Thinking it was another reincarnation

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Chapter 50: Thinking She Had Gone Through Another Reincarnation

The numb pain of the past was dragged back into the light that night, spreading like a raging wildfire and scorching Ye Wanwan’s heart until she wished she were dead.

Though she had fallen into a deep sleep, her body continued to tremble. Cold sweat soaked her from head to toe. Her teeth were clenched so tightly that blood seeped from the corners of her lips.

Half dreaming and half awake, she seemed to relive everything from the past again and again, as though enduring the torture of being slowly cut to pieces.

Just as the nightmare was about to consume Ye Wanwan, the window that had not been properly shut was pushed open. A figure appeared without a sound and walked to the bedside. After only a moment’s hesitation, the figure reached out toward her.

Ye Wanwan was completely unconscious, yet her hand instantly closed around the other’s. She clutched it desperately, like a drowning person grasping the last blade of grass that might save her, her nails digging deeply into the other’s flesh.

In the darkness, a pair of deep-blue eyes gazed at the person on the bed. At last, the figure raised a hand and brought it down heavily.

The body that had been trembling ceaselessly finally grew still.

—

When Ye Wanwan opened her eyes again, she had no idea what day it was or where she was.

Qingsha knelt before the bed, overcome with excitement. “Your Highness, you’re finally awake.”

Aunt Lin hurried in at the sound of her voice, tears welling in her eyes. “The imperial physician said your body is weak and that you need plenty of rest. But you slept for two whole days and two nights, and even the physician couldn’t wake you. You frightened us half to death.”

Ye Wanwan was somewhat dazed. Only two days and two nights? She had thought she had gone through another reincarnation.

She was awake, but she could not move. Slowly closing her eyes, she soon sank once more into a hazy sleep.

By the time she fully awakened, she had no idea how much more time had passed.

This time, Qingsha and Aunt Lin were nowhere to be seen. Sitting beside the bed was someone she had not expected: Zhao Yi.

He was seated at her bedside and seemed to have been there for quite some time, a book in his hands as he read with great concentration.

Ye Wanwan simply stared at him, and a dense, lingering ache began to spread through her heart once more.

Zhao Yi was undeniably handsome, and he was in the prime of his youth, at the height of his splendor.

He was an exceptional man to begin with. Add to that the majesty of an emperor, the power of one who held the fate of the realm in his hands, and the pride that accompanied it—how many women under Heaven could resist a man like that?

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From the time Ye Wanwan could remember, Empress Dowager Ye had told her that she would one day become her cousin’s consort—his principal wife.

From childhood onward, she studied calligraphy and painting, strategy and statecraft, etiquette and propriety, grace and refinement. Everything she learned was for the sake of becoming his wife.

In Ye Wanwan’s life, her mother had died young, her father was always busy, and her elder brother remained distant. It seemed that everyone was merely a passing stranger, dispensable and insignificant. Only Zhao Yi had been present throughout her entire life, as though she had been born for him.

She had been young when she first fell in love. Faced with a man like Zhao Yi, how could she have felt nothing?

The tender feelings of a young girl, the longing that filled her heart—in all those inexpressible thoughts, every space had been occupied by Zhao Yi.

She had been willing to marry him. Even if she could not become his principal wife and could only be made a Noble Consort, she would have been overjoyed. She had believed that after their marriage, she would win his affection, and that the longing filling her heart would finally have an ending.

Who could have imagined that the wedding night itself would strike her like a staff to the head? It was not merely a basin of cold water poured over her. It was a knife driven straight into her heart.

When she thought of herself in her previous life, she realized that even after being treated so cruelly, she had still refused to accept it. On one side stood her pride, unwilling to be broken; on the other stood the love she could not bear to relinquish. Torn between the two, she had ended up with nothing and completely destroyed herself.

Whom could she blame?

Could she blame Empress Dowager Ye, who had concealed a dagger behind her honeyed words, treating her with apparent kindness while sending her to her death?

Could she blame her biological father, Ye Zhaoru, whose every calculation had been for the sake of power, and who had remained indifferent to his own daughter’s suffering?

Or should she blame the sinister schemes of the imperial harem? Blame Zhao Yi for his ruthless methods?

There was so much to resent. Yet the person she ought to blame most—and the person she most wanted to blame—was herself.

She was not a fool. How could she have failed to see the bone-deep coldness and indifference of those people? She had seen it, yet she could not sever herself from them. She had even remained stubbornly deluded.

How foolish she had been.

Perhaps Ye Wanwan’s gaze was too intense, for Zhao Yi sensed it and turned to look at her. “You’re awake.”

Ye Wanwan lowered her eyes halfway. “Your Majesty, could you pour me a cup of water?”

Her voice was hoarse when she spoke, as if it had been scorched by fire.

Zhao Yi clearly had not expected those to be her first words. He said nothing and did not call for anyone. Instead, he set down the book and personally poured her a cup of water.

At first, he simply held it out to her. But her weakness was plain to see, and she probably could not even sit up. He leaned over, helped her upright, and brought the cup to her lips, patiently feeding her until she had finished it.

“More.”

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Zhao Yi fell silent.

Without a word, he poured another cup.

Since becoming crown prince, Zhao Yi had never attended to anyone except the late emperor when he was ill. By any measure, this was a rare occurrence. Yet in Ye Wanwan’s current condition, he could not bring himself to grow angry.

It seemed that beautiful people looked beautiful no matter what. Even with her face deathly pale and her body frail, Ye Wanwan was still lovely. Her weakness only made her appear more pitiful and inspired the urge to protect her. Compared with the haughty woman who had dared to slap someone across the face, this version of her was far more pleasing to look at.

Once the water had soothed her throat, Ye Wanwan said, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Zhao Yi helped her lie back down and personally pulled the covers over her. One of his hands still held hers.

The touch and warmth of a man’s hand made Ye Wanwan uneasy.

“You are unwell. You need to rest more.”

As he spoke, a trace of amusement entered his voice. “You really are something. They were only a few rashes, yet they frightened you half to death. Are you truly that fond of your looks?”

It was obvious that Zhao Yi was in a good mood.

Naturally. Ye Wanwan had punished the Empress Dowager’s servants and made her lose so much face. How could he not be pleased?

Ye Wanwan remained silent, and Zhao Yi did not mind. He reached out and pinched her cheek. “I always knew you were well-mannered and sensible. I never realized you had such a temper. Those disobedient servants are no good. I’ll have the Palace Supply Office send you some better ones.”

The Empress Dowager’s servants were no good, but the ones you send will probably be even worse.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Zhao Yi nodded and offered a few more instructions before leaving.

“Take good care of yourself. I’ll come visit you again when I have the time.”

If she could, she would have preferred never to see him again for the rest of her life.

“Safe travels, Your Majesty!”

End of Chapter