The night fell. The study room inside the Xinhe Palace was still brightly lit. Zhao Zhang Wei was reading something comfortably leaning on the chair. The Young eunuch entered again to inform Zhao Zhang Wei that it was time to go to Lantai Courtyard. Zhao Zhang Wei closed the book he was reading and stood up from the chair.

Inside Lantai courtyard, the maids were readying Yi Huqing for the night. Her white tender and beautiful face reflected in the mirror. Different from the nervousness and excitement of the past today she was very calm. A maid was drying and combing her long hair. Another maid tried to put some makeup on her face but Yi Huiqing stopped her. Although the maid was startled, she didn’t show it on her face and put down the things back on the dressing table silently. She could not help but notice that there was something different about wangfei today.

In the past, wangfei used to look so excited and happy whenever The Second Prince visited the Lantai Courtyard. But she could not see any joy on wangfei’s face today.

Yi Huiqing who could feel the maid’s probing eyes at herself glanced at her and the maid hurriedly lower her eyes. Yi Huiqng could almost read the maid’s confusion from her face.

She laughed humorlessly in her heart.

They expect her to behave normally after five days she lost her child.

Last time, she had suppressed her sorrow after she was sent those gifts. Her mother had consoled her.

‘Qinqing, it is normal to miscarry the first child. You are young. Don’t put it on your heart and try again. If you will remain sad over this thing, it will only irritate The Second Prince.’

So she didn’t put it on her heart. She dared not reveal her sadness to anyone. She tried again and lost again. Maybe she would have moved on again just like last time but what she didn’t know was that she didn’t miscarry. She was never informed that she was poisoned.

She knew that she can never fight for her child. Her heart was torn thinking this. But what she could do was to save herself from getting any more hurt.

The hurt, sadness, and loss were something she chose for herself. She had great expectations from someone who could never complete them. But now she didn’t want to suffer again. So from now on, she will not expect anything from anyone. This was her way of saving herself and dealing with her sorrow.

Just as she was completely ready, the maid announced the arrival of the Second Prince, Zhao Zhang Wei. All the maids knelt down and the Second Prince stepped inside the courtyard.

Yi Huiqing also bowed her head slightly in greeting.

“This wangfei greets the wangye.”

“Rise”

Zhao Zhang Wei words echoed in the room and all the maids stood up from the floor with their heads lower. She raised her head to look at the Second Prince’s face.

Four years ago, when she had seen him for the first time, she thought he was of a cheerful disposition, straightforward and generous. Unlike the other royals, he was not fond of paying attention to other people’s life.

Today also, his face had the usual gentle smile as he looked at her. This smile used to make her heart pound crazily but today the same heart was calm. She felt she could see the aloofness hidden behind the gentle smile. The aloof man who never really cared for her even after she gave him her everything.

  While Zhao Zhang Wei casually glanced at her. Her face was without makeup. He walked towards her. Standing in front of her, he said to her in the gentlest tone.

“This Prince feels awfully guilty towards wangfei. I was held by Imperial Father to do some important work and hence I could not be present to accompany my wangfei in her most difficult time.”

His face held a worried and guilty look as he held her hand.

Yi Huiqing took her hand back with a small smile on her face and said

“Wangye does not need to feel guilty at all. This wangfei is doing very well.”

Zhao Zhang Wei gaze went towards the hand she retracted from his hands. After a few seconds, he casually glanced away. He didn’t even notice the small feeling of discomfort in his heart. 

“This wangfei will ask the maids to set the meal for wangye.”

Saying this, Yi Huiqing turned towards the maids and ordered them to serve the dishes. Zhao Zhang Wei had the meal with Yi Huiqing. After the meal, Yi Huiqing served him when he took bath and helped him to change his clothes. Then they retired for the bed.

Zhao Zhang Wei lied on the bed while Yi Huiqing removed the accessories from her hair. After waiting for a few minutes, when he didn’t feel anything he glanced sideways only to see Yi Huiqing lying beside him. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was even. She seemed to be deeply asleep. Only now he noticed what the difference he felt today was.

Today she was wearing a bright red-colored and plain dress instead of a blue-colored one. Usually, all the concubines would wear blue-colored clothes whenever he visited them as they got to know from someone that it was his favorite color. She seemed very silent today and didn’t even pick dishes for him when they were having dinner.

Zhao Zhang Wei thought that she was just upset over the child loss and closed his eyes to get some sleep.

Feeling the silence of the room, Yi Huiqing who was still awake didn’t open her eyes.

He must have slept.

The eyelashes of the closed eyes trembled a little and a tear slid through her eye disappearing in her black hair.

She felt stupid to hope even now. Her heart was torn to pieces. She regretted that she loved a heartless man.