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Capítulo 92

Xiao Changqing's eyes widened in surprise: "Really?"

Zuo Xin nodded with a serious expression, and Xiao Changqing immediately beamed with joy, clapping his hands repeatedly: "This is exactly the effect I wanted!"

Zuo Xin rubbed his forehead, and Mr. Xiao reached out and put his hand on his shoulder: "Come on! Considering how well Xiao Yunyun has behaved, I'll go and brew some medicine to soothe his throat!"

Duan Chen woke up after noon. He quickly washed his face, tied his hair, and opened the door to find the Seventh Princess standing there with a smile, holding a tray. "You're awake? I was just about to knock. Come, have some porridge. You must have been busy all night. You must have had a hard time."

Duan Chen reached out to take the tray, but the princess quickly dodged to the side, saying, "Oh, you still have an injury on your arm! I'll take it."

Duan Chen thanked her, closed the door, and the two sat down at the table. The Seventh Princess held a small bowl with both handles to Duan Chen, opened the lid, and handed him a spoon: "It's rice porridge made with chicken broth. I had the oil skimmed off, so it's very light. Try it."

Duan Chen took the spoon, but her phoenix eyes betrayed a hint of anxiety as she hesitated to touch the soup in front of her. The Seventh Princess reached out and stroked the back of her hand, smiling as she said, "Eat quickly. After you've eaten, I'll let you go see Xingzhi. The child is resting now and is much better. The imperial physician said that with careful recuperation, he should recover in less than a month."

Duan Chen smiled slightly and looked at the princess, saying, "Thank you."

The princess tenderly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes welling with tears: "No need for thanks. In the end, we are the ones who have wronged you. If Xiaoyou knew from beyond the grave, she would be heartbroken to see all the suffering you have endured over the years..."

Duan Chen paused slightly in his hand holding the spoon, swallowed the porridge in his mouth, and said softly, "There's nothing to be ashamed of. No one can be blamed for what happened back then, so Your Highness need not take it too hard."

The princess became even more distressed: "Xueluo, don't say that. We also had our shortcomings in considering things back then..."

Duan Chen quickly finished his bowl of porridge. He wiped his lips with his hand, and when he looked at the princess again, his expression was calm and his phoenix eyes were clear and bright: "I am a descendant of the Jiang family, but I have already said at my parents' graves that from now on, there will only be Duan Chen in this world, and there will be no more Jiang Xueluo. If the princess truly cares about me, then please do not make this matter public again, and let me leave Bianjing to live the life I want."

The princess frowned slightly, staring intently at Duan Chen. After a long while, she tentatively asked, "Have you fallen for that child, Xingzhi?"

Duan Chen was slightly taken aback, met the princess's probing gaze, and nodded gently.

The princess pursed her lips, revealing a knowing smile, and sighed, "No wonder, I knew it just from the way you looked last night..."

"However, Xue Luo, it's okay if you like him. Your Uncle Zhou has already said that his Zhou family wronged you first. As for you and Yi Ran, it's up to you. So if you want to be with Xing Zhi... that's fine too. When you regain your status as the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, you'll be a good match for him. If you don't mind, I'll act as your maternal family member and guarantee you a grand wedding..."

Duan Chen smiled slightly and shook his head gently: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I don't want to be Jiang Xueluo anymore, and it has nothing to do with me and him. For the past ten years, I have been wandering alone. Although it has been a bit tough, I have lived a carefree life. Solving cases and helping people is just to make a living, but I have also gained a lot of enjoyment from it. The life of a young lady from a wealthy family is comfortable and peaceful, but it is no longer suitable for me. What I yearn for is the vast sky and the freedom to roam."

She was originally a delicate flower nurtured in seclusion, but at her weakest, she was thrown out of the warm greenhouse and left to fend for herself in the dust, facing frost, wind, and snow alone. Now, after years of trials, she has grown into a towering tree. To transplant her into someone's courtyard and carefully care for her would not be a shelter, but rather a hindrance.

The princess stared at her blankly for a long time, then gently shook her head, a bitter smile playing on her lips: "I understand. We were too wishful, thinking that by sincerely making amends after finding you, we could ensure you a worry-free life. But some things, once they happen, can never be the same again..."

After another long silence, the princess smiled gently and patted Duan Chen's arm. "I will talk to Ruilang and your Uncle Zhou. Everything will be done according to your wishes. We will not force you anymore."

Duan Chen smiled slightly at her, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Thank you."

The princess wore a faint smile, but a hidden worry lingered in her heart. If this were to happen, what about Zhengping, that child…?

Author's Note: There will be an update tomorrow at 9 AM, which will also be the last chapter of this volume.

