Xiao Yanchen sniffled, suddenly feeling that Ji Zhaoxi's hands were a bit cold.
He got out of bed, and Ji Zhaoxi quickly supported him, "What's wrong?"
Xiao Yanchen was burning with fever and groggy. He didn't hear what Ji Zhaoxi asked clearly, and just smiled at her foolishly.
He stumbled over to the charcoal basin, clumsily fumbling with the flint, striking it again and again until the charcoal gradually began to smoke.
The charcoal in the basin made a crackling sound, and fine sparks flew up.
In the cold and desolate Ruhui Palace, only this patch of orange firelight was warm.
Ji Zhaoxi hugged her knees, the firelight reflecting on her face. She looked a little unhappy. She had bullied Xiao Yanchen so much, yet he still foolishly approached her.
Xiao Yanchen had a fever, but his eyes were extremely bright. He inched towards her, his face filled with uncontrollable joy.
"Xiao Xizi..."
He called out softly, gently pressing his shoulder against hers.
The person who treated him best in this world was Xiao Xizi. It was so late, and he was sick, yet she still came to see him.
His heart felt warm and toasty right now.
"Seventh Prince..." Ji Zhaoxi said softly.
"Mhm!" Xiao Yanchen looked at her with bright eyes.
Ji Zhaoxi's voice grew even softer, "You said you washed my clothes clean, but did you wash my socks clean?"
Xiao Yanchen nodded vigorously, "I washed them clean!"
Ji Zhaoxi was silent for a while, looking at the red string on her wrist.
She cleared her throat uncomfortably, took off the red string from her hand, turned her head away, and handed it to him.
She stuttered, not looking at him, "This has been blessed, it can protect you. I'm giving this to you, otherwise you'll always get sick and won't be able to help me wash clothes."
Xiao Yanchen looked at the red string in Ji Zhaoxi's hand, his eyes widening at once. He asked softly, "For me?"
"Then what about you, Xiao Xizi..."
Ji Zhaoxi coughed, "I have two. I have another one on my ankle. I'm not like you, many people like me."
She took the opportunity to take a jab at Xiao Yanchen's poor popularity.
Xiao Yanchen didn't understand at all. His nose tingled, and his eyes instantly turned red, "Xiao Xizi, you're really good to me."
Ji Zhaoxi avoided his gaze, lowered her head, and muttered, "As long as you know. From now on, you'll do whatever I tell you to do. If I tell you to wash clothes, you wash clothes."
Xiao Yanchen stared unblinkingly at Ji Zhaoxi, his face growing even redder. He quietly hooked his pinky finger around Ji Zhaoxi's, gently shook it, and whispered.
"Xiao Xizi, from now on, if you tell me to go right, I will never go left."
His voice carried a trace of humility and caution, "Then from now on, I am Xiao Xizi's person..."
Ji Zhaoxi's ears were roasted a little red by the charcoal fire. She pretended to be calm and nodded, "That's right! Once you wear this red string, you must listen to my words."
Hearing this, Xiao Yanchen's wet eyes instantly lit up. He boldly held Ji Zhaoxi's hand and smiled as he nodded.
Seventeen, who was on the roof beam, silently watched this scene.
How did that red string transition from a protective charm to a master-acknowledging token...
The wind outside blew incessantly, while the fire in the charcoal basin indoors continued to burn, with sparks popping from time to time.
Ji Zhaoxi leaned against the wall, her chin tucked into her thick collar, and fell deeply asleep just like that.
Xiao Yanchen's fever hadn't broken yet. His head was very dizzy. After feeling the weight on his shoulder, he held his breath and secretly opened his eyes.
Looking at the face so close at hand, Xiao Yanchen carefully moved his head, then gently pressed his forehead against hers.
He tucked his hands into his sleeves, tightly grasping that red string.
The next day, at the crack of dawn.
Ji Zhaoxi stealthily hunched over, planning to sneak back to her own room along the base of the back wall.
She didn't run into Eunuch Liu along the way, and she couldn't help but rejoice inwardly.
Just as she was about to slip into her room, a sinister voice suddenly came from behind.
"So you know how to come back?"
Ji Zhaoxi stiffened all over, lowering her head with a guilty conscience.
Eunuch Liu cast a sidelong glance at her and tapped her, "Where did you go?"
Ji Zhaoxi whispered, "I went to Ruhui Palace."
Eunuch Liu frowned tightly, "What do you go to Ruhui Palace for every day?"
"To bully someone."
Eunuch Liu: ...
Bullying someone for so long? He didn't believe a word she said. She was probably playing so wildly that she even forgot to come home.
"Xiao Xizi, I see you really consider yourself a little eunuch, don't you?" Eunuch Liu said sarcastically.
Ji Zhaoxi said righteously, "Master, didn't you tell me to treat myself as a eunuch before?"
Seeing that Ji Zhaoxi still dared to talk back, Eunuch Liu sneered and pointed at the corner of the wall, "Go face the wall and reflect on your mistakes. Until noon, you are not allowed to move!"
Coming back later and later, and now she wasn't even coming home!
Ji Zhaoxi listlessly leaned against the corner to face the wall and reflect.
In the small kitchen of Jingren Palace, a faint aroma of glutinous rice and the sweet scent of osmanthus filled the air.
The Noble Consort had taken off her heavy court attire and was wearing only casual clothes. She was clumsily kneading a ball of dough in her hands.
"Xiao He, will the Emperor really like it?"
The usually arrogant Noble Consort now looked like a young girl experiencing her first awakening of love, her eyes full of spring water.
Xiao He teased, "Your Highness, you've already asked this for the fifth time."
She carefully wiped away the powder on the Noble Consort's face and smiled, "As long as you made it, even if it's just a lump, the Emperor will find it delicious."
The Noble Consort blushed and lowered her head to continue kneading the dough, "You have a glib tongue."
The Noble Consort watched Xiao He's busy figure, stuffing candied fruit into her mouth while pretending to ask casually, "Xiao He, I've been thinking, you accompany me all day long, do you have someone you like in your heart now?"
Xiao He looked at the Noble Consort in surprise, "Your Highness, Xiao He doesn't have anyone she likes."
The Noble Consort lowered her voice, her tone carrying a hint of domineering, "Don't be afraid. If you like anyone, I will definitely let you marry him in grand style."
Xiao He's nose felt a bit sour, and she shook her head, "Your Highness, Xiao He really doesn't have anyone she likes. Xiao He just wants to stay by your side."
She had been by the Noble Consort's side since childhood; she didn't want to go anywhere else.
Seeing that she refused to say, the Noble Consort cleared her throat, "Xiao He, if you like any guard or official, I will definitely support you."
"But... if you like a little eunuch, I will not agree."
Xiao He's face instantly turned red, "Your Highness, Xiao He doesn't like any little eunuch. Xiao He just treats Xiao Xizi as a younger brother."
Regarding this eunuch, the Noble Consort didn't want to continue talking about it either. She cleared her throat, "I understand."
But she didn't believe what Xiao He said at all. Everyone in the palace said that Xiao He was very good to a little eunuch, and she gave all the food rewarded to her to that little eunuch.
These rumors had even reached her ears.
She had to send someone to give that little eunuch a warning. Xiao He was not someone a eunuch could match up to.
