Chapter 42 Is the princess not leaving?
Lin Xiao's expression was indifferent, and his gaze towards her was clearly calm, but Shen Panyan inexplicably felt that there was a turbulent undercurrent hidden in those dark eyes, like the night.
However, upon closer inspection, there was nothing there, as if it were all just her imagination.
"Princess, are you looking for the silk left behind by Qiushuang?" he asked.
As if burned, Shen Panyan quickly turned her head away, stammering, "Yes, Lin, Lin Xiao, you're awake!"
Lin Xiao responded, "Mm."
Shen Panyan awkwardly tried to pull her hand back, but instead of pulling it away, it was gripped even tighter.
Her face flushed crimson, and she hurriedly explained, "You...I, I didn't mean to. I just saw you were sleeping so soundly and didn't want to disturb you, so..."
Lin Xiao: "Your subordinate understands."
He said, "But Princess, the silk has been hidden in the rafters by my subordinates, so you cannot reach it."
As he spoke, he released his wrist, and Shen Panyan quickly got off him.
Immediately afterward, Lin Xiao tried to get up from the bed. However, his injuries were too severe, and he could only lift his upper body before he was about to fall back down. Shen Panyan was so frightened that she rushed forward to support him.
"Lin Xiao, what are you doing?! Lie back down right now."
"Your subordinate..." Lin Xiao reached out and grabbed the pillar, his knuckles turning white from the effort. Even standing up was extremely difficult, but he still stubbornly insisted on getting out of bed. "Your subordinate will go and get some silk for the princess..."
His voice was so weak, like a winter breeze, as if it would vanish into nothingness in the next moment.
Because of his movements, the wound that had already begun to scab over reopened, and blood seeped out. A faint smell of blood began to linger in the air. Shen Panyan was extremely anxious. "The silk is on the roof beam. How can you get up there now? Lie back down!"
"But Princess, you need..."
"I don't need it now, you should lie back down!"
Lin Xiao didn't speak, but his attempt to get up still showed his attitude.
This time, Shen Panyan was absolutely not going to let him continue to be so willful. She pursed her lips, her expression serious, and grabbed his wrist. "Lie back down, Lin Xiao. You absolutely cannot get out of bed again until you are fully recovered."
Lin Xiao looked up at her, "Princess..."
Shen Panyan: "Lie back down!"
Lin Xiao lowered his head in silence, seemingly hesitant.
Seeing that he still wouldn't listen, Shen Panyan was both angry and anxious, and could no longer hold back: "This is an order, are you going to disobey my order?"
Lin Xiao released his grip on the pillar and slowly lay back down. "Yes, Lin Xiao obeys."
Seeing that he lay back down, Shen Panyan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She was genuinely worried that he would get up without a care and reopen the wound that had already begun to scab over. He was already seriously injured and could barely move, so why did he insist on going up to the roof beam to get her the silk?
It's just a piece of silk, there's no rush for it today. Lin Xiao has never been this stubborn before, what's wrong with him today?
Shen Panyan was puzzled, but now was the time to ponder this matter. His wounds began to bleed, and he had to call Physician Lin to examine him.
Therefore, Shen Panyan released his wrist and said, "You lie here and rest. I'll go and call Physician Lin to take a look at you."
Unexpectedly, Lin Xiao grabbed her wrist with a light yet powerful movement, and almost instantly, she was pulled into a warm embrace that smelled of blood.
She was held tightly in someone's arms.
Lin Xiao didn't speak, he just held her close, his chin pressed against her neck, so close that she could feel his breath on her neck, a dense, persistent sensation.
Shen Panyan's almond-shaped eyes widened, so shocked that she didn't react at all.
Lin Xiao lowered his eyes and lowered his voice, his hoarse voice seeming to express feelings that were neither clear nor easy to explain.
"Princess, thank you."
Shen Panyan parted her lips slightly, her mind in turmoil.
What are you thanking me for? For stopping him from getting the silk? But what's there to thank me for...? What's wrong with Lin Xiao?
Is that his heartbeat or my own? Why is it beating so fast?
It's hot, so hot...
The moment he let go, Shen Panyan fled in a panic.
Not long after, Physician Lin appeared with his medicine chest, but Shen Panyan did not appear with him as before. For several days in a row, Physician Lin came to treat his injuries and change his dressings, while other matters were taken care of by another eunuch.
The princess never appeared again...
Looking at the tightly closed and empty door, Lin Xiao lowered his eyelashes.
*
As the carrier pigeon flapped its wings, the shadowy figure appeared in Lin Xiao's room.
He didn't stand on ceremony and sat down as soon as he came in, poured himself a cup of tea, looked at Lin Xiao lying on the bed, and sighed, "I say, An Jiu, you're living a pretty good life."
