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Princess Xinyang didn't hand the bowls and chopsticks to him. Instead, she turned and placed them on the stove.
Xiao Liulang hadn't anticipated that she would suddenly wake up at this time, much less that she would condescend to come into the small kitchen. In fact, even Princess Xinyang hadn't expected that she would come here herself.
The two of them unexpectedly met without warning.
It was no longer the back of the person’s head, no longer the person’s silhouette, nor the vague sleeping face swallowed by darkness in the middle of the night, but a clear and vivid front face right under the broad daylight.
Shedding the youthfulness of a fourteen-year-old, he now possessed a composed demeanor forged by years, though he was only eighteen and still had a little over three months to reach nineteen, an age that should still carry the awkwardness of youth. Yet, he had matured ahead of his time.
His stature had grown taller, yet his cheeks seemed to have thinned.
The fourteen-year-old Xiao Heng had been the pampered Little Marquis, the bright moon in the sky. But now, he had tumbled into the dust. He was like a beautiful jade that had gathered dirt, turning into a lonely pebble seemingly abandoned by the roadside.
Princess Xinyang's gaze momentarily didn't know where to settle— on his face devoid of the mole, or on his lame leg.
Xiao Liulang seemed to have his sharp edges suddenly cut away. He only felt as though a layer of skin and flesh had been peeled off him, leaving him exposed, bleeding, and laid bare in the eyes of those who knew or didn't know.
With every step, there were footprints of blood.
Xiao Liulang's eyes were bloodshot.
Is this punishment enough? Is this pain satisfying enough? Have I redeemed my dirty sins with this body covered in filth?
Princess Xinyang stared at him fixedly. Suddenly, her body staggered, and she instinctively reached out with one hand to steady herself against the scorching stove.
Xiao Liulang's gaze flickered, and his hand unconsciously reached out. But it froze in midair as he met her resistant eyes.
Princess Xinyang's body trembled gently. She gave him one last look, clutched her chest, and ran out without looking back...
When Gu Jiao finished attending to the patients in the medical hall and came over to the small courtyard to check on Princess Xinyang's condition, she was informed that Princess Xinyang had already left.
Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow curiously, "I was planning to have her stay a few more days."
It seemed like mother and son shared quite similar behavior patterns.
Wanting to see each other but also avoiding a proper meeting.
Xiao Liulang originally didn't need to come. He had heard that Princess Xinyang had fainted and had followed to see her. After Gu Jiao set up an intravenous drip for Princess Xinyang, she went to attend to her medical practice, while Xiao Liulang remained by Princess Xinyang’s side throughout the process.
Little Jing Kong was playing in the yard.
Midway through, it was also Xiao Liulang who called Gu Jiao over to remove the needle.
Later, Xiao Liulang called Little Jing Kong to come into the room and watch over her as he cooked.
But the food he cooked, she hadn't taken a single bite.
Gu Jiao had almost finished her work. She tidied up a bit, took Little Jing Kong to wash his hands, and along with Xiao Liulang, they returned to Bishui Alley.
She had thought it through. The safest place was by Princess Xinyang's side. Second best was Bishui Alley. Wasn't there a saying that went, "The most dangerous place is the safest place"?
Who could have anticipated that Xiao Liulang was already staying at home?
As the family of three exited the back door of the medical hall, Yu Jin hurriedly returned to the medical hall with an anxious expression.
Princess Xinyang had fainted again.
Gu Jiao had just finished giving her the infusion, so logically she shouldn't have exhausted her energy so quickly.
Gu Jiao glanced at Little Jing Kong, then at Xiao Liulang. She had the option to take Yu Jin's carriage and let Xiao Liulang and Little Jing Kong ride back home in Little San's carriage. However, after a brief pause, she decided to get onto Little San's carriage.
Yu Jin's carriage led the way.
They were heading to Zhuque Street.
Sure enough, Princess Xinyang moved to the princess mansion to avoid Xiao Liulang.
As soon as Xiao Liulang left, she moved back.
What did this mean?
It meant that seeing Xiao Liulang was more distressing for Princess Xinyang than returning to the princess mansion.
This time, Princess Xinyang's heart condition really acted up, and she had fainted without warning.
Gu Jiao administered a sedative to her, and her pulse temporarily stabilized.
But such incidents shouldn't occur too frequently; otherwise, there might be concerns about her life.
"Did the princess experience any emotional turmoil? Her pulse was so erratic when we were at the medical hall." Gu Jiao asked Yu Jin as she packed up the medical supplies.
Yu Jin was surprised by Gu Jiao's peculiar medical techniques, but she attributed it to her own lack of knowledge and didn't suspect that they were not from within the six states.
She responded to Gu Jiao, saying, "The princess... feels uncomfortable in her heart."
Little Jing Kong had gone to play in the yard. Yu Jin glanced at Xiao Liulang by the bedside and continued, "There are some things the princess didn't even tell me, but I think the reason she feels unwell and fainted is because of... Lord Xiao."
A bitter taste welled up in Xiao Liulang's heart, and a faint ache throbbed in his chest.
He looked at the unconscious Princess Xinyang on the bed.
Do you really hate me that much?
Fine, I understand.
I won't appear before you ever again.
Xiao Liulang turned and walked out. Moonlight spilled down, casting a frosty sheen on his solitary figure.
Gu Jiao remained behind to observe Princess Xinyang's condition.
Little Jing Kong watched the flowers in the courtyard.
The flowers here were big and beautiful.
He wanted to pick some.
But the wild flowers outside couldn’t be picked, so he could only look at them.
He clutched his little hands behind his back, drooling as he stared at the flowers.
Suddenly, Long Yi walked over.
Long Yi probably hadn't paid much attention to this little guy at first. In the eyes of the Dragon Shadow Guards, children were as significant as stones.
However, just at this moment, Little Jing Kong rubbed his hands together and seemed to be plotting something against the flowers. He couldn't hold back any longer!
But Long Yi caught his mischievous little hand.
Little Jing Kong looked up with a confused expression, appearing both guilty and earnest as he said, "It's not me, I didn't do anything, I mean, um..."
His eyes spun around, just like the young mischievous Xiao Heng from years ago.
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