Chapter 41

  Because of the injury on my foot, I am not convenient to move around, and everything relies on Yutan. Yutan arranges the heater for me every day, puts food and things in order, before going to deal with her own affairs.

  I'm 30% hurt, 70% lazy, and not motivated at all. I can sit still for a whole day, staring at the swirling smoke from the incense burner. I can also stare at a book for half a day without turning a single page. Often, I pick up my pen to practice calligraphy, but end up only grinding ink. When I come to my senses, I look at the full inkstone and still have no desire to start writing.

  Yu Dan said that the eighth prince was unable to attend court due to external contraction of wind and cold. After hearing this, my heart still ached, and I felt that the food in my mouth was as hard as raw iron, making it difficult to swallow, so I had to put down my bowl and chopsticks. It turned out that I couldn't completely cut off my feelings, even if my heart had a sharp sword.

  Was it that day or later that he caught a cold? Did he freeze in the snow? Was it serious?... While warning himself that from now on his affairs had nothing to do with me, yet somehow he couldn't help but think about it again.

  Sitting sideways on the couch, head leaning against the pillow, I was lost in thought. The door was pushed open with a loud "bang", and I looked up at the fourteen-year-old standing at the door with an icy face. He stared at me, taking step by step closer, I sighed inwardly, leaned back again, my eyes unconsciously gazing at the floor.

  He stood still beside the bed, suddenly pulling my arm, I followed his hand and had to sit up straight. However, my gaze remained unmoving, still staring at the ground. He asked in a cold tone, "What's going on? Why?" As he spoke, the force in his hand gradually increased, pinching me until it hurt.

  I looked up at him and said calmly: "Let me go!" He sneered and nodded, saying: "You're so calm! Don't you feel heartbroken? Or do you simply not have a heart?"

  No heart? I'd rather not have a heart at all! I reached out to pry open his hand, but he suddenly applied more force. I let out a low "hmm" and couldn't help but shout: "It hurts! Let go!"

  "It still hurts, doesn't it? Does this make you understand other people's pain? The suffering of gaining and losing is not as good as never having had it! Since it's like this now, why did you agree to it in the first place? Who are you fooling? How heartless! Is this just a fleeting infatuation?" As he spoke, his grip on me tightened even more. I used one hand to hit his arm while shouting: "Let go! Can't you hear? I'm telling you to let go, who do you think you are? My business doesn't need your interference!"

  "He snorted and said, 'Who do I think I am? Today we'll make things clear! If you have a reason, we can talk about it. But if you can't come up with a single reasonable word, then I'll have to teach you a lesson and show you who's in charge of your affairs!'"

  My heart is bursting with rage, but in the end, he's still the master and I'm just a slave. I've been holding back my sorrow all these days, but now I can't bear it anymore. With a mix of anger and pain, I hit him hard while tears stream down my face, crying out: "Let go! Let go!"

  Two people were entangled, a faint voice called out: "Fourteenth brother!" I looked over with tearful eyes, and Thirteen Brother and Fourth Brother were standing at the door, one in front of the other. Thirteen's face was full of surprise, while Fourth Brother's expression remained as calm as ever, quietly gazing at Fourteen.

  Thirteen suddenly smiled and took a few steps forward, saying: "Fourteen, brother, what kind of play are you guys singing? It's just that our timing is a bit off." I pulled my arm back, but Fourteen still held on tightly, his face coldly staring at Thirteen. Thirteen chuckled and looked at him, glancing at the hand holding my arm, then gazing back at Fourteen with ambiguous eyes.

  The fourth brother walked in slowly and said lightly, "We just came from Mother's place, Mother is thinking of you, if you have time, go and pay your respects to Mother."

  Fourteenth suddenly tightened his grip, then released me. I quickly withdrew my arm and gently rubbed it. He bent down, lowered his head, stared at me, and chuckled against my ear: "I'll come visit you again in a few days." After that, he didn't look at me anymore, who was shocked and furious, but smiled at Fourth Brother and Thirteen, then turned around and left with a flourish.

  I wiped away tears with my sleeve, looked up at Thirteen awkwardly, held onto the bed frame, and thought about getting up to pay respects. Thirteen smiled and said, "Your leg isn't convenient, forget it!"

  After hearing this, I followed the flow and sat on the couch to pay respects to the Fourth Prince: "Fourth King, congratulations! Thirteenth King, congratulations! As a slave, it's inconvenient for me to move around, so I couldn't serve tea to both of you. Please forgive me."

  Thirteen casually sat down in a chair to the side, leaning back and smiling as he said: "You'd best clearly explain the ins and outs of this play, and we won't bother you about it."

  I was stunned for a moment, my heart felt sour and bitter, tears welled up in my eyes again, I quickly turned around and hastily wiped them away. Shisan sighed: "Alright, alright! I won't ask anymore."

