Chapter 145 Warmth for You
Shen Cong looked Li Nanke up and down.
The little girl had just wiped her face, but there was still a speck of dust on her chin.
Her double buns had all come loose, and the hair ribbons on her head were gone. Her round little face was a bit pale, and her eyes were red. She looked both disheveled and weak.
A pair of bright, grape-like eyes stared at her expectantly; anyone who saw them would probably find it hard to refuse.
But Chen Cong is no one.
He curled the corners of his lips into a smile and coldly refused.
"cannot."
Li Nanke showed no disappointment, thinking to himself that he hadn't expected him to carry him on his back anyway.
Given Shen Cong's frail body, he probably wouldn't be able to carry her at all, and would even cough up blood.
She blinked and continued to gaze at him expectantly.
"Then... can I hold your hand and walk with you? Please, I really don't have the strength."
She pointed to the silver-gray cloak on Shen Cong's body and said timidly, "I'll just hold onto the cloak."
If it gets dirty, I can wash it for you.
Shen Cong remained silent for a long time before turning and walking forward.
Li Nanke's eyes lit up.
Silence means consent!
He immediately stepped forward, grabbed Shen Cong's cloak, and followed closely beside him.
Shen Cong lowered his eyes, looking at her fluffy head and fair face, and silently curled the corners of his mouth.
He asked softly, "What happened between you and Zhao Ning? Why did she order the Imperial Guards to abandon you?"
Li Nanke suddenly looked up, her round eyes filled with surprise.
"You saw it?"
Shen Cong shrugged slightly.
"I'm just guessing. Given Zhao Ning's personality, it's not surprising. I'm very curious about what you did."
The voice was calm, without any accusation.
Li Nanke felt a warmth in his heart and couldn't help but recount what happened after he fell into the water.
"...I was the one who saved her, yet she repays kindness with enmity and wants me to be her study companion?"
I was furious and retorted a couple of times, and she ordered the Imperial Guards to abandon me. It's really... If I had known this would happen, I shouldn't have been so kind.
I should have let her drown, I should have let her be bitten by a water snake, I should have let her freeze to death in these woods, I should have let her starve to death!
Li Nanke was furious and started babbling on and on.
After she finished speaking, she realized that Princess Zhaoning was Shen Cong's niece. Her face changed, and she looked at Shen Cong with a wrinkled expression.
Oh no, Shen Cong is probably going to yell at her again this time!
She puffed out her cheeks, bracing herself for a scolding.
However, the expected criticism did not come; instead, a hand appeared above my head.
The hand gently patted her head, followed by a soft laugh.
"Li Nanke, you saved yourself without suffering any loss. You did a great job today!"
Li Nanke...
She looked at Shen Cong with a puzzled expression.
"You...you don't think I bullied Princess Zhaoning? Aren't you going to scold me?"
Shen Cong raised an eyebrow.
"What did I say to you? Do you think you did something wrong?"
Li Nanke quickly shook his head and said loudly, "Of course not!"
For some reason, her nose tingled, and a warm, moist feeling welled up in her eyes.
She didn't cry when she fell into the water; she just tried her best to get ashore.
She didn't cry when she was hungry, tired, and cold; she just tried her best to start a fire and find food.
When Princess Zhaoning abandoned her, and when Xie Xuanxiao hinted that she should apologize to Zhaoning, she didn't cry; she just tried her best to get out of it.
Even though Shen Cong didn't say anything, she inexplicably felt a pang of sadness in her heart and couldn't help but shed tears.
"What? You like getting scolded by me even if you don't get scolded? You're crying because you're disappointed at not getting scolded?"
Shen Cong hummed softly.
"No, that's not true!"
Li Nanke glared at him embarrassedly and wiped away her tears haphazardly with her sleeve.
Does this guy not know how to speak unless he's being sarcastic?
Just then, a gust of cold wind blew by, making her shiver and sneeze loudly a few times.
Shen Cong frowned and reached out to pull the cloak from her hands.
Li Nanke blinked.
"Don't be so stingy... I promise I'll wash your cloak clean."
The next moment, Shen Cong opened his cloak and wrapped her inside.
A warm feeling instantly enveloped me, making me feel cozy from my legs to my back.
Li Nanke felt a warmth in her heart and couldn't help but give Shen Cong a bright smile.
"I knew Your Highness was a good person!"
As she spoke, her little arm naturally climbed onto Chen Cong's arm.
Shen Cong stiffened and looked down at him.
Li Nanke grinned, revealing two small dimples.
"I can also wash your clothes for Your Highness, and look how cold your arms are, I can warm them up for you."
My mother says I'm a little heater; I can warm your arms up in no time.
As she spoke, she hugged him even tighter, as if afraid that Chen Cong would throw her off at any moment.
Shen Cong stared at her for a long time, then lowered his eyes and continued walking forward expressionlessly.
Li Nanke immediately followed, smiling like a triumphant kitten.
They hadn't gone far when a burst of light appeared ahead.
"Your Highness."
Erfeng led a group of people, holding torches, and walked towards them.
Li Nanke spotted Tao Mama and the servants of the Marquis's mansion at a glance.
She quickly peeked her little head out from under the cloak and called out, "Aunt Tao, I'm here."
When Tao's mother saw her, she stumbled and rushed over.
Li Nanke released Chen Cong and emerged from under the cloak.
Tao's mother hugged her tightly and wept uncontrollably.
"It's so good that you're alright, Miss. The young master's wife was almost frantic with worry. Let's go back."
As she spoke, she took the outer garment she had brought from a servant, put it on Li Nanke, and then, without needing anyone else, bent down and carried Li Nanke on her back.
"Madam Tao, why don't you have the servant carry it?"
Li Nanke was worried that Tao's mother wouldn't be able to handle it.
Erfeng stepped forward and said with a smile, "Aunt Tao, how about I carry Miss Ke'er on my back?"
Tao's mother was very firm in her stance.
The girl is already eight years old, and it's not appropriate for anyone else to carry her.
Tao's mother gently lifted her up a little.
"Don't worry, Miss, I can carry you. If you get tired, just lie on my back and rest."
Li Nanke felt a warmth in his heart, gently hummed in agreement, and leaned against her back.
Tao's mother turned her head and bowed slightly to Shen Cong.
"Thank you very much for today, Your Highness. I will go back and report to the young master and his wife, and the Marquis's residence will come to express our gratitude again."
Shen Cong nodded, watching as Tao's mother carried Li Nanke away into the distance.
He gently touched his right arm, where the warmth from the little girl still lingered.
Yes, my arms did feel a bit warmer.
On the other side.
Xie Xuanxiao and Princess Zhaoning have returned to the soup kitchen.
Several tents had been temporarily set up by the Imperial Guards, and Empress Xue was naturally in the largest tent.
Upon seeing her daughter return safely, Empress Xue embraced Princess Zhaoning tightly and wept bitterly.
"Thank God you're finally back safe and sound. Your mother was terrified of you, you know that?"
"Your mother has already lost your elder brother, the Emperor. If something were to happen to you as well, how could she possibly live?"
Princess Zhaoning, remembering the grievances she had suffered that afternoon, nestled in Empress Xue's arms and burst into tears.
It wasn't until Lady Xue came over to persuade her, "Your Majesty, the imperial physician is already outside the tent. Let him examine the princess first."
Empress Xue then stopped crying and, while having the imperial physician examine her pulse, pressed Princess Zhaoning for answers.
"Tell your mother, was it Li Nanke who pushed you into the water?"
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