The Little Princess's Secret Guard - Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Punishment

Shen Panyan looked at Lin Xiao lying on the bed. Without the mask covering him, his breathing was peaceful, completely lacking the usual silent, severe demeanor. He unexpectedly seemed more approachable.

He didn’t quite look like himself.

All of this was fine. What truly surprised Shen Panyan was that Lin Xiao didn’t look old at all, maybe only two or three years older than her.

If she hadn’t taken off his mask, Shen Panyan would never have realized he was still a young man.

Sitting by the bed, Shen Panyan gently reached out and touched his forehead. She found that the fever had broken, and she felt a sense of relief.

Ever since he fainted, she hadn’t left his side except for meals and quick rests.

She still remembered how Lin Xiao had taken care of her before. Now that he was unconscious, and knowing no one in the courtyard was truly loyal to her, she didn’t feel comfortable leaving Lin Xiao to others, so she stayed and watched over him.

Shen Panyan hadn’t forgotten that Imperial Physician Lin mentioned a contusion on the back of Lin Xiao’s head. She figured he must have hit it while protecting her during the fall off the cliff.

Yet, he hadn’t said a word, acting as if nothing was wrong. She had genuinely believed he was fine.

She hadn’t considered it properly. When she woke up, Lin Xiao was unconscious. How could he not be injured?

But at the time, she was consumed by panic, her mind a mess, imagining a wild wolf was coming to eat her, trembling with fear. Looking back now, Shen Panyan only felt how utterly foolish she was then.

How could she be so dense?

Muying had already told her that while she was unconscious, Lin Xiao, despite his injury, went to the capital day and night to buy medicine for her. After returning, he immediately knelt in the courtyard, waiting for her to wake up.

Everyone in the palace had complex motivations, yet he treated her with such sincerity. Even if it was for a mission given by her Imperial Father, few could go to such lengths.

Thinking of this, a wave of guilt and bitterness surged in Shen Panyan’s heart.

In the future, she truly wouldn’t throw tantrums at Lin Xiao anymore. Their time together was only destined to be a few brief months; why not make that short time more pleasant?

She would never encounter another person who treated her as Lin Xiao did.

She hoped Lin Xiao could be safe and live a long, peaceful life.

Shen Panyan sighed and sat by his bed.

Muying brewed the medicine and brought it in. “Your Highness, it’s time to drink your medicine.”

Shen Panyan grimaced. Better a short sharp pain than a long dull one. She took the bowl and drank it in one gulp.

“The candied fruits are all gone, Your Highness. Have some water to wash it down.” Muying poured her a cup of warm water.

After drinking the water, the bitterness in her mouth finally subsided. Shen Panyan set down the teacup.

Injuries take a hundred days to heal. Since the collapse of the purchasing system, the West Courtyard hadn’t acquired new goods in a long time.

Muying listed the things the West Courtyard was currently lacking. Shen Panyan’s face was full of worry; this situation couldn’t continue.

She got up and returned to her room, retrieved some money, and handed it to Muying, instructing her to find the Retreat’s steward and ask for someone to run errands to the capital to buy supplies.

To get the servants to work diligently, money was absolutely necessary.

Shen Panyan only received her monthly allowance. Unlike other Princes and Princesses who received subsidies from their Imperial Mothers, she couldn’t sell her valuable jewelry—it could only be worn. The amount of money she could actually control was truly limited.

Touching her much-thinner purse, Shen Panyan sighed even harder.

Outsiders saw her as glorious, adopted by the Empress since childhood, with a Crown Prince brother above her. Once the Crown Prince ascended the throne, she would be his only close sister. In reality, it wasn’t like that at all.

Shen Panyan was somewhat afraid of her Crown Prince brother and rarely spoke to him. Every time she saw him, she hid away like a startled rabbit. Consequently, their relationship was less close than with the other Princes and Princesses.

Inadvertently, she thought of all the distressing things around her again… Shen Panyan took a deep breath and suppressed these worries deep in her heart.

Speaking of which, the cost of her medicine was paid by Lin Xiao. Once he woke up, she needed to return that money to him.

Another day passed. Shen Panyan first went to check on Lin Xiao as usual. Seeing that he still hadn’t woken up, she frowned, sighed inwardly, and returned to her room.

She took out her small chest, blew off the dust, and carried it to Lin Xiao’s room. She sat by the window and slowly strung beads.

She had few hobbies and little ambition. She didn’t like embroidery. When she was idle, she enjoyed making various small trinkets, like sachets, bracelets, and jewelry. Many of the accessories she frequently wore were made by herself. This chest, for instance, was filled with small pearls, jade, and glass beads. Shen Panyan loved using them to string bracelets.

The winter sunlight was beautiful today. It fell upon the chest, making the beads inside look exceptionally clear and translucent, quite beautiful.

Shen Panyan took a thread and began stringing diligently.

The warm winter sun slanted through the window, falling diagonally on her. Her lotus-colored long dress trailed on the floor; it wasn’t luxurious, but rather somewhat plain.

Looking up, her profile was sweet and gentle. Her hair was coiled up, with minimal ornamentation—just two delicate, small hibiscus flowers and a pair of exquisite earrings that gleamed in the sunlight.

This was the scene Lin Xiao saw when he woke up.

He froze.

After a moment, a husky voice broke the silence in the room.

