"What??"
"Are you deaf?"
Yan Ling asked back.
"Listen, I returned home because my father was ill. I am his eldest daughter, and my father is my only surviving parent. Of course, as his child, I had to stay with him for a while. I know you always suspect me. But I only visited my father. I didn't even cause any trouble with anyone before leaving the palace! Then what plans could I possibly make while pregnant like this! The servants in your palace even treat me like trash. So what plans do you think I'm making? Even if there were any, the only plan I would make is to divorce you and leave this empire forever, do you understand now???"
Yunxi vented her anger at Yan Ling until she was out of breath. Meanwhile, Yan Ling just stared at her silently.
After that, Yunxi said again,
"So, instead of wasting your precious time as the Crown Prince, return to the palace tomorrow, because I still want to accompany my father. After all, Her Majesty the Empress has allowed me to stay here for a few days. If you still don't believe me and suspect that I will do something bad, station palace guards to watch over this house, order the royal soldiers with full weapons if necessary."
After saying that, Yunxi turned her face away, while her hand reached for the clean cloth beside her. She wanted to leave immediately. Her bath, which was supposed to be peaceful and enjoyable, had been ruined by that crazy tiger.
Sretttt...
"Arrrggghhh!!!"
Yunxi felt her body slide quickly. When she opened her eyes, she was on top of Yan Ling, his face right in front of hers.
"What..."
Cupp!!
Yunxi froze. Yan Ling suddenly kissed her lips without warning. As soon as she realised what was happening, she tried to resist, but of course her strength was no match for Yan Ling's.
Yunxi was not at a loss for ideas. She bit Yan Ling's lips as hard as she could until the taste of blood filled her mouth.
Yan Ling released his kiss and stared at Yunxi with a deep gaze.
Yunxi raised her hand and prepared to slap Yan Ling's face. But this man was Yan Ling. He casually caught Yunxi's hand, but he didn't say anything.
"What's wrong with you? Are you crazy?"
Yunxi shouted fiercely.
"Shouldn't that be my question to you? What's wrong with you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean."
"What? Because I'm no longer your bootlicker? You feel sorry because the stupid woman who always chased after you suddenly changed? Why? You have no outlet now that your beloved concubine won't serve you? Then find a new wife! Why are you bothering me?!"
Yunxi continued to struggle to free her hand, which was hurting in Yan Ling's grip.
"Argh!" Yunxi screamed loudly when Yan Ling suddenly turned her body around, with her hand, which had been in Yan Ling's grip, now folded behind her back.
Yunxi could feel Huang's hot breath on her neck.
"I don't like it. I don't like things that are under my control just slipping away. I want everything in my domain to be where it belongs."
"No, I don't want that!"
"You have no right to refuse."
Yan Ling said softly but with a threatening tone.
"What do you really want? You don't want me!
('You even threw me away after I gave birth to your child, you bastard')
Shouldn't you be happy that I finally gave up? You're free from me now! Ah!!"
Yan Ling bit Yunxi's ear, making Yunxi shiver.
"I already told you, I don't like things in my territory not being in their place."
"What place??? I don't even have a place there! I'm treated worse than a servant! Don't pretend to forget, my living quarters in the palace are even smaller than a pigsty!"
"Not anymore. I'll change it!"
"What for??? I don't need it, let go!!!"
Yunxi continued to resist, but his efforts were futile against Yan Ling, who was three times her size.
"Come back to the palace with me tomorrow."
"No, I've already gotten permission to stay here for five days. You go away!
"You will come back with me!"
"I said I don't want to!!! Oh, my stomach!"
Yunxi suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach, and bright red blood appeared in the water. Yan Ling panicked and let go of Yunxi. He grabbed a cloth, wrapped it around Yunxi's wet body, and quickly lifted her up.
"Servant!!!!" Yan Ling quickly walked out of the bathroom. Sumi was extremely surprised to see his mistress lying down and looking in pain.
"Mistress!!"
"Call the doctor, quickly!"
Yan Ling ordered, then Sumi quickly disappeared from there to call the doctor.
Yan Ling entered Yunxi's room and gently laid his wife down.
"This is your fault, you bastard!!!! If anything happens to my child, I will kill you!!"
Yunxi screamed through her pain and fear. This man always brought trouble into her life!
"Do whatever you want later,"
Said Yan Ling. Although he appeared expressionless, Yan Ling was actually quite afraid, especially seeing the blood.
"Get out!!! Leave me alone."
