Chapter 44 Your Highness

Shen Panyan opened her lips, closed them, opened her lips, closed them... She wanted to shed tears, but her tears seemed to have already dried up. Only intense pain remained stuck in her chest, unable to rise or fall, like a fish out of water, struggling alone on the shore, slowly suffocating.

Why, why...

Shen Panyan shook her head repeatedly, retreating step by step, her face as pale as paper.

Suddenly, with a bang, her body slammed against the edge of the wooden table.

The pain jolted her from her numb and aching state. Almost instantly, her blood rushed to her head, and she clutched her chest, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Darkness descended, and her body collapsed limply to the ground.

The young palace maid who came to investigate was nearly terrified by what she saw. "Princess!! Physician Lin, quickly call Physician Lin!!!"

Physician Lin, who had just found out what poison Lin Xiao had been poisoned by, rushed over.

*

When Shen Panyan woke up again, it was seven days later.

She lay on the bed, her breath weak. She had just opened her eyes when a cool hand landed on her forehead. "Princess, you're awake!"

Shen Panyan felt her vision was blurry, and it took her a long time to finally make out who was in front of her.

"Lin...Linxiao..."

Lin Xiao replied in a gentle voice, "Your subordinate is here."

He tucked her in, then got up and went out to call Physician Lin in.

"Lord Lin, how is the princess now?"

After taking her pulse, Physician Lin withdrew his hand and began writing a prescription. "Although the poison has been neutralized, the princess has been plagued by toxins for so many years and has vomited blood twice, damaging her heart meridian. In the end, her body has been damaged. She can only take good care of herself and hopefully recover to her former state in the future."

Shen Panyan was stunned. "Poison? What poison?"

She was poisoned?

Physician Lin explained, "This matter is also thanks to Guard Linxiao. I found poison in the medicine pot that Guard Linxiao was using to brew medicine. Later, when I took Your Highness's pulse, I found that your pulse was the same as Guard Linxiao's. Subsequently, I checked Your Highness's medicine pot and found that it also contained the same poison as Guard Linxiao's."

"This poison is called Thousand Days Intoxication. It is very good at hiding. It is impossible to detect before the onset of the disease. Princess, you have been poisoned for many years. Guard Linxiao was not poisoned before. In addition, he was seriously injured this time. As soon as he was poisoned, the symptoms appeared, which is why he vomited blood and fell into a coma."

"Princess, this is also the reason why you vomited blood."

Shen Panyan stared blankly, "Then last time I vomited blood, didn't the head of the Imperial Hospital even notice...?"

"This..." Imperial Physician Lin hesitated, "This humble servant does not know either. Last time Your Highness vomited blood, this humble servant did not notice it, and the chief physician may not have noticed it either."

"No, he did see it! He's helping the Empress to harm me!!" Shen Panyan suddenly became agitated, her almond-shaped eyes widening as tears streamed down her face. "He wants to harm me! Everyone wants to harm me!!"

“Princess!” Lin Xiao suddenly spoke up, his voice solemn as if making a promise, “Princess, no, with your subordinate here, no one can harm you.”

As Shen Panyan's emotions gradually calmed down, her gaze fell on Lin Xiao.

She forced a smile. "Thank you, Lin Xiao."

She was grateful that he was still willing to comfort her even at this point, but now, a few words of comfort were no longer enough to soothe her inner fear.

She was terrified, truly terrified. The Empress ruled the harem; how many of the Empress's people were still in her courtyard...? Suddenly, Shen Panyan remembered something, "Where is my silk?"

"Linxiao, where is the silk left by Qiushuang? Have you seen it?" she asked anxiously.

If the silk is still there, she will immediately have it sent back to the capital and presented to her father's desk. If her father knows the truth, he will definitely investigate the matter thoroughly. At that time, she will no longer have to live in fear and anxiety.

“Princess, I did not find the silk in your room. Perhaps it was taken by a maid.”

Lin Xiao's voice turned cold. "I will investigate this matter thoroughly."

