Chapter 26: His Highness’s Valor

It is over, it is all over!

He still refused to trust her after all. He must be walking over with that knife right now to finish her off!

Xia Qiqi held her breath in terror, squeezed her eyes shut, and strained her ears to listen for Chu Hanxiao’s next move. To her surprise, he seemed to stop at the desk, followed by the sound of him catching his breath in suppressed pain.

What was wrong? He was the one who picked up the knife to kill; why did it sound as if he were the one who had been wounded? Xia Qiqi could not help but open her eyes, only to see Chu Hanxiao with his back to the bed, though she could not tell what he was doing.

"Now that you are awake, get up."

Chu Hanxiao did not even turn around, yet he knew she was awake. It seemed he had no intention of killing her.

"Understood." Xia Qiqi replied softly. As she pulled back the quilt, she realized with a start that the thin ropes on her hands and feet had already been untied. She must have slept soundly last night! Xia Qiqi rubbed her arms and stretched her legs. Fortunately, the circulation was fine; Chu Hanxiao had left some slack when binding her.

She wondered when he had woken up to untie her. How could she not have felt a thing? Usually, she was a very light sleeper, waking at the slightest disturbance. It seemed the sound of Chu Hanxiao’s breathing acted as a potent sedative for her.

Just as Xia Qiqi finished dressing, Chu Hanxiao held out the bridal sheet from the previous night and handed it to her. "Give this to the people waiting outside."

She looked up. That snow-white sheet was stained with a large patch of blood. Chu Hanxiao’s left palm was also wrapped in a white handkerchief. Xia Qiqi’s face flushed instantly.

"Your Highness, this is..."

Chu Hanxiao frowned. "What? Is it not enough?"

Xia Qiqi felt like breaking down. Was this a matter of it not being enough? The sheet in front of her was enough to make anyone wonder exactly what the Princess of Jin had endured last night! Would she even survive this? If this were truly sent back to the palace, no one in the capital would ever dare marry their daughter into the Prince of Jin’s mansion again!

"Uh, based on my experience, this might... perhaps... be a bit too much."

"Experience?" Chu Hanxiao’s expression stiffened for a moment. She actually had experience?!

"I mean, based on my medical training, such severe bleeding requires immediate medical attention." Xia Qiqi seemed to have forgotten her identity, speaking as if she were giving a lecture to the Prince of Jin. Seeing Chu Hanxiao speechless, she continued, "The main concern is the risk of infection leading to infertility. I would usually recommend sending the patient to a physician."

Chu Hanxiao’s face was not just stiff; it was an alarming shade of red. Although he did not fully understand what she was saying, the daughter of the Prime Minister not only had such rich experience, but she even seemed to relish discussing the matter! Did she have no sense of shame at all?

Xia Qiqi sighed, shook her head, tucked the sheet into her sleeve, and turned to walk out of the hall. As she passed, Chu Hanxiao suddenly grabbed her arm.

"Are you truly the Prime Minister’s daughter?"

Xia Qiqi frowned in pain. "Why don’t you go to the Prime Minister’s mansion and ask my father yourself, Your Highness?"

His grip loosened. Chu Hanxiao looked at her, his voice hoarse. "You had best not be lying to me!"

Xia Qiqi pulled her arm away, offered a slight bow, and turned to head out.

"Where are you going?" Chu Hanxiao asked.

"To hand in my homework. Coming?" Xia Qiqi glanced at him, her lips curling into a mocking smile.

"Didn't you say it was too much?"

Xia Qiqi did not want to explain. "It isn't! It is all thanks to your prowess, Your Highness!"

Once outside the Zijin Hall, a line of palace maids stood waiting. The head maid, who appeared slightly older, stepped forward with a beaming smile. "This servant, Jingfang, pays her respects to the Princess of Jin. May the Princess be blessed with longevity and peace."

Xia Qiqi nodded, pulled the sheet from her sleeve, and placed it on the tray held by a young maid. "Thank you for your hard work, Nanny."

Jingfang gestured for the young maid to take it away quickly. Unexpectedly, she turned to see the young maid’s face bright red. The girl leaned in and whispered, "Nanny, there is such a large patch of blood on this!"

Jingfang’s smile froze, and she quickly silenced the maid. "Just put it away." When her own gaze drifted carelessly to the sheet, her smile vanished completely. Did the Prime Minister’s daughter really think the palace ladies were so easily fooled?

Seeing the doubt on Jingfang’s face, Xia Qiqi asked softly, "Nanny Jingfang, is there a problem?"

"This servant would not dare." Jingfang was full of astonishment, looking Xia Qiqi up and down. "It is only... I wonder, does the Princess feel any discomfort?" She could only probe; she could not voice her suspicions directly.

"I feel no discomfort. Why do you ask, Nanny?"

Jingfang lowered her head. "It is this servant who has overthought." Before arriving, the Empress had mentioned that the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister was a model of virtue and grace for all noble ladies in the capital. Who would have thought she would dare use a fake sign of maidenhood to cover up immoral behavior? Was she truly the daughter of the Prime Minister?

Jingfang felt suspicious and wanted to get to the bottom of it. However, as a servant, she could not be blunt. She would have to find a way to see the Prince of Jin and report the Princess’s misconduct truthfully.

"I wonder if the Prince of Jin has risen yet? The Empress has a few more words to pass on to him," Jingfang said.

Xia Qiqi stepped aside to let Jingfang into the Zijin Hall. Just a few steps later, she ran into Chuntao, who had come to meet her. Sitting in the sedan chair, with Chuntao providing a hand warmer, Xia Qiqi felt her body and heart grow warmer.

Once they finally returned to Yuhua Garden, she entered the bedchamber surrounded by her maids. Having been hungry for two full days, her desire for food had reached its peak. As she stepped inside, her eyes were glued to the snacks and pastries on the table.

Chuntao covered her mouth and giggled. "My lady, you really are starved."

"Did you make these?"

"The kitchen manager sent them over, saying the Princess could have a bite to eat upon her return."

Just as Xia Qiqi was about to pop a piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth, an attendant from the Zijin Hall arrived with a message. Helpless, she reluctantly set the cake down and sat upright in her chair. "Let him in."

The attendant entered, paid his respects, and reported, "His Highness says for the Princess to rest well, and there is no need to visit the Old Madam today."

Xia Qiqi suddenly remembered that, according to custom, the day after the wedding, one was meant to serve tea to the elders. Chu Hanxiao’s parents were far away in the capital, so the only elder in the Jin mansion was his wet nurse, Madam Zhao. Since Chu Hanxiao had sent word that she needn't go, she was more than happy to have a relaxing day.

"I understand." Xia Qiqi signaled for Chuntao to give the attendant a tip, then turned to ask, "What is your name?"

"This lowly one’s name is Yu Fu."

Xia Qiqi murmured an "oh" and waved for him to leave.

[Meow! Xia Qiqi! The pastries on the table are poisoned!]