Chapter 14 Punishment
Chapter Fourteen
Shen Panyan looked at Lin Xiao lying on the bed. Without the mask covering him, his aura was peaceful, completely different from his usual silent and sharp demeanor. He seemed more approachable.
They don't even look like him anymore.
These were all fine, but what surprised Shen Panyan the most was that Lin Xiao didn't look very old, only about two or three years older than her.
If Chen Panyan hadn't taken off his mask, she really wouldn't have been able to tell that he was still a boy.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Shen Panyan reached out and gently touched his forehead. She found that his fever had subsided and breathed a sigh of relief.
Since he fell into a coma, she has never left his side except for meals and rest.
She still remembered how Lin Xiao had taken care of her before. Now that he was unconscious, there was no one in the garden who was loyal to her. She was worried about entrusting Lin Xiao to someone else, so she had been staying by his side.
Shen Panyan hadn't forgotten what Physician Lin had said: Lin Xiao had a head injury, which must have been caused when he fell off the cliff while protecting her.
However, he didn't say a word and seemed completely unaffected, so she really thought he was alright.
She didn't even consider that when she woke up, Lin Xiao was still unconscious, so how could he not be injured?
But at the time, she was so flustered and confused that she thought a wolf was going to eat her and she was trembling with fear. Looking back now, Shen Panyan only feels that she was not very smart back then.
How could she be so stupid?
Mu Ying had already told her that while she was unconscious, Lin Xiao, despite his injuries, went to the capital day and night to buy medicine for her. After returning, he knelt in the courtyard waiting for her to wake up.
Everyone in the palace has complicated thoughts, but he is so sincere to himself, even though it is a task given to him by his father. Few people can do that.
Thinking of this, Shen Panyan felt a surge of guilt and bitterness.
From now on, she really won't throw tantrums at Lin Xiao anymore. They can only spend a few months together anyway, so why not make the most of that short time?
She will never meet another person who treats her like Lin Xiao did.
She hoped that Lin Xiao could live peacefully and safely forever.
Shen Panyan sighed and sat down beside his bed.
Mu Ying brewed the medicine and brought it over, saying, "Princess, it's time to drink your medicine."
With a bitter expression, Shen Panyan decided that a short, sharp pain was better than a long, drawn-out one, and downed the drink in one gulp.
"We're out of candied fruit, Princess, please have some water to calm your nerves." Mu Ying poured her a glass of warm water.
After drinking a cup of water, the bitterness in her mouth finally subsided, and Chen Panyan put down her teacup.
It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone. Since Xiao Jinzi, who was in charge of purchasing, fell, Xiyuan has not added anything new for a long time.
Mu Ying whispered in her ear what things Xiyuan was lacking now, and Shen Panyan looked melancholy, knowing that things couldn't continue like this.
She got up and went back to her room, took some money and handed it to Mu Ying, asking her to find the manager of the villa and ask someone to go to the capital to run errands and buy some things.
If you want your subordinates to do their jobs well, this money is essential.
Shen Panyan only receives her own allowance each month, unlike other princesses and princes who also receive subsidies from their mothers. She can only wear her valuable jewelry and cannot sell it, so she doesn't have much money at her disposal.
Touching her now much emptier purse, Chen Panyan sighed inwardly.
To outsiders, she appears glamorous, having been adopted by the Empress at a young age and having an elder brother who is the Crown Prince. They believe that once the Crown Prince ascends the throne, she will be his only close sister. However, the reality is quite different.
Shen Panyan was somewhat afraid of her elder brother, the Crown Prince, and rarely spoke to him. Every time she saw him, she would hide like a frightened rabbit. Therefore, their relationship was not as close as that of other princes and princesses.
Before she knew it, she was reminded of all the unpleasant things that had happened around her... Shen Panyan took a deep breath and suppressed all those unpleasant thoughts in her heart.
Speaking of which, Lin Xiao paid for her medicine, and she would have to return the money to him after he woke up.
Another day passed, and as usual, Shen Panyan went to see Lin Xiao first. Seeing that he was still unconscious, she frowned and sighed before returning to her room.
She took out her small box, blew off the dust, and carried it to Lin Xiao's room, where she sat by the window and slowly walked around.
She has no hobbies, no great ambitions, and dislikes embroidery. When she has nothing to do, she likes to tinker with some complicated little things, such as sachets, bracelets, and jewelry. Many of the jewelry she often wears is made by herself. For example, this box is full of small beads such as pearls, jade, and glass. Shen Panyan loves to use them to make bracelets.
The sunlight was lovely today, falling on the box and making the beads inside appear exceptionally clear and beautiful.
Shen Panyan took out the thread and carefully strung them together.
The warm winter sun shone obliquely through the window, casting its light on her. Her light purple dress trailed on the ground, not glamorous, but rather simple.
Looking up, her profile was sweet and gentle, her hair was tied up in a bun, and she wore few decorations, only two delicate hibiscus flowers, while a pair of exquisite earrings shone in the sunlight.
This is what Lin Xiao saw when he woke up.
He paused, taken aback.
A moment later, a hoarse voice rang out from inside the room.
"Princess......"
Shen Panyan almost thought she had misheard. She turned her head and saw Lin Xiao lift the covers and kneel down in front of her. She was immediately shocked and quickly got up, scattering the beads in her hand all over the floor with a clatter.
