Na Tuo looked down from his superior position at Jing Xuan, who had been tortured by him until she was covered in wounds.

His anger still hadn’t dissipated as he said, “I’ll spare you for tonight, but listen well—once I discover you’re connected to those assassins, I’ll make you wish you were dead.”

With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.

Gong Shilin remained standing in place. After Na Tuo departed, he crouched down, looking at the woman before him with heartache.

“Are you all right?”

Jing Xuan lowered her head, gripping tightly at a bundle of cloth at her chest.

She didn’t look at him.

Gong Shilin couldn’t help but extend his hand, reaching bit by bit toward the top of her head. But just as his fingertips touched her hair, he withdrew his hand without backbone.

Clenching his fists tightly!

How much he wanted to hold her now, to give her all his warmth.

But he knew he couldn’t!

There could be nothing between himself and this woman.

And reason suppressed his impulse.

A thousand words in his heart converged into one sentence: “Princess Consort, your health must come first.”

He had never known how to comfort people since childhood, much less comfort any woman.

Moreover, at this moment, no words would be sufficient to soothe the pain in Jing Xuan’s heart!

Hearing this, Jing Xuan slowly lifted those bloodshot eyes to look at him.

Seeing the person before her, all her vigilance relaxed!

Her lips trembled as she said, “Thank you.”

Utterly sincere.

“I couldn’t help you much either.” With that, Gong Shilin took out a handkerchief from inside his robe, reaching toward her eye corner that was bleeding from being cut by the shard.

He gently wiped away the fresh blood for her.

Jing Xuan gazed at the man before her, her emotions a complex mix.

During her year in Huyi, she had tasted the world’s coldness and suffered much torment, yet this man had helped her time and again—truly sending charcoal in snowy weather.

This kindness was like a ray of warm sunlight in winter, tightly enveloping her entire body.

“In one day, you’ve saved me twice.” Her voice was very soft.

As if still mixed with the thick taste of blood in her mouth.

Gong Shilin’s heart trembled, his eyes gradually moistening. In an instant, he concealed it extremely well.

He said, “Anyone in my place would have done the same.”

“Thank you.”

“It was nothing.”

He left the handkerchief behind and rose to leave.

Jing Xuan watched that retreating back, tears falling involuntarily.

All the grievances and pain surged up violently at this moment.

As if about to tear her alive into fragments.

The pain made it impossible to breathe.

But she had promised Jingrong she would live well!

She wouldn’t take her own life.

The maids standing nearby exchanged glances with each other.

But human hearts ultimately weren’t made of iron. Though those maids were following Na Tuo’s orders to monitor this virtually powerless princess consort, they had after all spent a year together and understood Jing Xuan’s character. More or less, they felt some pity and heartache for her.

So they still came forward to slowly help her up.

“Princess Consort, are you all right?”

She said nothing, allowing them to support her weak body to sit on the soft couch.

The maids busied themselves applying medicine and helping her wash.

She sat there motionless, still clutching in her palm the gray handkerchief Gong Shilin had left behind.

…

Bai Yin brought Lang Bo all the way from the Third Prince’s manor to that old residence.

No one had pursued them along the way.

Seeing him lead the way deep into the alley, Lang Bo said, “This place is truly hidden—who would look for people here!”

“Then how did you find us?”

“I’ll explain in a moment!”

The two arrived at the old residence and pushed open the door to enter. Jingrong and Ji Yunshu were already waiting for them.

Seeing them return safely, they finally felt relieved.

“Are you both all right?” Jingrong asked.

Bai Yin replied, “We’re fine. We’ve shaken off those guards, but Lang Bo was injured.”

Lang Bo’s lips were pale, one arm soaked with blood.

Jingrong quickly pulled him inside to bandage the wound.

Song Zhi brought in a basin of hot water and also brought many bottles and jars for treating injuries.

He was very interested in this newcomer.

But since the man was injured, naturally it wasn’t appropriate to ask too many questions.

So he quietly went out.

Ji Yunshu cut off his sleeve with scissors.

The sleeve could practically be wrung out for blood.

The arm was bright red all over.

The sword wound was very deep.

Ji Yunshu’s face showed worry. Finding needle and thread and disinfectant, she said, “I need to stitch you up. It will hurt somewhat—you must endure it.”

Lang Bo had the appearance of a rough man and grinned foolishly, “It’s fine, do whatever you need! I won’t die from it anyway.”

This left Ji Yunshu rather speechless.

Then she focused on treating his wound.

Jingrong stood beside watching, also very worried.

After working for quite a while, they finally finished bandaging him.

The basin of hot water Song Zhi had brought in had already been stained red.

Jingrong asked him, “How did you come to be here?”

Lang Bo said, “Actually, as soon as Your Highness left the capital, I went to find Qin Xi. But during this time, my heart has been uneasy, worried that Your Highness might encounter trouble, so I still decided to come find you. Once everything is settled, I’ll go back.”

Ji Yunshu asked, “What about Miss Qin Xi?”

“She’s doing well. She knew I’d been thinking about Your Highness all along, and seeing me gloomy every day, she understood my thoughts. So she told me to come to Huyi to find Your Highness, and after finishing the business, to go back and find her.”

“You blockhead!” Ji Yunshu said.

Ah!

Lang Bo: “Miss Ji…”

“That young lady has waited for you so long, yet your mind is full of your prince. Miss Qin Xi is magnanimous to let you come find us, but she must be very sad inside.”

“This…” Lang Bo scratched his head, extremely embarrassed. “I didn’t think that much about it. I was just worried you might encounter something in Huyi, so I rushed over.”

Truly a blockhead!

Jingrong asked, “Then how did you find us?” Lang Bo said, “It was actually quite coincidental. As soon as I arrived in Gaoding, I heard about two murder cases in the city. I heard that a Master Ji could feel bones and draw portraits, so I knew it must be you. Then I inquired at the City Department, and I heard that a Third Prince was hosting a banquet in the evening, inviting Your Highness and Miss Ji. So I followed, waiting outside for a while, and saw you come out. I was about to reveal myself, but Your Highness, you brought Miss Ji back inside again. I was worried you might be in danger, so I changed into night clothing and followed you in. Sure enough, my guess was right—as soon as I entered, I encountered that scene. Fortunately Your Highness was unharmed, otherwise I would never forgive myself for the rest of my life.”

“It was fortunate that you and Bai Yin arrived in time, otherwise we truly might not have made it out tonight.”

Speaking of this, Bai Yin said, “After you left, Lang Bo and I nearly couldn’t get out either. Fortunately, someone helped us.”

Hmm?

“Who?” Jingrong asked.

“The person I injured before!”

“Him?” Jingrong was shocked.

Their conversation left Lang Bo completely confused—what “him” were they talking about?

He quickly asked, “Bai Yin, who exactly is that person? Earlier he said something about settling scores with you? And said his sword is with you? Did you have a conflict with him before?”

Bai Yin nodded, “A huge conflict! He even stabbed me with a sword—I nearly died.”

“What? Why didn’t you say so earlier! If I’d known, I would have avenged you just now.” Lang Bo said excitedly.

Bullying my brother—I’ll flay you alive.

If Bai Yin had told him earlier, he definitely would have fought with those people outside the Third Prince’s manor.

Hearing Lang Bo’s words left Bai Yin not knowing whether to laugh or cry. He didn’t know how to explain.