Chapter 538

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Protagonist:

Yan Qianqian

Qianqian lightly patted his shoulder, wanting to say something to comfort him, but found herself at a loss for words. Fortunately, Yan Jie's emotions came quickly and left just as fast; not long after, he was as if nothing had happened, returning to his usual calm.

Qianqian and Yan Jie strolled through the Imperial Palace.

After they finished a circuit, they called for Luo Shun to leave together.

The three decided to separate from the main group and set off on the road home. After all, Si Ge still needed to lead the others in taking over affairs here, and Qianqian had not returned home for a long time; her parents and siblings at home must be worried sick about her.

Thus, the three of them rode horses, galloping toward Dachang.

Along the way, they were not in a hurry, but rode leisurely, admiring the scenery on both sides of the road and feeling the beauty of nature. Time passed unnoticed; the sky gradually darkened, and night was about to fall.

When the sun was about to set, they discovered an inn not far ahead, so they decided to rest there for the night.

After entering the inn, they asked for three guest rooms; Qianqian stayed in one alone, while Luo Shun and Yan Jie shared another. After dinner, everyone returned to their own rooms to rest.

Qianqian sat at the table, just picking up her water cup to take a sip, when she suddenly heard a faint knocking sound on the window.

This was a contact method agreed upon between her and the Anqi, so she said without hesitation, "Enter."

She had thought the visitor would be Shi Er, but when the window was pushed open and a figure appeared before her, she was surprised to discover that the person standing before her was actually Wangchen, whom she had not seen for a long time.

Upon seeing Qianqian, Wangchen immediately dropped to both knees, bowed to her, and called out respectfully, "Master."

Qianqian looked at Wangchen before her, and a complex surge of emotion welled up in her heart. She hesitated a moment, then said softly, "Rise."

Wangchen did not stand up quickly as usual; on the contrary, he remained on both knees, not daring to raise his head, only saying in a low voice, "Subordinate is guilty; I beg Master to punish me."

Seeing this, Qianqian could not help but frown slightly. She guessed what Wangchen wanted to say, but still asked curiously, "Oh? What crime do you have? Tell me."

Wangchen still did not dare raise his head, only burying it lower, and replied haltingly, "Subordinate should not have concealed the truth from Master, did not truthfully inform Master of Subordinate's true identity. This visit is precisely to confess this matter to Master."

Hearing this, Qianqian nodded, her tone softening slightly: "Mm, since that's the case, get up and speak. What identity exactly, and why were you gone so long?"

Receiving Qianqian's permission, Wangchen only then slowly stood up, but his gaze remained on the ground, not daring to meet Qianqian's eyes, and said softly, "Master, Subordinate's original name is Li Yu."

Hearing this, Qianqian's heart shook violently; she couldn't help but twitch an eyelid, and pressed, "Someone from the Beilin Kingdom royal family?"

Wangchen gave a slight nod and answered, "Precisely. Li Jun is Subordinate's twin elder brother."

Hearing this, the shock in Qianqian's heart grew even stronger, but she did not interrupt Wangchen, instead continuing to listen quietly to his account.

Wangchen took a deep breath and continued, "Li Jun and I are twins, but he was born a step before me, while I was born slightly later.

However, he was frail from birth, while I was born with a strong constitution. On the day we were both born, the Beilin Kingdom's National Preceptor calculated that I had sucked away his Qi Luck and everything at birth! This shocking conclusion made my father believe it deeply.

Mother looked at me, wailing in her arms, her heart full of helplessness and pain.

She knew that if she did not send me away, my existence would bring endless disaster to that so-called elder brother, and might even make him unable to survive past the Full Moon.

Faced with such a difficult choice, Mother could only agree through tears to Father's proposal and send me away.

Thus, Father unceremoniously entrusted me to a few Yatou and Nainai, sending me to the border between Beilin Kingdom and Xishang Kingdom.

Although these Yatou and Nainai did not know my true identity, they knew clearly that as long as I survived, Black-clothed People would deliver Monthly Salary on time every month. Moreover, the Monthly Salary they received was much higher than that of other families' Yatou and Nainai.

However, behind this seemingly generous treatment lay their coldness and neglect toward me.

They were indifferent to my life; the food, clothing, and expenses they provided were the cheapest, only seeking to keep me barely alive. Like this, I spent five years in such an environment.

Until the year I turned five, a sudden piece of news broke my peaceful life — my father sent people to fetch me.

I had never known my true identity until that day, when I suddenly realized I was actually a Prince! When he took me back, my heart was full of anticipation and unease.

However, when I saw Mother Consort, all unease vanished like smoke.

The moment she saw me, she immediately rushed over and hugged me tightly, gently stroking my hair, her eyes showing endless heartache and affection. At that moment, I felt the warmth of maternal love, as if the whole world had become beautiful.

Simultaneously, I noticed a boy who looked exactly like me; he was clutching Li Aotian's sleeve tightly, hiding behind him, looking at me curiously. Later I learned he was my elder brother Li Jun.

I thought that from then on, I would finally have a complete family, with parents who doted on me and an elder brother. But reality dealt me a heavy blow.

Only two days passed before they sent people to send me away again.

I cried and made a scene, struggling desperately, unwilling to leave this home that had just let me feel warmth. However, no matter how I cried, Li Aotian remained unmoved; he coldly ordered his men to tie me onto the carriage.

I looked back at Mother Consort; her face also showed reluctance, but she did not stop any of it. Perhaps she also couldn't bear to part with me, but in the end she still chose to obey Li Aotian's decision.

Later I understood that all this was because of the war between Beilin Kingdom and Xishang Kingdom that year.

After Beilin Kingdom lost the war, the two countries signed a Peace Treaty, and one of its clauses was to send a Prince to Xishang Kingdom as a Hostage Prince. It turned out Li Aotian suddenly brought me back just to send me as a Hostage Prince.

I felt incomparable despair and helplessness; why must fate toy with me so? I was just an innocent child, yet had to endure such pain and separation.