"I, I ..." As soon as Xiao Chaihuo opened his mouth, blood rolled down his lips. For the first time, the youth who was once full of life had become so weak and powerless. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮
Xin He was incredibly worried, pressing her hand on his wound in haste she said, "Don’t be afraid, it’s okay Ah Nan... we are going to find a doctor."
Xiao Chaihuo looked at her with a confused gaze and managed a weak smile, "You don’t need to comfort me, I’m not afraid of dying. As long as you live, I’ll be happy."
"No! No!" Xin He was in tears. Even at their worst disagreements, she never imagined that this person whom she regarded as her younger brother would one day precede her in death.
"Xiao Bei called me a fool... He said I shouldn’t have said such harsh words to the only person in this world who treats me like family... But, I’m not a fool..." Xiao Chaihuo weakly smirked and looked up at Xin He, seemingly understanding that each look he gave her might be his last, "You thought of me as your kin, but I didn’t just think of you as a family member. I planned to keep this secret to myself forever, but now it seems there’s no point."
Xin He stood stunned. She was no fool. How could she not understand, given how far the conversation has gone?
"To make you pay attention to me. Every task you gave me, I completed meticulously. I trained hard and studied harder, but I never felt it was hard work. A single word of praise from you was the greatest joy...I deliberately failed the Imperial Examination... so I wouldn’t have to leave you... It started with the Child Scholar Test when I was eleven..." Xiao Chaihuo paused, struggling for breath, before whispering, "Because you liked to use a dagger over the longsword, even though I learned swordsmanship, I only used the dagger. When I turned sixteen and you gave me your prized dagger as a coming-of-age gift, I was so happy that I couldn’t sleep."
"Stop talking... Let’s go find the doctor," Xin He responded with a stricken look on her face. Facing this new revelation along with the probability of Xiao Chaihuo’s impending death was overwhelming.
Xiao Chaihuo managed a feeble shake of his head, his voice fading almost to a whisper, "If I don’t speak now, I’ll never have the chance."
All his life, he had cautiously guarded this secret. As his life ebbed away, his only wish was for her to know it, even if for only a moment. He knew she would feel bad after finding out, but perhaps this was his one selfish act in his lifetime.
"You treated me as a brother, yet I never called you sister. You always said I was distant when I called you ’Princess,’ but for me, it was the closest I could get." Xiao Chaihuo coughed up another mouthful of blood, his face as white as paper.
Xin He sobbed uncontrollably, "Ah Nan! Stop talking, Ah Nan, you won’t die. I won’t let you die..."
"Xin He, Xin He," Xiao Chaihuo’s breath came in labored gasps, but his eyes held a rare hint of satisfaction. Being able to say her name seemed immensely fulfilling to him. "You, you, don’t...blame yourself... as long as you live... I’m happy..."
After he said those words, he seemed to lose all strength. His eyes closed, and his face drained of all color except for the streaks of blood at the corners of his mouth, making him look like a lifeless doll.
"Ah Nan? Ah Nan?!" Xin He cried out as tears streamed down her face, "Ah Nan?!"
"Your Highness."
The reinforcements returned after apprehending the assassins who had attacked Xin He and came to report back.
Xin He, however, was not responsive. A sense of helplessness gripped her and intensified as the poison inside her strengthened, due to her emotional distress. She suddenly fainted without drying her tears.
Before she fell, Marquis Mu Houchu was there to catch her.
"Your...Your Highness," the secret guard stuttered, taken aback by Mu Houchu’s grim expression.
Mu Houchu expressionlessly cradled Xin He in his arms and climbed into the horse carriage, instructing, "Take the Princess back to the Mansion. There can’t be any slip-ups."
"Yes, sir!"
Who would dare make a mistake? They value their lives.
"And what about... him," Ling Feng mustered up the courage to point at Xiao Chaihuo, lying in a pool of blood.
The princess had fainted out of heartbreak for another man. Given the current circumstances, the prince was likely furious. Ling Feng felt that bringing up the matter took all the courage he had in his life.
Mu Houchu cast Ling Feng a menacing glance, then squatted down next to Xiao Chaihuo, checking for a pulse. He could no longer feel any breath, but he still held Xiao Chaihuo’s body and blocked several of his vital points.
Ling Feng stuttered, "I think...he’s beyond saving."
Mu Houchu stood up and eyed Xiao Chaihuo with a deep gaze, and said softly, "Take him to see Elder Xu."
If he were to die, wouldn’t he leave a lasting impact on Xin He’s heart? Li Nan, your plan was indeed well plotted.
But he was possessive enough to not even share a small piece of her heart, let alone such a significant part of it!
"Yes!" Ling Feng acknowledged promptly.
"Have they captured the assassins?"
"Yes, they’ve been captured."
"Interrogate them first. Once they’ve confessed, execute all of them. There’s no need to keep them alive." Mu Houchu ordered coldly.
"I understand." No one who posed a threat to the princess could be left alive.
Mu Houchu climbed into the horse carriage and ordered, "Return to the Mansion!"
---
Yuwang Residence, Pingque Terrace.
Under the layers of curtains, servants and maids rushed to and fro.
Mu Houchu stayed by Xin He’s bedside until the doctor finished dressing her wound. The doctor bowed respectfully, "Your Highness, the wound on the Princess’s arm is not serious, and the bandages have been applied correctly. As for the poison within her body, we have an antidote. She should wake up soon."
Mu Houchu replied calmly, "You may leave."
"Yes."
When the doctor and nurse withdrew, the maids and servants within the room knew better than to linger. They quickly left—having served the prince for several years, they knew that his current mood was dangerous.
Mu Houchu’s large hand lightly traced over Xin He’s pale face "It’s my fault."
It was his negligence that allowed her to be injured and almost killed.
It was his failure that she had to rely on another man’s protection. It was his fault that he had to bear witness to Li Nan’s death etching itself into Xin He’s heart.
With that thought, Mu Houchu’s eyes filled with frostiness. He said coolly, "Ling Feng."
Ling Feng hurried in, "Your Highness."
"Did you take him to Elder Xu?"
"Yes, according to your command, I fed him the life extension pill and took him to Elder Xu. Elder Xu said that this man’s vitality is running out and it is likely too late to save him..."
"Did he have any requests?" Mu Houchu interrupted impatiently.
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