Darkness, it was also her most feared darkness.

  She was in agony, feeling as if she was still struggling in the water that was swallowing her, every breath was so difficult. She cried out, wanting to open her eyes, wanting to grasp onto anything that could help her survive... She seemed to be back in the midst of a raging fire, scorching hot, every inch of her skin burning with pain, tears streaming from her eyes only to evaporate instantly.

  She cried out for help, but no one came... She gave up and fell into the flames, helplessly turning into a wisp of smoke.

  She choked, her forehead suddenly cooled, the real touch pulled her back from the confused dream, she was too weak to open her eyes, and tried to ask for water in a low voice. Someone really brought water to her lips, she feared it was a dream, and eagerly drank it down with a big mouth.

  "Mei..."

  This voice sounds so familiar, is it Yonghe? No... Yonghe wouldn't have such a sad tone.

  "Mei Li..." Her hand was grasped in a pair of icy hands, "Mei Li, I only need you." He said, she couldn't even frown weakly, but she heard the helplessness in his tone, as if... he was warning himself.

  She was a bit anxious and wanted to open her eyes to see if it was really Yonghe.

  It was a bit noisy around her, as if she had missed some fragments in confusion. Many people were speaking softly, like arguing and quarreling at the same time. Her head hurt.

  A woman suddenly shouted loudly: "She's no good! She'll ruin you!"

  Meili couldn't tell whose voice it was, but that sorrowful and indignant tone instantly left a mark on her heart.

  A very bitter medicine was poured into her mouth, she knew that the medicine was hard to come by and didn't dare frown, with difficulty swallowed, finally still choked a little. She suddenly opened her eyes.

  She saw Yonghe, her breathing suddenly rapid, she wanted to tell him not to worry, she was fine, she wasn't dead! The next moment, she was stunned, sitting silently beside her bed was Yonghe? He didn't even notice that she had woken up. How could Yonghe have such a wooden expression, how could his eyes be so cold?

  "Ge Ge?" Hong Ling, who was supporting her to take medicine, exclaimed in surprise. Yong He trembled slightly and turned his face to look at her with a warm gaze... Mei Li put down her guard, it's him! His eyes, his smile, still so warm, she let out a long sigh of relief.

  "Is it better?" He sat over, replacing Hongling to support her, letting her lean comfortably in his arms.

  "Am I sick?" Mei asked, the struggles in the water and fire were just her delusions when she was ill. She rolled her eyes, "Here..." She was in a room, with lazy sunlight, it should already be afternoon.

  "This is the Chengde Summer Resort." Yonghe smiled and took the handkerchief handed over by Hongling, wiping away the dense sweat beads on her forehead.

  Has she arrived in Chengde? She was somewhat surprised, how long had she been ill? Her expression suddenly stiffened, how did she... come back? Did Jingxuan bring her back? A strong sense of unease surged up in her heart.

  "I..."

  She had many questions to ask, but was interrupted by Yonghe's gentle yet firm words.

  "Come back soon! Others..." He quickly furrowed his brow, and the smile in his eyes was replaced by her earlier unfamiliar expression - a determined look of single-mindedness. "...It's not important! First, take care of your body. Are you hungry? I'll go call someone to bring some food over."

  He walked out of the door and whispered something to the palace maid outside. She only heard "...... don't let her see......"

  Something's wrong with Yonghe! Her heart became heavy, and her breathing was difficult again. She looked at Hongling standing beside the bed, but she actually shied away from her gaze.

  "What happened?" she asked solemnly, her voice floating faintly due to physical weakness.

  "It's nothing. Gege, drink some more water." Hongling forced a smile and turned to get the water.

  "How did I get back?" Meri stared straight at her, vaguely anticipating the crux of everything.

  Hong Ling held the cup, looking embarrassed, she stood stiffly by the table, without answering.

  "Rainbow bell......" She looked at her with almost pleading eyes.

  Hong Ling annoyedly shook her head slightly. Ge Ge would find out sooner or later, so it was better to tell her earlier and let her have a plan in mind. "It was the Crown Prince who carried you back." She took a deep breath and told everything that had happened.

  Because of the urgent matter, everyone found out that King Wang was gone and finally alarmed the Empress Dowager. The matter was serious, and the Empress Dowager feared that King Wang might have made a mistake, so she had to report it to the Emperor for handling and ordered an investigation into who King Wang had seen before he went missing. This led to the discovery of a eunuch named Xiao Binzi, who was scared out of his wits and implicated Jing Xian Gege and Yin Di Gege. Only then did Yin Di Gege start wailing and shouting hysterically to rescue someone, and everyone finally understood what had happened. Yong He Shao Ye led a large group of guards in searching for King Wang all night, but eventually gave up hope. The Empress Dowager was so anxious that she relapsed into her old heart disease.

  Unexpectedly, King Qing brought Gege back after dawn, Hong Ling said to this point, looked at the pale-faced Mei Lin with a worried look, and finally couldn't tell her about the situation at that time. Gege wasn't wearing anything, was wrapped in a half-wet long shirt by the king and carried into the tent in front of everyone.

  All the way to Chengde, Wang Ye stayed in the carriage without leaving an inch. Yonghe Young Master could only see Gege after arriving at the temporary palace. Everyone was talking about it, and all kinds of vicious rumors were spread. Su Yinge Gege also cried herself sick, and Ying Ruo Fu Jin came to find Yonghe Young Master several times, and finally had a fight in this room... How can she tell Gege about these things?