“Your Highness…”

Shen Panyan almost thought she misheard him. She turned her head and saw Lin Xiao throwing off the quilt and immediately kneeling toward her. She was instantly shocked. She quickly stood up, scattering the beads she was holding with a “clink, clatter” all over the floor.

But she didn’t care about the beads now and hurried forward to help him up.

“You… what are you doing? Get up quickly!”

Lin Xiao didn’t move, just knelt. “This subordinate has erred. I request Your Highness’s punishment.”

“The past events were not your fault. I was the one who trusted the wrong person. Get up now!”

It was more than just that one incident. Lin Xiao’s eyes dimmed.

“This subordinate has erred. I request Your Highness’s punishment!”

“You…” Seeing that he wouldn’t move and insisted on being punished, Shen Panyan felt somewhat helpless.

She thought for a moment. “If you truly insist on punishment, then I will truly punish you.”

Lin Xiao kept his gaze lowered, his expression unchanged. “Please punish me, Your Highness!”

“If you insist on punishment,” Shen Panyan smiled, her eyes crinkling. “Then I will punish you to listen to me from now on. How about that? Are you willing?”

“Although you came to me because of the Imperial Father’s mission, I am still considered your master now. Just listen to my words, and I won’t punish you.”

Lin Xiao froze, then suddenly looked up, his gaze falling nakedly upon Shen Panyan’s face.

His action could be considered highly offensive, but Shen Panyan only paused for a moment and didn’t get angry.

Looking closely at his face, Shen Panyan realized that Lin Xiao’s eyes were very beautiful.

His eyes were slightly longer than typical ‘peach blossom’ eyes, deep and cold like a clear pool, with slightly upturned corners, carrying an air of indifference and coldness that greatly contrasted with his ordinary face.

She wondered if Lin Xiao ever smiled, and what he would look like if he did.

Shen Panyan was curious, but seeing him staring at her constantly made her feel a little shy and annoyed. She turned her head away. “Are you unwilling to agree?”

Only then did Lin Xiao lower his head, restoring his usual respect. “Yes, Your Highness.”

He stood up from the floor. His inner clothes were loose and baggy. With his movement, the sash suddenly came undone, and the cloth slipped down his shoulder.

His exposed skin was fair, and his waist was lean and strong… and there was a hint of pink… Shen Panyan widened her eyes, immediately covering her face and turning away. “You… You, you are bold!!”

Only then did Lin Xiao realize he was only wearing his inner clothes. He quickly pulled his clothing back together, knelt down on both knees, his voice urgent. “I have offended you. Please, Your Highness…”

Before he could finish, Shen Panyan quickly walked toward the door.

Her voice was rushed. “Come find me after you are properly dressed!”

With that, she slammed the door shut with a “bang” and stood under the eaves, trying to steady her heart rate.

In truth, she hadn’t seen much; his clothes hadn’t completely fallen off, but the scene just now kept flashing in her mind. Shen Panyan leaned against the wall, covering her face, slowly sliding down, inwardly wailing uncontrollably.

It’s over!!

How could she not forget it!!

Her ears were red as bl00d drops.

It wasn’t until Lin Xiao was properly dressed and stepped out that Shen Panyan hesitantly got up from the ground.

Lin Xiao looked hesitant and uncertain. “Your Highness, just now, this subordinate…”

“What ‘just now’?!” Shen Panyan nearly jumped up like a startled rabbit, shaking her head repeatedly and covering her ears. “I don’t know anything, I didn’t see anything, and you are not allowed to mention it again!”

“…Yes.”

Shen Panyan stood with her back to him, completely afraid to look at him. She hastily changed the subject. “My beads fell in your room just now. Quickly help me find them.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

The newly awakened Lin Xiao was very obedient, doing whatever he was told. Shen Panyan stood aside, watching Lin Xiao pick up her beads one by one from the floor, and she suddenly felt he was strangely docile.

There were many scattered beads on the ground. Lin Xiao had just woken up, so Shen Panyan couldn’t keep ordering him around. She began picking up the beads herself, placing them one by one into her chest.

Coincidentally, there was one by her feet. Shen Panyan squatted down, and her soft fingertips landed right on a long, slender hand.

Both of them froze instantly.

“Your Highness…” Lin Xiao’s voice was hesitant.

Shen Panyan smiled at him, her eyes crinkling, and took the bead from his hand. “Give it to me!”

“Yes.”

Apart from the first day Lin Xiao woke up, the following days were very peaceful.

Remembering the words of Imperial Physician Lin, Shen Panyan strictly ordered him to rest well and not get up. He was to fully recover from his injuries before he could continue following her.

Lin Xiao looked hesitant, but Shen Panyan looked at him, slightly unhappy. “Have you forgotten that you just promised me you would listen to my words from now on?”

At this, Lin Xiao no longer had any objection. “Yes, Your Highness.”

This rest period lasted nearly a month. Shen Panyan’s injuries were almost fully healed. Seeing that the New Year was approaching, Shen Panyan decided to return to the capital.

She took out the money Lin Xiao had advanced for her medicine to give him, but Lin Xiao shook his head and refused to accept it.

“This is what this subordinate should do.”

Shen Panyan disagreed and insisted on giving it to him, but he simply disappeared, leaving her unsure whether to be angry or amused.

They had agreed he would listen to her, but when faced with something he didn’t want to do, he simply hid. With his skills, as long as he didn’t show up, she would never find him.

What kind of obedience was that?

Shen Panyan was so angry she stomped her foot, but she eventually put the money away, ordered a carriage, and headed back to the capital.