#127: Nestling (4)

Qi Ying turned around and, seeing her tearful expression, managed a smile despite his still-pale face. He gently tapped her nose and said, “You’ve worked hard.”

Shen Xiling’s body trembled slightly, weakened by fear. Hearing him comfort her stirred up an indescribable wave of emotions within her.

She set the medicine jar aside carelessly and sat down at the foot of the bed, leaning against his knees. Her voice was soft as she murmured, “…Can you please stop getting hurt?”

Her closeness made Qi Ying acutely aware of her sorrow and pain.

This was a question that couldn’t be answered, so Qi Ying simply patted her shoulder lightly, offering her comfort through his silence.

They stayed close together for a long time, as if this moment could last forever.

Eventually, it was Qi Ying who broke the silence.

He continued to pat her shoulder gently, letting her lean on him. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Today, Fourth Prince Xiao Ziteng came to see me… We talked about Sixth Princess Xiaozhi.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Xiling stiffened. She straightened her posture and stopped leaning against him, turning her head to look at him. “Hmm?”

Qi Ying lowered his gaze to meet hers, remaining silent for a moment before saying, “I told His Highness that after some time… I would marry her.”

Shen Xiling froze.

Though she had anticipated this possibility earlier in the day and had already reasoned through everything that afternoon, hearing Qi Ying say those words still shocked her.

The familiar ache surged within her once more, just as intense as when she first heard he might make her marry someone else.

She didn’t know what to say and could only stare at him blankly.

Qi Ying’s brows furrowed slightly, and his eyes reflected a trace of inner struggle. He gently took her hand and said, “Wenwen, listen to me.”

After uttering these words, he fell silent again, unable to continue for a while, as if struggling to find the right words.

During that stretch of silence, Qi Ying’s mind raced with thoughts.

Young Master Qi was a thoughtful and decisive person. The more complex and challenging the situation, the calmer he became in analyzing and planning. Since committing himself emotionally to Shen Xiling, he had begun contemplating how to navigate their future path.

He didn’t want to betray his family or the court, nor did he wish to let her down. But ultimately, he would have to make sacrifices.

He resolved to leave—if staying here would only lead to a dead end, then he might as well cut through the tangled web and take her away with him.

Leave Jiankang.

When this idea first occurred to him, even Qi Ying thought it absurd. But after careful consideration over the days that followed, he began to think… it wasn’t such a bad idea.

In fact, it was quite good.

If they remained in Jiankang, they would inevitably remain trapped in the quagmire of family and court politics. Even the late Chancellor Shen, as the head of his clan, had been unable to escape this vortex, illustrating the weight of its burden. To protect Shen Xiling and seek happiness between them, he would have to relinquish everything he was born with—his family, relatives, official position, reputation—all of it. He would leave with her, live under a new identity, and spend the rest of their lives in obscurity.

This choice wouldn’t just benefit Shen Xiling—it would also be a wise decision for his family.

The Qi family currently held too much power, standing alone above others. Being overly prominent often led to dire consequences. Without him in the court, the Qi family’s influence would diminish but become safer. If they towered too high above the other two noble families, it would be tantamount to making enemies of everyone. At that point, not even the imperial family or other aristocratic clans would remain allies. His elder brother wasn’t a revolutionary leader but excelled at maintaining stability. As long as nothing unexpected happened, he could ensure the Qi family’s safety and prosperity.

But if Qi Ying truly intended to leave the court, he needed to settle everything beforehand.

He was a man burdened by responsibility. Though deeply aware of the empire’s corruption, he still felt compassion for the people of Jiangzuo. If he were to leave, he must do everything possible before departing—such as reforming the Spring Examination and launching a northern campaign.

He had to set a precedent in Liang. This year’s Spring Examination reforms, though excessive, had shaken the scholarly circles as he predicted. Once the door to promoting commoners was opened, the next chief examiner would have no choice but to follow his path to avoid public criticism. With Third Prince’s faction mediating further, the political landscape of Liang might change significantly.

He couldn’t transform the country overnight, but he could create opportunities. This was his utmost effort, his final duty to himself and others.

The northern campaign was even more crucial.

