Chapter 104: The Unexplainable Superpower

Li Zheng looked up coldly at Li Yanhe and said, “Tsk, with that face of yours, saying such things really displeases your royal uncle.”

Hearing Li Zheng’s words, Li Yanhe nodded and replied, “That’s fine. If you’re unhappy, then I’m happy. After all, the very reason I’m unhappy is because of you.”

With a cold tone, Li Yanhe finished speaking. Li Zheng glanced at him and said, “I truly don’t understand how you came to know these things.”

Li Yanhe looked at Li Zheng and said, “How do I know? Probably someone in the palace passed the information to me.”

Li Zheng didn’t continue further. He looked at Li Yanhe and said, “In your current situation, there’s no way you can protect her completely.”

Hearing this, a mocking smile crept across Li Yanhe’s lips. Tilting his head, he said to Li Zheng, “Oh? Is that so?”

Li Yanhe glanced at Li Zheng and said, “Whether I can protect her is my business. At least I’m better than you, royal uncle. At the very least, you don’t have the royal jade disc.”

Li Zheng stopped Li Yanhe’s words and shouted at him, “How dare you! How dare you say such things?”

Li Yanhe’s mouth curved into a sarcastic grin as he said, “I’m a person who isn’t really moved by familial ties, not even by you.”

“So why would you say those things to her? Some matters aren’t hers to know. If you told Miaomiao, then you deserve to die.”

Li Yanhe’s expression remained indifferent as he finished speaking. Li Zheng looked coldly at Li Yanhe and said, “I was only trying to warn her.”

Li Yanhe sneered and said to Li Zheng, “Is that so? You’re just acting out of selfishness.”

Rubbing his finger ring thoughtfully, Li Yanhe glanced at Li Zheng and said, “No matter who becomes the future emperor—me or the crown prince—you won’t live to see it.”

After saying this, Li Yanhe sighed deeply, then looked at Li Zheng with a faint, bitter smile and said, “What’s missed is missed. Sometimes, no amount of making up for it matters.”

“Why bother? I don’t even want to reach that position. Living a simple, ordinary life would be enough, and I’d be content.”

Taking a sip of tea, Li Yanhe said to Li Zheng, “I wasn’t changed because of anyone. I was only changed by the choices you all made.”

His voice was calm and detached. After a long pause, Li Zheng sighed and looked at Li Yanhe. “What about your mother, the empress?”

Li Yanhe’s face showed a sad smile. Turning to Li Zheng, he said, “My mother’s greatest wish is probably to escape from there.”

After hearing this, Li Zheng’s face instantly became very uneasy. When Lin Miaomiao returned, she saw Li Yanhe sitting alone, using his own teacup.

Lin Miaomiao glanced at Li Yanhe and said, “Sigh, where’s Li Zheng? He was just here a moment ago. Why has he left now?”

Li Yanhe looked at her with a confused expression. Lin Miaomiao looked at Li Yanhe and asked, “Are you hiding something from me?”

Li Yanhe turned to look at her and said, “Well, you’re hiding something from me too.”

Lin Miaomiao pursed her lips but said nothing, sensing at that moment how troubled Li Yanhe was.

Li Yanhe looked at her and said, “You never thought to tell me your secrets, but you’ve learned mine piece by piece.”

Lin Miaomiao felt puzzled; at that moment, Li Yanhe seemed so fragile, as if a gust of wind might make him faint.

She stepped closer and placed her hand on his head, surprised to find that he had a fever.

Lin Miaomiao said, “You have a fever. You should rest immediately.”

Li Yanhe shook his head and said, “I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Lin Miaomiao grew anxious and said, “How can I not care? You already have a fever.”

Li Yanhe looked up at her with a sorrowful expression. Seeing this, Lin Miaomiao felt a sudden pang of tenderness for him.

He lifted his gaze and said, “I can trust you, right? I can sleep soundly, right?”

Lin Miaomiao nodded, inexplicably moved to tears by this vulnerable side of Li Yanhe.

