The Little Princess's Secret Guard - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Forty-Three

Dusk. Dark clouds heavily weighed down, the wind whipped up, making the window shutters rattle, and thunder and lightning flashed.

Mu Ying quickly stepped forward and closed the window. Inside the room, the red candle flickered, lengthening her shadow.

“Cough cough—”

Suddenly, there was movement behind the gauze curtain. Mu Ying quickly turned around, “Princess, you’re awake?”

Shen Panyan only felt a burst of dizziness in her head, her voice was faint and uncertain, and her vision was extremely blurry.

Mu Ying carefully helped her up. “Princess, do you want some water?”

After a long while, Shen Panyan finally regained her composure, her voice hoarse, “Mm.”

Mu Ying poured her a cup of warm water.

As the warm water went down, Shen Panyan felt her throat was no longer uncomfortable.

She looked at the familiar bedchamber and the dim candlelight, and the memories before she fainted gradually returned.

“How many days have I been asleep?”

“Reporting to the Princess, you have been asleep for seven days.”

Her illness was extremely dangerous this time, even alarming His Majesty in the capital. The head of the Imperial Medical Academy set off overnight, and with the medicinal herbs sent from the capital, the Princess finally pulled through.

“You all have worked hard during this time.” Shen Panyan smiled weakly at her.

“Princess, you exaggerate. This is what your servant should do.”

Recalling the scene before she fainted, Shen Panyan felt stifled, but she also knew that Lin Xiao had acted for her own good.

Now, she had been awake for a while, why hadn’t she seen Lin Xiao?

Thinking of this, Shen Panyan asked: “Where is Lin Xiao?”

“Is the Princess referring to Guard Lin Xiao?” Mu Ying shook her head. “Since the day he brought you back, after he returned to the capital to summon a doctor for you, your servant has not seen him again.”

Shen Panyan was stunned. “What?!”

Lin Xiao left?

She quickly grabbed Mu Ying’s arm. “Where is the head of the Imperial Medical Academy? Ask him to see me.”

He was summoned back by Lin Xiao. He must know where Lin Xiao was.

Because she spoke too quickly, she immediately started coughing uncontrollably, which scared Mu Ying into quickly pouring her a cup of warm water.

“Princess, don’t worry. Guard Lin Xiao is so skilled, nothing will happen to him.”

“The Head of the Academy has already returned to the capital after your condition stabilized. He is not at the Resort now.”

Just then, the door opened, and an unfamiliar young palace maid walked in, bowing slightly.

“Princess, Sister Mu Ying, Imperial Physician Lin is here.”

Mu Ying was delighted. “Quickly, let Imperial Physician Lin come in.”

The young palace maid bowed and withdrew. Shen Panyan looked at Mu Ying. “Who is she?”

Mu Ying lowered her voice. “Princess, His Majesty found out about your disappearance. His Majesty was furious. Your servant doesn’t know the specific reason, only that besides your servant, the other palace maids in the West Wing were all given twenty strokes of the cane. These are the new young palace maids. There are twenty of them in total. Once the Princess recovers, you can meet them one by one.”

Hearing that the other palace maids had been subjected to the caning, Shen Panyan’s heart skipped a beat. She subconsciously gripped the quilt.

How did Father find out about what happened to her?

Could it be that Lin Xiao told him?

Shen Panyan bit her lip. Since the palace maids under her were punished by Father, Lin Xiao must also be punished.

Is that why he hasn’t returned?

But the Royal Resort was far from the capital. Even if she was anxious now, there was nothing she could do.

Imperial Physician Lin walked in with his medicine chest and bowed. “Your humble subject greets Princess Mingyue.”

Shen Panyan nodded distractedly.

Imperial Physician Lin took out the pulse pillow. “Please extend your hand, Princess.”

Imperial Physician Lin dared not be negligent in treating Shen Panyan now.

Who said Princess Mingyue was not favored?

