Her mother is still the madam of the Duke’s residence, mother-in-law to Qin Muyan. She injured herself for Qin Muyan’s sake; shouldn’t Qin Muyan practice filial piety and stay until she wakes up?

Qin Muyan is not usually such an impatient man!

In the past, he would definitely have stayed until her mother regained consciousness!

"Is your mother really not awake yet? Yunshu, you’ve kept him here all night, I have too. Now, it’s time for him to leave." Qin Ge looked at her meaningfully, not exposing her, yet everything was clearly understood without words.

A chill went through Li Yunshu’s heart, and cold sweat broke out on her back.

She thought that Qin Ge was entirely on her side, which is why he helped her keep Qin Muyan there all night.

But now...

It seemed that Qin Ge was no longer as resolute in his support for her as before!

"The aunt allows His Highness to leave, is she siding with that little vixen, Rong Yun?" Li Yunshu, angry, dropped the medicine bowl and bit her lip hard.

Under the sunlight, her originally spirited face appeared somewhat mean.

Chun Xing quickly consoled her, "Secondary consort, don’t overthink. The Eldest Princess regards you as her kin, she surely loves you! It’s just that the Eldest Princess is His Highness’ mother, she has to consider more for His Highness. It’s still that little temptress; she seduced His Highness! At such a critical time, she made sure His Highness had to return to see her! It’s truly despicable!"

"That temptress! Just you wait!" Li Yunshu turned around and kicked the wall with force.

She wished she could smash Rong Yun into the wall with her fist!

—

Rong Yun had waited in the courtyard for Qin Muyan the entire night.

Initially, she was just throwing a tantrum; crying, fussing, breaking things, and Granny Yan allowed her to be.

She had advised Rong Yun long ago to conserve her energy and think about what to do next, not to dwell on one mistake.

But Rong Yun shook her head frantically, "I’m not vying for favor; I really just wanted to spend his birthday with him! The Crown Prince brother said, when I genuinely care about someone and just want to be with him, that means I like him! I like Qin Muyan! But... how could he break his promise! He clearly said he’d come back to be with me!"

He clearly promised!

Rong Yun, barefooted, stood in the yard, tears falling like pearls off a broken string from her eyes, crying until her voice was hoarse, until the whole courtyard trembled, until she could cry no more...

She began to dance, performing the dance she prepared, ’Phoenix Dancing for Nine Heavens,’ a dance that astonished the Beiling royal family when she was just thirteen.

A phoenix soaring high, dominating the skies.

When she used to dance, her mother always said it was beautiful, but she was still lacking the womanly charm, too youthful and tender, telling her to train more and she would surely be even more stunning!

But now her dance had improved, she could dance on the drum’s surface, even amidst a circle of maidservants, graceful as a startled swan, gentle as a gliding dragon. She could feel from the envious gazes of others, she was dancing well!

But Qin Muyan did not come back to watch her!

Rong Yun danced from midnight, exhausted from dancing, until when Granny Yan came to stop her, she even scolded Granny Yan not to come near, twisting her ankle and falling from the drum platform, hurting her head.

"Qin Muyan..."

Rong Yun looked at the empty courtyard gate, unwillingly closing her eyes.

"Why... didn’t you wait for me?"

Qin Muyan, you broke your promise to me.

"Rong Yun! Rong Yun! Jingjing!"

When Qin Muyan rushed back, the doctor had just arrived. Only then did he learn that Rong Yun had fallen and developed a high fever.

He rushed to Rong Yun’s bedside. Her little face was pale, covered in sweat, and her hair clung to her small, palm-sized face. Her trembling lips had no color at all.

"Rong Yun, what are you doing? Do you treat yourself like this when I am not around!"

Qin Muyan was furiously heartbroken, both urgent and angry!

And at this time, Rong Yun was unconscious, leaving him helpless.

He immediately brought the doctor over to treat Rong Yun. Seeing Qin Muyan’s agitation, the doctor said, "Your Highness, please lay the princess flat on the bed first, so I can take her pulse."

"I will not let go! Are you not skilled enough in medicine that I bother you by holding her?" Qin Muyan’s gaze was fierce, cold, as if he could devour someone alive.

The doctor was so frightened that his legs trembled, and he knelt on the ground with a thud.

He took Rong Yun’s pulse tremblingly, and scared by Qin Muyan’s authority, he stammered in his response, "Rep... replying to Your Highness, the princess has... she has..."

"What is it! Speak clearly to me!" Qin Muyan noticed Rong Yun’s body was ice-cold, so he kept holding her to warm her, but her body remained cold, his body burning like fire, yet unable to warm her.

Her hands were ice-cold.

The doctor, trembling from fear, took a long time to find his voice again, "The princess has caught a cold, is overburdened by distress, and due to the fall and high fever, her body is weakened and needs immediate medication..."

"Then why aren’t you using it!"

Qin Muyan kicked the doctor out, ordering Wei Jue to brew the medicine.

Holding Rong Yun, he held her so tightly as if he wished to meld her into his body. He whispered close to her cheek, "I’m sorry, Jingjing. I returned too late. I swear I won’t break my word again, don’t be angry with me."

Rong Yun couldn’t hear his words, but subconsciously, she didn’t want to wake up.

She knew, if she woke up, Qin Muyan still wouldn’t be there.

She felt sad.

Once Rong Yun fell unconscious, she stayed that way for two full days. Qin Muyan missed the morning court and directly took leave from Qin Rulie. Having heard that Rong Yun was sick, Qin Rulie sent many tonics for her though the court physician.

The empress and Empress Dowager were very concerned about Rong Yun.

When Mrs. Yan came back with the report, Empress Dowager clutched her chest, her face full of worry, "Is the young girl alright? I know the girls from Beiling City have a condition of body cold since childhood, hard to cure. How did she catch a cold now? You attendants have been too careless!"

Mrs. Yan knelt down and confessed her fault, "It’s our fault for letting the princess catch a cold."

She didn’t offer a single excuse for herself, making it harder for the empress and Empress Dowager to assign blame.

The empress waved her to rise, "You must take good care of the princess, but ensure this never happens again. The envoy from Beiling City will visit Great Wei Dynasty in a few days to deliver iron ore trade, make sure the envoy doesn’t suspect that we are mistreating the princess. Anything the princess needs for her medication and supplements, just ask Her Majesty. If it’s not available in the palace, Her Majesty will have people search the common folk to ensure the princess is well taken care of."

"Yes, thank you Empress Dowager and empress for your concern."

Mrs. Yan’s response was respectful and impeccable in her duty.

However, when she spoke to Qin Ge, she detailed Rong Yun’s illness heavily, intentionally making it sound more serious.