  "Should be Madame Fu... have been here?" Hong Ling stopped and didn't speak, and Mei Li didn't ask further. She fell into a listless silence for a long time before suddenly asking.

  "You all heard it?!" Hong Ling was somewhat surprised.

  Meili gritted her teeth, and that voice was Yonghe's mother.

  She can't... She'll ruin you!

  Meili... you're all I need.

  She finally knew why Yonghe's eyes had that kind of expression, and she finally understood the pain he felt when he said those words.

  The door was carefully pushed open from the outside by a palace maid, and Jing Xuan walked in with a faint smile, seemingly in a good mood. He wore a deep blue robe of fine material, which made him look even more noble and elegant, and his handsome face had an air of triumph and satisfaction.

  Should she scold him? Should she resent him?

  She simply stared at him as he sat effortlessly on the stool in front of the couch, Hong Ling wanting to serve him tea, but he lightly waved his hand in refusal, as if he were the master of this room.

  Her cold gaze made him lower his face. "All of you get out!" She ordered the servants, her voice already laced with three parts anger.

  The room was left with just the two of them, she still didn't say a word or show any expression, staring at him intensely.

  "What's wrong with me?" He sneered, his good mood completely ruined, and a fierce and cruel expression once again occupied his eyes.

  "Why?" She looked at him, she had always wanted to ask him why!

  "You're sick yourself, can I still throw you on the mountain?" He also glared back at her, without a hint of guilt.

  She still looked at him like that, this excuse was so clumsy that it didn't even sound like an excuse, as long as he wanted to, he had ten thousand ways to properly resolve the matter.

  "Why?" She didn't even change her tone, stubbornly asking.

  A flash of ferocity crossed his eyes, and he lost that man. She had such a lifeless expression?! "Why?" He snorted, "As long as I still have a shred of reluctance towards you, I won't let you go with another man!"

  She let out a sigh, with a hint of reluctance. She could finally close her eyes with a cold smile, yes, this reason was already sufficient for him. Abandoning her or picking her up again, it all depended on his mood, he had always lived so carefreely.

  "I'm not forcing you, I want you to choose for yourself." He snorted and slammed the door shut.

  Tears that had never fallen in front of him finally gushed out from his tightly closed eyes, and he didn't need to force her anymore! Yong He's disguise was no longer needed, the regret deep within his eyes had already shattered her heart into pieces! If he married her, his future... would be ruined, ridicule and contempt would follow him for the rest of his life!

  If he had loudly scolded her, blamed her, and even abandoned her, she wouldn't be as heartbroken as she is now! What she originally gave him was already little, pitifully little, and now... his gift to her, she can no longer accept! It's just a humble family background, just a laughable past, she could still persuade herself that she could repay his kindness by being filial to his parents, managing the household for him, giving birth to children for him, and being wholeheartedly good to him. Now, the price he wants her to pay for marrying him is one she cannot afford, she will become the biggest blot on his life, his career...

  If it weren't for her, his future would be smooth sailing. With parents like that and such good looks and temperament, he could marry the best girl... She had always known this, which was why she was so understanding of Empress Fu's complaints and regrets.

  Going to Jiangnan together... She couldn't help but sob out loud, when he said it she felt too happy and illusory, she secretly laughed at herself for being overly anxious and making it a heart disease, finally, this really became the most beautiful and unattainable dream in her life.

  Yonghe watched as the servant brought in a bowl of congee, and he gently helped her sit up. His smile was still warm and gentle, just like every other day. He carefully blew on the congee to cool it down, feeding her spoonful by spoonful. But amidst this ordinary scene, his eyes held a deep concern... She didn't notice because that pair of clear and bright eyes had never shown any worry before!

  She also smiled as she ate the porridge he handed her, the corners of her smiling mouth involuntarily twitching slightly because she was trying to hold back tears.

  As he watched her finish the bowl of porridge, he finally felt at ease and let out a sigh. He gently smoothed out her disheveled long hair, helped her lie down, and covered her with the quilt. "Sleep now. If you need anything, just call for Hong Ling to come get me." He gazed deeply into her misty yet smiling beautiful eyes, his focused and loving gaze making her want to burst into tears, but she held back, only letting a single tear fall.

  "Nothing's happened, Yonghe." She wanted to explain to him that even though she and he were already destined to pass each other by, she also wanted to make him understand that the girl he liked hadn't done anything wrong to him.

  "Mm, I know." He smiled and wiped away her tears with his slender fingers.

  She almost used up all her patience, not to hold his hand, not to ask him to throw everything away and take her far away. In her life... there would never be another person who could love her like this, looking at her with such eyes! She suddenly wanted to be selfish once, she really couldn't bear it.

  She finally endured, his warm hands were now so cold, even if he decided to marry her, he would eventually bring shame to his parents, he was the pride of his parents, but because of his infatuation with a notorious woman, he let his parents' expectations fall through. How could she not understand him? He was so kind, so filial.

  She bit her lip and successfully made herself smile, "Yonghe, you take care of yourself too."

  He should also go his own way... He deserves a happy life!

  He walked to the door and turned back to smile at her, all the tears burst out as he turned away, she cried but didn't dare make a sound, afraid that if he heard it he would turn back... All she could repay him with was letting him go, making herself disappear from his life.