Chapter 35 Will you come out with me?
"Princess!!" Seeing her strong reaction, Mu Ying thought something had happened and hurriedly knocked on the door. "Princess, what's wrong?"
Lin Xiao pursed his lips, his hand gripping the basket tightly. He wanted to go forward, but then he remembered what had just happened, and his steps faltered.
There was no sound from inside the room for a long time. Mu Ying was worried and turned to look at him, her voice anxious, "Guard Lin Xiao, what if something happens to the princess if she locks herself in her room like this? You must think of something quickly."
"The princess will be fine."
Lin Xiao put down the basket, no longer caring about anything else.
He quickly walked around the door, opened the window, and jumped inside. Seeing the room empty and not seeing the princess, his eyes instantly filled with anxiety. "Princess!!"
Shen Panyan was hiding under the table, covering her face, her heart filled with sorrow.
What did she just do? How could she do that?
How could she give something she'd already used to Lin Xiao? And why did Lin Xiao actually eat it...?
The more she thought about it, the redder her face became, and her heart started pounding uncontrollably. She wished she could shrink into the ground and disappear so that no one could find her.
But her room was only so big, and after a short while, a long, slender hand lifted the table curtain, and Lin Xiao's voice fell into her ears.
"Princess?!"
He seemed relieved. "So you were here."
Shen Panyan trembled as she looked up, her almond-shaped eyes filled with tears, "Lin...Lin Xiao?"
"Hmm." Lin Xiao nodded, then half-squatted down and extended his hand to her. "Princess, the space under the table is cramped and the light is dim, which isn't good for your health. Would you like to come out with me?"
His voice was gentle and calm. Chen Panyan bit her lip, "I..."
She covered her face, not daring to look at him at all.
Lin Xiao stretched out his hand, not urging her, but quietly waiting for her answer.
Shen Panyan felt her face burning under his gaze, and she couldn't stay any longer.
She reached out and gently placed her hand in his palm. Almost instantly, he gripped her hand tightly and led her outside.
"Princess, be careful."
He reached out and placed his hand behind her head to prevent her from bumping her head when she came out.
"I...I'm out now..." Shen Panyan stood in front of Lin Xiao, her head lowered. She had never felt that his figure was so tall and imposing; just standing there, he could envelop her completely.
Seeing their hands still clasped, her face flushed even more. "You...you can let go now..."
Upon hearing this, Lin Xiao realized his mistake and quickly released his grip, saying, "I was just in a moment of panic and offended the princess."
He knelt down, bowing his head, and said, "Please punish me, Your Highness."
"When did I say I was going to punish you..." Seeing him like this, Shen Panyan no longer cared about her own feelings and quickly bent down to help him up. "I... I don't blame you, it's my own fault..."
She stammered, her words incoherent, "Don't kneel down all the time, I... I don't like it when you do that..."
"If you do this again, I'll... I'll ignore you..."
Lin Xiao lowered his eyes, "Your subordinate knows his mistake."
"You...you realize your mistake in just one day..." The heat on Shen Panyan's face gradually subsided. She stomped her foot angrily, "Don't say that again next time."
"I don't like hearing this."
Lin Xiao: "Yes."
He pursed his lips. "It was my fault. If Your Highness is angry next time, please punish me. Don't try to avoid it again..."
"I! I'm not angry, and I'm not trying to avoid you!!" Thinking about what had just happened, Shen Panyan's face flushed again. "You're not allowed to mention this again!"
Lin Xiao hesitated: "Your subordinate..."
Shen Panyan was both ashamed and angry: "This is an order!"
Lin Xiao: "Yes."
Standing next to him, Shen Panyan felt as if she were enveloped by him, unable to breathe. She quickly turned around and opened the door. Mu Ying was standing at the door. Seeing her appear, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Princess, I'm so glad you're alright."
"If this pastry is not good, I will have the servants make another one."
"Please don't do that again next time, it frightened me."
Looking at the chattering Mu Ying, Shen Panyan finally felt her violently beating heart gradually calm down. "I'm sorry, Mu Ying, I made you worry."
Mu Ying shook her head: "As long as you are alright, Princess."
"By the way, where is Guard Linxiao?"
Seeing that there was no space behind her, Mu Ying asked in confusion, "Didn't he just go in?"
Shen Panyan turned around and realized that Lin Xiao had disappeared at some point. "Perhaps...perhaps he's hiding."
"Oh." Mu Ying nodded. It was normal for Lin Xiao to hide since he was a secret guard.
Recalling what had just happened, Mu Ying's eyes darkened with anger. "Princess, it's all because the servants below were negligent that they sent over some terrible pastries. I'll go and settle accounts with them right away!"
Just now, when the princess locked herself up, Mu Ying tasted every pastry on the tray. Apart from two that were alright, the other pastries were really hard to eat, either too sweet to be palatable or too astringent to be swallowed.
Is it taking advantage of the princess's gentle nature to send her such ruined pastries?
After saying that, Mu Ying angrily carried the tray to the small kitchen. Shen Panyan watched her departing figure, wanting to call her back, but then stopped.
Fine, let Mu Ying go.
Now, not only does Lin Xiao care about her, but Mu Ying does too, and she is truly happy.
Shen Panyan turned around, thinking of Lin Xiao, her face flushed again, and she dared not call him out again.
Otherwise, she really wouldn't know how to face him.
Lin Xiao remained hidden in the shadows, his gaze fixed on the princess's retreating figure.
He saw her bend down and lift the basket. A maid brought over warm water, and she poured the flower petals into the basin. She then gathered her sleeves, and in an instant, her fair and soft hands came into view.
