"Your Majesty..."
Xue Zining turned, and Li Fanghua walked towards her. Wu Dakang quickly stepped forward to support her. "Slowly."
Li Fanghua glanced at Wu Dakang, her face flushing a deep red. "I'm fine."
"Your Majesty, if we return to the capital, I implore you to deliver a message to my sister for me."
Xue Zining paused, then nodded. "I can."
Li Fanghua smiled, her hand resting on her belly. When she looked up, her gaze was gentle. "I apologize for everything I have done in the past. I am doing well now, and I hope my sister and Xuan'er will also be happy."
"Alright, I will deliver your message. General Wu, come here for a moment."
Xue Zining called out to Wu Dakang.
Wu Dakang followed her. "Your Majesty..."
"It is time for you to take a principal wife."
Wu Dakang trembled, looking at the young woman before him. Her gaze was too clear for him to avoid. He kowtowed solemnly. "This subordinate implores Your Majesty to issue a decree."
"What decree?"
"This subordinate wishes to elevate Li Fanghua."
"Have you thought this through?"
Wu Dakang nodded, a hint of embarrassment in his voice. "Yes. I ask Your Majesty to grant my wish."
"This is a good thing, and I must grant it. Upon our return to the capital, I will issue a decree."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Wu Dakang said.
After Xue Zining left, Li Fanghua, supported by her maid, walked over and asked softly, "General, what has made you so happy?"
Wu Dakang smiled and took Li Fanghua's hand from the maid. "I have asked His Majesty for a decree to elevate you."
Li Fanghua trembled all over, filled with emotion. "General, you..."
Wu Dakang caressed her delicate hand. "In the past, you were the illegitimate daughter of the Grand Censor. You were more than worthy of me, a rough soldier. Elevating you is only right."
"General, thank you," Li Fanghua said, her voice trembling with excitement.
She had never imagined that she would one day become a principal wife.
"This is what you deserve," Wu Dakang said softly as he embraced Li Fanghua's slightly rounded figure.
Li Fanghua looked into the distance. It turned out that happiness was simple: having him and children was enough.
When Xue Zining returned to the Hua residence, Xueyan saw the bloodstains on her clothes and rushed forward, her voice filled with urgency. "Are you injured?"
"I'm fine. This blood isn't mine."
Xueyan breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good." Otherwise, her guilt would have been immense.
"Has Yun Jin woken up?" Xue Zining asked.
"He woke up once. This servant fed him some blood as you instructed. The Prime Minister slept again after drinking it."
Xue Zining nodded. "I'll go in and see."
She pushed open the door. The young man on the bed lay there, his complexion no longer as pale and bloodless as when she first saw him. "Yun Jin, don't worry, you will wake up soon."
"Your Majesty, are you looking for this old man?" Hua Rong entered from outside the door and bowed respectfully.
"Elder Hua, I need to go to Xue Guo."
Hua Rong started, then looked up. "Your Majesty, absolutely not."
"I know about the treaty between Huang Ze and Xue Guo, but the item in the Xue Guo Shrine can save Yun Jin. I must try."
Upon hearing this, Hua Rong immediately knelt and said solemnly, "Your Majesty, you cannot go to Xue Guo."
"Hua Rong, only the supreme treasure in the Xue Guo Shrine can save Yun Jin. I must go."
"Your Majesty, if you insist on this, Yun Jin would not agree if he knew."
Xue Zining trembled. She turned to look at the young man on the bed. He surely would not agree, but, "He doesn't know, does he?"
Hua Rong faltered. "Your Majesty..."
"My mind is made up. Further words are futile."
"Your Majesty, I will not agree."
A voice echoed, and Xue Zining trembled. She slowly turned and saw the young man on the bed open his eyes and look at her.
His handsome face was tinged with paleness, but his eyes were exceptionally bright.
"Yun Jin..."
Xue Zining didn't know what to say next, as tears streamed down her face and her voice choked.
"Your Majesty, you have worried too much." Hua Yun Jin looked at her, her reflection in his eyes.
Xue Zining shook her head and stepped forward. "It's wonderful that you're awake."
"Your Majesty, I have woken up. Please do not go to Xue Guo." Hua Yun Jin said all this in one breath, then gasped for air.
"What's wrong?" Xue Zining quickly helped him regulate his breathing.
"I am fine. Your Majesty, please promise me, do not go to Xue Guo," Hua Yun Jin said, gripping her hand, word by word.
His bright eyes stared at her intently, as if he wouldn't let go if she didn't agree.
"I promise you, I will not go to Xue Guo," Xue Zining said slowly, looking at him.
The young man smiled. "Your Majesty must keep her word."
"I will keep my word," the young woman also smiled.
"Your Majesty, I need to speak with Elder Hua. Could you please step outside for a moment?" the young man turned to Hua Rong.
"Alright, call me if you need anything." Xue Zining left the room.
The young man watched the young woman's retreating back leave the room. His pale face suddenly flushed a deep red. Hua Rong started and quickly stepped forward. "You... you are..."
"Close the door," the young man said urgently.
Although Hua Rong didn't understand why the young man said this, he waved his hand and closed the door.
The moment the door closed, the young man spat out a mouthful of blood.
More than he had in days, he coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, staining the bed he lay on and his clothes.
Hua Rong trembled. "Yun Jin, you..."
The young man shook his head and smiled. "Elder, I am fine. I have something to ask of you."
Hua Rong looked at the young man and said slowly, "Is it to ask me to stop the Empress from going to Xue Guo?"
The young man smiled. "Elder indeed knows my heart."
Hua Rong stepped forward, his expression grave. "Do you know that you can no longer control your body? If you cannot suppress it, I fear..."
"I will not," the young man said solemnly.
He clenched his fists tightly. "I will not become him. I will not."
"If..."
"There is no 'if'," the young man shook his head, decisively.
Hua Rong sighed. "Actually, if the Empress went, it might not be without a chance of victory."
"Elder, the Xue Guo Shrine is a place from which even gods do not return. I absolutely cannot let Your Majesty risk herself for me."
"Since you have decided, I naturally will not go against your wishes," Hua Rong said.
"Thank you, Elder," the young man said gratefully.
"There is no need for thanks. However, with the Empress's intelligence, she will likely figure it out. If I cannot stop her, do not blame me."
The young man heard this and said, "No, she promised me."
Hua Rong sighed and walked out of the room. After only a few steps, he indeed saw the Empress standing under a tree, looking at him.
He walked over. "Your Majesty, is there something you wish to ask of this old man?"
"Yun Jin, how much time does he have left?"
Hua Rong paused, but still answered truthfully. "If the episodes occur frequently, he likely won't survive this month."