“By order of the prince, I’ve come to deliver medicine.”
Shi Zhao’s voice sounded from outside the room.
Last night, he had inexplicably fallen asleep. It wasn’t until dawn was about to break that someone sent by the prince woke him up, and only then did he learn everything that had happened during the night.
After knocking him unconscious, Miss Lin had broken into the prince’s manor at night. Yet not only had the prince spared her life, he had even sent orders telling Shi Zhao to properly protect Miss Lin.
He had also been instructed to personally deliver the wound medicine into Miss Lin’s hands.
Yesterday, his mission had still been to monitor Lin Yanxi. Today, after waking up, his task had suddenly changed into protecting her.
Unable to adjust to the sudden change, Shi Zhao’s attitude toward Lin Yanxi remained far from friendly.
“I’ll leave the medicine at the door. Come out and get it yourself.”
Lin Yanxi’s crisp voice came from inside the room.
“I can barely move. How am I supposed to come out and get it? Bring it in for me!”
She very clearly heard the heavy breathing of the man outside.
A moment later, the door opened slightly, and something shot toward Lin Yanxi with a sharp whoosh.
She casually raised her hand and caught it. Looking down, she saw it was a jade-green bottle with a small paper label reading “Wound Medicine.”
She opened it and took a sniff before happily corking it again.
“Good stuff. Thanks!”
The person outside gave no reply. She only saw a shadow flash by as Shi Zhao once again disappeared into some hidden corner.
After having Cuizhi help her reapply the medicine, Lin Yanxi sank back into deep sleep.
No one knew how long she slept before she was awakened once more by knocking at the door.
“Lin Yanxi, open the door!”
A childish voice echoed from outside.
The person lying in bed merely lifted her eyelids lazily and chose to ignore the knocking.
But when the door remained shut, the knocking continued nonstop.
“So annoying! Will you people ever let me sleep?” Lin Yanxi grabbed a pillow and threw it irritably.
“Young Master? Why are you here?”
Cuizhi’s voice sounded, and the knocking abruptly stopped.
Perhaps because he didn’t know how to face Lin Yanxi, Lin Yichen simply shoved the medicine in his hands toward Cuizhi and stiffly said,
“Give this to her.”
Then he ran away as though fleeing for his life.
Holding the medicine, Cuizhi looked puzzled before pushing open the door and entering.
“Miss, why did the young master suddenly bring you medicine? When did he find out you were injured?”
As she tidied up the room, she continued grumbling,
“Even the young master knows you’re hurt, yet Madam hasn’t even come to visit you!”
Lin Yanxi rolled her eyes.
It was better if her mother didn’t come. Peace and quiet were far more valuable.
Carefully shifting her body to adjust her lying position, she weakly said,
“Is there anything to eat? Get me something.”
“This servant made lotus seed soup. I’ll bring it over right away.”
Just as Cuizhi was about to leave, she suddenly remembered something.
“Oh right, Miss. Someone from the Grand Tutor’s Manor came earlier to deliver an invitation. The commandery princess invited you to go boating on West City Lake in three days.”
“Boating on the lake?”
“Yes. The messenger said the Second Master of the Grand Tutor’s Manor is holding the gathering to celebrate finding Young Master Ziyu. Many nobles and officials from the capital have been invited.”
After hearing Cuizhi’s explanation, Lin Yanxi’s expression gradually grew serious.
A lake excursion?
Why specifically boating on a lake?
Wouldn’t celebrating inside the manor itself be better?
Meanwhile, Cuizhi happily continued,
“The Princess Yun’an specifically stated in the invitation that only you are invited! You should’ve seen Miss Wanxin’s reaction when she heard about it—her face practically changed color from jealousy!”
“Oh? Did you actually see her expression change?”
“Well… no.” Cuizhi lowered her head and pouted. “But this servant can guess how upset Miss Wanxin must feel. Besides, with the Lin family’s standing in the capital, we normally wouldn’t even receive an invitation like this. It’s all because Miss is so capable and close with Princess Yun’an like sisters. That’s why we got this invitation. Other people can only dream of receiving one!”
The more Cuizhi spoke, the more excited and proud she became.
“Alright, I got it. Go bring me something to eat.”
Lin Yanxi quickly dismissed her with a few casual words.
Once alone in the room, she quietly calculated with her fingers.
No matter how she looked at it, this boating event felt suspicious.
She didn’t believe Sister Jiang wouldn’t notice that as well.
So… was Sister Jiang secretly asking her for help?
Suddenly, the face of Cheng Ziyu appeared in her mind—the calm and mature expression that seemed far beyond his age.
Because of that, Lin Yanxi decided she would definitely attend this boating trip.
Over the next two days, the War Prince continued sending Shi Zhao to deliver wound medicine to her. Since someone was bringing medicine already, Lin Yanxi didn’t need to trouble herself with finding herbs and preparing medicine personally. Moreover, the wound medicine Xiao Junyan sent truly had miraculous effects.
In only two days, more than half her injuries had healed, and scabs had begun forming. As long as she avoided large movements, the wounds no longer caused much trouble.
Finally, on the third day, Lin Yanxi was able to leave the manor.
She had remained confined within Xiyan Pavilion for three whole days.
The moment she saw daylight again, she felt as though she had come back to life.
Today was the boating banquet hosted by the Grand Tutor’s Manor, and Cuizhi had risen early to help dress her.
Her eyes sparkled crystal clear, her skin fair as snow. Dimples faintly appeared on her delicate face, while a jade-green dress accentuated her slender figure, making her appear elegant and refined.
Cuizhi hurried over excitedly.
“Miss! The princess’s carriage is already waiting outside!”
“Let’s go.”
Because they were attending such a grand gathering today, Cuizhi was visibly thrilled. In contrast, Lin Yanxi remained unusually quiet, her face calm and expressionless.
As the mistress and servant pair reached the front gate, they happened to run into Lin Wanxin, who was also heading out.
Dressed in a moon-white gown, Lin Wanxin looked like a delicate white flower.
She called out to Lin Yanxi,
“Little sister, where are you going?”
Lin Yanxi raised her brows slightly and smiled faintly.
“I’m going boating on the lake. Are you coming too?”
“If little sister is willing to take elder sister along, naturally I’d be delighted.”
“Well, unfortunately, Sister Jiang specifically stated in the invitation that only I was invited, so forgive your little sister for being powerless to help.”
Lin Yanxi deliberately emphasized the words “Sister Jiang,” then added,
“Sister Jiang’s carriage is already waiting for me outside, so I won’t stay and chat with you any longer. See you later!”
With that, Lin Yanxi proudly turned and left.
Only after watching Lin Yanxi board the Grand Tutor Manor’s carriage did Lin Wanxin finally fail to maintain her expression.
Inside her heart, she cursed endlessly—
It was all because Lin Yanxi had stolen her credit. Otherwise, the invited person should have been her!
Her personal maid, Lian’er, could not stand Lin Yanxi’s smug attitude and angrily complained,
“Miss, Second Miss has gone too far! She was clearly humiliating us on purpose just now. Let’s go ask Madam to stand up for you. Madam always favors you and definitely won’t let Second Miss remain so arrogant!”