"Don't count on it!"
"You!"
"Your Highness! The Wang family physician has arrived!"
"Come in!"
The palace physician and Sumi, as well as several servants carrying water and clean cloths, entered.
"Auntie Mu..." Bao Jia gasped. Her stomach really hurt. Perhaps it was because she was too angry after arguing with Yan Ling.
"Please, everyone wait outside. I must examine her carefully."
Sumi and Yan Ling nodded and left.
The physician began to examine Yunxi, who was pale and covered in a cold sweat.
Meanwhile, outside. Not only Sumi and Yan Ling, but Yunxi's father was also there.
"What... What happened?"
"I'm sorry, it's my fault."
Yan Ling confessed in front of his father-in-law.
Wang Yibo didn't know what to say, while Sumi cursed Yan Ling as much as she could in her heart.
Not long after, the doctor who was treating Yunxi came out of Yunxi's room.
"How is she? Is my daughter..."
"Don't worry, the bleeding has been successfully stopped. Fortunately, it was only minor bleeding caused by stress and high blood pressure. So, next time, don't make her emotional or stressed. Moreover, her pregnancy is still very early, so she must be taken good care of because she is still very prone to miscarriage."
"Okay, thank you."
"Hm, Mr. Wang, I have prescribed medication and supplements to strengthen Miss Wang's pregnancy. Just take them regularly, and everything will be fine."
"Understood, thank you, Doctor Xi."
"Hm, then I'll take my leave."
Wang Yibo and the others nodded. Doctor Xi, followed by several of his assistants, left the Wang residence.
The atmosphere became awkward and silent. Wang Yibo did not even glance at Yan Ling. He still looked at his son-in-law because of his position as the Crown Prince of the Empire. However, he could not deny his disappointment at seeing his daughter sick like this.
Someone told him that Yunxi and Yan Ling had been arguing in the bathing room. Now, his daughter was on the verge of miscarriage. Even though this was Wang's residence, Yunxi could still experience something like this.
Wang Yibo couldn't imagine how his daughter was being treated in the palace.
Yan Ling could sense his father-in-law's disappointment. Although Wang Yibo didn't say anything, Yan Ling knew from his gloomy attitude and expression that his father-in-law must be blaming him.
He admitted that he had made a mistake and had let his emotions get the better of him. But it was all because Yunxi kept picking fights with him and wouldn't listen to what he had to say.
In fact, he himself did not understand why, ever since the incident in the gazebo, he had continued to feel guilty towards his first wife. Moreover, Yunxi always avoided him whenever and wherever she could.
A few days ago, before the tea party, he saw Yunxi and several of her servants walking in the opposite direction to him. But as soon as the woman saw him, she immediately turned around and took another route.
At first, Huang didn't want to care, but for days, Yunxi continued to do this and it made him uncomfortable and annoyed.
Moreover, every time he visited the Peach Pavilion, Yunxi was never there. Once, when he visited at night, the pavilion was pitch black, with only two guards and two servants standing outside Yunxi's room. It wasn't even midnight yet. So, it was certain that Yunxi was deliberately doing this so that he couldn't visit her. And that made him even more annoyed.
Yan Ling himself did not understand what was happening to him. But weren't they husband and wife? Even if they did not love each other, for the sake of their unborn child, shouldn't they at least be able to get along?
Yan Ling stared at Yunxi's still-closed eyes, her small but slightly round face, her fair skin, and the permanent blush on her cheeks. She looked just like a peach.
The night grew late, and Yan Ling decided not to sleep that night and to watch over Yunxi. He read some of the books there.
It seemed that they were Yunxi's books from when she was a child. He guessed this based on the condition of the books, which were very worn.
It turned out that the books were very good, and the more he read, the more interesting they became. They were history books about the empire, filled with Yunxi's small notes.
Yan Ling did not expect Yunxi to be such an intelligent and meticulous child. Without realising it, Yan Ling always smiled whenever he read those little notes.
"Who gave you permission to touch my things?"
Yunxi's voice immediately stopped his hand.
"Are you awake? Are you sick?"
Yan Ling asked as he approached Her. However, she did not respond. She just stared coldly at the man who was her husband.
Yan Ling noticed the hateful gaze and felt uncomfortable, because Yunxi used to always look at him with love and affection.
"Still want to fight with me?"
Hearing Yan Ling's very casual words, Yunxi took a deep breath. She had to suppress her emotions so as not to harm the foetus in her womb.
"Let's talk everything through properly until we're done."
