Chapter 80 Jiang Zhuoying's ability to say these words while ill meant she already had something in mind...

Jiang Zhuoying was already 80% certain of her answer when she said those words.

She knew that the master behind these people would not harm her for the time being, and the moment she saw Wujiu, she knew that he must have gone to gather information for her again.

Wu Jiu was unfamiliar with the martial arts skills of these silver-armored guards and lost his judgment for a moment. Although he did not obey her orders, he was ultimately loyal to her, so she naturally had to rescue him first.

As for the rest, we'll talk about that later.

Just as they were locked in a standoff, the dark figure kneeling among the crowd stirred slightly. Wu Jiu raised his head with difficulty, rain streaming down his face.

Seeing that her posture was somewhat distorted, Jiang Zhuoying guessed that her arm was injured.

"It was my subordinate who acted on his own initiative and ran away secretly."

"Alright!" Jiang Zhuoying immediately interrupted him, to prevent him from saying anything more unnecessary or useless.

She glanced at Xiangxing and said, "Help him to the side room."

"yes."

With her signal, Xiangxing didn't delay any longer and immediately rushed into the rain to help Wujiu.

The circle of silver-armored guards stood still, their figures shifting slightly, but ultimately they did not make a move to stop them.

“Miss Jiang, perhaps…” The leading guard bowed again, his tone slightly gentler.

He meant that they could carry the man back and then have someone treat him; it was inconvenient for a man to stay here.

But the girl standing under the eaves glanced at him. She looked frail, but the majesty she exuded made him involuntarily shut his mouth.

This kind of imposing presence is somewhat similar to that of the new Crown Prince.

The sharpness hidden beneath a calm demeanor is what most easily commands respect.

"I happen to be feeling a little unwell myself. Would you please trouble the guard to fetch a doctor?"

Suddenly her voice softened, becoming weak and feeble. Her face, pale in the rain, was slightly furrowed, making her appear frail and sickly.

The brilliance that was just revealed seemed to be only a fleeting moment.

The leading guard bowed again, this time with a more serious expression: "Don't worry, young lady."

Having received a response, Jiang Zhuoying turned her gaze to Xiangxing and Wujiu. Even with Xiangxing's help, Wujiu still had difficulty standing.

"You should go too."

Jiang Zhuoying turned her head and gave instructions to Xiangyue, while taking the umbrella from her hand.

Xiangyue nodded, then quickly lifted her skirt and walked down the stone steps. Together with Xiangxing, the two of them helped Wujiu walk towards the room not far away.

The torrential rain made it almost impossible to open one's eyes. Without hesitation, Jiang Zhuoying followed them down the stone steps, caught up with the three of them, and stretched out her arm to hold an umbrella for them to shield them from the rain.

The master and his four servants walked together toward the side room. The guard who had led the group earlier waved for everyone to leave, and a colleague approached him.

"Brother Fang, this girl seems quite unusual..."

As soon as he finished speaking, he was punched hard in the chest and given a warning look.

Only then did he belatedly shut his mouth.

...

Wu Jiu was helped into the side room, and despite his injuries, he wanted to apologize to Jiang Zhuoying.

Xiangxing knelt down before him, her oval face covered in rainwater and her lips white with cold: "Miss, I'm so sorry, it was all my own idea."

The girl sighed softly and reached out to help her up: "Alright, I know what you're thinking. Since things have come to this, hurry up and change your clothes. I remember there are clean clothes prepared in the room."

She looked at Xiangyue, who hurriedly nodded: "Yes, yes! We're all soaked. Miss is right, let's change our clothes quickly."

At Jiang Zhuoying's prompting, Xiangyue went to help Xiangxing up, saying, "You have to take good care of yourself. Wujiu is still here."

Xiangxing looked up at the girl in the cloak in front of him, his eyes filled with regret.

Jiang Zhuoying patted her arm: "You've been with me for so long, you're like family to me. It's normal to be overwhelmed by emotions and act rashly when facing family."

"Go."

After a period of chaotic activity, Jiang Zhuoying had returned to her bedroom.

She changed into her nightgown and was just settling into bed when news came from outside that the doctor had been summoned.

It was almost midnight, and the rain was pouring down outside. The doctor had arrived so quickly; he must be one of their own.

The girl frowned, tilted her head and instructed, "Have someone go see Wujiu first, and then tell him that I have already rested and there is no need to send a doctor."

"yes."

Xiangyue curtsied and quickly left. She knew that her young mistress had only made excuses for Wujiu, so she did not try to persuade her further.

...

In the dead of night, the rain gradually subsided.

Inside the bedroom, the candles that had been extinguished suddenly began to flicker.

Almost silent footsteps approached the bedside, and slender fingers lifted the bed curtains, revealing a small clump of flesh nestled in the quilt.

Jiang Zhuoying didn't seem to be sleeping soundly; her cherry lips were slightly parted, pale and chapped, and her small face was flushed...

The man frowned, and without hesitation, he leaned forward and touched the temperature of her forehead with the back of his hand.

It was scalding hot to the touch.

His previously indifferent expression suddenly darkened.

He turned to the side, but just as he was about to pull his hand away, his arm was pulled by a pair of soft, boneless little hands.

So fragile and easily broken, it could be effortlessly tossed aside with just one more step...

Chu Yixin waited outside for a long time, but she didn't hear any movement from inside.

What exactly is the master doing?

Having come all this way in the middle of the night, I can't just be looking around, can I?

