Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight

Chapter 44: Settle Accounts

Li Xuanzhen shook his head and put Yaoying down: "I didn't hurt her. She suddenly coughed up blood for no reason."

Zheng Biyu hurried Li Xuanzhen out and repeatedly asked for a doctor to come and treat Yaoying.

Li Xuanzhen turned to leave when he felt a tug on his sleeve.

He turned around.

Yaoying clutched his sleeve tightly, so hard her fingers were white. Lying on the edge of the bed, she weakly said, "Flying.... Flying cavalry...."

Li Xuanzhen looked at her, drawing back his sleeve expressionlessly.

"I've already had the flying cavalry depart."

Yaoying slowly closed her eyes.

The doctor arrived shortly with a medicine box. He could not figure out what was wrong, and could only prescribe Yaoying medicine first to soothe her nerves.

Zheng Biyu was so anxious, afraid that something bad would happen to Yaoying, so she personally watched over her.

The next morning, Yaoying woke up from her deep sleep and struggled to get up from bed despite the doctor's resistance.

She could not stay in the Eastern Palace for much longer.

Zheng Biyu had already learned of the deal between Yaoying and Li Xuanzhen. With a deep sigh, she helped her up, "Qiniang, have you really thought it through?"

Last night, Wei Ming and Li Xuanzhen had an argument.

Wei Ming did not want to save Li Zhongqian, but Li Xuanzhen insisted on saving him, and the two had argued until midnight.

Nevertheless, a servant from the princess's residence was elated, hurrying back to the princess's residence that very night to report the news. This morning, the palace attendants serving there came to deliver the news that Zhu Luyun was willing to eat.

Yaoying's face was still as pale as snow, smiling with bitterness as she said: "Sister-in-law, under an overturned nest, how could there be an unharmed egg? If my elder brother was truly killed in the river valley, my aniang and I will have no one to rely on. I will be meat on the chopping block. At that point, I won't have anything to trade with."

When the whole Xie clan died in the war, Noble Consort Xie lost her support, so the three mother and children could only be taken advantage of.

In order to protect her and aniang, Li Zhongqian abandoned literature for martial arts and followed Li De to fight in the wars on all sides, deterring those with evil intentions with his brutal and fierce reputation on the battlefield.

In the midst of chaos, Li Zhongqian gave her and Noble Consort Xie confidence.

Without her elder brother, she could either meekly marry in replacement or resist until she died.

Since the ending was the same either way, she might as well take the lead in this deal and exchange herself for Li Zhongqian's safety.

As long as she could save her elder brother, Yaoying could sacrifice anything.

Zheng Biyu released a sigh and sent her out of the inner courtyard.

Li Xuanzhen was just returning from the princess's residence, still in yesterday's clothes, his expression neither good nor bad.

He looked at Yaoying and frowned lightly, "You're sick. Why are you out of bed and walking around?"

Yaoying's face was turning pale and she smiled weakly, "Eldest brother need not worry. As long as my elder brother is safe, I will keep my promise and complete the engagement between Great Wei and the Yelu tribe. Even if I'm going to die of illness, I will still last through until the day of the wedding banquet."

Li Xuanzhen's face was slightly sullen.

Yaoying slowed down, lifting her eyes up to look into Li Xuanzhen's phoenix eyes that resembled Li Zhongqian's.

"Li Xuanzhen, I bowed my head to you, made a deal with you, and kneeled to you, not because I felt that my aniang was guilty and that we owed you something, but only because that is the law of the jungle and I was forced to do so.

"I never thought it was my aniang who forced Empress Tang to die. The tragedy between them was an unfortunate and unexpected mistake made that could not be helped in the middle of a world in chaos. Second brother was even more innocent. He never hurt either of you. Only because he was my aniang's son, because he threatened your position, you regarded him as a thorn in your side, and His Majesty took his anger out on him."

Li Xuanzhen did not make a sound, watching Yaoying weakly get farther and farther away, the frail figure disappearing into the depths of the forest's shade.

....

Yaoying used all her strength to walk out of the courtyard.

Xie Qing stepped forward quickly and helped her get into the carriage.

"Your Highness, back to the wangfu?"

Yaoying shook her head and spoke in a voice as delicate as silk: "No, let's go into the palace."

She was about to marry far away to the grasslands.

This departure would probably be a forever farewell.

Before leaving, some old scores and old debts had to be settled one by one.