Ye Qichi completely woke up.
She was truly grateful that Xiao Jinxing did not kill her. The Xiao Jinxing in the books would never be so merciful.
She steadied her emotions and said, "Have I slept for a long time?"
"Did I occupy your bed?"
"What do you think?!"
"Then I'll get up." Ye Qichi was completely composed.
She thought to herself, just clear the spot if she had to, what was with the hostility.
Xiao Jinxing just stared at her fixedly.
He saw her struggle to get out of bed but it was not the movement of someone who had suffered serious injuries.
Just at the moment when Ye Qichi was about to leave.
Xiao Jinxing suddenly extended his hand, grabbed Ye Qichi, and then pulled hard.
Ye Qichi, caught off balance, fell heavily into Xiao Jinxing's embrace, sitting on his legs.
At the same time, Xiao Jinxing directly ripped off the bandage from the wound on her back.
As the bandage was torn off, a shallow wound was already beginning to scab over.
How is that possible?!
Such a deep arrow wound couldn't heal that fast.
Obviously, Ye Qichi knew what Xiao Jinxing was suspicious about; she fiercely pushed Xiao Jinxing away, getting off him, "Men and women shouldn't touch each other, and you just tear off my clothes, are you sick?!"
Xiao Jinxing looked at her coldly, with scrutiny!
He had significant doubts about this woman, "Who exactly are you?"
"Ye Qichi!" Xiao Jinxing roared.
"..." Xiao Jinxing was so angry his face turned green.
Ye Qichi straightened her clothes, and she said, "If you ask me who I am, I will only tell you I am Ye Qichi. If you ask if I have another identity..."
Ye Qichi dragged out her words on purpose.
Xiao Jinxing's interest was piqued by Ye Qichi.
"I am a fox spirit." Ye Qichi grinned a smile.
Xiao Jinxing's face looked incredibly ugly.
Ye Qichi was actually mocking him!
"A fox spirit that specializes in eating human hearts." Ye Qichi said with arrogance, "So don't mess with me, be careful I might bite you, oh!"
She turned around and walked away.
She didn't care that Xiao Jinxing was so angry he was about to explode.
Little Wu had automatically stepped aside the moment he heard the Prince roar at the Princess.
At this moment, seeing the Princess strut out confidently, his jaw almost dropped in shock.
Just who exactly is the Princess...?
"Little Wu!" The Prince's furious voice came from inside the sleeping quarters.
"Here, your servant is here." Little Wu trembled in fear.
"Change all the items on the bed for me, throw away the pillow!"
"..." Was the Prince unable to find an outlet for his frustration?!
Little Wu hurriedly had all the bedding replaced.
Afterward, he stood by as the Prince bathed. After a good while post-bath, the Prince seemed to genuinely calm down.
Who knows what the Princess did to upset the Prince so severely.
"Xiao Wu, who do you think is behind the assassination attempt on me?" Xiao Jinxing suddenly asked.
Xiao Wu said solemnly, "This servant believes it was someone from the Empress Dowager's camp."
Xiao Jinxing looked at Xiao Wu.
"The arrows used by the assassin are from the Crown Prince's armory, it definitely wasn't him; the Crown Prince wouldn't frame himself. Right now, what he needs most is to rally and strengthen his own forces, he wouldn't act rashly. It wouldn't be the Crown Prince either, even if he's not smart, he knows that the court officials are split into two factions, one supporting him and the other the Crown Prince. Every move he makes is closely watched, he too is afraid of making mistakes that others could capitalize on and wouldn't take any rash actions. The only possibility is the Empress Dowager."
Xiao Jinxing nodded, having already had a clear understanding in his mind.
"Prince, the Empress Dowager wants the Crown Prince and you to wear each other down, allowing you to reap the benefits of the fishermen," Xiao Wu said.
So today was all an act.
The assassin couldn't possibly have intended to actually kill the Prince, who must have known this long ago, yet he still had Ye Qichi risk her life to save him.
The Princess is truly pitiful!
Xiao Jinxing, unaware of Xiao Wu's inner thoughts, responded with a voice void of warmth, "We'll just wait and see how things unfold."
"Keep a close watch on Ye Qichi!" Xiao Jinxing suddenly changed the subject.
"This servant obeys!"
Clearly the savior, yet treated as if an enemy!
Ye Qichi returned to her own courtyard.
As she entered her bedroom, she saw Lu You sitting by her bed, tears streaming down her face.
"Lu You." Ye Qichi called out to her.
Lu You's body jolted, she lifted her head to look at Ye Qichi, and seeing her standing there safe and sound, she went from initial shock to utter panic, trembling with fear, "Princess, are you a ghost?"
Ye Qichi cast Lu You a glance, "Prepare water for a bath."
"Ghosts need to bathe?" Lu You was so scared her eyes could pop out at any moment, about to faint.
Ye Qichi was speechless.
She approached Lu You.
Lu You was terrified, "thump," she knelt on the ground, "P-Princess, just tell me what you want, I'll burn it for you right away, please don't scare me, I'm afraid of ghosts!"
Ye Qichi swiftly grabbed hold of Lu You.
"Ah!" Lu You shrieked.
"What are you screaming for, can a ghost even touch you?" Ye Qichi said impatiently.
Lu You almost fainted, but upon hearing the Princess say this, she paused for a second.
She hurriedly grabbed Ye Qichi's hand, feeling for warmth, "Princess, you're not dead?"
"But the Prince said you were at death's door."
"He'd love to see me dead sooner."
"Hurry up and prepare the bath. I'm covered in blood, sticky and smelly."
"Oh." Lu You got up from the floor and while doing so asked, "Is the Princess truly alright? I heard the Imperial Physician even came to our mansion, usually they wouldn't come unless a person is severely injured, right?"
"Did he come?" Ye Qichi was still a bit dazed, as if she felt someone had treated her wounds. She murmured, "Lucky for the quick response."
"Otherwise, the Princess would've truly been in mortal danger, right?" Lu You's eyes reddened.
She always knew the Princess's injuries were not as simple as she claimed.
"Otherwise, my wounds would have healed."
"..." Lu You felt that her Princess was not like ordinary people.
She had to get used to it.
Once used to it, it would no longer seem strange!