Chapter 104 Panic and Confusion

Huo Yunxing groaned, and a gash instantly appeared on his forehead.

Bright red blood immediately welled up and slid down his cheeks.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment, and the clamor of shouts and curses abruptly ceased.

Huo Yunxing's two attendants immediately drew their swords, stood in front of Huo Yunxing, and shouted at him sternly.

"You audacious commoners! This is the carefree Prince of Great Liang! How dare you harm the Prince? Do you all have a death wish?"

The crowd was intimidated by Prince Huo Yunxing's identity and began to shrink back in fear. The man leading the group was so frightened that he turned pale and knelt down with a thud.

However, Ayina had no time to care about any of this.

Her world seemed to consist only of the back of the figure blocking her way and the blood trickling down his forehead.

The bright red color stung her eyes.

Ayina's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, aching and throbbing.

"Huo Yunxing!"

Her voice trembled with panic that she herself was unaware of, and without thinking, she used her sleeve to cover the wound on his forehead.

"How are you? Does it hurt?"

Huo Yunxing lowered his head; the stinging pain in his forehead was nothing compared to the shock in his heart at that moment.

He looked at Ayina's pale face. Her blue eyes, which always glared at him angrily, now clearly reflected his image and were filled with pure panic and worry.

Is this little wildcat worried about me, Your Majesty?

Huo Yunxing felt as if something had gently bumped into his heart, and an indescribable warm current instantly dispelled the pain in his forehead.

He even felt that taking that blow was worth it.

He tried to force a reassuring smile, but it aggravated his wound, causing him to hiss in pain.

"He won't die."

His voice was a little hoarse, but his tone carried a strange ease. He even deliberately raised the eyebrow on the uninjured side, reverting to his usual frivolous manner.

"What, are you feeling sorry for him?"

Normally, Ayina would have jumped up and scolded him for being delusional.

But at this moment, looking at his bleeding wounds and his forced relaxed smile, I just couldn't bring myself to say, "Who cares about you?"

She simply bit her lip, lightening the pressure on her hand, her emerald eyes shimmering with tears, staring at Huo Yunxing with a stubborn yet tender gaze.

Looking at her like this, Huo Yunxing's heart burned even hotter.

He raised his hand and gently placed it on Ayina's hand.

"Let's go, let's get out of here first."

His voice deepened, carrying an unquestionable tone. His gaze swept over the silent crowd before finally settling on Ayina's face.

That focus and gentleness were unprecedented.

Ayina felt flustered by his gaze and subconsciously nodded, letting him take her hand as they returned to the palace under the protection of his attendants.

Huo Yunxing's wound on his forehead wasn't deep, but it was so gruesome that the flesh was torn open, and blood mixed with dust covered half of his face.

He was in so much pain that his brows were furrowed, but he forced a smile.

"Tsk, what a bad year! He's disfigured now, what will he do if he can't find a wife?"

Ayina glared at him fiercely, but her voice trembled slightly.

"Shut up, what time is it and you're still being sarcastic?"

She carefully cleaned the wound, her movements clumsy yet exceptionally gentle.

Huo Yunxing looked down at Ayina, who was standing close to him. Her lips were tightly pressed together, and her thick eyelashes fluttered nervously.

As if possessed, Huo Yunxing reached out and gently brushed his fingertips across her sleeve, which was stained with blood and dust.

“It’s dirty,” he said in a low, hoarse voice.

Ayina paused, then abruptly pulled her hand back as if burned, two blushes uncontrollably rising on her cheeks.

"It's just a piece of clothing."

She turned her face away, her tone stiff, but her heart was pounding like a drum in her ears.

Huo Yunxing chuckled softly, which aggravated his wound, causing him to gasp in pain.

"Hiss...you're blushing?"

"Who's blushing? It's from the sun!"

Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Ayina suddenly stood up and took two steps back.

"You...you can apply the medicine yourself. I'm leaving."

She shoved the ointment into Huo Yunxing's hand and, with two maids, practically fled in panic.

Only when she boarded the carriage back to the palace did Ayina's wildly beating heart begin to calm down.

The carriage curtains blocked out the noise from the outside world, leaving only her rapid breathing and the lingering smell of blood on her cuffs inside the carriage.

She looked down at the dark red bloodstain on her sleeve, and all she could see was the image of Huo Yunxing standing in front of her.

Why did that scoundrel rush out in the first place?

He lost a lot of blood; it must have been very painful.

A jumble of thoughts rose up like bubbles in boiling water, making her feel agitated, and the heat on her cheeks never subsided.

Back in the palace, Ayina locked herself in her room and stared blankly at the bronze mirror.

The person in the mirror had flushed cheeks, and there was no trace of their former proud and arrogant demeanor.

She covered her face in frustration.

Oh no, Ayina, something's wrong with you.

That guy is a good-for-nothing, a lazy bum. How could you... how could you panic just because he bled a little?

But Huo Yunxing's image seemed to have taken root, firmly occupying her mind, making her restless and unable to shake it off.

"So annoying!"

She suddenly stood up and paced restlessly in the small bedroom.

The people of the northern deserts have always been quick to express their feelings and hate their grievances. They like what they like and hate what they hate. They have never had such conflicted and hesitant emotions before.

But when facing that carefree and irresponsible prince, all her pride and shrewdness vanished.

"No, we can't stay here."

She felt that if she looked in that mirror any longer, she would be driven crazy by the unfamiliar version of herself reflected in it.

She needed someone to talk to, to confide in, to... confirm something.

The palace maids were all from Daliang, and their minds were full of ulterior motives, so she instinctively distrusted them.

The only person he could confide in was Jiang Huan.

As soon as the idea came to mind, Ayina acted almost immediately.

She changed out of the riding clothes stained with Huo Yunxing's blood, hastily put on a brighter-colored casual outfit from the northern desert, and rushed towards Weiyang Palace.

In Weiyang Palace, Jiang Huan had just put the pastries she had made into a food box.

She thought that Huo Lin had stayed up all night and went to court in high spirits this morning. He must be hungry now, reviewing memorials. It would be good to send him some of his favorite food to fill his stomach.

Jiang Huan carried a food box and was pushed out in a wheelchair by Xiao Zhao.

She had only taken a few steps out of the palace gate when a figure appeared before her like a gust of wind.

Jiang Huan was startled, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was Ayina, which surprised her.

The person in front of me had an unusual expression, his eyes were darting around, and his breathing was unsteady.

She was completely different from the proud and radiant princess of the northern desert she usually was.

"Princess?"