The Return of the Seventh Young Lady-Chapter 161 - 160

Chapter 160

When Shin Wang finally regained consciousness, the first thing he saw was the beautiful face of his wife, who had been watching over him by his side. He blinked rapidly to shake off the grogginess before attempting to sit up. Mu Luofei, who had been monitoring his condition, immediately reached out to help support her husband.

"Take it slow, Your Highness. Your injuries haven’t healed completely. If you exert too much effort, the wounds might reopen,"

Mu Luofei cautioned softly, her face showing genuine concern, which warmed Shin Wang’s heart. He extended his hand to clasp her delicate one, offering a smile. "...It’s always you, Fei’er, who cares for me."

"Of course, Your Highness. You are my husband and my beloved," Mu Luofei replied with a warm smile.

Shin Wang felt comforted by her words. He glanced down to inspect the wounds on his body. His waist was now wrapped in multiple layers of bandages that extended to his narrow hips, with small patches of red seeping through at various points, likely from the wounds that had yet to stop bleeding fully.

When he tried to move, using the muscles around his waist and hips, a sharp pain immediately shot through him, causing his face to turn pale momentarily. He had to stop moving and be cautious to avoid aggravating or reopening the wounds.

"How many days was I unconscious?"

Shin Wang turned to ask, curious. Judging by the severity of his injuries, he estimated he must have been out for at least a day. Her answer did not surprise him.

"You were unconscious for three days, Your Highness."

"And how is the Empress Dowager?"

Mu Luofei had already heard bits and pieces about the assassination attempt. Hence, she had sent Shin Wang’s men to gather information on the Empress Dowager’s condition to be ready to answer his questions when he awoke.

"Her Majesty only sustained a minor injury to her ankle. It seems to be just a sprain. She didn’t suffer any serious injuries."

"That’s good to hear."

Shin Wang sighed in relief. He glanced at the beautiful face showing signs of fatigue, different from usual. It was probably because she had been by his side, diligently caring for him, preventing her from getting adequate rest.

"These past three days must have been difficult for you, Fei’er. I sincerely thank you," Shin Wang expressed his gratitude, his eyes filled with warmth that made Mu Luofei blush.

"It is naturally the duty of a consort like me, Your Highness," Mu Luofei replied, lowering her head shyly. However, her expression soon turned troubled.

Should she inform Shin Wang of his injury now?

Even if she didn’t tell him now, the royal physician would soon report it to him anyway.

But when the royal physician reported it, would he be able to handle it? The matter of having an heir was of great importance to any man!

While Mu Luofei was still hesitating, a voice came from outside the room, "Your Highness, it’s time to check on His Highness’s condition."

Mu Luofei turned towards the source of the voice and sighed inwardly. Let the physician be the one to deliver the news. As a woman, she could hardly bring herself to speak of such a shameful matter.

"Your Highness, it’s time for the royal physician to examine you. I’ll go to the kitchen to check on the herbal medicines and ensure they are prepared properly for you to drink after the examination."

Mu Luofei stood and bowed slightly. Shin Wang nodded in agreement, watching her graceful figure leave the room just as the royal physician entered to conduct the examination.

After stepping out of the room, Mu Luofei didn’t go far. She stood just outside, waiting to observe the reaction from inside. As expected, it didn’t take long for the commotion to start.

Crash!

"What did you say?!"

"Impossible! You are incompetent! Fetch another royal physician immediately!"

Shin Wang’s furious shouts echoed from inside the room for a while. Even from where she stood, Mu Luofei could sense his rage and panic. It was clear that it would take a while before he could accept the harsh reality.

She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. What kind of cruel joke was Heaven playing? She had just married her husband and hadn’t even spent a day together, let alone consummated their marriage, and now her husband was rendered infertile, unable to have any heirs!

From now until the end of her life, she would never be able to have a child to carry on their bloodline!

What a cruel joke this was!

Clenching her fists tightly beneath her sleeves, Mu Luofei walked away without hesitation. The commotion inside the room continued, with Shin Wang calling his guards to drag the royal physician out and demanding another physician to examine him.

This incident caused a great deal of chaos yet again. Royal physicians were running in and out of the Shin Wang Palace constantly, enduring his relentless fury until the matter reached the Emperor’s ears. The Emperor had to spend a long time comforting the physicians, understanding that Shin Wang had just gone through a terrible ordeal.

The Empress Dowager was also deeply pained. Her heart felt shattered into pieces. The only nephew she had raised herself was now left without an heir, causing her immense sorrow. She became so distressed that she couldn’t eat or sleep for a while. Besides, she had to keep the news of Shin Wang’s infertility from leaking out, to avoid bringing him further shame.

