<b>Special Thanks to these patrons for their support!</b>


    <b>S T E L L A R C L O U D</b>


    [Azurixa] [Celeste S.] [Christine G.-L.]


    <b>O R A N G E S T A R</b>


    [Fazzienaz] [K.Rom] [Manon] [Reece P.] [Smurfinbatik] [Tori D.] [Ziana K.-P.]


    <b>Y E L L O W S T A R</b>


    [Cudette P.] [Gwh T.] [Passerby] [Xena]


    <b>G O L D S T A R</b>


    [Ava C.] [Cindy] [Lord_Wolve] [Nanashi D. Y.] [Nevy] [Nicole]


    <b>R A I N B O W S T A R</b>


    [Allie] [Debra W] [Kiiayame] [Peggy F.]


    <b>T H E S U N</b>


    [Christigale M.] [Haruka N.] [Leticia P.] [Lily J.] [Malinkat]


    [Michelle K.] [onepiece] [Scorpion Princess] [Sophia W.] [Sweetlove]


    <b>Also, many thanks to everyone who bought me coffee (*≧?≦*)</b>


    Princess Xinyang didn''t hand the bowls and chopsticks to him. Instead, she turned and ced them on the stove.


    Xiao Ling hadn''t anticipated that she would suddenly wake up at this time, much less that she would condescend toe into the small kitchen. In fact, even Princess Xinyang hadn''t expected that she woulde here herself.


    The two of them unexpectedly met without warning.


    It was no longer the back of the person’s head, no longer the person’s silhouette, nor the vague sleeping face swallowed by darkness in the middle of the night, but a clear and vivid front face right under the broad daylight.


    Shedding the youthfulness of a fourteen-year-old, he now possessed aposed demeanor forged by years, though he was only eighteen and still had a little over three months to reach neen, an age that should still carry the awkwardness of youth. Yet, he had matured ahead of his time.


    His stature had grown taller, yet his cheeks seemed to have thinned.


    The fourteen-year-old Xiao Heng had been the pampered Little Marquis, the bright moon in the sky. But now, he had tumbled into the dust. He was like a beautiful jade that had gathered dirt, turning into a lonely pebble seemingly abandoned by the roadside.


    Princess Xinyang''s gaze momentarily didn''t know where to settle— on his face devoid of the mole, or on hisme leg.


    Xiao Ling seemed to have his sharp edges suddenly cut away. He only felt as though ayer of skin and flesh had been peeled off him, leaving him exposed, bleeding, andid bare in the eyes of those who knew or didn''t know.


    With every step, there were footprints of blood.


    Xiao Ling''s eyes were bloodshot.


    Is this punishment enough? Is this pain satisfying enough? Have I redeemed my dirty sins with this body covered in filth?


    Princess Xinyang stared at him fixedly. Suddenly, her body staggered, and she instinctively reached out with one hand to steady herself against the scorching stove.


    Xiao Ling''s gaze flickered, and his hand unconsciously reached out. But it froze in midair as he met her resistant eyes.


    Princess Xinyang''s body trembled gently. She gave him onest look, clutched her chest, and ran out without looking back...


    When Gu Jiao finished attending to the patients in the medical hall and came over to the small courtyard to check on Princess Xinyang''s condition, she was informed that Princess Xinyang had already left.


    Gu Jiao raised an eyebrow curiously, "I was nning to have her stay a few more days."


    It seemed like mother and son shared quite simr behavior patterns.


    Wanting to see each other but also avoiding a proper meeting.


    Xiao Ling originally didn''t need toe. He had heard that Princess Xinyang had fainted and had followed to see her. After Gu Jiao set up an intravenous drip for Princess Xinyang, she went to attend to her medical practice, while Xiao Ling remained by Princess Xinyang’s side throughout the process.


    Little Jing Kong was ying in the yard.


    Midway through, it was also Xiao Ling who called Gu Jiao over to remove the needle.


