She Holds the World After Being Reborn
Chapter 285 - 284

Chapter 285: 284

Yan Wanqing, holding the little prince in her arms, emerged from the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters. She draped a shawl over her shoulders to shield them from the intense sun as she walked toward Sun Imperial Consort’s chamber.

The palace maids looked on curiously, but still could not clearly discern what exactly she was holding in her arms.

The little prince clutched her little finger, a transparent bubble forming at his mouth—so adorable one couldn’t help but mention it.

As Yan Wanqing walked, she couldn’t help but think.

If that child she was fated to be without were still here, by now she herself would likely be close to giving birth.

The more she thought about it, the more sour her heart felt.

Arriving at a shaded spot, she felt some dampness on her arm and hurriedly stopped to check.

"It seems it was you, you little rascal."

The little prince had wet himself.

Yan Wanqing wasn’t angry; she readjusted the swaddling clothes and was about to hasten her pace when she saw someone standing under the tree.

A tall stature, an elegant and handsome face, he stood there in black clothes, watching her, his dark eyes filled with indescribable emotions.

Yan Wanqing opened her mouth but said nothing, instead raising her foot and passing by him.

"...You don’t plan to say something to me?" When two armies face each other, there will ultimately be one that can’t restrain itself.

Xiao Pingfeng found that in front of her, he was always the one defeated.

Yan Wanqing stopped, her voice soft, "Your Highness should still be mindful of your responsibilities for the Northern Expedition—it would be better to take care."

This was the palace, teeming with watchful eyes; should Xiao Pingfeng be found, the matter reaching the Emperor’s ears, it would surely stir up a tempest.

"Is that all?" Xiao Pingfeng’s presence was imposing, his aura oppressive. He reached out and directly grabbed her fair wrist, intent on pulling her into his embrace.

At this moment, Yan Wanqing wanted nothing more than to have no more entanglements with him.

She stepped back.

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Pingfeng’s dark eyes sank slightly. With a light snort, his iron-strong arm pulled her, along with the swaddling clothes and its occupant, toward him.

Worried about the little prince in her arms and angered by Xiao Pingfeng’s actions at that moment, with both hands occupied, she could only lift her foot and kick towards his lower body.

Xiao Pingfeng did not dodge or hide, taking the kick squarely.

Listening to him sharply inhale.

Yan Wanqing froze.

For a moment, under the empty and deserted tree, the silence became deathly still.

"Your kick is quite ruthless." Xiao Pingfeng looked down at the footprint on his black robe, "Just a bit higher, and you would really be a dead woman."

Just a bit higher is...

Yan Wanqing’s cheeks flushed, "You were the one who made the first move."

Xiao Pingfeng advanced half a step forward, bending down closer, his dark gaze resting on her and the bundle in her embrace, as he sighed softly, "Is this Sun Imperial Consort’s child?"

"Mhm." She knew there was nothing she could hide from him, so she didn’t try to.

Xiao Pingfeng instantly understood why the Empress Dowager had summoned Yan Wanqing to the palace.

"So this is my fifteenth brother," Xiao Pingfeng leaned in closer, raising his hand to part the shawl slightly, revealing the peacefully sleeping baby’s face underneath.

He was so near, his scorching breath in the summer’s heat still made Yan Wanqing shrink back.

"Hiding from what?" he pressed her shoulder down with his hand, his tone deep, "You always like to hide. Does that solve anything?"

Solve anything?

The issues between them were deep-seated national hatred and bloody battles—how could they be solved?

At that thought, a mist slowly rose in Yan Wanqing’s eyes, "It can’t be solved."

"It can’t be solved, so you just hide?" Xiao Pingfeng laughed at her reaction, his hands tightening slightly as if he wished he could pry open her head to see exactly what was inside, "Yan Wanqing, you’re not usually such a coward."

Yan Wanqing couldn’t find the words to speak, so she could only embrace the little prince and lower her head.

"Coward," Xiao Pingfeng managed to restrain himself from cursing too foully, squeezing out three words.

Only heaven knew how much he had suffered last night.

"We both know what happened between us, and you don’t even ask me but make a decision on your own. Do you think that’s fair?"

A tremor went through Yan Wanqing’s heart, and she anxiously licked her dry lips, "I...I..."

"You’re usually so eloquent, why are you hesitating now? Has your tongue been sun-dried?" Xiao Pingfeng’s eyes flashed with teasing.

Yan Wanqing knew she couldn’t out-talk the person before her, so she tried to change the subject, "It’s hot. I’ll take the little prince to the Noble Consort first."

As she spoke, she tried to break free, but the Crown Prince would not have it.

He grasped her hand tightly. "Clear things up before you leave."

"Try leaving without clarifying things. When it’s nothing, you blame me; when there’s trouble you start calling yourself ’your servant-girl,’ don’t you?" He was obviously quite angered.

Yan Wanqing, rendered speechless by his words, heard footsteps approaching and quickly grabbed his hand in return, "Hurry, someone’s coming."

"I will not leave," Xiao Pingfeng stubbornly stood his ground.

Yan Wanqing became somewhat desperate, "What will we do if you’re discovered by someone?"

Xiao Pingfeng saw her face show urgent sincerity, not seeming pretense, and the frustration that had filled his heart these past couple of days cleared, as he let out a heavy snort, "Then tell me, what exactly do you want?"

"I really don’t want to create more misunderstandings like last time, leaving you alone in the Capital City to fend for yourself," Xiao Pingfeng said, his voice slightly hoarse. He showed no emotion, but Yan Wanqing understood his meaning in an instant.

Her heart was already incredibly sour.

Biting hard on her sharp canine tooth, she seemed to have made a certain determination, "It won’t happen, not this time."

A flicker of joy passed through Xiao Pingfeng’s eyes as he looked at her.

By now, the footsteps behind them were getting closer, and Yan Wanqing hurriedly pushed him, "Leave quickly!"

"Kiss me," Xiao Pingfeng began to take liberties.

Out of options, Yan Wanqing tiptoed while still holding the little prince, and gave him a peck on the jaw like a dragonfly skimming the water’s surface.

Then she quickly urged Xiao Pingfeng to leave.

Once he had finally left, she heaved a sigh of relief and headed towards the Imperial Consort’s quarters.

When she arrived at Sun Lianyi’s chambers.

"What is this?" the nursemaid serving the Imperial Consort stared at the child in Yan Wanqing’s arms, somewhat stunned.

Yan Wanqing’s cheeks burned, unwilling to hand the little prince to anyone else; she headed inside directly, "Where is her highness?"

"She’s in there giving the prince a bath," the nursemaid promptly replied.

Yan Wanqing nodded, "Prepare another one, let’s give this one a bath too."

Upon entering, Sun Lianyi was playing with a child in the bathtub, and upon seeing Yan Wanqing she exclaimed, "Come see, he’s really quite amusing."

No sooner had she spoken than Sun Lianyi saw Yan Wanqing remove her shawl, revealing a swaddled baby.

She frowned slightly, "What is this?"

"Cousin," Yan Wanqing began, but Sun Lianyi quickly got up and walked over, taking the swaddled baby into her arms.

"...The child?" Sun Lianyi’s voice shook, followed by tears.

A mother’s connection with her child is instant; in that moment, she recognized this was her own flesh and blood!

Yan Wanqing stood by the side, her lips curving slightly, as she recounted what had happened recently.

This included the Empress’s choice to switch another child to deceive her for the greater good.

Sun Lianyi held the little prince while sitting on the soft couch, the corners of her eyes red. She dabbed at the tears with her fingertip, "Who took the little prince away?"

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