Chapter 1537: Is he truly so heartless? The despair of Chu Qingluan

Great Chu.

Inside the Imperial Palace.

Within a room adorned with carved railings and jade masonry.

Chu Qingluan had her hair coiled up, her face cold and detached. There was not a hint of color in her eyes, save for a flicker of softness that appeared only when they fell upon the well-behaved infant girl beside her.

"Jun Jun, you have suffered along with your mother."

"But perhaps this is simply the fate of us mother and daughter."

Chu Qingluan's expression was one of utter desolation as she gently stroked the infant's face.

The baby girl was chewing on her tiny hand, her dark, liquid eyes perfectly round, her little face pink and tender; she looked incredibly innocent and adorable.

Creak.

The door was pushed open.

Chu Ningyu stepped inside.

Upon seeing Chu Ningyu arrive, a flicker of barely perceptible expectation appeared in Chu Qingluan's eyes.

Now that the entirety of Great Chu was united in purpose, and having suffered a defeat herself, she held no status to speak of; the matter of the marriage alliance was already set in stone.

She had already resigned herself to her fate. She did not resist the marriage alliance with the Xiongnu to atone for her sins. Once she reached the Xiongnu and fulfilled her mission, making whatever contribution she could to the Chu Kingdom, she would simply end her life.

But... the child was innocent.

Now, her only hope was Gao Yang!

She only prayed that Gao Yang could find a way to take Jun Jun away, not to let Jun Jun follow her to the Xiongnu!

"Imperial Sister, is there any news?"

Chu Qingluan asked, holding the infant, her eyes filled with earnest longing.

Chu Ningyu's expression was complex. "News has indeed come from Changancheng in Da Qian... but there is no word of the Living Yama saving the child."

Chu Qingluan's delicate body trembled, but she forced herself to appear composed.

Was she disappointed?

That was inevitable. After all, Gao Yang was the first man to possess her body. She did not ask Gao Yang to save her, only hoped he would save his own flesh and blood...

But upon careful reflection, it was also within reason.

How could the Living Yama value sentiment?

Chu Ningyu looked at the silent Chu Qingluan, her heart aching.

She, too, held Gao Yang in utter contempt.

She had even let her imagination run wild, fabricating stories until she herself felt they were excessive; could he truly not be angry, not feel a shred of heartache?

This was his own flesh and blood; was he so cold-blooded that he wouldn't even reply to a single letter?

"Qingluan, don't be anxious yet. Although the Living Yama has sent no letter, the actions he has taken during this time are so significant that officials in the court have submitted proposals to temporarily delay the marriage alliance."

Upon hearing this, Chu Qingluan suddenly looked up, a rare flicker of excitement in the depths of her eyes.

"Imperial Sister, is this news true?"

Chu Ningyu nodded. "The news is accurate. In the past few days, officials have been meeting with the Emperor, and what they discuss concerns the marriage alliance."

A glimmer of hope suddenly ignited in Chu Qingluan's heart. ===== CHAPTER 1539 =====