Chapter 477 (First Update)

Gu Jiao came out of Renshou Palace and happened to run into Yu Jin, who had gone to pay her respects to Empress Xiao.

"Aunt Yujin," Gu Jiao greeted her.

Yu Jin smiled with delight: "It's Doctor Gu! Are you here to visit the Empress Dowager?"

Since Princess Xinyang investigated Gu Jiao, she couldn't possibly be unaware of her relationship with Empress Dowager Zhuang.

Gu Jiao nodded.

"Has the princess also entered the palace?" she asked.

“Ah, no, only I went to the palace. The Empress summoned me, and the Princess…” At this point, Yu Jin smiled helplessly, but did not hide anything from Gu Jiao, “The Empress wanted to know about the young marquis, but the princess did not want to talk about it, so she claimed to be sick and stayed at home, and asked me to come and report to the Empress.”

As for the Empress's question to Yu Jin, Yu Jin only claimed that he was a servant and knew nothing about it.

Empress Xiao could torture others, but she couldn't do that to Yu Jin. Firstly, Yu Jin was innocent, and secondly, Yu Jin was Princess Xinyang's confidante. If Empress Xiao dared to touch her, Princess Xinyang would not let it go.

We're family, there's no need to escalate things to that point.

The two walked together toward the palace gate.

Gu Jiao has never liked to pry into other people's privacy, but ever since Yu Jin confirmed Xiao Liulang's identity, he no longer treats Gu Jiao as an outsider.

She took the initiative to say to Gu Jiao, "Actually, the princess and the empress are not very close."

She used the word "intimate," which was a deliberate and beautifying embellishment. In fact, the relationship between the two was very cold. The reason for this was that Marquis Xuanping and Princess Xinyang had a bad relationship. As Marquis Xuanping's own sister, Empress Xiao would naturally not blame her brother for the mistake.

Therefore, he developed some prejudice against Princess Xinyang.

Princess Xinyang was not the type to fawn over someone who didn't reciprocate her kindness, which led to the current lukewarm relationship between the two.

"Sigh." Yu Jin sighed, "The Empress and the Princess both doted on the young Marquis. When the young Marquis was alive, the two would occasionally talk. But ever since the young Marquis... had that accident, the Empress and the Princess have hardly had any contact with each other."

The only time they met was when Princess Xinyang returned to the capital and entered the palace to pay her respects to the Emperor and Empress.

However, this was not a relationship between sisters-in-law, but rather a matter of etiquette between ruler and subject.

Yu Jin said these things to Gu Jiao not in the hope that Gu Jiao would mediate between the two of them, nor was it to remind Gu Jiao not to say things that Princess Xinyang had not said.

She was simply gossiping with Gu Jiao.

Gu Jiao is a very good listener. First, there was Princess Rui, and then there was Yu Jin, both of whom were very willing to share their innermost thoughts with Gu Jiao.

As they talked, they unknowingly arrived at the palace gate.

Gu Jiao arrived in Xiao Sanzi's carriage, but unfortunately, the carriage broke down; the wheels were a bit loose, and he was squatting on the ground fixing it.

Yu Jin then said to Gu Jiao, "Doctor Gu, let me take you back."

Gu Jiao did not refuse. She told Xiao Sanzi and got into Yu Jin's carriage.

She could tell that Yu Jin was still enjoying the gossip and wanted to talk to her more.

After getting into the carriage, Yu Jin remembered something and asked Gu Jiao, "By the way, is the Lady of the Marquis about to give birth?"

Gu Jiao said, "She has already given birth."

Yu Jin was taken aback and asked, "Wasn't it supposed to be next month? You gave birth so soon? Is it a boy or a girl? Are they both alright?"

The word "all" clearly indicates that Yao's family was also included in the discussion.

Gu Jiao nodded gratefully: "It's a son, mother and child are safe."

Yu Jin smiled happily: "That's wonderful. We must tell the princess this great news. Doctor Gu, would you mind making a trip to Zhuque Street?"

"Okay," Gu Jiao said.

Yu Jin wasn't someone who only gossiped about her own affairs; she was also very concerned about Gu Jiao's situation. Along the way, she asked almost all her questions about the little one and Yao Shi.

Gu Jiao didn't say much, and her answers were concise and to the point. People who didn't know her would probably misunderstand that she was just being perfunctory.

Yu Jin understood that she answered every question very seriously.

