“Your Highness, wait here. I’ll go out and find—” Just as Xiao Ruyi was about to stand and turn toward the door, Qin Wujing seized her right arm with his uninjured hand.
“There’s no need,” Qin Wujing said, his cold blue eyes fixed on Xiao Ruyi’s warm black ones.
Xiao Ruyi frowned. “Why not? Your hand is bleeding. I’m worried it might get infected.”
Qin Wujing shook his head. “It’s only a small wound.”
“This isn’t a small wound, Your Highness,” Xiao Ruyi retorted. She was both worried and annoyed because Qin Wujing was so difficult to advise, exactly like a child.
“How dare you order me around?” Qin Wujing frowned, puzzled by Xiao Ruyi’s stubborn insistence.
Xiao Ruyi shook her head. “Your Highness, I’m not ordering you around. Ruyi is only worried about you.”
“Then treat me with your own hands. There’s no need to call a physician. It’s only… ah—!” The pain in Qin Wujing’s legs flared again, making Xiao Ruyi frown even more deeply.
All right… It seemed that even if she tried to persuade Qin Wujing until the end of the world, the man still wouldn’t change his mind or listen to her.
Xiao Ruyi searched Qin Wujing’s entire room but couldn’t find any clean cloth. Looking at her own clothes, she quickly tore off a piece of her hanfu.
Rip!
Xiao Ruyi gently wiped away Qin Wujing’s blood, then swiftly took a bandage from the medicine chest. Before wrapping the wound, she sprinkled on some pain-relieving powder. Once she finished bandaging Qin Wujing’s hand, she turned her attention to her husband’s legs.
“Your Highness, your legs—”
“Do as you please,” Qin Wujing cut her off.
Xiao Ruyi smiled faintly, relieved that she had finally managed to persuade Qin Wujing. She slowly climbed onto Qin Wujing’s bed and sat on the empty side.
Carefully, Xiao Ruyi lifted the blanket covering Qin Wujing’s legs. She poured massage oil into her palms, then spread it over his legs.
Xiao Ruyi massaged Qin Wujing’s legs with great care. To be honest, this was her first time doing it. Xiao Ruyi was a noble young lady—she had never done anything like this for anyone else.
“Your Highness, please tell me if you feel uncomfortable,” Xiao Ruyi said, worried that her massage might be making Qin Wujing feel worse.
“Is this your first time massaging someone?” Qin Wujing suddenly asked, making Xiao Ruyi nod shyly. Was she really so bad at it that Qin Wujing could tell?
“Is the massage too—” Before Xiao Ruyi could finish, Qin Wujing quickly cut her off.
“Not bad. It reduces the pain.”
Hearing Qin Wujing’s praise, Xiao Ruyi’s spirits rose. Her insecurity vanished, replaced by delight.
Not long afterward, someone knocked on Qin Wujing’s bedroom door from outside.
“Your Highness, Gu Sinjie requests permission to enter.”
Gu Sinjie’s voice came from outside. When Qin Wujing heard him, he gave a brief response, allowing Gu Sinjie to enter.
As soon as Gu Sinjie entered, he was startled to see Xiao Ruyi sitting on Qin Wujing’s bed while massaging his legs. Gu Sinjie quickly lowered his head awkwardly, feeling that he had interrupted the atmosphere.
“What is it?” Qin Wujing asked in an intimidatingly cold tone.
Gu Sinjie came to his senses, straightened, and bowed. “Your Highness, while I was at the military headquarters, the Emperor’s personal eunuch came to see this subordinate and deliver an invitation to you. The invitation concerns a banquet welcoming and introducing the Empire’s new Imperial Noble Consorts.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Ruyi’s gaze suddenly turned cold. Her hands continued massaging Qin Wujing’s legs, but her thoughts drifted elsewhere. One of the Empire’s new Imperial Noble Consorts had to be Xiao Liyue.
“The people from the Imperial Palace aren’t just willful—they’re stubborn as well,” Qin Wujing replied, making Xiao Ruyi look at him. It seemed Qin Wujing had a deep hatred for the people of the Imperial Palace.
Xiao Ruyi turned to Gu Sinjie and asked, “Why did the Imperial Eunuch have to meet you to deliver the message instead of going directly to the Qin Prince’s Residence to see Your Highness?”
