turn up
Chunhua said, "Master, what the madam said makes a lot of sense. Shouldn't you test the prince's sincerity?"
Upon hearing that Chunhua sided with her mother and also doubted Shangguan Zeyu's feelings for her, Xiao Yiqing immediately flew into a rage.
"Why are you, a mere servant, meddling in other people's business?"
"This servant deserves to die a thousand deaths. Please forgive me, Master." Chunhua quickly knelt on the ground.
But Xiao Yiqing was already pondering her earlier suggestion: should she really test Shangguan Zeyu's sincerity towards her?
If Shangguan Zeyu wasn't truly sincere towards her... ...No way!
Shangguan Zeyu was so tolerant of her, protected her, and loved her; how could he not be sincere towards her?
Let's give it a try!
After they tried, they dared not say he treated her badly or lied to her anymore!
Xiao Yiqing sent Chunhua away and lay down on the soft couch to rest.
Just as she was drifting off to sleep, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
"who?!"
Xiao Yiqing sat up in shock, only to find Shangguan Zeyu standing in front of her, clutching his right shoulder in pain.
"Your Highness, are you injured?" Xiao Yiqing didn't even bother to put on her shoes. She got off the bed and rushed to Shangguan Zeyu's side, helping him sit down at a round table.
"Your Highness, who injured you? I'll order them killed right now!!!"
As Xiao Yiqing spoke, she was about to call for help.
"No! Don't make a sound."
"But Your Highness... your wound is bleeding..."
Bright red blood kept flowing from the wound, soaking through his clothes on his chest.
Shangguan Zeyu gave her a weak smile, but still tried to entice her: "It's alright, I have something to say to the princess."
"Your Highness, please speak." Xiao Yiqing was very worried about Shangguan Zeyu, but she didn't know what to do. She was as anxious as an ant on a fire, and kept looking at him.
Shangguan Zeyu smiled slightly again: "I shouldn't have come to the Prime Minister's residence today!"
Xiao Yiqing's eyes widened in surprise: "Why?"
Shangguan Zeyu smiled bitterly: "I encountered assassins and was injured as soon as I arrived at the Prime Minister's residence. Should I not have come here?"
"Assassins? How dare they!! I will order my men to capture them immediately! They must be torn to pieces to avenge Your Highness!!!"
But Shangguan Zeyu suddenly reached out his left hand and grabbed her, which aggravated the injury on his right shoulder, causing him to cry out in pain.
"Your Highness, whatever you wish to say or do, I will obey!" Xiao Yiqing was terrified and dared not act rashly.
Shangguan Zeyu gave her a weak and poignant smile.
"Your Highness, today's events must be kept secret. No one must know about them."
"Your Highness! There were assassins in the Prime Minister's residence who even injured you. How can I pretend nothing happened?"
Shangguan Zeyu, his left hand trembling, grabbed her right hand and said with self-reproach.
"Your Highness, I don't want the news of the assassination attempt on me as soon as I arrived at the Prime Minister's residence to get out! I don't want my father-in-law, the Prime Minister, to be criticized for not protecting me and then blame you, Your Highness!"
When Xiao Yiqing heard that Shangguan Zeyu was doing this because he was worried that she would be scolded by her father, her heart warmed like the winter sun, and she unconsciously spoke more gently than before.
"Your Highness, thank you for your concern. I will do as Your Highness says."
No sooner had they finished speaking than a series of hurried, orderly, and loud footsteps approached from afar and stopped outside their door.
Xiao Yiqing's face immediately darkened.
Shangguan Zeyu's face also showed a hint of panic.
"Your Highness, I apologize for disturbing you. Your Highness, have you seen any injured thieves passing by?"
"What thief or not? Where do you think this is?"
"Your Highness, please forgive me. If I may be so bold as to ask again, is the Prince with Your Highness?"
Xiao Yiqing glanced gently at Shangguan Zeyu, who was also looking at her with the same gentle gaze, and then snapped at the door with a hint of annoyance.
"How dare you!!! Whether I am with the Prince or not is my business, what does it have to do with you?!"
