Long Xuanmo didn't care and walked to the bedside to sit down, took Yang Mengchen's hand, and deeply gazed at her as she slept peacefully, his eyes brimming with myriad emotions.

The moment Ah Jiu collapsed, his heart also came to a sudden halt.

Fear, suffocation, panic... that feeling he never had even when deeply surrounded by enemy forces and trapped on all sides suddenly blanked his mind, and he instinctively didn't want anything to happen to Ah Jiu, instinctively stepping forward to hold her in his arms.

Even now, he still felt the aftereffects of his scare; he didn't dare to think about what he would become if something had really happened to Ah Jiu.

Gently lifting Yang Mengchen's hand to his chest where his heartbeat was rapid yet strong, Long Xuanmo silently murmured.

Ah Jiu, do you know that without you, I would have no belief or courage to continue living, so no matter what happens, Ah Jiu, you must be well, don't leave me, promise me, okay?

Yang Mengchen was extremely weary, but with lingering concerns, she woke up after merely two hours of sleep.

As she opened her eyes, she saw Long Xuanmo asleep with his eyes closed against the headboard, breathing evenly, yet his sword-like eyebrows were tightly knit, his lips slightly pursed and his body trembling slightly, as if unsuppressable sorrow and desolation were bursting forth from his dreams.

Just as Yang Mengchen was about to wake Long Xuanmo, he suddenly screamed: "Ah Jiu!" startling her.

Hearing the commotion outside, Wu Tong and Mu Jin immediately became alert, stood up and quickly rushed in: "Prince, what's wrong with Miss?"

"I'm fine." Yang Mengchen quickly steadied her emotions and instructed Wu Tong and Mu Jin: "I'm a little hungry, bring in the meal."

Glancing at Yang Mengchen, who was unharmed, then back to Long Xuanmo who was still with his eyes closed against the headboard, Wu Tong promptly went to the kitchen while Mu Jin retreated to stand guard outside, and closed the door tightly.

Yang Mengchen reached out and pushed Long Xuanmo, calling in a low voice, "Prince, wake up."

After several attempts, Long Xuanmo finally opened his eyes, and his gaze still held a trace of confusion and despair as he looked at her.

"Prince, were you having a nightmare?" Yang Mengchen asked softly, while extending a handkerchief to Long Xuanmo, signaling him to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

Yet, Long Xuanmo abruptly caught both of Yang Mengchen's hands and looked straight at her, repeating urgently, "Ah Jiu, don't leave me, never leave me!" His expression was tense, his voice hoarse, laden with pleading and panic.

"Let me go." Her hands were tightly grasped by Long Xuanmo, the powerful grip almost crushing her bones, and Yang Mengchen's brow furrowed slightly: "Prince, if you have something to say, let me go first."

Seeing the pain on Yang Mengchen's face, Long Xuanmo felt a twinge in his heart, but he still held her hands, careful now not to hurt her: "Ah Jiu, promise me, never to leave me, will you promise me?"

If it weren't for holding Ah Jiu's hand, if it weren't for feeling Ah Jiu's warmth, he really couldn't distinguish the difference between dream and reality. If it was said to be a dream, it was however so real; that loneliness, sadness, along with the heartache and despair, it all felt genuinely tasted.

For some reason, seeing Long Xuanmo's eyes filled with sorrowful pleading, Yang Mengchen suddenly felt her heart constrict, an indescribable emotion suddenly seizing her heart fiercely, leaving her at a loss for what to do.

"Prince, I'm going to visit Grand Prince Gong," Yang Mengchen said while simultaneously mustering her Inner Strength to break free from Long Xuanmo's grasp. She quickly pressed his acupuncture points to immobilize him before putting on her shoes and outerwear and stepping out the door.

Just as Wu Tong entered carrying a food box, Yang Mengchen indifferently instructed, "Leave it there for now, I'll eat when I return."

Wu Tong looked towards Mu Jin with confusion. Mu Jin shook her head slightly, prompting Wu Tong to place the food box on the table and follow after Yang Mengchen along with Mu Jin.

Unable to move, Long Xuanmo kept his eyes open. He didn't dare to close them, for he felt that if he did, a wave of loneliness and sorrow might overwhelm him and make him want to cry uncontrollably.

He couldn't understand why the pain of someone else could hurt him so deeply, even to the point of not wanting to live. Why did seeing that person in agony cause his own heart to ache?

What exactly was going on?

"Miss, why have you come?" Hai Tang and Lv Luo, who were on guard, quickly stood up upon seeing Yang Mengchen arrive.

Yang Mengchen waved her hand dismissively, "I came to check on the situation," she said and walked towards the bedside.

Grand Prince Gong had just opened his eyes to see Yang Mengchen and smiled, "The young lady has come."

"Hmm," Yang Mengchen responded softly, first inspecting the wound on Grand Prince Gong's head for any bleeding, then touching his forehead to find it not hot. She sat beside the bed and took his pulse, "How do you feel, Grand Prince Gong?"

"Apart from some pain, everything else feels fine," Grand Prince Gong, sensing that something was off with Yang Mengchen's mood and not seeing his nephew, guessed that something might have happened between the two, but wisely chose not to mention it.

"After the anesthesia, pain is natural, but it will gradually get better," Yang Mengchen retracted her hand, "You cannot eat for now. Wait six hours and I will prepare a blood-nourishing porridge for you. Rest well. Hai Tang, Lv Luo, when the IV is done, take it down."

"Yes, Miss," Hai Tang and Lv Luo responded respectfully.

Leaving the medicinal hut, Yang Mengchen, accompanied by Mu Jin and Wu Tong, proceeded to Youran Courtyard. With such a significant event occurring at home, and her sudden fainting spell, surely her family was too worried to sleep. Thankfully, Grandpa Luo and Grandma Luo had returned to The Capital, sparing them the worry and fear.

As Yang Mengchen anticipated, the light was still on in Old Master Yang and his wife's bedroom. When the maids announced that the dear granddaughter had arrived, the couple hurriedly emerged from the bedroom. Seeing their granddaughter unharmed, their anxious hearts finally settled.

Yang Mengchen, not ready to face Long Xuanmo, didn't want to return and so she capriciously decided to stay in Youran Courtyard.

Half an hour later, having regained his freedom, Long Xuanmo headed straight for the medicinal hut. Not finding Yang Mengchen there, he was about to go out to search for her when Grand Prince Gong called out to him. Ignoring the presence of Hai Tang and Lv Luo, the two men struck up a conversation.

The following morning, Yang Mengchen, after freshening up, arrived at the medicinal hut with Doctor Luo and Yang Cheng'an. Unexpectedly, Prince Ning, several Imperial Physicians, and Long Jingxi, among others, were already waiting at the door.

Yang Mengchen frowned slightly, "Prince Ning, these next three days are critical. It's best not to disturb Grand Prince Gong. If anything goes awry, no one can bear the consequences, wouldn't you agree?"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.