The scene of bl00d flowing heavily a few days ago was too frightening. Even he was fined half a year’s salary. He was just a hair’s breadth away from losing his head.

Secret Guard Camp.

Shadow walked into the room with medicine. The strong smell of bl00d rushed to his face.

Hearing the door move, Lin Xiao looked up at him, his voice flat. “The punishment is over. When can I leave?”

Shadow was angered by his words. “Leave? Where do you plan to go?”

“Dark Nine, I sent you to protect the Princess. But instead, you let the Princess fall into a bandit den. If His Majesty hadn’t been merciful and spared your life, you still want to leave now?”

Lin Xiao lowered his eyes, his long fingers tightening. “This incident is my fault, but my mission has not…”

Shadow interrupted him. “You don’t need to worry about the Princess’s side. I have already sent another Secret Guard.”

Lin Xiao raised his head abruptly. Ignoring his injuries, he quickly stepped forward, grabbing Shadow’s collar, his eyes sharp. “This mission is mine. Why did you send someone else?”

He could barely restrain himself. “Who went?”

Shadow was not annoyed at being grabbed by the collar. “You failed to protect the Princess. Isn’t it normal to replace you with another Secret Guard?”

Hearing this, Lin Xiao released his collar, lowered his head, and remained silent.

Shadow threw the medicine to him. “Apply the medicine properly yourself. Don’t die.”

Lin Xiao took the medicine, silent.

Shadow was relieved to see him obedient.

In the past, this defiant man would never have given up without being fiercely admonished. He hadn’t expected him to be so obedient today.

“Rest and recover well. When you heal, there will be other missions for you.”

Shadow turned to leave, but just as he stepped out of the room.

“Who went?” Lin Xiao’s voice was sharp.

Shadow: …

He had indeed been happy too soon.

Shadow turned back. “This is His Majesty’s command, Dark Nine. Do you intend to defy orders?”

Lin Xiao’s long fingers tightened. “But this is my mission.”

Shadow was immediately puzzled. “You were desperately unwilling to go in the first place, so why are you so insistent on going back now?”

Then, he suddenly thought of something bad, and warned coldly, “Dark Nine, remember, you are only a Secret Guard. Do not harbor any improper feelings towards the Princess, or you will be courting death.”

“If that happens, no one can save you.”

Lin Xiao knelt down, his head bowed. “Dark Nine would not dare.”

“It’s just that this is Dark Nine’s mission, and it should not be handed over to others.”

Seeing that he wouldn’t let go, Shadow felt a headache coming on.

This person was always stubborn. If he continued to pester, it would be troublesome.

He waved his hand. “Forty-Three went.”

“Thank you for informing me, Leader.” Lin Xiao stood up.

Shadow shook his head. “If Forty-Three is unwilling to switch with you, you must not force him.”

“One month at the most, you must return.”

Lin Xiao lowered his head and eyes. “Yes.”

With Imperial Physician Lin’s care, Shen Panyan’s body slowly recovered, though she was still extremely weak.

Spring rain is as precious as oil. It had been drizzling for the past few days, carrying a slight chill.

Mu Ying draped a cloak over her, brought a hand warmer, and thoroughly bundled her up, ensuring no cold air could enter, before allowing her to get out of bed.

Imperial Physician Lin was initially reluctant to let her out of bed, but Shen Panyan was truly mentally distressed. No one at the Royal Resort knew anything about Lin Xiao, so how could she lie still?

But she had no way to return to the capital. Seeing her listless expression and deteriorating health, what could Imperial Physician Lin do but allow her to go out and clear her mind?

She sat in the waterside pavilion, dismissing the other maidservants, only keeping Mu Ying nearby. As she watched the continuous fine rain and the ripples on the lake, a man in black suddenly appeared before her, kneeling down.

“Your subordinate, Dark Forty-Three, greets the Princess.”

Dark Forty-Three?!

