Chapter 69 He didn't say how he got injured.
Chapter Sixty-Six
"Lin Xiao!!" she cried out in a panic.
The boy in black stood in the dim moonlight, his face as pale as paper, his forehead covered in sweat. He was lonely and silent. Even though she was right in front of him, he hesitated and stood still, his gaze fixed on her, motionless.
It was as if she feared this was all a dream, and that when she woke up, she would be gone.
In the darkness, his body trembled slightly.
Shen Panyan noticed that he was in a bad mood, so she lifted her skirt and ran over to him. She looked up at him, grabbed his hands, and asked anxiously, "Lin Xiao, what's wrong?"
"....."
As if waking from a dream, he finally realized where he was.
As the wind brushed against Shen Panyan's cheeks, lifting strands of hair at her temples, a pair of strong arms embraced her, their broad and warm embrace holding her tightly within.
“Your Highness…” His voice trembled brokenly, “I have seen you, I have finally seen you.”
"This time it's for real, you really are."
Shen Panyan froze, her nose stinging, her eyes welling up with tears. She let him embrace her and whispered, "I'm here, Lin Xiao."
Just this once, just let her be this way. He'd suffered so much, and coming out of the dark room must be terrified. She couldn't push him away. Shen Panyan comforted herself like this. Then, she gently put her arm around his lean waist and whispered, "Lin Xiao, I'm here."
Shen Panyan had never regretted it so much.
If only I had known... But there's no such thing as knowing something beforehand.
*
The candlelight flickered, and the room was silent.
Shen Panyan sat on the couch. The temple house was simple, with nothing to hide except for a bed. Her gaze fell on the young man in front of her. His black hair was tied up high, and he had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. The candlelight flickered on his face, sometimes bright and sometimes dim, making him look somewhat unreal.
"Lin Xiao." She opened her mouth, wanting to say so much, but when she was actually facing him, she didn't know how to say it.
She wanted to know what he had been through in the past month, but she was afraid that if she cared too much, he would misunderstand her even more.
After a long silence, she finally spoke: "Are you... alright now?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I am fine."
The vulnerability and helplessness he had just shown seemed to be only fleeting, and Lin Xiao had now returned to his usual calm and indifferent demeanor.
Shen Panyan lowered her eyelashes, her knuckles unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes, making them crumpled.
How could nothing have happened? She hadn't forgotten a single word of the punishment in the dark room that Zhuzhi had mentioned.
Lin Xiao is a human being, not a heartless and desireless tool. How could he remain unmoved in such silent darkness?
He must be lying to himself, but she didn't know what role she should play in caring for him at this moment. She was afraid of falling deeper and deeper into it, and she was also afraid of him falling deeper and deeper into it.
Finally, she forced a smile, her lips pale, "It's good that you're alright."
It was already very dark when we came down the mountain, and now a light drizzle is falling outside the window. The damp air hits us, making the already silent room even more somber.
Shen Panyan remained silent because she didn't know what to say, while Lin Xiao remained silent because he realized that His Highness might treat him differently.
He wasn't a slow-witted person; he hadn't understood before, but Shen Panyan's sudden decision to sever ties with him had thrown him into a panic, preventing him from noticing anything further.
The secret guards were always adept at unraveling the truth, and Lin Xiao was among the best. At this moment, looking at His Highness's slender and frail figure and obedient and gentle face, he suddenly felt an impulse. He wanted to ask, to ask His Highness if he cared about him very much... But he couldn't ask such a question.
Although Lin Xiao was used to being unrestrained, he was not someone who didn't know his place. It was just that His Highness had been too good to him, so much so that he often forgot his status and overstepped his bounds several times.
If it were anyone else, they would have been punished for what he did, but His Highness not only did not punish him, but also showed him great concern.
She almost never refused him, even as his behavior became increasingly outrageous and offensive.
During that month in the dark room, he touched the safety buckle on his wrist and had countless inappropriate thoughts.
Eight years ago, when he was locked in a dark room for training, he felt the wind, and ever since then, he has longed for freedom. Eight years later, he was locked in a dark room again. This time, in that silent world where he lost his five senses, he held the safety amulet given to him by His Highness, as if grasping at the only light, like a moth drawn to a flame, unable to let go.
"Lin Xiao." Finally, Shen Panyan broke the oppressive silence, "When are you going back?"
Because his gaze was so deep and dark, Shen Panyan subconsciously curled her knuckles and awkwardly looked away.
Lin Xiao: "Shadow has granted me three days of rest. For the next three days, I may stay by Your Highness's side."
Shen Panyan paused, her eyes widening slightly, her expression somewhat flustered.
She had just made up her mind to be colder to him from now on, when he said he wasn't leaving?
"You...you're not leaving?"
No! What if Father finds out if he stays here?
