CH 19

Ch 19 “Lin Lang, where are you going?”

Bathroom.

Xie Chaoling helped Xie Chaoyuan take off his soaked clothes one by one, carefully avoiding his bandaged arms. Faint blood oozed from the white bandage. Xie Chaoling frowned upon seeing this, “Your Highness, let’s have an imperial physician take a look.”

“Don’t make a fuss about it.” Xie Chaoyuan didn’t care for it.

Xie Chaoling lightly stroked his fingers, and whispered: “Your Highness shouldn’t have come in person today.”

Xie Chaoyuan’s face darkened when he heard that, “You think so too?”

“I’m telling the truth, it’s too risky. Your Highness doesn’t need to go. Just send a few bodyguards who are good with water.”

“Linlang thinks that there is no one in this world worth your risk?” Xie Chaoyuan asked him.

Xie Chaoling raised his eyes and met Xie Chaoyuan’s black eyes staring at him. “Yes” came to his lips but he couldn’t say it. If he said yes, it would be too cold and heartless.

If the person trapped on the island today was the little highness, would he rush to find him in such a hurry? Xie Chaoling didn’t know, and didn’t want to think about it.

“Your Highness, don’t be angry,” Xie Chaoling lowered his voice, “I will be worried if your hand is injured. The cut is not shallow. Let someone look at it later.”

Xie Chaoyuan pulled him into his arms, hugged him tightly, and lowered his head. He didn’t say anything more.

Xie Chaoling patted him on the back: “Let’s wash your body first.”

After entering the water, Xie Chaoling had Xie Chaoyuan lift his injured left arm to keep it from getting wet, and took the initiative to help him wipe his body. Xie Chaoling’s movements were meticulous and thoughtful. Although he was not skilled in serving people, he was full of patience.

Xie Chaoyuan stared at him the entire time, curling up the ends of his hair that fell into the water with his fingers, and gently entangled them.

“Why does Your Highness always like to mess with my hair?” Xie Chaoling asked him.

Xie Chaoyuan said in a low voice: “It’s nice to look at.” 

Crown prince older brother had long hair that was darker and thicker than that of a woman. He was looked nice everywhere, and countless people admired him.

So Xie Chaoyuan chose to hide him for exclusive use.

“I won’t argue with you about today’s matter, but there can be no next time.” Xie Chaoyuan restrained his emotions and warned seriously. Next time, even if Xie Chaoling was extremely reluctant, he can only lock him up and put him in the safest place within his reach.

Xie Chaoling heard the warning implied in his tone, and knew that the little Highness had a temper, so he could only coax him: “Okay, I promise to be careful, I will never put myself in danger again.”

Xie Chaoyuan caressed his temples with his hand, and murmured in a deep voice: “Don’t lie to me.”

Xie Chaoling’s heart moved slightly. After all, he was the one who made Xie Chaoyuan worry today. It was his fault first, so he took the initiative to move closer and kissed Xie Chaoyuan’s cheek: “No.” 

Insisting on getting someone to call the imperial physician, the cut on Xie Chaoyuan’s arm was indeed still oozing blood. Imperial physician Hu helped him re-bandage the medicine, and gave some instructions for extra attention. Xie Chaoyuan listened casually, raising his eyes to look at Xie Chaoling from time to time.

Xie Chaoling was very serious, and wrote down everything the imperial physician said. He heard that Xie Chaoyuan could not eat food that is too rich these days, and not allowed to drink wine: “The few jars of good wine that King Ding asked someone to send in the morning, I will confiscate it all.”

Xie Chaoyuan smiled and said to him: “Linlang, I want to eat sweet cakes.”

Seeing that the little Highness was hurt because of himself today, Xie Chaoling was willing to pamper him and went to help him get it in person.

After the person left, Xie Chaoyuan restrained his smile and asked Imperial Physician Hu: “Is it possible for his amnesia to improve?” 

The imperial physician cautiously replied: “There is indeed this possibility.”