The case will be pieced together, Zhanzhan and Chenchen will be whispering sweet nothings to each other, and Tingting will make his first confession—all in the next chapter!

A new case will be launched next Monday, which is the day after tomorrow: "Outstanding Achiever". Stay tuned!

83

Chapter Seventeen: Joy or Sorrow • The Truth Revealed...

Walking quietly to the door, Duan Chen carried a tray in one hand and pushed open the half-closed door with the other. He slowly walked around the screen and entered the inner room, placing the tray on the table. Turning around, he saw that the person was still awake, his handsome face still somewhat pale, but his crescent-shaped eyes were smiling.

Duan Chen smiled slightly, walked to the bedside, carefully helped the man up, and propped a pillow up behind his back. He tucked the blanket around him a little, and just as Duan Chen turned halfway around, he felt a weight on his waist and was pulled down onto the edge of the bed.

Duan Chen swayed to one side and fell right into his arms. She reached out to hold onto the edge of the bed and struggled to get up, afraid of pressing on his chest. Zhan Yun, however, stubbornly held her even tighter, and said with a hoarse voice, "Don't move, let me hold you for a while."

Upon hearing his voice, Duan Chen's heart skipped a beat, her eyes stung, and large tears fell with a "plop" onto his neck. Zhan Yun felt the wetness on her neck and panicked slightly, quickly lowering his head to gently touch her cheek: "What's wrong? Don't cry..."

Duan Chen raised his hand to cover his lips: "Don't talk, you can't speak."

Zhan Yun smiled slightly, took her hand that was resting on his lips with one hand, wrapped his other arm around her waist, and lowered his head to gently kiss her forehead: "It's okay, it'll be fine in a few days."

Duan Chen leaned against his shoulder, her pointed chin slightly raised, her pale lips trembling gently, her delicate brows furrowed, and her phoenix eyes looked at him with unspoken words. A few more tears fell as her long eyelashes fluttered. Zhan Yun's heart clenched painfully. His cool lips traced down the bridge of her upturned nose, and with a touch of possessiveness, he kissed her tear-stained lips.

Their lips intertwined, their breaths mingling. The initial fierceness gradually subsided, turning into a tender affection that left him even more bewildered. Then came a slightly impatient, lingering, and plundering kiss... It wasn't until the person in his arms pushed against his shoulder and let out a soft moan that Zhan Yun regained his senses. He gently traced the fragrant lips with his own, kissing the slightly upturned corners of the lips several times.

Duan Chen's cheeks flushed slightly as she slowly opened her eyes to look at him, her chest rising and falling gently, her breathing slightly rapid. Zhan Yun reached out and gently stroked her cheek, chin, and neck, his crescent-shaped eyes fixed on hers: "Why did you vomit blood? Does your chest hurt?"

Duan Chen gently shook his head: "It doesn't hurt."

Zhan Yun sighed: "You rolled down from the roof, did you break any bones?"

Duan Chen shook his head again.

Zhan Yun smiled wryly and gently lifted her chin with his finger: "Why can't you tell the truth?"

Duan Chen pursed her lips as she looked at him, her clear, cold phoenix eyes glistening with a faint moisture. After a moment, she suddenly leaned forward and gently kissed his lips, then quickly withdrew.

Zhan Yun was startled by her sudden initiative. His body stiffened, his eyes instantly darkened, a surge of heat coursed through his heart, and a rush of heat shot through his body. His tongue almost choked as he uttered, "Chen'er."

Duan Chen leaned against his shoulder and looked at him, his voice soft and trembling slightly: "You are not allowed to die."

Zhan Yun felt a pang in his heart, and the heat in his chest turned into a warm current. He smiled and promised, "I won't die." He gently kissed the slightly cool cheek of the person in his arms and coaxed her softly in a hoarse voice, "I haven't married Chen'er yet, how could I bear to die?"

Duan Chen stepped back a little, raised her eyes to look at him: "You knew everything?"

Zhan Yun smiled slightly and explained slowly, "That day when I took you back to your room, I accidentally touched the beaded string on your left arm while I was holding you. Later, I remembered that I had seen it in the woods of Bitter Water Town when I was helping you heal your injuries. Half of the beads were white jade, about ten in total, exactly the same as what the Princess Consort described. In addition, you've been looking preoccupied these past few days, and you've been particularly nervous whenever the Jiang family descendant is present. I guessed something..."

Duan Chen pursed his lips and said softly, "I just told the Princess that I don't want to regain my identity as the eldest daughter of the Jiang family. I just want to be Duan Chen and live a free and unrestrained life like before."

Zhan Yun smiled at her and said, "Okay."

Duan Chen frowned slightly: "Don't say anything."