Chapter 35

This unexpected turn of events caught everyone off guard. More than ten people in the hall, though unaware of the details, saw Xie Hengzhi leaning to block in front of Yiling. They assumed he was protecting his wife from the strike and didn’t realize it was Yiling who had pulled Xie Hengzhi in front of her to block the knife.

Even the maiko herself was dizzy and disoriented, knowing she had caused a great disaster.

She repeatedly kneeled and begged for mercy.

Among the chaos, Yiling seemed trapped in Xie Hengzhi’s gaze, lost and uncertain, not knowing what to do.

It wasn’t until Xie Hengzhi withdrew his gaze and glanced at the wound on his shoulder that Yiling seemed to snap back to reality.

After all, she was just a maiko, not a martial artist. Her body was delicate, and the “Mandarin Duck Sword” she performed with wasn’t sharp enough to cause a deep wound.

Xie Hengzhi slowly straightened himself, looking at the maiko in front of him. Without a change in expression, he calmly withdrew his sleeve from Yiling’s hand.

His hands were now empty, and Yiling finally regained her senses.

The maiko was crying hysterically, nearly out of breath, while everyone else held their breath, too scared to speak.

But this did not quell the anger of the King Yan.

Knowing that Xie Hengzhi had many political rivals, the prince didn’t believe the maiko words.

He was determined to make her reveal who had been behind the incident.

As the guards stepped forward to drag the maiko away, Yiling suddenly spoke up. “I saw it.”

“What?”

The King Yan asked.

This had originally been a misunderstanding, like a false alarm. Once calm, the images from the scene naturally replayed in Yiling’s mind.

Yiling, speaking as if to the prince but also to herself, murmured, “She… she just stepped on her skirt.”

Before anyone could react, Xie Hengzhi lightly chuckled.

That laugh was like a cold wind, quietly slipping into Yiling’s collar.

The King Yan didn’t know what Xie Hengzhi was laughing at. He only noticed that Yiling was speaking in defense of the maiko, so he said, “Though Mrs. Xie speaks for you, a death sentence can be avoided, but a living punishment cannot. Drag her away!”

“It’s just a superficial injury; no need for all the fighting.”

Xie Hengzhi seemed unwilling to be involved in this farce any longer. With a light and indifferent tone, he dropped this remark and stood up to leave.

The west wing of Yichun Palace was a place for the noble people to rest at night. Its decoration and construction were no less grand than the mansions of the capital.

Doctors were stationed here year-round for any emergencies.

At that moment, a doctor was applying medicine to Xie Hengzhi’s injury, softly advising him on the areas to avoid.

“Sir, you must change the dressing every day. Avoid spicy food, and don’t let it come into contact with water. In seven days, the scab should form, and it will be no big deal then.”

“However, sir, you won’t be able to soak in the hot springs. Please avoid it.”

Hiding behind the curtain, Yiling couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief upon hearing this, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.

Fortunately, the injury wasn’t severe.

When the doctor left with his medicine box, Yiling also got up from the bed, planning to check on Xie Hengzhi’s injury.

She quietly slipped on her shoes and tiptoed toward the outer room, making no noise and appearing somewhat guilty.

When she reached the outer room, she didn’t go directly outside but instead peeked out from behind the screen, secretly glancing at Xie Hengzhi.

Unfortunately, Xie Hengzhi suddenly turned his head, meeting her gaze.

Since he was injured and needed medication, a lamp was placed beside the table. The candlelight illuminated his eyes, making it impossible to ignore his gaze.

Yiling knew he was waiting for her to say something.

After a brief hesitation, Yiling awkwardly asked, “Are you alright?”

Xie Hengzhi lowered his eyes, and his face softened somewhat in the light and shadows.

Just as he was about to say he was fine, Yiling quickly added, “I meant the dancer.”

The window was not fully closed, and the wind entered, making the candlelight flicker. Yet, Xie Hengzhi’s gaze remained calm.

He merely gave Yiling a faint glance and then walked toward the bed.

“Don’t worry, she’s fine.”

“After all, she didn’t do it on purpose.”

It was someone else who had done it on purpose.

Yiling understood his implication and didn’t feel like responding.

