CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 196: DRINKING POISON TO QUENCH THIRST

When Lin Wanyi referred to herself as ’mother,’ all the worries of the Second Prince vanished completely.

With a smile, he sincerely called out.

"Mother."

This word ’mother’ was not about her status, nor about his future, but truly because he felt that all Lin Wanyi had done for him deserved this call.

Lin Wanyi shared a smile with him, everything understood without words.

When the two returned to the place from earlier, the Second Prince had already regained his former self, no longer plagued by uncertainties.

Nanny Du slightly raised her eyebrow, looking at Lin Wanyi with added depth in her gaze.

For some reason, she felt Lin Wanyi’s demeanor as she walked among the leaves resembled the bearing of a queen.

Yet, she was merely a ’not so favored’ noble.

Shaking her head, she scattered these thoughts from her mind one by one.

Her primary responsibility now was to take good care of the Second Prince.

Everything else would be planned after the Emperor returned from Taishan.

Lin Wanyi did not notice the change in expression from Nanny Du, her entire focus was on the Second Princess.

She took her from Nanny Ji’s embrace, holding her and even secretly sniffed her neck.

A faint scent of milk, truly pleasant.

At this moment, Lin Wanyi felt a slight desire to have a child.

Such a soft, adorable treasure lying in her arms, truly a happiness that money can’t buy.

"Let’s go, let’s return first, at this hour, the Second Princess should have a nap after her milk."

"Yes, the maid obeys."

The group walked back from the small garden to the main house.

Having understood the concerns from earlier, the Second Prince and Lin Wanyi discussed what to have for lunch for quite some time.

The two nowadays were more like mother and son.

If Princess Consort Lan, who used to raise the Second Prince, saw this scene, she might be so angry that she’d die from it.

Since giving birth to the Second Princess, Princess Consort Lan’s bleeding had never stopped.

Especially when the Emperor, disregarding her life, insisted on moving her from the traveling palace back to Yong’an Palace, she understood then.

Indeed, the imperial family was the most heartless.

Seeing her in such a state with no hope, the Emperor could give up on her immediately.

Therefore, her condition worsened day by day.

Her face grew paler with each passing day, her body thinner.

And inside Yong’an Palace, it was deserted, like an abandoned grave, no one dared to approach.

Princess Consort Lan lived each day struggling for breath.

No knowing when she’d not be able to take another breath and depart this world.

Doctor Cheng, responsible for her care, was helpless.

Originally thinking she could live till April, but now worried she might not last till September.

Such a slow death truly seemed worse than not being saved in the first place.

At least it would have ended swiftly, without suffering.

Princess Consort Lan felt the same, although she had the desire to live.

But she knew her body best, she could even feel life draining out of her body bit by bit.

With such torment, any strong will to live was quickly worn out.

That day, after Doctor Cheng visited Princess Consort Lan, his expression grew heavier.

Because he had already smelled a faint odor.

With Princess Consort Lan constantly bleeding, no matter how carefully she was tended, it was difficult to avoid numerous infections.

Going back and forth, her wounds couldn’t heal well, naturally worsening.

Seeing Doctor Cheng’s expression, Princess Consort Lan realized her days were numbered.

She had lost much of her previous stubbornness, asked calmly.

"Doctor Cheng, speak the truth, how many days do I have left?"

Doctor Cheng was so startled by her question that he immediately knelt, finding it difficult to concoct a lie.

"Your Highness, a good person will surely live a long life."

"Humph, long life? Doctor Cheng, there’s no need to deceive someone who’s dying. Speak, I can take it!"

After these words, she took a deep breath.

As if using all her strength, she supported herself up from the bed.

Then solemnly watched Doctor Cheng.

Doctor Cheng knew it was impossible to hide, had to speak reluctantly.

"Your Highness, at most... at most another month left."

A month, and she wouldn’t even be able to wait for the Emperor to return from Taishan?

She hadn’t even seen the Second Princess, how could she leave this world so unwillingly?

Innumerable grievances turned into resentment in her heart.

Tears fell from her eyes, she couldn’t bear to part from this life so absentmindedly!

After a moment, she resisted the discomfort and asked Doctor Cheng.

"I want to use medicine, even if it shortens my life, I won’t hesitate."

"Why trouble yourself, Your Highness? Your body can’t take it."

"Humph, with such a broken body, what use do I have for it? Quickly prepare it, I want to leave gloriously in these last days!"

No matter how much Princess Consort Lan lost favor, she was still from the Lan Family, still a prominent concubine in the harem.

Doctor Cheng didn’t dare offend her.

Could only brace himself to agree.

Though the medicine was easy to prepare, if she truly took it, she’d condense all her remaining days into one day.

Was such a price truly what Princess Consort Lan wished to bear?

He also felt uneasy.

After he left with unsteady steps, palace maid Zhuai Yun tearfully knelt before Princess Consort Lan.

"Your Highness, reconsider, this medicine harms the body most, if because of this... Your Highness, please reconsider!"

Princess Consort Lan knew well it was like drinking poison to quench thirst.

But she still had important tasks to handle, if she remained bedridden like this, how could she manage?

The Lan Family could discard her as a pawn, but they couldn’t lose all their influence in the palace.

The priority was to select a suitable girl from the family and send her into the palace, only then could the path she paved for years have someone to inherit.

And the Second Princess!

Since she was born, as her mother, Princess Consort Lan had not met her.

So even if she was to die, she wanted to hold on to see the Second Princess.

If possible, she wanted to leave her confidants to her.

After all, they were mother and daughter, some sentiments must be fulfilled.

The rest was to find palace maid Zhuixia, expose the mastermind behind her, demand a nine-clan punishment for them, only then could Princess Consort Lan’s soul be avenged!

With deep resentment, all pain was cast aside.

For a moment, Princess Consort Lan even felt she had come back to life.

If possible, she would never choose such a death.

She was determined to fight, otherwise, who could tell for whom she had lived her entire life?

Thus, Princess Consort Lan ordered people to request Princess Consort Yi, saying she had little time left, wished to see her family, hoping Princess Consort Yi would permit it.

Princess Consort Yi didn’t have much animosity with Princess Consort Lan, so upon hearing her condition was poor, decided to pay a visit.