He quietly took a few steps in, then cautiously leaned forward—

Ouch! Don't look at what you shouldn't see! Don't look at what you shouldn't see!

He only glanced at it briefly before shrinking back, rubbing his chest with a sigh of relief, afraid that the commotion would be noticed by the people inside.

"Come in."

Chu Yixin stiffened slightly, and just as she was about to make up her mind, another command mixed with some anger came from inside.

He dared not delay any longer and hurriedly walked inside with his head down, saying, "Please forgive me, Your Highness, I didn't mean to..."

The man didn't even look up, his tone somewhat displeased: "Go find a doctor."

"……ah?"

Where can we find a doctor in the middle of the night?

"Why aren't you going yet?"

The man's tone was slightly somber, and Chu Yixin immediately snapped back to reality.

Forgetting all etiquette, he looked up again and saw the girl, who seemed boneless, being held in his master's arms, her oval face flushed with an unusual blush.

His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood. He turned around and walked out.

He didn't stop walking, but his mind was still replaying the scene from just now. His master was really protecting him...

Jiang Zhuoying was not sick at first, but after being caught in the night rain and wind, perhaps due to her excessive worry lately, she couldn't hold on and developed a fever again.

Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing was more rapid than usual, her throat was dry and sore, her limbs felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, her back ached, she felt weak all over, and her mind was in a daze...

In her dazed state, she called out to Xiangyue twice, wanting her to pour her a glass of warm water.

But instead of summoning Xiangyue, the door slammed shut and a group of people filed in, led by none other than the Third Prince, the very man who sent chills down his spine.

Then, the gaze shifted again, and Xiangyue, Xiangxing, and Wujiu were all tied up and thrown beside the bed.

Blood soaked the carpet, and she shook her head in disbelief, her voice hoarse.

"Let them go..." she said with difficulty.

"You're so bold! You've ruined my marriage, so I'll have to make amends."

The evil face slowly approached, its eyes scanning her up and down as if it wanted to strip her clothes off with its gaze.

Jiang Zhuoying curled up in a ball. She wanted to escape and kill the person in front of her, but she was powerless. Not only was she powerless, but her limbs were also as if they were bound by iron clamps, and she could not move an inch at all.

She could only watch as that hideous, terrifying, and malevolent face drew ever closer.

"Are you still thinking about my good brother? Such a beauty has been his for so long, it's time for me to have a taste."

Jiang Zhuoying breathed heavily, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white from the force, his voice trembling and hoarse: "Where is he?"

"Him?" Qi Fan lowered his head slightly, his expressionless gaze fixed on the trembling, clearly uneasy girl in his arms.

Her fingernails dug into her palms, her whole body trembled, and she stammered incoherently with her eyes closed, "You've become the crown prince, haven't you?"

"Now that you've become the Crown Prince... can you spare him? Spare them?" she gasped, muttering in her sleep.

The man's indifferent face suddenly turned as cold as ice, and the force binding her arms suddenly increased.

His voice was sinister: "Whom do you intend to spare?"

Jiang Zhuoying winced in pain, her mind a jumble of thoughts, a mixture of pain and anxiety. Unconsciously, she murmured, "Spare the Second Prince..."

"Let's spare Xiangyue and the others..."

"If you're willing to release them... I am, I'm willing to submit to your will..."

The man's expression froze slightly, and he suddenly loosened his grip, allowing the two white, slender arms that had been waving and struggling to break free.

Almost instantly, a crisp "snap" echoed throughout the quiet bedroom.

Chu Yixin happened to be leading the doctor over the screen and witnessed this scene...

He suddenly stopped, swallowed hard, and lowered his head without thinking.

Good heavens, what did he see tonight?

How dare that Jiang girl slap me?

Not only him, but the doctor following right behind him also instinctively knelt down...

"Come in."

The man's voice was calm and even, without any unusual fluctuations.

Chu Yixin hurriedly urged the doctor behind her to move forward. If their master could pretend nothing had happened, then they, as servants, had to pretend even less that nothing had happened.

...

After taking his pulse and examining him, the doctor was about to leave when Chu Yixin mustered her courage and glanced at the man's right cheek. The small handprint was quite obvious.

He paused for a moment, then made the suggestion.

"My lord, your face? You have to go to the palace first thing tomorrow morning..."

I can't possibly go to see the Emperor with this mark on my head, especially since it was inflicted by the future Crown Princess...

Qi Fan raised his eyes, his gaze filled with displeasure.

"Yes, then this servant shall take his leave!"

Chu Yixin hurriedly led the doctor away, giving him a meaningful look so that the latter would quickly leave behind a bottle of ointment.

As the annoying noise subsided, Qi Fan got up and poured a glass of water, waiting until it was at a suitable temperature before feeding it to the pale cherry lips.

Before his eyes was a pale, weak melon seed-shaped face, but his mind was filled with the little girl's intermittent babbling.

Did he think that his third brother had no way out after being made crown prince?

Did she really want to save his life with her own?

Clumsy and immature, yet somehow...

He scoffed lightly, brought the cup closer, and said in a nonchalant tone, "Drink water."

Jiang Zhuoying remained unconscious, and the nightmare was not yet over.

She was enveloped by a direct and malicious gaze.

The man held a white jade porcelain cup, a wicked smile playing on his lips as he stared intently at her: "Drink it, drink it, and I guarantee you'll feel perfectly comfortable."