"About what?"
"About our divorce."
Yunxi replied firmly.
"Don't even dream about it."
"Listen to me, we don't love each other. I am very depressed by your treatment of me, your second concubine who is always picking fights with me, and how I am ostracized there. I can't take it anymore, and I want to leave. I want to live peacefully and happily with my family."
Hearing this answer, Yan Ling's face immediately turned cold. His dark eyes stared at Yunxi as if he wanted to skin her alive.
"In that case, you won't be able to take the child."
"I'm willing. After all, the Royal Family will take care of him because he is your son. But there will be no guarantee of safety for me, even though I am his mother."
Yunxi's tears flowed freely, wetting her cheeks. She remembered the terrible memories of her previous life, where she was even expelled from the palace and pelted with stones along the way. She didn't even see Yan Ling there.
Even until the last second of her life, she didn't see anyone, anyone from the royal family who came to help her and her family. Her family was slaughtered. Where are these bastards?
"So, you mean, you want to live happily but leave your child?"
Yunxi was silent. But then she said,
"Can I take him with me?"
Yan Ling immediately grabbed Yunxi's small face tightly.
"Don't play games with me!"
Yunxi grimaced in pain, her jaw felt like it was about to break.
"See? Even in my father's house, you can hurt me like this!"
Yan Ling immediately released his grip.
"You provoked me."
He was furious.
"Tell me, what is your real reason?"
"I already told you, I don't love you anymore, I can't stand the way everyone in the palace treats me, and I want to leave. I don't want to spend the rest of my life pretending to have a happy marriage. I want to find my own love. I want to live with the man I love and who also loves me!! Do you understand???!!"
"Wang Yunxi!!!"
"What???!!!"
Yan Ling clenched his fists tightly. He was afraid he would not be able to control his anger and strangle Yunxi to death. So he turned around and left the room in a rage.
After that, the sound of footsteps and a sedan chair moving away from the Wang family residence could be heard.
Yunxi finally breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, she was terrified when she saw Yan Ling's red face. If Yan Ling had lost control and strangled her, Yunxi would have died a second time.
However, it was good that she was able to make Yan Ling angry and leave her father's house. That way, Yan Xiao could come here tomorrow morning to check on her father.
She could think about her business with Yan Ling later.
The next morning, the news that the Crown Prince had left the Wang family residence in the middle of the night became a hot topic of conversation. People who had already heard the rumour that the Crown Prince did not love Yunxi were even more eager to talk about it.
Yunxi did not care, but from this incident, she came to understand what kind of people lived in her neighbourhood. When her father was successful as a military commander, they competed to kiss his ass.
Now, when her father was in a weak position, those people turned around and talked about him.
Yunxi could only curse them, hoping that every day when they woke up, their backsides would be flashing!
"Hahaha, so you had a fight with my brother and he left in the middle of the night? You've got some nerve!"
Yan Xiao, who had just come to check on Yunxi's father, laughed heartily when he heard her story.
"It's a good thing he left. Otherwise, how could you have come to check on my father? I'll deal with my problem with your brother later."
"Yes, it's up to you. So now, where is Mr Wang?"
"He's in his room. Come on, I'll take you there."
Yan Ling nodded, then followed Yunxi to Wang Yibo's room, while Sumi had been busy since early morning making sure that everyone was busy with their work so that no one would notice Yan Xiao's presence.
"Father... It's me, Xi'er."
"Xi'er... Come in, child..."
Yunxi immediately entered her father's room, where he was lying down, with Yan Xiao following behind her.
"Xi'er... This is..."
"This is my friend, a physician from the Lou Yan family."
"What?"
Wang Yibo was naturally shocked to hear this, as the Lou Yan family was highly respected for their extraordinary medical skills.
"Father, he came here to examine you. But, Father, you must promise not to tell anyone about this physician."
"But, Xi'er... He..."
"Mr Wang, trust me. Yunxi came to me earlier with samples of your food and drink, as well as your clothes. I have examined them, and... I suspect something. So, to prove whether my suspicions are correct or not, I came to examine you directly."
"What suspicions?"
Wang Yibo asked curiously.
"I sense the aura of the Sou-yi tribe
's black magic on your clothes."
"Wh-what?"
Wang Yibo was utterly shocked to hear this. The black magic of the Sou-yi tribe was someone trying to kill him?? Wang Yibo felt a chill run down his spine. He alternated his gaze between Yunxi and the physician, who was actually Yan Xiao, his face pale.