An Jin carried Yuanxiao in one arm and me with the other, silent on our way home. Upon arriving, he pulled me into our room and instructed servants to fetch a doctor. I sat on the bed, with Yuanxiao on a soft cushion at my feet, our heads hanging in apparent remorse. Que’er brought medicine and water, standing nearby looking dejected.
When the father-in-law heard I was injured, he rushed in but was persuaded out by An Jin.
“Speak,” he said coldly, standing by the window without looking at me.
“Brother Jin,” I decided to use a soft approach and acted coquettish.
An Jin’s expression remained unchanged, though Que’er seemed to tremble.
I shamelessly approached him, grabbing his arm and shaking it. “Brother Jin, I didn’t want things to happen this way, but Yuanxiao was so badly hurt…”
An Jin ignored me. Que’er gestured at me, seemingly anxious.
I figured she wanted me to try harder, so I made a pained expression. “Brother Jin, my face hurts. Am I disfigured?”
He finally moved, pulling me back to the bed and using a handkerchief to wipe my face. Though his movements were initially aggressive, they became gentle on my skin. I kept inhaling sharply.
“Get to the point,” he said, applying medicine with an expression suggesting he was grinding his teeth.
The point?
Didn’t he want to hear about my fight with the princess? I glanced at Que’er, who was silently lamenting.
“I was wrong,” I said suddenly.
“Wrong about what?” An Jin asked.
“I shouldn’t have beaten the princess impulsively.”
Que’er coughed pointedly. An Jin looked at her, and she fell silent.
An Jin turned back to me, somewhat helpless. “How did you end up at White Crane Plain?”
The painting for the Eastern Palace’s dancer had been kicked into a puddle by the Seventh Princess during the scuffle. I stammered, “I-I went there to paint.”
“Why were you with the Crown Prince?”
I swallowed. “We-we coincidentally met.”
An Jin’s expression turned cold, and he stood up and walked out, slamming the door behind him.
I was stunned. Que’er hurried over. “Madam, the master is angry.”
“I noticed,” I replied.
“Don’t you understand? The master has long known you were that ‘young master’ and has been waiting for you to admit it!”
“How did he know?” I asked, surprised. “Did you tell him?”
Que’er shook her head. “Not me. Anyway, he already knows, and the madam is lying… The master is furious.”
The doctor was quickly summoned to examine me and Yuanxiao. I had only superficial injuries, with no damage to muscles or bones.
Yuanxiao’s injuries were more serious than they appeared, but with timely medication and rest, he would recover. The doctor looked at me with sympathy, then regarded An Jin with contempt, treating him like a wife-beater who had even struck the dog, illustrating one cannot judge by appearances.
An Jin ordered Que’er to collect the prescribed medicine and was about to leave without acknowledging me.
Panicking, I rushed to block the door.
His cold gaze pierced through me. “Move.”
“No!” I shook my head, smiling ingratiatingly. “Brother Jin, don’t go. I was truly wrong this time!”
He remained silent, just staring at me.
Under his gaze, I felt uneasy and called out more obsequiously: “Husband…”
His eyebrow twitched.
I began to explain everything, starting from my first painting at thirteen, detailing how I secretly painted beauties, how the Eastern Palace commissioned me for dancers, and how I accidentally fought with the princess. An Jin’s brow furrowed, then gradually relaxed, only to furrow again.
“Why didn’t you consult me?”
I mumbled, “I was afraid you’d be angry about me painting and following you.”
He smiled ambiguously. “Do you think that’s why you could steal paintings so smoothly?”
I stood stunned, realizing the implication.
He sighed, his expression softening as he pulled me into his embrace. “Silly monster. It’s fine that you like painting and consider it your career. But why didn’t you discuss something as dangerous as meeting the Crown Prince? Look at the state you’re in…”
Nestled in his chest, I couldn’t see his expression, only hearing his voice tremble slightly.
“I am indeed very angry. Not just at you, but more at myself.”
I hugged his waist, trying to comfort him like Yuanxiao.
His hand gently patted my back. “I’ve been protecting you since childhood. When we married, I swore to protect you for life. But now… I let you get hurt.”
I shook my head vigorously. “It’s my fault for being too self-confident, thinking I could solve every problem.”
“It’s my fault for not protecting you.”
“It’s my fault for being too impulsive.”
“My fault for being negligent.”
I quickly shook my head. “It was my fault. Punish me however you want!”
An Jin looked down at me, his lips curving slightly. “Really anything?”
I was speechless, feeling I’d walked into another trap.
An Jin chuckled softly. “Remember, never go out alone in the future. If you must go out, tell me first, and it’s best if I accompany you.”
I nodded repeatedly, then cautiously asked, “What’s the punishment for hitting a princess? How will I be dealt with?”
An Jin thought for a moment.
“I remember a drunk who insulted the Eastern Palace was beheaded.”
I was dumbfounded. Just for cursing, he was beheaded? I’d probably be executed along with nine generations of my family for hitting a princess. Despairing, I said, “Brother Jin, let’s pack up and flee with our families.”
An Jin finally laughed, looking incredibly delightful.
“What are you afraid of? I’m here.”
Chapter Fifteen: That is True Love
I don’t know what method An Jin used, but the scenario I imagined of countless soldiers surrounding An mansion and executing me never materialized. Everything was calm, as if nothing had happened.
It was abnormal. Given the Seventh Princess’s personality, she should have complained to the Emperor or sought revenge personally after such a loss. After a long time of restlessness, An Jin explained that he had reported the entire incident to the Emperor. The Emperor, being understanding, not only pardoned me for disrespecting the royal family but also placed the Seventh Princess under house arrest to reflect on her actions.
I felt slightly relieved but wondered if the Emperor could truly be so magnanimous.
An Jin was about to touch my face but, seeing the unhealed bruises, changed to stroking my hair instead. “Don’t worry,” he said with a smile.
I relaxed and recuperated with Yuanxiao, eating and sleeping well. My bodily injuries healed quickly, but the facial bruises and scratches were more troublesome. The first day I looked in the mirror after applying medicine, I almost wanted to die.
Although An Jin showed no outward signs, I felt he was somewhat disgusted by my bruised face. He refused to light the lamp during nighttime intimacy. One night, good moonlight illuminated our bed. When he was on top of me, he shuddered at my face and resolutely flipped me over. Face down on the pillow, I felt utterly depressed.
My father-in-law expressed deep sympathy for my situation, while my mother-in-law’s evaluation was brief: “Serves you right.”
To avoid worrying my family, I hadn’t returned home during my recovery. When my parents noticed my prolonged absence, they sent my older brother to check on me. Helplessly, I wore a veil to meet him, but he immediately pulled it off, saying there was no need for such mystery between siblings.
When he saw my face beneath the veil, he was stunned for a moment. I smiled at him, and he turned away, returning the veil to me, saying, “Sister, you’d better put it back on.” I was on the verge of tears.
However, my big brother, who loved his sister, thought for a moment and grabbed a fire poker from the kitchen before rushing out. I quickly grabbed his arm and asked where he was going.
