With her deceased husband as her dowry, would Your Highness dare to marry her?

Lin Ci's eyes were covered with a cloth, so she couldn't see Pei Jinxuan's deep affection at that moment.

She turned her head, sniffed, as if remembering something more important, and hurriedly asked, "The medicine needs to be simmered over a low flame for three days; I instructed them to do so. Did they slack off?"

As she spoke, she got up and groped her way out, her foot hitting the corner of the table with a loud "thud".

She frowned, clearly hurt from the bump, but didn't say anything.

Pei Jinxuan's heart clenched. The guilt he had suppressed for so long surged up at this moment, almost crushing him.

He stepped forward and hugged her from behind.

"Never mind that. Never mind that for now, your eyes..." His voice became hoarse, "If you hate me, just say so. I'd rather you hate me than see you like this."

Lin Ci turned around and broke free from his embrace, raising her hands to push him away.

"Your Highness, respect yourself."

Lin Ci didn't need his guilt, but it hurt him more than being stabbed in the back.

Pei Jinxuan regained his senses and realized that his actions just now were too impolite, so he bowed and apologized.

Lin Ci couldn't see, but he understood what he meant from the noise.

She sighed and said, "I understand Your Highness's concern for me, but after all, there is a difference between men and women..."

He only spoke halfway through his sentence, without revealing the full meaning.

Pei Jinxuan lowered his head, swallowing back the surging emotions. The pain was like a knife, cutting from his throat all the way to his heart. Then he raised his right arm and gently placed her hand on his arm.

"I didn't mean it just now. From now on, treat me as your eyes. If you have any complaints, just say so."

Why should I resent you? You've done your best, haven't you?

"What's the use of trying your best! That evil monk still took advantage of your weakness and blinded you! If I had known this would happen, I should have hidden you away that day."

"It was my own choice to show myself. It was all for the Golden Kingfisher. Since I chose this path, why should I blame you?"

"Don't you feel even a trace of resentment?"

怨？

Lin Ciqing couldn't help but touch her chest. She held her hand on her chest for a while before slowly lowering it.

Resentment was present; it was like a venomous snake, hissing and slithering its tongue, reaching every part of her body.

She resented Zhao Fugui, Zhangjia Village, and Xuanjing; she resented that every step she took along the way had been like walking on thin ice. But she didn't want to talk about these things. She had to bury her resentment, suppress it, and use it to revive Song Xuan.

"No." She smiled sweetly, the curve of her lips just right, but the hand resting on her knee was trembling slightly, without her even noticing.

Pei Jinxuan saw the hand. He raised his hand slightly, instinctively wanting to grasp it, but it hovered in mid-air for a long time before finally withdrawing it helplessly.

He looked at that smile, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he didn't expose it. He simply said softly, "From now on, I will be your eyes. Just use them."

He lowered his head and said nothing more.

Even though she couldn't see him, Lin Ci could sense his sadness and self-blame.

Like him, she didn't say anything to either of them.

That night, Pei Jinxuan stayed by Lin Ci's side. Neither of them slept.

At dawn, when the rooster crowed, Lin Ci sat up and faced the direction of the window.

The morning light shone through the gauze curtains onto her face; she could feel its warmth, but couldn't see it clearly. She removed the white veil covering her eyes and blinked. The halo of light was still there, but it was a few shades dimmer than yesterday.

Lin Ci's heart sank, her insides felt cold. She naively hoped that she would see the light again after a night's rest, but that had become a pipe dream.

She unconsciously clenched the white gauze in her hand, and after a moment she extended three fingers and placed them on her wrist to feel her pulse.

As Dr. Xu said, the pulse is steady, and there is no sign of any unusual symptoms. But if it really is a Gu poison, we must first identify what kind of Gu it is.

Since Xuan Jingsheng is nowhere to be found and his body is nowhere to be found, the name of this Gu is also unknown.

