Chapter 432: Chapter 432: You Used to Be Madly in Love, Too

Zhou Cangyan didn’t leave until just before dawn.

Before leaving, he held her for a long while, squeezing her so tightly she couldn’t breathe. She had to slap his arm several times before he finally let go.

"Consort Zhao Hui has people here, so your presence can’t be kept secret. If you run into danger, don’t try to act tough. Wait for me to get here and I’ll take care of it."

Song Lianhe kept her back to him, not bothering to respond.

’Speaking of which, she was still bothered by the fact that he and Song Xilan had become the officially sanctioned couple.’

But Zhou Cangyan was in a fine mood. He forcefully turned her face toward him and kissed her again before letting go.

"I’m leaving."

Only when she heard the soft click of the door did she raise her head to glance in its direction. Then, her gaze swept over the mask on the table, and her mood soured even more.

Meanwhile, Zhou Cangyan returned to his Prince Mansion.

The moment he pushed the door open, a Shadow Guard appeared like a phantom before him.

Zhou Cangyan frowned. "Why are you wandering around instead of sleeping?"

"My Lord, where did you go? Why didn’t you take me with you?"

"...For a walk."

The Shadow Guard heard this and blurted out, "My Lord, you’d rather go for a walk than visit the Princess Consort at Dao Yuan Temple?!"

Zhou Cangyan looked as if he didn’t want to discuss it any further.

But the Shadow Guard steeled himself and declared loudly, "My Lord, the Princess Consort is truly pitiful at the temple! I heard she has spent the entire day washing her face with tears..."

Zhou Cangyan raised his eyebrows, giving it some serious thought.

’She did indeed cry.’

’And he was the one who made her cry.’

He lowered his gaze, a knowing smile touching his lips.

"Actually, I quite enjoy watching her cry."

The Shadow Guard was stunned. ’My Lord has not an ounce of pity for the fairer sex! He’s really changed!’

「Dao Yuan Temple.」

By the time the sky was bright, Shuang Ye had come in to help her wash and dress.

"Shuang Ye? What are you doing here?" she asked with a yawn, the dark circles under her eyes obvious.

Shuang Ye smiled. "The head steward arranged for me to be sent up the mountain. He said it’s worrying for the Princess Consort to be up here all alone."

"Sister! Me too!"

Ah Jun peeked his head in again, giving her a wide grin.

"Wherever you are, Sister, that’s where I’ll be!"

Shuang Ye hurriedly shooed him out. "Out, out! The Princess Consort hasn’t changed her clothes yet!"

Grinning foolishly, Ah Jun backed out the door.

Song Lianhe was feeling drained, and only felt more awake after splashing some water on her face.

She suddenly recalled what Zhou Cangyan had said last night. ’If Emperor Cheng Xiao is truly hidden here, then who knows how many of Consort Zhao Hui’s people have infiltrated this temple!’

’That means my every move here is right under their noses.’

’In that case, I might as well put on a big, open show!’

"Ah Jun, come in!"

"Coming!"

Ah Jun answered, full of vim and vigor, and pushed his way inside.

"Go to the Medical Clinic and get Bai Shu and Shi Zhu. Tell them I’m holding a free public clinic at Dao Yuan Temple!"

"Yes, ma’am!"

Within a single morning, word that Princess Qing was holding a free clinic at Dao Yuan Temple had spread throughout Ling’an City.

Venerable Ling Xi was very supportive when he heard the news and assigned quite a few people to help out.

With Song Lianhe attracting all the attention out front, it was much easier for Xuan Mei, Shen Fu, and the others to search the temple for their target.

But after two full days, they hadn’t seen so much as a shadow of him!

"Could it be the Holy Emperor isn’t really in the temple?" Song Lianhe grew anxious. Emperor Cheng Xiao’s health was precarious; to save him, they had to find him as soon as possible.

’But if he isn’t here, where else could he be?’

During this time, Cao Jin had also been searching the Imperial Palace, but he too had found nothing. For now, word of Emperor Cheng Xiao’s situation could not get out. Any incident would be used to force Prince Hang’s swift ascension to the throne.

