boyutpedia Chapter 130 Compassion
Chapter 130 Compassion
Jiang Mian took a light breath, concealing the emotions in her eyes.
"Since Your Highness insists, then I will respectfully comply."
She put the pill into her mouth calmly and without the slightest hesitation.
"Jiang Man!"
Xiao Hengzhi pried her mouth open almost instantly, but the medicine had already entered her stomach.
His fingertips trembled slightly, and his breath caught in his throat.
She actually took it?
In that instant, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes.
He clenched the other half of the pill in his palm, his knuckles turning slightly white.
If this pill is poison... he couldn't even imagine what would happen next.
"......you......"
"Why does Your Highness look like that? Are you regretting sharing half with me?"
Jiang Mian looked up and met his gaze.
There was no panic, no tension.
Xiao Hengzhi was stunned, and the panic in his heart was replaced by another complex emotion.
He stared blankly at Jiang Wan, then suddenly realized a possibility—
She did not change her dressing.
This thought kept swirling in his mind, like a ray of light piercing through the darkness within him.
He was suddenly jolted, and a complex and indescribable emotion surged in his chest.
Surprise, relief.
There was even a hint of humble joy mixed in.
Xiao Hengzhi slowly raised his hand, put the half pill in his mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. The bitter taste quickly spread.
After taking the medicine, he stared at Jiang Mian for a long time.
His gaze was deep and his expression unreadable, as if he wanted to see right through her.
A moment later, he reached out and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly.
Jiang Mian was slightly taken aback by his sudden action, but she didn't push him away and let him hold her.
"What exactly happened to the prince?"
"It's alright, I'm just..."
He closed his eyes, sighed softly, and felt a mix of emotions.
He originally intended to use this half pill to test her and see if she would confess.
Because he is such a despicable person.
They used the most vicious methods to push her to the brink of life and death.
But now, his obsession has been shattered by her.
She did not change her dressing.
Jiang Mian still had some compassion for him after all.
He once thought that he should be all alone, and that if he was greedy, he would always pay the price.
The price he paid was her hatred.
He'd rather be hated by her openly than pitifully love her in the shadows.
But he also prayed constantly that Jiang Mian would love him.
He had never seen what Jiang Wan looked like when she was in love, so it was good that she showed this side of herself.
He then took it as love in his wishful thinking.
"Jiang Mian..."
Countless thoughts flooded Xiao Hengzhi's mind, yet he couldn't utter a single word.
The emotions in my chest were so intense they seemed about to overflow, but they only transformed into an even tighter embrace.
Jiang Mian was held in her arms and could feel his restless heartbeat, but he didn't say a word.
Each lost in their own thoughts, they embraced in silence.
After a long while, Xiao Hengzhi finally released her.
He looked at Jiang Mian, his eyes filled with a deep quagmire of pain and love.
It was as if he wanted to drag her down with him, or as if he hoped she would save him.
Jiang Mian felt inexplicably guilty under his gaze, and just as she was about to speak, the nanny suddenly came over.
"Your Majesty."
"What's the matter?"
"Someone from the palace has arrived. Please proceed to the main hall to receive the imperial decree."
Xiao Hengzhi stood up, glanced at Jiang Mian with a hint of reluctance, and then walked towards the main hall.
Jiang Mian silently let out a long sigh, a mocking smile curving her lips.
really.
Xiao Hengzhi was not such a careless person.
Today, she obtained the medicine so smoothly, it was like a trap.
Fortunately, I thought of this at the pharmacy today, otherwise I would be dead by now.
Who knew that madman would actually give her half of it too?
She got up, dusted off her sleeves, and turned to go back into the house.
Later that evening, Jiang Man returned to the Jiang residence.
As darkness fell, Jiang Mian watched the outline of the mansion gradually become clearer, but a strange unease rose in her heart.
Not right.
She frowned, and the closer she got, the more she felt something was off.
The mansion gate was wide open, the paint on the wooden door was already peeling, and there were even traces of burning on the edges.
Jiang Mian stepped over the threshold and her gaze swept across the courtyard, where a large area of dilapidation came into view.
Her mouth was slightly open, her face full of disbelief.
