Chapter 29: Enemies (Three in One): Silent, Loyal, and Peace of Mind...
Chen Zhiwei twisted the fragrant flower note between his fingers, listening to Nanny's eloquent speech with one ear and out the other.
She wanted to refuse directly, but when she heard "Miss An Yu is quite favored by the Queen in the palace, and she will come back for a small gathering at the banquet", her knuckles paused slightly.
Shen Zhiwei lowered his eyes and scratched the cat's chin unconsciously with his fingertips.
Chen Anyu, her nominal younger sister in the palace, a blood relative she had never met in her life. Lin Wenyuan's method of pushing her out was crude, but it worked.
Well, I might as well go and meet him.
She really should go and see it. After all, the child bore the blood of the Shen family and was the only person she had some blood connection to in this world. Lin Wenyuan had sent her to the palace, claiming she was under the care of the Empress, but in reality, she was no different from a hostage.
She sighed inwardly, raised her eyes to the nanny who was looking at her eagerly, and said calmly, "I understand. I'll be there when the time comes."
The nanny had obviously not expected her to agree so readily. Her prepared words got stuck in her throat. After a moment's pause, she quickly broke into a smile. "Oh, it's great that you've figured it out, young lady. I'll report this to the master right away."
The black cat nudged her wrist with its head.
Shen Zhiwei picked it up and walked to the window.
The courtyard is quiet and the sunlight is warm.
The flower viewing banquet was held at the Prince's Mansion in the west of the city. The sky was clear and the air was fresh, with a gentle breeze.
Shen Zhiwei arrived at the right time, handed in her invitation, and was led in by a maid. She was still dressed simply in a moon-white dress, with only a bright coral bead in her hair, which seemed appropriate for the occasion.
Princess Anyang is the most beloved niece of the current emperor. She is lively and loves to be in a lively environment.
The garden was already bustling with elegantly dressed women and noisy laughter. Young ladies from various families gathered in groups of three or four, admiring the flowers, drinking tea, playing pitching pots, and composing poetry. Their glances shifted, and a silent contest inevitably erupted.
Shen Zhiwei's appearance did not cause much waves.
Although the Lin family is prominent, the identity of her cousin who is staying there is delicate. In addition, she has been staying at home very rarely recently, which makes her seem a bit marginalized in the eyes of others.
She was not interested in this and was just waiting patiently for her sister who was said to be coming.
The maid brought her fragrant tea and snacks, which she picked up, pretending to admire the fish swimming in the pond while taking in the whispers around her. Most of it was gossip about who had a new favorite or who had made a fool of themselves. Occasionally, there would be a mention of recent court events, but they were quickly drowned out by more lighthearted topics.
About a cup of tea later, there was a slight commotion at the garden entrance, as if an important person had arrived. Shen Zhiwei looked up and saw Princess Anyang personally coming to greet her, her smile even more enthusiastic than before.
Surrounded in the middle was a girl in a primrose-colored palace dress, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with double buns and a pearl headband. She was holding the princess's hand and talking in an intimate manner.
She was very beautiful, with almond eyes, rosy cheeks, red lips and white teeth, and a pair of sparkling eyes. Her every move was full of energy and her gaze was radiant.
Almost the moment she saw that face, Shen Zhiwei's fingers twisting the teacup froze.
The child looks exactly like her.
The girl seemed to be searching for someone, her gaze wandering through the garden, and soon, accurately, she landed on the open pavilion where Shen Zhiwei was. Her eyes suddenly lit up, and a brilliant smile without any gloom spread across her face. She lifted the hem of her skirt and trotted over excitedly.
"Sister!" The voice came before the person arrived. The voice was sweet, crisp and bright, with undisguised intimacy and joy.
She ran to Shen Zhiwei in a few steps, panting slightly, her cheeks flushed from running, her eyes curved into crescents: "Sister, I finally see you! The Queen allowed me to go out of the palace to play today, and I wanted to see you first."
Shen Zhiwei looked at her, and the strange feeling in his heart caused by their similar appearance was slightly diluted by her overwhelming enthusiasm.
She put down her teacup, stood up, and raised a relatively gentle arc at the corner of her lips: "An Yu?"
"It's me, sister!" Shen Anyu nodded vigorously, stretched out her hand naturally, took Shen Zhiwei's arm and shook it gently, "Sister, are you living well in the mansion? Did your uncle bully you? I, I missed you so much in the palace..."
As she spoke, her eyes turned red.
Shen Zhiwei's body was a little stiff. She was not used to being so close to others. After her rebirth, she was even worse at expressing her emotions than before.
But looking at the girl's slightly red eyes, and the pure dependence and longing between her eyebrows and eyes that looked very similar to hers, which did not seem fake, the last trace of doubt in her heart disappeared.
This is her sister, her blood-related sister.
She slowed down her voice, raised her hand, and patted the back of Shen Anyu's hand a little awkwardly: "I'm fine. Are you used to being in the palace? Is anyone giving you any trouble?"
