Chapter Fifteen: The Onset of the Leg Ailment

Page (1/3)

Faced with Xiao Muyuan’s mockery, the Third Prince was furious, his hands hanging at his sides trembling as he clenched them white-knuckled. Yet, as an imperial uncle, once he spoke, he did not press Luo Yunqiao further and turned his face away.

Jinxin, seeing that no one was paying attention to Luo Yunqiao anymore, immediately stepped forward to help her up.

By then, Yinxin, having recovered, hurried over anxiously. “Miss, are you alright?”

Hearing Yinxin’s concern, Luo Yunqiao shook her head gently, signaling her to rest assured.

Jinxin and Yinxin supported her, preparing to leave, but Luo Yunqiao felt as if needles were piercing her legs, making it impossible to take a step forward.

She stood there for a long while, frozen and bewildered.

“My legs…”

Yinxin, knowing what Luo Yunqiao had endured at Zhao Jue Temple, tears suddenly fell from her eyes.

“Miss, has your leg ailment acted up again?”

She had knelt through scriptures at Zhao Jue Temple, rain or shine.

As the days grew colder, no one cared whether a woman with a tarnished reputation lived or died. After months at Zhao Jue Temple, her legs were ruined from kneeling.

Only in the past few days had the pain subsided, but now it flared up once more.

Jinxin was also extremely worried, struggling to support Luo Yunqiao’s weight.

The commotion naturally drew the attention of the others nearby.

“Hey! What are you pretending for? You just rested a little and suddenly can’t walk? Who would believe that!” Luo Zefeng glared angrily at her.

Luo Yunqiao had no strength to argue. Her uncooperative legs caused beads of cold sweat to form on her brow.

Luo Chao watched her stand motionless with displeasure.

“Li Yi, escort Miss Luo back to rest. No need to rush back. After sending her home, remember to call a doctor to examine her legs. From what I see, it seems Miss Luo’s legs have a lingering ailment,” Xiao Muyuan said calmly, his voice devoid of emotion.

But these words caused Luo Chao’s expression to change drastically.

Luo Yunqiao, too distressed to speak, could only cast him a grateful glance, gritting her teeth against the pain in her legs.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Jinxin and Yinxin quickly expressed their thanks.

Li Yi lifted Luo Yunqiao onto his back and hurried toward her small courtyard, while Jinxin and Yinxin bowed respectfully to Xiao Muyuan before following after them in haste.

“Royal Uncle, what is your relationship with Miss Luo?” The Third Prince approached with a gentle smile.

Xiao Muyuan cast him a sidelong glance.

Page (2/3)

Nearby, Luo Zefeng pricked up his ears, listening to the conversation.

“That day, I was returning from outside the city and happened upon Miss Luo, who had collapsed with a high fever. I instructed Linzhou to assist her, so in a way, I saved her life,” Xiao Muyuan replied.

Hearing this, Luo Chao’s mind raced, suspecting there was more to the story.

Luo Zefeng sighed in relief, feeling a twinge of guilt. So she really had fainted from a high fever that day.

But the thought lasted only a moment before resentment flared: if Luo Yunqiao hadn’t talked back to him and had behaved properly, he wouldn’t have left her stranded halfway.

Besides, she had caused him to be scolded!

The Third Prince wanted to say more, but Xiao Muyuan waved his hand dismissively. “Have you completed the tasks your father assigned you?”

“I had planned to check on the backyard today, but it seems there are some minor troubles in the Marquis’s residence. As it concerns family matters, the Marquis and I shall depart first,” he said, turning and walking away.

The Third Prince did not dare delay, glanced at the obedient Luo Chao, and quickly followed Xiao Muyuan.

“Your Highness!”

As a man, born to admire the strong, Luo Zefeng’s heart stirred at facing the Prince of Yan. Yet, learning how well the prince treated Luo Yunqiao dimmed his admiration.

He was still debating whether to call Xiao Muyuan back when he heard Luo Yunzhen’s voice nearby.

“My sister is truly kind. She must have understood my feelings and helped me,” Luo Yunqiao felt a surge of emotion.

Indeed, the little girl had been worth the trouble—truly reliable in critical moments.

Before he could speak, Luo Yunzhen took the lead. “The prince treats my sister well, which she surely knows. Many men have been kind to her in the past.”

“Yunzhen has grown up in the courtyard but has always yearned for a carefree life like my sister’s!”

At this, Xiao Muyuan did not even glance her way.

“Silence!” Luo Chao could no longer hold back and shouted sharply, silencing everyone present.

After leaving the Luo residence, a shadow stuck close to Xiao Muyuan’s side.

“Royal Uncle, it’s been a long time since we’ve sat down to eat together. Why not let me host you for a meal?” the Third Prince suggested.

“No need,” Xiao Muyuan declined the offer and strode away briskly.

“If not for the military power you hold, I wouldn’t tolerate your arrogance!” The Third Prince cursed as he watched him leave. “One day, I will make you bow before me!”

“And then, you’ll still obey my commands as if your life depended on it!”

Page (3/3)

Meanwhile, Li Yi carried Luo Yunqiao back to the small courtyard and was about to fetch a doctor.

“Wait!” Luo Yunqiao called after him. “Thank you for bringing me back, but I know my own body. There’s no need to summon a doctor.”

Li Yi glanced at her legs with a complicated expression and nodded. “Very well. I shall return to Your Highness.”

With that, he left.

“Miss, why don’t you let Sergeant Li send for a doctor? You can’t just bear this pain,” Yinxin sobbed quietly.

Jinxin hurriedly fetched some ointment, gently rolling up Luo Yunqiao’s trouser legs to reveal bruised knees mottled in shades of purple and blue.

Even the usually composed Jinxin couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Luo Yunqiao.

Her understanding of the Luo family’s indifference toward Luo Yunqiao became clearer.

“Stop crying and help apply the ointment,” Jinxin said, wiping Yinxin’s tears and handing her the ointment.

Jinxin scooped some ointment into her palm, warming it before carefully massaging it into Luo Yunqiao’s legs with gentle pressure.

Yinxin wiped her eyes and hurriedly knelt to massage the other leg.

After about an hour, Luo Yunqiao’s pain gradually eased, and she began to move her legs slowly.

She had long accepted the fragile nature of her family ties, but these two girls seemed not yet to have come to terms with it.

Jinxin had been around the marquis’s household since childhood, so she knew more and saw things differently from Yinxin, though she still felt deeply sorry for Luo Yunqiao.

Just as Luo Yunqiao was about to rest lightly on the couch, Luo Zhaoting arrived in a hurry.

“Are you alright? I just heard from Father about what happened to you.”

The first words upon meeting were concern?

Luo Yunqiao inwardly scoffed.

“Big brother, what are you doing here?” She opened her eyes, growing impatient at the visitor.

The Luo family truly had no manners; adult siblings barging straight into a room without a hint of propriety or consideration.

“Father asked me to summon you to the study. He has some questions for you.”