Shen Panyan froze. She could barely control her body and quickly stood up. “Lin Xiao…”

As the name left her mouth, Shen Panyan remembered that Lin Xiao was the name she gave him. To her father, he didn’t go by that name.

Her voice was strained. “Where is Dark Nine? Why didn’t he come to see me?”

Dark Forty-Three hadn’t expected the Princess to ask about Dark Nine the moment he appeared. He answered truthfully: “Dark Nine failed to protect the Princess and is undergoing punishment. The Leader replaced him with this subordinate to protect the Princess.”

Punishment?!

Shen Panyan’s heart clenched. “What punishment did he receive? Is it serious?”

Dark Forty-Three: “Before your subordinate left, I heard the Leader say that Dark Nine received thirty strokes of the cane. It should not be serious.”

Among them, Secret Guards, Dark Nine was punished frequently. Although thirty strokes were many, Dark Nine’s internal energy was deep, so it wouldn’t have a major impact on him.

Thirty strokes of the cane?!

Shen Panyan’s body swayed. Mu Ying quickly supported her. “Princess!”

She was anxious. “Are you alright?”

Then she looked at Forty-Three. “Hurry and call Imperial Physician Lin.”

Forty-Three also panicked. “Yes.”

Seeing him about to leave, Shen Panyan quickly called out, “Don’t go!!”

Forty-Three immediately stopped.

Shen Panyan was helped to sit down. Her voice was weak. “Don’t go. I’m fine. I’ll be better in a moment.”

Now that she had news of Lin Xiao, Shen Panyan naturally couldn’t let go of the opportunity.

She looked at Forty-Three, her voice soft. “Your name is Forty-Three, correct? Stand up.”

Forty-Three: “Thank you, Princess.”

Shen Panyan pointed to the stone stool opposite her. “Sit down. I have some things I want to ask you.”

Forty-Three hesitated. “Your subordinate dares not.”

Shen Panyan curved her eyes in a smile at him. “It’s alright. I don’t have so many rules here. Sit.”

With that, she looked at Mu Ying. “You may leave first.”

Mu Ying: “Princess, your servant…”

Shen Panyan shook her head. “You may leave first.”

Mu Ying could only bow. “Yes.”

She left the waterside pavilion but didn’t go too far.

Shen Panyan looked at Forty-Three, biting her lip, wanting to ask about Lin Xiao—if his injuries from the thirty strokes were serious—but not knowing how to start. She noticed Forty-Three’s gaze was fixed on the pastries on the table.

Shen Panyan smiled, pushing the pastries toward him. “Take them and eat.”

Forty-Three was caught, and his face instantly turned red. “Thank you, Princess. Your subordinate, your subordinate doesn’t need them.”

“It’s alright.” Shen Panyan chuckled. “It’s just a plate of pastries. I have plenty here.”

Forty-Three hesitated for a long time but couldn’t resist the temptation of the pastries. “Then, then your subordinate thanks the Princess.”

Shen Panyan smiled and nodded at him.

Seeing Forty-Three just take off his mask and place it openly on the table, she was slightly surprised.

Forty-Three’s face was delicate and handsome, and he looked quite young, about fifteen or sixteen.

“Forty-Three, you… You just took off your mask. Will there be any problem?”

She remembered Lin Xiao saying that a Secret Guard wouldn’t take off their mask and reveal their true face unless it was to their master.

Forty-Three replied: “No, this isn’t our real face anyway.”

He had heard that the Princess was kind, and it turned out to be true. Forty-Three was delighted.

He actually didn’t like squatting on beams and rafters all the time.

“We have disguises under our masks.”

Besides, this was the Princess’s territory. Who would be so unwise as to come and look at his true face?

Forty-Three was completely fearless.

Shen Panyan was silent, her fingers retracting slightly.

So, there was a disguise?

Therefore, she had never actually seen Lin Xiao’s true face.

Watching Forty-Three happily eating the pastries, Shen Panyan hesitated several times before finally asking.

“Forty-Three, do you know much about Dark Nine?”