She Holds the World After Being Reborn-Chapter 83: Perish Together, Not Alone

Hongzhao woke up refusing to eat or drink but could answer when asked, though not with the exuberance she once had.

The maidservants often saw Hongzhao lying on her bed weeping alone.

Sun Qinglian was anxious about this matter; she wanted to consult someone but realized that, just like Hongzhao had lost her mother, she herself had lost someone to talk to.

"Mother, I want to see elder sister," Hongzhao suddenly said on her own accord.

Sun Qinglian paused, then sent for Yan Wanqing. Looking at Hongzhao’s pale little face, she ultimately didn’t ask a single question.

When Yan Wanqing arrived, Sun Qinglian respectfully withdrew from the room.

Upon seeing Yan Wanqing, Hongzhao’s eyes, already dry, reddened instantly, and tears gushed forth. She choked out, "Elder sister."

Yan Wanqing sat down beside the bed and wiped the tears from Hongzhao’s eyes with a handkerchief while gently caressing her back, "I’m here."

Hongzhao sobbed like a small animal, "In ten days, I will come of age."

Yan Wanqing’s eyes reddened, "Elder sister knows."

"Aunt was so looking forward to my coming of age; she even prepared my clothes early. But now she can’t see me wearing them..." Hongzhao cried intermittently, "That day, she wanted me to try on the clothes, but I ran off to play at the training grounds instead... I didn’t... didn’t wear them. Elder sister, I regret it so much, I should have worn them for her to see..."

Yan Wanqing was silent; at that moment, she didn’t know what to say.

Having lived a second life and changed so many fates, Yan Wanqing was inevitably filled with guilt about Aunt Song’s death; she had not anticipated it turning out this way.

"I’m sorry," Yan Wanqing said softly.

Hongzhao did not hear her; she continued to wallow in her grief, crying for quite a while until her entire body was shuddering. Yan Wanqing stayed with her quietly throughout.

After a long time, Hongzhao calmed down.

"Elder sister," Hongzhao called with a nasal voice.

Yan Wanqing looked down at her, her nose red from crying, "Elder sister is here."

"How strong does one have to become to protect the people and things they care about?" Hongzhao lifted her eyebrows as she looked up at Yan Wanqing.

Yan Wanqing’s smile was tinged with bitterness; she shook her head, "I don’t know."

No matter how strong you become, gaining some things inevitably leads to losing others.

This is called the conservation of energy.

Yan Lingzhen had told her that the Heavens are fair, giving and taking in order to maintain the laws of conservation between Heaven and Earth.

"If even elder sister doesn’t know, what should I do?" Hongzhao was lost in confusion.

Yan Wanqing stroked her head. "Hongzhao doesn’t need to become strong. Just stay with elder sister; I will always protect you."

"No!" Hongzhao pushed away Yan Wanqing’s hand and with a look of astonishment on her face, she declared defiantly, "I want to become strong. I’ve already lost Aunt; I don’t want to lose elder sister, nor our mother, or my younger sister and brother or anyone else in the family! Since there’s no ultimate strength, then I will keep making myself stronger. As long as I’m strong enough, no one will be able to bully my family easily!"

Her voice was hoarse as she shouted, but her gaze was fervent. Yan Wanqing saw within it the stubbornness and perseverance of youth, and she was stunned.

After a long time, she moved forward to hug Hongzhao tightly, burying her face into her neck.

"Alright, elder sister will support whatever you wish to do," she said.

Stubbornness filled Hongzhao’s eyes. "Elder sister, on the day of my coming of age, could you give the Green Snake Sword to Hongzhao?"

"Yes," Yan Wanqing replied without any hesitation.

Because she had agreed so quickly, Hongzhao was momentarily taken aback, but then she clung tightly to Yan Wanqing, choking out, "Elder sister..."

"I’m here."

"Elder sister!"

"Hmm, I’m here."

"Big sister..."

"I’m here."

...

Time flew by quickly, and during this period, Yan Wanqing suffered greatly from her morning sickness.

As her belly began to show, she actively proposed to Princess Anping that she wanted to move into the Princess Residence.

Princess Anping’s initial reaction was naturally one of disagreement, but Yan Wanqing was very determined, and Huai Yu also stepped forward to suggest taking care of her at the Princess Residence, which led Princess Anping to relent.

Since that day, Yan An had been behaving himself and hadn’t shown up again. The old lady, due to Yan Minsheng’s death, seemed somewhat out of her senses, lying on the couch, occasionally lucid and often in a stupor, not in good condition. Even knowing this, Yan An never came to visit.

Today was the first day of moving into the Princess Residence.

Yan Wanqing seldom interacted with the ladies from other families, but a few days ago, she had sent out visiting cards to the daughters of officials in the Capital City in advance. Because of the great reputation of Princess Anping and the novel impression she had made on the daughters of the officials during her trip to the Southern Mountain, many guests arrived today.

Everyone brought many gifts to celebrate the housewarming. Because of the Imperial Edict, Huai Yu could now greet guests at the door as the male host, her smile almost stiff from the effort.

"Prince Seven has arrived—!"

Just as Huai Yu’s smile had begun to fade, it instantly returned upon seeing a handsome man with a gentle appearance stride through the door, followed by four attendants carrying huge boxes, Huai Yu stepped forward to greet him: "Welcome, Prince Seven, your presence at the Princess Residence today truly graces us." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Xiao Hongshen sized up the Huai Yu, who was half a head shorter than himself, and gave a slight snort from his nose.

The hand beneath Huai Yu’s sleeve clenched into a fist.

"On such a joyous occasion, where is the Commandery Princess? Why is she not greeting guests at the front door?"

Huai Yu forced a smile: "Princess Anping is making arrangements for the female guests, so I was asked to receive visitors at the gate instead."

"Humph!" Xiao Hongshen snorted coldly again and walked through the door.

Huai Yu watched his imperious departure and couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Who does he think he is!

Just as she was musing, she heard a call from outside: "The Crown Prince has arrived—"

Huai Yu: "...Today really is a day of great joy!"

No wonder Yan Wanqing had insisted last night that she get an early night, saying that today she would inevitably be worn out, so this was what she meant.

Seeing the man in the crimson purple robe approaching, the Imperial Aura he was born with made it hard for one to directly look at his face, only to hear his gentle voice slowly rise: "The Young Marquis is also here."

Facing the initial sunny and pleasant weather, and hearing the soft words at her ear, Huai Yu felt a sudden chill and slightly frowned, shrinking back a bit: "I have the honor to meet the Crown Prince."

Xiao Pingfeng looked at the fair-skinned Huai Yu in front of him, who seemed fragile, whom he could probably kill with a single punch, and a trace of puzzlement flickered in his dark eyes.

Why would she like such a man?

Huai Yu, adhering to the belief of diverting trouble away from oneself, smiled at the Crown Prince and said, "The Commandery Princess has specially brewed some new tea today, which is quite fragrant and sweet. Prince Seven has already gone to join the Commandery Princess for tea. Would the Crown Prince care to try some?"

Xiao Pingfeng gave her a half-smiling look, then hummed faintly, then with a wave of his great sleeve, he strode inside, followed by attendants carrying one box after another into the residence.

Huai Yu counted.

Exactly eight boxes.

This wasn’t just to congratulate someone on their new home.

This was practically like offering a betrothal gift!

Huai Yu couldn’t help but be astounded by the thought.