The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Just as Xiao Jingyan and Yun Jin were about to turn and leave, the Empress Dowager's gaze suddenly fell on Xiao Jingyan's back. After hesitating for a moment, she softly called out, "Ayan..."

Xiao Jingyan paused, turning back to look at the Empress Dowager.

Seeing this, Yun Jin tactfully bowed to the Empress Dowager and said softly, "This subject will take her leave now."

She then turned and left the bedchamber. Granny Qin followed her out and whispered, "Princess, this old servant will see you off."

As he spoke, he picked up a lantern and led Yun Jin outside.

Only the grandfather and grandson remained in the bedroom.

The Empress Dowager looked at Xiao Jingyan and remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking: "Ayan, tell your grandmother the truth, do you really not want to sit in that position?"

Xiao Jingyan shook his head without hesitation: "I don't want to. Grandmother, the palace is a cage. I don't want to be a broken-winged eagle, trapped in these four walls for the rest of my life."

My father didn't want this position back then, and neither did I. All I want is to stay with those I want to protect, to safeguard those I want to safeguard, and to be a free person.

The Empress Dowager looked at him for a long time before letting out a soft sigh: "Just like your father. Fine, neither of you is interested in this, so your grandmother won't force you."

She paused, her gaze falling towards the doorway, and suddenly said, "Your daughter-in-law looks a lot like your mother. That's good."

Xiao Jingyan was taken aback, then smiled and said, "Grandmother, didn't you dislike my mother?"

The Empress Dowager glared at him and snorted, "You brat, you still hold a grudge against your grandmother?"

She paused, and after a long while, she slowly said, "Your mother is very good. It was just that your grandmother was too stubborn when she was young, and she only thought about making your father sit on that throne. At that time, she always felt that your mother came from the martial arts world and was not good enough for him, and she was afraid that she would ruin your father's future."

But now even the Empress Dowager understands: your father married the person he loved and is living the life he wanted—that's more important than anything else.

Xiao Jingyan smiled and said, "I will tell Mother Consort later."

A hint of embarrassment flashed across the Empress Dowager's face, and she said angrily, "Don't say it."

He then waved his hand and said, "Get lost, brat."

Xiao Jingyan replied with an "okay," but then added with concern, "Grandmother, please take good care of yourself and don't overthink things. I'll come to see you again when I have time."

The Empress Dowager said impatiently, "Alright, let's go. Be careful on the road, and don't let anyone see us."

Xiao Jingyan stood up, bowed to the Empress Dowager again, and then turned and left the bedchamber.

After meeting up with Yun Jin, who was waiting in the courtyard, they bid farewell to Granny Qin and left the palace via the same route.

The two boarded the carriage, and Jin Hu drove it back.

After the car had driven away from the vicinity of the palace for a while, Xiao Jingyan suddenly reached out and gently grasped Yun Jin's hand, whispering, "Jin'er, thank you."

Yun Jin grasped his hand in return, saying nothing more; she truly didn't know what to say.

Silence speaks louder than words in this moment.

The carriage drove to the back alley of the Yun residence. Xiao Jingyan watched her climb over the wall and enter the residence before turning around, getting into the carriage, and leaving.

Yun Jin returned to Jinshu Pavilion, took a nap fully clothed, and woke up when it was already broad daylight.

She got up, washed up, had a simple breakfast, and went to Qingshui Garden to pay her respects to Chu Wanqing. Seeing that Chu Wanqing looked natural, she felt a little more at ease.

After exchanging a few casual words with her, he said that he was going to visit Shen Qingyun at the First Prince's residence that day, and then left with Dongxue and Hongling.

When Yun Jin arrived at the First Prince's residence, after the gatekeeper announced her arrival, Shen Qingyun's head maid personally came out to welcome Yun Jin inside.

When Yun Jin was led into Shen Qingyun's courtyard, Shen Qingyun was sitting by the couch, holding a urn and vomiting incessantly.

Seeing Yun Jin enter, she handed the washing bowl to the maid, took the handkerchief to wipe her mouth, and forced a weak smile: "Jin-meimei, you're here. I only now realize how unbearable pregnancy truly is. If I had known it would be this painful, I would have preferred not to have it at all."

Yun Jin laughed and said, "Sister Shen, please don't say that. If the child in your womb knew, wouldn't it be heartbroken? Besides, if you were given another chance, I'm afraid you would still choose the same thing."

Shen Qingyun sighed, her hand resting on her still flat stomach, her eyes full of tenderness: "You're right. I didn't expect the reaction to be so strong. It's only been a little over a month, and it's already making me unable to eat or sleep. How am I going to get through this?"

As she spoke, her stomach churned again, and she quickly turned her head away to dry heave.

Yun Jin quickly took out a water bag filled with water from the spatial spring and handed it to her, "Sister, have a sip. This water can help alleviate your pregnancy symptoms."

Shen Qingyun took a few sips from her hand, her brows gradually relaxing. She asked with a mixture of surprise and curiosity, "What kind of water is this? It's sweet, and it makes my stomach feel cooler after drinking it."

Yun Jin smiled and said, "It's rootless water; I don't have much of it myself. Drinking this can help suppress your morning sickness, so I brought some for you today. Try this too..."

As she spoke, she took a porcelain jar from Chunxi, opened the lid, and handed it to Shen Qingyun. "This is some dried fruit I made myself. If you feel nauseous, just suck on a piece. This dried fruit is sweet and sour, which can help suppress that nausea."

Shen Qingyun picked up a piece, put it in her mouth and chewed it. Sure enough, she felt that the sour and churning feeling in her stomach was suppressed a bit.

Her eyes lit up, and she picked up another piece, saying happily, "This is good, this is good. Jin-mei, how are your hands so skillful? You can do everything."

Yun Jin smiled, took Shen Qingyun's hand, and checked her pulse. Seeing that her pulse was stable, she finally felt relieved.

Shen Qingyun dismissed the servants and lowered her voice to say to Yun Jin, "Sister Jin, there's something else I want to tell you. Zheng Yu has been acting strangely lately."

Seeing her serious expression, Yun Jin quickly asked solemnly, "Sister, have you discovered something?"

Shen Qingyun frowned, her face full of confusion: "Her face is healed, and it's even more delicate than before."

Yun Jin's brows furrowed as well.

The poison she used on Zheng Yu was a formula from the poison manual given to her by Yama, the King of Hell. It was said that apart from her antidote, no one else could cure it.

She hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Sister, do you know what method she used?"

Shen Qingyun shook her head: "I don't know. She did go around seeking medical treatment during that time, spending money like water."

Yun Jin couldn't help but wonder, could there be some expert in the capital who could cure that poison?

Suppressing her doubts, she asked again, "What is the current relationship between Your Highness and her?"

Shen Qingyun said in a calm tone, "As soon as her face recovered, she started pestering His Highness every day. However, His Highness is different from before. He doesn't spend every day with her, but he often comes to my place and even specially invited an imperial physician to stay at the residence to take care of me. Now I'm only thinking that if she doesn't bother me, I'll let her go for the time being. Giving birth to the child in my womb is the most important thing."

Yun Jin looked at her and reminded her, "Sister Shen, do you think she will stop? She dared to be ruthless to you before you were pregnant, and now that you are pregnant, she will be even less likely to let it go."

Shen Qingyun bit her lip, and after a long while said, "Sister, what do you think I should do?"