After the Qushenglou incident, Shen Panyan is now extremely paranoid.
Lin Xiao nodded: "Yes."
He countered, "Does Your Highness wish for me to leave?"
Shen Panyan: "I....."
Seeing that he was safe and sound, she was relieved. Now it wasn't a matter of whether she wanted to or not, but that he couldn't stay here.
Shen Panyan thought for a moment and said seriously, "Lin Xiao, you are still Father's secret guard after all. Father's eyes and ears are all over the capital. What if you are accidentally discovered by your colleagues?"
"You can't stay."
After saying that, she sighed again, "Besides, you just came out of the dark room, and the most important thing now is to get some rest."
"Lin Xiao, go back. In a month at most, I will find a way to get you back from Father."
Fearing he might act impulsively again, Shen Panyan spoke with utmost sincerity and earnestness, afraid he might misunderstand her meaning.
I thought he would be as stubborn as last time and refuse to leave, but to my surprise...
"Your Highness understands." Lin Xiao lowered his eyelashes and turned around. "Your Highness, I will leave now and will not disturb you any longer."
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
After saying that, he turned and walked out of the house, his shadow stretching long in the candlelight.
He pushed open the door and walked straight into the rain. The rain was heavy, and the wind and rain were fierce. The rain pattered on him, and soon his clothes and hair were soaked. Raindrops streamed down his pale cheeks and soaked his chest, making him look disheveled and pitiful.
Shen Panyan thought he would use his lightness skill to leave, after all, he had profound internal strength and could keep himself dry even in the rain. But who knew that this would happen?
Shen Panyan held her breath and couldn't help but clutch the hem of her clothes tightly.
Why doesn't Lin Xiao use his internal energy?
Could he be injured?
But he doesn't look injured.
Suddenly, she saw him stagger, his body trembling and swaying. He was about to fall, but he was trying his best to restrain himself. In the rainy night, his figure was getting farther and farther away, almost blending into the darkness. What if he couldn't hold on and fainted somewhere if they continued walking like this?
Thinking of this, Shen Panyan finally couldn't hold back any longer, grabbed a bamboo umbrella not far away, and rushed into the rain.
"Lin Xiao!"
It's already raining tonight, why should she send him away now? It'll be the same if the weather clears up tomorrow.
Moreover, he appeared to be injured.
Lin Xiao wasn't very fast, and in no time, Shen Panyan caught up with him.
In the pouring rain of the night, the raindrops pattered against the umbrella. Chen Panyan held the umbrella over his head, reached out to support him, and asked anxiously, "What happened to you? Are you hurt?"
"Your Highness." Lin Xiao looked up at her weakly, his face pale, but then lowered his eyes again, his eyelashes trembling. "I'm fine, it's just a minor injury, Your Highness doesn't need to worry about it."
"I will bandage it once we return to the Dark Guard camp."
It's just a minor injury?!
Shen Panyan frowned. "Where are you hurt?"
"Since you were injured, why didn't you tell me?"
Shen Panyan regretted that he had acted too naturally before, and she hadn't noticed that he was injured at all. If she had known this, she wouldn't have let him leave.
"You..." she couldn't help but ask, "Where are you hurt? Let me see!!"
Lin Xiao shook his head, his voice low: "Your Highness, I'm fine."
After saying that, he pulled his arm out of her hand, his already unsteady body trembling even more. "I am a bodyguard, and it is common for me to get injured. Your Highness does not need to worry about it."
"Your Highness, you are not feeling well. Be careful not to catch a cold."
His clothes were already wet; he couldn't let His Highness's dress get wet as well.
Seeing that he was already unsteady on his feet, yet still worried about getting his clothes wet, Shen Panyan became somewhat angry.
At a time like this, he still doesn't care about his health.
"You're injured, how can this be a small matter?"
"My clothes are wet, so what? I can just change them. How can you be so careless about your own body?"
After saying that, she quickly supported his trembling body, grabbed his arm, and pursed her lips.
Well, it's only three days anyway. He's already injured, so let him stay here for these three days. At worst, she won't go back to the capital for these three days and will stay at Cining Temple.
That way, no one will ever discover him.
Having made up her mind, Shen Panyan led him back, saying, "Come on, come back with me."
"You can stay here for the next three days."
"Your Highness..." The young man before him seemed unable to believe it, looking up in surprise, his eyes sparkling, "You...you're not letting me go back?"
"You're injured, how can I let you go back?"
Let's go.
Shen Panyan wanted to take him away, but Lin Xiao hesitated. "But Your Highness, if I stay, I will cause you trouble."
His Highness had many concerns. He lowered his eyes, "I'd better leave."
"Your Highness will wait for me in the Dark Guard camp one day so that I may be taken away."
“”
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Author's note: I'm late today.
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