She couldn't help but recall Xuanjing's words: "I will let you know what it is like to be in the Avici Hell."

Is this his curse?

Lin Ci pulled herself out of her chaotic thoughts and groped to get out of bed. As soon as she moved, a pair of warm, large hands reached out to support her, respectfully and without the slightest overstepping of boundaries.

"You're awake?" Pei Jinxuan asked in a low voice, his voice completely hoarse. He was even more exhausted than she was, having not slept for two whole days.

Lin Ci turned her head, following the direction of his voice. Those empty eyes were calm as water, reflecting his dejected and sad appearance.

"I've already had the cook prepare some snacks. Let's eat them while they're hot," Pei Jinxuan said.

Lin Ci pursed her lips and remained silent.

"If you don't like snacks, we also have porridge. The porridge is ready too."

Lin Ci remained silent.

Pei Jinxuan thought she was feeling unwell, and after thinking for a long time, he said, "What would you like to eat? I'll have the chef make it right away."

"My stomach hurts," Lin Ci said in a barely audible voice, sounding a little embarrassed.

Pei Jinxuan was taken aback.

A stomachache? Then his eyes are useless.

"Wait a moment, I'll go and call Zhang Niang."

"Zhang Niang?" Lin Ci frowned slightly. "Where's Granny Qian?"

Pei Jinxuan sighed softly, "Granny Qian was bitten by a snake and was quite frightened. She's resting now."

"Then I'll go check on her later." Lin Ci got off the bed with Pei Jinxuan's arm. When she landed, her vision blurred, she felt dizzy, and she lost her footing and fell.

Pei Jinxuan quickly pulled her into his arms. She pressed against his chest, her petite body seemingly boneless.

Pei Jinxuan's ears turned red, the heat spreading to his cheeks. Little did he know that Lin Ci, through his brocade robe, could hear his heartbeat—first slow, then quickening, each beat more rapid than the last. Even without seeing him, she could tell his face was flushed crimson.

Lin Ci pretended not to know.

Pei Jinxuan pretended not to be moved.

The two released their hands at the same time, and then subconsciously bowed, their foreheads hitting each other with a dull thud. One of them winced in pain, and the other gasped in pain.

In the end, Pei Jinxuan reached out first and gently rubbed the small bump on her forehead.

"Are you alright?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the sound of the door opening was heard.

"Has Madam Lin woken up yet?"

Before Zhang Niang arrived, her voice preceded her, and she walked with a brisk, powerful stride.

"She's awake." Pei Jinxuan took Lin Ci's hand and led her to Zhang Niang. "It's inconvenient for a young lady to be present while she's getting ready, so I'll trouble Zhang Niang."

"What kind of talk is that?" Zhang Niang looked at Lin Ci, scrutinized her from head to toe, and couldn't help but shake her head and sigh, "Such a beautiful woman, Liang Wang and his ilk have really done her a disservice."

As she spoke, she reached out to support Lin Ci, firmly holding his slightly cool hand in her palm. "Don't be afraid, Zhang Niang will protect you from now on. Let's go."

Hearing these words, Lin Ci felt a warm glow in her heart. She had grown up with her master since childhood and didn't even know what her parents looked like. Sometimes, when she saw a woman holding a little child's hand in town, she would glance at her a few more times and secretly imagine what it would feel like to be held by her mother's hand.

Thinking this, Lin Ci gently squeezed Zhang Niang's hand. Zhang Niang assumed she was scared and gripped her hand even tighter.

Pei Jinxuan still wouldn't let go. Zhang Niang looked at Lin Ci, then at Pei Jinxuan.

Pei Jinxuan hadn't slept for several nights, and dark stubble had grown on his chin. His eyes were bloodshot, but his gaze remained tenderly fixed on Lin Ci.

But when his wife needed to wash and dress, he stood there motionless, not even letting go of her hand.

Having no other choice, Zhang Niang slapped him.