Physician Zhu is right. During the days they were isolated in the camp, the relationship between Lin Qingwan and Zhao Cong changed.
When others are present, they can still be polite and distant.
Once they were alone in the space, they could both feel something flowing invisibly between them.
Because of his gentle expression, Lin Qingwan was very careful in her movements.
"Eunuch Cang said that Consort Su sent over the tea and snacks, which are all your usual favorites."
She lowered her head, her nose was delicate, and her lips were moist; the light made her look very beautiful.
Zhao Cong didn't even lift his eyelids, remaining indifferent, "The tea and snacks here suit my taste. Have Cangying bring these out later."
After saying that, he clicked his tongue. Cang Ying really didn't want to work anymore. Even Su Concubine's things could be delivered to him, and Lin Qingwan had to bring them in!
Upon thinking about this, his face darkened.
Lin Qingwan didn't react much. "Then I'll bring you the usual tea."
She bent down and put the pastries back on the tray, like a dutiful maid.
Zhao Cong was displeased. When he looked up, he saw the hickey on her neck that hadn't faded yet. He couldn't help but think of the afternoon when Consort Ning took her away. She must have been very scared and nervous.
It must have been Consort Ning who wanted to kill her, which is why she had the quick thinking to persuade Consort Ning to prepare medicine for Zhao Yan, thus buying time until she finally got her turn.
But she never expected that Consort Ning would smear poison on her body.
Zhao Cong recalled more than once how she avoided his approach, her face full of anxiety as she told him that there was poison.
No one will think of others when their own life is in danger. The wickedness and cunning of human nature will only lead them to sacrifice everything they can to save themselves in times of danger.
But Lin Qingwan is not.
His heart, which had been as hard as stone, seemed to be gradually being revitalized.
She is different from everyone else.
As Zhao Cong was thinking, he unconsciously reached out and touched her neck with his warm fingertips, rubbing the hickey twice.
Lin Qingwan stood frozen in place, her mind blank, staring at him blankly.
Only when she felt a slight stinging pain on her skin did she take a deep breath, stagger back half a step, and cover the hickey tightly with both hands.
"Crown Prince."
Her voice trembled, she didn't know what to say, her head was down, and her long eyelashes trembled.
Zhao Cong snapped out of his daze, his gaze falling on his fingertips, which were slightly burning.
"Does it still hurt?"
Lin Qingwan shook her head, "It doesn't hurt."
"Come here. There's some medicine here, apply it yourself."
Lin Qingwan shook her head again, "No need, it'll be over in a couple of days..."
"Just apply it as I told you to," Zhao Cong interrupted her, his tone displeased but not exactly angry. "It looks awkward."
"It's not good to keep coming in and out."
The last sentence sounded somewhat aggrieved.
Lin Qingwan didn't think much of it, obediently took the ointment, and turned her back to apply it.
The ointment was good, but she couldn't see the hickeys herself, so she just applied it randomly based on her sense of touch.
Since it's been wiped away anyway, the Crown Prince won't say anything more.
She was trying to be perfunctory and was about to put the medicine bottle back in when Zhao Cong suddenly snatched it from behind.
She suddenly turned around and saw that he had put ointment on his fingers and was about to put them on her neck without saying a word.
"Don't move." He frowned.
Lin Qingwan felt as if she had been struck by a pressure point. When the hickey was touched, she clicked her tongue softly, realizing that she had indeed not found the right spot.
Zhao Cong groped the wound while complaining, "Who are you trying to fool!"
"I'm not blind."
"Only you dare to treat me like I'm blind, thinking you can just wipe me down and call it a day."
Lin Qingwan lowered her head and admitted her mistake, not daring to argue at all.
She lowered her head, casting a shadow that Zhao Cong couldn't see clearly. He casually lifted her chin with his other hand, saying, "Raise your head, you can't see clearly."
Lin Qingwan was forced to look up, her bright, watery eyes meeting Zhao Cong's gaze.
Because the two were too close, and his hand was gently caressing her neck, the ointment was shiny, and his fingertips were warm, her eyes were wet and somewhat dazed.
Zhao Cong's Adam's apple bobbed twice, suppressing the turbulent emotions in his eyes, and he raised an eyebrow with an air of nonchalance, "You're not happy even after I said a few words to you?"
Lin Qingwan blinked. "I wouldn't dare."
As soon as he finished speaking, Feng'er ran in excitedly, "Daddy!"
The next second, the three of them looked at each other in bewilderment.
A second later, Shen Xu and Physician Zhu also saw it.
Alright, the five of them looked at each other in bewilderment.
Feng'er covered her mouth and laughed, "Father, I was wrong, I'll leave now, you can continue."
The kid ran faster than he came, and slammed the door shut behind him.
Lin Qingwan blushed and took several steps back.
Zhao Cong's heart was also pounding, and he put his hands behind his back, hiding his slightly trembling fingers.
But he put on a good show, appearing calm and composed.
She couldn't help but add a complaint, "He's getting more and more spoiled. Once we get back to the palace, I'll send him to the Imperial Academy."
Lin Qingwan couldn't help but chuckle. "Your Highness, please take care."
Finally, he looked at Lin Qingwan and said, "I have something else to say."
"Come closer."
Lin Qingwan's heart, which had not yet calmed down, began to race again.
What's wrong with her? Why is she so nervous about exchanging a few words with the Crown Prince? Could anything more troublesome than tearing someone's pants back then?
Her cheeks flushed again at the thought of it, which was very noticeable under the light.
Zhao Cong finally managed to compose himself, but seeing her like this, he couldn't help but frown.
What is he nervous about?
No, why is she blushing?
*
With the Chaoning Street incident resolved, Zhao Cong finally returned to the palace on the third day. Lin Qingwan didn't need to think it through to know that it had been a bloody and turbulent affair.
When she walked out of Chaoning Street, her mother, Lin, was waiting outside the cordon.
She looked much more haggard than I had seen her for several days.
When he saw Lin Qingwan, his eyes reddened. "Qingwan, I'm so glad you're alright."
Lin Qingwan used to appear indifferent, but she felt sad inside. Now, she has truly let go.
Or perhaps she already has someone more worthy of her worry and care.
She gave a faint "hmm," and said, "Luckily, I didn't get infected."
News of her taking care of the Crown Prince had spread throughout the capital. At first, Lin was worried, but later she came to terms with it.
On the way, I couldn't help but ask her, "You and the Crown Prince..."
A wave of nausea washed over Lin Qingwan, and she couldn't hide it. "Jiang Yanwan is unreliable, so you and Father are now targeting me?"
Madam Lin hadn't expected her to be so resistant and felt guilty. "Qingwan, Mother just..."
"Even if you were planning this, it was you who asked me to. If you asked me to, why didn't you wait until we got back to the manor to start talking about it in the carriage?"
Lin Qingwan's temper flared up. "Consort Ning and Prince Jing are unreliable, and the Prime Minister's residence is also in dire straits. Have you and Father been waiting anxiously these past few days?"
Lin said aggrievedly, "Your mother didn't think that way. There are so many rumors going around, and your mother is worried that you'll suffer alone out there."
Lin Qingwan laughed angrily, "You ignored me for fifteen years. When I came back to claim my family after taking poison, my mother turned a blind eye when Jiang Yanwan and Jiang Zhenlin bullied me. Now you say you're worried about me suffering. Do you think that's believable?"
Lin choked up, and tears welled up instantly.
She knew she could never make up for what she owed her daughter, but she was genuinely worried about her.
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