Zhao Pei stood on the shore for a long time, but she never saw him again. In the world, apart from the vast smoke and the fleeting mist, there was only her.
She didn't speak, didn't move. She was like a fragile sculpture that would fall down and shatter into pieces if touched. Zhao Pei stared at the lotus where he disappeared, and gradually became numb. Her mind was empty, so empty that it was heartbreaking.
He said he would be back soon. She also promised him that she would wait for him. But he broke his promise.
She didn't know how long she stood on the shore, maybe three hours, maybe three years, maybe three reincarnations. She had lost all feeling in her feet, and the pain and numbness spread throughout her body.
Qinglan waited outside the yard for a while but finally lost her patience. However, she only saw Zhao Pei standing there like a fool. She slowly approached and stood beside Zhao Pei. Only then did she see Zhao Pei's face, which was as pale as paper, with tears streaking across her face.
Qinglan was speechless, with endless worry rolling in her eyes. Zhaopei finally felt her presence and slowly, slowly turned her head away. There was no light in her empty eyes, and behind the gloom was endless sadness.
“What should I do…” She looked at Qinglan with tearful eyes, her voice hoarse and weak, as lifeless as fallen leaves in the autumn wind, “I said I would wait for him, but I can’t wait for him…” A fishy-sweet breath surged from her throat, and she no longer had the strength to continue.
At the moment when the blue tears gushed out, I fell into the endless darkness of pain.
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When Zhao Pei was carried back to the palace, Xiao Yi was in the study discussing matters. He ran out after hearing the news and saw Zhao Pei's pale and transparent face, with her features twisted tightly together in pain and tears flowing down like a broken dam.
Shui Niang rushed over and panicked: "The princess might be giving birth prematurely! Find a midwife quickly!" Xiao Yi was shocked, wondering how such a sudden change could have happened.
He looked at Zhao Pei who was immersed in pain, and immediately went up to her and held her cold hand.
She was crying, her voice was as soft as a mosquito, but he could hear it clearly: "I can't wait for you... Why don't you come back... You lied to me..." His heart sank, and he growled to the people around him: "What happened?"
Someone trembled and replied: "The princess...she was fine this morning..."
"That's enough!" Xiao Yi was so angry that he held her hand tightly and shouted, "Where's the doctor? Where's the midwife? Where are they?"
Shui Niang ran up to him and said, "We're almost there, Prince. Please let the princess go. She's about to give birth." Zhao Pei was trapped in a black mist, and kept mumbling in her sleep, "I can't wait for you... where are you... Deshi..." The soft call reached Xiao Yi's ears, and his body suddenly stiffened, and he slowly loosened his grip on her hand.
"The princess may have suffered a blow or been frightened." Shui Niang said as she ordered people to carry Zhao Pei into the house.
Xiao Yi stood there, watching the red door slam shut. His hands, hidden in his wide robe, clenched into fists, the joints turning white. At this moment, Qiao Yu hurried over to Xiao Yi and whispered, "Your Highness, I just got the news. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince fell into the water and died!"
Thunderclaps in the sky! Xiao Yi's hands suddenly loosened, staring at him blankly, silent for a long time without saying a word. Qiao Yu heard the busy and anxious shouts of the people in the room, and said: "I will disperse those ministers now, Your Majesty, you can wait here with peace of mind."
A thin layer of ice gradually appeared in Xiao Yi's eyes. He looked at the delivery room without any lingering feelings and said calmly, "Don't pay attention to her. Let's continue our work."
Qiao Yu was stunned, and stammered in the distance, "But the princess...she."
Xiao Yi was about to leave, and seeing him whining here, he glanced at him coldly: "Don't make me say it a second time." Suddenly, the sky was cold and snowy. Qiao Yu knew that Xiao Yi was angry. Now was not the time to talk more, so he had to keep silent and follow him away.
Behind him, there were the screams of the midwives and maids. (To be continued)