Chapter 65 Xue Mingyao's tears suddenly fell.

Xie Zhuo extinguished one of the lamps beside the bed, and the room immediately became dim and yellow.

He said casually, "You siblings are finally reunited, you must have a lot to say, why rush back?"

Xue Mingyao picked up the lamp from the table and went straight to the bedside to shine it on his face.

Suddenly, a bright light appeared before his eyes. Xie Zhuo raised his hand to block it, "What are you doing?"

"Look at the expression on your face when you lie."

Upon closer inspection, Xue Mingyao indeed noticed that Xie Zhuo's complexion was unusual; it was very pale, and he seemed tired and weak. Just as she was about to take another look, Xie Zhuo blew out the lamp in her hand.

"I'm sleepy and getting ready to sleep. You can go back to your room."

The surroundings were completely dark, except for a gauze lantern that Xue Mingyao had brought, which she had tossed aside by the door, still emitting a faint glow.

Xue Mingyao froze for a few moments, then suddenly pulled back the covers, leaned down and grabbed his collar. Xie Zhuo hissed softly.

"Is this what you really think? You don't want me to sleep with you?"

Just as Xie Zhuo was about to speak, Xue Mingyao added, "If you say even one word is true, I will never sleep with you again in this lifetime."

Xie Zhuo remained silent.

Xue Mingyao released her grip and noticed that the unmistakable medicinal smell had become even stronger. She couldn't help but ask, "Are you injured? Why do you smell like liniment?"

"It's just a minor injury," Xie Zhuo replied after a moment. "I accidentally injured myself while practicing martial arts."

"Where is the injury? Is it serious?"

"The injury is on my back," Xie Zhuo said calmly. "Of course it's not serious, otherwise I wouldn't be able to talk to you here. I don't want to share a room with you because I feel it's inconvenient."

Xue Mingyao understood; he probably didn't want her to come back for this reason.

Just like before, she refuses to show any sign of being in a sorry state.

When Xie Qinglang had typhoid fever, he wouldn't even wipe his nose or runny nose in front of her. But Xue Mingyao loved to look at him; his fair, scholarly face, with its red nose tip, resembled a delicious pastry. Especially since he was young then, his cheeks were still soft and fleshy, and a poke would make him blush with embarrassment...

Xue Mingyao didn't want to recall it anymore. She took off her cloak, slowly stepped over him, climbed onto the bed, and crawled into his quilt.

Xie Zhuo remained motionless in a sideways position, his back to her, as if a wall had been erected in front of her.

Is it really that inconvenient?

"Is your injury really not serious? Turn around," Xue Mingyao said.

Xie Zhuo said it was alright, and then slowly turned his body to face her.

Xue Mingyao felt relieved.

"Change your habit of going out at night. You haven't forgotten the lesson of being assassinated during the spring hunt, have you?" Xie Zhuo said in a low voice.

“This is the capital city, it’s not so easy to encounter assassins here. Speaking of Beiming Mountain—” Xue Mingyao suddenly asked curiously, “What is the origin of those assassins? Have you found out?”

Half a year has passed since the incident, and the imperial court has remained silent on the matter. Xie Zhuo, as the commander of the Imperial Guard, may know some of the inside story.

“Some of the assassins’ corpses have features of people from the Southern Frontier, but since they are dead, there’s no way to verify it; it’s just suspicion and can’t be confirmed. His Majesty has never given up investigating this matter, but unfortunately, the evidence is scarce, and it’s difficult to reach a conclusion.” After Xie Zhuo finished speaking, he returned to the matter of Xue Mingyao returning to the mansion in the middle of the night, “Why did you have to come in the middle of the night?”

"Because you saved my brother from prison, I, Princess Yongning, am deeply grateful and have rushed back to the manor to thank you in person," Xue Mingyao said crisply.

"...Just because of that?"

"Of course not!" Xue Mingyao suddenly moved closer to him and said loudly.

“You said it was your duty to save my brother, and I also think it was my duty. I ran over in the middle of the night because I thought you would be happy to see me, but you didn’t seem happy at all.”