"No, no!" Chen Anyu quickly shook his head, wiped his wet eyes a few times, and a smile returned to his face. "The Queen treats me very well, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also always takes care of me. No one dares to bully me. It's just that sometimes I feel bored and miss my sister and home..."
The little girl's voice dropped again.
Shen Zhiwei was confused in her heart, thinking of Lin Wenyuan's words. It seemed that Xiao Lingjun had indeed fulfilled his promise and protected An Yu very well.
"You'll get used to it." Her tone softened a little.
Chen Anyu immediately became cheerful again, holding her arm and chattering about interesting things in the palace. The queen of a certain palace had a snow-white lion cat, the peonies in the imperial garden had blossomed into bowls, and the young palace maids were caught playing mahjong secretly by the nanny...
Shen Zhiwei listened quietly, occasionally nodding or responding with a word or two. Looking at Shen Anyu's bright and carefree smile, the tension in her heart, which had been more or less tense from her past life, relaxed a little.
This life might really be different. At least she can watch from afar and see her only blood relative safe and happy.
As Shen Anyu was speaking, she suddenly remembered something and took out a small and exquisite brocade bag from her small purse and stuffed it into Shen Zhiwei's hand: "Sister, this is for you!"
"This is?"
"It's a calming sachet, prescribed by the palace physician. It smells so good and is very effective in helping you sleep. I specially asked for an extra one for my sister!" The little girl said as if she was presenting a treasure, looking at her with sparkling eyes.
"Sister, did you sleep well at night? Hang this and you will definitely sleep soundly!"
Shen Zhiwei held the scented sachet, still warm from the girl's body temperature. The silk was delicate, and the scent was indeed elegant and soothing. She looked at her sister's eyes, filled with pure concern, and felt a slight warmth in her heart. She put the sachet into her sleeve and said, "Thank you for your trouble."
Seeing that she accepted it, Chen Anyu smiled even more happily and pestered her to talk for a while until other noble ladies he knew came to look for her. Then he reluctantly let go of her arm and walked away, looking back every few steps.
Shen Zhiwei sat down again, the sachet in her sleeve emitting a faint fragrance. She looked at her sister's bright and beautiful figure moving among the flowers, and the corners of her lips unconsciously raised an arc.
Halfway through the flower viewing banquet, she gradually felt bored and was about to find an excuse to leave, but Princess Anyang enthusiastically suggested moving to the water pavilion overlooking the lake in the mansion, where more exquisite tea and snacks and the latest toys were prepared.
Everyone naturally agreed, and Shen Zhiwei was wrapped in the crowd and had no choice but to follow.
The water pavilion is built by the lake, with windows on all four sides open and draped with light blue gauze. When the wind blows, the gauze flutters, bringing the fragrance of lotus to the room. The distant mountains are like dark green, reflected in the clear water, which is indeed an elegant place.
The room had been re-set for the banquet, and the young ladies each found a familiar companion to sit down with, chatting and laughing. Shen Zhiwei chose a secluded seat by the window, where she could enjoy the view while being away from the center.
The maid brought tea and snacks again, which were freshly made lotus cakes and iced plum drinks. They were exquisite and translucent, and they felt refreshing just by looking at them.
Just as she picked up the jade chopsticks, she saw that the light at the entrance was dim and the original voices of chatting and laughing became quieter.
A dark figure appeared in front of the water pavilion.
Xiao Wangqing.
What is he doing here at this flower viewing party?
The Third Prince was still wearing the dark-colored uniform that resembled military uniform, which was totally out of tune with the splendid and prosperous scene outside.
His face seemed even paler than the day of the palace banquet, his lips were tightly pursed, his eyes were calm, like a deep pool that had absorbed all the light, and he exuded a cold aura that kept strangers away.
The eunuch who brought him here had sweat on his forehead. He bowed and explained something in a low voice, as if saying that the men's seats were in the open pavilion on the opposite bank, and this was where the women were.
Princess Anyang rose and stepped forward, smiling, speaking warmly, trying to smooth things over: "Third brother, did you take the wrong road? The scenery on the other side is more expansive. We've prepared the finest white pear blossoms..."
Xiao Wangqing glanced calmly across the pavilion, ignoring those glances that were either curious, fearful, or impliedly scrutinizing.
Finally, amidst the riot of colour, it fell on the pure white moonlight by the window.
Shen Zhiwei was picking up a piece of lotus cake and putting it into her mouth. She noticed his gaze and didn't know whether to bite it or not. She paused and raised her eyes to meet his gaze.
Across most of the water pavilion, through the curling tea smoke and floating fragrant breeze, his gaze was calm and direct, with an almost scrutinizing concentration, lingering on her face for a full breath.
There was no amazement or curiosity in his eyes, nor was there the surprise that ordinary men would have when they saw her and Shen Anyu's appearance. It was just a pure and cold look, as if he was looking at an object.
Shen Zhiwei felt an inexplicable chill in her heart, but her expression remained calm. She just nodded slightly in greeting, then naturally lowered her eyelashes and continued to eat the pastry in small bites, as if his arrival and gaze had nothing to do with her.
