Chapter 176: If I Truly Have an Illegitimate Son, Are You Sure You Can Tolerate It?

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: If I Truly Have an Illegitimate Son, Are You Sure You Can Tolerate It?

Their eyes met.

"You still don’t believe me?"

Cui Lingyao lowered her gaze, not looking at him. "My life is on the line," she said faintly. "I wouldn’t joke about something like this."

The air grew still.

The color slowly drained from Xie Jinbai’s face.

It was a ghastly, bloodless white.

His lips trembled, but no words came out.

Cui Lingyao wrapped her arms around his neck. "Can you save me?" she asked softly.

’Can you save me...’

Xie Jinbai had never imagined that he would one day face such a choice.

She was begging him to save her.

He should have agreed without a second thought.

But...

’How did it come to this?’

’How could this be happening?’

"Yaoyao..."

A tremor escaped Xie Jinbai’s throat as he begged her in a hoarse voice, "Can’t you be a little kinder to me? Please, stop tormenting me like this."

He was utterly powerless against her.

Completely out of options.

All that was left was to beg.

Like a desperate gambler who had lost everything.

With no dignity or self-respect left.

Just a frantic, helpless plea.

A dull ache spread through Cui Lingyao’s chest, and she couldn’t bring herself to say anything more cruel.

If this task were only about whether she could return home, she might have given in.

But now, it was also about whether the system could wake up.

She could ignore her own well-being, but she couldn’t abandon the honest, rule-abiding system that had helped her so many times.

Before it fell unconscious, she had even tricked it out of its last few Hundred Diseases Pills...

Cui Lingyao knew, of course, that using her own life to force him to compromise was not just cruel.

It was going too far.

’What did she really have?’

The only reason she could push him into such a corner was because she was relying on his love for her.

And using his love to control him... that was something he himself had taught her, step by step.

She had become an expert at it.

It never failed.

He didn’t want to take a concubine and have a son, and she couldn’t force him. So, she played her trump card—her own life—to force his hand.

She didn’t stop to consider just how cruel this move was to him.

Now that her sanity was returning, Cui Lingyao was shocked that she was capable of such a thing.

’Was I insane just now?’

Inside the curtained bed, all was silent.

Cui Lingyao tugged at his sleeve and said in a small voice, "If you’re not willing, then forget it. I won’t force you anymore."

’As for the child, worst case, I could just do it myself...’

The thought of compromising came to a halt. Cui Lingyao lowered her head in frustration.

’She suddenly remembered that this body had the system’s birth control. It was impossible for her to have children.’

’Even if she were willing, she still couldn’t...’

’What am I going to do?’

Xie Jinbai said nothing.

He held her tightly, his thoughts a mystery, not uttering a single word.

Cui Lingyao buried her face in the crook of his shoulder. Unable to break free from his arms, she could only reach up to touch his face.

She expected to feel the wetness of tears again.

But there was nothing.

’He wasn’t crying.’

He grabbed her wrist.

"Go to sleep," Xie Jinbai said faintly. "As for the rest, give me some time to think."

’Some time to think.’

Cui Lingyao was stunned. "You..."

Xie Jinbai lifted her chin and leaned in close. "If I really were to have a son with another woman, are you sure you could accept it?"

"..." Cui Lingyao blinked and slowly nodded.

"Fine!" Xie Jinbai shut his eyes tight, gritting his teeth. "Just give me more time to think."

’Think!’

’What in the world am I supposed to do!’

He couldn’t be sure if she was telling the truth.

But the thought that she might ’die’ left him deeply unsettled.

The unknown was the most terrifying thing.

The power behind her was too mysterious. If it wanted to take her away, he was completely powerless to stop it.

It was just like when she fell into the water three years ago. No matter how quickly he had saved her, he hadn’t been able to keep her.

If he didn’t let her complete her task, then to that power, she would lose her value.

’Would it just erase her from existence?’

Xie Jinbai couldn’t afford to take that gamble.

