Chapter 49. Chapter 49 itself doesn't sound very pleasant. ...

The hard, muscular chest and abdomen slammed into Feng Mian's chin, the pain bringing a thin layer of tears to her eyes. For a moment, she forgot to get up first.

The moment Baili Xunzhou fell, his waist and abdomen tightened, and all his muscles tensed up. In the darkness, he vaguely heard Feng Mian cry out in pain, and he became somewhat anxious.

With a slight effort in his waist and abdomen, he half-lifted himself, his hands groping for support on Feng Mian's shoulders, and helped her up. Underneath the thin clothes, one could almost touch her delicate and tender skin.

How are you?

The night was thick, and no lamps were lit in the room. Baili Xunzhou couldn't see Feng Mian's expression clearly, but he could see that she was covering her chin. Since she didn't answer, he worried that she might have bitten her tongue when she bumped into someone, so he leaned forward anxiously.

Are you hurt?

As he drew closer, he noticed a glimmer of tears in Feng Mian's eyes, and his heart tightened. He reached out and cupped her chin, wanting to examine her injury more closely. "Did you bite your tongue?"

Feng Mian recoiled as if burned. "I'm fine, I just bumped my chin. You..."

She wanted to complain about how hard he was, but the words caught in her throat. She hesitated for a moment, then sat down on the edge of the bed, rubbing her chin with a pitiful expression.

The moonlight shone in, shifting slightly, and fell precisely through the bed curtains onto her, making her appear like a jade maiden in the night.

However, the beautiful woman did not look very happy.

Feng Mian sat heavily on the quilt, her entire weight sinking into the bedding, which pressed firmly against Baili Xunzhou's lower leg.

The blanket tightly bound his legs, making him unable to move, which made him increasingly helpless. He softened his voice, a little awkwardly, and asked, "What do you want to do? I'll help you?"

"No need." She knew her anger was unreasonable, and the displeasure quickly dissipated. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

She didn't call out because she was worried about waking people up. After saying that, she suddenly realized that Baili Xunzhou was a little afraid of the dark. There were no lights or candles in the room, and he was sleeping soundly when she suddenly hit him. She didn't know if he was frightened.

Thinking this way, she asked the question.

Baili Xunzhou felt a little embarrassed by her concern, but also felt a faint sense of joy.

She herself had just bumped her chin, yet she was still concerned about his fear of the dark.

"It's alright, I..." Baili Xunzhou paused for a moment before continuing, "There's moonlight outside, and you're here, so I'm not so easily frightened."

"You still haven't said what you're going to do? Your foot is injured, don't push yourself." Baili Xunzhou was worried that she was embarrassed to trouble him, and guessed to himself, "Are you thirsty?"

“I’m thinking of Ye.” Feng Mian quickly shook her head; she couldn’t drink any more water. She paused for a moment, then added, “Could you call for Liu Ying or Wu Liu for me?”

How could I ask Baili Xunzhou for help with something as mundane as getting up at night?

Baili Xunzhou also shut his mouth, wanting to help, because he really couldn't help with this matter.

He pulled his leg out, rolled off the bed, but instead of going out to call for someone, he first bent down, picked up Feng Mian, and gently placed her on the plain sedan chair before opening the bedroom door and calling Wu Liu in.

After that, he waited by the bedside until Wu Liu pushed Feng Mian back, then gently picked him up and put him back on the bed.

Feng Mian was a little embarrassed after being hugged twice. After lying down, she rolled up the blankets, mumbled a thank you, and quickly pretended to be going to sleep.

She should thank him properly, but she began to find Baili Xunzhou a little strange. Why was he suddenly so thoughtful, gentle, and considerate? Was his guilt towards her really that deep?

Injuring your foot is such a hassle. Not only is it difficult to move around, but it also makes you act strangely. I hope you get better soon.

There was no movement beside him. Baili Xunzhou sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Feng Mian's back wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon, and smiled inexplicably.

The next morning, after changing the dressing on his foot, Feng Mian urged Baili Xunzhou to go to the government office together.

Baili Xunzhou noticed that she had only eaten two mouthfuls of thin porridge, so he picked up a piece of pastry for her. "Why are you only eating so little? Are you feeding the birds?"

"I'm full, I can't eat anymore." Feng Mian put down her chopsticks and refused to move. If she wasn't worried about being found out that she was deliberately starving herself, she wouldn't even want to drink these two mouthfuls of porridge.

Maybe if I starve myself for another whole day, I'll be able to fulfill my dream. I can't let all my efforts go to waste.

