First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

Xuan Ying took a deep breath. Since Mu Lingye had already said that, he couldn't offer any further advice. He could only watch silently from the side, keeping Mu Lingye company.

Mu Lingye remained silent for a long time before finally emerging from his overwhelming guilt.

"Go and summon the imperial physician; I need to see him," Mu Lingye ordered.

Xuan Ying ordered his men to leave, and soon returned with several highly respected imperial physicians. After examining Mu Lingye's pulse, they all shook their heads.

"Your Highness, why don't we try to have the Crown Princess examine him? Her medical skills are superb; perhaps she can help," Xuan Ying advised, looking at Mu Lingye's worried expression.

"No." Mu Lingye interrupted abruptly, "I can't get too close to Xixi, I'm afraid..."

He was afraid of accidentally hurting Gu Junxi again. He had managed to control himself this time, but what about next time? What if he lost control? He didn't want to take any risks in this regard.

After Mu Lingye said that, Xuan Ying had no way to persuade her anymore. Gu Junxi was pregnant, and no one dared to take the risk for her.

"Where is the Crown Princess now?"

“At Prince Su’s residence,” Xuan Ying replied.

When leaving the palace, Xuan Ying was worried that Mu Lingye would come to his senses and look for Gu Junxi, so he had people keep an eye on Gu Junxi's movements.

This actually worked.

As a personal bodyguard, one should naturally think what one's master thinks and act first in everything.

"That's good." Mu Lingye closed his eyes and sank his body into the chair, looking completely exhausted.

He was relieved that Gu Junxi's visit to Prince Su's residence would not implicate him due to his sudden relapse.

On one hand, she was saddened, and it seemed that Gu Junxi would not be returning to the Crown Prince's residence anytime soon.

After all, it's a fact that he almost hit her, and Mu Qingfu witnessed it with her own eyes. She will definitely stop Gu Junxi from coming back.

Both Princess Consort Su and Mu Qingfu genuinely love Gu Junxi, so Gu Junxi will likely be well taken care of in Prince Su's residence.

Mu Lingye was lost in thought, unable to muster any energy. Before he knew it, it was midnight. In his half-awake state, he felt Xuan Ying gently calling his name from the side.

Mu Lingye slowly opened his eyes.

"Your Highness, the Crown Princess has returned to the residence. She is on her way to the study."

Mu Lingye was startled, then got up, smoothly opened the study window, and climbed out.

Just after Mu Lingye left, Gu Junxi kicked open the study door.

Xuan Ying understood that Mu Lingye was deliberately avoiding her, so she turned around and said to Gu Junxi in a calm tone, "Your Highness is not in the study. He has left the residence on business."

Gu Junxi's all-knowing eyes swept over every corner of the study, finally settling on the open window.

Xuan Ying was always inseparable from Mu Lingye, so how could Mu Lingye leave the manor without taking Xuan Ying with him?

“Tell him that we can face anything together. I hate self-indulgent sacrifices. He doesn’t have to avoid me just to avoid hurting me.”

Once she regained her senses, she was able to sort out and organize the tangled mess of events. She believed that Mu Lingye could do the same. Therefore, she immediately guessed that Mu Lingye had hidden himself away probably because he didn't want to hurt her.

But Gu Junxi doesn't need this kind of sacrifice.

After telling Xuan Ying her thoughts, Gu Junxi turned and left the study, tossing her robes behind her.

Xuan Ying watched Gu Junxi's departing figure and sighed helplessly.

He actually thought that Gu Junxi wouldn't come back tonight after going to Prince Su's residence, but she did. It seems Gu Junxi cares about Mu Lingye more than he thought.

Unfortunately, just as Gu Junxi and Mu Lingye were enjoying their good days, trouble struck again.

I wonder what's wrong with Mu Lingye's illness, which has no identifiable cause.

Xuan Ying, filled with worry, found Mu Lingye by a river after leaving the Crown Prince's residence. Mu Lingye stood facing the river, not turning around, so his expression was unclear.