After learning that he could no longer have children, Shin Wang became perpetually angry, unable to accept the truth. He punished numerous people in his palace, sometimes even to the point of death, causing the servants to fearfully avoid his room.

Even Mu Luofei couldn’t help but feel uneasy. In the past few days, even she had faced his cold demeanor and violent temper multiple times. Although she wasn’t treated as harshly as the servants, the warmth and gentleness he once showed her had vanished. It was as if Shin Wang she once knew had transformed into someone entirely different.

The young woman tried to understand her husband, knowing that he was behaving this way because he had just gone through something terrible. However, the more she tried to understand and endure, the worse Shin Wang’s temper became. Each day he grew more irritable and colder towards her, causing Mu Luofei to be so heartbroken that she secretly cried herself to sleep on many nights.

The warm, gentle man who once loved and cherished her was no longer there...

...

..

.

Mu Manor

One month after the assassination attempt on the Empress Dowager, Mu Luofei had been visiting her mother at their manor frequently. Though it seemed like she was there to see her mother, the truth was that she needed someone to confide in.

Inside the large quarters, the silhouettes of two women could be seen. One was crying, while the other was trying to console her daughter with worries.

“Sob...Mother, what should I do? His Highness is no longer the same man I knew. Why has he changed so much?”

Mu Luofei sobbed while she said, her eyes swollen and red, looking pitiful. Bai Lijun, seeing her daughter in such a state, felt immense sorrow for her. “I know you’re suffering, but you can’t solely blame Shin Wang in this regard. He has gone through something incredibly traumatic. No man could easily accept such a fate. Even though he has changed, what remains unchanged is your position as the consort and the honor it brings.”

“What good is being the consort if he treats me with such coldness? The entire palace is gossiping that I will soon be an abandoned consort!”

Mu Luofei bit her lip tightly, her eyes showing her determination not to accept such a fate. Ever since Shin Wang began to treat her coldly, the palace servants gossiped that she would soon be abandoned. Hearing this infuriated her, making her want to tear everyone’s mouths.

“Don’t pay attention to those servants. You are now the only primary consort of the Shin Wang Palace, holding power in your hands. Just discipline the servants to make them understand their place. As for being abandoned, how could that be? With Shin Wang unable to have children, no one would dare send their daughters to marry him,” Bai Lijun tried to remind her daughter.

"But what if some shameless harlot tries to climb her way into the Shin Wang Palace?"

Mu Luofei was concerned. While the fact that Shin Wang could not have children would deter officials from sending their daughters, it didn’t rule out the possibility of opportunistic women seeking a comfortable life. Bai Lijun understood this possibility well and explained it calmly.

"You’re overthinking it. No harlot can compete with you. Since Shin Wang cannot have children, no other woman can use a child as a tool against you. From now on, no other woman will be able to leverage having a child to undermine your position..."

As Mu Luofei thought it over, she realized the truth in her mother’s words. Her worries dissipated completely. No one could shake her position as the consort now.

After talking for a while longer, Mu Luofei excused herself to return to the palace, as she had been away for quite some time. As she walked along the corridor within the Mu Manor, heading towards the front gate where her carriage awaited, she spotted a familiar figure walking in the opposite direction.

“Greetings, Your Highness,”

Mu Tingge curtsied respectfully to her half-sister. Mu Luofei, observing her, couldn’t help but feel surprised. Mu Tingge appeared more radiant and full-figured than before. Her skin was as clear and smooth as an eggshell, her face glowing with a captivating beauty unlike before.

If Mu Luofei remembered correctly, her half-sister had not yet reached the age to pin her hair. In about a month, she would turn fifteen. Yet now, she looked as enchanting as a woman past that milestone.

Why had she never noticed before how beautiful Mu Tingge was...

“You seem to be living well, Third Sister, to have become this beautiful,” Mu Luofei said in a flat tone, making it unclear whether it was a compliment or a slight.

“It is due to the kindness of the Furen that I have what I have today,” Mu Tingge replied humbly, her words having the desired effect of making Mu Luofei drop any thoughts of picking a fight.

“It’s good that you recognize Mother’s kindness. Don’t be an ungrateful dog.”

Mu Luofei cast a disdainful glance at the young woman before walking away. Once Mu Luofei had left, Mu Tingge, who had kept her head bowed, turned to look with cold eyes, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Before this, when she had secretly observed her half-sister’s face, she noticed that the other no longer seemed happy. Her face was sullen, her eyebrows constantly furrowed, and her eyes reflected irritation. She didn’t look like someone blissfully in love at all.

It seemed that her half-sister’s married life was not going well.

And that was just fine!

The more disappointments Mu Luofei faced, the more satisfied she felt!

Wasn’t it Mu Luofei who had always oppressed her?

From now on, she would make sure that Mu Luofei wept tears of misery!