But now, she couldn't care less about the beads and rushed forward to help him up.
"What...what are you doing? Get up!"
Lin Xiao remained kneeling, saying, "Your subordinate has made a mistake; please punish me, Your Highness."
"What happened before wasn't your fault; it was my own fault for trusting the wrong person. Get up!"
This wasn't the only incident. Lin Xiao's eyes darkened.
"Your subordinate has erred, please punish me, Your Highness!"
"You..." Seeing that he didn't move and insisted on punishing her herself, Shen Panyan felt somewhat helpless.
She thought for a moment, then said, "If you really want to accept the punishment, then I will really punish you."
Lin Xiao lowered his eyelashes, his expression unchanged, "Please punish me, Your Highness!"
"If you want to accept the punishment," Shen Panyan's eyebrows curved into a smile, "then I will punish you by making you obey me from now on. How about it, are you willing?"
"Although you came to my side because of your father's mission, I am now your master. Just listen to me and I will not punish you."
Lin Xiao paused for a moment, then suddenly looked up, his gaze falling on Shen Panyan's face, his eyes naked.
His action was quite offensive, but Shen Panyan only paused for a moment and did not get angry.
Upon closer inspection of his face, Shen Panyan realized that Lin Xiao's eyes were actually quite beautiful.
His eyes were slightly longer than peach blossom eyes, deep and cold like a clear pool, with slightly upturned corners, carrying an indifference and detachment, which was quite different from his ordinary face.
I wonder if Lin Xiao will ever laugh, and what he will look like when he does.
Curious, and seeing him staring at her, Shen Panyan felt a little embarrassed and annoyed. She turned her head away and asked, "You won't agree?"
Lin Xiao then lowered his head, regaining his usual respect, "Yes, Princess."
He got up from the ground, his undergarment loose and baggy. As he moved, the ties suddenly came undone and slipped off his shoulders.
Her exposed skin was fair, her waist was slender and strong, and there was a touch of pink... Shen Panyan's eyes widened, she immediately covered her face and turned around, "You...you, how dare you!!"
Lin Xiao then realized that he was only wearing his undergarments. He immediately straightened his clothes, knelt down, and said urgently, "This subordinate has been disrespectful, please forgive me, Princess..."
Before he could finish speaking, Shen Panyan took two or three steps and walked out.
She said hurriedly, "Get dressed before you come looking for me!"
After saying that, she slammed the door shut and stood under the eaves to calm her racing heart.
Actually, she didn't see much, and her clothes hadn't all fallen off, but the scene just now kept replaying in her mind. Shen Panyan leaned against the wall, covered her face, and slowly slid down, wailing in her heart.
It’s over! !
How could she not forget?!
The tips of her ears were as red as drops of blood.
It wasn't until Lin Xiao finished dressing and came out that Chen Panyan slowly got up from the ground.
Lin Xiao hesitated, "Princess, I just..."
"What just now?!" Shen Panyan nearly jumped up like a startled rabbit, shaking her head repeatedly and covering her ears. "I don't know anything, I didn't see anything, and you're not allowed to say anything more!"
"......yes."
Shen Panyan turned her back to him, not daring to look at him at all. She hurriedly changed the subject, "My beads just fell into your room. Please help me find them."
"Yes, Princess."
Lin Xiao was very obedient when he woke up, doing whatever he was told. Shen Panyan stood aside, watching Lin Xiao pick up his beads one by one from the ground, and suddenly felt that he was inexplicably well-behaved.
There were many beads scattered on the ground. Lin Xiao had just woken up, and Shen Panyan couldn't keep ordering him around, so she picked up the beads herself and put them into her box one by one.
Just then, there was one at her feet. Shen Panyan squatted down, and her soft fingertips landed on a slender hand.
Both of them were immediately stunned.
“Princess…” Lin Xiao’s voice hesitated.
Shen Panyan smiled at him and took the bead from his hand. "Give it to me!"
"yes."
Apart from a few minor issues on the first day Lin Xiao woke up, the rest of the days were quite peaceful.
She still remembered what Physician Lin had told her, so Shen Panyan ordered him to rest well and not get up, to take good care of his injuries, and that he could continue to stay by her side only when he was fully recovered.
Lin Xiao hesitated, but Shen Panyan looked at him, somewhat unhappy, "Have you forgotten that you just promised me that you would listen to me from now on?"
Now, Lin Xiao had no further objections. "Yes, Princess."
This recuperation lasted for nearly a month, and Shen Panyan's injuries had almost fully healed. With the end of the year approaching, Shen Panyan decided to return to the capital.
She took out the money Lin Xiao had paid for the medicine and gave it to him, but Lin Xiao shook his head and refused to accept it.
"This is what I should do."
Shen Panyan disagreed and insisted on giving it to him, but he simply disappeared, leaving her unsure whether to be angry or amused.
They had clearly agreed that he would listen to her from now on, but when he encountered something he didn't want to do, he would simply hide away. So, no matter how capable she was, as long as he didn't show up on his own initiative, she would never be able to find him.
What kind of listening to her is that?
Shen Panyan was so angry that she stomped her feet, but in the end she took back the silver, had a carriage prepared, and headed to the capital.
A note from the author:
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