Yu Jin likes girls like this: they don't play tricks, they don't flatter, they don't engage in superficial politeness; all their appreciation and friendliness are hidden in the details.

As the carriage entered Zhuque Street, Yu Jin lifted the curtain to peek out and noticed a carriage parked in the distance in front of her own courtyard.

"Huh? That carriage looks familiar," Yu Jin muttered to herself.

Gu Jiao followed her gaze and said, "It's the carriage of Marquis Xuanping."

This carriage appeared from time to time in the clinic, the Imperial College, and Bishui Hutong, and Gu Jiao had long since memorized its appearance.

Yu Jin was even more puzzled: "Why did the Marquis come here?"

Given their marital relationship, they would usually send messages through intermediaries, and rarely took the initiative to see each other. In particular, Marquis Xuanping probably understood that Princess Xinyang did not want to see him, so he never went to Princess Xinyang to make a fool of himself.

In fact, Marquis Xuanping was just passing by today and had no intention of looking for Princess Xinyang. However, he heard Princess Xinyang's screams and it seemed that something had happened.

He followed the sound to the attic of the study, where Princess Xinyang was slumped on the floor, her right foot pinned down by a fallen bookshelf. The attic was cramped, and she could neither retreat nor get up.

Marquis Xuanping bowed as he entered the pavilion. Princess Xinyang could stand upright at the highest point of the pavilion, but Marquis Xuanping was too tall, so he had to crouch the whole time.

He moved the heavy bookshelf aside and the books that had fallen to the ground. Blood seeped from her shoes, indicating that she had suffered a serious injury.

Marquis Xuanping frowned: "Where are your Dragon Shadow Guards? Are they all just sitting around doing nothing?"

He came from the street. It wasn't that he arrived very slowly, but the journey was long enough that her Dragon Shadow Guards had plenty of time to rescue her.

Ironically, even though she knew someone was going to rescue her, she still came.

However, the Dragon Shadow Guards who were supposed to appear did not show up.

This left Marquis Xuanping speechless for a moment.

Saying it's fortunate I came?

Princess Xinyang had no idea that so many thoughts were flashing through his mind.

Long Yi went out on business, and she didn't bring the other four Dragon Shadow Guards to the capital at all.

Seeing that she didn't answer, Marquis Xuanping didn't force her to ask. He knelt down on one knee, intending to check her injuries, but she suddenly said, "Don't come any closer!"

OK.

Although they are husband and wife, they have only slept together once in all these years, and even when they are together, they still have to talk about the differences between men and women.

Damn it.

“You are badly injured,” said Marquis Xuanping.

With that amount of bleeding, it must have been at least an inch long cut.

Marquis Xuanping thought for a moment and decided that saving lives was the priority, so he had to get her down there.

Marquis Xuanping reached out to hug her.

Princess Xinyang reacted even more strongly, suddenly dodging to the side.

Marquis Xuanping's hand froze in mid-air. He looked at her strangely and said, "I'm just carrying you down. I have no other intentions. It's not like I'm trying to take advantage of you."

The attic was too small, so small that she had nowhere to retreat, and the distance between them was too close, so close that she was surrounded by his masculine aura. Her face turned pale instantly, and fine beads of cold sweat began to seep from her forehead.

Marquis Xuanping quickly noticed her unusual behavior. His thick eyebrows furrowed even more, and he said impatiently and self-deprecatingly, "Qin Fengwan, this marquis does not eat people."

Princess Xinyang did not answer him.

At first, Marquis Xuanping thought she was disdainful of speaking to him, but gradually he noticed that her body was trembling and her lips were bloodless.

"Qin Fengwan?" he asked, looking at her questioningly.

"You...you don't come any closer...please." Princess Xinyang said almost pleadingly.

Marquis Xuanping had known Princess Xinyang for so many years and had never seen her humble herself before anyone. Strictly speaking, she wasn't exactly humble at the moment, but she was genuinely begging him.

She begged him not to come near her.

Do you hate me that much?

Marquis Xuanping stared at her intently, then quickly dismissed the idea. Rather than disgust, her reaction was more accurately described as fear.

Marquis Xuanping didn't understand what he had to be afraid of. Last time, she chased him down from the rooftop in the street, and he caught her himself. Wasn't she fine?

She coldly ordered him to put her down.

Where did that arrogance go?

