I care about you.

I had no choice but to say, "Yes, this servant spoke out of turn." As I said this, I didn't pay attention to the strength in my hands, and as I tied the knot, I used a bit too much force, causing Jiang Xuan to furrow his brow.

"This servant was wrong, this servant—"

"That is enough." Jiang Xuan had intended to reach out and pull down his sleeve, but accidentally placed his hand directly over mine.

We both froze, and I felt something brush across my heart, causing it to beat violently.

I pulled my hand away, and Jiang Xuan, with a calm expression, pulled down his sleeve.

We looked toward the Emperor, who had just issued an imperial decree: "Lian Qi has failed to educate his son properly and has lacked integrity as an official. I hereby demote him to a seventh-rank county magistrate and send him back to his ancestral home. Lian Fei, as a court official, has dared to engage in human trafficking and committed the crime of regicide. However, considering that Lian Qi has only one son, I shall exile Lian Fei to Dengzhou for military service. If, in time, he can perform meritorious service, he may redeem his crimes."

Lian Qi could only kowtow in gratitude, "This humble subject thanks Your Majesty for sparing my life."

Lian Fei, meanwhile, had already collapsed to the ground, unable to utter a single word.

"Lian Qi."

"This humble subject is here."

"I command you to properly settle this young woman before you leave the capital. As for this dog of a man, deal with him as you see fit!" The Emperor was, of course, referring to the person who had sold the woman to Lian Fei.

"I obey the decree."

"Xuan'er, let us return to the palace!"

"This humble subject respectfully sees off Your Majesty."

Once inside the carriage, the Emperor asked Jiang Xuan, "Xuan'er, is your injury serious?"

"Rest assured, Father, my injury is of no consequence."

"Upon returning to the palace, have the imperial physician examine you immediately. Also, do not let your mother know of this; she has always been one to make a fuss over nothing."

"I understand, Father."

Although I knew I shouldn't pry, I couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, how could Young Master Lian be so bold as to raise a hand against you?"

The Emperor explained, "You were gone for too long, and he lost his patience. He claimed I had already lost the wager and attempted to take the woman away. I had to intervene, and in doing so, we inevitably came to blows."

At this, the Emperor laughed heartily. "It has been a long time since I stretched my limbs. Today was truly rewarding. Except, of course, for Xuan'er taking that injury for me. Xuan'er, I must thank you today; otherwise, it would have been I who was wounded."

"This son would not dare claim credit."

"You need not be humble. I still remember that this Lian Fei was recommended to me by the Crown Prince just a few days ago. Who would have thought he was such a piece of trash? The Crown Prince truly has an eye for talent."

The sarcasm in the Emperor's words was self-evident.

As soon as we entered the palace gates, Qiu Ronghai was already waiting. Seeing the Emperor's carriage, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, you have finally returned."

The Emperor lifted the curtain, and Qiu Ronghai hurried over to help him descend. The Emperor’s palanquin was already prepared nearby.

After the Emperor stepped down, Jiang Xuan also exited the carriage.

The Emperor said to Jiang Xuan, "I am returning to my quarters first. You should go back as well; I will have Qiu Ronghai send an imperial physician to your palace to tend to your wound immediately."

Hearing this, Qiu Ronghai exclaimed, "Oh my, the Ninth Prince is injured? Who was so bold? Your Majesty, are you unharmed?"

"I am fine. Do not make such a fuss and let everyone know. We are all men; it is merely a scratch. I do not need you to serve me here; go fetch the physician first."

"Yes, this old servant will go at once."

"This son respectfully sees off Father."

"This servant respectfully sees off Your Majesty."

After the Emperor left, I returned to the palace with Jiang Xuan. On the way, Jiang Xuan said, "Little Xiao, you may return to Huayang Palace."

"This servant will see the Ninth Prince back to his palace first."

"Are you worried about me?"

"This servant would not dare."

