Chapter 22 You're an idiot
Before we knew it, nearly half a month had passed.
Looking out at the rare sunny day, a long-lost sense of anxiety rose in Shen Panyan's heart.
Having spent so many days in the capital, she could no longer stay there. Otherwise, if news of her absence from the royal villa reached the palace, her mother would surely send someone to reprimand her.
However, no news came from the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review for a long time, and she could not leave. Helpless, Shen Panyan had to go again. This time, she received news that was not good.
The officials had not seen Qiu Shuang at the city gate. They visited several pawnshops but found no trace of the hairpin. Only a few days ago, they found a loose pearl in a small pawnshop, and afterwards, they found various hairpin parts that had been dismantled beyond recognition in different pawnshops.
The woman who came to pawn her hairpin was clever. She disassembled the hairpin into individual pieces and sold them separately at various pawnshops. Although she received less money this way, it was safer and there was no risk of being discovered by others.
Shen Panyan carefully examined the hairpins brought by the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and pieced them together. Although some parts were missing, she could still tell at a glance that these were the gifts she had given to Qiushuang.
This led to another stalemate.
That is, the person who came to be her hairpin was not her maid, but another woman.
The Dali Temple wanted to find out the woman's identity, but they had to wait for her to appear again before she could be a hairpin. Therefore, Shen Panyan had no choice but to return to her residence to wait.
She originally wanted to return to the Royal Villa, but she was afraid that if she left, the news wouldn't reach her in time, and she would miss it.
With the Lunar New Year fast approaching, she had no choice but to suppress her anxiety and continue waiting.
——
This was the first time Shen Panyan had spent the Lunar New Year in the capital since she was ten years old.
In the past, she rarely stayed in the capital during holidays, spending most of her time in the royal villa.
She sent a message back to the Royal Villa, and Physician Lin, who originally lived there, returned to the capital with his medicine chest.
He first examined Shen Panyan and prescribed some tonics before returning home to spend New Year's Eve with his family.
In previous years, the New Year was just another ordinary day for Shen Panyan, nothing special.
She lived alone in the royal villa, where no news came from the capital. Qiu Shuang was very busy and couldn't always stay by her side. The palace maids and eunuchs who had accompanied her to the royal villa didn't like her and didn't like to work around her. So, she was always alone.
Looking back now, her memories of the New Year festival are almost nonexistent; what she remembers most vividly is the charcoal brazier burning silently in the dark night with candlelight.
Now that she's in the capital, this is the first time she's realized how lively the city is during the Lunar New Year.
Today, many horse-drawn carriages are parked in the alley. Every New Year's Eve, the palace holds a New Year's banquet, which can be attended by the families of officials.
"Sister, oh dear, stop looking! There's nothing wrong with this outfit. Hurry up, we're going to be late!!"
As the last carriage drove away from the alley, Shen Panyan looked at the empty alley. The lively sounds from the main street kept coming this way, which made her want to go out for a walk.
She took the silver and distributed it to her subordinates, saying, "Today is New Year's Eve, so you don't need to stay by my side. Go out and have some fun."
This was Mu Ying's first time experiencing the New Year's Eve atmosphere outside the palace. In previous years, she stayed in the palace, where it was lively and bustling, but it had nothing to do with them, the lowly palace maids.
Later, after Shen Panyan arrived at the Royal Villa, there was no chance for her to experience the festive atmosphere.
Although she was overjoyed, she remembered her duty: "If we leave, what will happen to you, Princess?"
“Me?” Shen Panyan smiled and said softly, “I have my own place to go, don’t worry about me, go on your own.”
"Thank you, Princess!"
At this, the people below cheered wildly and went out to collect their rewards.
Shen Panyan blinked at Lin Xiao, who hadn't accepted the reward money and hadn't left. "Lin Xiao, why don't you go out with the others?"
Lin Xiao looked at her, "Princess, you're asking a question you already know the answer to. I will not leave."
He was responsible for protecting the princess's safety; how could he possibly leave her side without permission?
Shen Panyan smiled, "But it's true that I'm giving you a reward."
As he spoke, a pale white hand stretched out in front of him, on which lay a round silver ingot.
She gave him far more money than others.
Lin Xiao shook his head, "Princess, this subordinate does not need it."
"Just take it if I give it to you!!" Shen Panyan was unhappy when she saw that he didn't take it, so she reached out and stuffed the silver into his arms.
Her fingertips touched his body, and even through his clothes, she could feel his warmth. Only then did Shen Panyan realize that her actions had been a bit too much... For some reason, she was becoming more and more relaxed in front of Lin Xiao, unlike how reserved and timid she was in front of others.
Her fingertips felt like they'd been burned. She hastily stuffed the silver into his clothes, then lifted her skirt and hurried out the door, saying, "I'm leaving now, take it or leave it!"
She left in a hurry, so Lin Xiao had no choice but to accept the money and quickly followed after her.
Seeing him follow, Shen Panyan smiled slightly.
However, before she had taken two steps, she suddenly remembered something and turned back.
"Lin Xiao, do you think my outfit suits me today?"
Lin Xiao: "Your Highness, it is appropriate."
Shen Panyan frowned slightly, not entirely satisfied with his answer.
Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and the color of her clothes is too light, which is not in line with the festive atmosphere at all.
Today is New Year's Eve, and she absolutely has to choose a nice outfit to go out in.
It's a pity that most of her clothes are in the Royal Villa, and only a small portion are in this mansion.
Shen Panyan looked at her wardrobe, picked and chose, before finally selecting a soft satin dress in peach pink.
"Lin Xiao, wait for me outside."
"good."
After changing her clothes, Shen Panyan opened the door.
"Lin Xiao, do you think this dress looks good on me?" She held the dress, her movements rather reserved, and looked at him with eager eyes.
She rarely chose her own clothes; previously, Qiu Shuang would prepare them, and later, Mu Ying would.
Lin Xiao turned around and immediately saw the princess.
Under the moonlight, her bright pink silk dress was dazzling and beautiful, making her already fair skin look like warm jade. Her hair was like raven feathers, and her almond eyes were like autumn water, reflecting his figure.
Lin Xiao suddenly turned his gaze to the side and said, "The princess looks good in anything."
Chen Panyan: "..."
"You're not being sincere."
She stamped her foot, looking a little unhappy. "I spent a long time choosing this."
"It's my subordinate..."
"Forget it, you're just an idiot, I'm not counting on you anymore."
Feeling frustrated, Shen Panyan interrupted him.
She didn't want to hear him say whether it was right or wrong.
"It's getting late, let's hurry up and set off."
She had just stepped out of the room when Lin Xiao's voice rang out, "Princess, it's chilly today, you should put on another cloak."
As she spoke, the cloak that Shen Panyan had just put aside was already falling onto her.
As the cloak's sash was tied in a delicate knot, Shen Panyan blinked and looked at Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao lowered his eyelashes and took a step back. "Princess, let's go."
Although he didn't look expressionless, she could clearly see when he was close by that the tips of his ears seemed to be a little red.
Shen Panyan curved her eyes into a smile.
"good."
Lin Xiao seems to be acting differently towards her than before... Is she mistaken?
Shen Panyan suddenly stopped.
Lin Xiao looked at her in confusion, but before he could ask, Shen Panyan suddenly bent over, clutching her stomach and letting out a cry of "Ouch!"
"Lin, Lin Xiao, my stomach hurts."
Lin Xiao paused, then strode forward and scooped her up in his arms with a swift movement, speaking urgently.
"Princess, I will take you to a doctor right away."
With that, he leaped up and carried her onto the roof at great speed.
"No!! Wait, Lin Xiao!!"
Shen Panyan never expected that her only intention was to test him, and she never anticipated that his reaction would be so strong.
"No, don't go, Lin Xiao, I'm not, I'm not hurt, you, you let me go." She spoke too quickly, causing her to stutter.
Lin Xiao ignored him and sped up even more.
Having no other choice, Shen Panyan had to admit, "Lin Xiao, please put me down. I really don't feel any pain. I was just... I was faking it."
Lin Xiao's figure froze instantly.
Shen Panyan clutched his clothes, her eyes tightly shut, not daring to open them to look at him. "You, you should put me down."
Lin Xiao led her to a small alley and gently put her down.
Seeing his expressionless face, Shen Panyan's heart skipped a beat. "Lin Xiao, are you angry?"
Lin Xiao: "No."
Shen Panyan gently tugged at his sleeve, looked up at him, and said, "I'm sorry, Lin Xiao, I didn't mean to lie to you."
"I... I just wanted to see..."
I want to see if he's different now than before.
Lin Xiao's voice remained unchanged, "This subordinate hopes that the princess can take good care of her health and not do this again next time."
"Are you worried about me?" Shen Panyan looked at him, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling with bright light.
Lin Xiao: "I am under orders to protect the princess. If the princess is injured, I will naturally be worried."
Shen Panyan hung her head dejectedly, and gave the same answer again.
"I know I was wrong, please don't be angry anymore, okay?"
Lin Xiao: "I am not angry."
Shen Panyan didn't believe it.
However, since he didn't say anything, Shen Panyan had no choice but to lower her head and follow him.
The two walked outside.
The alley was pitch black and unlit, and Chen Panyan found the quiet, dark environment very unsettling.
She cautiously approached him. "Lin Xiao, where is this?"
"Why is it so dark...?"
When Lin Xiao fell, he landed in a random alley, and he didn't even know where he was.
It was his oversight.
"Princess, I will take you out."
After saying that, he bent down, wanting to help her out using his light-footed skills, but Shen Panyan was too embarrassed and took two steps back, saying, "No, no need, I can walk by myself."
Lin Xiao hesitated, "But..."
"No, it's nothing." Shen Panyan reached out and grabbed his hand.
"If you hold my hand like this, I won't be afraid anymore..."
Lin Xiao pursed his lips, his expression hesitant.
After a moment, he replied, "...Okay."
In the darkness, he gently took her hand in his and led her step by step outside.
His hands were large with strong knuckles and thin calluses on his palms, but they weren't rough.
Shen Panyan followed beside him, her eyes curving lowered slightly.
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Author's note: I ordered takeout and got burned, and then I fell down the stairs a couple of days ago [crying][crying][crying] Why am I so unlucky?
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