Imperial Physician Hu lowered his head, not daring to say any more. Xie Chaoyuan’s eyes darkened.

In the beginning, he only wanted to obtain Xie Chaoling, because he couldn’t stand Xie Chaoling marrying someone else. Even if Xie Chaoling was mad at him and hated him, he wanted to keep him for himself. However, Xie Chaoling lost his memory, so he followed the circumstances and borrowed Zhang Shaoyang’s hand to get him to his side. In order to make Xie Chaoling happy, he even had the courage to bring him in front of others.

But one day, Xie Chaoling will still remember, and on that day…

Xie Chaoling had already brought back the snack, put it in front of Xie Chaoyuan, and fed him a piece: “Your Highness, open your mouth.” 

Imperial Physician Hu had already packed up his things and stepped back. Xie Chaoyuan stretched out his hand, hugged Xie Chaoling’s waist and let him sit down. He also fed him a piece: “Is it delicious?

“It’s okay.” As he spoke, Xie Chaoling lifted his chopsticks to continue to feed Xie Chaoyuan.

Xie Chaoyuan’s hand on his waist slowly tightened.

He hoped that Xie Chaoling would be happy, and even hoped that Xie Chaoling had him in his heart. If that day really came, even if Xie Chaoling hated him to the core, he would definitely keep him.

Xie Chaoling raised his eyes, saw Xie Chaoyuan’s absent-minded attitude, and called him: “Your Highness?”

Xie Chaoyuan looked at him, and smiled with his lips curled up: “Let’s eat.” 

In the evening, Xie Chaoyuan was called again by someone sent by Xie Fengzhen. He said he would go for a little bit then return, and had Xie Chaoling have dinner first.

Xie Chaoling asked someone to serve the meal on the couch, opened the wine that King Ding brought in the morning, sat by the window, and enjoyed the scenery outside while having a drink.

It rained again in the afternoon, and now the rain had completely stopped. A long rainbow was hanging in the sky against the setting sun. Xie Chaoling squinted for a while, then poured the wine in the glass into his mouth.

A white pigeon suddenly appeared, circled around outside the window, and landed on the window sill. Xie Chaoling glanced at it, reached over, and tore off the note tied on its leg.

Before Xie Chaoling unfolded the note, Wang Jin subconsciously stopped him: “Your Majesty, it’s better to let His Highness…”

Xie Chaoling glanced over coldly: “Why wait for His Highness to come?”

“But…”

Xie Chaoling didn’t like having too many people around, so there was only Wang Jin in the room, so he poured another sip of wine into his mouth and put down the cup. He asked softly: “How long have you been with His Highness?”

Wang Jin swallowed hard: “Slave, this slave was assigned to serve in His Highness’s palace as soon as I entered the palace, and then followed His Highness out of the palace to build a mansion.”

” You are quite afraid of His Highness.”

“…His Highness is strict, and this slave dare not be presumptuous.”

“You are also afraid of me.” Xie Chaoling met his flustered eyes and said firmly.

Wang Jin fell to his knees and prostrated himself on the ground, not daring to speak again.

He was really afraid. The person in front of him was actually the crown prince of the East Palace. He had been afraid since the first day he came to Xie Chaoling’s side. He was afraid that Xie Chaoling would find out, that Xie Chaoling would remember and he would be the first to die without a place to bury.

Xie Chaoling ignored him and slowly unfolded the note.

There was only one line on it: “Find an opportunity to come out alone.”

Xie Chaoling had a vague guess in his heart.

Xie Fengzhen still only asked Xie Chaoyuan to accompany him for dinner. Xie Chaoyuan sat down and said that his hand was injured and he could not drink any more, Xie Fengzhen nodded: “Is the injury serious?”

“It’s nothing serious, it will just take a few days. “

Xie Fengzhen didn’t say any more, and ordered people to serve the dishes.