"Then you are concerned for me?"

"This servant—"

"It is getting late; you should hurry back to Huayang Palace. Your Third Sister-in-law needs your service there as well."

"This servant—"

"This general pays respects to the Ninth Prince." Just then, we ran into Long Zhan, who was arriving with a squad of imperial guards.

"Hmm."

Long Zhan raised his eyes and looked at me. I bowed and said, "This servant greets Lord Long."

Long Zhan nodded slightly, then asked, "Are you heading back to Huayang Palace? I am just on my way there to patrol."

"Er—"

Before I knew how to respond, I heard Jiang Xuan say, "Let us go."

Go? Go where?

Jiang Xuan turned to look at me and said, "Are you not going to return to the palace to look after me?"

But had he not just told me to return to Huayang Palace?

"Yes!"

I had no choice but to follow Jiang Xuan's lead. Long Zhan stepped aside to clear the way for us. As I walked past him, I could feel his gaze still lingering on me.

I trailed behind Jiang Xuan, desperately wanting to ask why he had suddenly changed his mind. But Jiang Xuan walked so quickly, as if he had wind beneath his feet; one might think there was something in his palace awaiting him.

Just keeping up with him at a light jog left me breathless, let alone asking questions.

Eventually, Jiang Xuan stopped, and I felt relieved. Just as I was about to catch up, I heard another voice: "Jiang Xuan, explain this to me clearly!"

Who else could it be but Jiang Yun, sounding like he was here to hold someone accountable?

I stood to the side and bowed, "This servant greets the Crown Prince!"

"Get out of my way," Jiang Yun barked.

Jiang Yun’s inexplicable hostility was truly baffling.

Jiang Xuan remained calm, "Third Brother, let us go inside to discuss this."

"Do not call me Third Brother! Are you not aware of what you have done? I originally thought Mother was wrong, and I did not want to let idle gossip affect the bond between brothers, but today, I have finally seen you for who you are."

Jiang Yun's words were utterly confusing.

Logically, I should not interfere in the affairs of my masters, but ever since I had inadvertently overheard the conversation between Jiang Yun and the Empress, I had formed a poor impression of him. So, I interjected, "Your Highness, the Ninth Prince may have caused a misunderstanding, perhaps—"

"You dog of a servant!" Jiang Yun had been relatively polite to me before, but today, likely because he was truly enraged, my words pushed him over the edge. He raised his hand to strike me.

As his hand came swinging down, Jiang Xuan caught it. "Third Brother, if you have any grievances, just tell me."

"Let go!" Jiang Yun commanded.

"Little Xiao, go see if the imperial physician has arrived yet."

Jiang Xuan was trying to get me away from Jiang Yun. I replied, "Yes," and moved further away to scan the palace path for the physician. I saw that he was already on his way.

Jiang Xuan released Jiang Yun’s hand and said, "I apologize for my abruptness, please do not be offended, Third Brother. But I truly do not know what you are so angry about."

Jiang Yun retorted, "Are you still going to pretend with me? Was it not you who lured Father out of the palace tonight? If not for that, how would Lian Fei and Lian Qi have been punished? You know I have been close to Lian Fei lately, and I even petitioned Father to promote him. But you—you chose today to lure Father out, and now Lian Fei has been sent to military exile. Jiang Xuan, dare you say this was not intentional? Do not tell me this is a coincidence; I do not believe in such things. Your ambition is known to all. I believe Mother now; you never regarded me as a brother. What you covet is—"

Jiang Yun did not finish the phrase "the throne," as the imperial physician had arrived. Moreover, saying such things was truly rebellious.

"Third Brother, you have truly misunderstood. It was not me who—"

"This humble subject greets the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince." The physician’s arrival interrupted Jiang Xuan.

"Say no more. I have seen your true heart. Take care of yourself; do not blame me if I no longer value our brotherhood in the future!" With that, Jiang Yun flicked his sleeve and left in a fury.

