Meng Zhuqing awoke on the eighth day after the birth of Gong Juese and Meng Lanqing’s son.
Everyone was very happy that Meng Zhuqing had regained consciousness.
He had been in a coma for a whole month, and that month had been enough for the knife and sword wounds on his face and body to scar over.
When Meng Zhuqing saw himself in the bronze mirror, he was stunned.
It took him a long while to come to terms, and as he did, a bitter smile tainted his lips.
Ugly wasn’t sufficient to describe his appearance now; he could certainly frighten a child if one were to see him.
Luckily, he had never been particularly handsome.
Meng Zhuqing comforted himself in his mind.
Gong Juechen, with his arms folded, stood by the side. Seeing Meng Zhuqing touching his own face, he said, "The wounds are too deep, the scar removal ointments I made can’t eliminate the scars on your face and body."
Meng Zhuqing fell silent for a moment before smiling, "You always said I was ugly, and now it’s truly the case."
Gong Juechen had intended to reply as usual, not seriously, ’As long as you’re aware of it,’ but seeing the smile on Meng Zhuqing’s face, he involuntarily swallowed those words back, saying nothing.
The night Meng Zhuqing woke up Tobanya, as before, sneaked into the general’s mansion late at night.
Noticing that the door of Meng Zhuqing’s room was not closed and the lamp was not extinguished, evidently waiting for her, Tobanya stood at the doorway of Meng Zhuqing’s room, hesitated for a moment, but still entered.
Meng Zhuqing was sitting at the table. As soon as Tobanya came in, he picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup for Tobanya, and then one for himself.
Tobanya walked to the table and sat down. She did not drink the tea Meng Zhuqing had poured for her but just watched Meng Zhuqing drink his tea.
Seeing that Tobanya was just watching, Meng Zhuqing took another sip of tea and then asked, "Aren’t you afraid of me in this state, Commandery Princess?"
He had heard during the day that her father had been exonerated, and she had been reinstated as Commandery Princess.
Tobanya did not answer whether she was afraid or not; she just looked at Meng Zhuqing.
Meng Zhuqing touched his face, then picked up the teacup and continued drinking tea.
Tobanya remained silent for a while longer and finally said, "I’m not afraid."
Pausing, Tobanya added, "Thank you."
Meng Zhuqing put the teacup back on the table, looked at Tobanya, and shook his head with a smile, "Commandery Princess, you needn’t thank me. I would have done the same for anyone else."
He paused and then added, "I sympathize with the Commandery Princess for a girl to bear such a burden of deep-seated hatred."
So it was sympathy...
Tobanya’s heart clenched painfully as if to take her breath away, but her expression revealed nothing, still embodying her usual cold demeanor.
"Regardless, you truly helped me. Thank you." She still repeated her thanks.
Meng Zhuqing said, "Since the Commandery Princess puts it that way, I can only accept this gratitude."
Then, Meng Zhuqing picked up the teapot and poured tea into his cup. As he did, he said, "Now that the Commandery Princess has regained her status, coming to my room late at night is inappropriate. Please be more cautious in the future to avoid damaging your reputation."
Tobanya looked down, staring at the tea Meng Zhuqing had poured for her for a long while before saying softly, "From now on, I will not come again."
Meng Zhuqing smiled and said, "That would be best."
Tobanya continued to stare at the cup of tea for a long time before she got up and, without a word, walked out.
For a moment, she wished he would call her back.