He spoke with earnest seriousness, which even amused Princess Xinyang.
Why should a five-year-old carry the heart of a fifty-year-old?
Although Jing Kong always seemed to complain about Xiao Hen verbally, he held a deep respect for Xiao Hen’s mother, just as he respected Gu Jiao’s mother.
After thinking for a moment, Jing Kong, enduring the pain, took out a small bottle from his pocket, "Princess, this is for you." Then, after a thought, he took out another, "Forget it, I’ll give you both."
"What is it?" Princess Xinyang asked.
Jing Kong replied, "It’s something very tasty, even adults can drink it. I saw Jiaojiao give it to our auntie to drink before."
Princess Xinyang looked at the small blue bottle in her hand and asked, "Is it medicine?"
Jing Kong said scrupulously, "Hmm, I don’t know. Auntie had leg cramps last time, and Jiaojiao gave her this to drink, but I didn’t have cramps and Jiaojiao let me drink it, too."
Princess Xinyang returned it to him, "Then you should keep it and drink it yourself."
Jing Kong put the small blue bottle back, "No need, I’m not sad."
Princess Xinyang really was sad.
But it was not because of worry for Xiao Hen, for Xiao Hen had grown up, capable of handling things on his own; she didn’t need to worry about him day and night. Instead, she was saddened by the memory of the child she encountered today, which reminded her of the early demise of Xiao Qing.
She gripped the small bottle in her hand, holding back the pain in her heart, and asked, "Will you really not be sad after drinking it?"
Jing Kong nodded vigorously, "Really, really! I always feel very happy after drinking it!"
Princess Xinyang chuckled through her sob, "Then I will accept it, thank you."
Jing Kong returned to the western room with his completed questions and continued his homework.
After greeting Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen in the neighboring room, Princess Xinyang headed back to Vermilion Bird Avenue.
At dinner, Yujin limped, and Princess Xinyang curiously asked, "What’s wrong with your leg?"
Yujin said painfully, "I just had a cramp."
"Let me see," said Princess Xinyang.
Yujin smiled, "No need, it’s not a big deal, it will be fine by tomorrow."
After a silent moment, Princess Xinyang took out two small bottles from her purse and handed them over, "Here, drink these. They can treat leg cramps."
...
On the other hand, Gu Jiao and Gu Xiaoshun had been busy all afternoon, finally finishing the full set of rehabilitation facilities. Starting tomorrow, Huangfu Xian could begin systematic recovery training.
This would be a long and painful process, requiring Huangfu Xian’s strong resilience and willpower.
Walking was nowhere near as easy as he thought – once he discarded the crutches, each step brought pain equivalent to a thousand arrows piercing the heart.
"Are you scared?" Gu Jiao asked Huangfu Xian. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"If I was scared, would there be medicine to make me not hurt?" Huangfu Xian countered.
"There isn’t," Gu Jiao said.
Painkillers all have side effects, better not to use them if possible.
Huangfu Xian took a deep breath, "Then I’m not scared." He could only be brave.
Gu Jiao handed him the crutches, "Try to get used to them on your own first."
"Alright," Huangfu Xian took the crutches, and with Gu Xiaoshun’s assistance, he slowly stood up, his weight half on the crutches, and half on Gu Xiaoshun’s arms supporting him from behind. Even that was enough to feel the pain on his amputated limb.
He couldn’t dare to imagine what it would be like without the crutches.
Gu Jiao began to clean the courtyard.
Suddenly, Yu Yaya came holding a bowl that wasn’t washed completely, "Miss!"
"What is it?" Gu Jiao asked.
Gu Jiao asked, "Zhuang Yuheng now has nothing, and you still insist on marrying him?"
With conviction, Gu Jinyu said, "Yes. I don’t know where he is now, but brother-in-law was once his colleague, so he must have a way to contact him. I hope sister can relay a message for me, if father seeks him out, please have him by no means agree to father’s request to cancel the engagement!"
Glancing with her eyes, Gu Jiao said, "Zhuang Yuheng is right next door, you can tell him these things yourself."
Gu Jinyu looked surprised and went next door.
The Prince of Xinyang was packing his luggage, and upon hearing that Gu Jinyu was looking for him, he hesitated but still went to the main house to see her.
"Your Highness!" Upon seeing him, Gu Jinyu’s heart swelled with yearning and her eyes reddened once again.
Adhering to etiquette, the Prince of Xinyang kept a proper distance, asking politely, "What brings Miss Gu to see me?"
Gu Jinyu repeated what she had told Gu Jiao earlier.
The Prince of Xinyang looked down and sighed, "I am grateful for Miss Gu’s unwavering regard, but do you truly wish to marry me?"
Gazing at him with hurt, Gu Jinyu replied, "Do you doubt me? If I weren’t sincere about marrying you, why would I insist that you refuse my father’s offer to cancel the engagement?"
The Prince of Xinyang explained, "It’s not that I doubt you, but I’m concerned it would be unfair to Miss Gu. I’m leaving Capital City, and the place I’m going to is a thousand miles away, I might never come back for the rest of my life."
Confused, Gu Jinyu asked, "Where... where are you going?"
The Prince of Xinyang honestly replied, "The borderlands, my family has been exiled there."
Gu Jinyu’s complexion changed sharply, "But you haven’t been exiled!"
The Prince of Xinyang calmly said, "I cannot rest easy about them."
Among his family, quite a few deserved their punishment, but there were also innocents, such as his two younger sisters, who had never partaken in his grandfather’s ambitions.
The Prince of Xinyang continued, "I have submitted my resignation to the Cabinet and have also petitioned His Majesty to relieve me of my prince title. Therefore, if you truly wish to marry me, you will have to accompany me to the borderlands...to live as commoners."
Gazing steadily at her, he said, "Miss Gu, would you still accept this marriage?"
Gu Jinyu was stunned.
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