But you could sense that he was extremely depressed.

"The Crown Princess, she..."

“The Crown Princess already guessed that you were ill. She said she wanted to get through this difficult time with you, and that she didn’t want you to make a self-indulgent sacrifice,” Xuan Ying said. After thinking for a moment, she advised, “Your Highness, please go back to your residence. Judging from the situation, the Crown Princess won’t blame you for almost hitting her, and she cares about you a lot.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Lingye turned around, staring nervously at Xuan Ying, and asked again and again, "She... really doesn't blame me...?"

It's human nature to imagine what one has gained or lost in front of those one cares about.

Xuan Ying recalled all of Gu Junxi's words and actions when he met her, and then said very responsibly, "I can guarantee with my life that the Crown Princess will not blame you."

Mu Lingye's tense body relaxed at a visible speed, his expression softened, and in the end, he shook his head.

“Even if she doesn’t blame me, I can’t go back and harm her. I should protect her. Let’s wait until Mr. Suxin comes to the capital to see him before making any decisions. Send someone to wait outside the city. Once Mr. Suxin arrives, bring him to see me as soon as possible.”

"Yes," Xuan Ying replied.

Mu Lingye casually found an inn to stay in for the time being.

At the Crown Prince's residence, Gu Junxi, having finished her bath and lying in bed, waited for almost a whole night, but Mu Lingye did not appear, and she was somewhat disappointed.

But there was nothing they could do about Mu Lingye.

Gu Junxi turned over, gently stroking her belly with both hands, and said to the child inside with a wry smile, "Baby, your father is really a stubborn mule. Let's wait until your master comes to the capital to find out the cause of the illness, and then we'll punish him properly, okay?"

The child inside did not respond and was unable to give Gu Junxi a reply at the moment.

Life had to go on. Thinking about the four-nation martial arts competition she had to attend tomorrow, Gu Junxi forced herself to close her eyes and calm her mind.

Both Mu Lingxuan and Leng Xuanjue sent people to keep an eye on the Crown Prince's residence. Knowing that Mu Lingye and Gu Junxi had returned to the residence one after the other, and that Mu Lingye had left again and not returned for a night, the two of them showed smug smiles, thinking that everything was under their control.

Under these circumstances, dawn broke.

Xuan Ying returned to the Crown Prince's residence to fetch the clothing Mu Lingye needed for the martial arts competition.

Gu Junxi caught Xuan Ying red-handed.

Xuan Ying thought of Gu Junxi, who hadn't returned home all night, and lowered her head guiltily, not daring to look Gu Junxi in the eye.

"He still chose to run away, unwilling to come back and face it with me?" Gu Junxi was dressed in a snow-white palace dress and wore a pearl headdress. Her beauty exuded the noble and dignified air befitting a crown princess.

"His Highness said that we should discuss this after Mr. Suxin arrives in the capital," Xuan Ying said after a pause.

Mu Lingye had already made his decision, so Gu Junxi couldn't say anything more. Besides, she would see Mu Lingye again once they entered the palace and arrived at the royal garden.

Gu Junxi turned around, stopped talking to Xuan Ying, and walked out of the mansion.

When they arrived at the gate of the Crown Prince's residence, they found that Mu Qingfu and Zuo Chengfeng were already waiting at the gate.

"Xixi, come on up quickly." Mu Qingfu poked her head out of the carriage and waved to Gu Junxi.

Gu Junxi lifted her leg and sat down.

"Are you alright?" As soon as Gu Junxi sat down in the carriage, Mu Qingfu anxiously looked Gu Junxi up and down.

Last night, Mu Qingfu and Ning Haitang tried their best to stop Gu Junxi from returning to the Crown Prince's residence, fearing that Mu Lingye would have another attack. But in the end, they couldn't persuade Gu Junxi otherwise.

Having spent the night in fear, Mu Qingfu urged Zuo Chengfeng to come to the Crown Prince's residence as soon as it was light.