Despite his doubts, Marquis Xuanping knew that Princess Xinyang's condition was far from optimistic. He seriously suspected that if he didn't leave soon, she would suffocate on the spot.

Marquis Xuanping descended from the pavilion.

Just then, Yu Jin and Gu Jiao entered the courtyard.

"My lord," Yu Jin bowed.

Marquis Xuanping glanced at her, then at Gu Jiao beside her, and said, "The princess is in the pavilion, injured. Go and see her."

The entire courtyard only had a study and an attic. After hearing what Marquis Xuanping said, Yu Jin disregarded everything else and hurriedly led Gu Jiao up to the attic.

Princess Xinyang breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the two, as the suffocating dizziness finally subsided somewhat.

"Princess!" Yu Jin knelt beside her, helping her to lean against his chest.

Gu Jiao then examined Princess Xinyang's wounds. They were superficial wounds, with two cuts in total, one of which was quite deep.

Gu Jiao took out a small first-aid kit from her small basket and used disinfectant to clean her wound.

Princess Xinyang looked very unwell. Gu Jiao initially thought it was due to her injuries, but her complexion improved slightly when she was disinfecting her wounds.

So, it's not that I'm afraid of pain.

"Is the princess feeling unwell somewhere else?" Gu Jiao asked.

When she first came in, her face looked as if she was about to suffocate.

Princess Xinyang was exceptionally intelligent, so how could she not know why Gu Jiao asked that question? She lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembled, and she shook her head, saying, "No, I'm much better."

Gu Jiao paused in wrapping the bandage on her arm: "Okay, don't get the wound wet."

After treating Princess Xinyang's injuries, Gu Jiao carried her down from the pavilion.

Back in the room, Yu Jin took some clean clothes and helped Princess Xinyang change into them.

Marquis Xuanping did not leave. After hesitating for a moment, he still went to Princess Xinyang's room.

Gu Jiao left, and Yu Jin went to see her off.

Inside the room, Princess Xinyang sat on the soft bed, leaning against the headboard, idly flipping through a book.

Her expression had returned to normal, showing no trace of her earlier dishevelment.

"What is it?" Princess Xinyang glanced at him and said indifferently.

Well, it's back to the old Xinyang.

Marquis Xuanping pulled up a chair and sat down beside her bed, staring intently at her: "Qin Fengwan, what's wrong with you?"

Princess Xinyang didn't look at him; her gaze remained fixed on the Book of Songs she was reading. "What's wrong with you?"

Marquis Xuanping stared intently at her face, not missing a single subtle expression: "Something was wrong with you in the attic."

Princess Xinyang replied dismissively, "I'm in pain."

"Is that pain?" Marquis Xuanping frowned impatiently, pointing to himself. "Or do you think I've fought half my life and can't even distinguish between pain and fear? You're afraid of me, Qin Fengwan."

Princess Xinyang pursed her lips.

Marquis Xuanping looked puzzled: "I didn't do anything to you, did I? Why are you so afraid of me? I've never seen you afraid before, and you're not afraid now either. Why are you so afraid just in the pavilion?"

As if to confirm that she wasn't afraid of his guess, he moved closer to her.

Princess Xinyang remained silent.

Marquis Xuanping's gaze shifted from her face to her hands, where she was holding a book, her knuckles faintly turning white.

Marquis Xuanping sat back down in his chair, distancing himself from her.

He asked himself if he had done anything that would arouse her suspicion. Between them, she was the one who was always ready to raise the knife against the other, the one who forbade him to touch her, and the one who took the initiative to touch her.

She was afraid even of herself like this, and only afraid in the attic.

Marquis Xuanping narrowed his eyes and asked seriously, "Has anyone bullied you, Qin Fengwan?"

"I'm tired." Princess Xinyang closed the Book of Songs in her hands, subtly issuing a dismissal.

Before Marquis Xuanping could ask anything more, Steward Liu's voice came from the courtyard: "My lord! My lord! His Majesty summons you!"

Marquis Xuanping sensed that Princess Xinyang seemed to relax slightly upon hearing those words.

He gave her a deep look. She raised her chin, stubbornly holding on like a proud peacock, but her slightly trembling eyelashes and bloodless lips betrayed her.

Marquis Xuanping's eyes darkened. He stood up, looked at her, and without stopping, put the chair back in its place.

"Qin Fengwan".

He called her name, but she didn't respond. With a complicated expression, he looked away, turned around, and walked out.

(End of this chapter)