The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1221 - 1221 597 The Couple Meets (First Watch)

Chapter 1221: 597 The Couple Meets (First Watch) Chapter 1221: 597 The Couple Meets (First Watch) “`

Marquis Xuanping did not set Xiao Hen down until his horse, leading Xiao Hen’s horse on a detour, met up with them on the Official Road. Only then did the two men mount their steeds and return to the inner city of the Capital City.

“Not returning to Bishui Alley?”

Marquis Xuanping noticed Xiao Hen was leading them on an unusual route.

Xiao Hen said in a low voice, “Mmm, I’ll be staying at my mother’s place these days.”

Marquis Xuanping did not ask further.

Although he had been married to Princess Xinyang for many years, they did not interfere with each other, nor did they disturb each other. So this was his first time visiting the Mansion on Vermilion Bird Avenue.

He was about to leave after watching Xiao Hen enter when Xiao Hen suddenly opened his mouth and stopped him, “You should have your injuries treated first.”

To avoid sounding like he cared, he added, “There happens to be a doctor here.”

“Your mother—”

“She’s not here.”

Marquis Xuanping raised his brows, thinking how bold you have become, even daring to bring your old man back home.

He had longed for so long and finally received a bit of his son’s concern; Marquis Xuanping would not miss out on the opportunity to spend time with his son.

No matter what, he had to hold out until his son called him father again.

Marquis Xuanping dismounted.

He hadn’t creased his brow carrying Xiao Hen across mountains and ridges, but now that he was home, he suddenly started to act.

In order to demonstrate the severity of his injuries, he exaggeratedly limped into the house.

Xiao Hen watched his dragging left leg and his face instantly darkened, “You injured your right leg.”

Marquis Xuanping: “…”

By this time, it was past midnight. Gu Jiao, too, was a patient in need of rest and was not woken by Xiao Hen. However, Doctor Song was there and had just taken Gu Jiao’s temperature.

Xiao Hen settled Marquis Xuanping in his bedchamber and then called for Doctor Song.

Doctor Song was a man of discernment; he had already guessed Xiao Liulang’s identity after arriving at Vermilion Bird Avenue but never asked any inappropriate questions.

Upon seeing Xiao Liulang bring Marquis Xuanping back, he still asked nothing.

Xiao Hen fetched a set of his own clothes for Marquis Xuanping to change into.

Truth be told, there was a difference in physique between father and son. Marquis Xuanping, having practiced martial arts for years, naturally had a more robust build than Xiao Hen, but surprisingly, their height was not too different.

Looking at the clothes that were not too short, Marquis Xuanping couldn’t help but feel moved again—his son had really grown up.

Doctor Song began to treat Marquis Xuanping’s injuries. Xiao Hen thought there were only the two knife wounds identified on the way, but when Doctor Song lifted his shirt, the crisscrossing array of new and old scars on his back nearly stunned Xiao Hen.

With a face as handsome as jade, Marquis Xuanping gave people the unconscious impression that his body would be similarly unblemished.

Who would have thought that his body was already covered in scars?

Minor wounds were no longer considered injuries in Marquis Xuanping’s eyes. The only ones he remembered were the slash on his back and the cut on his right leg.

Marquis Xuanping looked up to see his son staring at him in a daze. He’d forgotten how much his son detested all this fighting and killing. The toys he’d made for his son when he was a child, his son had not liked any of them.

These scars must be quite unsightly to him.

He hurriedly pulled his clothes back on and said to Xiao Hen, “You should go out first.”

Xiao Hen’s eyelashes trembled, and he turned with a complex expression to walk out.

“Marquis, have your wounds been stitched more than once?” Doctor Song asked as he looked at the two major wounds on Marquis Xuanping.

“Hmm,” Marquis Xuanping answered vaguely, “Stitched up a time or two.”

After coming off the battlefield, he had stitched them up once, then the wounds tore open from relentless traveling. At the Post station while changing horses, he had them stitched up again, a time or two.

With earnest concern, Doctor Song said, “Marquis, this is very dangerous! You should properly rest when injured. Repeated tearing of a wound is worse than a direct stab!”

“So… will it cause lasting damage?” Marquis Xuanping asked.

Doctor Song sighed, “You’re fortunate. If it weren’t for the special wound medicine my master has, your leg would indeed have been doomed!”

Marquis Xuanping’s wounds were already inflamed and swollen, and he had even soaked them in water… Doctor Song had never seen such a disobedient patient!

If not for the anti-inflammatory drugs his master had, not even the Daluo Immortals could have saved him!

