Late into the night, Xiao Ruyi was still in Qin Wujing's room. She was busy waiting for Qin Wujing to fall into a deep sleep; she wanted to make sure he slept peacefully. The pain in Qin Wujing's legs continued, and the man repeatedly furrowed his brow from the agony he was experiencing.
"Your Highness, should I massage your legs again?" Xiao Ruyi asked. She couldn't bear to see Qin Wujing endure the pain. Although the man was always throwing cutting remarks at her, in this condition, Qin Wujing had truly won her sympathy.
Qin Wujing did not answer. He only lay there in silence with his eyes closed. His brows were tightly drawn together, and sweat streamed down, soaking his fair skin.
Xiao Ruyi let out a soft sigh, then rose to her feet after pulling a chair beside Qin Wujing's bed to keep watch over him. She couldn't stay on Qin Wujing's bed forever.
Xiao Ruyi took out her massage oil again and climbed back onto Qin Wujing's bed. This made the man open his eyes and catch her hand.
"Your Highness, I'll massage your legs again," Xiao Ruyi said before rubbing the massage oil thoroughly over Qin Wujing's legs.
Qin Wujing once again gave no answer. This time, he merely remained silent, his eyes watching Xiao Ruyi.
Xiao Ruyi occasionally glanced at Qin Wujing while her hands stayed busy massaging him. She felt a little relieved when she saw that Qin Wujing was no longer furrowing his brow from the pain.
Slowly but surely, Qin Wujing's eyes closed. The man fell asleep after having gazed at Xiao Ruyi. This was the first time Qin Wujing had lowered his guard in front of someone new. It wasn't just strangers—even in front of Gu Sinjie, Qin Wujing had never shown this unguarded side of himself.
Xiao Ruyi stopped massaging him when she realized Qin Wujing had fallen into a deep sleep, then slowly climbed down from the bed.
Xiao Ruyi carefully pulled the blanket over Qin Wujing until it covered his chest, not wanting to wake him. She treated him like a baby.
Xiao Ruyi then turned to straighten Qin Wujing's bed canopy. A faint smile touched her lips as she looked at her husband's peaceful face.
"He looks sweet when he's asleep, but I want to kill him whenever his eyes are open," Xiao Ruyi muttered.
Xiao Ruyi then turned around and slowly walked out of Qin Wujing's room. Unbeknownst to her, Qin Wujing's eyes opened again. The man watched Xiao Ruyi's figure walk away from him.
As soon as Xiao Ruyi reached her residence, she immediately threw herself onto the bed. This prompted Madam Su to scold her.
"Your Highness, you must clean yourself before going to bed."
Xiao Ruyi turned her head and looked at Madam Su while continuing to lie on the bed. She smiled. "I'm exhausted. My hands feel numb."
Madam Su nodded in understanding. "This servant understands, Your Highness. But you must clean yourself first." Madam Su remained firm, making Xiao Ruyi think of the Empress Dowager, who often lectured her in the same way.
Xiao Ruyi reluctantly got up from the bed, then went to the back room to wash herself with Madam Su's assistance.
Twenty minutes later, Xiao Ruyi had finished washing. Her long black hair was wet, and Madam Su gently helped dry it.
"Your Highness," Madam Su suddenly began.
"What is it, Madam Su?" Xiao Ruyi asked, her eyes fixed on Madam Su's reflection in the bronze mirror.
"Forgive this servant for being presumptuous in asking, but... Your Highness, do you sincerely care for the Prince?"
Madam Su's question left Xiao Ruyi silent. Care for Qin Wujing? Xiao Ruyi hesitated to answer. However, not wanting to disappoint Madam Su, she carefully gave her reply.
"Love and affection? The Prince and I only married yesterday, without knowing each other well. Of course, feelings like that don't truly exist in my heart yet. My concern for the Prince and the way I treat him are expressions of my duty as his wife, now that I've officially become his wife. Even so, I'm always trying to nurture those sincere feelings."
Madam Su nodded in understanding. Although she was a little disappointed by Xiao Ruyi's answer, which indicated that there was no love for Qin Wujing in her heart yet, it was still a good thing. Xiao Ruyi treated their Prince extremely well and was even trying to fall in love with him.
