Ying'er walked in and saw Nangong Xian undressed, wearing only a bellyband, sitting there with a frown on her face. She couldn't help but look worried. "Miss, are you injured?"
Nangong Xian had kept her injury a secret from her mother, fearing she would worry. "Hmm." Glancing at the door, Nangong Xian said, "Ying'er, close the door and change the dressing for me."
"good."
After changing the dressing, Nangong Xian lay on the bed and took a nap. She couldn't turn over for fear of tearing the wound. In the evening, after a welcoming banquet, Nangong Xian wanted to go out for a walk.
She had been in that desolate place in the north for a long time, and she would occasionally miss the prosperity of the capital. Nangong Xian was also a girl and was interested in shopping.
She was wearing a dark-colored men's suit. As soon as she reached Chang'an Street, the most prosperous street in the capital, she saw Dugu Jie. It seemed as if he had guessed that Nangong Xian would be out strolling, so he deliberately waited here.
Dugu Jie stood in front of a stall with two followers. He was wearing a black cloak and holding a rabbit cage with a little white rabbit in it.
When Nangong Xian saw him, she thought of the colorful conversation she had that morning. But now that they had seen each other, it would be too unmanly for her to turn around and run away.
Nangong Xian hesitated for a moment, but still walked towards Dugu Jie.
"Prince..."
"Call me Seventh Brother."
Nangong Xian paused for a moment before changing his tone and calling out, "Seventh Brother."
Dugu Jie handed the rabbit to Nangong Xian and asked her, "Do you like it?"
Nangong Xian looked at the skinny white rabbit, frowned, and said subconsciously: "I don't like salt and pepper rabbits, I prefer braised ones. This kind of rabbit is not as delicious as the wild rabbits in the forest. Besides, this one is too skinny, I can't even eat enough."
Dugu Jie's face darkened, and the followers behind him were all trying to suppress their laughter. Ying'er quickly tugged at Nangong Xian's sleeve and whispered, "Miss, the Crown Prince wants to give you a rabbit to raise."
Nangong Xian was a little embarrassed. She looked at Dugu Jie, not knowing how to explain.
Dugu Jie said, "Forget it, just walk with me."
Dugu Jie told his followers not to follow and to send Ying'er back to the general's mansion.
Nangong Xian followed Dugu Jie through the streets, and finally, they came to a jewelry store.
Dugu Jie walked in first.
Nangong Xian followed him into the jewelry store and heard Dugu Jie say to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, three months ago I ordered a gilded jade phoenix hairpin. Bring it here for me to see."
Recognizing Dugu Jie's identity, the store manager didn't dare to ask any nonsense questions and hurried to get the hairpin. Nangong Xian was next to Dugu Jie, and when Dugu Jie opened the box, she couldn't help but glance at the hairpin inside.
The phoenix hairpin was exquisitely crafted, with phoenix patterns carved on the hairpin handle and a red jade inlaid on the hairpin head.
Nangong Xian's eyes lit up, but he said nothing.
I never thought that someone like Dugu Jie would carefully select gifts for his Crown Princess.
Nangong Xian felt sad, but she had no right to be jealous or angry.
Closing the jewelry box again, Dugu Jie led Nangong Xian forward until they reached a small house he had purchased. He told Nangong Xian, "I purchased this house four months ago. I occasionally come here to stay for a while."
Nangong Xian looked around the house. Although it was not big, it was very exquisite, with small bridges, flowing water, pavilions and towers. It did not look like the houses in the north, but more like the houses in Suzhou.
"My mother is from Suzhou, and I am here to enshrine her spirit tablet."
Dugu Jie's mother died young, in the cold palace, and was buried carelessly. Nangong Xian looked at him deeply and said, "When Your Highness becomes the Emperor, the Virtuous Consort will surely be able to move to the Imperial Mausoleum."
Dugu Jie just smiled and passed by.
He brought Nangong Xian to the pavilion in the backyard and sat down. After sitting down, Dugu Jie opened the box again.
He picked up the hairpin and asked Nangong Xian, "Is it beautiful?"
Nangong Xian felt a little jealous, but she still nodded and praised: "Beautiful."
Dugu Jie said, "Then it's for you."
Nangong Xian was startled and subconsciously refused, "Your Highness, no!"
Dugu Jie said nothing, just looked at her gravely and asked her, "Why not?"
Nangong Xian whispered, "Your Highness, the phoenix hairpin can only be used by concubines, I..." How could she use something like a phoenix hairpin!
Dugu Jie pursed his lips and said something shocking, "Nangong Xian, I, Dugu Jie, will only recognize you as the Crown Princess in this life!"
Nangong Xian was shocked and didn't dare to speak.
Dugu Jie stood up and approached her from behind. He untied the crown on Nangong Xian's head, and the high ponytail immediately fell on her shoulders.
Dugu Jie bent down, buried his head in Nangong Xian's neck, and took a deep breath. He said, "Xian'er, I really hope you get injured on the battlefield, preferably an injury that will make you unable to ride a horse or shoot an arrow again..."
Nangong Xian trembled all over, and then she heard Dugu Jie say, "That way, you will never be able to go to the battlefield again, and I can marry you home."
Nangong Xian gnashed her teeth tightly as she reminded Dugu Jie, "Your Highness, please respect yourself."
Dugu Jie didn't know what self-respect was.
He braided Nangong Xian's hair and tied it up, then inserted the phoenix hairpin into her hair. He stared at the hairpin and said, "Xian'er, you are already fifteen years old. It's time for you to come of age. Seventh Brother will personally do this for you. For the rest of your life, you belong to Seventh Brother."
Nangong Xian sensed the danger.
She sensed Dugu Jie's determination from his tone and actions.
She stood up suddenly and said hurriedly, "Your Highness, it's getting late, I have to go." Nangong Xian knew that if she didn't leave, she would definitely become Dugu Jie's real princess tonight!
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