This is indeed the case.
The atmosphere in the cabinet remained stagnant.
Xiao Wangqing seemed to have no objection to the princess's arrangement and did not even look at her a second time. He just nodded slightly to Princess Anyang, said sorry, and turned to leave with the eunuch.
The corner of the black robe disappeared outside the door, and the invisible pressure was removed. Everyone in the pavilion breathed a sigh of relief and became active again, but the volume of conversation was obviously much lower, and their eyes still glanced at the door from time to time.
Shen Anyu came close to Shen Zhiwei, patted her chest and whispered: "Sister, is that the Third Prince? He looks scary, much more ferocious than the Crown Prince..."
Shen Zhiwei patted the back of her hand and said nothing. However, she was a little confused as to why Xiao Wangqing appeared in such an occasion that he was obviously not interested in.
Of course, the reason has nothing to do with her.
In just half a cup of tea, when everyone had gradually forgotten the incident and immersed themselves in the fun again, a faint sound of commotion came from the other side of the river.
At first, there was the crisp sound of cups and plates falling to the ground, followed by a few suppressed exclamations, and the man's high-pitched scolding. Although it was difficult to hear clearly, the tense atmosphere was transmitted across the water, making the water pavilion gradually quiet.
The young ladies looked at each other, not knowing what was happening on the other side.
Anyang's face changed slightly. She was about to send someone to ask, but she saw a servant from the Prince's Mansion running over in a panic and whispering a few words in her ear.
Her expression suddenly turned very ugly. She forced a smile and said to everyone, "The young men on the other side were drinking and having fun, and lost their composure. It's nothing serious. There's no need to panic. Just keep going."
After saying that, he hurriedly left the table with his people.
Having said that, the relaxed atmosphere in the water pavilion has disappeared, and speculation and whispers are everywhere.
Shen Zhiwei put down her cup and looked across the river. Amidst the shadows of the trees, she could vaguely see figures swaying, as if guards were surrounding a certain area. Her mind fluttered slightly, and she remembered Xiao Wangqing's departing figure.
But a moment later, a well-informed noblewoman lowered her voice and revealed with a touch of fear and excitement, "It is said that the Third Prince suddenly had a fit for some unknown reason, overturned the table, and almost drew his sword! The Xie family's eldest son went to intervene and seemed to have been hit..."
The noise on the other side of the river seemed to be suppressed quickly, but an uneasy atmosphere spread.
Shen Zhiwei frowned. Although Xiao Wangqing had a cold and hard temper, he was definitely not an impulsive or brainless person. Openly using violence at a banquet at the Prince's Mansion? This was not like his style.
The scent of cosmetics and the soft whispers lingered around her, making her feel a little suffocated. She had no interest in socializing to begin with, and when she saw Chen Anyu being dragged off by a familiar playmate to play pot-tossing, she quietly stood up, wanting to find a quieter place to breathe.
She avoided the crowds and walked slowly along the corridors connecting the water pavilions. The corridors twisted and turned, and gradually deepened. The surrounding noise gradually faded, and only the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind and the faint gurgling of water in the distance could be heard.
The garden in the Prince's Mansion has beautiful scenery and deep woods, making it a great place to laze around.
When I reached a fork in the road, I wanted to go towards the more secluded lotus pond, but suddenly I caught a faint smell of rust at the tip of my nose.
Shen Zhiwei's footsteps suddenly paused.
In her previous life, she was bedridden and took medicine all the time, but occasionally Xiao Wangqing came back late at night with a cold body. No matter how well he covered himself, she could always smell a trace of blood on him that still stubbornly remained after washing.
This is not the atmosphere that a party should have.
Shen Zhiwei held his breath and concentrated. The smell was very faint and dissipated with the wind, as if it was just an illusion.
She stopped for a moment and was about to move on when a breeze blew in from the depths of the bamboo forest on the right, bringing with it a clearer ray of light.
There was not only blood, but also a suppressed, heavy and painful breathing sound.
It's not ordinary.
Shen Zhiwei's eyes glared, and almost instantly, Xiao Wangqing's pale and forbearing face at the palace banquet flashed through his mind.
She subconsciously looked towards the bamboo forest, but saw only dense green shadows and dim light in the depths, making it difficult to see clearly.
She should turn around and leave immediately.
Xiao Wangqing, in both past and present lives, had always been deeply tied to trouble. He was clearly in immense pain, and uncovering this would do her no good. In this life, she simply wanted to live a peaceful and tranquil life, away from conflict.
Reason is giving a sharp warning.
She had even taken half a step back, and the hem of her skirt brushed against the grass, making a slight rustling sound.
However, the suppressed breathing seemed to suddenly become faster for a moment, and then it was strangled tightly, turning into a suffocating silence.
Shen Zhiwei's hands hanging in his sleeves clenched slightly.
She remembered many things.
I remembered that snowy night, that young boy with eyes as fierce as a wolf cub. I remembered how I, too, had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood, feeling the despair of dying with no one to help me.
