eye, a giant wave surged in from afar.
"Xiao..." Before Leng Yiqing could remind him, she watched helplessly as a giant wave swept over his head and disappeared into the vast sea.
Standing there for a long time without seeing Su Yunmo, Leng Yiqing could no longer suppress her worry. She and Su Zhengyang had once been separated on the vast sea in the same way.
A wave of intense fear washed over her instantly. The feeling of loss once again overwhelmed all her composure, shattering all her hatred and reason. Leng Yiqing screamed hysterically into the depths of the sea: "Su Yunmo! Su Yunmo!"
The sound of the waves drowned out everything, and her cries went unanswered.
"Don't scare me! Come out! Mo, where are you? Come out! Mo..." Her calls went unanswered. Leng Yiqing collapsed onto the beach, closed her eyes, and tears streamed down her face. The pain was a hundred times greater than when she first learned the truth.
"Qing'er!" A faint voice sounded even more ethereal in the sea breeze.
Leng Yiqing raised her eyes in surprise. The small figure and the small Ali figure appeared and disappeared on the sea not far away.
“Mo…” Leng Yiqing breathed a sigh of relief, indulging herself to trust him one more time.
Leng Yiqing stopped struggling and swam towards the two small figures without hesitation.
"Don't... come down..." The seawater was too strong, and Su Yunmo couldn't even swim. A wave could hit her at any moment.
Leng Yiqing didn't speak; she needed to conserve her strength so she could pull Su Yunmo up. However, Leng Yiqing, who wasn't a good swimmer to begin with, gradually lost her strength after being battered by the waves several times.
Su Yunmo mustered all her strength and swam towards Leng Yiqing. Finally, she could grab her hand.
"Now that I've caught him, I won't let him go easily!" Su Yunmo said reassuredly. All the strength seemed to drain from his body; he suddenly began to sink, slowly sinking, his tightly clenched hands finally releasing their grip.
"Mo..." Despair washed over Leng Yiqing again. She pulled him and swam desperately toward the shore.
Sometimes, a person's potential is unleashed in this way, achieving what seemed impossible before. At this moment, a seemingly frail woman, a woman who could barely swim, accomplished it. Facing a life-or-death situation, she feared a repeat of the past; she feared loss, regardless of who it was. That kind of pain, known only through experience, is perhaps something only she can truly understand.
The two people collapsed weakly on the beach, their eyes closed, as if waiting for something, or as if struggling for something.
"I once owed you my life, and now I've returned it. But what you owe me, you can never repay in your lifetime!" Leng Yiqing said weakly, her voice ethereal, it was unclear whether she was speaking to herself or to him.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Su Yunmo closed his eyes tightly, his heart and mouth only uttering these heartfelt apologies. But could these apologies truly win back Leng Yiqing's heart? Su Yunmo dared not hope, after all, those words and those actions were far too much. But he never imagined that he would truly fall in love with her, and love her to an incurable degree.
Chapter 53 The Truth Comes to Light
When Leng Yiqing helped Su Yunmo back to the Prince's Mansion, the atmosphere there suddenly seemed to become tense.
The first person to come out to greet us was Duan Feng: "You're finally back!"
Duan Feng didn't ask, but he already knew the gist of the matter. He and Shen Jiaxue then helped the two of them back to Su Yunmo's courtyard.
Leng Yiqing looked at Shen Jiaxue silently. Her existence was a reflection of all the arrangements Su Yunmo had made, making it difficult for her to detach herself from it.
As they walked, Shen Jiaxue explained to Leng Yiqing, "If the prince did use you before, he has indeed been restless and unable to eat or sleep because of you lately. He hasn't come back for a very long time because he's been looking for you."
No one spoke again. Whether she believed it or not, Leng Yiqing had already made her choice, hadn't she? She silently told herself that if she was deceived again this time, she would kill him. Even if she couldn't kill him herself, she would ask her father for help.
Having let down all her defenses, Leng Yiqing fell asleep peacefully.
Su Yunmo held her hand tightly and fell into a deep sleep.
Their fingers were intertwined, and no one could separate them. Duan Feng and Shen Jiaxue had no choice but to arrange for them to share a bed and inform General Leng.
The imperial physicians surrounded the bedside, offering various suggestions, administering acupuncture and medicine, all in an effort to help the two exhausted individuals recover as soon as possible.
When General Leng arrived and saw the two people on the bed, he shook his head helplessly. He had long known that his daughter couldn't let go of this man, but he hadn't expected that Prince Yun would be so obsessed with her. The two of them must have just gotten out of the water! Seeing their disheveled appearance, General Leng lost all his temper. It was their Leng family's fault for owing Su Yunmo. It was time to pay!
"Reporting...reporting...General...the Crown Prince...the Crown Prince...has arrived..." A guard rushed in, probably wanting to inform the Prince, but given the Prince's appearance, the only one in charge here was the General. However, given the relationship between the General and the Crown Prince, even if he hesitated, this was all he could do.
"The Crown Prince?" Everyone was shocked. This Crown Prince never comes to the palace without a reason!
Before the messenger had even left, Su Zhengyang rushed in. But his commoner's attire and travel-worn appearance stunned everyone present.
"Uncle, I've come to see you!" Su Zhengyang went straight to the point.
"Me? Heh, that's strange. Why are you, the illustrious Crown Prince, not at your residence, but instead coming to find me, this old codger you don't even respect?" General Leng clearly looked down on him. If it weren't for a slight familial bond, he wouldn't have even glanced at him.
"Something terrible must have happened! Uncle, you're the only one I can turn to. I believe you must know about these things. Uncle, please save my mother!" Su Zhengyang pleaded, as if something truly terrible had occurred.
"Cough cough!" Su Yunmo on the bed stirred, probably because there was still some fluid in his lungs. He coughed twice, which immediately drew a chorus of sighs from those around him.