Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Jiang Mo walked over to Chen Yingchou and took his hand. "I'm awake now, Your Majesty. You don't have to worry about waking me up. Let's go to sleep together."

Chen Yingchou didn't get up. "A Mo, I have a bit of a headache. I can't sleep, and I'll disturb you."

He had thought finding Jiang Mo would cure his headaches, but after drinking tonight, the pain had returned. He had found his A Mo, but he could no longer find the person he was before he had white hair and headaches, nor the man who didn't have to constantly fear losing Jiang Mo.

"I remember you didn't use to have headaches, Your Majesty." Jiang Mo moved behind Chen Yingchou and began massaging his temples.

"Don't worry, it's probably just the strong northern wine." He didn't want Jiang Mo to worry. At this moment, he felt content. As long as his A Mo was by his side, what did a headache matter?

"A Mo." He took her wrist to stop her. "You go ahead and sleep. Don't worry about me."

Before coming to the room, Qiao Yun had given him some medicine, but it hadn't helped at all. Over these three months, he had grown accustomed to this pain. It usually eased on its own after two or three hours. He just needed to endure it.

Jiang Mo leaned down close to his ear. "I'm not sleepy. I want to stay with Your Majesty."

Chen Yingchou knew Jiang Mo's temper. If he refused again, she would become suspicious. He could only nod. Jiang Mo continued massaging his temples. After just a short while, Chen Yingchou grasped her hand again. "I'm not in pain now. Let's go to sleep."

"Really?" Jiang Mo saw that his brows were still furrowed and knew he was lying. Her heart ached. "Your Majesty, did Imperial Physician Xu come with us? Please have him come take a look."

Chen Yingchou shook his head. "I didn't have him come along."

"Did Your Majesty bring any other imperial physicians?"

Chen Yingchou shook his head again.

Back then, he had been utterly despondent. Leading the army personally was almost like seeking an honorable death on the battlefield.

Now, looking up at Jiang Mo, he felt it had been a mistake not to bring Xu Ping. His A Mo hadn't received proper care after childbirth, and he should have had Xu Ping examine her thoroughly.

"Then what about the army doctor? I'll have Qiao Yun call him." Jiang Mo started toward the door, but Chen Yingchou caught her in his arms. "Don't go. I'm really fine. Army doctors are good at wounds; they can't do anything for headaches."

He wrapped his arms around her waist. "A Mo, the jasmine scent on you is lovely. Let me breathe it in a little more, and the pain will go away."

Jiang Mo knew he was lying. She felt that Chen Yingchou's headache was surely not that simple. She would have to ask Qiao Yun about it tomorrow.

"Shall I hum a lullaby for Your Majesty to help you sleep?"

Chen Yingchou nodded, obediently letting Jiang Mo lead him to bed. She lay half-reclining, massaging his temples while humming a lullaby.

"Doesn't this feel familiar, Your Majesty?"

Chen Yingchou's lips curled slightly. "Very familiar. A Mo, when I was blind, you lulled me to sleep like this before."

Jiang Mo leaned down and softly kissed his forehead. "I want to stay by Your Majesty's side like this for a lifetime."

His violently pounding heart instantly dulled the headache. Chen Yingchou turned over, propping himself up on his hands, his deep pool-like eyes reflecting Jiang Mo's face. He leaned forward and kissed her lips.

Their soft lips met, their breaths mingling. Chen Yingchou kissed her gently and slowly, afraid of hurting her. In his eyes, she was fragile and delicate, deserving the gentlest care.

Even so, he felt desire stirring. Suddenly, his heart ached. Their lips parted, and Chen Yingchou pressed his head into the hollow of Jiang Mo's neck, panting to calm himself.

He dared not let Jiang Mo get pregnant again. He was truly terrified of losing her.

Desire gradually faded, his heartbeat steadied, and the headache, like a lurking assailant, reclaimed its territory.

Jiang Mo felt his body's reaction and was about to respond, but Chen Yingchou stopped himself. She didn't know what he was thinking and assumed the headache had gotten worse. "Your Majesty, is the headache worse?"

Chen Yingchou took a deep breath, smiled at her, and said, "No, it's not painful anymore. A Mo, let's sleep."

He held her as they lay down together. Her face pressed against his chest, she listened to his steady, strong heartbeat, and soon fell asleep.

Chen Yingchou's headache didn't ease until nearly dawn.

When Jiang Mo woke up, Chen Yingchou had just fallen asleep. Even though she didn't know how long he had slept, she couldn't bear to wake him. She didn't move, afraid of disturbing him, and remained still in that position. It wasn't until nearly noon that Chen Yingchou finally awoke.

Strangely, though he had a headache all night, it was the most restful sleep he'd had in three months. The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Jiang Mo curled up in his arms, looking up at him.

"Your Majesty, you're finally awake."

Finally? Chen Yingchou sat up and pulled aside the bed curtains, seeing that the water clock showed it was almost noon. He teased, "A Mo, now I understand what it means for a sovereign to never hold morning court."

He wasn't in a hurry to get up but instead hugged Jiang Mo again. "Since it's already late, let's sleep a little longer."

In all his life, he had never slept in. Today, he would indulge to the fullest.

But just as he finished speaking, Jiang Mo's stomach growled loudly. Chen Yingchou couldn't help but laugh. He tapped her nose. "My empress truly is a virtuous one. It seems it's heaven's will—with you, I can only be a diligent ruler."