She can watch calculations, conspiracies, and oppression with indifference, and can even set up a killing plan with her own hands.
But she couldn't bear to watch a living person die silently within her reach, no matter who it was.
Just like she couldn't turn a blind eye to the thousands of displaced disaster victims, and just like she couldn't remain indifferent to Lin Chuyu, who looked so much like her.
After all, she couldn't completely harden her heart towards Xiao Wangqing.
Even though he is a stranger to her in this life.
What an injustice.
She took a deep breath and finally stepped into the deep bamboo forest.
The dense shadows of bamboo covered the sky and the light suddenly dimmed.
In an open space deep in the bamboo forest, Xiao Wangqing was kneeling on one knee with his back to her, one hand tightly supporting a thick bamboo pole, the other hand covering his abdomen, dark red liquid seeping out from between his fingers, staining his ink-colored clothes even darker.
He lowered his head, his long hair tied up with an ebony hairpin was a little messy, a few strands of hair stuck to his sweaty forehead, his broad shoulders trembled slightly uncontrollably, as if he was enduring great pain, but was suppressing it tightly, refusing to let out a single moan.
The scene before her made her instantly understand where the commotion on the other side of the river came from. He was not acting without reason, but was trying to endure the serious injury and using it as an excuse to leave.
She stopped a few steps behind him.
"Your Highness."
Her voice was steady and not too loud, but it caused Xiao Wangqing's hands, which were supporting the bamboo pole, to tighten suddenly, his knuckles turning pale.
He suddenly turned around, his dark pupils shrank suddenly in the dim light, filled with vigilance and undisguised astonishment, and cold sweat slid down his chin.
He seemed to want to stand up, but this movement pulled at the injured part, causing him to groan and veins popping out on his forehead. He had to hold on to the bamboo stick with greater force to barely maintain his kneeling position and not fall down completely.
Their eyes met, and the bamboo leaves rustled.
Shen Zhiwei's gaze fell on the gaps between his fingers, which were tightly covering his abdomen. The dark color was slowly spreading. She showed no emotion on her face, only a slight frown.
"Where is it hurt?" she asked.
Xiao Wangqing's Adam's apple rolled violently, as if he was trying hard to swallow something that was rising to his lips. He stared at her, his eyes as sharp as a knife, trying to cut something out of her face.
"...It's okay." He squeezed out two words from between his teeth, his voice very hoarse.
As if she hadn't heard his denial, Shen Zhiwei took a step forward, squatted down, and looked him in the eye. At this distance, she could more clearly smell the cold breath mixed with the smell of blood on his body, and see the muscles twitching slightly under his pale skin due to endurance.
She stretched out her hand, not to his bleeding wound, but to precisely grasp his wrist that was resting on the bamboo pole.
Xiao Wangqing's body suddenly stiffened and he subconsciously tried to break free, but the seemingly slender fingers contained an irresistible force and held him firmly.
"Let go," she commanded, "let me see."
He stared at her intently, his chest heaving violently, his breathing heavy. In those bottomless black eyes, the vigilance and scrutiny were almost tangible.
Shen Zhiwei's fingertips could clearly feel the pulse running under his wrist bone, rapid and chaotic.
The touch was inexplicably familiar, making her dazed for a moment.
She suddenly remembered a long time ago, there was a night, perhaps without snow, the candlelight flickered violently, and the eyebrows and eyes of Xiao Wangqing, who had become a king, were dim and unclear.
He must have been drinking, and it was rare for him to show some strength in front of her. He grabbed her wrist but didn't dare to use any strength. He just held it loosely and asked her in a low voice: "Chen Zhiwei, what is between you and me?"
At that time, she had just coughed up blood, and her lips were pale. Upon hearing this, she just lazily raised her eyelids, intending to tease him, and replied with a smile: "Your Majesty is the king, and the minister is the minister."
"...Just the monarch and his subjects?"
"If Your Majesty insists on a name... what about enemy?"
The king was silent for a long time, and finally just sighed lightly, reached out to tuck the corner of the blanket that had slipped off her body, and did not ask any more questions.
old enemy.
At the time, I thought this answer was unsatisfactory, frank yet distant, just enough to block out all his subsequent words. But deep down, I vaguely felt that these two words were too empty, too superficial, and could not contain even a fraction of the ten years of entanglement between them.
Now, separated by life and death, and the long river of time, she suddenly realized when she saw the thorny and fragile young man Xiao Wangqing in front of her.
The word "enemy" is so light.
The relationship between them has never been so clear-cut.
The pulse in his wrist beat more and more wildly under her fingertips. Xiao Wangqing seemed to have exhausted all his strength. The arm supporting the bamboo pole suddenly softened, and his entire weight fell towards her.
Shen Zhiwei subconsciously tightened his fingers, and his other hand quickly supported his elbow, stabilizing his downward movement.
His forehead almost touched her shoulder, his hot breath spraying on her neck, carrying a strong smell of blood and unstable breathing. His inky hair brushed against the back of her hand, cold and wet.