"Your Highness, aren't you bothered by the Prince's condition?" Madam Su asked again.
Xiao Ruyi shook her head when she heard this. "Not at all. Why should I be bothered? Shouldn't the Prince be the one objecting to my presence? Because of baseless accusations, my reputation was ruined. Yet the Prince, who knew nothing about the matter, was made my husband instead. Regardless of the Prince's condition, he is an honorable Duke. I'm grateful to have become his Princess Consort."
After Xiao Ruyi answered, Madam Su gave no response. This confused Xiao Ruyi, and she quickly turned around. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw Madam Su crying.
Madam Su knelt on the floor of Xiao Ruyi's room and touched her feet. Xiao Ruyi was startled and tried to help Madam Su up, but Madam Su gently brushed her hand away and insisted on remaining in that position.
"Your Highness... thank you...." Madam Su said as tears dripped down her face.
"W-what is it, Madam Su? What are you thanking me for?" Xiao Ruyi asked in confusion.
"Thank you because you... because you have treated our Prince with such kindness and sincerity. I thought a sincere woman like you would never come to the Qin Prince's Residence to become the Princess Consort. The servants are all very happy to have you here. After seeing what you're truly like, we all became certain that the rumor was false and that you were its victim." Madam Su roughly wiped away her tears, a genuine smile spreading across her lips as she looked at Xiao Ruyi.
Xiao Ruyi's heart was touched. This was the first time she had felt such great sincerity from Madam Su while the older woman spoke to her.
Xiao Ruyi rose from her chair, then helped Madam Su to her feet and said, "Madam Su, please convey my thanks to the other servants of the Qin Prince's Residence. I hope all of you will support me in earning Qin Wujing's trust."
Madam Su nodded, her smile growing wider. "Of course, Your Highness. Of course we'll help you."
After saying this, Madam Su took her leave and returned to her room. Xiao Ruyi sighed in relief. It turned out that the servants of the Qin Prince's Residence did not look down on her.
Xiao Ruyi was about to walk toward the bed when a knock suddenly sounded at the window. Her eyes immediately turned toward the source of the sound. Her guard went up; her mind recalled what had happened last night and that morning, when she and Qin Wujing had been targeted by assassins.
Xiao Ruyi backed toward her vanity, then picked up the longest and sharpest hairpin. Slowly, she walked toward the window and opened it. Her hairpin was ready to deflect a sword or dagger.
Creak...
The window of Xiao Ruyi's room opened, and a black shadow suddenly appeared behind it and knelt toward her from outside the room.
"Greetings, Qin Princess Consort. Yui has come to see Your Highness."
Xiao Ruyi exhaled in relief. It was Yui! Good heavens... She had already gone into high alert.
"What is it, Yui?" Xiao Ruyi asked, leaning slightly against the edge of the window.
"Reporting to Your Highness: business at Chuan Wuqi, which belongs to the Prince, is running extremely smoothly and is very busy. I managed to sneak into Han Hutou's room and take a look at the business's financial ledger. On average, the income reaches two million gold taels a month. What you said was right—something is wrong with the financial management of Chuan Wuqi."
Xiao Ruyi nodded repeatedly—her suspicion had been correct. Han Hutou had been embezzling on a massive scale from Qin Wujing's weapons shop. It was insane. The shop had been operating for four years already. Qin Wujing's legs had first become paralyzed, causing him to withdraw from the outside world, three years ago. If Han Hutou had been embezzling continuously for those three years, then... how many tens of millions of gold taels had he stolen?
Xiao Ruyi straightened up and said, "Thank you, Yui. You can go back now. I'll handle this matter."
"It will be my pleasure, Your Highness. This subordinate will take his leave," Yui replied.
As soon as Xiao Ruyi nodded, Yui shot away, quickly leaving the area.
Xiao Ruyi closed her bedroom window again, then turned around and walked toward the bed. Her mind busily pieced together a plan until she drifted off to sleep—thinking of a strategy to 'fight' at the Imperial Palace tomorrow and deal with Han Hutou.