Reborn Lady - Chapter 443

“Does the Princess dare to go see the Emperor with me?” He finally asked, after a long silence, holding her close and gazing into her eyes.

Wei Ying panicked and exclaimed, “Why would you want to see Father?”

Cui Yu said, “I’ve done such a thing. I should be responsible to the Princess. If the Emperor does not grant my wish, I will pretend to be sick and die. From then on, I will travel the world with the Princess secretly.”

Wei Ying’s heart burned with emotion.

This plan seemed ideal; it would fulfill their relationship without tarnishing the royal family’s reputation. Yet, what if her father reacted with fury and sought to punish Cui Yu?

Wei Ying wasn’t afraid of her own punishment, but she dreaded the thought of Cui Yu suffering for her sake.

Moreover, Cui Yu possessed the talent to govern the country. Sacrificing all his ambitions for the sake of their love seemed akin to a precious gem being cast into the dirt.

At twenty-six, Wei Ying was no longer the impulsive girl she once was at fifteen or sixteen. After carefully considering all the implications, she embraced Cui Yu and uttered, “I don’t need you to bear responsibility for me. Just knowing you hold me in your heart is enough.”

“Yes, tonight is what I wished for,” she continued, her voice steady. “Yu Lang, my father is preoccupied with important matters. I don’t wish to disturb him with trivial matters concerning the love of his daughter and son-in-law. Moreover, I cannot bear to see you waste your talents.”

“I……”

As soon as Cui Yu began to speak, Wei Ying swiftly covered his mouth, propped herself up, and peered down at him.

“I prefer you to remain in the court,” she said. “The thought of a court elder, a minister beneath my skirt, adds to my allure, don’t you think? The Princess is quite remarkable, wouldn’t you agree? If you were to become a commoner with no official position, growing older by the day, I fear I might soon lose interest in you.”

Cui Yu pursed his lips as Wei Ying teased him about his age once again.

Wei Ying smiled and lightly tapped the corner of his lips. “Oh, do you really dislike hearing about it?” 

Cui Yu gazed at her.

The Third Princess, at twenty-six, despite having lost weight due to illness, possessed fair and radiant skin, at the peak of her beauty.

On the other hand, despite his own good complexion, he couldn’t deny the inevitable aging process ahead, causing the gap between them to widen over time.

At that moment, a wave of regret washed over Cui Yu. If only he had been more focused, perhaps in two years’ time, the Princess wouldn’t grow weary of him for his age and move on to find a more suitable match for herself.

Filled with self-blame, Cui Yu couldn’t bring himself to meet her gaze, lowering his eyes in shame.

Seeing through his thoughts, Wei Ying let out a snort before initiating a series of kisses upon his face and neck.

Cui Yu, overwhelmed, grasped her shoulders tightly.

Wei Ying took a playful nip at him. “Mr. Ge is feeling regret now, but what about before?” 

Cui Yu blushed deeply.

Wei Ying chuckled. “I just enjoy Mr. Ge’s contradictions.” 

Though Cui Yu wanted to deny it, their intimate posture left little room for deception.

As Wei Ying kissed his closed eyes, she whispered soothingly, “Don’t overthink it, Mr. Ge. You’re my beloved companion in private, and I don’t expect anything more from you.”

Cui Yu clenched his hands tightly.

Wei Ying blew into his ears, her tone mischievous,  “Since Mr. Ge is ready, shall you attend to the Princess once more?”

Unable to resist her playful demeanor any longer, Cui Yu rolled over with the Princess cradled in his arms.

……

At dawn, Cui Yu prepared to depart.

As he began to rise, his hands reaching towards the curtain before him, Wei Ying suddenly embraced him from behind.

No words were needed; Cui Yu could sense her reluctance.

Though torn, Cui Yu couldn’t afford to linger. Obligations awaited him down the mountain.

He grasped her hand, wanting to convey his feelings but unsure of how to express them.

It was Wei Ying who spoke first. “Go about your duty without worry,” she said softly. “I’ll remain here until you depart. Whenever you wish to return, I’ll be waiting. And if you find yourself free but don’t come, I’ll come to you instead. I don’t wish to part from you either.”

Cui Yu smiled wryly and replied, “Alright.”

Wei Ying gritted her teeth, pressed her forehead against his shoulder, and said, “I actually don’t need to drink the medicine to prevent pregnancy. If you desire a child, I will bear one for you in secret.”

Cui Yu turned to face her abruptly, locking eyes with her bewildered gaze. Though pain flickered in his own eyes, he spoke firmly, “The child isn’t what matters to me. If it risks tarnishing the Princess’s reputation, then I would prefer nothing had happened between us last night.”

Hearing this, Wei Ying struck him hard. “I never want to hear you say that again!”

Cui Yu took her hand gently. “The medicine is needed for the Princess’s sake. Once I return down the mountain, I’ll seek out a contraceptive for men. You won’t have to suffer through this anymore.”

Wei Ying’s heart felt heavy. “Do you truly wish for the Cui lineage to end with us?”

Cui Yu looked at her tenderly, brushing his fingertips across her brow. “Even if my descendants persist for millennia, what does it matter to me once I’ve turned to dust?” 

No one held greater importance to him than she did.

Unable to be by her side, he couldn’t bear the thought of her enduring the hardships of pregnancy alone.

He might not mourn the absence of descendants, but she feared regretting never experiencing motherhood in this lifetime.

Wei Ying remained resolute, “If our situation is such, the child would suffer needlessly. It’s better to spare them the hardship.”

As the cherished Princess of her father, she couldn’t bear the thought of her child being unable to stand proudly before others or enduring malicious gossip. It was better for them not to exist at all.

In August of the twelfth year of Jinghe, Emperor Yongping returned triumphantly from his northern expedition. However, he suffered a sudden heart attack on the journey back to Beijing, and by the time he arrived, he was on the brink of death.

With state affairs addressed, Emperor Yongping turned his gaze towards his third child and spoke softly, “Summon Ying’er.”