In truth, she had just wanted to check on Xie Hengzhi, but after speaking, she realized something felt off—

He was Xie Hengzhi! What was she even guilty about?

If danger struck, shouldn’t she have tried to protect him?

Even if he had died by the dancer’s blade today because of her, that would have been right an eye for an eye, after all!

By the time Xie Hengzhi had already laid down on the bed, Yiling was still moving slowly, dragging her steps.

The room was quiet, and she quietly reached out to lift the bed curtain.

Xie Hengzhi lay there as usual, making it hard to tell if he was asleep or awake.

Somehow, even though she thought she hadn’t done anything wrong, Yiling still felt an indescribable sense of discomfort.

She hesitated for a long time, looking at his sleeping face, feeling as though she should say something.

Several opening remarks came to her lips, but in the end, she stammered, “I…”

The person on the bed didn’t react at all.

His eyes were gently closed, and his breathing was calm and steady, looking like he wasn’t still angry.

Since that was the case, maybe she should just let it go.

So, Yiling decided not to say anything in the end. She crept into bed, lying with her back to Xie Hengzhi.

Her movements were light, and she believed she wouldn’t wake him up.

It wasn’t until her breathing also calmed down that Xie Hengzhi opened his eyes in the darkness, silently watching the woman beside him.

The next morning.

Xie Hengzhi, along with Yiling, bid farewell to the Yan Wang couple and left Shuize Peak, heading out into the mist.

It was much quicker to descend than ascend, and by midday, they arrived at the Xie residence.

As they reached the entrance, the servant brought over a stirrup, and Xie Hengzhi dismounted the carriage first.

As usual, he reached out to help Yiling down. Once she stood steady, he walked toward the house.

The two of them didn’t speak much, but they seemed harmonious, and as usual, no one noticed anything unusual.

Only Mama Cao, trailing behind them, muttered, “Why did the master and mistress return so soon? The hot springs at Shuize Peak have miraculous effects; they should have stayed a couple more days.”

Mallow immediately chimed in, “Because the master got injured at Shuize Peak and can’t soak in the hot springs now.”

“Injured? What happened?”

Mama Cao immediately stepped forward, eyeing Yiling. “Mistress, are you alright? Did you get hurt?”

“It was an accident; I’m fine,” Yiling respondedly, not even blinking.

Hearing Yiling’s indifferent tone, Mallow felt she couldn’t wait to speak for her, eagerly recounting the events of the banquet—the master had protected Yiling, taking the blade for her, which left Mama Cao deeply moved.

“Master truly has deep feelings, protecting the mistress in every way.”

Mallow’s voice wasn’t exactly quiet, and Mama Cao deliberately praised him. Yiling and Xie Hengzhi, walking ahead, heard everything clearly.

Xie Hengzhi didn’t react, as usual.

But Yiling’s ears turned red, and she quickly interrupted, “Mallow, go to the East Market and buy me some golden pastries.”

Afterward, she turned around, only to find Xie Hengzhi glancing at her.

Though he didn’t say anything, his look made Yiling feel exposed and guilty.

Mallow and the others were unaware, but on the way back, Xie Hengzhi and Yiling shared a carriage, and they didn’t speak a word.

The hours of silence were torturous for Yiling, as if sitting on needles, feeling a sharp discomfort in her chest and throat.

Now, with Mama Cao’s constant “deep feelings” and “protecting her at all costs,” it felt like a direct jab at Yiling’s heart.

She coughed lightly and, with some reluctance, looked at Xie Hengzhi.

“You’re not going out today?”

“Mm.”

As they entered the bedroom, Xie Hengzhi casually untied his cloak, took off his outer garment, and his shirt’s shoulder was stained with a patch of red blood.

It was probably due to the rough journey.

Yiling noticed and felt her ears heat up again, too shy to look in Xie Hengzhi’s direction.

After lingering for a while, she finally thought of something to break the silence but saw that Xie Hengzhi had already gone to bed.

“I’ll sleep for a while.”

His voice was calm, without much emotion, but Yiling could sense an undertone of dismissal.

She paused for a moment, then quietly withdrew without saying anything.

The bedroom wasn’t a welcoming place, and she couldn’t stay outside either.

