As evening approached, Ye Qingxue received the news and immediately got up to go to Zhuang Xin's room.
On the way, the servants said, "When Lord Zhuang first woke up, he said he had a terrible headache and didn't recognize people very well at first, which worried everyone. But he's doing well on his own and he recognizes people now, so I rushed here to tell the Crown Princess."
"However, he has been sleeping for many days and his body is still very stiff. He cannot get out of bed and walk for the time being. The imperial physician also told him to stay in bed for a while longer, and that exercising his hands and feet should be done gradually."
After Ye Qingxue understood the general situation, she walked to Zhuang Xin's room. The servants inside quickly made way for her.
Zhuang Xin was leaning against the headboard when he saw her, and his eyes reddened instantly. He even wanted to get up and bow to her.
Ye Qingxue raised her hand and pressed down: "We are already very satisfied that you can wake up, so let's not talk about whether or not to pay our respects."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Zhuang Xin hadn't spoken for a long time; his voice was terribly hoarse, as if he had been injured.
Ye Qingxue knew this was normal and didn't take it to heart. She just asked him, "Did you take any medicine after you woke up? Is there anything else that's bothering you? Have you told the imperial physician?"
Zhuang Xin replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I have already taken the medicine. The pain is normal from the injury. The imperial physician said to just let it heal slowly."
Seeing that he answered fluently, Ye Qingxue assumed that he was no longer in any danger and breathed a sigh of relief.
Ye Qingxue told him to rest well and recover from his injuries, and then left his room. She didn't come to see him again until the evening of the next day.
Apart from the maid and servant who were taking care of Zhuang Xin's injuries and brewing medicine, most of the people in his room had already left after confirming that he was out of danger.
After Ye Qingxue entered his room, she sent the servants and maids away and had Granny Xing guard the door.
Zhuang Xin immediately sat up straight. "Does the Crown Princess have any questions for me?"
Ye Qingxue sat down on the stool by his bed and said in a very calm tone, "Zhuang Xin, do you know that if you hadn't suddenly arrived that night, I would have died along with my unborn child?"
Zhuang Xin pursed his lips: "It is my honor to protect the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess need not take it to heart. Moreover, I survived entirely because of the Crown Princess's decisiveness and resourcefulness, not entirely because of me."
Ye Qingxue smiled and asked, "How did you end up outside the city that night? It was already dark. How did you find me?"
Zhuang Xin lowered his eyes slightly, then raised them again after a moment to meet her gaze: "I'm not afraid of being laughed at by the Crown Princess, but knowing that His Highness the Crown Prince is busy outside, I often worry that someone might do something to harm the Crown Prince's residence..."
“I know I have left the Crown Prince’s residence. This is the end I deserve. I have no right to care about anything related to the Crown Prince’s residence.”
"However... please forgive me, Your Highness. I was really worried when I learned that you had gone to the temple outside the city, so I waited for you at the foot of the mountain to protect you in secret."
Is that all there is to it?
Ye Qingxue pondered for a moment. Was she overthinking things?
How did you know I was going to the temple? Are many people aware of this?
Zhuang Xin was stunned for a moment, his face quickly turning red, filled with embarrassment and guilt, and he even wanted to get up and kneel down before Ye Qingxue.
Ye Qingxue stopped him: "Your injuries are still serious. You can say whatever you want to say in bed. There's no need to bow all the time."
Zhuang Xin said, "...I have been keeping an eye on the Crown Prince's residence, which is why I learned about the Crown Princess's visit to the temple. I know this is offensive, but I couldn't help it. I beg the Crown Princess to punish me. I will accept any punishment, as it is what I deserve!"
He quickly explained, "But I didn't keep an eye on things like a psycho. I just kept watch from a distance, thinking that if anything happened, I could help out, that's all!"
“You don’t need to be nervous.” Ye Qingxue smiled again. “I was just curious why you were in such a place so late. Since you say so, I believe you.”
Zhuang Xin looked at her and clenched the blanket beneath him.
After telling him to take good care of his injuries, Ye Qingxue got up and left.
For the next month, Kyoto was peaceful and the weather was warm. The ever-burning lamps in the temples burned well, and no accidents occurred.
Zhuang Xin's injuries healed, and he became a guard in the Crown Prince's residence again. However, he was no longer Yun Zhuo's confidant, nor could he enter the inner courtyard to report. He was just an ordinary guard in the Crown Prince's residence.
Before Mi Rao appeared, Yun Zhuo lived wherever he lived.
However, after the Mi Rao incident, he found another place to live outside. On this day of rest, he returned to his small house.
When he got home, he saw Mi Rao sitting under a tree in front of his house, with a basket on the table covered with a cloth.
"Brother Zhuang, you're back? I made a few dishes and brought them here for you to try, and also to celebrate your return as a guard to the Crown Prince's residence." Mi Rao said with a sweet smile.
After leaving the Crown Prince's residence, Zhuang Xin took her to see a doctor, but her injuries to her hands and feet were too severe, and even after treatment, she could not fully recover.
She still walks with a limp, and her right hand is not very strong.
Having not seen her for a long time, Zhuang Xin was momentarily dazed upon seeing her again. He opened the door and went inside.
Mi Rao followed him in carrying a basket, placed the food on the table, and handed the chopsticks to Zhuang Xin: "Brother Zhuang, please eat quickly. I've been cooking all morning, keeping it warm so it wouldn't get cold, and I'm waiting for you here!"
Zhuang Xin sat on the stool, took the chopsticks, but didn't start eating. Instead, he looked up at her and asked, "Mi Rao, what do you want me to do?"
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