The courtyard was deserted.
Repairs? Where are there any signs of repairs?
The courtyard remained desolate, with piles of timber that the father had sent to transport in the corners, and the bluestone bricks covered in dust in the corners.
It seems that the work stopped after the father went to Qingzhou.
She stood still, her fingertips gripping the corner of her cloak tightly.
Who else but Xiao Hengzhi would dare to halt the repairs at the General's Mansion?
He did it on purpose, just to imprison her in the palace.
Jiang Mian's heart tightened, and the image of Xiao Hengzhi asking her about the progress of the repairs during lunch flashed through her mind.
He knew she was lying, but he chatted with her in a nonchalant manner and accepted everything she said.
Jiang Wan felt a tightness in her chest, as if she had been cruelly tricked, yet she had no way to argue back.
Her gaze swept over the familiar yet unfamiliar home, and a deep sense of powerlessness welled up within her.
Xiao Hengzhi had blocked all her paths, leaving her with no way out, even her last remaining option, which had become a silent joke.
She returned to the Prince's residence, her complexion not looking good.
When Xiao Hengzhi saw her return, he hurriedly went to greet her.
"Where have you gone? Quickly pack some things, come with me to Zhuoyue Manor tomorrow."
Jiang Wan frowned and asked, "Why do you want to go?"
"Today the Emperor issued an edict ordering me to accompany the Empress Dowager to Zhuoyue Mountain Villa to worship Buddha tomorrow."
"Since His Majesty has not allowed me to accompany him, what reason do I have to go?"
"I am not at ease leaving you alone."
Xiao Hengzhi was about to take her hand when Jiang Mian avoided him.
"Your Highness is joking. I am under constant surveillance in the palace. How can you say that I am left alone?"
"Jiang Man, stop fooling around."
"If I insist on not going, will Your Highness force me to?"
Xiao Hengzhi gritted his teeth and slowly said, "If you are unwilling, I will not force you, but this trip will likely take some time before you return..."
“Since we won’t force you…” Jiang Mian interrupted him, “Your Highness, please don’t make things difficult for others.”
"Jiang Mian..."
"I'm tired, Your Highness should also get some rest."
Jiang Mian went inside and closed the door, leaving him alone outside.
Xiao Hengzhi didn't know why she was being so unfriendly until the guards told him that they had accompanied her back to the Jiang residence that day.
It seems she already knew.
That night, Xiao Hengzhi did not go to her room.
It rained in the middle of the night.
When I woke up the next day, there was still a thin mist in the yard.
Jiang Mian dined alone in the front hall, while Xiao Hengzhi stood in the courtyard, already dressed and ready to go.
"Jiang Man," he called as he approached.
"What is it, Your Highness?"
"Take this." Xiao Hengzhi handed her something about the size of a thumb.
Jiang Mian picked it up and looked at it, then asked, "What is this?"
"Keep the eagle whistle with you at all times. Blow it if you encounter danger."
"Does blowing this 'sound' make someone appear? How many people has Your Highness planted around me?"
There was a hint of sarcasm in her words.
Xiao Hengzhi sat down and explained, "I wasn't spying on you. It's just that I've been worried ever since the Lion incident."
Jiang Mian saw that his gaze was earnest and indeed full of worry.
Moreover, the lion incident was indeed an accident.
She composed herself, looked away, and said, "I understand, thank you for your kindness, Your Highness."
Holding the eagle whistle in her bosom, Jiang Mian added, "Your Highness, please take care on your journey."
"Don't worry, I'll be right back."
After saying that, he turned around, left the mansion, and got into his sedan chair.
Jiang Mian took the eagle whistle and walked outside the hall, looking around the courtyard.
The scene was no different from usual, with servants sweeping and maids coming and going.
She suddenly remembered the man in black who had stolen the horse she had encountered at Moon Bamboo Ridge, and the man who had suddenly appeared during the lion attack.
And last time she tried to leave the mansion, she was hit on the back of the neck and fainted.
That must be someone Xiao Hengzhi planted in the shadows to monitor her at all times.
Jiang Mian was very curious about who exactly was capable of so secretly obeying Xiao Hengzhi's orders.