Gu Sinjie smiled faintly at Xiao Ruyi’s question. “That’s because the Imperial Eunuch knew Your Highness wouldn’t accept his visit. The last time a representative from the Imperial Palace came here, Your Highness drove them away.”
Xiao Ruyi’s eyes widened. Qin Wujing had driven away an Imperial Eunuch who had wanted to deliver an imperial decree? Crazy! It could be considered an insult to the Emperor, yet Qin Wujing looked completely unfazed…
“Decline the invitation. But if you want to visit the Imperial Palace on behalf of the Qin Prince’s Residence, I have no objection.” At the end of his sentence, Qin Wujing glanced at Xiao Ruyi.
Hearing this, Xiao Ruyi immediately fell into thought. She was weighing the advantages and disadvantages of appearing in public now. At present, she had yet to secure Qin Wujing’s support, while the unpleasant rumors about her were still circulating widely. Xiao Ruyi did not yet have a strong shield.
Seeing Xiao Ruyi’s silence, Qin Wujing raised his left eyebrow. It was rare for the woman to become this quiet.
“What is it? Are you sad because you lost the selection and ended up at the Qin Prince’s Residence instead?” Qin Wujing asked, bringing Xiao Ruyi back from her thoughts.
Xiao Ruyi let out a faint sigh. Qin Wujing said things like that far too often, as though he were implying that neither he nor the Qin Prince’s Residence was a good place for her.
“That’s not it. How could Ruyi dare think that way?” Xiao Ruyi replied.
Qin Wujing smiled faintly. “You’re the only one who thinks that way. Everyone else considers the Qin Prince’s Residence a place of misfortune, so no one dares come near it.”
Xiao Ruyi smiled faintly, unsure what else to say. Qin Wujing truly couldn’t be soothed with sweet words alone.
“Your Highness, Your Highness, if this subordinate may speak, I would like to offer my opinion,” Gu Sinjie said again, making Xiao Ruyi and Qin Wujing refocus on him.
“Speak,” Qin Wujing replied curtly.
“In this subordinate’s opinion, it would be better for Her Highness to attend on behalf of the Qin Prince’s Residence. First, please forgive me if I speak out of turn or seem to interfere in the personal affairs of both Your Highnesses. But—” While Gu Sinjie was still busy with formalities out of reluctance to voice his opinion, Qin Wujing quickly cut him off. “Get to the point, Sinjie.”
Gu Sinjie’s voice caught in his throat, and he smiled awkwardly. After giving a soft cough, he said, “According to the promise Her Highness made to Your Highness, Her Highness will make the Qin Prince’s Residence prosperous and restore everything that Your Highness lost long ago. Therefore, in this subordinate’s opinion, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for Her Highness to appear in public on behalf of the Qin Prince’s Residence. Her Highness would not be attending merely as herself, but also as Your Highness’s Princess Consort. She could use this opportunity to create ‘something.’”
Xiao Ruyi gave a brief nod. She understood what Gu Sinjie meant, but that wasn’t the only thing on her mind. To create that “something,” Xiao Ruyi needed a shield to protect her.
Qin Wujing smiled faintly. He seemed able to read people’s minds. Just by looking at Xiao Ruyi’s expression, he knew exactly what she was worried about. Qin Wujing closed his eyes and leaned against the headboard as he said, “Although the Qin Prince’s Residence is now looked down upon by the people around it, only the chosen can live here. Show your worth when you’re alone in the ‘wilderness.’”
At Qin Wujing’s words, Xiao Ruyi understood completely. The man wouldn’t give her any help or protection until she proved that she was truly worthy of being part of the Qin Prince’s Residence.
Xiao Ruyi stopped massaging Qin Wujing’s legs and took a deep breath. She argued with herself inwardly, causing Qin Wujing and Gu Sinjie to exchange a meaningful glance.
A short while later, Xiao Ruyi opened her eyes and looked steadily at Qin Wujing. “I’ll go there on behalf of the Qin Prince’s Residence. Ruyi promises that she won’t disgrace Your Highness’s name or the Qin Prince’s Residence.”
Qin Wujing gave a brief nod without any exaggerated reaction. Gu Sinjie, meanwhile, broke into a broad smile, clearly delighted.