As Ji Feiyu cried, she suddenly felt everything go dark before her eyes. She couldn't see anything. Just before she lost consciousness, she heard Yong Yaxuan shouting her name and rushing towards her...
Seeing Ji Feiyu about to fall, Yong Yaxuan dashed forward in one stride and caught her. Her soft and petite body collapsed into his arms. She was so fragile. In that instant, he was terrified. It was as if he had fallen into a sea of darkness, and boundless fear welled up in his heart. "Someone come quickly!" he shouted hoarsely. Xi Zhuang was the first to rush in.
Xi Zhuang was the man in the bamboo hat who had previously disguised himself as Yong Chengxuan. He was about the same height and build as Chengxuan, but his face carried a hint of youthfulness. He knew some simple disguise techniques, but they were limited to human - skin masks. His disguise skills were not as exquisite as those of the "Butterfly of Disguise," but they were more than enough to deceive ordinary people.
At this moment, he entered and saw Yong Yaxuan's panicked expression. He felt Ji Feiyu's pulse and then said, "Your Majesty, don't worry. She's just fainted due to excessive anger. She'll be fine after some rest."
He knew a bit of basic medicine, but he wasn't very proficient. However, whenever Yong Yaxuan took him out, he usually took care of minor ailments. He was a jack - of - all - trades, a great help for running errands and doing odd jobs.
Hearing Xi Zhuang say that she was okay, Yong Yaxuan felt relieved. He looked at the tear - streaked face of Ji Feiyu and said lovingly, "Go and fetch me a basin of water. I'll wipe her face."
Xi Zhuang looked at Yong Yaxuan, who was also in a tearful state, and shook his head before going out. Oh no, the once - strategic and brilliant Majesty had been completely captivated by this woman.
Xi Zhuang quickly fetched a basin of water, wrung out a cloth, and handed it to Yong Yaxuan. Yong Yaxuan gently wiped Ji Feiyu's face bit by bit. His movements were extremely gentle. Ji Feiyu had very good skin, delicate and smooth. As he wiped, he looked at her eyebrows, which were like distant mountains. He remembered that the last time they were intimate was when he painted her eyebrows. He let out a long sigh and then gently touched her eyebrows with his hand, tracing them carefully. He was so cautious, as if she were a dream that could shatter at any moment.
Xi Zhuang watched Yong Yaxuan's gentle movements, his focused eyes, and his furrowed brows. He thought it was better not to stay around. Just as he was about to leave, Zhan Shan, who had gone out to gather information, returned. He came in from outside and happened to see Xi Zhuang coming out of the door. So he walked straight over and stopped outside the door, saying, "The city gates have been sealed, and they've started searching for people in the city."
Hearing this, Yong Yaxuan snapped out of his emotional state and said, "We'll hide here and not leave the city. Wait until our main troops arrive, and then we'll join them and take the Queen there. Zhan Shan, keep an eye on their search progress. When they're about to reach our area, we'll go out and avoid them. Then we'll come back after they're done searching."
Zhan Shan took the order. Taking this opportunity, Xi Zhuang quickly slipped out and carefully closed the door.
Zhan Shan looked at him curiously and couldn't help but ask for information, "What happened? Have they stopped arguing?"
Since he had been out, he had missed the most exciting part of the drama. But out of his habit of gathering information and his gossipy nature, he was very eager to know.
Xi Zhuang nodded and pulled him away, as if he wanted to get as far away from the room as possible.
Zhan Shan was waiting for his answer, looking very expectant.
When they were sure that their voices couldn't be heard in that room, Xi Zhuang said, "From now on, we should be more careful when we talk. His Majesty still protects the Empress. Even if the Empress were to cuckold His Majesty in front of us, we should praise the Empress for doing a great job!"
Zhan Shan was confused. "Why is that?"
Xi Zhuang said mysteriously, "Because His Majesty wronged the Empress first, and now he's begging for her forgiveness."
Zhan Shan immediately understood. "No wonder His Majesty has been acting like a different person since this trip."
Xi Zhuang said, "Let's not bother His Majesty for now. It's such a rare opportunity for the Empress to calm down."
Zhan Shan immediately nodded.
At this moment, after wiping Ji Feiyu's face, Yong Yaxuan also washed his own face. The cold water splashed on his face through his fingers, helping him calm down. He dried his face and then sat by the bedside, quietly guarding Ji Feiyu.
He felt that he could never get enough of looking at her. He slowly picked up her hand and examined it carefully. Seeing the scars and burn marks on her hand, his heart ached.
This pair of hands used to be so delicate and soft, but now they were in such a state. He still remembered how she covered his eyes with these hands and played tricks on him. They were so happy back then. But the past could not be retrieved. The happier the old days were, the more desolate the present seemed.
He didn't know when exactly the two of them started to drift apart. He was busy with state affairs and always thought that she was still waiting for him in the same place. It was only when he suddenly looked back that he realized he had long lost the person he loved most.
Yong Yaxuan looked at her, and countless emotions welled up in his heart: happiness, sadness, pain, joy, sorrow, grief, expectation, disappointment...
He carefully savored this mixed - up feeling. For the first time, he realized that a relationship could have so many flavors.
He slowly settled his mind, letting it ebb and flow. He thought that as long as Ji Feiyu was by his side, he could feel hope, even if that hope was extremely slim. This moment was peaceful, so he cherished this peace. He didn't care about the chaos that might come later; that was a matter for the future.
Meanwhile, the Second Prince found the "Flute - Playing Gentleman." The "Flute - Playing Gentleman" was dressing up behind a screen. By now, she had changed back into women's clothing. Seeing the Second Prince at the door, she complained, "I've only been back by your side for a short while, and now I have to leave you again."
The Second Prince said, "We have to give her some time to resolve the conflict."
The "Flute - Playing Gentleman" laughed. "My lord is really infallible in his plans." She picked up a paintbrush and carefully started to put on makeup. A pair of beautiful eyes were reflected in the bronze mirror, eyes that didn't belong to her.
The Second Prince said, "She has a scented pill on her. It's easy for us to find her. Although we can't rescue her, it's not difficult to sneak someone in."
The "Flute - Playing Gentleman" finished her makeup with a few strokes of the brush. She admired herself in the bronze mirror and softly sighed, "You know, although we're all human, why are some people born so good - looking?"
She stood up and began to look at her overall outfit.
The Second Prince said, "Throughout history, beautiful women have often been a source of trouble. You should be glad that you're not that beautiful. Otherwise, in this turbulent world, drifting aimlessly, what a pity!"
The Second Prince leaned against the door frame with his arms folded. His eyes were calm, and he was clearly confident.
Just then, the "Flute - Playing Gentleman" slowly walked out from behind the screen. Dressed in a bright red dress adorned with pearls, she was truly a peerless beauty who could topple kingdoms.