Chapter 88

Chapter 88

Bored in the Eastern Palace, You Nan followed a young, embroidery-skilled palace maid, learning to make clothes.

The young maid imparted all her knowledge, and You Nan was an eager student. By the time Fu Lingtan returned in the evening, a mostly finished small garment already lay on the table in the side chamber.

You Nan became completely absorbed in his handcraft, unable to stop. He had candles lit and focused intently on tracing patterns.

The senior maid spotted Fu Lingtan and immediately knelt to pay respects, "Your servant greets Your Highness, the Crown Prince!"

The young maid sitting beside You Nan turned upon hearing the voice and was terrified to see the Crown Prince's gloomy face. She shot up from her chair like a startled prawn, almost bumping into the edge of the table, and stammered, "Your servant greets Your Highness, the Crown Prince!"

The young maid was covered in cold sweat.

Everyone in the palace knew that the Crown Prince was excessively possessive of his Crown Princess. Anyone who dared approach the Crown Princess would face his punishment.

The young maid hadn’t been sitting originally; it was only because the kind-hearted Crown Princess noticed she was tired from standing too long and invited her to sit.

You Nan, seeing Fu Lingtan return unexpectedly without any announcement, felt a pang of nervousness.

He quickly stood up, circled the table, and positioned himself in front of the young maid, blocking Fu Lingtan’s view of her.

"You Nan greets Your Highness. Has Your Highness eaten yet? You Nan will have the kitchen prepare a meal."

You Nan offered a smile to Fu Lingtan.

He ushered Fu Lingtan to sit back at the table. Meanwhile, the senior maid, seizing the moment when You Nan had diverted Fu Lingtan’s attention, immediately pulled the young maid away, urging her to leave.

The young maid, already sweating with fear, needed no further prompting and hurried off.

Fu Lingtan, with his sharp senses, naturally noticed the young maid’s insignificant movements, which he deemed beneath his notice.

The man picked up the small garment on the table and immediately noticed that its size was much larger than a child’s. He guessed that his Crown Princess intended it for the child once he was found.

This thought put Fu Lingtan in a particularly bad mood.

Although the court was now largely under his control, with everything going smoothly and everyone at his command, he continually met with resistance from You Nan.

Fu Lingtan raised his hand, signaling the senior maid to leave.

The senior maid, keeping her eyes properly averted, retreated and exited the room.

Once the senior maid was gone, You Nan became nervous.

His heart began to pound wildly.

"This lord is not hungry," Fu Lingtan said as he slowly approached You Nan.

Fu Lingtan’s features were aggressively sharp and intense. Even when he tried to soften his expression, the ferocity in his gaze remained undeniable.

As Fu Lingtan drew closer, You Nan instinctively stepped back.

"Your Highness, what does Your Highness intend to do?"

You Nan asked, though he already knew the answer.

Fu Lingtan found the question entertaining and rarely joked with You Nan. "What I plan to do—don’t you already know?"

He picked up the small garment again. "Aren’t you prompting this lord to fulfill what I told you days ago?"

As he spoke, his hand reached toward You Nan’s stomach.

You Nan’s eyes twitched, and without thinking, he flinched sideways. "Your Highness!"

"This is a garment You Nan made for the cat. It carries no hidden meaning," You Nan hurriedly explained. "Your Highness is busy with state affairs all day and must be tired. You Nan will have someone prepare Your Highness's bath."

Seizing an opportunity, You Nan tried to bolt for the door but was swiftly caught by Fu Lingtan, who hooked an arm around his waist.

With a single pull, You Nan was drawn into his embrace.

Fu Lingtan lowered his head, resting his chin on You Nan’s head.

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, drinking in You Nan's scent.

The fragrance of magnolia lingered in his nostrils, intoxicating him.

You Nan was terrified, his body stiff with fear.

His mind raced as he tried to save himself. "Your Highness, You Nan hasn’t washed up yet. Perhaps You Nan should bathe first before accompanying Your Highness."

Fu Lingtan held him firmly. "It’s fine. You don’t smell bad. This lord doesn’t mind."

You Nan: "..."