  I turned back to him with a wry smile, he was silent for a moment, then solemnly said: "If the 14th brother is really having a hard time for you, speak up, maybe I can help resolve it!"

  I took a deep breath, mustered up the courage and smiled at him gratefully: "It's nothing serious! Just a temporary disagreement! It'll be fine once we calm down!"

  Thirteen shrugged and said, "If you don't want to say it, I won't force you! However, if there's something difficult, don't suffer alone. Solving the problem might be beyond me, but coming up with ideas and dispelling worries should still work!"

  I nodded, and he said with a faint smile: "If all else fails, go tell your brother-in-law, the Fourteenth Brother may be stubborn, but he does listen to Eighth Brother's words."

  My heart was racing, but I didn't dare show a hint of it on my face. I quickly glanced at the Fourth Prince and saw that his expression was normal. He smiled and said, "I'm afraid of being scolded for 'the guilty one speaks first', so I'd better keep quiet!"

  After finishing speaking, he didn't want to continue on this matter anymore. He smiled and changed the subject: "Thanks for coming to see me! And also thanks for last time!" Thirteen smiled but didn't respond.

  "Has your foot recovered?" I bowed my head and replied, "The imperial physician said that the injury affected the tendons and bones, but fortunately it's not serious, just need to spend some time nursing slowly!" The Fourth Prince listened and looked at Thirteen, saying, "Let's go back!" Thirteen nodded and stood up to leave, I suddenly felt a movement in my heart and hurriedly called out to stop him.

  He and the Fourth Prince both stood up, waiting quietly for me to continue. I frowned in embarrassment, unsure of how to start again, and with the Fourth Prince by my side, it was even harder to speak up.

  The fourth brother glanced at me and said to the thirteenth, "I'll leave the palace first!" As he was about to step out, the thirteenth hastily pulled him back and said to me, "My matters are not hidden from the fourth brother, so just speak directly!"

  I looked at this frame, originally wanted to calculate it, now not saying is not good. Had to laugh and say: "I want to ask you something." I made a gesture asking him to sit down, then looked at the fourth brother and smiled, inviting him to sit down: "Absolutely no worries about King Four, just didn't know how to start earlier, so hesitated."

  After the two sat down, they both looked at me. I pursed my lips tightly and smiled at Thirteen, saying: "This time following the Emperor to Saiwai, I saw Minmin Gege!" As soon as Thirteen heard this, his face was stunned for a moment, slightly furrowing his brow. Fourth Brother, however, turned his head to look at him with a smile.

  I looked at the thirteen furrowed brows, my heart felt a bit cool, but I continued to say: "You to her... ah?" Before I finished speaking, thirteen had already stood up, four brothers smiled and looked at me, then looked at thirteen.

  "Let's go!" Thirteen said, turning to leave. But Fourth Brother remained seated, holding him back with a smile: "The conversation isn't over yet, why are you in such a hurry?" Thirteen shifted uncomfortably, glancing at me and then at Fourth Brother. He let out a bitter laugh: "This wind is changing too quickly, just a moment ago it was my turn to perform, did you see that?"

  After finishing, he sat back in his chair. I covered my mouth and laughed, so there are things that make thirteen want to slip away too! Thirteen leaned lazily against the chair, "Ask then! Is it just a small matter? Is it worth you guys grasping onto it?"

  I suppressed a smile and sighed: "Mingming's thoughts, even if she didn't say it, you must have known. How about you?" He asked: "Did she clarify things with you?" I nodded.

  Thirteen silently walked out of the meeting room, gazing at the book on the table and said: "There are many good men on the grasslands! She doesn't need to waste her thoughts on me."

  For a moment, everyone fell silent. Actually, it wasn't unexpected, Mianmian was good, but perhaps not what Thirteen wanted. Thinking of her radiant smile under the starry sky of the grasslands, thinking that from now on she would also know that even as a princess, there were still things in the world that she could never get, thinking of her possibly heartbroken and dusty delicate face, he couldn't help but feel sad.

  Can't help but say: "Min Min Ge Ge is a very good..." Thirteen Cuts Dao: "You're such an understanding person, how can you also talk nonsense? She's just a heavenly immortal, if not for my heart, why bother saying more!"

  I let out a soft sigh and muttered under my breath: "The fallen flowers have intention, but the flowing water is heartless!"

  He stood up at thirteen stations, took a step and said: "Let's go!" The fourth brother got up with him and went out. I hurriedly bowed my head to see them off. After the fourth brother went out, he turned around and closed the door for me, saying: "Although it's not a serious illness, you should take care of yourself, and be careful not to catch a cold!" I just wanted to raise my head to thank him, but the door had already been closed.