vrcanaries Chapter 1321 Cherish
Chapter 1321 Cherish
Ye Li ignored him and remained leaning against the wall. The guard placed the food box on the ground and tactfully withdrew.
The food box contained a clean blue brocade robe, several delicate side dishes, and a bowl of steaming hot rice porridge.
Ye Li looked at the food, and his stomach growled involuntarily. He hadn't eaten anything all day.
He hesitated for a moment, but finally picked up his chopsticks and began to eat silently. The warmth of the rice porridge slid down his throat, warming his cold body and relaxing his tense nerves.
After finishing his meal, he changed into a clean brocade robe, leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, but the events of the day involuntarily replayed in his mind. The assassin's blade, the accusations of the courtiers—scenes flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
He knew that this crisis wasn't just aimed at him, but also at Zhan Xuan and Pang Qiang, and at the entire Li Kingdom. The mastermind behind it all must be trying to incite discord between the ruler and his ministers, and seize the opportunity to cause chaos.
"No matter who you are, I will not let you succeed," Ye Li vowed silently in his heart.
As night fell, the entire palace was as bright as day.
At this moment, Pang Qiang was reporting the situation to Lin Yiwan. She said in a deep voice, "Madam Hou, I have already ordered people to investigate the origins of those assassins. I believe we will have results soon!"
Lin Yiwan said with a complicated expression, "Aqiang, I'm so sorry to have wronged you. Today was supposed to be your wedding day with Xuan'er, but unexpectedly, such a change has occurred!"
Pang Qiang shook her head: "I'm not wronged. This is something that A-Qiang must go through to become the Queen of Li Kingdom. It's a test, but also an opportunity to establish her authority!"
A look of admiration flashed in Lin Yiwan's eyes; Pang Qiang was indeed outstanding.
She needs to get Ah Xuan to treat her better!
No matter what, I have to give her the child!
Thinking of this, she said in a low voice, "A-Qiang, go and call Zhan Xuan here. I have something to say to him!"
Pang Qiang turned and walked away quickly, just in time to bump into Zhan Xuan, who had just returned from the prison.
She said in a low voice, "The Lady of the Marquis wants you to come in!"
Zhan Xuan handed her the medicine box: "Okay!"
He strode into the hall and respectfully bowed to Lin Yiwan: "Mother!"
When Lin Yiwan saw that his wedding dress was stained with blood, a dark look flashed in her eyes.
She frowned and asked, "You went to see Ali? How badly is he injured? Is his life in danger?"
Zhan Xuan shook his head: "It's nothing. I just treated his wounds. Apart from being a little upset, he's fine!"
Lin Yiwan sighed helplessly, "How did that child become a thorn in the side of the powerful clans of Li Kingdom? They even managed to frame him for the crime of assassinating the Empress!"
Zhan Xuan frowned; he knew the reason, of course.
However, he didn't want to say it.
He frowned and said, "I will never let the real murderer get away with it. I will wipe out those who plotted against Ali. Mother, rest assured!"
Lin Yiwan interrupted without hesitation: "Of course I know how much you value him, but what about A-Qiang? Are you really going to let her just be a decoration?"
Zhan Xuan's expression stiffened, his eyes revealing an unfathomable darkness.
Lin Yiwan didn't want to pressure him too much, so she gently advised, "The palace is lonely. Even if she willingly got involved for the two of you, you should still be mindful of her feelings!"
The air pressure around Zhan Xuan suddenly dropped, making the bloodstains on his dragon-patterned wedding robes appear even more ferocious.
He clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white: "Mother, Ali was just assassinated today and has been falsely accused of being the mastermind. He is all alone and helpless now. How can I abandon him? As for Pang Qiang, I will give her the honor that an empress deserves, but consummating our marriage is absolutely impossible. I cannot hurt Ali."
Lin Yiwan reminded him in a deep voice: "Do you think you are protecting him by doing this? You know very well why A-Qiang entered the palace. If the news that you and she did not consummate your marriage on your wedding night gets out, those noble families will cause trouble. You won't be able to handle it yourself, so how can you protect A-Li?"
Zhan Xuan froze, his mother's words like a sharp blade piercing through his lingering hope.
As the king of Li Kingdom, he carries the weight of the vast land and the safety of the people on his shoulders, and cannot act solely based on his own likes and dislikes.
But the thought of Ye Li looking sad and alone in the prison cell made his heart ache as if it were being pricked by needles.
He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was the resolute determination of a monarch: "Mother, I will find another way to deal with the noble families of Li Kingdom. But the matter of consummating the marriage must not be mentioned again. Ali is the person I must protect. Even if the whole world opposes it, even if it endangers the imperial power, I will never let him suffer the slightest grievance again."
Lin Yiwan watched his tall yet stubborn back as she smashed the teacup on the ground, the sound of it shattering echoing throughout the hall.
She gazed in the direction her son had left, her eyes filled with helplessness and worry: "Silly child, you're gambling your empire with someone's life!"
Zhan Xuan walked out of the majestic palace, the cold wind whipping up his wedding robes, the bloodstains gleaming coldly in the moonlight.
He looked up towards the direction of Ye Li's cell, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes. What did it matter if the vast empire was useless if he couldn't protect his beloved? To him, the throne was nothing but a shackle.
Just then, the captain of the guards bowed and stood below the steps, lowering his voice slightly, "Over in the prison, Young Master Ye is coughing up blood again. The imperial physician says he is emotionally distressed, and his wounds are difficult to heal."
Zhan Xuan paused, a surge of tenderness welling up in his eyes that almost broke through the monarch's restraint.
Without further hesitation, he strode towards the prison cell.
The captain of the guards hurriedly caught up with him, and he hesitated before speaking: "The Queen sent someone to ask, she is waiting for you, and says that tonight is your wedding night!"
Zhan Xuan interrupted him, his tone ambiguous and complex: "I will go see Ye Li first, and then explain to her later."
The guard commander dared not say anything more and quickly bowed in agreement.
When Zhan Xuan arrived at the cell, he could hear suppressed coughing as soon as he got close.
Zhan Xuan pushed open the door and entered, only to see Ye Li leaning against the headboard, his face as pale as paper, with traces of blood still stained at the corner of his lips. Hearing the noise, Ye Li looked up, his previously dim eyes instantly brightening, then dimming again, as he struggled to get up and bow.
"Don't move." Zhan Xuan quickly stepped forward and pressed him down, his voice extremely gentle: "Does the wound still hurt?"
Ye Li shook his head, lowered his eyes, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, you shouldn't have come. Today is your wedding day; you should be with the Queen."
“Ali,” Zhan Xuan held his cold hand, his fingertips gently stroking the back of his hand, “In my heart, no one is as important as you.”
Ye Li stiffened, then looked up at him abruptly, her eyes brimming with tears: "Your Majesty, you are the ruler of Li Kingdom, you cannot be willful. Pang Qiang married you to silence the gossips of those noble families. If you continue to neglect her, your throne will be in grave danger!"
Zhan Xuan interrupted him, a fierce glint in his eyes, "I earned my throne through my own abilities. If those powerful families dare to cause trouble again, I won't hesitate to pick one out as a warning to others!"