"Princess, Princess..." I felt someone patting my face.
"Wake up, Princess..." Then someone rhythmically pressed on my chest... Vaguely, I remembered spitting out two mouthfuls of water. Then I was turned over and someone slapped my back. My chest felt stuffy. It was so uncomfortable...
A little later, someone said, "Get out of the way. Let me do it!"
Then I felt myself being turned over and laid flat on the ground. My chin was lifted. Soon, someone pried open my mouth, pinched my nose, and started blowing air into my mouth. Finally, I felt a bit more comfortable and less suffocated.
After repeating this several times, my mind was still hazy. I didn't know what they were doing to me. It was as if I had grabbed a life - saving straw and didn't want to let go. Soon, I finally started breathing normally, but my throat stung. I gasped heavily. The next second, I was let go. Someone said, "It's okay..."
I opened my eyes hazily. It was blinding at first. When my vision recovered, I vaguely saw Lord Qi Yuan squatting beside me with a nervous look on his face, gently calling my name. The others were standing on one side, whispering to each other. I looked around again and found that Prince Yu Chi Cheng was also standing far away on one side, looking aloof. But like Lord Qi Yuan, his clothes were all wet.
"Cough, cough..." I wanted to speak, but all that came out was discomfort. God knows how much water I had drunk and inhaled. All I knew was that my chest and nasal cavity felt extremely uncomfortable, and I couldn't come to my senses for a long time.
"Princess, are you okay?" Lord Qi Yuan's gaze on me was extremely focused. I couldn't help but lower my eyes and shyly stole a glance at him and said, "I'm okay. Just now... was it you who saved me, Lord Qi Yuan?"
Hearing this, he blushed and took a hasty step back and said, "No, no. It was Prince Yu Chi Cheng from the North Cold."
A garrulous maid on the side said, "The princess was carried ashore by the two of them together, but it was Prince Cheng who breathed life into the princess and saved her."
What! Breathed life into me! A thunderbolt suddenly rang in my ears. So, I... with Prince Yu Chi Cheng... Suddenly, I understood the suspicious blush on Lord Qi Yuan's face. Instantly shocked, I fainted again.
Can I not be so embarrassing, especially in front of Lord Qi Yuan? I'd rather not face them. I'd better just pretend to be unconscious.
"Princess, Princess..." There was another round of calling, but this time, no matter how they called, I didn't want to wake up...
"Okay. I think Xi He was shocked. Come on, give her to me. I'll take her back..."
This... this was Prince Yu Chi Cheng's voice... But why was it him who came to carry me instead of Lord Qi Yuan...
Qi Yuan, Qi Yuan... Hurry up and snatch me away... I silently shouted in my heart, but Lord Qi Yuan never fulfilled his duty as a subject...
I was carried back to the palace by Prince Yu Chi Cheng all the way. Soon, I felt him suddenly stop. His chest vibrated as he spoke, "By the way, you guys should continue your patrol. I'll take Xi He back to the palace. Anyway, Xi He's palace is close to mine. And I'm her elder brother. I won't do anything to her."
Then Qi Yuan seemed to respond with a grunt and didn't follow anymore.
I couldn't help crying in my heart. Qi Yuan, how could you trust this big - tailed wolf? Qi Yuan, don't be so obedient...
So, I was carried back by someone all the way. Strangely enough, I was carried very steadily. He didn't take the opportunity to pretend to stumble and throw me on the ground.
Just as I was feeling relieved, I heard a maid say, "Prince Cheng, this is the Huiyang Palace. The Twin Hall is over there."
Then someone said calmly, "It's too far to go there. The princess's clothes are wet now. She needs to change quickly. You guys go to the Twin Hall quickly and get some clothes. I'll wait with Xi He in the Huiyang Palace."
"But..."
"But what? Do you want the princess to catch a cold? Or do you think it'll be faster for me to carry someone there than for you to run back and forth? What are you still standing there for? Hurry up!"
"Yes!"
I cried again in my heart. Why did we have to come to the Huiyang Palace? Did he know that if we entered the Twin Hall, I would definitely jump out and kick him out?
I continued to pretend to be unconscious with my head on his arm. I heard the footsteps of several maids running away in different directions.
Someone carried me step by step into the Huiyang Palace as steady as a mountain. I really didn't feel that he was in a hurry at all.
I don't know how long it took. I was placed on a soft place. Then a maid said, "Prince Cheng, your clothes are also wet. Go and change first."
Then someone's steady footsteps faded away.
I quietly opened one eye. Seeing that there was no one in the room, I was about to run out. But just as I reached the door, I was stopped by a group of maids who had brought clothes. "Oh, Princess, there's wind outside. Change your clothes first."
They immediately crowded in, closed the door, and started taking off my wet clothes, drying my body, and then changing me into a clean set. Some even specially came to take off my hair accessories, untie my braids, and dry my hair. I was extremely helpless and could only let them do as they pleased.
Soon, Prince Yu Chi Cheng asked outside, "Is the princess awake?"
I quickly waved my hand at the maids. So, the maids said shyly, "Not yet."
He asked outside again, "Has she changed her clothes?"
A maid said, "Almost..."
I was helpless again. After putting on my clothes, I had no choice but to lie back on the bed. The wet sheets had already been changed, and dry ones were laid out.
A maid covered me with a quilt and then led a group of people out of the door with a pile of wet clothes and sheets. Then Prince Yu Chi Cheng stepped into the room.
I continued to close my eyes. I really didn't want to see him.
Soon, he sat down beside the bed and helped me tidy my hair with his hand. I instinctively dodged a bit. Then I heard him softly say, "Xi He, do you dislike me so much?"
I didn't answer him but stopped moving and continued to pretend to be unconscious.
His fingers were slightly cool. They slowly slid down my face along my hair. It was a rare tenderness. "But although you dislike me so much, I like you very much..."
I held my breath. I seriously suspected that he knew I was pretending to be unconscious and was deliberately saying the opposite. So, I decided to ignore him.
Sure enough, soon, he said in a teasing voice, "What, still not willing to wake up? I know you're pretending..."
I still ignored him.
"Fine. Since you're not willing to wake up, then I'll save you again using the same method as before." After saying that, he leaned over. I was forced by his breath and instantly opened my eyes, covering my mouth. But unexpectedly, I saw his beautiful eyes. For a moment, I was stunned.
He slowly got up and looked at me with amusement. I glared at him fiercely and picked up a pillow and threw it at him. But he dodged to one side, and the porcelain pillow smashed into pieces on the ground.
A maid outside nervously asked, "Princess, what's going on?"