"Let go..." He squeezed out the sound from between his teeth again. His breath was weak, but still carried an unmistakable resistance, "...go away."
Shen Zhiwei suspected that he was going to say get lost.
She lowered her eyes, looking at his lower lip which was oozing blood as he bit it tightly to endure the pain, and at his dark pupils which were still struggling to keep their focus.
He sighed very lightly.
"Third Prince, if the bleeding continues, you will die."
She paused, then applied a little force with her fingertips and pried open his hands that were tightly covering her abdomen one by one.
"let me see."
The stalemate didn't last long.
Xiao Wangqing's tense shoulders suddenly relaxed, not out of complete trust, but more like a giving up after weighing the pros and cons, or the pain no longer allowed him to be stubborn.
More dark red blood immediately gushed out.
Shen Zhiwei's fingers slid down and probed towards his abdomen. It felt wet, sticky and warm, and the smell of blood became stronger.
Her expression remained unchanged, she only whispered, "I'm sorry."
Her fingertips deftly untied the ties of his dark outer robe and lifted the dark undershirt beneath. A hideous wound was exposed, running diagonally upwards from his left abdomen. The flesh was twitching, the edges whitish, and still oozing blood. It didn't look like it was caused by a sword, but rather by some heavy, blunt object.
The injury was serious and the position was dangerous.
Shen Zhiwei's eyes darkened, but his hands moved very steadily. He quickly pulled out a white silk handkerchief from his sleeve, folded it several times, and pressed it hard on the wound.
"Hmm..." Xiao Wangqing groaned, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. The veins on the back of his hands that were supporting himself on the ground were knotted, but he clenched his teeth and didn't make any more sound.
She looked up at him and saw that his lips had lost all color, only a pair of dark eyes were staring at her, with pain and scrutiny in them.
"Your Highness's injury doesn't seem to be caused by playing around at the banquet." She smiled, exerted force with her hands, and lowered her voice.
Xiao Wangqing's Adam's apple rolled, and he swallowed the sweet taste rising in his throat, saying in a hoarse voice, "We were attacked... in the forest."
"Who?"
"I don't know." He answered quickly, but his eyes avoided her gaze and looked into the depths of the bamboo forest. "You are very skillful. You can strike and run away."
lie.
Shen Zhiwei sneered inwardly. The wound was treacherous. If he hadn't held back, it would have damaged his internal organs. It looked more like a self-torture tactic, or a failed attempt to silence him.
But she didn't expose it, only saying: "It's not advisable to stay here for long, we need to deal with it as soon as possible."
She tore off a section of her inner shirt and deftly secured the handkerchief, temporarily stabilizing the surging blood. Xiao Wangqing quietly let her do what she wanted, his eyes glued to her face.
Just as she tied the last knot, he suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse and broken due to blood loss and pain, but with a terrifying persistence.
"Have we... met before?"
Shen Zhiwei paused as he tied the knot.
The shadows of the bamboo swayed, and the spots of light that leaked through flickered on Xiao Wangqing's pale face.
His fingertips unconsciously twisted the blood-stained silk handkerchief. Shen Zhiwei did not answer his question, but slightly increased the pressure, causing the Third Prince to let out another suppressed gasp.
"Your Highness has lost too much blood and is starting to talk nonsense," she smiled. "The most urgent thing is to figure out how to leave here."
"Your Highness's wound was not caused by an ordinary sharp blade. The blade has a hook, which is specially used by the army to deal with the thick skin and flesh of war horses. Once it penetrates, it will tear the wound and it will be extremely difficult to stop the bleeding."
Xiao Wangqing supported her body and swayed slightly. Hearing this, he looked up at her with a deep and unfathomable gaze.
"There was a commotion on the other side just now. Your Highness, did you deliberately get angry and take the opportunity to leave the table to avoid losing your composure in public and exposing your injuries? However, this injury cannot be delayed. If the bleeding is not stopped, it may damage the root cause."
She paused, looking at his pale face. "Your Highness, do you want me to call someone over right now, or can you make it back home by yourself?"
Xiao Wangqing closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the bloodshot and confusion in his eyes receded slightly. He took a deep breath and tried to stand up with the support of the bamboo pole, but stumbled due to excessive blood loss.
Shen Zhiwei reached out and held his arm.
His arms were as hard as iron, his muscles tense, and through the fabric of his clothes he could feel the startling heat and subtle tremors.
He glanced at her hand that was supporting his arm. He was silent for a moment, then said in a hoarse voice, "...Northwest Gate."
Shen Zhiwei didn't let go of his hand. Instead, she placed his arm on her shoulder and held his waist firmly with her other hand, avoiding the wound. This position made her almost half hug him, and she could clearly feel the weight of his body and the trembling tense from enduring pain.
Her voice was steady: "Hold it steady, and try not to disturb the wound."
Xiao Wangqing's body stiffened for a moment, as if he was extremely uncomfortable with being so close to someone, especially when the other person was a woman of unknown identity.