She helped him back to his room. Li Yanhe held her and murmured, “I can give you all of me, as long as you don’t leave.”

Lin Miaomiao gazed at him softly and said, “Why would I leave?”

Li Yanhe’s expression turned deeply sorrowful as he said, “Who knows? The world’s hustle and bustle is all for profit, and every clash, for gain.”

Lin Miaomiao patted his shoulder and said, “I won’t leave. Truly, I won’t.”

Li Yanhe looked up at her and said, “If you stay, I’m willing to be that decadent, ruthless monarch, letting you be that fateful enchantress who brings ruin to the kingdom.”

Lin Miaomiao smiled wryly and shook her head. “We don’t need a grand, tumultuous love. Simple, ordinary companionship is enough.”

After she spoke, Li Yanhe closed his eyes. His body was burning hot, and Lin Miaomiao didn’t know why.

She wanted to get medicine to treat his cold, but he clung tightly to her, unwilling to let go.

Lying against his chest, Lin Miaomiao listened to his heartbeat and felt an inexplicable peace.

She closed her eyes slowly, holding him as they both drifted to sleep.

The next morning, Lin Miaomiao awoke suddenly and immediately placed her hand on Li Yanhe’s head.

She was surprised to find his fever had broken. Furrowing her brows, she looked at him curiously.

Li Yanhe noticed her touch and shook his head with a smile.

Lin Miaomiao looked at him seriously and said, “Do you know you had a fever last night?”

Li Yanhe lifted his head and said, “That wasn’t a fever. It was just a case of inner turmoil, a spiritual imbalance.”

Lin Miaomiao repeated, “Inner turmoil?”

Li Yanhe nodded and said, “Just some things I couldn’t understand, so I went a little mad.”

Lin Miaomiao glanced at him, surprised that even someone like Li Yanhe could suffer such a thing.

Seeing her expression, Li Yanhe chuckled lightly and said, “What’s the matter?”

Lost in thought, Lin Miaomiao looked up and said, “Nothing. I’m just curious that someone like you can lose control like that.”

Li Yanhe laughed heartily, then gave her a playful sideways glance and said, “I’m only human after all. How could everything always go my way?”

Lin Miaomiao looked up at him and said, “Li Yanhe, I suddenly realize I don’t really know you. In fact, I don’t know what kind of person you really are.”

Li Yanhe raised an eyebrow, amused, and said, “Why do you want to know what kind of person I am? Truth be told, there might be no future for us.”

Hearing this, Lin Miaomiao felt a sudden pang in her heart. She looked up, smiled faintly, and nodded. “Indeed, there’s probably no future for us. Our status, identity, and age all stand in the way.”

After saying this, she stood up, straightened her clothes, and turned to leave. Just as she opened the door, she glanced back at Li Yanhe and said, “So, what did you mean last night when you said you know me better and better?”

A sardonic smile touched her lips as the cold war between Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe began in earnest.

Over the next few days, Lin Miaomiao took Nurse Zhao and the others to live in her newly built small western-style villa.

That night, Li Yanhe was surrounded by men. Seeing Jiang Luohan and the others, he pinched the bridge of his nose and said, “Why haven’t you left yet?”

Lin Langluan raised an eyebrow and said, “If Sister still doesn’t return in a couple of days, I’ll pack up and stay at the shop.”

Jiang Luohan noticed the courtyard had lost its usual liveliness and the enticing aroma of food was gone. He sighed quietly and said, “If Lin Miaomiao doesn’t come back in a few days, I’ll take Lin Langze to Baihua Valley.”

Li Qi and the other servants looked at Li Yanhe but remained silent, seemingly without a say.

The men sat or lay around, none moving. After a long while, Li Yanhe suddenly felt a pang of hunger.

He looked at them and said, “After Lin Miaomiao left, are you all refusing to eat?”

The courtyard was silent; no one answered. Li Yanhe grew annoyed, kicked a stool, and turned to leave.

Jiang Luohan glanced at Li Yanhe’s retreating back and said, “I am a bit hungry too. Maybe we should go find Lin Miaomiao and mooch a meal.”