Chapter 11

“Why did you wait until you were burned like this to seek treatment?

“His left ear is probably beyond saving.

“Let him take a few doses of medicine and see how it goes.”

Mute Uncle gestured to me.

I turned to glance at Xie Yun, who was lying on the soft couch.

Half a month ago, when he returned to Qingzhou with me, he was still in tattered clothes, looking haggard and worn out.

But in just a few days, he had reverted to that noble and elegant Prince Heir of the royal residence.

Even the plain white robe he wore was made of the finest cloud brocade, embroidered with peony patterns in silver thread.

Luxurious yet understated-very much his style.

Yet, this noble Prince Heir didn’t even dare to seek treatment when he fell ill.

He really is a little pitiful.

“Prescribe medicine for him,” I said to Mute Uncle. “The most expensive, the most bitter!”

Xie Yun slept for a shichen before waking up.

Normally, when someone regains consciousness, there’s always a moment of confusion.

But not him.

He turned his head to look at me, his gaze perfectly calm.

I even suspected he hadn’t fainted at all.

I explained to him, “Your fever was really severe, and I was afraid news of your deafness would spread, so I brought you to Mute Uncle. His medical skills are good, and he’s trustworthy. Don’t worry.”

Only then did Xie Yun relax a little, and when he wasn’t so tense, a trace of fatigue showed on his face.

How could he not be tired?

The princely household was destroyed, and he came to Qingzhou alone.

He hadn’t even settled in before my grandfather and his uncle sent him to the Treasure Pavilion to procure grain supplies.

“How did you know my mother and your uncle had a relationship?” I asked him.

He’d said those words right in front of my mother, practically pouring hot oil on her heart.

Xie Yun sat up and said calmly, “When your mother came to Qingzhou back then, she probably didn’t bring much money. Even if my uncle followed my grandfather’s orders and took them in, at most he’d ensure they had food and clothing. But Zhao Mingyue and Zhao Jingcheng were both well-dressed, and your mother showed no trace of worry on her face. Clearly, she’s lived well these past years.”

I thought of the emerald hairpin my mother wore but said nothing.

She really was too conspicuous.

Come to think of it, if my mother truly wanted to marry Xie Yun’s uncle, my grandfather would surely have agreed.

He’s not a stubborn man.

But my mother insisted on remaining faithful to my father-even though she didn’t manage to keep her vow.

Back in the Northwest, my father always helped disabled veterans.

Our family wasn’t poor, but we couldn’t compare to the other high officials and nobles.

My mother always complained about my father, and they argued a lot over money.

It was just that, when she went out, she couldn’t match the grandeur of merchant wives.

Once, after a particularly fierce argument, my father felt guilty.

He took me out of the city, hoping to sell some Sand Ginseng and buy my mother a gold hairpin.

That was when we encountered a surprise attack by Desert Bandits.

My father died in the desert and never returned.

The funny thing is, my mother still blamed him for dying too easily.

He didn’t die on the battlefield, and it didn’t even count as a meritorious death.

“If it’s going to rain, and Mother wants to remarry, let her,” I said indifferently.

Mute Uncle came in with the medicine.

Xie Yun picked it up and drank it all in one go.

I watched him closely, but his expression remained perfectly calm throughout.

I looked at Mute Uncle: [What’s going on, isn’t this medicine bitter?]

Mute Uncle looked back at me: [Absolutely bitter!]

Skeptical, I picked up the bowl and licked it.

Ugh… ugh… ugh…

I pulled out the candied fruit I’d bought on the way and ate more than half the pack in one go.

Xie Yun, eyes twinkling with amusement, calmly picked up a piece of candied fruit and ate it.

What a tough guy!

“Xie Yun, honestly, you should marry Zhao Mingyue,” I said to him.

Xie Yun lowered his head to straighten his robe, saying nothing.

Only then did I realize I was sitting on his left, and his left ear could barely hear.

Xie Yun looked up again, gazing at me, and asked, “Zhao Yunshu, have you always… lived like this?”

I raised an eyebrow, moved to his right side, and asked loudly, “Lived how?”

Xie Yun studied me for a long moment, as if testing my resilience.

After a while, he said politely, “So poor, so lazy, so indifferent to everything.”