But he'd lost too much blood, and his vision was blacking out. He couldn't afford to be tough at this point. His Adam's apple rolled, and in the end, he just hummed softly, leaning some of his weight against him, trying to steady himself.
The two of them staggered along the deep path in the bamboo forest.
The rustling of bamboo leaves masked the slightly heavy footsteps and suppressed breathing. Shen Zhiwei looked ahead, walked steadily, and chose a hidden path as much as possible.
She could feel the weight on her shoulders getting heavier and heavier, and Xiao Wangqing's steps began to become unsteady, but he kept his teeth clenched and did not make a sound.
Just as they were about to pass through the bamboo forest and could vaguely see the outline of the northwest corner gate, they suddenly heard the sound of footsteps and the low voices of women talking from the fork in the road ahead, coming towards them.
Shen Zhiwei paused, and Xiao Wangqing immediately tensed his body. His vision, which had been blurred by the pain, suddenly became clear. He subconsciously pressed his hand towards his waist, but touched nothing. He had already taken off his sword when the "attack" on the other side occurred.
Shen Zhiwei reacted extremely quickly. Almost immediately, she supported Xiao Wangqing and dodged to the side. The two of them hid behind a dense clump of phoenix tail bamboo.
The bamboo shadows swayed, completely engulfing their figures.
The footsteps gradually approached, accompanied by the woman's cute laughter.
"...It's all your fault. You insisted that this place was beautiful and quiet, but there's not even a ghost here. It's so boring!"
"Oh, dear sister, am I wrong? Who knew Princess Anyang's garden was so big? I got lost while walking... Eh? There seems to be a sound up ahead?"
"There's no sound at all, just the wind blowing through the bamboo! Let's go! I don't want to be left without a way back when the banquet starts. That would be so embarrassing..."
In the narrow space, Shen Zhiwei was almost completely shrouded in the shadow of Xiao Wangqing. His chest was pressed against her back, and through several layers of clothing, she could clearly feel his rapid and hot heartbeat, as well as the heavy breathing suppressed by the pain.
Xiao Wangqing's body was as tense as a fully drawn bow, and every muscle was in a state of extreme tension.
In order to steady his body, he had to wrap his arms around her sides, his palms clenched into fists, veins bulging on the backs of his hands, trying his best to avoid actually touching her.
The distance is too close.
She was so close that she could count the tiny beads of sweat on his eyelashes, see the pale blue veins under his pale skin, and feel the subtle vibrations caused by his chest every time it rose and fell with difficulty.
Shen Zhiwei tilted her head slightly, and placed her fingertips on his tense waist to steady his shaky body.
The laughter outside gradually faded away.
The bamboo forest returned to silence, leaving only the rustling sound of leaves in the wind and the clear, uneven breathing between the two people.
Shen Zhiwei was just about to breathe a sigh of relief and try to widen the overly ambiguous distance between them, but Xiao Wangqing seemed to have used up his last bit of strength. The arm that was supporting her ear suddenly softened, and his entire weight pressed down on her.
She was caught off guard and stumbled backwards, her back hitting the bamboo bush behind her with a dull thud. A few bamboo leaves rustled down.
Xiao Wangqing's head drooped weakly, his forehead resting on her shoulder, his inky hair brushing across her jaw, bringing a cool and itchy feeling.
He seemed to have fainted completely, or perhaps he was just in so much pain that he lost consciousness, his brows furrowed.
Shen Zhiwei was pinned down by him and couldn't move. She tried to push his shoulder, but felt something hot and sticky, and blood was still seeping out.
There is no time to delay.
She gritted her teeth, adjusted her posture with difficulty, put his arm back on her shoulder, and half-dragged and half-hugged him, helping him move towards the northwest gate.
The journey was extremely difficult. Xiao Wangqing, who was much taller than she was, was completely unconscious and slumped. She had to stop and start, leaning against trees or rockery along the way to catch her breath, and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.
The northwest gate was indeed as Xiao Wangqing said, rather secluded, and the gatekeeper had been sent away somewhere, leaving the door ajar.
Shen Zhiwei pushed open the heavy wooden door with great effort and helped Xiao Wangqing out. Outside the door was a narrow back alley, where a nondescript green-covered cart was parked. A driver wearing a bamboo hat sat on the shaft, dozing with his head lowered.
Hearing the noise, the driver woke up immediately. He looked up and saw them like this. His face suddenly changed. He hurriedly jumped off the shaft and came forward, lowering his voice: "Your Highness!"
Shen Zhiwei unloaded the entire weight of Xiao Wangqing onto the coachman. The coachman was sturdy and his movements were extremely steady. Without saying a word, he held the unconscious Third Prince and swiftly carried him into the carriage.
Shen Zhiwei stood outside the car, watching the curtain fall, isolating herself from the scene inside. The blood stains on her sleeves had darkened, and her fingertips still felt sticky.
From inside the carriage came Xiao Wangqing's suppressed cough and the driver's low voice.
She looked for a while, prepared to pretend that nothing had happened today, and turned to leave.
