TRBDM -Chapter 149 Reception

“Your Highness, let me apply medicine to your wound, alright?”

Dou Shuxin’s plea made Zhao Jingheng’s legs feel like they were filled with lead—he couldn’t move forward no matter how hard he tried.

Seeing this, Dou Shuxin immediately took his hand and led him inside.

Hand in hand, they passed the well in the courtyard, passed the silver dagger lying on the ground, and entered the room.

“I’ll go get the medicine box.”

Dou Shuxin let go of his hand and went to the next room to fetch the medicine box.

Zhao Jingheng rubbed his fingers and caught a faint, almost imperceptible fragrance.

The scent that belonged only to Dou Shuxin.

The room was still the same as before, even the bedding on the bed was just like that night.

Zhao Jingheng casually found a chair and sat down, resting his weary head against the back and closing his eyes.

For some reason, returning to the old Xiang family mansion made him feel unexpectedly at ease.

Ever since his mother passed away, Zhao Jingheng had no one and nothing in this world he felt attached to.

Whether it was Qingfeng Hall or the small courtyard of the Imperial Academy, to him, they were merely places to rest and sleep—not a home.

Yet, this old Xiang family mansion somehow gave him a long-lost feeling of home.

Soft footsteps entered, and seeing his eyes closed, Dou Shuxin even slowed her breathing.

She opened the medicine box, prepared a basin of clean water, and carefully lifted the white cloth around Zhao Jingheng’s neck.

The collar and cloth were almost completely soaked through with blood. Dou Shuxin felt a sting in her nose and a pain in her heart that left her speechless.

She moved gently, careful not to cause him pain.

Zhao Jingheng kept his eyes closed, not even furrowing his brows.

When the cloth was fully removed, the wound was revealed—long and somewhat deep, but thankfully no longer bleeding.

Dou Shuxin lowered her head and meticulously cleaned the wound with tender care.

Outside, the cicadas sang in the midsummer heat. Zhao Jingheng opened his eyes and quietly watched her.

Dou Shuxin’s entire heart and gaze were fixed on him. Being loved so wholeheartedly was like poison—Zhao Jingheng knew it was toxic, yet he couldn’t resist it.

However long Dou Shuxin stayed busy tending to him, he watched her for just as long.

He even wished that time could stop at this very moment forever.

After Dou Shuxin had bandaged his wound again, her eyes fell on his collar, already stained red.

The robe could no longer be worn and would need to be changed and washed.

She turned to the wardrobe to look for clothes and eventually found only a set of coarse cloth garments left by the former steward.

Holding the clothes, she returned to Zhao Jingheng and gently called, “Your Highness, wake up.”

Zhao Jingheng opened his eyes.

“Your collar is covered in blood. I found a set of clothes for you—change into them. Don’t worry, they’re very clean; the former steward left them behind.”

Dou Shuxin knew the coarse cloth would feel uncomfortable for him, but at the moment, she couldn’t find a proper robe.

Zhao Jingheng glanced at them and said calmly, “No need. I’m leaving immediately.”

“But this place is far from the Imperial Academy.”

“There’s someone outside to meet me.”

“…”

Dou Shuxin couldn’t find a reason to keep him there.

Zhao Jingheng stood and walked out.

Dou Shuxin followed closely, several times her fingertips brushing against his robe, yet she didn’t dare grab it.

In the courtyard, the dagger glinted coldly on the ground—it was the one Zhao Jingheng had dropped last time.

He bent down and picked it up.

Dou Shuxin panicked. She was afraid he would take the dagger away.

It was the only thing of his that she possessed.

“This dagger was left to me by my mother.”

Dou Shuxin’s face fell with regret—so it belonged to his mother. Of course, he would take it with him.

Suddenly, Zhao Jingheng extended his hand toward her. In his broad palm was a silver dagger.

“Will you hold onto this for me?”

Leaving the old Xiang residence behind, Zhao Jingheng faced a mountain of corpses and rivers of blood. His life hung by a thread; even a dagger could not protect him.

Better to leave it with her.

She would surely be able to safeguard his mother’s keepsake.

Dou Shuxin took the dagger solemnly. “Alright, I’ll keep it for you.”

Zhao Jingheng opened the door, restraining the urge to look back, and closed it behind him.

Dou Shuxin’s thin lips trembled as she swallowed the rising bitterness.

When would they meet again?

Zhao Jingheng wore a brocade robe, his neck wounded, the collar stained with blood, making him highly conspicuous.

He lowered his head, keeping close to the wall as he walked.

At that moment, two people approached, lowering their voices: “Your Highness, follow us. We’ll escort you back to the Imperial Academy.”

Zhao Jingheng stopped, wary. “Who sent you?”

The man said, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. We were sent by the Old Madam of the Mingde Marquisate.”

Wei Zhaorong?

Zhao Jingheng suddenly remembered that audacious, treasonous letter, enough to bring destruction upon nine generations: the Mingde Marquisate was willing to help the Tenth Prince ascend the throne.

He had assumed that Wei Zhaorong, at her age, was senile and speaking recklessly.

He never expected she would actually intervene.

As they neared the street, with the Crown Prince’s men still searching for him, Zhao Jingheng weighed his options and decided to go with them.

At the end of the alley stood a simple carriage.

“Your Highness, the Old Madam says the humbler the carriage, the less attention it draws. Please, get in.”

Wei Zhaorong’s words coincided perfectly with his own judgment.

He no longer hesitated and quickly boarded the carriage.

The two escorts disguised as coachmen drove the carriage toward the Imperial Academy.

Passing through bustling streets, Zhao Jingheng’s carriage narrowly avoided the Crown Prince’s men.

Such a humble carriage wasn’t on their radar; right under the Crown Prince’s nose, they had slipped away.

In less than half an hour, the carriage arrived smoothly at a small gate of the Imperial Academy.

“Your Highness, pardon that you must enter through the side gate. The Old Madam said there are people at the main entrance; the side gate is safer.”

Wei Zhaorong had thought of everything. Zhao Jingheng could find no flaw in her plan.

Once he disembarked, the coachmen said nothing and immediately drove away.

He entered the Imperial Academy and finally exhaled.

Unexpectedly, Wei Zhaorong had truly ensured his safe arrival.

Back in the small courtyard, Jianxi stumbled over, tears and snot streaming. “Your Highness, you’ve finally returned! You scared me to death! If anything had happened to you, I would have only been able to atone with my life!”

Seeing Jianxi almost pee himself and have his last words prepared, Zhao Jingheng felt a flicker of relief. His life was safe for the moment.

“Prepare water. I need to bathe.”

Jianxi hurriedly nodded. “Yes, yes! I’ll go at once!”

Zhao Jingheng removed his blood-soaked robe and sank into the chair, utterly drained.

Everything that had happened today had completely exceeded his control.

From Zhao Kuang, to Zhao Jingyan, to the Crown Prince—one crisis after another—he was overwhelmed.

He couldn’t come out unscathed. The fact that he had survived at all was thanks to exhausting every ounce of effort he had.

Mingde Marquisate

“Old Madam, the two of us have escorted the Tenth Prince back to the Imperial Academy.”

Wei Zhaorong calmly sipped her tea. “Did anyone notice?”

“No.”

“Good. Understood.”

The moment Zhao Jingheng was taken away by the Third Prince, Wei Zhaorong had received the news immediately.