At that point, even if Zhou Junlin had a mind to contend for the throne, his actions would be considered treason, changing the nature of the situation entirely.

"Princess Consort, Miss Cao is here."

Shuang Ye came to announce her arrival during the midday break.

Hearing that Cao Ying had arrived, Song Lianhe hurriedly welcomed her in. "How did it go? Has Zhou Junlin sent the betrothal gifts?"

Cao Ying looked a bit haggard, but she seemed much more composed than before.

She took Song Lianhe’s hand as she sat down and said slowly, "Aren’t people strange? Before, I was crying and screaming about wanting to marry him. Now that my wish has actually come true, I don’t feel the slightest bit of happiness."

Song Lianhe patted her hand comfortingly. "That’s because you’ve matured. You’ve found your self-worth and realized what it is you truly want."

Cao Ying sighed softly. "Forget being a mere Concubine to a Prince; I wouldn’t even care to be the Empress. How can all this glory in the eyes of outsiders compare to how interesting and satisfying it is to run my own business?"

Song Lianhe nodded. ’The first step in a career woman’s awakening: first, discover the joy of making money, then, toss love aside.’

’The fortune you gain in exchange for love? That must be true love!’

’And it’s earned with real skill!’

"But I also know it’s not up to me to be happy about it or not. His Highness Prince Ling only agreed to do the Cao Family this favor out of consideration for you."

Cao Ying shook off her gloomy mood and smiled. "Besides, he has already agreed. I’m just going through the motions. Once Consort Zhao Hui is no longer a problem, he will write a letter of separation."

At this, she couldn’t help but add excitedly, "And when that time comes, I’ll have the status of a former Concubine of the Ling Prince Mansion. Who will dare to give me a hard time when I’m doing business then?"

"Tsk, tsk. Just look at you, with that smug face of a successful merchant. How can you be so lovable!"

Song Lianhe pinched her cheek. She was truly happy for her that she was facing the situation with such a positive attitude.

Soon, Cao Ying switched to gossip. "By the way, I heard that when Song Xilan found out Zhou Junlin was taking me as a concubine, she had no reaction whatsoever! Isn’t that strange?"

Song Lianhe thought of her conversation with Zhou Cangyan the other day and remarked with feeling, "Who knows? Maybe the person in her heart has already changed."

"No way?!"

Cao Ying looked like she had just stumbled upon a huge piece of gossip. Amid her shock, she struggled to hold back her laughter. "She was so head-over-heels in love with him, insisting she’d marry no one but Zhou Junlin! She’s gotten her wish now, so why doesn’t she cherish what she has? I just... HAHAHA..."

She doubled over with laughter.

There was nothing more delightful than seeing a former love lead a less-than-happy life.

Song Lianhe could not bring herself to laugh.

Cao Ying didn’t know the inside story and just treated it as a joke, but Lianhe knew the real reason.

"But Zhou Junlin’s reaction is strange, too."

Cao Ying recalled her visit to the Ling Prince Mansion, saying, "Zhou Junlin doesn’t shower her with sweet nothings like he used to. When I asked if he should explain the situation to Song Xilan beforehand, he actually said it was his own affair and he didn’t need to explain himself to anyone!"

Song Lianhe was at a loss for words. ’They aren’t the main characters anymore, so of course he’s "woken up." He’s probably not in love with Song Xilan anymore.’

"However..." Cao Ying suddenly leaned in close, her big eyes twinkling as she smiled. "He seems quite attentive when it comes to you. Whenever I mention anything related to you, he listens intently, and he’ll even crack a smile when I get to an interesting part. Could it be that he... for you..."

Glancing at the intense curiosity in Cao Ying’s eyes, Song Lianhe said unhurriedly, "Whatever his feelings toward me are, they don’t fall within my scope of consideration."

"Are you sure?" Cao Ying stared at her intently. "After all, I was once head-over-heels in love myself!"

As a former love rival and adversary, she was well aware of how Song Lianhe had once felt about Zhou Junlin.

"Oh? Head-over-heels, you say? Tell this King all about it."

The door swung open, and someone walked in.