All Emperor Lin knew was that the Fifth Princess rode a horse all the way back to report that the Crown Prince had encountered a tiger. It just so happened that Noble Consort Xi was taking a walk nearby, so she then took the reins of the white horse and rushed ahead. By the time the rest of the guards arrived, Noble Consort Xi had already killed the tiger.
Emperor Lin’s face was dark as he frowned. After returning to the palace, he headed straight to the Crown Prince’s palace.
Although Lin Qing was not injured, his stomach pain was no longer bearable. Coupled with the fact that the adrenaline from the fight or flight response was now worn off, his body now registered the shock and he wasn’t faring well with it. The imperial doctor had prescribed some medicine for the Crown Prince already. In the prescription, there were doses of sleeping pills as well, so the Crown Prince was already asleep by the time Emperor Lin came to see him.
Emperor Lin didn’t wake him up, but when he heard that the Little Fifth Princess was in Noble Consort Xi’s palace, he left right away.
(Editor’s note: Lin Qing’s moment of awakening)
Noble Consort Xi had suffered more severe injuries compared to Qin Ling.
The tiger practically clawed at her then, tearing off her skin and flesh in the process. Her shoulders and mouth were a bloody mess and she exerted too much of her internal force, causing both her Qi and blood to diminish. The pain she felt was comparable to her bones being snapped in half when her already weakened internal strength endured those attacks.
However, she made no complaint about it. Besides her pale parlour, there was no indication that she was bearing unbelievable torrents of pain.
When Emperor Lin arrived at the palace, Lin Feilu was sitting beside Noble Consort Xi’s bed as she drank her medicine. She practically threw up everything her stomach had to offer and the shock she felt was not really considered minor either, so the imperial doctor also prescribed some medicine for her. As soon as she finished drinking, the maidservant next to her immediately handed over a piece of candied fruit to her. Lin Feilu stuffed it into her mouth and chewed while she crawled towards Noble Consort Xi Tan, who sat upright against the pillow as her lower body was tucked under the covers.
She wrinkled her face and asked, “Noble Consort, does it still hurt?”
Noble Consort Xi squinted at her, “It doesn’t hurt, but why are you not going back? What are you still doing here?”
Lin Feilu said, “I’m worried about Noble Consort.”
Noble Consort Xi, “Do you think that it wouldn’t hurt anymore just because you’re worried about me?”
Lin Feilu, “Didn’t Noble Consort say that it didn’t hurt?”
Noble Consort Xi, “…”
The Little Bean looked like she was about to cry, but her tone was very sincere, “If it hurts, it’s okay to say it; no one will laugh at the Noble Consort— girls don’t always have to be so strong,” She said as she leaned towards Noble Consort Xi’s shoulders and whimpered lightly.
Noble Consort Xi’s eyes reflected her surprise.
No one had ever told her that girls didn’t always have to be so strong.
That it was okay to say that it hurt.
Even her parents had only taught her that every child of the Xi family should only shed blood; never tears. Those who guard the common folk at the break of dawn should not cry out in pain nor heave a sigh in exhaustion.
So it was a first for her to hear these words directed at her— and it was from a child no less!
Xi Tan was slightly amused and somewhat moved. But before she could speak, Emperor Lin’s impatient voice echoed from behind the door, “Tan Er! I’m late!”
Xi Tan, “…” She raised her eyes and plastered her normally indifferent poker face expression, “Your Majesty isn’t early nor late; you got here just in time.”