Chapter 8: A Struggle of Necessity

"Mingyue?"

Rong Zhao paused, a flicker of that delicate, pale face crossing his mind—like a broken rag doll, lifeless and limp in his arms. His brow creased involuntarily.

"Your Highness..." Yun Zhongkui, sensing the shift in atmosphere, felt his smile stiffen. He spoke tentatively.

Rong Zhao lowered his gaze, his thin lips curling, though his eyes remained devoid of warmth. "My thanks to Prime Minister Yun for your generous gift. I have pressing matters to attend to and cannot keep you company any longer. I hope you will forgive me."

With those words, Rong Zhao slowly rose. His gaze landed on Yun Lai as he said in a low, firm voice, "Go fetch Doctor Su."

"Your... Your Highness..." Yun Zhongkui looked on in disbelief, staring blankly at the man’s retreating back, momentarily stunned.

"Prime Minister Yun, this is the return gift our Prince had prepared for you." A servant approached with a long tray, upon which sat a white jade ruyi of exquisite quality. "His Highness says he wishes you prosperity and peace in all your endeavors."

Yun Zhongkui’s face turned ashen. He forced a stiff smile and accepted the tray. "My thanks for the Prince’s kindness."

He turned to his distracted daughter and barked, "What are you standing there for? Let’s head back to the manor at once!"

"Mingyue..." Yun Shengsheng frowned, lost in her own thoughts. The name felt hauntingly familiar, as if she had heard it somewhere before.

"Sheng'er!"

The sudden, sharp reprimand startled Yun Shengsheng back to reality. She looked up to see her father’s expression was grim, his eyes fixed piercingly upon her.

"What has gotten into you today?" Yun Zhongkui frowned, his eyes filled with disappointment. "You used to be sensible and well-mannered. Why do you look as if your soul has been drained away?"

A flush crept onto Yun Shengsheng’s face. Overcome with shame, she hurriedly rose and walked to her father’s side, whispering, "Daughter knows her mistake."

Yun Zhongkui sighed heavily, feeling a sense of disgrace. "Come back to the manor."

The marriage alliance with the Prince of Jing'an was as good as dead!

Yun Shengsheng kept her head bowed as she followed her father out. The moment she stepped over the high threshold, she suddenly remembered who Mingyue was.

That lowly maid from Foxin Temple!

Terror gripped Yun Shengsheng. She looked back at the grand plaque hanging above the Prince’s residence, unable to fathom how that wretched girl had managed to ensnare the young Prince!

In the carriage, Yun Zhongkui sighed repeatedly, looking at the white jade ruyi beside him with growing disdain. "Forget it... forget it... It seems you and the Prince are not fated to be. We shall have to look for another suitable match."

Yun Shengsheng bit her lower lip, her eyes filled with unwillingness.

Meeting the Prince for the first time today, she had heard a voice in her heart, incessantly telling her that this man belonged to her.

He was supposed to be hers!

"Father, how can you jump to such conclusions?" Yun Shengsheng spoke, her teeth leaving a clear imprint on her soft lips; she was clearly furious. "Mother once taught me that good marriages are rare and must be fought for and seized. How can you know there is no possibility if we don't try again?"

"You..." Yun Zhongkui’s eyes flashed with surprise. He asked in a low voice, "But didn't you fancy the one in the palace, and weren't you unhappy with the suitors I arranged for you?"

Yun Shengsheng pinched the soft flesh of her palm and said softly, "I am not a fool who only knows of romance. I have always kept your teachings in my heart. The world is in chaos now, and our Yun family needs another path to survive."

A gleam appeared in Yun Zhongkui’s eyes, his joy hard to conceal. "If you can think this way, I am content. The love of parents for their children is profound; your family will not harm you."

Yun Shengsheng nodded, her long lashes veiling the emotions in her eyes.

-

Juxin Garden

Sheng Mingyue lay on the bed, her eyes unfocused. Everything within her vision was shrouded in a hazy mist. The agonizing pain of her wounds had drained her of all strength; even blinking was an immense effort.

The black characters floating in the air continued to churn, reflecting the shock of the onlookers.

[My God, did I see that right? The little cannon fodder tore her own stitches open!]

[That makes me wince just looking at it. Cannon Fodder Sister, if you had this kind of resolve, you'd succeed at anything!]

[It looks so painful! She’s really gone ruthless.]

[Uninformed question: why does a cannon fodder character have so much drama? Wouldn't it be better to just die quietly? This stance clearly shows she intends to go against the heroine!]

Sheng Mingyue squinted, her left hand dangling limply off the side of the bed, blood still dripping from her fingertips. The pain in her wound made it hard to breathe, yet her heart was unnervingly calm.

They want her to die quietly according to the script?

Dream on!

Why should it be her who dies? Why should the heartless be the ones to live happily and reap all the rewards?

She was determined to do the exact opposite!

"Miss, don't be afraid! The Prince is here!"

Song Guo’s voice echoed, and the next moment, the wooden door was pushed open from the outside.

Rong Zhao coughed a few times before stepping into the room. A sea of crimson greeted his eyes, and his expression changed drastically.

"Benefactor?" Rong Zhao’s brows furrowed tightly as he walked to the bedside. "How did you lose so much blood?"

Song Guo, pale-faced, picked up a wet cloth to wipe the blood from her fingertips, whispering, "She was fine just a moment ago. I only stepped out for a while to get lunch, and when I returned, I found her fainted, bleeding non-stop."

"Greetings... to Your Highness..."

Sheng Mingyue moved her fingers, as if attempting to sit up and salute.

"Don't move." Rong Zhao looked displeased, stopping her movement. "You are injured like this; what are you trying to get up for?"

Sheng Mingyue gave up and lay obediently on the bed. "This servant is guilty. My body is weak and has hindered the Prince's important affairs. You were meeting a guest; there was no need for you to come here. This servant is just one..."

"Are you going to say you are of 'lowly life' again?" Rong Zhao, having anticipated her thoughts, spoke calmly. "I told you, half of your life is shared with mine. How could it be lowly?"

Sheng Mingyue opened her mouth, but in the end, she said nothing.

She was gambling.

Gambling that the young Prince was kind-hearted and would treat her with a measure of favor due to the debt of saving his life.

"I wasn't meeting anyone important, so you need not feel guilty." Rong Zhao explained with patience, his tone carrying a gentleness he didn't even realize. "This is only the second day since I found you, and you've already fainted three times. If this continues, how can your body recover?"

Sheng Mingyue drooped her eyelids, her emotions unreadable.

"Your Highness, Doctor Su is here."

Yun Lai’s voice sounded, and Rong Zhao stepped out of the room to give a few instructions.

Sheng Mingyue watched his slender back, her thoughts in turmoil.

Those onlookers were right; the Prince was truly a wonderful person—calling him a celestial being from the heavens would not be an exaggeration.

To use such a kind man this way left her conscience heavy.

Yet, as she was now, besides the debt of saving his life, what else could she rely on? Once that grace faded, how would she find her footing?

She had no choice but to fight.

Once the wound was re-stitched, Song Guo breathed a long sigh of relief and busied herself cleaning up.

Rong Zhao sat on a nearby daybed, silently reading a book, his occasional coughs punctuating the stillness.

The only man Sheng Mingyue had ever been in contact with was Rong Yan. Now, suddenly sharing a room with the young Prince, she couldn't help but feel uneasy.

Leaning against her soft pillow, after stealing a glance at Rong Zhao for the twenty-sixth time, she finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Your Highness... do you not have anything else to do?"