Crown Prince of the Main Lands
Song Xiao Lin sat upright in a fright.
"Lin er" A tall handsome male with angry red burns across his face strode across the room in a few long strides. "Lin er, I thought… Lin er…" before she could respond, Song Xiao Lin found herself wrapped in a tight embrace. It has been close to a decade since Song Xiao Lin had last received a warm hug and someone worry for her. Since Song Xiao Lin's mother had died in her former life, she had lived a desolate and lonely existence until Dou Dou came along. So when Xiao Yun Qi enveloped her with a hug, Song Xiao Lin couldn't resist to return the hug tightly. The two sat on the edge of her bed and shared an embrace that had so many unspoken words.
"Yun Qi gege, I am fine. Let me look at your injuries." Song Xiao Lin pulled back awkwardly to examine her cousins handsome face. Angry red burns and pus covered his left cheek all the way down to his neck. His thick dark eyebrows furrowed with worry while Xiao Yun Qi searched Song Xiao Lin's face. His large dark eyes that seemed to be filled with such loneliness and sadness stared into hers. Song Xiao Lin couldn't help but feel heartbroken for him. 'He must be grieving over the loss of his Crown Princess.' Song Xiao Lin gently cups the injured cheek with her hand whilst her other hand reaches out for his. "Your handsome face… don't worry, I'm very good at treating burns. I'll get Na Na to get me some Aloe Vera plant so I can properly treat these burns. Then I'll make a healing salve with some paw paw extract and vitamin E oil to ensure that it doesn't scar. With my personal care, you'll be even more handsome."
Xiao Yun Qi grabs onto the hand that was cupping his face and massages it gently. "It's okay as long as you are safe. Lin er, I was so scared you wouldn't wake up."
"Yun Qi gege, I'm really sorry to hear about Hao the Crown Princess… I know this must be an extremely tough time. You mustn't blame yourself, I'm here with you. We can grieve and get through this together. You must be strong for Hao Hao"
Xiao Yun Qi stiffens at the mention of his Crown Princess and looks away. "Yun Qi gege…"
"Lin er, I'm so sorry! I couldn't save the Prime Minister. The building was coming down so quickly and all I could think of was to find you. When I had you and Hao Hao, I took you both out immediately and wanted to rush back in to rescue your father too, but the entire building had collapsed and was submerged in fire. Everything happened really quickly and I must have blacked out. When I woke up, the fire was already put out and bodies were identified. Lin er, you must really hate me. I know how close you are to your father." Xiao Yun Qi gripped Song Xiao Lin's robe as his words rushed out in a jumble.
'He's avoiding talking about the Crown Princess, possibly because he's worried he may not hold it together if he starts talking about her? Or maybe he doesn't want to be reminded of the guilt that he couldn't save her?'
"I will make my way back to the Sky Kingdom as soon as possible to see father off for the last time if I can make it in time. Has mother sent any word on the funeral?"
"Royal Aunt has relayed a message to you and told you to recuperate once you wake. The funeral will be held tomorrow but she would not wish for you to travel the whole day just to make it in time for her funeral. Once Hao Hao wakes, I will take you to Sky Kingdom personally and pay my respects to the Prime Minister."
Song Xiao Lin nods in reply. She too would feel better if she had a familiar person escort her back to the Sky Kingdom. In this strange new world, she felt insecure and anxious. "How is Hao Hao? Has he still not woken? Can we go see him? Perhaps I can treat him" Song Xiao Lin begins to remove the blankets off her legs in an attempt to get up.
"Slow down. Firstly, you have been out for almost 3 days, you need to have something to eat. I have already instructed the kitchens to bring some simple food." As he finished saying this, Na Na walks in with a tray and sets out the steaming congee and various side dishes.
"Princess, since you have been without food for days, you should have something light." Na Na walks over and helps Song Xiao Lin be seated at the table. Xiao Yun Qi sits down next to her and picks up a spoonful of congee. Blowing it gently, he proceeds to feed Song Xiao Lin.
"My hands are totally fine you know. I can feed myself." Song Xiao Lin was touched but slightly embarrassed about the unnecessary attention that she was not used to. "Na Na, can you bring me some paper and ink? I need you to help me get a few things".
Song Xiao Lin took the spoon from Xiao Yun Qi and begun eating a few mouthfuls. She tried several of the accompanying side dishes and found them to be disappointingly bland. As soon as Na Na returned with the ink and paper, Song Xiao Lin used that as an excuse to stop eating and started busily writing.
"What are you writing? You barely had anything to eat. If you don't continue eating, I'll feed you." Xiao Yun Qi leaned over to look at what she was writing.
"I wasn't bluffing when I said I was going to salvage that face of yours. As soon as I've mixed the creams, I will attend to it straight away. These things can't wait or you will end up with a lifelong scar." Song Xiao Lin out down the brush as soon as she finished writing. "Na Na, bring the ingredients on this list to me as soon as it can be sourced." Song Xiao Lin couldn't help to feel thankful that the previous owner had a medical aptitude too otherwise it would look extremely suspicious.
"Royal Aunt's blood is pure and strong, it is no wonder you have more affinity with the Main Lands strength in healing and apothecary." Xiao Yun Qi smiled for the first time as he cocked his head and looked at her.
After forcing herself to eat a few more mouthfuls of food, Song Xiao Lin stood up and dragged Xiao Yun Qi up. "Come on, let's go! I want to see Hao Hao now."