"Now I feel like I'm so stupid."

After Xue Mingyao finished speaking, she pulled the blanket back and rolled away, glaring at him resentfully through the darkness.

She's made herself so clear, surely he can change his attitude, say a few kind words, come over and hug her, and kiss her?

They haven't seen each other for so many days!

He never even came to the Xue residence to see her once...

Xie Zhuo remained silent for a long time.

Xue Mingyao's mind was in turmoil. She really couldn't figure out what Xie Zhuo was thinking. She felt that he was subtly different tonight, calmer and more silent. No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like she was just imagining things, and he was unmoved.

Suddenly he asked, "Why do you want me to be happy?"

Xue Mingyao was taken aback. What was there to ask?

"Is it because I helped your brother, or because—"

Because he begged her to treat him better?

With a burning pain in his back, Xie Zhuo didn't continue. Xue Mingyao had given him too many sweet treats, and he couldn't get used to it.

Xue Mingyao scratched her head in exasperation, then moved back in front of him, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips directly against his.

Talking to Xie Zhuo will only make you angry; you should use your mouth to do something meaningful.

The moment she tasted that familiar scent, Xue Mingyao went limp and whimpered as she hugged his waist.

Xie Zhuo stepped back slightly, seemingly reluctant, but ultimately didn't push her away. Xue Mingyao passionately kissed her while sliding her hand down, not wanting to linger on the kiss.

But Xie Zhuo's hand followed closely behind, pressing down on her hand firmly to prevent her from making any further moves.

Xue Mingyao slightly pulled away from his lips and said aggrievedly, "Can't you stop playing hard to get? I didn't do this to thank you for helping my brother."

"No." Xie Zhuo frowned deeply, trying to suppress his emotions. "I'm injured, so it's inconvenient."

"Didn't you say it wasn't serious...?" Xue Mingyao lingered on his full lips, rubbing against his slightly prickly stubble, and her tongue suddenly touched something moist and salty.

Is this... sweat?

Autumn has arrived, and the weather has already cooled down.

Xue Mingyao touched his face blankly; his forehead was covered in sweat.

She was startled and quickly removed her legs from his body. "What's wrong? Does it hurt? Where did I touch you?"

Xie Zhuo let out a long breath, "It's nothing."

"What do you mean it's nothing? Let me see the wound!" Xue Mingyao suddenly realized that Xie Zhuo's injury was not just a minor one, and immediately tried to walk past him to light the lamp.

Xie Zhuo stretched out his arm to block her view with difficulty, "There's no need to look, I'll tell you."

His voice sounded weak, but his arm that was blocking her was still exceptionally strong. Xue Mingyao dared not move, for fear of aggravating her wound.

She slowly crawled back into bed, hesitantly reaching out to wipe the sweat from Xie Zhuo's forehead. She wiped it once, then a second time, her heart growing increasingly anxious.

Xie Zhuo was still reluctant to talk, but Xue Mingyao urged him repeatedly, finally managing to pry his lips open.

He said, "I led the Imperial Guards to pursue and capture Feng Sheng's mistress who fled, and was therefore punished with twenty strokes of the cane by the Emperor."

The mistress was not from a respectable family; she had experience traveling the martial arts world. After leaving the capital, she disguised herself and took a large sum of money south to live a carefree life. The case was minor, and the Dali Temple, with its limited manpower, did not take it seriously. They only issued a warrant for her arrest, and it was unknown when she would be brought to justice.

Xie Zhuo decided to do it himself. He used the tracking skills he had learned in the Northwest and led a team of imperial guards to chase after the suspect for several days and nights. Finally, they found the suspect in a small town more than a thousand miles away from Zhongjing.

The Imperial Guards were the royal protectors; his misuse of their authority was undoubtedly a serious offense. Xie Zhuo truthfully confessed to Emperor Deyuan, was punished with a beating, and was also fined half a year's salary.

Xue Mingyao never expected that his injury was due to this reason.