He couldn’t risk even the slightest possibility.

Cui Lingyao looked up in astonishment.

’He was actually considering it...’

"Don’t rush me. I will give you an answer within three days!"

Thinking she was about to press him again, Xie Jinbai tightened his arms, pulling her firmly into his embrace. "Now, sleep!" he said angrily.

But how could Cui Lingyao possibly sleep?

Her heart was a whirlwind of emotions.

There was shock and disbelief, along with a faint, but undeniable, flicker of anger.

She had wracked her brain over this matter of him taking a concubine, sparring with him all night long. She had faced his searchlight-like gaze and somehow managed to spin a half-true tale.

She had even used her own life as a bargaining chip.

Now that his resolve was finally wavering, she had gotten her wish. She should have been overjoyed.

’So why... wasn’t she happy?’

...

「The next day.」

When Cui Lingyao awoke, the spot beside her in bed was already cold.

She had no idea how long he’d been gone.

She sat up and called for her attendants to help her dress. "Where is the Prince?" she asked.

"He went to the palace,"

Dongzhi whispered, "An oral edict came from the palace last night from His Majesty, summoning the Prince for an immediate audience. It was Mr. Li who sent them away, reporting that the Prince was heavily injured and had already gone to rest."

That’s why he rushed to the palace as soon as he woke up this morning.

Cui Lingyao’s brow furrowed slightly.

Yesterday, the Emperor had originally summoned her to the palace.

But Xie Jinbai had returned just then. In a willful display, he had dismissed the eunuch delivering the decree, defied the imperial edict, and flatly refused to let her enter the palace.

No matter how much His Majesty doted on him, he was bound to be furious after being publicly slighted like that.

’He’s gone to apologize.’

An uncomfortable feeling settled in her heart. She got up, dressed, and went to the side hall for breakfast.

She had just finished breakfast and was washing her hands when Xia Zhi came in, her face beaming. "Princess Consort," she announced, "the Marquis, his wife, and the young master have all returned!"

Cui Lingyao hadn’t seen her family since she’d woken up. After the supposed death of his daughter, her father, the Changping Marquis, had been so grief-stricken that his health had failed. He had recently gone to Five Peaks Mountain to recuperate.

Her mother had gone with him.

And Cui Mingrui, as the eldest son, had escorted their parents on the journey.

As it turned out, they had left the capital only a few days before Cui Lingyao woke up. A messenger was immediately dispatched to catch up with them.

Upon receiving the news, the three of them had immediately turned back for the capital. The round trip was what had taken so long.

Hearing that her parents and older brother had returned, Cui Lingyao was overjoyed. She shot to her feet. "Quick! Prepare the carriage. I must go and pay my respects."

Separated by death for three years.

To return one day, and in her original body at that.

She could openly reunite with her own family. There was nothing that could make her happier.

Cui Lingyao rushed outside. Just as she reached the courtyard gate, Li Yong came forward to greet her. Alarmed by her haste, he asked, "Is the Princess Consort going out?"

He clasped his hands in a salute. "The Prince gave instructions before he left. He said that it’s unstable outside and that you shouldn’t leave the residence for any reason. You are to wait here for his return."

’What does he mean, don’t leave the residence for any reason?’

She hadn’t been able to fulfill her filial duties for three years. Now that her parents were back in the capital, was she supposed to make her elders come to her instead of hurrying back to them?

Cui Lingyao’s brow furrowed deeply. She knew he was only following orders and didn’t want to make things difficult for a subordinate, so she simply asked, "When will he be back?"

Li Yong breathed a sigh of relief. "Judging by the time, he should be back soon."

His Majesty’s health was poor, and he lacked stamina.

The father and son wouldn’t exchange many words.

Cui Lingyao could only wait patiently at the residence.

Fortunately, Xie Jinbai was indeed eager to return and didn’t keep her waiting long.

He returned to the residence before the sun had even reached its mid-morning peak.