So far, he hadn’t found a suitable successor to take over the Privy Council. To prevent chaos in Jiangzuo after his departure, he had to launch a swift northern campaign to reclaim the three lost commanderies while Gao Wei’s situation remained unstable. A decisive battle now could secure peace for Jiangzuo for the next decade.

Once these matters were resolved, he could finally take his beloved girl away with peace of mind.

Time was short. Promising Xiao Ziteng to marry Xiaozhi after the northern campaign was the longest delay he could afford. Any further procrastination would arouse suspicion. Within a year, he had to arrange everything.

Knowing his limited time, he had acted so drastically during this Spring Examination—there wouldn’t be another three years to wait if he missed this chance.

He couldn’t let his little girl suffer for another three years, nor would he allow her to follow in her mother’s tragic footsteps.

He would marry her openly and honorably.

These thoughts weren’t necessary to share with Shen Xiling. If she knew, her sensitive nature would surely blame herself for burdening him. He didn’t want her to carry any guilt—all decisions were his alone, unrelated to her.

Qi Ying lowered his eyelids, concealing his thoughts. After a pause, he looked back at Shen Xiling, his eyes filled with gentle amusement.

He asked her, “Wenwen, do you trust me?”

Shen Xiling gazed at him. Despite her confusion and sadness, her faith in him outweighed everything else.

Her eyes shimmered as she nodded. “I only trust you.”

Only you.

More than anything else in this world.

“Then,” he seemed somewhat moved, his tone tinged with slight awkwardness, “after I finish my current tasks, would you… be willing to leave with me?”

Shen Xiling was taken aback, unsure. “…Leave here?”

He nodded, his usually distant and serene face showing clear signs of awkwardness. If one looked closely, they’d notice his ears turning slightly red.

He acknowledged her question, coughing lightly to mask his discomfort. “Yes… elope.”

Elope?

Shen Xiling froze again.

She never imagined hearing those words from Qi Ying—he was such a serious and upright man, and “elope” sounded far too rebellious. At first, she didn’t process it, but when realization hit, overwhelming joy surged from deep within, leaving her flustered.

However, she hadn’t forgotten about the princess and pressed on despite her happiness. “What about… what about the princess? Didn’t you just say you’d marry her?”

His expression was calm, looking at her sincerely. “That was a lie. I won’t marry anyone else.”

The emphasis on “anyone else” hinted at his devotion to her. Understanding this, Shen Xiling couldn’t contain her joy. After composing herself, she asked, “A lie? You deceived the prince? Is that… is that alright? Will you be in trouble? You…”

One question followed another, all concerning him, all expressing her worry.

Qi Ying chuckled. Though the wound on his back still throbbed painfully, he found it inconsequential.

He pinched her cheek affectionately, saying meaningfully, “Don’t worry about these things. I’ll handle everything. Just know that I will never betray you.”

Shen Xiling’s heart was struck deeply by his words.

He truly understood her. Without ever asking, he knew her fears and anxieties, which is why he gave her such a clear promise—unambiguous and requiring no guesswork on her part.

She loved him so much it brought tears to her eyes.

Fighting back tears, Shen Xiling hesitated before asking, “What about your family if we leave? Your parents, siblings, in-laws, younger brothers… what will happen to them?”

Qi Ying didn’t answer immediately. The light in his phoenix-like eyes dimmed slightly.

Eloping… it sounded simple, but as long as he lived, he could never fully escape the constraints of family and court. If he left, he would have to do so as a dead man; otherwise, even if he fled, the Qi family would suffer repercussions.

Once he left, there would be no turning back. While he might see his family again someday, it would be nearly impossible.

Knowing this, he reassured Shen Xiling, “It’s fine. It’ll just be a bit harder, but we can find ways to meet.”

Despite downplaying the difficulties, Shen Xiling was deeply moved and couldn’t contain her emotions.

She understood—he was giving up so much for her.

Far more than she could ever imagine.

Unable to hold back, she burst into tears, collapsing into his arms and clutching his clothes, unable to speak. She could only call out to him repeatedly: “Master…”

Qi Ying embraced her helplessly, gently kissing her forehead. Teasingly, he asked, “Crying like this, are you unwilling to leave with me?”

