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Chapitre 81

...

In a stone cave beneath the artificial hill, Rongyue and Yuyan, dressed in eunuch robes, embraced tightly, their eyes brimming with tears.

Feeling the smooth texture of the gorgeous brocade palace dress in her hands, Rongyue immediately realized that it must have been worn by Sima Yan when he was alive. A great deal of grief and indignation welled up in her chest: "Yuyan, what kind of life are you living!"

"My lord..." she whispered, then choked back tears, unable to speak. Gripping Rongyue's thin shoulders tightly, the intense longing of the past few months transformed into immense joy at their reunion, only to be followed by overwhelming fear of their impending separation. Caught between this extreme joy and dread, Yuyan felt lost and anxious, clinging only to the present moment, to feel Rongyue's physical presence, which offered a small measure of peace, reassuring herself that this was not an illusion...

"Yu Yan, you've suffered so much! It's all my fault!"

"Husband, don't say that. How can you blame yourself for things that are destined to happen?"

"Yu Yan, has anyone bullied you?"

"I am fine……"

"Yu Yan, you don't need to comfort me. I know you're not doing well..."

"My husband..."

...

Tuoba Chen, who was keeping watch outside the cave, looked anxious. He kept glancing at the dimly lit rocks, wanting to rush in and urge them to hurry up. But when he got closer to the cave and heard their pitiful sobs and pleas for love, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He stamped his foot and retreated back outside the cave...

Two hours had passed by unnoticed. No, if this continues, the mistress will be in danger! This time, I can't be soft-hearted!

With steeling his resolve, he lifted his foot to step into the cave, but inadvertently, as he looked up, he saw the Crown Prince angrily walking towards him from the side!

"Second brother, what are you doing here!" With a furious shout, Tuoba Ling strode over, his tiger-like eyes blazing with anger.

"Brother!" he cried out in alarm, a chill running down his spine and spreading throughout his body. "Brother, why are you here?"

"Why can't I come!" His face ashen, Tuoba Ling exuded a chilling murderous aura, his eyes piercingly fixed on the cave entrance. "Could there be something shady going on in this cave?"

He subconsciously shifted his body to the side, blocking Tuoba Ling's view: "Why do you say that, Your Majesty?"

"What makes you say that? Second brother, you really are your brother's good brother! You actually helped outsiders bully your brother!"

Tuoba Chen was shocked: "Brother..."

"Do you really think paper can cover fire? Get out of the way!" Pushing aside Tuoba Chen who was blocking his way, Tuoba Ling was about to rush into the cave.

She grabbed Tuoba Ling's arm, forcefully stopping him from stepping into the cave. If her brother were to see the mistress with Yu Yan, that mistress would surely be killed on the spot!

"Second brother! Are you trying to disobey your elder brother?!"

"Brother, I..."

Tuoba Ling, his hand fiercely pried open by Tuoba Chen's grip on his arm, strode into the cave, his murderous aura amplified by the fire and his fury...

Tuoba Chen's face paled instantly. He quickened his pace and hurriedly followed Tuoba Ling into the cave…

Volume Two: The Resolute Heroines' Chronicle, Chapter Seventeen: A Woman's Identity

"Although these mountains in the palace are fake, they are still very rugged and steep. If you are not careful, you can easily slip and tumble down. So, be careful next time and don't be careless again. A young lady's body is delicate and can't withstand such repeated torment."

With a light touch of her fingertips, the white bandages, like fluttering butterflies, were wrapped around her jade-like shoulder. In the light filtering through the cave entrance, faint traces of blood seeping from within could be seen through the white bandages.

"Mmm." Her long hair covered her face, and she let out a barely audible moan. Then she buried her head even deeper, letting the white bandages flutter on her half-naked shoulders.

"Oh dear, it's heartbreaking to see such a beautiful girl fall like this! Oh dear, how did you get hurt here? And so badly?"

"Hiss...it hurts..."

"I hope it won't leave a scar..."

...

When Tuoba Ling stepped into the cave, this was the scene before him—Yu Yan was carefully bandaging the wound of a woman in front of her, while the injured woman covered her face with her hands, her clothes were half-undone, her shoulders were bare, and her shallow cleavage was faintly visible in the dim light…

"Ah, Your Highness!" Upon seeing Tuoba Ling standing a few steps away, Yu Yan exclaimed in a panic, hurriedly putting on clothes to cover up her exposed body.

Tuoba Ling looked embarrassed and quickly turned his back: "Xiao Yan, what are you doing here?"

Rongyue, of course, wouldn't mistake Xiaoyan for Xiaoyan. Her soft hands clenched into fists; she was furious, heartbroken, and filled with self-reproach and guilt! Xiaoyan, Xiaoyan, Xiaoyan! What did he take Yuyan for?! Did Yuyan ever even have a place in his heart?!

A pair of soft hands suddenly pressed gently on her shoulders, successfully calming the turmoil churning within her just as she was about to explode.

With a graceful movement and delicate steps, Yu Yan, standing to Tuoba Ling's left, gave a slight bow and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Upon seeing the situation inside the cave, he understood the general idea and breathed a long sigh of relief. His anger vanished instantly: "Xiao Yan, how many times have I told you? This palace is not like other places. No matter where you go, you must bring several servants with you. If there is an unexpected event, you will have someone to relay the message! Look at you, without saying goodbye or bringing any maids or servants, you've been gone for several hours. Are you deliberately making me worry?"

"I am terrified, Your Highness, please forgive me."

Tuoba Ling helped Yu Yan up, who was about to kneel down to beg for forgiveness, and waved his hand dismissively: "Forget it, just be more careful next time!" Then, glancing out of the corner of his eye at Rong Yue, who was huddled against the cave wall, he looked at Yu Yan with a puzzled expression: "She is..."

"Oh, Your Highness. When I was strolling along Mirror Lake, I encountered this young lady who had fallen from the artificial hill. Seeing how badly she had fallen, I helped her into the stone cave, intending to bandage her wounds. But then I thought, what if someone suddenly barged in? Wouldn't that ruin the young lady's reputation? Just then, I saw Your Highness passing by, so I begged Your Highness to stand guard outside the cave... That's how it happened."

He sighed and put his arm around Yu Yan's shoulder: "Is such kindness a good thing or a bad thing for you?"

His touch made Yu Yan stiffen slightly: "Your Highness..."

"Alright, it's getting dark now. You must be tired after all this time. Are you hungry? Come on, let's go back and get some rest. Don't overwork yourself."

"Then she..."

"Don't worry, I'll have my brother take her to see the imperial physician." Turning around, Tuoba Ling patted the still-shocked Tuoba Chen with his large hand and smiled, "Your brother's tone was a bit harsh just now, please don't take it to heart, brother. I was just worried and confused! Oh, by the way, that girl seems to be quite badly injured. Take her to the Imperial Hospital and have the imperial physician examine her and prescribe a medicine, so that it doesn't become a chronic condition, and it will put your sister-in-law's mind at ease..."

Tuoba Ling and Yu Yan had been gone for quite some time, but Tuoba Chen remained staring wide-eyed, his gaze fixed on Rong Yue, unable to recover from the shock for a long time. He was actually her…