Especially after Long Xuanmo ascended the throne, all the beauties under heaven were at his disposal. Should she slaughter all the women in the harem out of jealousy? Or should she gracefully accept and face it?

Moreover, Long Xuanmo shared the Emperor's blood, there was no guarantee he wouldn't become suspicious of the Yang family just like the Emperor. What would she do then?

For her own sake as well as her family's, it was impossible for her to choose to be with Long Xuanmo.

But why did her heart ache so?

In her ears, before her eyes, seemed to resurface Long Xuanmo's piercing mockery and the disconsolate figure he cut when he left, as if someone were cruelly slicing her heart, piece by piece, with a dagger. She raised her hand to her chest; the pain there had spread to her limbs, clouding her eyes with a thick sorrow that refused to dissolve, draining the color from Yang Mengchen's face.

Ever since Long Xuanmo had left abruptly, Hai Tang had been extremely worried. But without her mistress's command, she couldn't just walk in. Now, having heard no noise from the room for a long time, she anxiously pushed open the door and stepped inside, only to find her mistress standing by the window, enveloped by a profound sense of mournful desolation, which tugged at her heartstrings.

Picking up a coat from a chair, Hai Tang approached Yang Mengchen from behind and gently draped it over her: "It's cool at night, Mistress. You should take care of your body."

Yang Mengchen continued to stare vacantly at the moon until Hai Tang reminded her several times that the night was deep, prompting her to finally go to rest.

The next day, Yang Mengchen was clearly out of sorts. Hearing Hai Tang mention that Long Xuanmo, along with Mo Yun and the others, had hurried back to the Capital overnight, a flicker of pain and loss crossed the depths of her eyes, along with a sense of relief.

Lv Luo came in and placed something in front of Yang Mengchen, "Miss, I found these in the flower bed." They were the hairpins and jade pendant Long Xuanmo had discarded the night before, all broken.

Staring fixedly at the shattered hairpins and jade pendant, Yang Mengchen seemed to hear the sound of her own heart breaking. Trembling hands tenderly caressed the fragments as her eyes gradually misted over.

Hai Tang glanced at Lv Luo and went inside to fetch some adhesive. Together, they sat at the table and silently began to mend the hairpins and jade pendant.

Understanding their good intentions, Yang Mengchen picked up a mended hairpin and, using the adhesive, carefully put it together with great concentration and earnestness.

"Miss, Young Master Hang has arrived," a servant's voice suddenly announced from outside.

Yang Mengchen paused and after a moment responded indifferently, "Please ask Young Master Hang to wait in the garden. I will be there shortly."

The servant respectfully agreed and left.

Instructing Lv Luo to keep the hairpins and jade pendant safe, Yang Mengchen walked slowly to the garden with Hai Tang, where they saw Hang Qingming sitting elegantly by a stone table, sipping tea. His every move was the epitome of exquisite grace, causing the whole garden's blossoms to lose their luster in his presence, prompting an inexplicable emotion to flicker through Yang Mengchen's eyes.

"Ms. Yang," Hang Qingming said as he saw Yang Mengchen, setting down his teacup, standing up, and nodding slightly with a gentle, warm smile, his eyes serene as the breeze.

Yang Mengchen returned a faint smile, "Please, sit, Young Master Hang."

"I have been waiting for half an hour without seeing Ms. Yang, so I took the liberty of coming here. I hope you will forgive my intrusion," Hang Qingming said on his second visit to the residence.

Smiling apologetically, Yang Mengchen said, "I'm sorry, something has delayed me." They had agreed to go fishing by the river today.

"Ms. Yang looks pale, are you unwell? Perhaps you should have a doctor take a look," Hang Qingming said, worry evident on his face.

Last night, as soon as Prince Chen had left, he received the news. He had not expected the young lady to have such a deep connection with Prince Chen. Unfortunately, given Emperor Dongchu's temperament, he would never consent to Prince Chen marrying a farmer's daughter. However, if... it was something worth considering.

Staring at a face etched into her marrow, filled with sincere concern, Yang Mengchen felt herself drifting, as if back to the days she spent in loving companionship with her husband, unable to distinguish between the present reality and a dream, until the sound of calling snapped her back to her senses. She looked at the puzzled Hang Qingming, "Thank you for your concern, Young Master Hang.

I'm just a little sleep-deprived, no need for a doctor."

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