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墨書 Inktalez
As Luoqing stepped down from the carriage, she couldn't help but glance up at the gilded words "Prince Xue's Residence" above the door, a pang of sorrow rising within her that she could not conceal.
The steward greeted her warmly and led her to the inner courtyard. From a distance, she saw her elder sister, Xun Yu, sitting in a room, clutching a spittoon as she coughed and spat. Luoqing hurried over, concern etched on her face. "Sister, why do you look so unwell?"
Luoqing took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Xun Yu's forehead and accepted the teacup handed to her by a maid. After Xun Yu rinsed her mouth, Luoqing helped her settle into a seat.
"You've come?" Xun Yu did not seem eager to rest; instead, she waved away those around her. Once the maid closed the door, she grasped Luoqing's hand tightly. "Luoqing, we have been sisters for decades. If I am in trouble, will you help me?"
"Sister..." Luoqing furrowed her brow, suspicion creeping into her heart. "Luoqing, only you can save me this time!" Xun Yu said, tears streaming down her cheeks as her delicate hand suddenly rested on her abdomen. "Luoqing, I am not ill. I had a doctor check on me yesterday; he said it is a sign of pregnancy."
Luoqing doubted her ears. "What did you say?"
"It’s true! The doctor said I have been pregnant for a month!" Xun Yu met Luoqing's gaze with some unease.
"How can that be? Brother-in-law... he has been dead for over a year now," Luoqing replied incredulously. Xun Yu had been married into Prince Xue's Residence for less than a month when the prince volunteered to lead troops to Xi Yi, leaving his newlywed wife behind. No one expected that he would never return.
All of this had happened during the cold winter of last year; she still remembered the day of his funeral, with snow falling heavily and the biting cold...
"Luoqing, you often come to keep me company; didn’t you notice anything at all?" Xun Yu sighed softly. "You spend your days here with me, either reading the books left by your brother-in-law or sitting in a daze. It’s no wonder you know nothing."
"That's not true!" Luoqing quickly explained. "I just didn't know how to comfort you... You know I'm not good with words. Besides, I see you going to the palace often, and each time you return in much better spirits, so..." As she spoke, Luoqing suddenly covered her mouth in realization. "Could it be...?"
"Yes! The child I carry is of imperial blood; he is truly a Descendant of the Dragon!" Xun Yu's face lit up with pride as if the unborn child had already bathed her in golden light.
Luoqing felt her heart in turmoil, "How is this possible? The Emperor is the direct brother of the Prince, you... you can't be serious..." She hesitated, unable to utter the unbearable words.
"But the Emperor truly cares for me," Xun Yu said, taking her hand again. "Dear sister, the child in my womb is also your unborn nephew. You wouldn't want him to grow up as a prince who cannot be seen in public, would you?"
Indeed, if Xun Yu was determined to have this child, not only would the royal family never accept such a scandal, but even if it spread among ordinary folk, she would be drowned in their spittle.
But... entering the palace?
Luoqing lowered her eyes; it was something she had never considered. Instinctively, she touched the green jade bracelet on her wrist, unsure of what to do.
"This bracelet was given to you by your brother-in-law, right?" Xun Yu said, revealing the truth without leaving her any room to maneuver. "In fact, you've always liked the Prince, haven't you?"
"Sister..." Luoqing trembled, looking at Xun Yu in fear.
"Do you remember? When we were young and our wet nurse died, we were both very sad. I cried until my eyes were swollen, yet you didn't shed a single tear. Later that night, when I woke up needing to go to the bathroom and called for you to accompany me, I found you hiding under the covers, biting your hand and quietly sobbing all night. On the day of the Prince's funeral, I saw the bite marks on your hand again. Luoqing, it was then that I realized why you had suddenly grown so distant after my marriage..."
"No! I didn't mean to distance myself from you; I just... I just felt guilty towards you..." Luoqing said, her nose beginning to sting with tears.
"Silly girl!" Xun Yu gently embraced her. "It's my fault. If I had known from the start that you liked him, I would never have agreed to this marriage."
Luoqing buried her head in her sister's neck, tears streaming down her face. "Sister, tell me what you want me to do to help you? Anything at all—I will do it!"
After all, every day without him felt like she was merely a walking corpse.
If there was anything she could do for her sister, even if it meant sacrificing her own life, then when they met again in the afterlife, he would surely smile at her and thank her just as he did when they first met.
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