The two, uncle and nephew, had dinner together and chatted. Xie Fengjuan mentioned Xie Chaoyuan’s marriage again: “His Majesty had already helped Chaohui, Chaoqi and the others to decide on their candidates, but you, the Empress Dowager also made a decision two days ago. Speaking of your matter, judging from her meaning, it seems that she wants to bestow you to a grand-niece of her own family.”

Xie Chaoyuan’s face was cold: “I can’t afford to marry the lady of the Zhao family.”

It’s not hard to guess what the Empress Dowager Zhao was thinking. Xie Chaohui and Xie Chaoqi’s marriage was decided by Emperor Qianming, and the choice of candidate would definitely make her very dissatisfied, so she wanted to snatch Xie Chaoyuan. One of his favorite sons, Empress Dowager Zhao wanted to hold him as a hostage, so that Emperor Qianming could not move against the Zhao family. This move was really cruel.

And since the old woman opened her mouth, Emperor Qianming might not be able to help Xie Chaoyuan refuse. Xie Chaoyuan was neither the oldest son nor the only son and had no relationship with the heir position. His marriage was not considered a state matter, so a grandmother helping her grandson choosing a wife was something natural.

Xie Fengzhen just reminded Xie Chaoyuan that whether Xie Chaoyuan really had the ability not to marry was his own business.

“Today’s matter, it is true that the people in the palace are wrong, but if the matter spreads, it will inevitably make people feel uncomfortable. You are very high-profile, and the guard beside you may not have a good life in the future. The matter of Chaoqi is a lesson from the past.”

Xie Fengzhen kept paying attention to Xie Chaoyuan’s expression when he was talking, Xie Chaoyuan said calmly: “Thank you for reminding me, Royal Uncle, I will be careful.” 

Xie Chaoyuan didn’t eat much, and when Xie Fengzhen put down his chopsticks, he also stopped and drank with Xie Fengzhen. Just half a cup of tea, then he got up and said goodbye.

When leaving, Xie Fengzhen suddenly asked: “What kind of person is it for you to care so much?”

Xie Chaoyuan stopped and looked back at him calmly: “I thought Royal Uncle would understand me.”

Xie Fengzhen shook his head: “You care so much about him, what about him? Is he forced to stay by your side only because of your status as the prince?” 

After a moment of silence, Xie Chaoyuan said calmly: “Royal Uncle, take a rest, nephew will retire first.” 

Xie Chaoling was finished with dinner when he returned to his residence. After dinner, he was drinking tea with a book in his hand.

Wang Jin lowered his head, recalling what Xie Chaoling said earlier, “If you want to talk to His Highness, then just say it, what happens in the future will be your own creation”, and he couldn’t help but be terrified.

For the first time, in front of Xie Chaoyuan, he concealed what should have been reported to him.

Xie Chaoyuan went to the side of the couch and sat down, and asked Xie Chaoling: “How much did you eat for dinner?”

Xie Chaoling squeezed out a smile: “Your Highness said you will go for a little and come back to eat dinner with me, Your Highness lied to me.”

“Let’s go back tomorrow, it’s meaningless here.” Xie Chaoyuan said.

Xie Chaoling nodded: “Okay.”

Afterwards, the two played a few games of chess until the night fell. Xie Chaoling said that he was sleepy, so Xie Chaoyuan called someone to take the chessboard away. After washing and turning off the lights, they went to the couch and laid down side by side.

It was rare for the little Highness to be quiet today, Xie Chaoling turned sideways and asked him in a low voice: “Your Highness, don’t you want it today?”

Xie Chaoyuan took his hand and said calmly, “I’m tired today, go to sleep.”

Xie Chaoling leaned over and kissed him on the cheek: “Sweet dreams, Your Highness.”

Xie Chaoyuan held his hand tightly.

Deep into the night, Xie Chaoling slowly opened his eyes in the darkness, and sat up listening to the steady breathing beside him.

He stepped lightly beside the bed, put on his clothes, and when he turned around, Xie Chaoyuan’s hoarse voice sounded behind him.

“Linlang, where are you going?”