"Your Majesty, let's take Niannian back to the palace."

After Chen Nian finished drinking the soup, his face gradually regained its color, and Qing'er suggested returning to the palace.

"Yes, let's go back to the palace."

Looking at the listless man, the Empress Dowager nodded.

Qing'er held Chen Nian's hand and followed beside the Empress Dowager as the group walked outside.

Outside the courtyard.

"Why isn't Ertai coming out yet? What's wrong with Niannian?"

Little Swallow knelt down and spoke in a low voice.

To be honest, Yongqi and the others were astonished to see Xiaoyanzi kneeling there so obediently without making any sudden movements.

Is this still the same Little Swallow?

They were even thinking about how to comfort Little Swallow.

They thought Little Swallow would cause a ruckus, but to their surprise, she was so well-behaved today.

"Don't worry, the fact that Ertai hasn't come out means that things aren't too serious."

Listening to Xiao Yanzi's incessant chatter, Yongqi also quietly comforted her, saying that if Chen Nian really had something important to say, he would definitely come out and tell them.

As they were talking, the group stepped out of the inner room. Xiao Yanzi looked up at Qing'er, who was holding her back, and felt a pang of guilt in her eyes.

It seems that Shen Nian was really frightened today. If she had known, she would never have played Cuju. Not only was she not released from her confinement, but she also scared Shen Nian.

As the person approached, he said, "Chen Nian, I'm truly sorry about what happened today."

Little Swallow sincerely apologized; she was truly, truly apologizing.

"It doesn't matter."

Sensing the guilt in Xiao Yanzi's words and seeing the apology in her eyes, Chen Nian shook his head and turned to look at the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, I'm alright now. Please help Princess Huanzhu get up."

Chen Nian spoke in a flat tone, devoid of any emotion, his eyes showing neither anger nor blame.

"Chen Nian, I'm so, so sorry."

Looking at Shen Nian's calm expression, Xiao Yanzi panicked a little. She worried that Shen Nian might not want to talk to her anymore, which was why she didn't blame her. After all, she had no desire to talk to people who were irrelevant to her.

She really, really loves contemplation.

"It's okay, Little Swallow, I'm really not angry."

Seeing the panic in Xiao Yanzi's eyes, Chen Nian sighed. She wasn't really angry; she just hadn't managed to calm herself down.

"Your Majesty, please let Xiao Yanzi get up."

Chen Nian tugged at the old lady's sleeve, pleading.

Seeing the soft-hearted person, the Empress Dowager sighed, "Get up, Little Swallow."

"Chen Nian, Niannian, are you really not angry with me? I really didn't mean to today. If I had known you would come, I definitely wouldn't have played football."

Seeing that Chen Nian was frightened and was pleading for her, Xiao Yanzi was very moved. With the help of the others, she got up, took two steps forward to Chen Nian, and wanted to take his hand.

With one hand injured and the other held by Qing'er, Chen Nian could only tug at the sleeve of her injured hand.

"I'm so sorry, Chen Nian."

Little Swallow apologized again.

The others were surprised to hear Xiao Yanzi apologize so many times, especially the main characters. Was this still the Xiao Yanzi they knew?

The number of apologies in that short period of time was more than they had ever heard from Xiao Yanzi since they met her.

"Princess Huanzhu, don't worry, Niannian has really forgiven you. Niannian is not feeling well right now, so we need to take her back to the palace to rest."

Qing'er, who was standing to the side, also chimed in to help Chen Nian speak.

It would be best to let Niannian return to the palace to rest now.

"I'm really sorry about what happened today."

Little Swallow nodded, realizing they were leaving and knowing that Chen Nian needed to rest, so she stepped aside to make way for them, watching Chen Nian leave with worried eyes until he was out of sight.

After everyone had left, the pain in her knees, combined with the soreness and numbness in her legs, caused Xiao Yanzi to collapse to the ground.

"Little Swallow—"

The worried voices of Yongqi, Benjamin, and the others from Shufangzhai rang out.

Yongqi and Benjamin quickly stepped forward, helped the man up, and helped him to a chair.

Erkang helped Ziwei up and they sat down together on the chairs that the four talented scholars had brought out.

"I'll go find Physician Chang right away."

Benjamin then prepared to leave.

"No need, no need, I'm fine, it's just that my knee hurts a little, I'll just apply some medicine."

Little Swallow reverted to her usual loud and boisterous self, casually waving her hand to stop Benjamin.

As for whether the guilt in her heart has truly dissipated, only she knows.

"Little Swallow, why are you being so well-behaved today?"

Yongqi was still curious. Xiaoyanzi was really well-behaved today. She even took the initiative to apologize. She had just knelt down obediently.

"Of course it's because I like to meditate."

"Oh yes, Mingyue and Caixia, go to the storeroom and see if there's anything Father Emperor gave me that we can give to Chennian. Find it, and once I'm released from confinement, I'll send it to her and apologize."

"You? Do you really enjoy contemplation?"

Listening to Xiao Yanzi's series of instructions, the others were all amazed. They hadn't expected that Xiao Yanzi liked to meditate so much.

"I like it, I like it very much."

Little Swallow nodded vigorously.

"Why?"

Benjamin couldn't quite understand Xiao Yanzi's undisguised affection for Chen Nian.

They didn't meet Chen Nian many times, so why did Xiao Yanzi like Chen Nian so much, and even change her personality because of him?

"Turtledove, you don't know, some people are just likable at first sight, they're very pleasing to the eye."

Little Swallow patted Benjamin on the shoulder generously and explained.

"Just because of that?"

Yongqi was speechless. Why didn't Xiaoyanzi change her personality for them? And why did she often cause trouble? Was it because they didn't suit Xiaoyanzi's taste?

I felt a little jealous.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm telling you, Chen Nian is under my protection, you're not allowed to bully her."

Little Swallow patted Yongqi and Benjamin on the shoulders in front of her and said earnestly.

"Little Swallow, could you please not be so reckless next time you do something?"

Do you know what the consequences would have been if that ball had actually hit the Empress Dowager or Princess Shen today? If Princess Shen hadn't pleaded for you, you certainly wouldn't have been let off so easily today.

Thinking of Chen Nian, who had been frightened and turned pale, Ertai was still angry.

...

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