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The Princess Stops Pretending, and the Prince Panics
墨書 Inktalez
I slowly opened my eyes, and what greeted me was the intricately carved canopy of the bed and the flowing silk curtains. Struggling to sit up, a sharp pain throbbed in my head.
"Madam, you’re awake?" A maid dressed in traditional attire approached me, holding a bowl of medicine.
Instinctively, I searched for that familiar figure, the one who should gently call me " Wan'er."
"Where is the Prince?" I asked weakly.
The maid's expression shifted slightly, avoiding my gaze. "The Prince... is in the study."
I propped myself up, intending to get out of bed, but a wave of dizziness hit me.
"Madam, you are weak; you should drink the medicine first," the maid urged carefully as she supported me.
I took the bowl but found it impossible to swallow. Struggling, I made my way to the door of the study and overheard a soft conversation inside.
" Wan'er, you’re not well; why don’t you rest more?" It was Li Chengzhi's voice, gentle and indulgent.
My heart sank like a stone. Wan'er?
I pushed open the door and saw Li Chengzhi tenderly embracing a woman whose features were exquisite—Liu Wan'er!
"Who are you?" Li Chengzhi frowned upon seeing me, his eyes filled with disgust.
I felt as if I had been struck by lightning. Did he really not recognize me?
"Prince, don’t you remember me? I am your wife!" I said, my voice trembling.
Li Chengzhi scoffed coldly. "Wife? How ridiculous! My wife could never be someone as coarse as you!"
Coarse? I staggered back, unable to believe the stranger before me was truly my husband.
Liu Wan'er stepped forward, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Wen Qingwan, Brother Cheng Zhi no longer remembers you."
He has lost his memory?
My heart twisted in agony as I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms without feeling any pain.
Taking a deep breath, I fought back tears.
"Prince, I truly am your wife; I carry your child!"
Liu Wan'er's expression changed abruptly. "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Li Chengzhi stood up suddenly. "A child? You’re carrying my child?"
I looked at him, a flicker of hope rising within me.
"Yes, I am pregnant with your child."
I stroked my abdomen, my voice trembling slightly.
Li Chengzhi grabbed my wrist tightly, his gaze icy. "How dare you lie to me!"
I winced in pain but stubbornly refused to back down.
"I am not lying. If you don't believe me, you can ask Household Physician to check."
Li Chengzhi looked at me, suspicion filling his eyes.
His gaze made me feel unfamiliar and fearful.
I suddenly realized that he had lost not only his memories but also the care he once had for me.
My heart sank completely.
Li Chengzhi released my hand and took a few steps back, suspicion still etched on his face.
His tone was cold. "Someone, go fetch Household Physician!"
Household Physician arrived quickly and confirmed that I was indeed pregnant after examining me.
Li Chengzhi's expression darkened further; without a word, he turned and left, leaving me alone in the cold and empty room.
In the days that followed, I felt as if I had been forgotten.
Li Chengzhi remained distant towards me, even unwilling to glance my way, as if I were something filthy.
Liu Wan'er grew even more arrogant; relying on Li Chengzhi's favor, she bullied me at every turn with her harsh words.
"You're just someone with a face similar to mine, a lowly commoner unworthy of even carrying my shoes!"
Her sharp voice pierced my heart like needles.
Liu Wan'er approached me, looking down from her height with disdain and contempt in her eyes.
"What do you think you are?"
Liu Wan'er reached out and forcefully pinched my chin, forcing me to look up at her.
"You are nothing but a despicable substitute; Brother Cheng Zhi only brought you home on a whim."
Her nails dug deeply into my flesh, sending waves of excruciating pain through me.
I gritted my teeth and broke free from her grasp, trying to leave the place.
But Liu Wan'er was relentless; she picked up a teacup from the table and splashed it at me.
Though I protected my belly and tried to dodge, the tea still splattered across my face.
I closed my eyes, filled with sorrow.
"Do you really think Brother Cheng Zhi would like you?"
Liu Wan'er's voice dripped with mockery and triumph.
"Brother Cheng Zhi has always only liked me!"
I had heard similar words countless times before; three years ago, Li Chengzhi was not yet a prince but just an ordinary official's son.
But in the eyes of others, there was a vast difference between us.
We met during the Lantern Festival. That day, I was jostled aside by the crowd, and it was he who steadied me. Our eyes met, and we were both momentarily taken aback.
After that day, he often sought me out. He would take me to the outskirts of the city for picnics and accompany me to row on the lake. He cared for me in every possible way, attending to every detail with utmost thoughtfulness.
One day, I caught a cold and felt so weak that I could barely get out of bed, coughing incessantly. To help me recover quickly, he even went outside the city to gather herbs that were lacking in the local apothecary. He tirelessly brewed them into a medicinal soup, doing everything himself without delegating to anyone else.
Once the soup was ready, he carefully brought it to my bedside and gently brushed my forehead with his hand. His face, slightly darkened by the firelight, bore a tender expression with his eyes curved in concern.
Looking at his face filled with care and affection, I finally agreed to marry him, despite my earlier hesitations. But now, he had completely forgotten me and fallen in love with another woman.
The servants in the household began to mock me openly, noticing how Li Chengzhi treated me with indifference and even deliberately neglecting me. My health continued to deteriorate, and my morning sickness grew increasingly severe.
I realized that at this moment, I could only rely on myself. Having some knowledge of medicine, I diagnosed myself when Household Physician did not come. When no one brought me food, I ventured into the kitchen to prepare some light and easily digestible dishes to alleviate my discomfort.
I started buying fabric to prepare clothes for the little life growing inside me.
However, one day, I fainted in the courtyard. When I awoke, I found myself lying in bed with maid Cui'er attending to me.
"Madam, you’re finally awake!" Cui'er exclaimed with a look of surprise on her face when she saw me open my eyes.
" Cui'er, what are you doing here?" I asked weakly.
"It was the prince who instructed me to take care of you," Cui'er replied softly. "He also invited an experienced nurse to specifically look after you and your child."
I was taken aback. Li Chengzhi? Why would he suddenly care about me and the baby?
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