"Do you know how busy I've been lately? I've been investigating the private soldiers you mentioned, and I've been monitoring the Crown Prince. All the secret guards in the Dark Guard Camp have been mobilized, just waiting for you to come back. And now you're telling me you're not coming back." By the end, he was gritting his teeth.
Lin Xiao kept his eyes closed, seemingly unwilling to listen, his voice indifferent and calm: "The leader has seen what I look like now. Do you think I can stand up now?"
Shadow sneered, "If I didn't come and see for myself, how would I know if you were faking it?"
"When Forty-Three came back last time, he bragged for a long time that you gave him ten taels of silver. I said, An Jiu, aren't you always stingy? When did you become so generous?"
Lin Xiao: "I simply plan my finances carefully, unlike you who waste money recklessly. When have I ever been stingy?"
An Ying hesitated, then said, "So, An Jiu, you know, natural disasters have been frequent in recent years, the national treasury is tight, and His Majesty doesn't have much money. His Majesty has already delayed this month's salary for several days. An Jiu, you know, I don't have many hobbies, I just like to drink some good wine. Could you lend me some...?"
Lin Xiao opened his eyes and looked at him, interrupting him, "No, we don't have the money!"
shadow:"......"
"Where's your money? You gave me forty-three taels of silver last time." He didn't believe it.
Ten taels of silver is enough for him to drink countless jugs of fine wine.
Lin Xiao lifted his eyelids, turned his gaze to him, and said coldly, "This is an exchange. Besides, since when has a leader started caring about whether his subordinates have money?"
“Regardless of whether your subordinates are rich or poor, as the leader, you should set an example. Otherwise, wouldn’t everyone in the Dark Guard Camp be able to borrow money from anyone as casually as you? What rules would there be left in the Dark Guard Camp then?”
Sure enough, An Jiu was still the same stingy An Jiu; you couldn't borrow a single penny from him, he had never changed.
Shadow felt both regretful and somewhat embarrassed. He touched his nose, completely bewildered.
What's wrong with An Jiu? He didn't provoke him. It's just a matter of borrowing some money. Why does it have to involve the rules of the Dark Guard Camp?
But An Jiu is someone who is always stubborn and unyielding. Arguing with him will only lead to your own downfall. Not wanting to get humiliated again, An Ying quickly changed the subject.
"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I didn't come here today to discuss these things with you. Were those people chasing you really the Crown Prince's secret guards?"
Lin Xiao withdrew his gaze: "Yes, I saw the Crown Prince hiding in the shadows that day. He dispatched a total of fifteen secret guards to kill me. Each of them was quite strong, about the same as the twenty-ninth group, and they were also good at combined attacks."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so badly injured.
If it weren't for the princess, he would be dead by now.
Lin Xiao suddenly lowered his eyes.
“The Crown Prince’s number of secret guards has always been limited. These suddenly appearing secret guards cannot be raised in a day or two. An Jiu, think carefully again, is there any other clue?” An Ying frowned.
Lin Xiao: "Have you seen the corpse in the woods?"
Shadow shook his head. "I've looked, but I didn't find anything."
Lin Xiao frowned in thought. Suddenly, he looked up and said, "Their martial arts style is not like that of the Dark Guards, but more like that of people in the martial arts world. They don't seem like real Dark Guards."
The secret guards of the Zhaoyan Kingdom's royal family are all trained by secret guards from the same secret guard battalion, so even if there are deviations, they won't be too far off.
"A person from the martial arts world?" Shadow's expression turned serious. "I need to return to the capital as soon as possible to report this to His Majesty. Be careful. You ruined his plans and caused His Majesty to notice him. The Crown Prince failed to kill you, so he will definitely come back a second time."
An Jiu's strength is the best in the Dark Guard Camp besides his own, so it would be a pity if he really died like this.
"Here's what we'll do: you come back to camp with me. Even if the Crown Prince had a hundred times the courage, he wouldn't dare to come to the Dark Guard Camp to kill you."
Lin Xiao said calmly, "No need."
"If I leave, and the princess encounters danger again, how will you explain it to His Majesty?"
Shadow asked in surprise, "With your severe injuries, lying in bed unable to even get up, how can you protect the princess? Besides, the princess is still a princess of the country. The crown prince wouldn't be so heartless as to send his secret guards to harm her. As long as she stays in this royal villa, she is safe."
"Besides, I can always send another bodyguard..."
Lin Xiao coldly interrupted him, "All the capable guards in the Dark Guard Camp have already been sent out by you. Which guard has time to protect the princess now?"
"Also, I'm injured, not dead."
shadow:"......."