Shen Xiling’s eyes were red from crying, but she quickly refuted him. “No! Of course not! I dream of it—I just… I just…”

He gently wiped her tears. “You just what?”

Looking at him, she continued crying. “I just never thought I could have so much…”

Three years ago, when I first met you, I only hoped for a fleeting moment of your kindness. Later, I grew greedy but dared only hope to stay by your side, never imagining we could truly be together. Then, when we were together, I thought I’d have to endure sadness and grievance. I never expected you’d be willing to give up everything and take me away.

I only sought a fleeting moment, but you’ve given me an endless lifetime.

Shen Xiling cried even harder.

Qi Ying sighed, gently patting her back and softly consoling her. “It’s not all for you. I’m truly tired and need rest—you’ve known this for a long time. I want a simple life.”

Shen Xiling knew.

In the past, among countless books in the study, he repeatedly read only the collected works of Bao Pu, leaving numerous annotations. He was truly exhausted and needed rest—a life amidst mountains, streams, and forests.

Shen Xiling’s eyes brightened.

Qi Ying chuckled and joked, “But when we leave, I won’t have an official position or wealth. What if I can’t provide for you properly?”

At this, Shen Xiling immediately straightened up, taking his hand earnestly. “You don’t need to worry about that. When the time comes, you can rest peacefully, read the books you love, and spend your days walking, fishing, and gardening. I’ll earn money—you know I’ve always enjoyed making money, and I’m quite good at it.”

Excited, she wiped her own tears without needing him to comfort her further. Looking at him enthusiastically, she continued, “We can take some silver with us. I’ve saved a lot, or we can sell the shops I currently own. That should give us enough to buy a nice estate! Then we can divide the land—part for growing vegetables, part for tenant farmers—and even plant fruit trees! What fruit do you like best?”

She chattered on excitedly, as if this life were just around the corner.

Qi Ying found it amusing but gently reminded her, “Wenwen, we still have to wait a while before we can leave.”

He worried this might dampen her enthusiasm, but she only paused briefly before perking up again, continuing cheerfully, “Wait a while? Alright, that’s fine too. It gives us time to plan carefully. Oh, right, can we take Shui Pei and the others with us? You can’t do without Qingzhu and Brother Bai. Tell me how much monthly allowance you give them now—I’ll calculate whether we can afford everyone initially…”

As she spoke, she began to fret again, frowning and asking, “If we can’t afford everyone, maybe we’ll still need to do some business—but since we’re eloping, we shouldn’t draw too much attention. Maybe small-scale trading, something low-key—what do you think?”

She kept talking animatedly, like a cheerful little sparrow. Qi Ying listened patiently, though he wasn’t particularly focused on the specifics of what she said. Instead, he admired her joyful demeanor, her radiant expression, and how the beautiful red mole between her brows seemed even more vibrant, filling him with happiness.

Seeing her so happy made all his sacrifices worthwhile.

“All of that is fine,” he smiled, lifting her delicate white hand to kiss it gently. His gaze was infinitely tender. “Let Madam decide.”

His tone was neither too loud nor too soft, perfectly balanced. The word “Madam” rang clearly in her ears, like a gentle imprint.

Madam…

A title she once thought was beyond her reach, yet he had given it to her so naturally. She understood—it wasn’t just about love but also about cherishing and respecting her.

He truly held her in his heart.

Shen Xiling had thought she was done crying, but hearing Qi Ying call her “Madam” brought fresh tears streaming down uncontrollably, dripping soundlessly.

He chuckled, wiping her tears and lightly scolding her. “Crying again.”

Shen Xiling felt embarrassed, knowing how foolish she must seem, but she couldn’t help herself.

Blushing, she playfully tugged at Qi Ying’s sleeve, blaming him. “It’s all your fault. You made me cry—I rarely cry normally…”

“Nonsense,” Qi Ying laughed, his eyes full of affection, but still teased her. “You’ve always been a crier.”

Surprised by his words, Shen Xiling laughed through her tears, leaning against his legs and laughing endlessly.

Throughout the long night, the two remained entwined, whispering sweet nothings to each other.

It felt as though this moment could stretch into countless dawns.