Xin Rui and Qin Sang had already begun searching for Qin's father's whereabouts. Qin Sang carefully observed the traces of vegetation, her expression focused. Xin Rui followed beside her, occasionally clearing away thorns for her, his movements clumsy but meticulous.
"Here..." Qin suddenly squatted down and picked up a piece of torn fabric. "It's my father's clothes!"
Xin Rui quickly leaned over to take a look: "Judging from these marks, it looks like it was torn by something... and went this way!"
The two followed the trail, with Xiao Chengyu and Qi Mingxuan also joining them. The deeper they went into the mountains, the more difficult the path became. Qi Mingxuan naturally reached out to support Xiao Chengyu, saying, "Your Highness, please be careful."
His palm was warm and strong. Xiao Chengyu trembled slightly, but did not break free.
Suddenly, Xin Rui's exclamation came from ahead. The two rushed over and saw Xin Rui supporting an unconscious old man at the bottom of a steep slope, with Qin Sang kneeling beside him, tears streaming down her face.
"We've found Mr. Qin!" Xin Rui exclaimed, looking up. "He fell and sprained his leg; he's passed out!"
Qi Mingxuan immediately stepped forward to check the injury: "The leg bone is broken and needs immediate treatment." He tore off a piece of his shirt and skillfully immobilized the injured man's leg. His movements were so practiced that he was clearly knowledgeable in medicine.
Qin Sang looked at him gratefully: "Thank you very much, Young Master Qi..."
"Let's not talk about that now," Qi Mingxuan said calmly. "We need to get him back for treatment as soon as possible. Cousin Rui, you carry the old man on your back, and I'll protect him from the side. Miss Qin, please lead the way."
Everything was arranged perfectly. Xin Rui carried Qin's father on his back, Qi Mingxuan supported him from the side, Qin Sang cleared obstacles in front, and Xiao Chengyu followed behind to take care of him.
The path downhill was slippery, and when they reached a steep slope, Xin Rui stumbled and nearly fell. Qi Mingxuan rushed to help her, but was pulled astray by the fall—
"Watch out!" Xiao Chengyu instinctively reached out to pull him back, but was pulled forward by the inertia!
In a flash, Qi Mingxuan turned around abruptly and held her tightly in his arms, but his back slammed heavily against a tree!
"Cousin Mingxuan!" Xiao Chengyu looked up in alarm, only to see that his face was pale, but he still forced a smile to comfort her: "I'm fine... Is Your Highness injured?"
His warm breath brushed against her forehead, and the two were so close that she could see her own reflection in his eyes. Xiao Chengyu's heart suddenly began to pound wildly.
"I...I'm fine..." She hurriedly tried to back away, but was held even tighter.
"Don't move," Qi Mingxuan said in a low, hoarse voice. "There's a snake."
Xiao Chengyu followed his gaze and saw a green snake slither past, causing him to gasp in shock.
Once the snake had gone far away, Qi Mingxuan released his grip, his expression returning to normal: "I'm sorry Your Highness was frightened."
Xiao Chengyu lowered his head, his ears burning: "Thank you, cousin..."
Xin Rui, who was in front, turned around upon hearing the sound: "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," Qi Mingxuan said calmly. "Getting down the mountain quickly is the priority."
The group finally returned safely to the villa at the foot of the mountain. The imperial physician was already waiting and hurriedly treated Qin's father.
While waiting, Xiao Chengyu noticed that Qi Mingxuan looked unwell and quietly asked, "Cousin, were you injured just now?"
Qi Mingxuan smiled: "It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."
"Let me see." Without waiting for a reply, Xiao Chengyu went around behind him and saw bloodstains seeping through the moon-white robe.
Without a word, she pulled him into a side hall and ordered someone to bring him medicine: "Turn around, let me see."
Qi Mingxuan wanted to refuse, but seeing her insistent expression, he had no choice but to turn around as she said. Xiao Chengyu gently lifted the back of his shirt and saw a deep purple bruise running across his back, with bloodstains where it had been scraped.
Her heart tightened, and her hands softened involuntarily as she carefully washed and applied the medicine. Her fingertips touched his warm skin, and she could feel the taut muscles beneath.
"Your Highness..." Qi Mingxuan suddenly called out to her softly.
"Um?"
"May I... ask Your Highness a question?"
Xiao Chengyu continued working, "Cousin, may I ask?"
“That painting…” he said in a low voice, “Does Your Highness… dislike it?”
Xiao Chengyu paused. After a long while, he said softly, "It's not that I dislike it... I just don't understand."
"What don't you understand?"
"I don't understand why my cousin...why he treats me so well." Her voice trailed off. "And why did he paint those kinds of pictures..."
Qi Mingxuan was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I treat Your Highness well because Your Highness deserves it. As for that painting..." He smiled bitterly, "It was my overstepping my bounds. It was just that when I saw Your Highness laughing among the flowers that day, I suddenly felt that if I could preserve that moment forever, how wonderful that would be."
Xiao Chengyu was shocked and speechless for a moment.
After the medicine was applied, she straightened his clothes, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against the side of his neck. Qi Mingxuan trembled slightly, then suddenly grasped her hand.
"Yu'er..." He called her that for the first time, his voice hoarse, "Do you really not understand my feelings?"
Xiao Chengyu looked up and met his deep eyes. The emotions in them were so intense that they made her feel flustered.
"I..." She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
Just then, Xin Rui's voice came from outside the door: "The imperial physician says that Old Master Qin is out of danger!"
Xiao Chengyu felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly pulled his hand away, saying, "I'll go take a look!" He then left in a hurry.
Qi Mingxuan watched her retreating figure as if she were fleeing, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.
On the way back to the palace, Xiao Chengyu was in turmoil. Qi Mingxuan's words just now were clearly...
"Yu'er?" Xiao Chengrui rode his horse to protect her carriage, leaning forward to ask, "Why are you so absent-minded? Are you tired?"
Xiao Chengyu forced a smile: "I'm a little tired."
Ashina Yun, who was riding alongside Xiao Chengyu, suddenly said, "I don't think you're tired, you're just preoccupied." She winked at Xiao Chengyu, "Is it because of some young master Qi?"
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