Chapter 64 He couldn't possibly leave.
Chapter Sixty-One
The room was completely silent, so empty that only the pattering rain outside the window could be heard. After a long time, just when she thought he had left, his hoarse voice finally broke through the silence.
"Yes, Your subordinate obeys."
The candlelight flickered, and Lin Xiao was gone.
Shen Panyan finally couldn't hold back anymore, and tears streamed down her face. Because she was afraid he wasn't still there, watching her from the shadows, she had been restraining herself, not letting out a sound. Her soft lips were bitten until they turned white, and slowly blood seeped out, falling into her mouth—bitter, so very bitter…
*
Lin Xiao did not believe what His Highness said.
The last time he came to see His Highness, His Highness was very happy. She had been indulging herself all along. Since he met His Highness, His Highness had never spoken harshly to him. How could she suddenly... He couldn't believe that this was His Highness's true thought.
Therefore, after leaving the princess's residence, he went to the Rongguo Duke's residence overnight.
Gu Jinyan was sleeping soundly when she was suddenly awakened by a chill.
"You're awake?"
As soon as Gu Jinyan opened her eyes, they widened suddenly, and then she quickly closed them again.
"I must be dreaming, I must still be dreaming..." His voice trembled, utterly panicked.
Anyone who suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night and finds themselves tied to a high platform with nothing beneath their feet would be terrified. The fact that he didn't faint is a testament to his composure.
"Who are you, and what is your purpose...?"
Lin Xiao didn't want to waste words with him. "Are you getting married?"
Gu Jinyan was stunned for a moment, then opened her eyes blankly: "Huh?"
Getting married? What kind of marriage?
He stared at the tall, masked man in black, who was toying with a dagger. The sharp glint of the blade was blinding in the night, sending chills down his spine and making his heart leap into his throat. "You..."
"Answer me." Lin Xiao's eyes were sharp and cold, like a dagger piercing straight into his heart.
Gu Jinyan felt his blood run cold and stammered, "...No."
Lin Xiao's dagger faltered; the sharp blade sliced his fingertip, blood trickling down his skin and seeping into his wrist guard. However, he seemed oblivious to the pain, striding closer to him to confirm again, "Nothing?!"
Staring into his cold, oppressive dark eyes, Gu Jinyan's heart pounded wildly: "No, no, really no!!"
"His Majesty really didn't bestow a marriage upon you and Princess Mingyue?"
"If His Majesty has already bestowed the marriage upon him, the whole capital will know. Why would I need to hide it?" Gu Jinyan felt truly wronged. Where did this madman come from in the middle of the night? He was brought out just to ask His Majesty if His Majesty had bestowed a marriage upon him and Princess Mingyue... Wait, does this person know the princess?
Gu Jinyan was surprised, and her brows furrowed slightly.
What is this person's relationship with the princess?
*
Having obtained the answer he wanted, Lin Xiao deftly sheathed his dagger without the slightest hesitation and turned to leave.
His Highness was indeed deceiving himself.
She said she was getting married, but Gu Jinyan knew nothing about it. She did it on purpose; she was lying to him.
But why would Your Highness do this?
Lin Xiao couldn't understand it.
I still remember when we first arrived at the royal villa, he accidentally injured Her Highness, causing her to fall into a coma and almost die. He made such a big mistake, but she didn't punish him. She just lightly said "listen to her" and let it go.
Your Highness is so good, why... is it because you found out his feelings and disliked him, so you don't want him anymore?
But she could forgive him even for hurting her with his own hands... so why is she unwilling to forgive him now?
The face beneath the mask was deathly pale, as white as paper.
He never dared to hope that His Highness would like him. It was he who had developed feelings for His Highness that he shouldn't have. His Highness could punish him, scold him, and do whatever she wanted to him... but she couldn't abandon him.
He will not leave His Highness...
Seeing that he turned and left without saying a word, Gu Jinyan was dumbfounded.
"Hey, at least put me down!!!"
Lin Xiao glanced back at Gu Jinyan, who was still struggling, his eyes darkened, and without making any move, he suddenly disappeared into the night.
Gu Jinyan: "..."
Damn men in black.
Don't let him find out who he is, otherwise, he'll definitely make things difficult for him.
Gu Jinyan cursed inwardly as he was hung on the high platform, exposed to the wind all night. The continuous spring rain pelted his face, making him shiver with cold. In the latter half of the night, he developed a high fever. If it weren't for the patrolling soldiers who saw him, he didn't know how long he would have been hanging there.
When they returned to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, Gu Jinyan was already suffering from a persistent high fever and was unconscious.
When the Duchess of Rong heard about this, she was both angry and anxious, and almost couldn't catch her breath. At this moment, she didn't have time to find out who did it. She quickly sent someone to deliver a token to the palace to invite the imperial physician to treat Gu Jinyan.
At 9:00 AM, at the Princess's residence.
Shen Panyan got up from the bed listlessly. She was a little surprised that she didn't see Zhuzhi come to report that Gu Jinyan had arrived. He had been going to the princess's residence every day these days. Why didn't he come today?
After thinking for a moment, Shen Panyan decided to send someone to the Rongguo Duke's mansion to find out what was going on.
After all, he came every day. If he suddenly stopped coming, could something have happened? Shen Panyan was a little worried.
Upon learning that Gu Jinyan had been kidnapped by some thief the previous night and tied up on a high platform in the west of the city, exposed to the wind and rain all night, and was now suffering from a high fever and unconscious, Shen Panyan's vision went black and she almost fainted.
She knew who did it without even thinking.
Gu Jinyan had a likable personality and was generous; very few people in the capital had a grudge against him. The only person who could dislike him, possess such skill, and quietly take him out of the Rongguo Duke's mansion... besides Lin Xiao, she really couldn't think of anyone else.
