early morning.
As dawn broke, the warm sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices, scattering across the emerald green curtains adorned with fallen hibiscus blossoms.
“Usually, the girls think makeup is too heavy and prefer a simple and elegant style, but today they’ve dressed up in their finest. Women dress up for those they love, that’s so true!” Lingqi teased.
Tianyun sat leisurely in front of the dressing table, letting her hair down. Her long, dark hair, reaching her waist, flowed down smoothly like silk, and a delicate fragrance slowly filled the room.
Her cherry lips were glistening with rosy honey, and her crescent-shaped eyebrows, drawn with fine black ink, were slightly curved. It would not be an exaggeration to say that she was stunningly beautiful!
Her beauty was so stunning that even Lingqi, who was also a woman, couldn't help but look infatuated.
"I wish I had been born a man..."
Tianyun chuckled softly and scolded, "You're such a chatterbox."
A blush slowly crept onto her cheeks, and she said shyly, "Who said I dressed up for His Highness the Third Prince?"
After speaking, she looked at herself in the mirror and realized her makeup was indeed a bit heavy. She wiped off the original bright red lipstick, her gaze lingering on a pile of lipstick boxes for a long time before finally choosing a fresh and playful honey orange. Then, she worriedly wondered, "Does my outfit look cumbersome? Will it make me look bulky?"
Unexpectedly, this was exactly what Lingqi wanted. She feigned surprise and opened her mouth wide: "This servant has not mentioned the Third Prince at all from beginning to end. How come you admitted it yourself, Miss?"
This strange appearance made Tianyun feel embarrassed and annoyed.
What a naughty little girl! She's even learned to set traps for herself!
Feeling a little embarrassed, Lingqi had only said "A woman dresses up for the man she loves," so how did she end up imagining Xiao Ziwu in that context? Could it be that she had really fallen for him?
Her heart skipped a beat, and she dared not think any further. She tried to cover up her misunderstanding by changing the subject: "Why don't you add some warm water to the fish tank? It will take some time to get to the palace. Don't let the little koi get cold."
"yes."
——
"Master, may I rest for a day?" Xiao Ziwu was dressed in a neat and easy-to-move black travel suit, and his light gray pupils revealed a distant and unapproachable air.
The swordsman, who usually practiced relentlessly without fail, asked to take a break today. Why was that? Duan Ximu asked curiously, "Where are you going?"
Seemingly finding it difficult to speak, Xiao Ziwu paused, his pale, almost translucent ears turning a light red. He said somewhat awkwardly, "The sandalwood trees in Hanshan Garden outside the city are growing very well. I'll go and fetch some."
Rosewood is reddish-purple with hints of red, giving it a jade-like appearance and making it a rare and precious wood.
"What does Your Highness need sandalwood for?" Chang Lai asked casually as he served tea. It's better that His Highness is gone, so he won't have to see me paying respects to Consort Li and adding to his sorrow.
Xiao Ziwu tucked the dagger into his boot and said no more: "I have other uses for it."
Duan Ximu smiled faintly and remained silent, as if he had seen through the situation. Rosewood is incomparably precious, and giving it as a gift wouldn't be beneath his dignity. His decision to take a break from martial arts practice to chop wood—his little scheme was blatantly obvious!
He was gone for half a day.
When he returned to the palace, his boots and trousers were stained with mud, and his brows were furrowed tightly; he had been enduring this for a long time. As soon as he got back to the palace, he went straight to bathe and change.
As Xiao Ziwu stepped out from behind the floating cloud wooden screen, the corner of his robe was grabbed forcefully by Chang Wang, who pounced on his feet, causing his knee to slam into the solid floor tiles with a dull thud!
Why are you kneeling so forcefully for no reason? Xiao Ziwu said in a deep voice, "Get up and speak."
Changwang shook his head desperately, crying with tears streaming down his face: "Your Highness, please save Changlai! He was detained in the palace by the Second Prince and beaten with thirty strokes of the cane. He is now unconscious in the side hall. If it gets any later, his life may be in danger!"
His expression suddenly turned cold: "What's going on?"
Changwang choked up and said, "Today is His Highness's birthday. I prepared paper money and incense early in the morning, wanting to secretly pay tribute to the late Consort Li on His Highness's behalf. I had just set up the sacrificial bell when the Second Prince heard the news and rushed over. He took me away on the grounds that it was a great disrespect to His Majesty to pay tribute to a sinner in the palace without permission. I was given thirty lashes before being thrown back!"
The cane was as thick as an adult man's arm. One strike could make someone cough up blood and have their skin torn open. Thirty strikes would take away half a life!
Now he lies in the side hall, his fate unknown!
"Go and fetch the imperial physician first." Xiao Ziwu frowned and pulled him up from the ground.
Upon hearing this, Changwang cried even louder: "This servant has been to the Imperial Hospital several times, only to be told by a kind-hearted apprentice that the Second Prince has declared that anyone who dares to come and treat him will be punished as an accomplice! The imperial physicians have all fallen silent, and not a single one has dared to come with this servant!"
A strand of hair fell loosely, obscuring the sharpness in his dark eyes. Without a word, Xiao Ziwu picked up his longsword and walked out.
Although he remained expressionless, Chang Wang was startled to realize that something was terribly wrong and quickly stopped crying to dissuade him.
"Your Highness, please don't act rashly!"
He walked out with his sword in hand, and Tianyun came in carrying a koi fish. The two bumped into each other.
Tianyun blinked her almond-shaped eyes, looking at him with a questioning gaze: "Where is Your Highness going?"
They looked menacing.
Seeing her was like seeing a savior, and she said excitedly, "Miss, please persuade His Highness! His Highness is going to massacre the Imperial Hospital!"
Xiao Ziwu's temple throbbed violently. He sheathed his sword, lowered his eyes, and hissed, "Shut up." Then he turned to look at the girl, a hint of vulnerability and helplessness hidden deep within his usually cold and aloof phoenix eyes. He asked, "Chang Lai is injured. Can you go and see her?"
She knows how to make medicine, so she should also know how to treat injuries, right?
Tianyun looked at the composed young man before him, then glanced up and saw his large, damp hands, his palms covered in cold sweat. It was clear that he was not as calm as he appeared, and was probably extremely worried about the little eunuch who had grown up with him.
He's just a boy who's good at keeping his emotions inside.
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