However, just as she turned around, the curtain was suddenly lifted by a pale hand.
The curtain of the carriage was suddenly lifted, and Xiao Wangqing was half leaning against the wall of the carriage. His face was even more pale than when he was in the bamboo forest, with no trace of blood on his lips. His breathing was rapid and shallow, his chest was heaving violently, but his eyes were terrifyingly bright.
"Girl..." he began, his voice hoarse, "What's your name?"
Shen Zhiwei paused slightly and turned back to look inside the car.
She knew Xiao Wangqing's temperament; it had been like this in his previous life, clear about gratitude and grudges, and vindictive. Today, regardless of the reason for her assistance, he would definitely remember this favor. With his current power weakened, the reward might not be immediate, but it would certainly be substantial.
"Your servant, Chen Anyu." Thinking of this, she spoke in a steady voice and clearly, and announced the name of her younger sister.
He might check, but it is more likely that he will keep this favor in mind, and then repay An Yu double in a silent way, and never let her get into trouble.
As for Xiao Lingjun... her actions today were secretive, so no one should notice. Even if Xiao Wangqing discovered her relationship with An Yu in the future, given his character, he would never put An Yu in danger, nor would he take the initiative to break the window paper and arouse the Crown Prince's suspicion.
There are only benefits and no harm.
It was very much like a stray dog she once fed. When she gave it a bite of food in winter, it would follow her silently for half the street, without barking or making any noise, just looking at her from afar.
Later, she fell ill and did not go out for a few days. When she went out again, she found that a pile of firewood was piled up at the gate of the yard every day.
Silent, loyal, and worry-free.
"Chen...An Yu..." The Third Prince, unaware that he was compared to a dog in his benefactor's heart, repeated in a low voice.
Violent coughing and wheezing interrupted his words. He had to let go of the curtain and pressed the new wound on his abdomen with his hands. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead and his face turned frighteningly pale.
Seeing this, the coachman anxiously called out "Your Highness" and wanted to go forward.
However, Xiao Wangqing suddenly raised his hand to stop him, took a deep breath, suppressed the fishy sweetness in his throat, and looked at Shen Zhiwei again.
"What happened today," he said each word with great difficulty, pausing every few words to catch his breath, "Thank you, Miss Shen. I have offended you in the forest... I will repay you one day."
"Your Highness, you are too kind. It's just a small favor, don't worry about it. Your injury is serious, please return home for treatment as soon as possible." Shen Zhiwei nodded slightly, said no more, and turned to leave.
When Shen Zhiwei returned to the flower-viewing banquet, the party was in full swing.
Princess Anyang had returned from the other side of the river, a decent smile on her face again. She was playing pitching pots with several young ladies from the royal family. The silver arrows hit the copper pots, making a tinkling sound, which drew bursts of laughter and cheers.
The disturbance just now seemed to have been blown away by the beautiful and fragrant breeze. No one mentioned it again, and no one dared to mention it again.
She blended silently into the crowd and found an inconspicuous corner to sit down. The maid brought her warm tea again, and she picked it up, slowly warming her fingertips through the slightly hot porcelain wall.
The dark red bloodstain on her cuff had been carefully wiped clean by her with a handkerchief dipped in tea, leaving only a very faint circle of water marks.
His eyes swept across the noisy banquet and soon found Shen Anyu.
The little girl was playing backgammon with someone. Her eyes were full of joy and when she rolled the dice, her wrist made a series of crisp sounds. When she lost, she stamped her feet and sulked. When she won, she clapped her hands and laughed, with dimples on her cheeks.
Shen Zhiwei watched quietly for a moment, feeling a little relieved.
The banquet ended and the guests gradually dispersed.
Chen Anyu had a blast, her little face flushed as she ran to find her. Holding her arm, she chattered non-stop about which shop had the sweetest pastries and who lost the most at tossing pots. Finally, she lowered her voice and said with a hint of mystery, "Sister, just now, the eunuch beside His Royal Highness the Crown Prince came over and quietly slipped this to me!"
She opened her palm, revealing a small and exquisite gold-thread purse embroidered with delicate cloud patterns, bulging and exuding a sweet fragrance.
"He said that these are candied plums given by His Highness as a gift, newly made in the palace, and he asked me to bring them back and eat them slowly." Her eyes sparkled, filled with the joy of having obtained a treasure.
Shen Zhiwei's gaze lingered on the purse for a moment. The gold thread was dense and the pattern was the standard used in the Eastern Palace. Xiao Lingjun was accustomed to using these meticulous techniques to bestow favors without being seen, which was the most effective way to win people's hearts.
She raised her hand and straightened her sister's loosened bun, saying softly, "Your Highness is so kind, you must remember to thank him. However, eating too much candy will damage your teeth, so just one or two a day will be enough."
"I know!" Chen Anyu nodded vigorously, put the purse away like a treasure, and then talked about the trivial matters in the palace, saying how kindly the Queen treated her and how caring the Crown Prince was. She looked innocent and naive, as if she knew nothing about the world and was very much loved.