So, Yiling went to the east wing room by herself; at least it was warmer there.

After a while, Mama Cao came in with a pot of ginger tea.

She carefully poured Yiling a cup and subtly observed her expression.

When they had just returned to the manor earlier, Mama Cao had already sensed something was off. Now, with Xie Hengzhi lying down in broad daylight, Yiling, who was usually more lazy, had gone to the east wing it was even more unusual.

After a brief pause, Mama Cao asked, “Did the Madam and the Master have a disagreement at Shuize Peak?”

Was it that obvious?

Yiling immediately denied it: “No, there’s nothing wrong. Everything’s fine.”

“Oh…”

Mama Cao glanced toward the bedroom and said no more.

Yiling, however, looked at the steaming ginger tea on the table and thought about having Mama Cao take a pot to Xie Hengzhi.

Just as the words were about to leave her mouth, his cold image suddenly flashed in her mind, and she thought better of it.

So, Yiling ended up staying in the east wing, doing nothing for quite some time.

She kept looking out the window, confused as to why, despite it already being winter, time seemed to move so slowly, and the sky never seemed to darken.

Mama Cao suggested that she take a walk in the yard, but Yiling had no energy for it.

Why go out in such cold weather?

Feeling gloomy, Yiling couldn’t help but try to distract herself by starting a conversation.

“Where’s Mallow? Why’s it taking so long to buy the money pastry?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Mallow entered.

She had overheard Yiling’s dissatisfaction and quickly explained, “I ran into Doctor Zhang on the way back, so I came back with him.”

She then pointed outside, “Madam, would you like Doctor Zhang to see you now?”

“Oh, so it’s Doctor Zhang.”

Yiling quickly adjusted her clothes and said, “Please invite him in.”

Doctor Zhang was a senior doctor at the Tai Hospital. Since Yiling had fallen into the water at Shuize Peak, the Crown Prince had specifically ordered him to come every day to check on the Xie residence. For this reason, Yiling held him in high regard.

After inviting him in, she hurriedly asked Mama Cao to bring tea.

While taking her pulse, Yiling informed him that she had just returned from Shuize Peak.

Doctor Zhang nodded. “The spring water at Shuize Peak has remarkable effects. Madam’s cold symptoms have greatly improved.”

He then wrote out a new prescription and gave Yiling some instructions before preparing to leave.

Seeing his robes, Yiling suddenly remembered that Doctor Zhang was also treating Shen Shufang’s health, so she asked, “I saw the Crown Princess was ill a few days ago. Is she feeling better now?”

If anyone else had asked about the Crown Princess’s health, Doctor Zhang would have kept silent.

However, considering that the woman before him was Xie Hengzhi’s wife, he weighed the situation and honestly replied, “The Princess has been coughing recently.”

He paused for a moment before lowering his voice. “But it’s nothing serious. What’s more concerning is that she seems troubled in her heart and has lost her appetite. That’s what’s truly harmful to her health.”

Yiling remained silent for a long time before speaking, “She must be feeling upset.”

Xie Residence.

As dusk fell, Xie Hengzhi woke up.

Although his injuries weren’t severe, he had caught a chill when rescuing Yiling from the water.

But as a man, he could still endure the weakness inside.

His original plan had been to rest and recuperate at Shuize Peak.

However, an unexpected incident occurred he couldn’t enter the water and lost quite a bit of blood. After returning to the capital, he felt extremely fatigued.

By now, night had fallen, and the room was lit with lamps.

After getting out of bed, Xie Hengzhi noticed a pot of ginger tea on the table.

He reached out to touch it. It was still warm.

So, he poured himself a cup.

After taking a small sip, a maid entered, hearing the noise, and asked, “my Lord, dinner is ready.
Would you like to eat now, or wait for the madam to return?”

Xie Hengzhi raised an eyebrow when he heard this: “Where has she gone?”

The maid wasn’t sure either, as she had only overheard a vague explanation.

“It seems that the Crown Princess has been coughing, so the Madam went to the Eastern Palace to check on her.”

The room suddenly fell silent.

Then, Xie Hengzhi placed the cup down with a “bang” and turned around.

“No need to wait for her.”