Baili Xunzhou looked at her suspiciously, feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't tell whether her appetite in the morning was really only that little.

Just as he was about to ask about Liuying or Wuliu, the servant from the front yard suddenly rushed into the courtyard and said that someone from Shengjing had arrived.

Feng Mian didn't even bother with breakfast. The person from Shengjing must have brought a letter from Emperor Jiayu, which meant there was news about the trade agreement!

She hurriedly asked, "Where are we? Do you know who came?"

"They've arrived at the residence! As soon as the Princess Consort received the news, she immediately sent me to inform the Crown Princess. It's Lord Gu from the Ministry of Revenue who's here; I heard he's the top scholar in this year's imperial examination."

Feng Mian paused slightly. Gu Chunwen? It was him?

On second thought, since he's here, does that mean the trade agreement is settled?

"Quickly, push me to the front yard." Feng Mian's lips curled into a smile as he gave the order.

The joy that shone in her eyes and brows caught Baili Xunzhou's eye, making him inexplicably concerned.

Are you so happy to see that top scholar?

He took two steps forward, his footsteps heavy, and pushed aside the servant standing behind the sedan chair. He placed his hands on the handles and said in an unyielding tone, "I should also go to the front hall to meet the guests from Shengjing. I'll take you there while I'm at it."

In the front hall, a handsome young man dressed in a scarlet official robe was exchanging pleasantries with the princess with a warm smile.

He had a gentle and handsome face that any elder would like, and his words were as pleasant as a spring breeze. During the short time they talked, the princess's lips never fell.

Gu Chunwen appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was pounding uncontrollably, and he glanced at the entrance hall countless times out of the corner of his eye.

He traveled day and night from Shengjing, and the journey to the capital for the imperial examination was far more arduous than this one. At night, he was filled with worry and thought, contemplating the hardships of his journey, the stark contrast between the northern regions and Shengjing, and wondering how much suffering the princess had endured on her way to the northern frontier.

She wondered what kind of person Baili Xunzhou was, and whether the princess had suffered any mistreatment in the northern frontier. Or perhaps their marriage was truly predestined, a case of love at first sight?

Thinking about this possibility inevitably brings a pang of sadness to my heart.

He hoped the princess would live a smooth and happy life, yet he also seemed reluctant to see her and the prince become too deeply in love.

He had clearly only seen the princess twice in secret, and everything he knew about her was hearsay. But the passage of time did not make him forget that fleeting glimpse; instead, it polished and refined it, making it shine even brighter, and the stirring in his heart grew stronger day by day.

A glance that lasts a lifetime—that's roughly it.

He had forgotten that the princess had probably never met him, and might not even have heard of him.

After glancing around furtively countless times, footsteps and the rumble of wheels finally came from the direction of the entrance hall.

Gu Chunwen stopped abruptly halfway through her conversation with the princess and turned to look at the entrance hall.

The first vehicle to turn in from outside was a plain sedan chair, and Feng Mian was sitting upright inside it.

"Princess?!" Gu Chunwen's pupils shrank suddenly. She stood up abruptly and took two steps forward before realizing that it was improper. She stopped and bowed.

He didn't spare a single glance for Baili Xunzhou, who was pushing the sedan chair, his heart pounding with unconcealed worry. "Princess, your leg..."

Many terrible possibilities flashed through his mind in that instant, but he didn't dare to ask a single question.

Feng Mian saw that the worry in his eyes seemed genuine, and was somewhat surprised that he was so concerned about her.

It seems this top scholar was truly a kind-hearted person; no wonder the historical records describe their initial dream of marrying each other as a harmonious and beautiful story. Marrying someone who is already a good person naturally leads to a smooth and worry-free marriage.

"My leg is fine, it's just that my foot got blistered a couple of days ago, so it's not very convenient for me to walk," Feng Mian hurriedly explained, not wanting to worry anyone, but also worried that he might misunderstand the Prince's Mansion.

Upon hearing that it was just blisters on her feet, Gu Chunwen first breathed a sigh of relief, then frowned, "What happened to the princess that caused her feet to be blistered?"

He finally looked at Baili Xunzhou, a hint of fierceness appearing in his gentle eyes. "If His Majesty finds out, he will be very worried."

Princesses always travel by carriage. Even if they don't ride in a carriage, they can walk around Yunzhong County for a day without their feet becoming so worn out that they need to ride in a sedan chair.

How exactly did Baili Xunzhou take care of the princess?

Baili Xunzhou met his gaze without flinching, his expression not very pleased.

