Mistakenly Connected to the Jade Flower Branch

Chapter 243 Struggle

Xue Yunting's eyes flickered: "The prince's military power was given by the emperor. If the emperor trusts him, then what do we have to worry about?"

Nianyao said, "Don't your emperor and empress have any suspicions at all? The Xiling Emperor has already fled, which means that Nan Yue has already won. Yun Ting, you told me to speak frankly, so tell me the truth. What will happen to Nan Yue next? What will happen to Xu Sheng?"

Xue Yunting thought for a moment: "The prince has never told anyone about his plans. As for the emperor, he doesn't think we can defeat Dongyang. Dividing the country along the river is the best outcome he can think of."

Nianyao said, "What if Xu Sheng can win and is willing to fight?"

Xue Yunting shook his head: "That's difficult. You said An Liangchen is a man of great talent and strategy. If we really have to fight, it will definitely be a protracted and fierce war, which will not benefit either country."

Nianyao said, "Then what did you mean when you asked me before if I wanted to be empress?"

Xue Yunting laughed and said, "I was just joking with my sister."

Nianyao was quite annoyed: "If Xu Sheng was joking, I would believe him. But you're joking, and you're taking it so seriously? I won't force you if you don't want to talk about it. After all, these national affairs have nothing to do with me. After the Dahe Gang disbands, if Chongming Island is a good place to live, I'll stay here. If it's not, I'll go back to Heaven and Earth with Luo An."

After Nianyao finished speaking, she left. Xue Yunting watched her retreating figure for a long, long time without moving.

Duan Mingzhu was getting restless in the room. She reached out and swept a cup off the low table, causing it to shatter with a crisp sound. She waited for a while, but Xue Yunting still didn't return.

Duan Mingzhu was a little worried, so she forced herself to get out of bed. She slowly walked out of the room and saw Xue Yunting standing in a daze at the entrance of Yaochi as soon as she reached the small hall.

Duan Mingzhu called out, but Xue Yunting seemed not to hear her. She simply walked up to Xue Yunting, tilted her head back, and softly called, "Yunting."

Xue Yunting then noticed Duan Mingzhu in front of him: "Why are you up? Are you too hot to sleep? There's no ice on Chongming Island, I've already asked my sister to send someone to get some."

Duan Mingzhu asked, "Does my sister think I'm spoiled?"

Xue Yunting quickly said, "No, no, how could that be? You are a young lady from a prominent family, my sister can understand."

Duan Mingzhu deliberately said, "But Liang Qingcheng is a princess, and she has never used ice."

“She’s not pregnant either, and besides, you’re not in good health.” Xue Yunting carefully helped Duan Mingzhu back to her room. “Everyone is different. Just live your own life well. Why compare?”

Duan Mingzhu smiled and said, "Yun Ting, you are so kind."

Duan Mingzhu had praised Xue Yunting like this more than once, but this time seemed different. Xue Yunting couldn't quite put his finger on what was different.

Xue Yunting could only reply, "I'm not good, you are truly good."

Duan Mingzhu didn't lie back down on the bed. Instead, she gently pushed Xue Yunting, who then sat down on the chair in front of the bed. Duan Mingzhu naturally sat on his lap, resting her head on his chest and wrapping her arms around his waist.

Xue Yunting hugged her, one arm around her shoulder and the other gently stroking her belly. After a while, he suddenly said, "When Yunyao was little, she always liked to cling to me and let me hold her to sleep, otherwise she wouldn't sleep. I would wait until she fell asleep before putting her on the bed."

Duan Mingzhu rubbed her face against his chest, her tone slightly spoiled: "I want you to hold me all the time, even when I'm asleep. If you put me on the bed, I'll cry when I wake up."

Duan Mingzhu will cry? Xue Yunting chuckled: "Okay, I'll hold you, you sleep well."

There was a moment of silence in the room. Just when Xue Yunting thought Duan Mingzhu had fallen asleep, he suddenly heard a voice say, "Have you ever held Lexi like this before?"

Xue Yunting was lost in thought and didn't react for a moment: "Le Xi?"

Duan Mingzhu said, "Hmm, didn't you say Lexi is my younger sister?"

Xue Yunting shook his head: "No, she's been steady since she was little. Yun Yao is actually fine too, she just seems more lively in front of me."

Duan Mingzhu said, "Won't she be envious when she sees you holding Yun Yao and then want to hold her too?"

Xue Yunting said, "No, she's very sensible and never causes trouble."

Duan Mingzhu asked again, "When you hug Yun Yao, don't you think about hugging Le Xi as well? Aren't you afraid Le Xi will have second thoughts?"

He had only met Le Xi once, and he hadn't taken it to heart, but Duan Mingzhu couldn't forget her.

Xue Yunting had a bit of a headache: "My father is very strict with Yunfan and Yao Yunyao, so I've been a bit lenient with them. But my father is quite fond of and indulgent towards Lexi."

Anyway, I never hugged her. My relationship with her is completely innocent. Before I met you, I had no romantic relationships with any other girl. Don't worry.

Duan Mingzhu asked, "Is your innocence proven because you're going to marry a princess and become her consort?"

Xue Yunting was utterly speechless: "His Majesty is only four years older than my brother-in-law, and he's only twenty-six this year. Even though he married young, his eldest princess is only nine years old, still just a child..."

Xue Yunting covered Duan Mingzhu's eyes with his hand: "Don't talk, rest. Your brother-in-law said you're sleep-deprived and look terrible. You need to get more rest."

Duan Mingzhu was quiet for a moment, then pulled down Xue Yunting's hand: "Yunting, if I die, will you miss me?"

Xue Yunting simply said, "Sleep."

Duan Mingzhu said, "If you remarry, I wonder if your stepmother will treat the children well?"

Xue Yunting picked Duan Mingzhu up and placed her on the bed, his tone helpless: "Are you hungry? I'll go see what's in the kitchen?"

Duan Mingzhu wouldn't let go, refusing: "I'm not hungry."

Xue Yunting yawned and lay down on the bed: "Let's take a nap first, I'm sleepy."

Seeing Xue Yunting's bewildered expression, Duan Mingzhu finally calmed down.

On Chongming Island, with all war-related matters forgotten and no need to worry about safety, Xue Yunting slept soundly and deeply.

Duan Mingzhu kept waking up and falling asleep, unable to fall into a deep sleep. She simply stared blankly at Xue Yunting by candlelight: his features were clear and handsome, and he exuded a righteous aura. It was no exaggeration to say that he was a dragon among men.

More importantly, the wealthy young man was completely innocent. She had encountered such a rare thing, and this outstanding man was the father of her child.

However, she had never been to Qinzhou and had never met Xue Yunting's parents. If she died, the Xue family would not acknowledge her as their daughter-in-law. To the Xue family of Qinzhou, the child she bore would be an illegitimate child born to a mistress.

She, Duan Mingzhu, is the daughter of the King of Kunzhou, yet her child has been reduced to an illegitimate child? Her child is beneath her dignity, excluded from the family register, and denied inheritance...

Yun Ting will soon remarry, and his new wife will become the matriarch of the Xue family. The matriarch can freely beat and scold the sons born to concubines; illegitimate children from mistresses are essentially half-servants, or even slaves.

The Xue family may not necessarily treat her child this way, but theoretically it is entirely possible, and no one else would have any objections.

Human hearts are unpredictable, and the world is full of uncertainties. If she dies, she will no longer be able to control anything, not even her children.

Duan Mingzhu's heart, which had just seemed to be softened by Xue Yunting, suddenly struggled again: If that's really the case, then what's the point of keeping the child's father around?