TFWYH – Chapter 559 The Pitiful Eldest Daughter

Even if this child had become foolish and simple-minded, his love for her did not lessen—instead, he pitied and cherished her even more.

Because before she lost her mind, this child had been the smartest, the one most like him.

He still remembered that at the age of three, she could already recite the Thousand Character Classic, and whenever she had time, she loved watching him practice swordsmanship.

In his memory, the little jade-like girl had bright, sparkling eyes. With a book in one hand and a small wooden sword in the other, she would wobble toward him, looking at him with admiration, and declare in her crisp, childish voice:

“Lan’er wants to be as knowledgeable as Father and know how to use a sword! In the future, I want to become a female general, protect the people, and protect Father! Father, teach Lan’er swordsmanship, Father…”

Thinking of how clever his daughter once was, Huangfu Yi felt even more pained, his tone growing gentler. “Good girl, Lan’er, do you recognize Father? Didn’t you say before that you wanted to learn swordsmanship from me? Father will teach you, alright?”

“Sword… sword… no… no, no…” Huangfu Ronglan became agitated again. Her eyes filled with fear as she clutched her head and crouched on the ground, trembling. “The wooden sword is bad, it hits Lan’er, it hurts so much… don’t hit Lan’er, no more wooden sword…”

Huangfu Yi’s expression stiffened. He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm, and continued gently, “Why would the wooden sword hit Lan’er? Was it because Lan’er wasn’t obedient?”

“Lan’er is obedient, Lan’er is very obedient! The wooden sword and Cuixi hit Lan’er together. Cuixi is bad, the wooden sword is bad…” Huangfu Ronglan spoke incoherently in fear.

At these words, Huangfu Yi’s face instantly darkened.

Ignoring propriety, he immediately pulled back Huangfu Ronglan’s sleeve.

Her arm was abnormally thin, with a sickly pale complexion—but what was even more shocking were the countless scars covering it.

There were marks from whips, sticks, pinches, and burns…

New wounds and old ones crisscrossed all over.

Huangfu Yi stared at them, trembling with rage.

He remembered that when he left for the frontier, he had specifically summoned Gu Yanshuang and instructed her to take good care of their eldest daughter.

For many years after that, he had been stationed at the frontier, and even when he returned, he could only stay for a short time.

Every time he asked about Huangfu Ronglan, Gu Yanshuang would respond with tearful complaints, which only irritated him. Gradually, he asked less and less.

But now—who could tell him why Huangfu Ronglan had become like this?

At that moment, Huangfu Ronglan, likely terrified, cried out as she struggled to her feet and ran forward.

But after only a few steps, her body went limp and she collapsed, fainting.

“Lan’er!” Huangfu Yi’s expression changed as he rushed forward to catch her. “Someone! Someone, summon the imperial physician! Hurry!”

The Second Prince’s residence quickly descended into chaos once more…

…

Late at night, a knock sounded at Tang Wan’s door, waking the sleeping couple.

Ling Yu was about to get up to answer it, but Tang Wan stopped him. “Husband, you still have the palace examination tomorrow. You sleep—I’ll go!”

“I’ll go. Be good and stay in bed,” Ling Yu said, kissing her forehead before heading out to open the door.

But when he saw who was outside, he paused in surprise.

Wasn’t this the Second Prince’s deputy general?

He had seen him before during the disaster in Xiangxi Town.

Ling Yu put on a polite expression and asked, “General Wan, what brings you here?”

The deputy general looked anxious but remained courteous. “Young Master Yu, may I ask if County Lady Weng Nai is at home? The Second Prince’s eldest daughter is ill. His Highness has sent me to invite the County Lady to the prince’s residence.”

“Eldest daughter?” Ling Yu was puzzled inwardly, though he showed nothing on his face.

In his previous life, at this time he had just entered the palace as a eunuch, and only later had he heard of this eldest daughter whom he had never met.

It was said that she had suffered a head injury in childhood and was a bit slow-witted.