Many people still called Fengmian the Crown Prince's Consort, and continued to call her Princess. Baili Xunzhou never felt there was anything wrong with it. In terms of status and position, she should indeed be a Princess first and then his Crown Prince's Consort.

But for some reason, the way this person called out didn't sound very pleasant to me.

"The Crown Princess is concerned for the people, which is why she accidentally injured her foot. I imagine His Majesty would be even more proud of her if he knew," Baili Xunzhou said, carefully replacing the way he addressed Feng Mian.

Feng Mian didn't notice anything amiss, but the princess glanced at him again, picked up her teacup to hide the smile on her lips, and said to defuse the situation, "Alright, sit down and talk."

"Lord Gu has come from afar with an imperial decree, so it is only natural that he is concerned about the princess. Lord Gu, please do not be anxious or angry..."

The princess briefly explained to Gu Chunwen what had happened in the past few days.

Gu Chunwen was stunned. Looking at Feng Mian sitting upright on the plain carriage, he seemed to see her risking her life to save people in the muddy mountains after the rainstorm.

Just like when he saw her jump into the water without hesitation to save a maid.

From Shengjing to the northern frontier, a thousand miles apart, with vast mountains and rivers, only the princess's sincerity remained unchanged, and her integrity remained the same.

"No wonder I saw several extra tents on both sides of the city gate when I entered the city. I thought His Highness had been kicked out by the Prince." Gu Chunwen came back to his senses and didn't forget to make a joke.

Baili Xunzhou: ...

He found this person extremely annoying.

"I suppose the Princess has already guessed why I have come here." Gu Chunwen looked at Feng Mian again, his words gentle. "His Majesty has granted the Princess's request and has specially appointed me to assist her. I wonder if the Princess has already made a plan?"

The moment he opened his mouth, the furrows between Baili Xunzhou's brows remained unchanged. His words were cryptic, deliberately refusing to reveal what His Majesty had granted permission for, as if he were playing a game of riddles with Feng Mian right in front of him?

After Gu Chunwen finished speaking, Baili Xunzhou asked Feng Mian directly, "What has His Majesty approved? Is it the method you mentioned in your previous letter to prevent some of the Northern Yi tribes from uniting?"

Hmph, as if everyone has secrets between them.

Feng Mian was somewhat surprised that he still remembered this matter. He smiled and nodded, then explained his idea of ​​a trade market to him and the princess.

His Majesty's approval further demonstrates the feasibility of the matter. Although the Princess Consort was worried, she did not say anything more.

Bai Lixun had many concerns, however: "There are many frictions between the thirty-six tribes of the Northern Barbarians and the people along the border, so it is not necessarily possible to do business in a calm and peaceful manner."

"Therefore, the location and tribe chosen for the first trade fair are of utmost importance. Your Highness, rest assured, Lord Gu and I will act with caution. Once the plan is finalized, we will need your guidance."

"Young Master, you should hurry up and get to work at the government office." Feng Mian winked at Baili Xunzhou, then looked at Gu Chunwen. "Lord Gu, I'll take you to Yunzhong County first to familiarize yourself with the area, and we can also discuss the trade market."

Upon hearing her words, Baili Xunzhou stopped in his tracks, saying, "You can't go."

All eyes were on Baili Xunzhou.

Baili Xunzhou coughed lightly and gave his perfectly legitimate reason, "The princess has difficulty walking, so it would be better for her to rest more in the manor. I think it would be better to let Lord Lu accompany Lord Gu on a tour of the city first. After Lord Gu has a better understanding of Yunzhong County, the princess should be almost fully recovered."

"It's not too late to discuss it later."

Once he's finished with all the affairs at the government office, he'll be able to join in the discussion.

Gu Chunwen glanced at him and naturally knew what he was up to. But he also didn't want the princess to be busy with her injured foot, so he took the initiative to agree, "Lord Lu, are you talking about Lu Mingzhu? We were classmates, and it's been a long time since we've seen each other. We can catch up together."

Feng Mian was delighted that he didn't have to travel by sedan chair and instructed someone to take Gu Chunwen to find Lu Mingzhu.

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Author's Note: [Hugs] Thank you so much to all the readers who have been reading and commenting! I really wanted to add more chapters, but I've been busy these past few days and my drafts are almost gone, so I can only update once a day [Crying]. I'll definitely try to update more next week after I'm done with my work [Patting head]. Thank you again! [Hugs]

Also, if it occasionally shows an update but no new chapter, it's because I was fixing bugs earlier! [rainbow emoji]