Mu Tingge averted her gaze from Mu Luofei’s retreating figure and looked down at her slightly swollen belly with a glint of smile in her eyes. She gently placed her hand on her abdomen before walking back to her quarters.

One month later.

Shin Wang’s condition remained unchanged. His angry outbursts had subsided somewhat, but his cold demeanor had only grown more pronounced. There was no sign of him returning to the gentle man he once was. For the past two months since the incident, Mu Luofei had been trying to endure. Although she had grown somewhat accustomed to her husband’s coldness, deep down she still hoped he would become warm and gentle with her again.

Until one day, Shin Wang, who usually exhibited a cold and irritable demeanor, unexpectedly wore a joyful smile on his face. His eyes were filled with unhidden happiness. After returning to the palace, he even took the initiative to visit Mu Luofei for the first time in months.

“Fei’er, it must have been difficult for you these past days. It’s not that I wanted to be so irritable, but I couldn’t control myself to accept the reality. I owe you an apology,”

Shin Wang said with a soft voice, reaching out to gently hold Mu Luofei’s delicate hand. Upon hearing this, Mu Luofei’s heart began to race. She looked at her husband’s demeanor with sparkling eyes.

Could it be that...Shin Wang was finally back to his old self?!

The more she thought about it, the more her heart pounded erratically. She longed for the gentle demeanor and warm gaze of her husband. She couldn’t remember how long it had been since she had last experienced such tenderness.

“It’s alright, Your Highness. I understand. I once said I would always stand by your side,”

Mu Luofei said, her voice filled with emotion. The long suffering in her heart was finally coming to an end. From now on, she would have sweet moments with her beloved like any other couple...

Seeing his wife’s tender demeanor, Shin Wang’s smile grew even wider. “Fei’er...I apologize for not being able to give you children. Are you angry with me?”

“How could I be angry with you, Your Highness? This was an accident. For you to encounter this incident, I’m just as saddened by it. But what concerns me more is how you feel,” Mu Luofei replied honestly. Although she was saddened by the inability to have children, as long as her husband cherished and respected her, she was content.

“Then, do you wish to have a child?” Shin Wang asked further.

“I...do want a child, but I understand the situation now. It must be more difficult for you, knowing that you can’t have an heir to carry on your lineage. Thinking about this saddens me greatly,” Mu Luofei said, looking sorrowful.

Hearing this, a fleeting spark lit up in Shin Wang’s eyes before he smiled subtly. “You understand the importance of having an heir to carry on the lineage, don’t you?” 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

“Of course, I do. If this hadn’t happened, I would be preparing my body to be healthy and strong enough to bear your children,” Mu Luofei replied shyly, unaware of any underlying intentions from her husband.

“That’s good to hear. I knew I made the right choice in you, Fei’er. You truly are a beautiful and generous primary consort!”

Shin Wang said, his smile radiant. However, Mu Luofei was slightly puzzled by his words. How did recognizing the importance of an heir relate to generosity...?

Before Mu Luofei could further ponder, Shin Wang interrupted, "Because of my inability to have children, both the Empress Dowager and I have been greatly troubled. However, I’ve just learned that I actually do have an heir to carry on the lineage. I’ve reported this to the Empress Dowager, and she is very pleased. She has already sent people to bring the mother and child into the palace for care. I came today to see your reaction first. But Fei’er, you are so generous. I am confident in entrusting you with the care of my only heir..."

Shin Wang’s words left Mu Luofei in a state of shock, her consciousness seemingly frozen for a moment. She even stopped breathing briefly, her mind overwhelmed with confusion that she could no longer perceive anything.

Shin Wang’s only heir?

The Empress Dowager sent people to bring the mother and child into the palace?

What on earth was going on?!

She had only been in the Shin Wang Palace for two months. On the night of their wedding, Shin Wang was attacked and left infertile. So how could there suddenly be an heir?!

If Shin Wang had an heir from before, didn’t that mean he had secretly been involved with another woman before their marriage?

This meant that during their courtship, he had another woman all along, and their relationship was deep enough to result in a pregnancy...

Mu Luofei’s heart felt as though it had been slashed by a knife. She was in so much pain that she couldn’t speak, her chest tight with anguish. The love she thought was solid and deep between her and her husband turned out to be a farce. He had another woman all along, and she had been blind to it!

All this time, she had been genuinely devoted to him, offering her heart and trust completely. But what did she get in return?... Nothing but deceit!

While he was going through his terrible ordeal, it was she who stayed by his side, tending to him without complaint, enduring his rage and coldness. Additionally, she had to accept the harsh truth that she would never be able to have children for the rest of her life.

But now, out of nowhere, an heir had appeared. And along with the heir, some unknown harlot had surfaced as well!

How was she supposed to go on living like this...

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