Shen Panyan's eyes dimmed.

The evidence is gone.

Even if she told her father everything, he wouldn't believe her.

After all, the Empress had always been virtuous and kind. She acted so well that she once thought the Empress loved her. It was just that the Empress was too timid and disappointed in her, which led to her gradual disillusionment with herself. Little did she know that the Empress had deliberately made her into this way.

Her courtyard is probably already riddled with holes; there are no secrets left for the Empress.

Shen Panyan closed her eyes, having already guessed this outcome, and felt a chill in her heart.

"I understand. You can all leave now. I want to be alone for a while."

“Princess…” Lin Xiao saw that her face was ashen and her eyes were fragile. He did not want to leave. However, Shen Panyan closed her eyes and turned her head away. She did not want to see anyone. Helpless, he had no choice but to leave.

Stepping out of the room, Imperial Physician Lin looked at Lin Xiao, whose lips were pale and who was struggling to stay upright, and sighed, "Guard Lin Xiao, your poison has just been neutralized and your serious injuries have not yet healed. You should go back and rest well. Only when you are fully recovered can you better take care of the princess."

"Let's go, I'll give you acupuncture."

"Thank you, Lord Lin."

Hearing the footsteps outside the door fade away, Shen Panyan slowly opened her eyes, and two lines of clear tears fell.

She finally understood why, even though she wasn't at the Royal Villa and had gone to the capital to hide her whereabouts, she still encountered a rebel attack and fell into a bandit's den. Such a premeditated event couldn't have been a spur-of-the-moment decision; it turned out that there was a traitor among her.

No wonder, no wonder Lin Xiao was attacked by more than a dozen secret guards and seriously injured. After all, apart from her, no one knew that Lin Xiao's identity was actually that of a secret guard. Everyone else just thought that Lin Xiao was an ordinary guard.

She hid it so well, so well, that she really didn't notice a single clue.

Shen Panyan closed her eyes, tears trembling as they fell.

She was saying that the reason the Crown Prince left so easily after only a few words that day was because someone else had already told her what he wanted to know.

Mu Ying's sudden resignation probably wasn't due to something happening to her family.

Ironically, she was very considerate of her, not only giving her money but also telling her to have a good reunion with her family before coming back.

She's so stupid, so incredibly stupid.

Mu Ying never treated her sincerely, yet she treated a traitor with genuine affection.

She made the same mistake twice.

Qiu Shuang betrayed her, Mu Ying betrayed her, the Empress killed her birth mother, and now she wants to torture her to death... Her knuckles tightened little by little, and an emotion she had never felt before began to fill her chest.

She hated it so much! She really hated it!

Throughout her life, she was respectful and gentle, never making enemies. Yet, in the end, she was betrayed and harmed, having mistaken a thief for her mother.

Shen Panyan clutched the quilt tightly, buried her head in it, and tears streamed down her face.

——

Since the princess fell into a coma, the small kitchen in the West Garden has kept rice porridge warm, just in case the princess woke up hungry. Now that there was a commotion in the front yard, the head cook immediately packed up the rice porridge and sent it to the front yard.

But no sooner had they stepped into the bedchamber than they were thrown out.

"I don't want to eat this. Take it away."

"Princess, your health is already poor, how can you not eat..."

"I said I'm not eating, get out!!"

Several palace maids entered the palace one after another, and all of them met the same fate. In the end, the princess even knocked over their meals.

She sat on the couch, her forehead beaded with cold sweat, her body utterly weak, yet she still forced herself to stand, like a wounded animal, her eyes fixed warily on everyone, "Get out! All of you, get out!!"

"Get out! No one is allowed to come in again!!"

The palace maids were terrified and hurriedly cleaned up the spilled rice porridge on the ground before retreating.

"What should we do? Sister Muying isn't here, and the princess hasn't even started eating since she woke up this time."

"What can you do? Do you dare go in and try to persuade the princess? Aren't you afraid of getting a good scolding?"

"But......"

