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Глава 84

Looking sideways at Xuan'er, who was standing to the side with a worried expression, Wanlan smiled and asked, "Is the bedroom ready?" She had just said that only the living room was not yet ready.

"alright."

"Take me to rest, I'm tired." After a pause, she added, "Later, when you check out of the inn, please pack up our things and bring them over."

Xuan'er glanced furtively at Zhao Defang across from her, nodded, and replied, "Understood, Madam." Leading her towards the east wing, Xuan'er bit her lip and timidly asked her mistress:

"Madam, are you... angry with the Prince?"

Wanlan was slightly taken aback, then shook her head. "No." Zehua was hiding something from her, probably because he didn't want her to worry. What was there for her to be angry about? It was just that being kept in the dark felt really bad. Why couldn't he discuss things with her?

"Wanlan".

The person behind her sighed and called her name, causing her heart to ache uncontrollably. He would probably never know that she was utterly powerless against his gentle words.

She glanced back at him, smiled faintly, and said, "I'm fine, I just want to sleep for a while. How about you take me out for a walk another day? I'll be staying here for a month, so I should get familiar with the surroundings."

“Your Highness…” Lan Wen frowned, looking at his master with considerable puzzlement, “Didn’t you tell Madam you were going to stay here?” The way Madam looked… could it be that she was going to have a tantrum with Your Highness?

"...It doesn't matter if she knows now."

Zhao Defang lowered his eyes and said softly, then turned and walked out with his hands behind his back, "Lan Wen, you stay and watch them pack their things properly. Lan Wu, come out with me for a bit."

That night, Zehua did not return to the courtyard house.

Wanlan felt a little flustered, but she also knew that Zehua must be doing something he couldn't tell her. If there was any danger, he would definitely warn her. Thinking this way, the fluster in her heart turned into doubt.

Lan Wen said that Ze Hua did not explain anything when he took Lan Wu out, nor did he say where they were going or when they would be back.

Why don't you tell her?

Was it because her attitude changed in the afternoon that he found it difficult to bring it up? Or was it because he never intended to tell her in the first place?

Wanlan spent a restless night, barely closing her eyes.

The next day, Wanlan had just gotten up and hadn't even combed her hair when she heard footsteps outside. She threw down her peach wood comb, got up, and ran to the door. She opened it, and Xuan'er, who was outside, was startled and almost dropped the basin of water in her hand.

"Madam? What's wrong?"

Wanlan stared blankly at her. Her long, black hair, reaching her waist, cascaded down her shoulders and back, and because of her running earlier, it leaped in front of her, enveloping her frail body, making her look quite weak and even pitiful.

"Has the prince not returned?"

"She's back, in the hall—Madam!"

Xuan'er hurriedly put down the basin of water she was holding and chased after her mistress who had rushed out of the room. The lady hadn't even combed her hair yet…

The east wing was only half a courtyard away from the main hall. Wanlan lifted her skirt, ran across the lawn in the courtyard to the entrance of the hall, and rushed to the door without stopping, panting and looking up—

Besides Zhao Defang, there was another woman in a blue dress in the hall. She was standing with her back to the door. Hearing the voice behind her, she turned sharply, met Wanlan's astonished gaze, and bit her lip, called out:

"Miss……"

Wanlan stared at her blankly, her previous panic instantly turning into disbelief. "Su Li?" How could she be here? How did she know they were in Xingyang? Why did she come looking for her?

Volume Five, Chapter 85: The Long Night Makes One Want to Know the Heartless One (2)

"Wanlan!"

Zhao Defang rushed over in a fright and grabbed her cold hand. Looking at her frail appearance with her hair disheveled, she frowned with heartache: "Why did you rush out like that? Why didn't you put on some clothes? Where's Xuan'er? Didn't I tell her to help you get up? Why—"

“Zehua,” Wanlan turned to look at him, remembering why she had rushed over, “Why didn’t you come back last night? Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t coming back?” Did he know she would worry? Zehua was never the kind of person who would make her worry, so why did he leave her alone without a word last night?

Zhao Defang was shocked, her eyes widening: "Lan Wu didn't come back? I told him to come back last night to tell you that something came up and he couldn't come back, but he didn't say anything?"

Wanlan shook her head blankly.

Lan Wu came back?

Slowly turning her head towards the door, Wanlan looked at Xuan'er who followed her in and asked blankly, "Xuan'er, did Lan Wu come back last night?"

Xuan'er was also astonished. "Master, when did Lan Wu return? We didn't see him."

"He didn't come back..." Zhao Defang's dark eyes narrowed as he turned to look at the woman they had forgotten about, and said in a deep voice, "Su Li! How did you know we were in Xingyang, and how did you find our hideout so clearly?"

Wanlan suddenly turned to look at Su Li, noticing her pale face and panic. Wanlan gritted her teeth, "Su Li, what are you doing here? Does Lan Wu's matter have anything to do with you?"

Su Li trembled slightly, but she couldn't avoid Wan Lan's eyes and whispered, "Miss... Su Li begs you... please save His Highness Prince Yan, I... I don't know what to do anymore..."

"save?"

Wanlan frowned, released Zhao Defang's hand, and walked up to Su Li. "What's wrong with Zhao Dezhao?"

"His Highness... he's committing slow suicide!" Su Li suddenly grabbed Wan Lan's hand, looking at her with hopeful eyes. "Miss! Su Li, you're wrong, but His Highness has never done anything to wrong you. Everything... it was all Su Li's wishful thinking that brought him this. Ever since he learned a month ago that you and Prince Tai were leaving the capital, he's been like a tree that has lost its support, completely devoid of spirit, as if he has no will to live. I know... I know you're living a good life now, but... but can you please save him? He did everything for you, even if you don't appreciate it... it can't erase his feelings for you. Only you can make him stand up again..."

Wanlan remained motionless as she let the woman grip her wrist until it ached. Although historical records stated that Zhao Dezhao committed suicide, she had not fully believed it before meeting him and knowing him personally, but she accepted it quite easily.

However, she now clearly knows what kind of person that man is. He can be indifferent or predatory, depending on what he wants. If he could live happily ever after with Princess Deqing today, she believes that he could be an ordinary man without any worldly desires.

A man like that would never be so cowardly as to commit suicide.

He didn't know she was no longer Princess Deqing. Even if she didn't love him now, he couldn't let her go so easily. He absolutely wouldn't... absolutely wouldn't...

Even back then, when he learned that they wanted to stay away from the court and were willing to risk their own safety to rashly tell his uncle about his mother's secret, he was gambling with his life.

That man may truly be someone who doesn't value his own life at all, but as long as he doesn't give up, he can't allow himself to become completely despondent, let alone commit slow suicide.

What is he thinking?