"Your Highness, please forgive me. I was just worried that you might be frightened, so I spoke out of turn. I have disturbed Your Highness's rest."
After saying that, the sound of neat and loud footsteps disappeared from in front of the house in an instant.
Xiao Yiqing looked at Shangguan Zeyu's still bleeding right shoulder with a mixture of worry and fear, and asked.
"Your Highness, your wound is still bleeding. If you don't treat it quickly, it may harm your health."
"It's nothing." Shangguan Zeyu looked down at his right shoulder. "Zhang Qin will be here soon. He will bring the medicine."
Xiao Yiqing pondered for a moment, then asked curiously.
"Your Highness, what exactly has happened?"
Shangguan Zeyu's expression gradually turned serious: "I am also very curious! I originally planned to visit the Princess, but on the way, I was slashed by a man in black who suddenly appeared out of nowhere. I followed him all the way to the vicinity but lost him. I heard from my maid that you were staying here, so I came to see if you were alright."
When Xiao Yiqing heard Shangguan Zeyu say that he was doing this for her, she felt incredibly sweet inside, as if she had eaten honey.
"Your Highness, it's all my fault. If I had been more proactive, more considerate, and cared more about you, you wouldn't have suffered this innocent injury just because you came to visit me. Your Highness, I feel so guilty, and my heart aches so much."
Xiao Yiqing's sadness and self-blame came from the bottom of her heart. As she spoke, she tightly grasped Shangguan Zeyu's empty right hand with both hands, and her eyes were red.
But Shangguan Zeyu simply said in a light and indifferent tone, "It's alright."
Less than fifteen minutes later, Zhang Qin arrived in a great hurry.
His face was grave, but his eyes held excitement, indicating that their operation had been successful.
Zhang Qin didn't say anything, but gave Shangguan Zeyu a very affirmative look, then silently treated Shangguan Zeyu's wound and left.
Xiao Yiqing originally wanted to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to chat with Shangguan Zeyu and deepen their relationship, but not long after Zhang Qin left, her mother sent someone to call her to the front hall.
She was very impatient and unhappy; she didn't want to go at all.
"Why do we have to go? What time is it? Can't we talk about it tomorrow?"
The maid who came to invite her to the front hall told her that her father's library had been broken into and things had been stolen, so her mother had asked her to go to the front hall to help.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yiqing realized that no matter how unwilling she was, she had no choice but to go.
She sent her maid back to report, while she bid a reluctant farewell to Shangguan Zeyu.
"Your Highness, my mother has something to discuss with me, so I cannot serve you here. Please do not blame me, Your Highness."
"My mother-in-law must have summoned the princess so urgently because of something important. I am not so petty. Princess, please go in peace."
After saying this, he looked somewhat uneasy and ashamed.
"In principle, I should go and help, but..." He looked helplessly at his injured right shoulder, "In that case, I really can't go. Going would only make my mother-in-law worry."
Seeing how considerate and filial he was, Xiao Yiqing was incredibly moved.
"Your Highness, Mother won't blame you. Please rest here."
After Xiao Yiqing finished speaking, she prepared to go to the front hall, but Shangguan Zeyu suddenly grabbed her right hand with his left hand.
"Your Highness, you must keep the promise you made to me a secret!" His eyes were slightly narrowed, and a pure, refreshing smile played on his lips.
"Your Highness, rest assured, I will definitely keep my promise to you."
Xiao Yiqing and Shangguan Zeyu gazed at each other for a while, her heart pounding like a deer, before she shyly left.
She had just stepped out of her room and out of the courtyard when Zhang Qin emerged from the darkness and quietly entered her room.
"Your Highness, this is the record book I obtained." Zhang Qin walked to Shangguan Zeyu's side, lowered his voice, and whispered in his left ear.
Shangguan Zeyu took the black leather book, as thin as a thousand-layer cake, into his hands, casually flipped it open, and his eyes flashed with an unusual light.
"With this, let's see what they have to say!"
He then handed the notebook to Zhang Qin, saying, "Keep it safe and head back to the manor early tomorrow morning."
"Yes, Your Highness."
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