Upon hearing the news of Xie Jinyuan's injury, Qin Xianyue's heart tightened. Without even tidying her skirt, she hurried into the hall.
"Brother, what happened? How did you get injured on your trip to the palace?"
She entered the main hall, panting, and immediately saw Xie Jinyuan reclining leisurely on the soft couch, his robes slightly open, exuding a hint of languor.
Shi Chun was bending down to help him remove his outer robe. He was dressed in a plain white undergarment, his dark hair loosely tied, making his skin appear as smooth as jade.
Qin Xianyue quickly stepped forward and examined him from head to toe, front to back.
Seeing that his complexion was normal and his breathing steady, with no signs of injury, she became even more anxious.
"Where exactly are you injured?"
Xie Jinyuan put down his teacup and slowly rolled up his sleeves, revealing a section of his forearm with smooth lines and fair skin.
He lightly tapped the slightly reddened skin above his wrist bone, his tone indifferent.
"Here."
Qin Xianyue leaned closer in the direction he pointed. Only then did she see a coin-sized swelling and a shallow abrasion amidst his fair skin.
She paused, then looked up at his "aggrieved" face, and then down at the "injury" again, momentarily speechless.
Xie Jinyuan continued.
"It's all my fault for impulsively sparring with Lord Gu; I accidentally injured my wrist."
His gaze fixed on her, with a hint of grievance.
"Jiao Jiao, do you think I'm being too delicate and making a fuss over nothing?"
Looking at the innocence in his eyes and the barely perceptible slyness, Qin Xianyue's heart softened, and she gently comforted him.
"The injury is at the wrist joint. Brother, whether it's writing, holding chopsticks, turning pages, or reviewing documents, everything will be affected. How can you say it's making a fuss?"
She turned and brought over some high-quality wound medicine and a clean soft cloth.
"I'll apply the medicine for Brother."
With that, she carefully held up his wrist, dipped the soft cloth in warm water, and gently wiped the area around the wound. Then, she scooped a little of the white ointment and applied it very gently to the injured spot with her fingertips, blowing on it softly as she applied it, as if to ease the pain.
"This Lord Gu is really something," she couldn't help but complain in a low voice, her brow furrowed. "If it was just a spar, a light touch would have been enough. Why was he so careless as to injure Brother?"
Xie Jinyuan let her soft, cool fingertips move on his wrist. His gaze fell on her lowered, focused profile, and he let out a barely audible hum.
"He didn't fare much better."
Qin Xianyue was concentrating on applying the medicine and didn't hear clearly.
"What did Brother say?"
"Nothing."
Xie Jinyuan immediately composed himself, reverting to the slightly weak appearance of an "injured patient."
"Alas, it's just that my wrist can't exert any strength. I can't drink the medicine, and my official duties will likely be delayed. I wonder if Father Emperor will blame me..."
Qin Xianyue's hands paused, and she looked up at him.
She knew he was likely exaggerating and deliberately being difficult, but looking at his face, his eyes, she couldn't bring herself to refuse.
"I understand..."
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she avoided his gaze.
"Later, I'll hold the spoon for Brother and read the memorials. Brother just needs to say how to approve them, alright?"
Xie Jinyuan leaned back against the pillow, completely satisfied.
"I'll do whatever Jiao Jiao says."
Dingbei Marquis Manor, Shuangsong Garden.
Gu Yanchi endured the throbbing pain in his shoulders, back, and thighs as he changed out of his dusty archery attire, which was torn at the shoulder.
In the bronze mirror, a deep purple bruise was clearly visible on the side of his shoulder blade, and his outer thigh was also swollen and red.
He frowned. The Crown Prince's moves today seemed particularly tricky and unrestrained.
As soon as he changed into clean casual wear, a senior maidservant from Madam Wei's side came to deliver a message, asking him to go to the courtyard immediately.
In the main hall of the central courtyard, Madam Wei sat at the head of the table, her expression calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.
Seeing Gu Yanchi enter, she waved her hand, dismissing the attendants.
"Mother summoned me, what are your instructions?"
Gu Yanchi asked after bowing.
Madam Wei gestured for him to sit and spoke slowly, getting straight to the point.
"I've called you here today to discuss the marriage of that maidservant Xianyue."
Gu Yanchi's heart tightened.
"Mother, her whereabouts are still unknown. How can we discuss marriage?"
"If others don't know where she is, that's one thing. But you don't know?"
Madam Wei glanced at him meaningfully.
"For so many years, I've seen all your thoughts. However, your marriage to the Third Miss Lin is already set in stone. It concerns the Marquis's Estate and your future, and there can be no room for error."
She spoke with more gravity at this point.
"No matter how beautiful Xianyue is, she is ultimately of unknown status. Even as a concubine, our Marquis's Estate cannot take in a woman of unclear origins and invite ridicule."
"Mother..."
Gu Yanchi tried to say more, but Madam Wei interrupted him.
She took something from her sleeve and placed it on the table.
It was a white jade pendant. Although it was only carved with simple cloud patterns, the jade was warm and smooth, making it pleasant to look at.
Gu Yanchi's pupils contracted upon seeing it.
He was all too familiar with this jade pendant. It was Qin Xianyue's personal belonging, and it was a pair with the one she had given him years ago.
How did this item end up in his mother's hands?
Madam Wei looked at his suddenly changed expression and spoke calmly but with undeniable force.
"The Lu family sent someone to deliver this today, saying it was a 'token of affection' that Qin Yatou... gifted to Old Master Lu."
Gu Yanchi felt a dull ache in his chest, as if he had been punched.
"That's absolutely impossible."
On the painted boat, she had even resented him for not being able to give her a proper title. How could she be involved with an outsider behind his back?
"What's impossible about it?"
Madam Wei retorted, her gaze sharp.
"If she didn't willingly give it away, how could someone else easily obtain such a personal item? Yan'er, I know it's hard for you to accept right now, but the facts might just be as they are.
Old Master Lu is the Left Prime Minister's brother-in-law and has considerable influence in court. He has explicitly stated that if this marriage with Xianyue can be arranged, he will offer his full support and speak favorably to the Left Prime Minister regarding Zhaoyun's marriage to the Second Young Master.
You know Zhaoyun's feelings for the Second Young Master. If this matter can be settled, it would be a rare opportunity for Zhaoyun and for the Marquis's Estate."
She paused, her tone softening with comfort.
"Since Xianyue herself has these intentions and is willing to follow Old Master Lu, why shouldn't we go with the flow? We can fulfill her 'wishes' and also satisfy Zhaoyun's deep affection."
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