Doctor Song cleaned Marquis Xuanping’s wounds and couldn’t help but marvel at his extraordinary constitution. Even after repeated tearing, the wounds had managed to heal, though the localized infection posed some trouble for treatment and care.

“I’ll remove the stitches first,” Doctor Song said.

“`

“Open it up,” Marquis Xuanping said with indifference.

“It might hurt a bit.” Doctor Song said while unwrapping, when he turned his head, Marquis Xuanping had already tilted his head and fallen asleep.

As if sensing something, Marquis Xuanping struggled to open his eyes and said in a haze, “…What did you say?”

Doctor Song said, “Nothing much, it’s all unwrapped now, about to give you an injection.”

Marquis Xuanping glanced at the IV bag and needle Doctor Song was bringing over, uttered “oh,” tilted his head, and continued to sleep.

Doctor Song tied on the tourniquet and muttered, “First time getting this and he’s not even scared…”

Marquis Xuanping’s body was riddled with injuries both large and small, and it took Doctor Song almost a whole two hours to finish treating him and step out of the room.

Xiao Hen was waiting for him in the corridor.

Doctor Song, holding his first aid kit, approached and said, “Lord Xiao.”

Xiao Hen turned to him and asked, “How is he doing?”

Doctor Song replied, “He’s asleep. I’ve taken care of all the treatable wounds on his body, but to be honest, his injuries are rather severe—such a long gash on his back and such a deep cut on his leg.”

Xiao Hen watched Doctor Song gesture to indicate the length and depth, and his elegant brows suddenly furrowed.

Doctor Song sighed and said, “Is he not concerned for his life? Shouldn’t he have stayed in the military camp to recover properly, what’s the rush to come back here?”

Doctor Song didn’t know about the people’s affairs from Yan Country.

Xiao Hen’s throat moved slightly, his heart filled with mixed feelings, “Then, can he still be cured?”

Doctor Song responded truthfully, “He can be cured, but whether there will be sequelae, it’s hard to say.”

It seems they would have to wait for Jiaojiao to wake up so they could ask her if there was a cure.

This was Princess Xinyang’s mansion, and Xiao Hen’s intention wasn’t for Marquis Xuanping to stay overnight, but given Marquis Xuanping’s condition, he couldn’t truly wake him up and send him back.

Xiao Hen entered the room.

A dim oil lamp was left on the table, and Marquis Xuanping, with an IV drip, was fast asleep.

Perhaps it was only at this time that he shed the arrogant and domineering demeanor he displayed in front of others, his brows revealing the exhaustion and haggardness of an injured person.

In fact, his injuries were always present, it’s just that when he was awake, his aura was too powerful for others to feel his frailty.

Xiao Hen knew he had never become the person his father expected. He wanted a son who could inherit his mantle, a son who could follow him onto the battlefield, a son who could make him proud.

But whether it was his uniquely gifted childhood self, his young adulthood self who became the Libationer of the Guozijian, or his current self who had gradually risen from the mire to gain a foothold in the court, he could never fully satisfy his father’s pride.

At the break of dawn, Princess Xinyang hurried back from outside the city.

She could have arrived sooner, but a heavy rain fell outside the western city gate and a small landslide occurred on the road; they were blocked for most of the night.

The first thing Princess Xinyang did upon returning to the city was to rush home to see her son.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw a servant girl carrying a basin of bloody water coming out from Xiao Hen’s room. Her heart skipped a beat!

The thing she feared the most had still happened!

Xiao Hen had been targeted by the people of Yan Country!

“Ahen!”

Even the most composed mothers couldn’t stay calm when their son was in danger, Princess Xinyang staggered as she rushed inside. The servant girls at the door didn’t even have time to greet her properly before she already reached the bedside.

The room was filled with the strong scent of medicinal herbs for treating wounds, a sign of the severity of his injuries.

Her nose tingled and she threw herself onto the body on the bed, her hands tightly gripping his shoulders.

“A—”

Before she could finish saying “Hen,” she felt a large, comforting hand slowly patting her head.

This gesture gave her a moment of surprise.

For two main reasons: one was that Xiao Hen could still move, which meant he wasn’t dead, there was still hope; and two was… why was Xiao Hen touching her head?

Princess Xinyang lifted her tearful eyes in shock and gazed at the “Xiao Hen” on the bed. With just one look, she shot up from her position!

“Xiao, Xiao, Xiao, Xiao… why is it you!”

She felt as if she had been struck by lightning; she was completely flabbergasted!

Marquis Xuanping frowned slightly, slightly disturbed from his sleep. He slowly withdrew the hand that had just touched Princess Xinyang’s head, pinching the center of his brow.

Then, he looked at Princess Xinyang with a frown, “Qin Fengwan?”