Upon hearing this, Mu Zhi instinctively wanted to decline, but when she saw Xuan Ming's expressionless face, a sense of fear welled up in her heart.

Compared to his usual gentle face, he looked more stern and dignified at this moment.

So, Mu Zhi silently reached out her hand, ready to take the bowl of medicine.

However, Xuanming did not hand the medicine bowl to Muzhi as she expected, but instead went straight to the bedside and sat down.

He held the bowl steadily with one hand and picked up the soup spoon with the other.

"Sit still."

Xuanming said it in a calm tone, which was somewhat intimidating.

As soon as she finished speaking, the spoon was already at Mu Zhi's lips, as if waiting for her to open her mouth.

Under Xuanming's sharp gaze, Mu Zhi felt her whole body stiffen and her scalp tingle.

He could only sit obediently and open his mouth with difficulty.

And so, one person fed the medicine while the other drank the soup. The whole process was unusually quiet, with only the occasional crisp sound of a spoon hitting the bowl.

Before long, the bowl of bitter medicine was finished.

Xuanming looked at the empty bottom of the bowl and raised his eyebrows slightly.

They seemed somewhat surprised that they finished drinking so quickly, or perhaps a little regretful.

It wasn't until Xuanming gently placed the bowl aside that Muzhi suddenly realized, as if waking from a dream, that she had unknowingly drunk the entire bowl of medicine.

She found it hard to believe that she was being so obedient.

Why did I so obediently drink this bowl of medicine...?

"I heard you were very ill, so I came to see you," Xuanming said softly, a hint of concern in his eyes.

He was extremely intelligent and keenly sensed the unusual nature of the conversation between the maid and Mu Zhi.

The message from the shadow was incorrect; it's likely that the person misread it earlier.

Mu Zhi did not faint; she simply cried herself to sleep.

Mu Zhi looked at him blankly for a moment before realizing that he was answering her earlier question.

She was deeply surprised and suddenly stared wide-eyed at Xuanming in front of her.

She wondered to herself: Could it be that he really came all this way just to visit me?

Mu Zhi quickly lowered her head again, her sudden action leaving her somewhat bewildered.

After all, Xuanming had proposed to dissolve their engagement several times before.

In particular, he brought up cancelling the engagement again just two days ago.

At this moment, Mu Zhi dared not presume to believe that he liked her.

Faced with this situation, Mu Zhi fell silent, unsure how to respond to Xuan Ming's concern.

She was afraid she had misunderstood and thought Xuanming had fallen for her, but deep down she couldn't help but secretly hope for something...

"They've definitely become incredibly popular."

After saying this in a calm tone, Xuanming slowly stood up.

At this moment, Mu Zhi was deeply caught up in her inner emotional turmoil and did not hear what he was saying clearly.

Seeing him get up to leave, Mu Zhi opened her mouth as if to say something, but then felt lost and didn't know where to begin.

What could she possibly say?

Should we try to persuade them to stay?

But it was late at night, and she was still in her boudoir. If she were to ask so directly, it would seem too rash and casual.

She silently watched Xuanming's every move, and when she saw that he wasn't heading towards the door, she felt a little surprised.

Xuanming walked straight to the basin, stretched out his finger and gently touched the water surface to test the water temperature.

After pausing for a moment, he slightly lifted his somewhat cumbersome sleeves, picked up the handkerchief draped beside the basin, and dipped it into the water.

Then, he skillfully wrung out the handkerchief and walked towards Mu Zhi.

"Lie down and close your eyes."

Xuanming's voice was gentle yet firm, carrying an irresistible power.

As Mu Zhi listened to these words, a strange, indescribable feeling welled up in her heart.

However, it is unclear where this strangeness originates.

Under Xuanming's gaze, a faint pink hue appeared on Muzhi's face, no longer as pale and lifeless as before.

Like a docile little lamb, she carefully snuggled into the warm blankets, then gently adjusted her position to make herself more comfortable.

As soon as she lay down, Mu Zhi couldn't help but turn her gaze to Xuan Ming beside her, her eyes revealing a complex expression.

Then, she slowly closed her eyes.

Xuanming gently placed the handkerchief over Muzhi's eyes.

The warm breath instantly penetrated the handkerchief and seeped into my eyes.

Mu Zhi immediately felt a sense of comfort, and her dry and painful eyes gradually felt soothed and relaxed.

In this tranquil atmosphere, her expression relaxed, and her body became increasingly at ease.

"You seem quite at ease."

Xuanming's voice was slightly low, revealing a hint of dissatisfaction and helplessness.

He stared silently at Mu Zhi in front of him, noticing that she was completely relaxed and unguarded.

Faced with this situation, Xuanming felt a mix of emotions, unsure whether to feel joy or anger.

After all, this was her private room, and yet she remained so calm and composed when a man appeared there, as if she were completely unaware of everything around her.

However, when he realized that the intruder was himself, a sliver of hope arose deep within Xuanming's heart.

Upon hearing Xuanming's words, Mu Zhi was startled.

She wanted to say something in her defense, but the other person interrupted her, saying, "Luckily it was me."

These four simple words are like a boulder thrown into a lake, stirring up thousands of waves.

Mu Zhi's heart was in turmoil, and she could hardly calm down.

She really couldn't understand what Xuanming meant.

First he wanted to cancel the engagement, then he came out of the palace so late to visit her, and now he's saying these misleading things.

Mu Zhi was a little angry.

Just as she was pondering, Xuan Ming spoke again:

"I lost both my parents at a young age and don't understand emotions. All my knowledge and skills come from books, my teachers' teachings, and my own self-exploration. I really know very little about matters of the heart. But I know very well that it is unwise to hurt myself because of romantic feelings. Mu Zhi, do you understand this?"

After he finished speaking, his deep eyes locked onto Mu Zhi, as if trying to see through her eyes to understand her true thoughts.

A wave of sorrow washed over Mu Zhi, and she involuntarily bit her lower lip, remaining silent.

At this moment, her thoughts were tangled up like a jumbled mess.

Xuan Ming seemed unconcerned about Mu Zhi's answer. He continued, "I was born to be the monarch of the Xuan Cang Dynasty. From a young age, I had to learn many things, but I have never been involved in matters of love and affection among men and women. I truly apologize for not considering your feelings in this matter."

explain?

Apologize?