TRBDM -Chapter 214 Is He Okay?

“Big Sister？”

Xie Wanrou was painting when she heard Dou Shuyao’s voice and came out.

“Shuyao, you’re here. Come in and have a seat.”

Lately, they often spent time chatting together whenever free. Dou Shuyao had come not only to relay Wei Zhaorong’s words, but also for another reason.

Ever since meeting Jiang Yuelin, Xie Wanrou hadn’t left the residence.

She had said she would wait for Jiang Yuelin—and true to her word, she waited patiently.

Sometimes, longing would grow wildly like vines. When she couldn’t control it, she came to the study to paint.

The person in her paintings was naturally Jiang Yuelin.

Xie Wanrou remembered the first time she saw Jiang Yuelin: he wore a deep crimson official robe, a leather belt at his waist, standing in the morning light.

That scene was etched in her mind, becoming a permanent memory.

In her spare time, Xie Wanrou tried to paint the Jiang Yuelin from her memory.

Because she painted with care, progress was slow, and only today had she completed a rough outline.

“Big Sister, I came to ask you to keep Shuxin company. I can see she’s not in a good mood, but when I ask her, she won’t say anything.”

Dou Shuyao understood. Because she was pregnant, Shuxin didn’t want to worry her, so she kept everything bottled up.

Some things needed to be voiced through a third party.

Xie Wanrou nodded. “Don’t worry, Sister-in-law. I’ll go talk to Shuxin in a bit.”

Meanwhile, Dou Shuxin had come alone to Anhe Courtyard.

She hesitated for a long time, but ultimately her hidden worries won over everything else.

“Hello, Madam.”

Dou Shuxin politely addressed her.

Wei Zhaorong smiled and waved at her. “Second Miss Dou, you came alone?”

Previously, Dou Shuxin always came to Anhe Courtyard with Dou Shuyao; this was her first time coming alone.

“Please sit. Nanny Qi will bring tea.” Wei Zhaorong’s tone was gentle, full of elderly fondness for a younger generation.

“Thank you, Madam.”

Dou Shuxin sat quietly, sipping tea. After a while, she hesitated and asked, “Madam, may I ask you about someone?”

Ever since Dou Shuxin entered Anhe Courtyard, Wei Zhaorong had guessed who she was here for.

“You want to ask about the Tenth Prince.”

“…….”

Dou Shuxin opened her mouth in surprise. “You… how did you know?”

Wei Zhaorong slowly lifted the tea lid, skimmed off the foam, teasing Dou Shuxin’s appetite.

Seeing the young girl looking up with longing, fragile and pitiful, she couldn’t help but smile. “To be honest, bringing you to the Mingde Marquis residence was on the Tenth Prince’s orders.”

“Eh?” Dou Shuxin didn’t quite understand.

“The Tenth Prince was worried you’d be lonely and isolated in the Xiang residence, so he asked the Mingde Marquis residence to take care of you.”

“Really him?”

Dou Shuxin still found it hard to believe.

She had thought the Tenth Prince didn’t care for her; her one-sided crush seemed doomed to go unanswered.

But the Madam’s words sparked a tiny glimmer of hope.

“It’s absolutely true. Do you think I’d lie at my age?”

Wei Zhaorong pretended to be angry.

“No, Madam. It’s my fault—I shouldn’t have doubted your words.”

Dou Shuxin’s ears flushed red, anxious that Wei Zhaorong would misunderstand.

Wei Zhaorong stopped teasing and spoke frankly. “The Tenth Prince cares for you. Bringing you into the Marquis residence was truly his intention.”

This time, Dou Shuxin believed her.

“Is he okay?”

With the Emperor’s passing, according to tradition, the Crown Prince should be announced within a few days by the regent ministers.

But more than ten days had passed with no news.

This meant the succession struggle in the palace was fierce, and no prince had succeeded yet.

Dou Shuxin worried that Zhao Jingheng might suffer misfortune during this conflict.

Wei Zhaorong said, “He’s fine. Don’t worry.”

Dou Shuxin wasn’t sure if Wei Zhaorong spoke the truth or was just comforting her with a kind lie.

“The Tenth Prince is powerless and constrained in the palace. Madam, I know you know many people, and I have a shameless request: please help him.”

Dou Shuxin only wished that someone in the palace would speak up for him if he were unjustly accused.

Alone, without support, he would have to lick his wounds in the dark, just like when he was a child.

“I do know people with influence. Don’t worry, she will protect the Tenth Prince.”

“Who?”

“The Princess.”