    Later, Xiao Ling called Little Jing Kong toe into the room and watch over her as he cooked.


    But the food he cooked, she hadn''t taken a single bite.


    Gu Jiao had almost finished her work. She tidied up a bit, took Little Jing Kong to wash his hands, and along with Xiao Ling, they returned to Bishui Alley.


    She had thought it through. The safest ce was by Princess Xinyang''s side. Second best was Bishui Alley. Wasn''t there a saying that went, "The most dangerous ce is the safest ce"?


    Who could have anticipated that Xiao Ling was already staying at home?


    As the family of three exited the back door of the medical hall, Yu Jin hurriedly returned to the medical hall with an anxious expression.


    Princess Xinyang had fainted again.


    Gu Jiao had just finished giving her the infusion, so logically she shouldn''t have exhausted her energy so quickly.


    Gu Jiao nced at Little Jing Kong, then at Xiao Ling. She had the option to take Yu Jin''s carriage and let Xiao Ling and Little Jing Kong ride back home in Little San''s carriage. However, after a brief pause, she decided to get onto Little San''s carriage.


    Yu Jin''s carriage led the way.


    They were heading to Zhuque Street.


    Sure enough, Princess Xinyang moved to the princess mansion to avoid Xiao Ling.


    As soon as Xiao Ling left, she moved back.


    What did this mean?


    It meant that seeing Xiao Ling was more distressing for Princess Xinyang than returning to the princess mansion.


    This time, Princess Xinyang''s heart condition really acted up, and she had fainted without warning.


    Gu Jiao administered a sedative to her, and her pulse temporarily stabilized.


    But such incidents shouldn''t ur too frequently; otherwise, there might be concerns about her life.


    "Did the princess experience any emotional turmoil? Her pulse was so erratic when we were at the medical hall." Gu Jiao asked Yu Jin as she packed up the medical supplies.


    Yu Jin was surprised by Gu Jiao''s peculiar medical techniques, but she attributed it to her ownck of knowledge and didn''t suspect that they were not from within the six states.


    She responded to Gu Jiao, saying, "The princess... feels ufortable in her heart."


    Little Jing Kong had gone to y in the yard. Yu Jin nced at Xiao Ling by the bedside and continued, "There are some things the princess didn''t even tell me, but I think the reason she feels unwell and fainted is because of... Lord Xiao."


    A bitter taste welled up in Xiao Ling''s heart, and a faint ache throbbed in his chest.


    He looked at the unconscious Princess Xinyang on the bed.


    Do you really hate me that much?


    Fine, I understand.


    I won''t appear before you ever again.


    Xiao Ling turned and walked out. Moonlight spilled down, casting a frosty sheen on his solitary figure.


    Gu Jiao remained behind to observe Princess Xinyang''s condition.


    Little Jing Kong watched the flowers in the courtyard.


    The flowers here were big and beautiful.


    He wanted to pick some.


    But the wild flowers outside couldn’t be picked, so he could only look at them.


    He clutched his little hands behind his back, drooling as he stared at the flowers.


    Suddenly, Long Yi walked over.


    Long Yi probably hadn''t paid much attention to this little guy at first. In the eyes of the Dragon Shadow Guards, children were as significant as stones.


    However, just at this moment, Little Jing Kong rubbed his hands together and seemed to be plotting something against the flowers. He couldn''t hold back any longer!


    But Long Yi caught his mischievous little hand.


    Little Jing Kong looked up with a confused expression, appearing both guilty and earnest as he said, "It''s not me, I didn''t do anything, I mean, um..."


    His eyes spun around, just like the young mischievous Xiao Heng from years ago. <h4>Raz P.''s Thoughts</h4>


    To read advance GSPW chapters! Updates 7x a week (daily).


    You can <b>read up to 30 advance chapters</b> in our patreon so you should go check it out. ^^


    No patreon but want to support us? Then,


    OR if you can''t support us in money, you can always support us emotionally -just hope into . Hehehe~