I looked at Jiang Xuan; his face looked terrible. Even when he was injured earlier, he hadn't looked this bad.

"Where is the Ninth Prince injured? Let me examine it."

"No need, I am fine." Jiang Xuan said, walking into the palace.

The physician looked stunned. I stepped forward and said, "Please, come in. The Ninth Prince’s wound has been bandaged, but it still needs your assessment."

"Very well."

I followed the physician inside. Jiang Xuan had already removed his blood-stained outer robe, wearing only a white inner garment with the sleeve rolled up. I saw that the cloth I had used to bandage him was soaked through with blood.

Jiang Xuan saw us enter and said coldly, "Did I not tell you all to leave? I do not require treatment."

The physician set down his medical box and said, "Please, allow me to take a look, Ninth Prince."

"I—"

"Ninth Prince!" I could not stand by any longer. I walked to his side, pointing at his arm. "The bleeding has clearly not stopped. Do you have so little regard for your own body? Other matters can wait until tomorrow, but your injury is what matters most right now."

Because I was anxious, my tone was a bit sharp, though I hadn't realized it myself.

Jiang Xuan looked at me, paused, and said, "Apologies for the trouble, Physician."

His tone had softened considerably.

The physician cleaned the wound, applied some powdered medicine, and re-bandaged it. He then said, "The injury is not severe, but the dressing must be changed daily. I will return after noon tomorrow to change it for you."

Jiang Xuan nodded, "Thank you, Physician."

"You are too kind, Ninth Prince. I shall take my leave now. Please rest well and avoid using your arm."

"Hmm."

After the physician left, I tidied up the area and said to Jiang Xuan, "Ninth Prince, I shall return to Huayang Palace now."

"Wait," Jiang Xuan said.

"Is there anything else, Ninth Prince?"

"Serve me a bath before you go."

"I fear your wound should not be exposed to water, Ninth Prince. Perhaps—"

"That is exactly why I need you to serve me."

"Yes!" I had wanted to escape, but given his injury, I decided against it.

In any case, it wasn't as if I hadn't seen him like this before.

After I prepared the hot water, Jiang Xuan spread his arms and said, "Undress me."

"Ninth Prince, this—"

"What? I am the one injured; can you not help?"

I said, "But did the Ninth Prince not remove his own outer robe quite easily just now?"

"That was because I did not know better. Did the physician not just instruct me not to use my arm?"

He meant not to exert force, didn't he? The physician hadn't been clear.

I had no choice but to step forward and remove his inner garment, once again seeing his firm chest and smooth skin. My ears turned red, and my heart began to race.

The upper garment was one thing, but if he made me remove his trousers, that would be improper.

I hung the garment on the screen and turned around to hear the sound of water; Jiang Xuan was already sitting in the wooden tub.

He rested his arms on the edge of the tub, leaning back.

I prepared to go over and wash him, but I saw Jiang Xuan had closed his eyes. "Little Xiao, you may go. You worked hard today. I wish to be alone for a while."

I understood. The physical injury was nothing; it was Jiang Yun’s words that had wounded Jiang Xuan’s heart. He hadn't done those things, yet he was accused of lacking fraternal love—something he had always valued, now dismissed by Jiang Yun.

He truly needed to be alone, but he was always so reserved, keeping so much inside. I wasn't sure if this was good for him. I looked at him, feeling a sudden urge to share his burden.

I walked up to him, my face close to his, and said, "Ninth Prince, please open your eyes."

"You still—" Jiang Xuan’s tone was impatient. When he opened his eyes, he clearly hadn't expected my face to be so close.

I had intended to show him my missing tooth and make him smile. But as I bared my teeth, I saw him open his eyes, and I froze.

Jiang Xuan stared at me fixedly, and I forgot to close my mouth and move away.

When I finally reacted and prepared to pull back, he reached out and grabbed my shoulder, pulling me toward him.