You Nan struggled desperately but couldn’t break free. He was beginning to feel drained.

He tried to distract Fu Lingtan with conversation, but Fu Lingtan lost patience and pulled him toward the bed.

You Nan’s face turned pale. "Your Highness!"

Pushed down onto the bedding, You Nan’s mind went blank. Instinctively, he pushed against Fu Lingtan with both hands.

Through gritted teeth, he begged, "Your Highness, please don’t treat You Nan like this."

"Please let You Nan go."

Tears sprang to You Nan’s eyes.

Fu Lingtan cradled You Nan’s face, and the warm tears streaming down met his rough, powerful hands.

Fu Lingtan looked up and saw You Nan’s reddened eyes. You Nan, as if drained of all energy, stopped resisting. Suddenly, it felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over Fu Lingtan, snapping him to awareness.

His desire for You Nan was doused.

He stood up and sat at the edge of the bed, an unaccustomed emotion rising up in his heart.

Had he done something wrong?

But wasn’t You Nan his Crown Princess? You Nan belonged to him—wasn’t it natural for them to be together?

Fu Lingtan’s hands on his knees clenched slowly.

Was You Nan still saving himself for that unknown person?

Out of the corner of his eye, Fu Lingtan saw You Nan lying motionless, gazing vacantly at the bed curtains.

In the end, his care for You Nan overcame his inexplicable jealousy.

"I won't lay a hand on you."

Fu Lingtan took a step back, then averted his gaze without looking at You Nan.

You Nan studied him for a long moment, seeing he remained still. Only then did he get up and wipe his face.

His face remained flushed, still wet with tears.

You Nan's robes remained properly fastened, but his hair had come loose from the struggle.

He had been too panicked earlier, screaming frantically, hoping to snap Fu Lingtan out of it. Fortunately, his gamble had paid off.

Fu Lingtan couldn't stand to see him distressed.

You Nan still frowned, appearing both anguished and wronged.

Yet he remained confident.

Keeping his eyes averted from Fu Lingtan, he scoffed, "How can I trust the Crown Prince's promises?"

"This time it happened—what about next time?" You Nan met the man's gaze directly, unflinching. "If Your Highness wants a child, you can seek out another. After all, I was never the right match for you—this was all a misunderstanding from the start. If Your Highness wants to humiliate me, we can simply seek dissolution of our union."

Fu Lingtan listened to You Nan's words without much reaction at first. But when he heard the words "dissolve the marriage," the man snapped.

Fu Lingtan immediately retorted, "You will do no such thing."

He stared at You Nan and said, "So long as I draw breath, you will remain my Crown Princess! Even in death, I will bring you with me."

You Nan appeared nearly driven to madness by Fu Lingtan's actions and words tonight.

He pushed the man forcefully, shouting, "Get out!"

He knelt up on the bed, even striking the man's unyielding chest, "Go away! I don't want to see you!"

You Nan was overwhelmed by emotion, and the tears he had just managed to stop began falling again.

Fu Lingtan's brows knitted together, unaware that the expression on his face revealed his concern for You Nan and his regret over his earlier actions.

You Nan, of course, caught his troubled expression.

A faint smile touched his lips but quickly fell again, ensuring the other didn't see.

Fu Lingtan took a deep breath, worried that You Nan might faint from emotional distress, so he stood up.

"Then I will give you one more night to calm down. I hope that by the time I return, you will have come to your senses."

You Nan watched him leave, and his tears stopped immediately.

He wiped his face.

Calm down?

He was completely fine now!

Change? Hah!

He would never!

However, the next day, Fu Lingtan did not return to You Nan's chambers.

The southern rebels had pushed northward, reaching the Guanzhong region, just a step away from the imperial capital.

The Song State capital had no time for court factions to play their political games.

Fu Lingtan had no choice but to take charge amid the crisis. He donned his armor in the middle of the night and led the hastily assembled army to the battlefield.

Before leaving the capital, Fu Lingtan gazed into the distance toward the Eastern Palace.

After a few moments, he hardened his resolve, turned around, and gave the order to march south.

Little did he know that last night would be the last time the two of them would see each other.