Shen Zhiwei listened quietly, his eyes fixed on his sister's carefree smile, and the ripples in his heart caused by the encounter in the bamboo forest gradually subsided.
She reached out, her fingertips brushing against a slightly tilted pearl on Chen An's temple, carefully pinning it in the right place. Her movements were gentle, cherishing it with all her heart.
"Is everything going well in the palace?" she asked casually, her voice even slower. "Is anyone giving An Yu any trouble?"
Shen Anyu was speaking excitedly, and when she heard this, she blinked and took her arm, shaking it coquettishly: "No! It's great in the palace. The queen treats me very well, and the prince often sends me new and interesting things. The palace maids and nannies dare not neglect me!"
She paused, as if thinking of something, and lowered her voice a little: "It's just... sometimes I feel bored, and there are too many rules. I can't run around like I do at home..."
She quickly put on a smile again: "But I'm very happy to see my sister often!"
The setting sun stretched the departing guests into elongated figures. Princess Anyang personally escorted them to the second gate, smiling and speaking warmly, attentive and proper. Shen Zhiwei and An Yu slowly emerged with the crowd, boarding the small, green-curtained carriage they had come in from.
Inside the carriage, An Yu was still immersed in the aftermath of the banquet, clutching the gold-thread purse and chattering away. Shen Zhiwei leaned against the wall, nodding occasionally and joining in a few words, pouring a cup of hot tea for the thirsty little girl.
When the carriage returned to the Lin Mansion, it was already dusk.
A maid was waiting there. When they got off the car, she hurried over to greet them. An Yu reluctantly pulled Shen Zhiwei's sleeve and said, "Sister, can I come to play with you in a few days? There are so many rules in the palace, it's very boring."
"Come whenever you want," Shen Zhiwei tidied up the messy pearl flowers on her temples, "but you need to report back to the Empress first, don't be willful."
"I understand, sister. Don't always treat me like a child." Chen Anyu turned around in front of her and responded with a smile. After that, he clung to her and wanted to be hugged. After a long time, he was satisfied and left with the nanny who came to take him away.
Shen Zhiwei watched her figure disappear behind the hanging flower gate before turning around and walking towards his secluded courtyard.
The courtyard was as quiet as ever, with only a solitary lamp hanging under the corridor, casting a dim glow in the deepening twilight.
She pushed the door open and walked in. The floor heating in the room was warm and the air was filled with a very delicate plum fragrance, which was slightly different from the incense she usually used.
His eyes swept across the soft couch by the window, and he saw that a plate of freshly made snacks had appeared on the small table in the middle of the couch.
These were not the usual sweet cakes and pastries served at banquets, but some exquisitely made savory snacks. The crust was golden brown, and you could vaguely see the ham and mushrooms wrapped inside, which made one's mouth water at the sight.
Next to the plate was a plain white porcelain cup with its lid slightly lifted, emitting steam and the aroma of the sweet lily and lotus seed soup.
Shen Zhiwei paused slightly.
The maid quietly stepped forward and whispered, "Miss, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince sent it over at noon. He said... he saw that you haven't had a good appetite lately, so he asked the kitchen to try making some new snacks to change your taste."
Shen Zhiwei walked to the edge of the couch and sat down, his fingertips brushing the edge of the still warm porcelain cup.
The soup in the bowl was the perfect temperature, light and sweet without being greasy, and the pastries were crispy and salty, all perfectly suited to her taste. She preferred a light palate, not overly sweet, and these subtle preferences would go unnoticed by ordinary people.
But Xiao Lingjun remembered.
After his rebirth, he still treated her with the same meticulousness, but this kindness was accompanied by a bit of cautious compensation.
She picked up the silver chopsticks, picked up a piece of ham puff pastry, and put it into her mouth. The puff pastry crumbled between her teeth, with just the right amount of salty and fragrant.
After finishing her snack, the bottom of the cup was still warm. She stood up to call for hot water for a bath, but found a bathtub already prepared behind the screen. A few dried white plum petals floated on the water, and the water was steaming and the temperature was just right.
Everything was arranged silently without her having to speak a word.
She took off her clothes and immersed herself in the warm water. The cool fragrance of white plum blossoms evaporated with the water vapor, soothing her nerves that had been tense all day.
She closed her eyes, and in front of her were the pair of dark eyes that hid the pain in the bamboo forest, Xiao Lingjun's gentle but unfathomable gaze at the banquet, and An Yu's unclouded smile.
There was a soft sound of water, and she scooped up a handful of water and splashed it on her face.
Drops of water slid down her cheeks, dripped into the water, and created ripples.
No matter what the future holds, at least at this moment, this warm world and this lamp that is lit for her are real and soothing.
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The author has something to say: Shen Zhiwei sometimes feels that Xiao Wangqing is like a field dog
Loyal and reliable, able to protect the house, not overly clingy
Work harder when praised
This thought deepened when she looked up from her desk and met the king's silent and straightforward gaze.
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Clean up the plot and prepare to fight with my brothers [shy]
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