Twenty strokes of the cane would have left a normal person screaming in pain and unable to speak, but Xie Zhuo was able to pretend to be nonchalant and talk back and forth with her for so long.

Is this person made of iron?

She squeezed his hand and said in a muffled voice, "You suffered such serious injuries for my brother's case, and you even lied to me and kept it from me. Don't you want me to be nice to you?"

Xie Zhuo closed his eyes. "It's not too serious. There's no need for you to know."

"How can it not be serious? Twenty strokes of the cane! It must hurt a lot."

"It's alright."

The pain was so intense that he couldn't sleep, so Xie Zhuo simply lit a lamp and read until late at night, finding it too unbearable. It was only when Xue Mingyao came over and became intimate with him, igniting his passion with her skillful and gentle touch, that he could no longer hide it.

Xue Mingyao then said, "His Majesty is benevolent and has shown you such favor, how could he bear to hit you?"

“I clearly made a mistake. If His Majesty does not show any remorse, then he is covering it up. Officials who are late for the morning court or absent without cause shall be punished with caning. These twenty strokes are already a minor punishment to serve as a warning.”

"...You're stupid too, insisting on telling the Emperor the truth. This kind of thing should be kept secret. Anyway, the Jade Guard has plenty of duties, so just make up some excuse to leave the capital."

"That won't work."

"Why not? You're just being a bookworm, aren't you? Are you being too rigid and pedantic?"

“It’s not that I’m being pedantic.” Xie Zhuo smiled helplessly. “There are many people watching my position. If I cover up a mistake now, it will be difficult to deal with if someone finds out and exposes it later. It’s better for me to take the initiative to admit it to the Emperor and exchange twenty strokes of the cane for a permanent solution. It’s worth it.”

Xue Mingyao slammed her fist on the bed. "You really don't take twenty strokes of the cane seriously at all."

"It's really not a big deal."

"If it's not a big deal, then how come you can't even perform the rites of marriage?" Xue Mingyao pouted, recalling the feeling in her hand just now, "You can still get it up even when it hurts like this, you really are gifted."

Xie Zhuo was speechless. "It's not that it's impossible. We can find a more convenient position..."

"Don't even think about it!"

Xue Mingyao interrupted him, and suddenly, taking advantage of his unpreparedness, she nimbly stepped over him, jumped off the bed, and turned on the lamp.

Xie Zhuo was caught off guard by her move and hurriedly tried to turn around despite the pain, but Xue Mingyao stopped him by pressing down on his shoulder.

“I need to see your injury,” she said firmly.

As she spoke, she reached out to lift his clothes, but Xie Zhuo was extremely uncooperative, covering his clothes and not allowing her to move.

Xue Mingyao was furious. "What are you being so coy about? I've seen every inch of your body—"

Her voice trailed off as she suddenly realized that seeing his body was a thing of the past. Since their marriage, they had never seen each other completely naked under the lamplight. Xie Zhuo always seemed to intentionally or unintentionally cover himself with his clothes, and the last time she saw his chest muscles, it took quite a bit of effort.

Xue Mingyao became suspicious and insisted on lifting his clothes.

Xie Zhuo had no choice but to give up. Knowing that he would have to face this day sooner or later, he finally stopped and lay down on the pillow as instructed, silent and stiff as a stone.

Xue Mingyao held up the lamp and slowly lifted his clothes to take a closer look.

Upon seeing this, I was immediately taken aback.

The blood-stained, bluish-purple cloth on his back, even after being smeared with medicated oil, was still a shocking sight; the Emperor's twenty strokes of the cane showed no mercy.

However, this is not the most terrifying part.

Xue Mingyao was surprised to find that beneath the bruises from Xie Zhuo's shoulder to his tailbone, there were several scars of varying lengths, as if they had been caused by knives, spears, or arrows. Some were dark red, and some were white, crisscrossing his body and tearing it to pieces. There wasn't a single intact spot the size of a palm.

Xue Mingyao's tears suddenly fell.

How many injuries has he suffered in the past few years?