"Originally, Young Madam Song was so nervous during her first childbirth that she screamed incessantly in pain, unable to hear the midwife's instructions."
"As time passed, she became hoarse and exhausted, unable to eat. With her strength depleted, the baby suffocated and died, ultimately resulting in two deaths."
"After you cured Song Jingche and Song You'an, your status in the Song family became extraordinary. Any gift from you would be viewed with exaggerated importance."
"With your help, Young Madam Song gained confidence. As her emotions gradually stabilized, she began to control her breathing according to the midwife's instructions. With the assistance of the experienced midwife, she was finally able to safely deliver her child. Therefore, the system awarded you points based on the value of saving lives."
After it finished speaking, Qi Huan's face turned pale with fright.
It seemed that childbirth truly was a dance with death...
Elder Madam Song was secretly praying to her, begging for the safety of her daughter-in-law and grandchild. Suddenly noticing Qi Huan's poor complexion, she immediately understood.
"Huan'er, you're still an unmarried young lady. Your cousin and I can keep watch here. You should go back and have dinner."
Qi Huan nodded and took her leave.
As she was about to reach Qinghuan Court, she suddenly felt uneasy, an ominous intuition arising within her.
The courtyard seemed too quiet, eerily so.
Qi Huan quietly took out her pistol, hiding it in her sleeve as she turned to leave.
After just a few steps, she was suddenly struck from behind on her sleep acupoint, immediately losing consciousness.
When she awoke, night had fallen.
She found herself locked in a pure gold cage, lying on a beautiful couch.
Beside her, Ximen Ye sat on the ground, one hand propping up his chin, the other clutching her sleeve to prevent her from disappearing silently again.
"The imperial palace is like this golden cage – beautiful, but without freedom."
"Cousin, do you enjoy the feeling of being locked in a golden cage?"
Qi Huan immediately shook her head, giving him a look that said, "You're out of your mind."
Ximen Ye smiled mischievously and launched into a speech:
"If that's the case, don't marry Li Shuchen."
"If he fails to seize the throne, he'll surely die a miserable death. When that happens, you and the Song family won't fare well either."
"If he succeeds in taking the throne, your life in the palace will be like living in this golden cage, without a shred of freedom."
"Come with me."
"After my sister-in-law gives birth, I'll help you and your entire family escape."
"Ximen Ye, forced love is never sweet."
"Why? What does the sweetness of a melon have to do with whether it's forced or not? Shouldn't you taste it to know?"
Seeing no point in further conversation, Qi Huan silently retrieved a dagger from her spatial storage.
She knew she couldn't overpower him in a fight.
So she planned to cut her sleeve and quickly retreat into her spatial storage.
However, as soon as she took out the dagger, Ximen Ye swiftly snatched it away.
"You want to kill me?"
"...I'm really angry now!"
Displeasure roiled in Ximen Ye's eyes as he used the dagger to cut her waistband. His intention was to use the band to tie her unruly hands, but he suddenly noticed tears welling up in her eyes.
With the waistband cut, her outer robe fell open, thankfully revealing thick undergarments...
Just as Qi Huan steadied her emotions, she heard him ask in confusion:
"Why are you crying?"
Ximen Ye furrowed his brow: "You're not crying because you can't beat me, are you?"
"....."
"Stop crying. I'll take you back."
*
The next day.
When Qi Huan woke up again, the scent around her had become familiar, and yesterday's events felt like a dream.
Noticing her eyelashes fluttering, Li Shuchen gently stroked her hair: "Awake?"
"Mm." Qi Huan opened her eyes to look at him, tears suddenly streaming down her face.
Being loved felt like having a mountain to lean on. The moment she saw Li Shuchen, she became delicate, all her emotions pouring out with her tears.
Although Ximen Ye hadn't truly harmed her, she felt a wave of helplessness. Even with her spatial abilities, she found it difficult to resist when facing a supreme expert, and had even been locked in a cage...
Seeing her lost in thought, Li Shuchen felt a pang in his heart. His eyes filled with murderous intent, though his voice remained gentle.
"Don't be afraid, Ah Huan. I'm here."
Last night, he had gone to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau and coerced the Chief Astronomer into changing their wedding date to the second day of the second month.
He couldn't wait until autumn next year, but he didn't want to rush things and slight Ah Huan.
When he finished his business and returned to Qinghuan Court under the moonlight, he found his secret guards kneeling to beg forgiveness: "Your Highness, the sleeping drug was too strong. We couldn't resist..."
Li Shuchen gave them an icy glance before striding inside, relieved to find Ah Huan lying safely on the bed.
As he approached to look closer, he noticed her furrowed brow and sweat-covered forehead even in sleep.
In that moment, his heart clenched.
Li Shuchen pulled her into his arms, gently patting her back, silently comforting her.
Overwhelming guilt engulfed him for failing to protect his girl, allowing her to suffer fright and distress.
Li Shuchen's eyes remained bloodshot until dawn.
After learning the details from his secret guards, he dispatched half of the manor's forces to hunt down Ximen Ye, but didn't mention a word of this to Qi Huan.
He only wanted to share happy news with Ah Huan.
"Ah Huan, I'll officially marry you on the second day of the second month next year. We were supposed to exchange betrothal gifts today, but I want to personally catch a wild goose for you, so I've pushed the date back a few days."
"Your wedding dress... is already halfway done. My Ah Huan will surely be the most beautiful bride."
Li Shuchen's deep voice was tender and affectionate, his lips constantly curved in a warm smile as he carefully comforted her.
After she fell asleep again, Li Shuchen rose and left the room, taking a peeled egg from the maid Er Ya. He gently rolled it over Qi Huan's swollen, tear-stained eyes.
Meanwhile, a hundred miles from the capital.
Zhu Yan, looking pale and panting heavily, complained: "Master, these people are like mad dogs. How long do we have to keep running?"
"What on earth did you do..." to deserve this?
"...Sigh, I didn't even get to say goodbye to Tao Su."
Last night, he had been drugged unconscious by his master. This morning, he was awakened by having water splashed on him, and inexplicably found himself fleeing for his life.
His usually talkative master, who normally chattered more than a duck, had suddenly become as quiet as a chicken. He felt quite uncomfortable with this change...
Ximen Ye turned his back, ignoring him, and continued to study "The Handbook of Lovestruck Fools' Ascension" with a blank expression.
The last page of "Thirty-Six Strategies for Pursuing Love" read: If you've exhausted all the methods in this book and still haven't succeeded, perhaps it's time to change your target...
There's a kind of love called letting go. If you can't let go, you can only remain a lovestruck fool.
"The Handbook of Lovestruck Fools' Ascension" – you deserve to own it.
Ximen Ye wanted to keep Qi Huan by his side, but he didn't want to see her face washed with tears.
So, he chose to spend another fortune buying the second volume from the black market, determined to study hard and actively improve his position.
Guided by the handbook, he set off northward, preparing to capture Gu Ziling...