"This is none of our business. Imperial Physician Lin is taking care of the princess's health. Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. Let's take care of ourselves first. Don't worry, everyone. The princess will eat when she's hungry."

"Too."

None of the palace maids wanted to provoke the princess any further, so they looked at each other, sighed, and dispersed.

evening.

The cool moonlight shone down on the bluestone bricks, and the candlelight inside the room flickered, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.

Shen Panyan lay on the bed, her head bowed, her knuckles clutching the blankets. Her dark pupils were desolate and empty. Her tears had all dried up, and now there was only deathly silence, like a motionless puppet.

The dim yellow candlelight danced on her body, and candle wax dripped down, making the whole world seem to stand still.

Suddenly, the door was opened and someone walked in.

Shen Panyan was already extremely sensitive, and the slightest sound would make her heart pound. Upon hearing the sound, she seemed to regain a spark of energy after a long silence; her eyelashes fluttered, and her voice was hoarse, "Didn't I say that no one is allowed to come in?"

"Get out!"

The person hesitated slightly, but did not leave; instead, they continued walking towards her.

"Princess."

A gentle and familiar voice fell into her ears, and Shen Panyan was slightly startled. She loosened her grip on the quilt and looked up.

The newcomer was dressed entirely in black, and was tall and slender.

"Lin Xiao..."

Lin Xiao walked to the bedside and placed a bowl of rice porridge on it. "I heard from the palace maids that Your Highness has not eaten a single grain of rice all day, so I brought you some cooked rice porridge."

Shen Panyan pursed her lips and lowered her head again. "Just now, I thought it was someone else. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scold you."

Lin Xiao shook his head, "If the princess is unhappy, it doesn't matter, I don't care."

"Princess has been unconscious for so many days, she must be very hungry. Why don't you have some rice porridge first?"

As she spoke, the bowl of rice porridge was brought to her.

Shen Panyan glanced at it only once before turning her head away. "Lin Xiao, put it down first, I can't eat right now..."

The thought that the entire West Garden was filled with the Empress's people made her restless, and the kitchen staff were even more terrified.

She dared not eat it.

Lin Xiao did not withdraw his hand. He could see her fear and unease. Coupled with the poisoning incident, the princess was probably wary of everyone now.

"This rice porridge wasn't made by the cook in the small kitchen; I cooked it myself."

Shen Panyan was taken aback and turned around in surprise, "You made this?"

Lin Xiao nodded. "Mm."

With the traitor still at large in the Western Garden, he dared not give the princess any more food from the small kitchen. The princess was now surrounded by dangers, so he needed to be even more cautious.

"You can even cook porridge?"

He used to be aloof and indifferent; you'd never guess he could cook.

Lin Xiao stirred the rice porridge. "If the princess wants to know, why don't you drink this bowl of rice porridge first, and I will tell you slowly."

Shen Panyan hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took it, taking small sips of it.

"Making porridge is very simple. First, wash the rice, then put it in a clay pot..."

Listening to his earnest speech, Shen Panyan was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, "Lin Xiao, I know what you're saying, and what you're saying isn't actually funny..."

But she just wanted to laugh.

Seeing her smile, a smile spreading from her pale face to her brows, Lin Xiao couldn't help but curve his lips into a smile as he looked at her. "But the princess has smiled, so it's all worth it. Is the princess any happier now?"

Shen Panyan lowered her head and began to drink her rice porridge, saying softly, "But that's not what I want to know."

Lin Xiao: "In the past, when we went on missions, we encountered all kinds of environments. It was common to eat in the wind and sleep in the open. If we didn't know how to cook, we would go hungry. That's why I learned some cooking skills."

"If the princess is willing, your meals will be taken care of by your subordinates from now on."

Shen Panyan: "But your injuries haven't healed yet."

She hadn't forgotten about it, but the previous incident had been too much of a shock for her, so she didn't immediately ask about his injuries.

Thinking of this, she hurriedly asked, "Lin Xiao, how are your injuries now? Are you feeling any better?"