Xiao Jun Hao's courtyard was surprisingly right in between Song Xiao Lin and Xiao Yun Qi's residence in the palace. So they arrived very quickly to Xiao Jun Hao's bedroom.
"You may all retreat and wait outside." Xiao Yun Qi instructed Xiao Jun Hao's maid. As his mother had recently died in the fire, her servants had defaulted to follow Xiao Jun Hao.
Song Xiao Lin sat down by the bedside and started examining Xiao Jun Hao. "His blood pressure is slightly on the low side and there is soot in his nostril but not his throat. This means that the degree of smoke inhalation is not as bad it seems. Right now, what Hao Hao needs most is oxygen. Keeping him in this room will do him no good, we need to move him outside so he can fresh air and sunlight." If they were in the modern world, undoubtedly he'd be hooked up to an oxygen machine, but the most she could do now was to get him breathing fresh flowing air instead of stale stagnant air in the bedroom.
"Come and help his highness lie on the bench in the garden." Xiao Yun Qi opened the doors and started instructing the servants standing outside.
Song Xiao Lin turned to Xiao Yun Qi and offered her medical advice. "Whilst he is in the room, place some salt lamps by his bedside. This will help calm and reduce stress levels which will in turn encourage deep breathing and oxygen levels will improve. Most importantly, ensure he keeps his hydration up as water molecules also contain oxygen. Staying hydrated also helps the blood deliver nutrients and oxygen to the rest of the body. If he can take it, have fruit and vegetables juiced with his water so that he can at least have something in his body."
"Thank you Lin er! I will go and instruct the right people to get this happening straight away. Go and check on Hao Hao in the gardens, I'll be right back." Xiao Yun Qi patted Song Xiao Lin gently on the head before striding off towards his courtyard.
As Song Xiao Lin made her way to the gardens where the servants had lay Xiao Jun Hao down, she heard the whispers of their gossiping.
"…how heartbroken would his little highness be when he wakes up to find his royal father flirting with Princess Lin? The Crown Princess is so pitiful, she hasn't even been buried yet and the Crown Prince already can't wait to make his move with Princess Lin!"
"What are you talking about? Princess Lin came over to see his little highness because she was worried about him. She even provided many instructions and advice that even the royal physician couldn't help with!" Xiao Jun Hao's and the Crown Princess's maids were whispering loudly to each other while setting Xiao Jun Hao down comfortably.
"In all your seven years serving his little highness, don't tell me you've never noticed the way the Crown Prince comes alive whenever Princess Lin is in the Main Lands! In all my time serving the Crown Princess, his highness has never spoken more than a few words with her. Yet, every time Princess Lin visits, he puts her up right near his residence and seeks her audience every day. I have only seen him smile and live with such purpose when she is around. Did you know that on the night of their wedding, his highness was given a dose of the strongest aphrodisiac as he couldn't complete the marriage ritual? You also know that once we consummate, both partners are imprinted. As sentient beings, we are mated for life and the imprint isn't released until one of the spouse dies! The poor Crown Princess… you know that when the imprint happened, his highness even shouted Princess Lin's name?" Miao Yi frustratedly vented to Pu Tao.
"Keep your voice down. These serious matters should never be repeated. If these words were heard by others, we would lose our lives! You must never repeat this to anyone Miao Yi!"
"I know, I have never told anyone. It's just that, I've followed the Crown Princess for eight years and can not stand the injustice. Have you thought about how on the day of the fire, why his highness only came out with his little highness and Princess Lin?"
Pu Tao paused and frowned. "It was extremely chaotic that day. His highness rushed to the scene without hesitation and went in to save high little highness. He was heavily injured and even fainted on the scene after bringing them out safely!"
Miao Yi stared at Pu Tao with her hands on her hips and whispered seriously, "but have you thought about why he came out with the Princess too? Both you and I know for a fact that the Crown Princess was with his little highness in the back reading corner of the library that day. I have already enquired and found out that Princess Lin was with the Prime Minister in the Eastern side of the library looking for official documents on past trading contracts. So how is it, that when his highness came out of the building, that he had two people from two different side of the library?"
Pu Tao frowned and slowly surmised, "it can only mean two things. Being only able to save two at a time, His highness either stumbled across and found Princess Lin while looking for his little highness and saved them both with no hesitation. Or... the other speculation would be much scarier to think… because if he had found high little highness first with the Crown Princess, it would've meant that he neglected her and took only his little highness before searching for Princess Lin…"
Both of the maids stared at each other with eyes full of meaning and then watched Xiao Jun Hao as he bathed in the afternoon sun. Song Xiao Lin slowly retreated back to Xiao Jun Hao's bedroom so she could pretend she didn't hear anything. She never expected her maternal cousin brother to harbour feelings toward her.
As Song Xiao Lin lived in the Sky Kingdom with her parents, she would occasionally visit the Main Lands with her mother on her trips back to visit family and ancestors. As Xiao Yun Qi's mother had died when he was young, his Royal father had to remarry as the Empress seat can not remain empty. Once she also gave birth to a son, Xiao Yun Qi was pulled into the political whirlwinds in the fight to keep the Crown Prince position. As such, he became cold, aloof and untrusting. Because they had met as kids before his royal mother died, Song Xiao Lin became the sole joy in his life and the only person he had ever trusted. To him, she was like the moon in the sky and the air that he breathes.