After flirting with the aloof prince, the concubine ran away pregnant.

He was used to seeing her as shrewd, capable, and composed, even when kneeling on the ground, her back was always ramrod straight. He had never seen her in such a disheveled and miserable state.

The atmosphere in the room instantly plummeted to freezing point upon his arrival.

Doctor Lu and Granny Hua, among others, were already so frightened that they stood to the side with their hands hanging down, not daring to breathe.

"Brother!" Xie Yun couldn't stand it any longer and rushed forward, standing in front of Afu, angrily complaining, "You have no idea how arrogant that woman from Qinghe is! She beat Afu up like this right here in our house!"

"Why didn't you attend the banquet today? If you had been here, she certainly wouldn't have dared to be so presumptuous!"

Xie Xun seemed not to hear his younger sister's complaint, and walked over step by step, stopping in front of the bed.

He looked down at her, asking nothing and saying nothing, finally squeezing out two words through gritted teeth.

"go back."

Afu was stunned by those two words.

Before she could think it through, Xie Yun had already bristled and pulled her behind him protectively.

"Brother, what do you mean by this? Afu is so badly injured, and instead of comforting her, you're yelling at her!"

Xie Xun's gaze did not linger on Xie Yun, but remained fixed on Afu's face, which was mostly covered by gauze.

Everyone else in the room, including Doctor Lu, wished they could shrink into a ball and minimize their presence. The young master's expression at this moment was even more frightening than when the Dali Temple interrogated prisoners.

Afu tried to move, wanting to step out from behind Xie Yun, but her whole body ached, especially her face. Even the slightest twitch of her lips felt like being pricked with needles.

Xie Xun didn't say anything more; he simply walked forward.

Xie Yun instinctively tried to stop him, but a single look from him froze her in place.

There was no emotion in his eyes, just a deep, somber look.

The next moment, under the astonished gazes of everyone in the room, Xie Xun bent down, slipped his arms under Afu's knees and back, and lifted her up horizontally.

"Brother!" Xie Yun exclaimed in surprise.

Afu froze, her mind going completely blank.

She was enveloped in a firm, warm embrace, the faint scent of soap and ink lingering around her nose—his usual fragrance.

She could feel the muscles in his arms were taut, and even through several layers of clothing, she could feel that irresistible strength.

What is this?

She was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

"Get out, everyone." Xie Xun, carrying the person, turned and walked out. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable command.

Doctor Lu, Granny Hua, and the others felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They bowed and quickly retreated.

"Brother, where are you taking Afu?" Xie Yun asked, pressing for an answer.

"Back to Shian Academy." Xie Xun didn't stop walking.

Changsong was already waiting at the door. When he saw his master carrying Afu out, he wasn't too surprised. He immediately lowered his head and quickly followed, dismissing all the irrelevant people along the way.

Xie Yun wanted to say something more, but was pulled back by Granny Hua.

"My dear young lady, please don't follow me," Granny Hua said in a low voice. "The young master is in a bad mood right now; didn't you see his face?"

Xie Yun glanced back; Xie Xun's figure had already disappeared behind the moon gate. She stamped her foot, both angry and worried.

"He's such a quiet guy, he's infuriating!"

Speechless all the way.

Xie Xun walked quickly and steadily, carrying an adult woman as if she were a ball of cotton, his breathing completely undisturbed.

Afu leaned against his chest and could clearly hear his steady and powerful heartbeat.

She couldn't see his expression, but she could feel the oppressive atmosphere surrounding him.

He was angry.

Afu knew very well what was going on.

But who was he venting his anger on? Was it at the Princess of Qinghe, or at himself?

She thought that the latter was probably more common.

After all, offending the future princess consort for the sake of a concubine is hardly a worthwhile deal.

Soon, they arrived at Sean-in.

When Yunxi and the maids in the courtyard saw this scene, they were so frightened that they knelt down with a thud, not daring to raise their heads.

Xie Xun didn't look to the side, and carried Afu straight into the inner room, gently placing her on his large rosewood bed, which no one but him could touch.

The mattress was soft, and a small section of it sank in.

Afu felt a little uncomfortable and struggled to sit up.

"Don't move."

He pressed down on her shoulders, not with much force, but enough to immobilize her.

"Changsong," he ordered without turning his head.

"Master," Changsong answered from outside the door.

"Go to the second cabinet on the left in my study, on the third shelf, and get that white jade porcelain vase."

"Yes."

The sound of Changsong's footsteps quickly faded into the distance.

Xie Xun then said to Yunxi, who was kneeling outside the door, "Bring a basin of hot water and some clean cloths."

Only the two of them remained in the room.

Xie Xun didn't speak, but just stood by the bed, looking down at her.

Afu felt extremely uncomfortable under his gaze, her eyes falling on her rumpled blue maid's uniform. This uniform was something that Granny Cui had made her change into at the last minute; it was very rough, and now, stained with blood, it made her look even more disheveled.

Soon, Changsong brought the medicine, and Yunxi brought hot water.

"All of you, get out. No one is allowed to come in without my permission." Xie Xun took the things and waved everyone away.

The door was gently closed, and the room became completely quiet.

Xie Xun placed the white jade porcelain bottle on the small table by the bedside, wrung out a cloth, soaked it in warm water, and then walked to the bedside and knelt down.

He supported Afu's neck with one hand, making her tilt her head back slightly, and with the other hand, he carefully wiped the ointment off her face with a warm cloth.

His movements were so light, so unlike his usual demeanor.

His fingertips occasionally brushed against her uninjured skin, feeling the roughness of thin calluses and a scalding heat.

Afu's heart skipped a beat.

She could clearly see his face so close to hers, his long eyelashes drooping, casting a small shadow beneath his eyes. He looked focused, but his brows were slightly furrowed, as if he were dealing with a difficult case.

The ointment was wiped away little by little, revealing the red and swollen skin underneath and the wound at the corner of the mouth.

Xie Xun's brows furrowed even more.

He put down the cloth, opened the white jade porcelain bottle, and a cool medicinal fragrance instantly wafted out. He picked out a little bit of the emerald green ointment with his fingertip, paused for a moment, and then slowly, little by little, applied it to her swollen cheeks.

The ointment felt cool upon contact with the skin, instantly relieving the burning pain.

Afu let out a barely audible sigh of comfort.

Looking at his focused profile and his careful movements, a thought suddenly popped into her mind.

Now may be the best time.

The room was quiet; the only sound was their breathing.

Xie Xun applied the medicine slowly and carefully, as if he were repairing a fragile treasure. His fingertips, cool with the ointment, gently circled her face, controlling the pressure just right—enough to allow the medicine to penetrate without hurting her.

Afu remained motionless, letting him manipulate her like a lifeless puppet.

Her eyes remained open, clear and bright, as she stared at him.

"Young Master," she suddenly spoke.

His voice was muffled and slightly hoarse due to the wound on the corner of his mouth.