Lin Xiao: "Lord Lin has cured me of the poison. I am a martial artist and have internal energy to protect me. I am not as fragile as the princess imagined."

Shen Panyan pursed her lips, "Don't lie to me."

Lin Xiao: "This subordinate would not dare to deceive the princess."

"You never dare to say you wouldn't, you're the one who hates to tell the truth the most..." Shen Panyan scolded softly.

Lin Xiao said helplessly, "I really didn't have it this time. If the princess doesn't believe me, you can ask Lord Lin tomorrow. Lord Lin has been treating me all along, and no one knows my injuries better than him."

Shen Panyan finally managed to believe her: "Then... alright then!"

After finishing the rice porridge, Lin Xiao took the empty bowl away and asked, "Would the princess like some more?"

Shen Panyan shook her head, "I'm not drinking anymore."

"Then Princess, please rest well. I will bring your meals again tomorrow."

Seeing that he was about to leave, Shen Panyan quickly called out, "Lin Xiao, wait!"

Lin Xiao turned around, "Princess."

He seemed to have anticipated that she would call him, so he stood there waiting for her to speak.

Shen Panyan bit her lip, her knuckles unconsciously twisting the bedding. "Lin Xiao, do you know what a woman destined for nobility is?"

She lowered her head and tears fell again. "I don't know who to tell about this. I can't trust anyone in Xiyuan anymore. The only person I can talk to is you."

As she spoke, she looked up at him, her eyes blurry with tears, "Lin Xiao, will you... will you suffer like them..."

"No," Lin Xiao replied decisively, "I would never harm the princess."

He paused for a moment, then added, "I will also protect the princess forever."

Shen Panyan paused for a moment, then smiled through her tears, "Thank you, Lin Xiao."

"Lin Xiao, do you know? Mu Ying is also one of the Empress's people. She's by my side just to harm me."

Lin Xiao frowned. "Is Mu Ying one of the Empress's people?"

"Hmm." Shen Panyan nodded, her smile bitter. "Even you didn't realize, did you? Who could have known she was the Empress's person? How many of the Empress's people are in my West Garden? Lin Xiao, I dare not even think about it..."

"I will weed out the spies around the princess one by one." Lin Xiao's expression was extremely cold. He really hadn't realized that Mu Ying was the Empress's person. She had acted too well, her timing was perfect, and her background was impeccable.

Such a spy is probably a hidden mole. When not in use, she is just like any other person. Once activated, she is essentially useless. However, she is smarter than others and had already escaped before the princess could discover anything amiss.

Lin Xiao lowered his eyes.

He won't let her escape.

"Lin Xiao, do you know, only today did I realize that my whole life was arranged by her..." Shen Panyan's voice choked with sobs as she told him everything she had seen on the silk.

She clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face.

"Lin Xiao, I've been a traitor for years, despised by my father, and ostracized by everyone in the palace. I've been bullied and humiliated by her, and you were implicated because of me, suffering serious injuries. Lin Xiao, I truly hate you!"

"She killed my birth mother, yet she took me back to Kunning Palace to raise me. Everyone in the palace praised her for being virtuous and kind, but who knew what kind of vicious heart lay beneath her virtuous and kind exterior?"

Shen Panyan suddenly looked up, her almond-shaped eyes filled with tears, her gaze filled with pain and despair. "Lin Xiao, tell me, what should I do?"

Lin Xiao walked towards her. "Does the princess wish for revenge?"

“Tear off her hypocritical mask and make her pay the price for all of this.” He paused for a moment, “and make her lose everything, let her experience the same pain as you.”

"Of course I want to." Shen Panyan's knuckles clenched tightly as she gritted her teeth. "If she hadn't killed my birth mother, I would have a loving mother now. I would be growing up peacefully and happily under her care, instead of living in constant fear and timidity. I don't even know what my mother looks like."

“But she is the empress, and I am just a princess, a princess raised by her. If I turn against her, not only my father, but the entire court will ruin my reputation and accuse me of being disloyal and unfilial.”