"Fine, you're going to recover anyway, so it's the same whether you recover here or in the camp. I'll give you another month. Remember to come back to the camp after a month."
Lin Xiao lowered his head, his knuckles slowly tightening: "Thank you, Chief."
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Shadow said no more, "I'm leaving now. Take care of yourself."
After saying that, he left through the window and disappeared into the room.
With a creak, the door opened.
Shen Panyan had been avoiding him for many days, and only today did she finally understand something. Lin Xiao must have been injured and upset, and acted impulsively to do such a thing.
After all, she was in a lot of pain when she was sick and wanted someone to be with her. Lin Xiao didn't know many people, and she considered him his best friend. If she kept avoiding him and refused to see him, wouldn't he be even more upset?
So, Shen Panyan spent a long time mentally preparing herself, telling herself not to dwell on the previous accident and to treat Lin Xiao as usual before deciding to go find him.
Shen Panyan stepped into the room, deciding to pretend that nothing had happened that day, and feigned a natural attitude: "Lin Xiao, are you feeling better today?"
Upon seeing the unexpected person, Lin Xiao suddenly raised his head, his originally icy expression seemingly melting away in an instant as if it had encountered spring water.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am much better now." His voice was gentle.
Hearing that he was alright, Shen Panyan's worries were relieved.
Although Physician Lin told her about Lin Xiao's condition every day, she was still worried because she hadn't seen him in person.
"It's good that you're feeling much better. I'll have Physician Lin come and take another look at you in a bit. Oh, and Lin Xiao, I've had the kitchen prepare some qi-tonifying medicinal cuisine. It'll be delivered later, so remember to eat it all."
"Also, you are seriously injured now. Physician Lin said you need to rest well and it would be best if you didn't engage in any physical activity for the next month to avoid aggravating your wounds..."
Shen Panyan gave a long, rambling instruction, "Did you remember it, Lin Xiao?"
"I've noted it down." Lin Xiao's gaze never left her.
Perhaps it was because his gaze was too direct and serious that Shen Panyan's already unnatural expression became even more unnatural. She hurriedly turned her head away and whispered, "Then, then you should take good care of your injuries. I'll come to see you again tomorrow."
Hearing that she was about to leave, Lin Xiao reached out his hand, as if trying to catch the painted silk that rippled as she turned around, but it slipped away from his hand as nimbly as a peach branch in spring.
"...Your subordinate respectfully sees the princess off."
Shen Panyan felt as if the silk scroll in her arms had been grabbed in an instant, only to fall away in the next instant. It was so fast that she thought it was an illusion.
But no matter what, she stopped and turned around.
Shen Panyan originally wanted to leave, but the moment she turned around, she saw Lin Xiao leaning alone on the bed with his head down, his lonely and silent figure crashing into her heart, making her already soft heart unable to pretend to be strong anymore.
"Well... I don't really have anything to do right now, Lin Xiao, how about... I teach you to read?"
Once he learns to read, he won't encounter silk fabrics he can't understand anymore, and she won't be like last time... She can't think about it anymore; her face gets hotter and hotter the more she thinks about it.
Shen Panyan quickly turned her head away, her voice trembling, "You, you still can't write your own name, can you? I'll teach you..."
"Isn't the princess leaving?"
Lin Xiao thought she had already left, but then he heard her voice again, and immediately looked up, his gaze falling on her.
His gaze was too pure, seemingly happy when she was happy and sad when she was sad, completely different from his usual self, utterly devoid of any aggression.
If he was a sharp knife before, capable of taking lives at any moment, then now he was like someone wrapped in layers of gentle silk, until the blade could no longer cut, all sharpness concealed, leaving only the pure white sincerity of spring snow. For some reason, Shen Panyan's heart suddenly tightened, and she took a small step back, "No, I won't go."
"But I'm telling you, this time you can't try to fool me like last time, or I won't teach you anymore..."
Lin Xiao was stunned, then her eyebrows curved into a gentle smile. "Thank you, Princess."
"I will study it diligently."
The smoke from the deep pool was as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Hmm."
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Author's Note: From this point on, we'll see the bodyguards completely captivated by the Little White Rabbit Princess. I wonder if everyone has noticed Lin Xiao's true nature? On the surface, he appears strong and aloof in front of others, even unafraid of the leader, but deep down he's pure and sincere. I'm sure you're all tired of the slow-paced, boring romance, so it's time for the Little White Rabbit Princess to grow! Although I know you don't like plot-driven stories, and my click rate drops drastically during plot developments, plot development is truly unavoidable [please!]. How can a beautiful love story blossom without dramatic plot twists? I've already compressed a lot of plot in the beginning, and there will be plenty more later, but everything serves the romance. I'll try my best to make the plot interesting, so please don't give up on me! *crying*
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