Whoosh!
Her hands dipped into the warm water, creating a string of crystal-clear water droplets.
Water droplets and plum blossoms clung to her fingertips, making her slender fingers appear as soft and delicate as fresh snow under the moonlight... As if thinking of something, Lin Xiao's gaze fell on her palm.
Suddenly, his fingers tightened, his eyelashes lowered, and he dared not think any further.
The process of making the incense balls is complicated and takes some time. Before Shen Panyan could finish, news came from the small kitchen.
It turned out that the staff at Xiyuan had been replaced, and the new head chef was good at making medicinal dishes but not at making pastries.
Originally, she came to this villa to help the princess recuperate, but unfortunately, Shen Panyan had been eating her medicinal meals every day and had long since grown tired of them. She returned many of the meals every day, which made the head chef anxious. That's why she thought of making something else to please the princess.
But little did they know, their cleverness backfired, leading to this whole mess.
"If the princess wishes to eat pastries, this servant will immediately send someone to the capital to hire a cook."
"Never mind." Shen Panyan shook her head. "Spring is coming soon, and I will be returning to the capital after the spring hunt. We don't need so many people here."
However, there are only so many varieties of medicinal cuisine, and they all taste pretty much the same no matter how they are made. Looking at the table full of bland soup and vegetables, Shen Panyan had no appetite at all. She took a few bites and then put down her chopsticks.
Seeing that she only ate so little, Mu Ying frowned and advised, "Princess, you have only recently recovered and it is the time to nourish your body. Please have a few more bites."
Shen Panyan shook her head, "I can't eat anymore."
Although the chef had changed the menu today, Chen Panyan found the taste to be no different from before, and she was really tired of it.
But if we back down like this, the chef might start to overthink things.
"Princess, Physician Lin just instructed me yesterday to make sure you eat more..."
Mu Ying was still trying to persuade her when Shen Panyan suddenly remembered something, her eyes brightening slightly. "Since the medicinal food shouldn't be wasted, Mu Ying, have someone bring over another pair of bowls and chopsticks."
"Add another pair of bowls and chopsticks?" Mu Ying asked in confusion. "Princess, who do you intend to serve these medicinal dishes?"
Shen Panyan shook her head, refusing to speak, but kept urging her, "Just go quickly!"
Mu Ying had no choice but to agree, "Yes."
She asked a palace maid to bring over a bowl and chopsticks, and then she saw the princess call out Lin Xiao's guards.
"Lin Xiao, I can't eat any more of these medicinal dishes. I haven't touched this plate or this plate, you can have them."
With a smile, Shen Panyan placed the medicinal meal she hadn't touched in front of him.
Lin Xiao looked up, his voice tinged with surprise, "Princess, are these for your subordinate?"
“Yes! Eat up, your injuries haven’t healed yet, wouldn’t it be good to have some medicinal food to help you recover?” Shen Panyan said with a smile.
Upon seeing this, Mu Ying subconsciously clenched her embroidered handkerchief, slightly startled.
Princess, aren't you being a little too kind to Lin Xiao's guards?
Previously, the princess would look for him as soon as she woke up. Usually, she would ask about Lin Xiao, the guard. Later, she even wanted to dine with him. Now... she felt that something was wrong.
But the princess's actions weren't out of line, and she couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong. She felt something was amiss and gently advised, "Princess, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
Shen Panyan: "What's wrong with that? Didn't I give you the food I didn't eat before? You're all people around me, so what's wrong with giving these medicinal meals to Lin Xiao?"
That's what she said, but Mu Ying still felt something was off, but she didn't know how to refute it, so she could only say from the side, "Princess, although Guard Linxiao is your personal bodyguard, your status is different after all. It's not appropriate to let him eat at the same table with you like this."
“Princess, your dining with Guard Linxiao was already an overstepping of boundaries. If you truly wish to reward me, I will simply deliver these medicinal dishes to Guard Linxiao’s room…”
Shen Panyan frowned unhappily: "Mu Ying, why are you talking so much today?"
“Lin Xiao saved my life. If he hadn’t risked being punished by the Emperor to return to the capital, I wouldn’t be sitting here perfectly fine right now.” She bit her lip. “He was injured because of me. All I did was give him some medicinal food. What’s wrong with that?”
"Princess....."
Mu Ying wanted to say more, but Shen Panyan got up and walked out, saying, "Don't say anything more, I don't want to hear it."
When did Mu Ying become like Qiu Shuang?
Seeing her turn to leave, Mu Ying panicked and quickly chased after her. The next moment, an arm blocked her way.
Lin Xiao looked at her and said calmly, "Miss Mu Ying, the princess dislikes it most when people talk about her."
Since Mu Ying became the head palace maid, she has been diligent and conscientious, and Lin Xiao's attitude towards her has been quite good.
"The princess doesn't want to see you right now, so you'd better not upset her. Physician Lin instructed us not to make the princess angry again, otherwise, if she gets sick because of it, you won't be able to bear the consequences."
Okay, fine.
She knew something about Qiu Shuang's betrayal, and the princess didn't really trust anyone in the courtyard anymore. Now that the princess had run away, she could only turn to Lin Xiao for help. "It's all my fault, I upset the princess. Guard Lin Xiao, you're the person the princess trusts the most. Please, don't make the princess unhappy anymore. Otherwise, if the princess really gets hurt because of this, I will be guilty even if I die a thousand deaths!"
Lin Xiao withdrew his hand. "I will make the princess happy."
After saying that, he chased after her.
Mu Ying stood there, sighing, regretting her loose tongue.
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