"Moreover, in my West Garden and Fanghua Palace, who are her people? I can't tell, and I can't see clearly. I have no one I can use, so how can I talk about revenge?"

Suddenly, she thought of something, looked up, reached out and grabbed the hem of his clothes, her almond-shaped eyes as red as blood-stained orchids in the candlelight.

"Lin Xiao, I don't know who to trust. You're the only one I can trust."

"You are Father's secret guard, you must know many things. Although the imperial court and the harem do not interfere with each other, some things are always intertwined. Besides, you are directly under Father's command. If you help me after you return, you can definitely make Father see her true colors, bring her down from her pedestal, and make her pay the price. Please help me, Lin Xiao, I beg you!!"

She clutched his clothes and shook him, sobbing as she uttered, "Please help me, please!!"

Lin Xiao lowered his head and remained silent.

His figure was shrouded in darkness, like a thick layer of ink, making it impossible for her to see or explain.

The rules of the secret guard camp are strict, and the princess's request is tantamount to asking him to betray his master.

Once a traitorous bodyguard is discovered, he will pay a heavy price. As a deterrent and as punishment, the traitorous bodyguard will be executed by slow slicing in front of everyone.

Lin Xiao's previous thought was simply to escape from the Dark Guard Camp. Although escaping was extremely difficult, the princess was also a member of the royal family, so it wasn't impossible. However, betraying his master... the price was far too high. No matter who he was loyal to, the emperor's majesty could not be challenged.

Seeing Lin Xiao remain silent, Shen Panyan slowly realized that she was forcing him.

Lin Xiao can protect her and treat her well, but he would never betray his father for his own sake. Otherwise, how would he be any different from Qiu Shuang and Mu Ying?

Her face was ashen. She lowered her hand and stammered, "Fine, just pretend I never said anything about this, Lin Xiao, you..." Go back.

However, before she could finish speaking, his hoarse voice suddenly rang out in the dark night, deafeningly loud.

"good."

Lin Xiao raised his hand, removed his mask, and slowly tore off his disguise, revealing his true face for the first time. He was actually extremely handsome, with dark eyebrows and eyes that, when lowered, resembled the morning mist. It was just a pity that his expression was too cold, as frozen as frost. But a small mole on the tip of his nose softened this indifference. Looking at him, one could only see a cold beauty, like a red spider lily blooming on the road to the underworld before the King of Hell.

He knelt down, head bowed, offering his loyalty.

"From this day forward, the princess is the mistress of Linxiao."

"Lin Xiao swears to protect the princess with his life, never to leave her, and never to betray her."

Shen Panyan stood there, stunned, her knuckles trembling slightly.

She hadn't expected it at all...

"You, you need to get up, there's no need for this..."

Lin Xiao looked up and said, slowly and deliberately, "Lin Xiao has made a vow, and there is absolutely no way I will go back on it."

His heart has long since changed.

He couldn't pinpoint where the change began, but he knew very well that the person before him, now and in the future, was the one he wanted to protect for the rest of his life.

I would die for the princess.

He lowered his head, respectful and submissive, "Your Highness!"

Shen Panyan opened her eyes wide, tears streaming down her face.

This promise and loyalty were so intense that, at this moment, she didn't even know if she could bear it.

After all, from the moment she grabbed his clothes and begged him for help, she knew that Lin Xiao would be punished if things came to light.

But she did it anyway.

However, what she didn't expect was that he would give her even more.

Her heart became base, while his became sincere.

But besides him, she had no one else she could trust or use.

Shen Panyan closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face, her heart silently saying: I'm sorry, Lin Xiao.

At this moment, she was somewhat glad that Lin Xiao hadn't heard her promise that day. Otherwise, she was too despicable for going back on her word. She had clearly said she would help him get free, but now she was leading him into the abyss. If he knew the truth, would he still be loyal to her?

At this moment, Shen Panyan began to hate her own suspicious and overthinking nature.

She is the one who wronged Lin Xiao.

But she had nowhere else to go.