With her delicate face and slender waist, the royal uncle lost control.

She couldn't finish her sentence; she just clutched his shirt tightly.

Tears quickly soaked the front of his shirt, the scalding heat seeping through the thin fabric.

She could feel her whole body trembling uncontrollably.

She was genuinely afraid.

She feared that Qiluo might meet with misfortune while trying to save her, and that the loyal maid might suffer irreparable harm because of her.

The image of Qiluo's tragic death in her past life intertwined with her current worries, causing her heart to ache.

She truly could no longer bear the pain of losing Qiluo.

This fear and guilt are so real, so overwhelming.

So much so that she didn't need to deliberately "show weakness"; her vulnerable and helpless appearance was already vividly portrayed.

Qin Jiuchen lowered his eyes and looked at the woman in his arms who was crying and trembling all over.

Qin Jiuchen's body was stiff.

He lowered his eyes.

She was so small, nestled in his arms, so light it seemed to weigh nothing.

Stray strands of hair brushed against his chin, carrying the dampness and earthy scent of the mountains, mixed with her faint fragrance.

Warm tears soaked through my clothes; the dampness and heat were almost scalding.

He simply remained silent and let her hold him.

The arm around her waist tightened slightly.

His other hand, which had been hanging by his side, had his fingers curled slightly.

After a moment's hesitation, the other hand slowly rose and landed on her thin, trembling back.

Gently and slowly, patting and caressing.

He said, "Now that Chensha has left, I will do my best."

Yun Nian's crying gradually subsided into low sobs, but she still leaned on him dependently.

But as my emotions calmed down, another feeling became clear.

The wounds on my arms and calves, scratched by thorns, began to sting and scream.

Especially on my elbow, there's a deep cut that aches terribly with any movement.

She sniffed, pulled away slightly from Qin Jiuchen's embrace, and tilted her head back, her eyes and the tip of her nose red, like a wronged little rabbit.

She pouted, "Your Highness, I'm injured, it hurts so much."

As she spoke, she carefully raised her scarred arm to show him.

Her once fair and delicate skin was now covered with scratches and bruises of varying depths.

She pouted, looking at him with teary eyes.

Qin Jiuchen's gaze fell on the wound on her arm.

He frowned slightly, his eyes darkening.

When I looked up at her again and met her watery eyes, a hard spot in my heart felt as if it had been gently touched by something soft, causing a slight ripple.

Yun Nian keenly caught the fleeting hint of relaxation in his eyes.

She gently tugged at his collar, her voice softening, "Nian'er is injured, it hurts so much, Your Highness, could you please put some medicine on Nian'er?"

Seeing that she was pushing her luck, a smile flashed across Qin Jiuchen's eyes.

He raised an eyebrow. "To be my man, you certainly have quite a few requirements."

Upon hearing this, Yun Nian's face flushed crimson, even the tips of her ears turned pink. "What...what, the prince's people!"

Her previous coquettish and charming demeanor instantly vanished, replaced by a hint of panic. "Nian'er is just doing things for the Prince... it's a cooperative relationship."

"A cooperative relationship?"

Qin Jiuchen repeated, his tone even more sarcastic, "Didn't you say you'd obey my every command?"

"That's limited to official business only."

Yun Nian quickly retorted, "We should keep some distance from each other in private."

"Oh?"

Qin Jiuchen raised his voice slightly at the end, then suddenly pulled her back into his arms, holding her tightly.

Caught off guard, Yun Nian's face collided with his solid chest once again.

"Who was it that just threw themselves on me without a care, crying and soaking my clothes?"

He lowered his head, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe, teasingly saying, "Now you're talking to me about 'distance'?"

Yun Nian was held tightly by him, unable to break free. Her cheek was pressed against his slightly damp clothes, feeling both ashamed and annoyed. "Your Highness, stop fooling around!"

A smile appeared on Qin Jiuchen's lips.

He suddenly bent down, put one arm around her knees and the other around her back, and lifted her up in his arms.

"what!"

Yun Nian gasped softly, instinctively reaching out to wrap her arms around his neck. "Your Highness, what are you doing?"

"Aren't you going to apply medicine?"

Qin Jiuchen carried her, his steps steady as he walked around the Buddha statue to the back of the Buddhist hall. "Don't tell me you want to sit here all night with these injuries?"

Behind the Buddhist hall is a small courtyard, and in front of it is his bedroom.

The room was simply and elegantly furnished, with a table, a chair, a bed, and the calming sandalwood incense burning.

Qin Jiuchen placed her on the round stool beside the table and turned to get the medicine box.

Yun Nian sat on the stool, waiting for him obediently.

Qin Jiuchen returned with a small ebony medicine box, placed it on the table, and opened it.

He looked at Yun Nian: "Take off your outer garment."

"what?"

Yun Nian was startled, and subconsciously hugged herself, looking at him warily.

Qin Jiuchen was amused by her reaction and lightly tapped her forehead with his finger: "What are you thinking about? How are you going to clean the wound on your arm if you don't take off your outer garment?"

Yun Nian then realized what was happening and softly said "Oh".

She slowly took off her tattered shirt, revealing her skin covered in bloodstains.

Qin Jiuchen picked up a clean cotton cloth, soaked it in a basin of warm water, wrung it out, and then lifted her injured left arm.

The warm, damp cotton cloth was carefully used to wipe away the dirt and dried scabs around the wound. Occasionally, when the wound was touched, Yun Nian would not be able to help but hiss softly and her body would tremble slightly.

"Be patient."

He said in a low voice.

Yun Nian looked down at him.

In the candlelight, his lowered eyes were focused, his nose was straight, and his thin lips were slightly pursed.

The movements were neither hurried nor slow.

Her heart skipped a few beats without her realizing it.

Seemingly noticing her gaze, Qin Jiuchen suddenly raised his eyes.

Eyes facing each other.

His eyes reflected the flickering candlelight, and also her somewhat dazed face.

Yun Nian looked like a child caught doing something wrong, hurriedly looking away, her cheeks starting to burn again.

Qin Jiuchen did not look away. He stared at her quietly for a moment, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if there were undercurrents surging within them.

Their eyes met again, and in that brief moment of stillness, an invisible tension stretched between them.

Qin Jiuchen's eyes were as deep as ink.

His Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally looked away first, lowering his head again.

He spoke slowly, "What happened with the bandits today?"

Upon hearing this, Yun Nian composed herself.

She briefly recounted how she and Qiluo were lured into a deep alley by a child after leaving the pawnshop, and how they were attacked and kidnapped by three burly men.

Qin Jiuchen paused slightly, and when he raised his eyes, a cold glint flashed in them: "You dare to hire thugs to kidnap people inside the city?"

He then asked, "Who is the mastermind?"

Yun Nian tentatively answered, "Could it be my father?"

Qin Jiuchen countered with, "What do you think?"

Yun Nian pondered for a moment, then shook her head: "I don't think it's him. He's currently hoping I can marry into the Prince's mansion smoothly, becoming his informant and ally. Kidnapping me wouldn't benefit him. Besides..."

She paused, recalling the conversation she overheard outside the woodshed. "From the bandits' words, it seemed they were just hired to 'take us away,' and they didn't mention killing us. Their goal wasn't to take our lives."

Qin Jiuchen looked at her with great interest.

At this moment, she was completely different from the young woman who had cried her eyes out in his arms just moments before. Her eyes were clear and bright, her mind sharp, and she possessed a calmness and insight beyond her years.

The candlelight danced on her focused profile, creating a uniquely dazzling effect.

Yun Nian, lost in her own thoughts, continued her analysis.