Jiang Mo replied teasingly, "Your humble wife is honored." She got up first. "Let's eat quickly. We're leaving tomorrow, and this afternoon I want to go to the streets to buy some unique items from the north to bring back for A Bai and Lanqiu and the others."

Mentioning the departure reminded Chen Yingchou of An Zeyou.

"A Mo, An Zeyou is at the post station. I saw him yesterday. He said he wanted to see you. Do you want to meet him?"

Jiang Mo didn't hesitate. "Yes. Without him, I would have died by Wei Chun's hands. We'll part ways tomorrow, and it's only right to say a proper goodbye to my rescuer."

Chen Yingchou knew she was right, but jealousy still gnawed at his heart. "Then I'll come with you to see him."

"Alright."

When An Zeyou saw Jiang Mo again, his eyes burned with emotion. The woman before him was radiant in a way he had never seen—serene and content, like a flower on a high winter mountain smiling cheerfully despite the cold wind.

She emanated a deep, inner peace and fulfillment.

He suddenly understood that such a freely blooming flower could never be nurtured by him. The one who could care for this most precious flower was only the person she loved.

"Master An, I have discussed with His Majesty that you may leave now." She took a stack of banknotes from the maid behind her. "Madam An is gravely ill, and you're used to a life of leisure. These notes should be enough for you to live on for a while."

He was worried about his mother and eager to return, but his inner obsession held him back, refusing to let go. Now, it seemed he had to let go.

Yet his heart felt empty and painful, and looking at the banknotes only made it worse. He wanted something to fill the void. Instinctively, he reached for his chest and pointed at Chen Yingchou. Like a child who'd been wronged, he said to Jiang Mo, "He took my gold hairpin..." Before he could finish, tears filled his eyes, and his voice choked. "That was my gold hairpin. Help me get it back."

Jiang Mo didn't understand at first. An Zeyou suddenly pulled her into an embrace. What he had always wanted was never the gold hairpin—it was the woman who wore it. But he knew he would never have her.

Chen Yingchou pushed him away. "How dare you!" He took the banknotes from Jiang Mo's hand, set them on the table, and started to pull her away.

An Zeyou's heart ached. "Jiang Mo, don't go. The gold hairpin I gave you—Chen Yingchou took it. You have to get it back for me."

Only then did Jiang Mo understand which gold hairpin he meant. Before she could speak, Chen Yingchou shot back, "I threw it out."

The ice in his heart instantly shattered, the shards piercing him with cold pain. He had already resigned himself, knowing nothing he did would change things. But he couldn't accept it. Even if Jiang Mo didn't love him, he wanted to have a place in her heart.

Just a very small place, as long as she didn't forget him.

"Jiang Mo, can I speak with you alone for a moment?"

Chen Yingchou tightened his grip on Jiang Mo's hand and stared warily at An Zeyou. "No."

An Zeyou gave a bitter smile, raising both hands and then letting them drop limply. "The effects of the powder haven't worn off yet. Even if I wanted to, what could I do? Besides," his eyes were bleak, "Xingzhi, all goodbyes must come eventually. After today, we may never see each other again in this life. If you want to stay and hear my heartfelt words to Jiang Mo, I don't mind."

He turned to Jiang Mo again, tears glistening in his eyes, his gaze full of hope. "I want to hear it from you, Jiang Mo. May I?"

Jiang Mo was not made of stone; she could be touched. An Zeyou had, after all, saved her life. After today they would never see each other again. Faced with the request of her savior, she should agree.

But she didn't want to make Chen Yingchou uncomfortable.

She glanced at Chen Yingchou and said firmly, "I'm sorry, Master An. I don't think there's anything between us that His Majesty shouldn't hear."

Chen Yingchou turned his head to look at Jiang Mo, unable to hide the excitement on his face. He held her hand even tighter.

An Zeyou felt as if he were trapped in an ice cave. Watching their deep, loving bond, he had no desire to bless them. "Very well. Since Your Majesty wants to hear so much, don't regret it." Even as he left, he wanted to plant a thorn in Chen Yingchou's heart.

He walked up to Jiang Mo, pouring all his feelings into his gaze without restraint. "If someday you're unhappy and want to leave Shangjing, I'll risk my life to take you away."

"Do you really think I don't exist?" Chen Yingchou shoved An Zeyou. "I'm telling you, that day will never come."

He pulled Jiang Mo away as An Zeyou shouted after them, "Jiang Mo, do you still remember? You once promised to give me a birthday gift. Tomorrow is my birthday. The gift I want isn't valuable. Could you give it to me?"

Jiang Mo turned back. "Back then I thought of you as a friend, Master An. Having received your birthday gift, it was only natural to reciprocate. But I've already returned the gold hairpin to you, so there's no question of a return gift."

"Then... then you also said you would make incense for me. Doesn't that count?" An Zeyou didn't want to leave like this. He thought, if he could at least take something that belonged to Jiang Mo, something to remember her by.

But such mementos are restraints, chains. It wasn't that Jiang Mo didn't want to make incense for An Zeyou; she just didn't want him to keep pining for her.

"Perhaps my memory is poor; I don't recall saying that. Since tomorrow is your birthday, Master An, I wish you a happy birthday. May you let go of your obsession, find a worthy partner, enjoy a long life, and live in peace."

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Author's note: Hey folks, there are only three more chapters to the main story.