novelraw Chapter 1948 Tokens
Chapter 1948 Tokens
Chapter 1948 Tokens
“My father promised me,” Fang Zilan said, enunciating each word clearly. “If I really don’t make it and collapse in the long night, the Fang family will go to see me at dawn.”
Murong Qing was taken aback, and Fang Zilan continued speaking to herself, "So whether you believe it or not, I will do my best to fight back."
Murong Qing remained silent for a long while. Just when Fang Zilan thought he wouldn't pay attention to her, she heard his voice, "If I leave first, will you come to the capital to find me?"
Fang Zilan chuckled, "With the young master's abilities, are you afraid I'll go back on my word?"
"Fang Zilan, if you hadn't come to the capital to find me, or if you had lost your life in the southeast," Murong Qing said with a sinister expression, "I would have made everyone you care about wish they were dead."
"I believe you," Fang Zilan nodded slightly. "And please believe me too."
"Without the title of the Crown Prince's wife, how will you protect yourself?" Murong Qing stared intently at Fang Zilan, noticing that her smile had widened but there was no mirth in her eyes. "No one has ever asked Zixiu such a question before."
"No one ever knew that Zixiu would be so badly injured," Murong Qing said quietly. "I know very well how your body has been along the way."
"I know what I'm doing." Fang Zilan pursed her lips and said as if to make amends, "I've suffered much more serious injuries before, and I couldn't move for more than half a year, but now I'm sitting right in front of you, perfectly fine."
“That’s different.” Murong Qing’s voice softened a bit. “I didn’t know before, but I do now.”
"Your Highness, I don't care whether you mean it sincerely or not." Fang Zilan moved closer to Murong Qing. "I accept your feelings, but don't distract me."
"If... I mean, if." Murong Qing's tone betrayed a hint of nervousness, which he tried hard to conceal, but Fang Zilan heard it clearly. "If what?"
"If anyone in the capital bullies me, or even feeds me to the tigers..." Murong Qing's voice trailed off as he spoke, and Fang Zilan suppressed a laugh, "Who is so bold as to bully the young master? Are they tired of living?"
"Fang Zilan, I'm talking to you about something serious." Murong Qing sat up straight, and Fang Zilan obediently sat up straight as well. "Okay, go ahead."
"Will you come to save me?" Murong Qing's eyes flickered, but even she herself couldn't tell whether she was testing or hoping.
"Yes." Fang Zilan replied without hesitation, "I have kept my promise to Prince Zhongzheng, and I will keep the jade cicada as my pledge."
Murong Qing swayed slightly. "Did you only promise my father?"
"Yes." Fang Zilan nodded. "I just promised you that I would come to the capital to find you after things are settled in the southeast..."
"That's not what I want." Murong Qing hurriedly interrupted Fang Zilan. He felt a tightness in his chest, unable to let go or suppress it.
"Not this?" Fang Zilan scrutinized Murong Qing. "Then what does the young master want?"
“You gave me a piece of candy before, and I gave you one too. You said it was a token between us.” Murong Qing took a deep breath. “That token was too fragile, so I changed my mind.”
“Your Highness, do you know that if I agree to your request…” Fang Zilan composed herself and said earnestly, “After tonight, the world will be vast, yet there will be no place for us to stay.” “So what?” Li Qiyou’s voice held a hint of urgency. “We can find a remote place to live in seclusion…”
"A remote place?" Fang Zilan raised an eyebrow. "Under the whole heaven, all land belongs to the king. Your Highness, where do you think we can escape to?"
Li Qiyou was stunned for a moment, and Fang Zilan continued to speak on her own, "Moreover, Your Highness is a married man. If you elope with me, what will become of the two princesses?"
“I…” Li Qiyou opened his mouth, but before he could defend himself, Fang Zilan continued, “Today, Your Highness can disregard the two princesses for my sake. In the future, you can also abandon me for someone else.”
"I won't!" Li Qiyou pulled Fang Zilan into his arms without further ado. "Besides you, I won't..."
“Your Highness, you are the Jade Emperor of Dajing. And I am the third young lady of the Fang family of the Prime Minister’s residence.” Fang Zilan’s expression turned cold as she pushed Li Qiyou away. “People like us are destined to be unable to control our own lives from birth. Even if you are unwilling to bear the glory and reputation of the Li royal family, I cannot betray the Fang family.”
After she finished speaking, she straightened her sleeves and said resolutely, "Your Highness, please leave."
Li Qiyou still showed no intention of leaving, standing there silently. After a while, Fang Zilan lost her patience and dragged him to the door. But when she opened the door, she saw Murong Qing.
Fang Zilan wasn't surprised, after all, with her keen senses, she had just heard someone outside the door, which was why she hadn't forcibly pushed Li Qiyou out.
But for some reason, the person outside the door showed no sign of leaving. So she disregarded her pride and decided to let everyone see that she and Li Qiyou did have an affair. She wanted to wait for the news to reach the Prince Zhongzheng's residence and see their reaction.
But she never expected that the person outside the door would be none other than Prince Murong Qing, who is now her nominal future husband.
Murong Qing's gaze swept back and forth between the two, finally settling on Li Qiyou. "Your Highness Prince Yucheng, why are you here in the middle of the night?"
"I invited Your Highness here," Fang Zilan said calmly. "What, does Your Highness find something wrong with it?"
“Miss Fang, we are engaged, please respect yourself.” Murong Qing spoke these words in a serious and measured manner, showing a maturity beyond his years.
Fang Zilan remained noncommittal, and changed the subject, saying, "I wonder what brings you here so late at night, Your Highness?"
"Father received news that the soldiers of Dajing are heading south, heading straight for Lincheng." Murong Qing stared at Fang Zilan and said in a deep voice, "Therefore, Father asked me to pass on a message to Miss Fang: the marriage is not what our two families wish for, but if this causes war to break out again, the Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion will not back down in the slightest."
"What did the young master say?" A look of surprise flashed in Fang Zilan's eyes. Murong Qing snorted coldly, "Third Miss Fang has used her supernatural abilities to manipulate the Li family uncle and nephew of Dajing, but now she dares not admit it?"
Fang Zilan was furious, but she remained outwardly calm. "The young master and I are not yet married. Don't you think you're meddling too much?"
“Miss Fang, neither the Li uncle nor his nephew are easy to deal with.” Murong Qing said, glancing at Li Qiyou, whose expression was inscrutable. “Be careful, don’t play with fire and get burned.”
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness." Fang Zilan said calmly, "However, on the matter of peace between the two countries, I am on the same side as the Prince Zhongzheng's Mansion. Therefore, unless it is my own wish, I will never break off the engagement."
Murong Qing gave Fang Zilan a deep look, as if he could see someone else through her. "With Miss Fang's words, I am relieved." He bowed and then turned to leave.