Chapter 383: I Fear I Cannot Repay
After Ye Jiamei finished speaking, the Empress Dowager showed no sign of relief or reassurance.
After all, the person undergoing surgery was the Emperor of Lanyue Dynasty. If anything were to happen to him, the entire kingdom would be thrown into years of unrest, giving opportunists the chance to disrupt the court. The situation would quickly spiral out of control.
“Even though those two pregnant women have survived the procedure, the Emperor’s condition can no longer be delayed. But you must remember—who you are treating is the Son of Heaven himself. If he survives, I will reward you greatly—wealth, status, or any other request, I will grant it. But if something goes wrong… you know the consequences.”
It was just a minor excision surgery. Ye Jiamei had full confidence in her skills. However, the pressure of having her life held in another’s hands was an unpleasant feeling.
Living under imperial rule, where one’s fate was not their own, was the harsh reality of this era. The frontier was much better—at least there, she had freedom.
“I understand, Your Majesty. Please rest assured—I will do my utmost.”
The Empress Dowager observed Ye Jiamei’s calm demeanor and felt a bit more at ease. But until the Emperor recovered, she would not let down her guard.
Ye Jiamei’s life—whether spared or taken—would remain on her account for now.
“Go. The Emperor has already been taken to the side hall, arranged exactly as you requested. I will personally lead the guards outside. Do not disappoint me.”
Ye Jiamei bowed and accepted the command. Before leaving, she glanced at the Crown Prince standing not far away.
Their eyes met for a brief moment. He simply gave her a slight nod, saying nothing. But Ye Jiamei understood—she had no choice but to move forward.
Inside the carriage, Yu Luo listened as the driver instructed her to change into an eunuch’s attire. Before they reached the palace gates, the carriage halted briefly, and the Third Prince boarded.
His charming, fox-like eyes roamed over her figure, a look of satisfaction deepening in his gaze.
“Quite a handsome little eunuch,” he remarked teasingly. “Once we enter the palace, stay close to me and do not wander. I received word this morning that an important matter is taking place today.
If you stir up trouble, I may not be able to protect you.”
Remembering Chi Jinchen’s warning from last night, Yu Luo obediently nodded. She only wanted to confirm her mother’s safety after treating the Emperor and then leave the palace peacefully.
Right now, she had no intention of meddling in anything else.
“Understood,” she replied.
The carriage rocked gently as it moved forward, passing through the towering palace gates.
Through the slight opening in the curtain, Yu Luo took in the grand architecture and magnificent scenery of the imperial palace.
Her lips parted slightly in awe.
She had seen ancient buildings before, but experiencing the grandeur of the Lanyue Palace firsthand was something else entirely.
“Do you like the palace?”
The Third Prince’s voice suddenly sounded behind her. Startled, Yu Luo quickly dropped the curtain and scoffed.
“Not at all.”
Hearing her response, the Third Prince’s smile stiffened slightly.
“I thought you might,” he muttered. “Seems I was mistaken. But you should reconsider. I have yet to take a consort. Even if your family were reinstated in the capital, you could never be my main wife—but I can offer you the position of a secondary consort. What do you think?”
Yu Luo blinked.
“Your Highness,” she said dryly, “I am of humble birth. I would not dare to dream of being your consort. You should save that position for someone else.”
Ha!
Not only did she have no interest in being his secondary consort—she wouldn’t care even if he offered her the main position.
The Third Prince was just as self-absorbed as ever.
“Do you have any idea how many noble ladies in the capital would die to marry me?” he asked. “This is an excellent chance to leave the frontier behind, yet you truly don’t want it?”
Of course, Yu Luo knew what he meant.
If she accepted, the Third Prince would undoubtedly do everything in his power to restore her family’s noble status.
But the fate of the Marquis household had nothing to do with her.
“If so many noblewomen desire the title, then Your Highness should grant it to them,” she said indifferently. “I have no need for it. The frontier suits me just fine.”
The complete lack of hesitation in her answer left the Third Prince feeling oddly suffocated.
This was the first time he had ever made such an offer to a woman—only to be utterly rejected.
Because of Yu Luo’s blunt refusal, he fell silent. The air inside the carriage grew tense.
Yu Luo ignored him.
To her, if the Third Prince was so easily upset just because she rejected him, then he was best avoided.
A petty man was not worth befriending.
Little did she know, at that moment, the Third Prince was not angry—he was doubting himself.
The carriage finally stopped. The driver lifted the curtain, and Yu Luo was the first to jump out.
The Third Prince watched her leave without looking back and sighed in resignation.
Just as Yu Luo was admiring the imposing palace gates, the driver nudged her with his eyes and handed her a small stool.
It took her a second to realize what he meant.
She quickly took the stool, scurrying over to serve as an attendant.
Her quick adjustment to the role made the Third Prince chuckle.
“Not bad,” he said. “Follow me.”
The teasing tone in his voice made Yu Luo grit her teeth.
Trailing after him, she followed the Third Prince through the palace until they arrived at a side hall.
The heavy guard presence made the Third Prince frown.
This place had always been quiet—there was never such a display of security before.
“Why so many guards?” he asked.
“Your Highness,” one of the guards replied respectfully, “the Emperor is undergoing treatment today in this side hall. No one is allowed to disturb the procedure. The Empress Dowager, the Crown Prince, and the Empress are inside. Everyone else must wait outside.”
Hearing this, Yu Luo frowned slightly.
The Third Prince turned and led her toward a stone table further from the entrance, away from prying ears.
“You wanted me to bring you into the palace,” he said, studying her carefully.
“Why? If it’s not urgent, can it wait until after my father’s treatment is complete?”
“There’s no need,” Yu Luo said simply. “This is exactly where I wanted to come. Because if nothing goes wrong, the person treating the Emperor inside… is my mother.”
The Third Prince’s eyes widened.
“Mother-in-law?!”
Yu Luo shot him a death glare.
“Apologies,” he said smoothly. “I got used to calling her that in the frontier. But if your only reason for entering the palace is your mother, why didn’t you just tell me? Your family did me a great favor—I would have come to ensure her safety myself.”
“There’s no need,” Yu Luo said coolly.
“I fear if I owe you too many favors, I won’t be able to repay them.”
She didn’t bother hiding her wariness toward him.
