Chapter 189 Do you still remember what happened before you were seven years old?
Time flows quietly, and in the blink of an eye, more than a month has passed.
For the past month, Xiyan has been staying in Helian Feng's bedroom to recuperate, and Helian Feng did not avoid suspicion. Even though Xiyan was in the inner hall and there were so many maids serving her, he was still worried, so he slept on the soft couch in the outer hall.
During the day, when he was free, he would chat with her, feed her medicine himself, and eat with her.
In the hall, agarwood is always burning, and in the celadon vase on the desk, there are water lilies newly picked from Taiye Pond every day. The dewdrops condensed on the petals are very much like the soft light in Helian Feng's eyes when he looks at her.
Xiyan's health gradually improved. Although she didn't dare to use her internal energy, she was able to walk slowly and recovered quickly.
When they were free, they talked about poetry, songs, local customs and culture.
He talked about the reeds in the Book of Songs, and she talked about the kapok trees in Nanzhao; he taught her how to appreciate Duan inkstones, and she ground and moistened his brushes for him.
The only name that the two of them avoided was Xiao Nanyan, as if they were avoiding a bloody wound.
During this month, Xie Zhan came to visit her several times.
While Helian Feng was away, Xie Zhan asked her:
"Do you remember anything before you were seven?"
Xiyan didn't know why Xie Zhan was so concerned about her affairs in Nanzhao, but she knew he had no ill intentions, so she answered truthfully:
"I don't know who my biological parents are. I only remember my adoptive parents saying someone put me, still in my cradle, in a basket and placed it in front of their house. Inside the basket was a gold ingot."
She stirred the teacup with her eyes downcast, her slightly furrowed brows reflected on the water:
"My adoptive parents said I was a gift from heaven. They happened to have no children, so they adopted me. However, they never hid my origins from me. I guess they thought my biological parents must be from a wealthy family, or maybe they were temporarily leaving me here for some reason and would find me back in the future."
Xiyan's voice gradually faded. "Unfortunately, they both fell ill when I was seven years old and passed away one after another. I had no choice but to beg on the streets until I was rescued by Xiao... the Regent..."
Xie Zhan's breathing was rapid, his eyes were scorching:
"Do you have any belongings of your biological parents on you?"
Xiyan shook her head: "I really don't remember. I've never heard my adoptive parents mention it."
A hint of disappointment flashed across Xie Zhan's eyes, but it was quickly covered up by the aroma of tea.
"Is Nan Zhao's home still there?"
"They're still here, but my adoptive parents are dead. I visit their graves every year, but that home is on the verge of collapse, and I've never been back."
Xiyan looked suspicious:
"Why does Your Highness ask these questions?"
Xie Zhan shook his head: "Just curious."
After saying that, he couldn't help but sigh softly and changed the subject:
"Something happened to Manluo!"
Xiyan had been isolated from the outside world for the past month. She didn't know anything about what was happening outside, and Helian Feng would not mention it to her. When she heard that Manluo was in trouble, she couldn't help but be horrified:
"What happened to her?"
"That day, she was being hunted by Chu Jin. They both slipped and fell into the moat, and were swept into the Weihai Lake. To this day, we don't know whether she's alive or dead..."
"Ah!" Xiyan's pupils suddenly shrank:
"how so?"
Thinking about that day, if Manluo had not appeared in time, I would have died long ago. I couldn't help but worry about her safety.
Seeing that she was really anxious, Xie Zhan hurried to comfort her:
"Just focus on recovering from your injuries and don't worry about anything else. Since there's no news, that's naturally good news. Helian Feng has already sent a large number of people to search for Chu Jin at sea. I believe that if nothing unexpected happens, he'll be back in a few days."
"But, they want to save Chu Jin, as for Man Luo..."
Xiyan stopped talking in time and didn't ask any further. She knew that Xie Zhan knew that Manluo was Zisha, so he would definitely guess that she was Xuesha without a doubt.
But Xie Zhan did not reveal her identity. Knowing that they were the murderers who killed people and stole the pearl, he seemed to have no ill will towards her. On the contrary, he was very interested in her background. It was really incredible.
Xie Zhan seemed to know what she was thinking, and curled his lips slightly:
"Anyway, this trip to Tianqi was worthwhile for me to get to know you and Manluo. Don't worry, my people are also among the search and rescue crowd. If we really find any trace of Manluo, we will definitely bring her back safely."
Xiyan breathed a sigh of relief and felt a little relieved.
Outside the window, Helian Feng appeared at the end of the corridor, holding the sugar-steamed yogurt that Xiyan liked to eat.
"What are you talking about so enthusiastically?"
Helian Feng pushed the cheese in front of her and brushed away the loose hair on her temples with his fingertips:
"Eat it while it's hot!"
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
Xiyan's face was slightly flushed, but she couldn't bear to let Helian Feng down, so she scooped up a spoonful of yogurt and put it into her mouth. The sweetness mixed with the aroma of milk melted on her tongue.
“It’s delicious!”
Helian Feng smiled happily.
Xie Zhan stood up with a smile and found an excuse to leave the hall.
Helian Feng's gaze was fixed on Xiyan's face from beginning to end. He saw that her thin cheeks due to long-term illness were slightly flushed, which made her eyes look even more watery and deep, like glass washed by rain, filled with the ripples of Taiye Lake.
He reached out to gather her cloak, and when he touched the bony shoulders, his throat suddenly tightened - in just over a month, she had become so thin. Could it be that the food in the Prince's Mansion was not nourishing?
"Xiyan, you look good today."
He deliberately softened his voice:
"How about I take you to Taiye Pond to see the water lilies?"
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