Yunxiao found it strange, because the Princess had never summoned him before.
He followed Lianxin to the back courtyard.
"Lianxin, do you know why the Princess wants me to come?"
"Give me a hint, so I have some idea in my head, so I don’t say the wrong thing and get scolded by the Prince!"
Yunxiao flashed Lianxin a flattering smile.
Although the two of them were trusted servants to their respective masters, they didn’t speak often. One worked in the outer courtyard, the other in the inner courtyard—their paths rarely crossed.
Seeing Yunxiao’s ingratiating expression, Lianxin blushed slightly.
"I don’t know the reason, either."
"The Princess has a very kind disposition. Just answer carefully."
Yunxiao, getting nothing out of her, grew even more uneasy.
Soon, he entered the back residence.
"Your Highness, Yunxiao is here," Lianxin announced from the doorway.
"Let him in."
Su Xian’s voice came from inside the room.
Lianxin stepped aside, motioning for Yunxiao to enter.
Yunxiao lowered his head and walked inside.
"Your subordinate pays respects to the Princess."
Su Xian got straight to the point. "Yunxiao, when you and the Prince delivered clothing to the Princess, did you see her?"
Yunxiao hadn’t expected the Princess to ask about Princess Changle.
He froze for a moment, then suddenly remembered that the Prince had instructed him not to let the Princess know that the Princess had been confined in the Judicial Department.
Yunxiao bowed. "In response to Your Highness, your subordinate did see her."
Su Xian stared intently at Yunxiao.
"And did the Princess say anything?"
Yunxiao thought for a moment. "The Princess was very happy to see the Prince."
"She also asked about you, Your Highness. She said she missed you and asked the Prince to tell you she would return in a couple of days."
"The Prince and the Princess talked for quite a while before leaving."
Hearing Yunxiao’s words, Su Xian’s anxious heart relaxed slightly. Because these were exactly the kinds of things Duoduo would do. Yunxiao was no Lüdou—he couldn’t fabricate such details.
"Yunxiao, how is it that the Empress Dowager suddenly decided to keep the Princess with her in the palace?" Su Xian continued.
Yunxiao lowered his head. "In response to Your Highness, your subordinate does not know."
This answer was within Su Xian’s expectations. She had only asked in vain.
"Did the Princess say when she would return?"
Yunxiao kept his head down. "In response to Your Highness, the Princess did not say."
Su Xian still felt unsettled.
Yunxiao grew anxious.
"Your Highness, if you don’t believe your subordinate, you can ask the Prince directly."
At the mention of Xiao Yi, Su Xian asked another question.
"What is the Prince doing?"
Yunxiao hesitated. "The Prince is in the study."
Su Xian assumed Xiao Yi was handling official matters, and that Yunxiao wasn’t comfortable elaborating. She didn’t press further.
"You’ve worked hard following the Prince."
"If the Prince seems out of sorts, you must come and inform me, do you understand?"
Hearing this, Yunxiao suddenly lifted his head, flashing a quick glance at Su Xian before promptly lowering it again. What exactly did the Princess mean by such a warning?
Seeing Yunxiao’s puzzled expression, Su Xian immediately realized her words could easily be misunderstood!
She cleared her throat lightly.
"The Prince has a cold temperament. Whenever something happens, he shoulders it alone."
"I’m deep in the residence. If he doesn’t talk, and you don’t talk, how am I supposed to know?"
"By telling me, you’ll allow me to comfort the Prince, so he doesn’t have to suffer alone."
Understanding dawned on Yunxiao.
"Yes, your subordinate will obey!"
Since Su Xian hadn’t gotten the answer she wanted, she waved her hand.
Yunxiao breathed a sigh of relief and withdrew.
Lianxin lifted the curtain and entered.
"Your Highness, are you worried about the Princess?" Having accompanied Su Xian the longest, Lianxin could easily guess her thoughts.
Su Xian nodded.
"That child stayed in the palace without telling me first. It just doesn’t sit right in my heart."
Lianxin smiled soothingly.
"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager values our Princess to keep her in the palace."
"With so many grandsons and granddaughters, the Empress Dowager only kept the Princess, which means she has caught the Empress Dowager’s eye."
"Your Highness, this is a good thing! You should be happy."
Su Xian thought Lianxin’s words made some sense.
"It seems I truly have too much leisure time, that I let my mind wander," Su Xian said, picking up a piece of fabric and examining it.
"Forget it, Lianxin, fetch me the scissors. I’m going to cut this fabric."
Lianxin was surprised.
"Your Highness, are you still making it for the old lady?"
Su Xian nodded.
"If I don’t keep myself busy, I’m afraid I’ll overthink things again."
"Don’t worry, I’ll take it slow and won’t stay up late to do it."
Seeing Lianxin’s disapproving look, Su Xian spoke before she could.
"Duoduo put so much effort into nursing my health back, using many rare and precious herbs."
"I can’t squander all her hard work!"
Lianxin broke into a smile.
"Your Highness, I’m so glad you think that way!"
"Baihe and I will work on it with you."
Su Xian gave a graceful smile. "Then go get the tools!"
Lianxin curtsied and cheerfully went to fetch them.
After walking a considerable distance, Yunxiao secretly wiped the sweat from his brow.
Good thing he had always stayed by the Prince’s side.
Otherwise, he would have slipped up!
But still, keeping the Princess away like this wasn’t a long-term solution.
Sigh.
Yunxiao let out a silent sigh and hurried back to the study.
In the study, Xiao Yi was holding a horse stance in the middle of the room.
Every day, without fail, he maintained the stance for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
Then, he would go through his entire boxing routine from beginning to end.
Finally, he would complete the set of training exercises Li Jin had taught Duoduo.
After finishing his horse stance, Xiao Yi began his boxing sequence inside the room.
The study was spacious enough for him to fully extend his limbs.
By the time the boxing routine was done, Xiao Yi looked as if he had just been pulled out of water.
Outside the door, Yunxiao sensed some commotion inside.
But then he thought, since the Prince hadn’t called out, there must be no problem.
Yunxiao resisted the urge to push the door open and see what was happening.
Xiao Yi loosened up his hands and feet, then dropped to do push-ups.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps approached quickly from a distance.
Whoever it was moving fast would soon reach the door.
Xiao Yi sprang up, dashed to his wheelchair, and sat down.
A knock came at the study door.
"Your Highness, it’s me." The voice outside belonged to Ling Yu.
Xiao Yi’s eyes flickered.
Had Ling Yu succeeded so quickly?
"Enter."
The door swung open, and Ling Yu rushed inside.
He didn’t even have time to bow before pulling several booklets from his robes.
"Your Highness, I have carried out your orders and found them all!"
After speaking, Ling Yu finally noticed Xiao Yi’s soaked head and face.
He stared at Xiao Yi, stammering.
"Your Highness, did you fall into the water?"