Last night, she thought Lin Xiao had given up, but she didn't expect him to go to find Gu Jinyan.
He must have gone to him to verify.
Shen Panyan felt a sudden pang of panic for no apparent reason.
Lin Xiao had always been gentle and obedient in front of her, to the point that she had forgotten that Lin Xiao was actually a ruthless and efficient bodyguard... He had a variety of interrogation methods, and Gu Jinyan was just a pampered young master who would definitely not last more than two rounds in his hands before he confessed everything.
He's so smart, he'll definitely see the flaws in her words and realize she's lying to him.
His stubborn refusal to leave last night made it clear to her that he wouldn't give up so easily.
Shen Panyan pursed her lips, trying hard to suppress her flustered emotions.
We must not let Lin Xiao discover the truth.
If Lin Xiao knew the truth, he might still want to stay by her side no matter what, since he has never cared about his own life or death.
Lin Xiao is a very stubborn person. Once he makes a decision or does something he doesn't want to do, no one can change his mind except himself.
Moreover, kidnapping the young master of the Rongguo Duke's mansion and tying him to a high platform, Shen Panyan dared not imagine how furious her father would be if he knew about this, or if he discovered that Lin Xiao was the one who did it... Thinking of this, Shen Panyan could no longer sit still.
"Bamboo branch, help me with my hair and makeup."
She was going to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion.
When Shen Panyan arrived, Gu Jinyan had just taken her medicine and was fast asleep.
She looked at Gu Jinyan lying on the bed, reached out and gently touched his forehead. It was so hot!
Lin Xiao's actions were far too excessive.
She furrowed her brows almost imperceptibly and asked the maid beside her in a gentle voice, "Is Young Master Gu feeling better?"
"Your Highness, the young master just took his medicine, and his fever has subsided somewhat," the maid replied respectfully.
Shen Panyan withdrew her hand: "Did the imperial physician say when he will wake up? Is this high fever life-threatening?"
Before the maid could speak, Gu Tanghua, the second young lady of the Rongguo Duke's Mansion who was traveling with her, spoke up: "Princess, there is no need to worry. My brother has always been in good health. Although this high fever can be treated in time, it will not endanger his life. He will wake up once the fever subsides."
She smiled, thinking that the princess cared so much about her brother, so it seemed that he wasn't just being enthusiastic on his own.
As long as it doesn't endanger their lives.
Shen Panyan breathed a sigh of relief, afraid that Gu Tanghua would see through her true feelings, and smiled and said, "It's good that Young Master Gu is alright."
She then asked, "Has the Rongguo Duke's Mansion found out who did this?"
Speaking of this, Gu Tanghua looked indignant. "Not yet. I don't know what kind of villain is so hateful. What did my brother do to offend him that he has to be tortured like this? The wind and rain were so heavy last night. My brother has never suffered such injustice in his life. My mother has searched the entire mansion several times but has not found any clues. My father went to the west of the city to ask the patrolling soldiers, but no one saw who did it. Now my father and mother are waiting for my brother to wake up so we can ask him if he saw clearly who did it last night."
Hearing that Lin Xiao had left no clues, Shen Panyan had just breathed a sigh of relief when she suddenly raised the issue again.
She echoed his words, feigning anger: "That scoundrel is despicable. Young Master Gu is always easygoing and unconcerned with trivial matters. He has suffered such humiliation for no reason. We must find that person and punish him properly."
"Princess, don't be angry. Maybe your brother offended someone outside and brought this on himself. Anyway, he's never home." Gu Tanghua quickly comforted Shen Panyan when she saw her angry expression.
"Princess, the smell of medicine is too strong here. Why don't you move outside and stroll around my garden? The hibiscus flowers are in full bloom right now, they're so beautiful!"
Gu Jinyan's younger sister, Gu Tanghua, was straightforward and immediately grabbed her wrist and tried to lead her outside. Shen Panyan was slightly surprised and quickly refused.
What if she leaves and Gu Jinyan wakes up and tells her who kidnapped him last night?
She had to wait here for him to wake up.
“Young Master Gu has been very kind to me these past few days. Now that he is ill, I should wait for him to wake up. I won’t go to the garden. If Sister Gu finds it boring, she doesn’t have to keep me company.”
"How can that be? I promised my mother I would treat you well."
If it weren't for the fact that the Duchess of Rongguo was too busy to find the time, she would be the one entertaining Shen Panyan right now.
Since Shen Panyan wouldn't leave, Gu Tanghua had no choice but to stay and keep her company.
However, she was lively by nature and couldn't sit still for long. Shen Panyan couldn't help but laugh when she saw her lying on the table, looking bored and fiddling with her teacup.
The brother and sister do look alike.
She had wronged Gu Jinyan in this matter.
She arrogantly believed that as long as she spoke her mind, Lin Xiao would do it, but she didn't expect that Lin Xiao also had feelings for her. This led to her being kidnapped by Lin Xiao, exposed to wind and rain all night, catching a cold, and suffering from a persistent high fever.
Lin Xiao is simple-minded, and his love and hate are very obvious. He never hides them. It was she who didn't consider his feelings and rashly wanted to separate from him.
Looking back now, if she were in that situation, she wouldn't be able to accept it either.
Shen Panyan sighed inwardly.
She made a mistake.
Just then, the maid who was taking care of Gu Jinyan hurriedly walked in.
"Princess, Second Miss, the young master is awake!!"
Shen Panyan paused for a moment, then quickly got up and walked towards Gu Jinyan's room.
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Author's Note: Sorry, Xiao Gu [doge emoji]
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