Chapter 239: Injuries

Chapter 239: Injuries

"How is Miss Kou faring?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, Miss Kou has woken up, but the wounds are quite deep and were not treated in time."

Princess Zhaoyang’s expression changed, and she strode inside.

Seeing Princess Zhaoyang enter, Xin You, who was lying on the bed, struggled to get up. "Your Highness—"

Princess Zhaoyang quickly pressed her down. "There’s no need for formalities at a time like this. How are you feeling now?"

The young girl, her face pale, managed a faint, pained smile. "Much better."

"Did the Jinlin Guard torture you?"

Xin You paused for a moment, her eyes slightly lowered. "I was whipped twice."

"That Xiao Lengshi!" Princess Zhaoyang’s face flushed with anger as she held out her hand. "Where are the wounds? Let me take a look."

Xin You declined. "It’s better not to trouble Your Highness with this sight."

Xiaolian, standing nearby, wiped her tears. "The whip marks are on her arms and body. The skin had split open."

Though it was Xin You who had instructed her to reveal the Jinlin Guard’s torture, Xiaolian’s distress was genuine.

The whip marks were deep, the skin split open. How much pain must she have endured?

Just thinking about it left Xiaolian overwhelmed with fear.

Miss Qing had died so tragically, and if something happened to Miss Kou now, she wouldn’t want to live anymore.

"Let me see," Princess Zhaoyang insisted, pulling up Xin You’s sleeve.

The girl’s arm was as white as jade, with a vivid bruise that was shocking to behold.

The flames of anger in Princess Zhaoyang’s eyes almost materialized. She clenched her fist tightly.

This was what her royal brother had promised her—that no harm would come to Miss Kou.

How could she have believed such nonsense?

And Xiao Lengshi, how dare he do this? Wasn’t he committing treason?

Princess Zhaoyang rose abruptly. "Miss Kou, rest assured and recover at the Eldest Princess’s Residence. I will get justice for you!"

On Princess Zhaoyang’s orders, the female physician used the best ointment to treat Xin You’s wounds. Even though she had been as gentle as possible, Xin You was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, her face even more pallid than before.

Once there were no outsiders present, Xiaolian sobbed. "Those damned Jinlin Guard are ruthless."

It was Lord He, who often read at the bookstore, who had given her the illusion that people like him were kind-hearted.

Nanny Fang also wept, her heart aching. "Miss, you’ve suffered. The doctor said the wounds can’t get wet. Later, I’ll help you bathe."

That Jinlin Guard dungeon, was it even a place for humans? Miss Kou had endured two nights there.

The more Nanny Fang thought about it, the more her heart broke.

Xiaolian quickly refused. "No need!"

Nanny Fang looked at her in astonishment. "What do you mean by 'no need'?"

Xiaolian quickly glanced at Xin You and hurriedly said, "Let Miss get some rest and sleep for a bit. The doctor said that getting enough sleep is the best way to recover. By the way, there are a lot of dietary rules to follow. Nanny Fang, please keep an eye on that. Once Miss has had enough sleep, I’ll help her freshen up."

Although Nanny Fang thought Xiaolian was being a bit too talkative, she didn’t think much of it and nodded in agreement.

Xiaolian quietly sighed in relief.

The changes in Miss's appearance from Miss Qingqing could still be passed off as growth-related, but the birthmark on her shoulder was undeniable.

Xin You, understanding Xiaolian’s concerns, feigned exhaustion. "I’ll sleep for a while first."

Her eyes closed, and her thoughts wandered between the cold, bloody interrogation room and the warm, kind faces she saw in the sunlight, not knowing when she would finally fall into a heavy sleep.

Kong Fu took her brother Kong Rui by the hand and led him into the courtyard. She asked the maid standing guard, "I heard that Miss Kou is here. Is that true?"

"Yes."

"Then please let her know I’m here to see her."

After a short while, Xiaolian came out with the maid and bowed to the siblings. "I greet you, Lord Marquis, and you, Miss Kong."

Kong Fu looked up slightly. "Are you Miss Kou's maid?"

"I am Xiaolian, Miss’s personal maid. Miss has just fallen asleep. I will thank Lord Marquis and Miss Kong on behalf of my Miss first."

"Is Miss Kou doing alright?" This time, it was Kong Rui who asked.

Xiaolian hesitated for a moment and did not try to gloss over the situation. "She's not doing well. The wounds from the punishment are quite deep, and she is very weak."

As she spoke, tears fell from the young maid's eyes.

If Miss’s punishment were to be revealed, there must be a reason behind it.

Kong Rui's eyes filled with anger.

Kong Fu’s eyes widened in shock. "Punishment? Brother, why would Miss Kou be punished?"

Kong Rui's thin lips pressed together, unsure how to answer his younger sister for a moment.

But Kong Fu was persistent. "Miss Kou is such a good person. Why would anyone punish her? Has Miss Kou broken the law?"

"Miss Kou has not broken any laws," Kong Rui said gently to his sister.

The little girl’s face twisted in confusion. "Then it must be bad people who hurt Miss Kou. Brother, I want to tell Uncle to punish such evil people!"

Kong Rui patted his sister's head. "Mother has already gone to the palace."

"Brother, I want to go to the palace too."

Kong Rui initially wanted to refuse, but seeing the tear-reddened eyes of Xiaolian, the words that came out were, "Alright, big brother will take you to the palace."

Some things were hard for adults to say, but it was okay for his little sister to speak up.

Miss Kou had saved his little sister. The gratitude from the Eldest Princess’s Residence towards Miss Kou couldn't just be limited to buying a few books.

The Eldest Princess’s Residence was not far from the imperial palace, and Princess Zhaoyang quickly arrived at the palace, visibly upset.

"Why is my royal sister so angry?" Emperor Xingyuan asked in surprise.

Although his sister has a straightforward personality, she is no longer young and, as a Princess Royale, rarely lets her anger show.

"Miss Kou was released from custody in the Jinlin Guard today."

When Emperor Xingyuan heard Princess Zhaoyang mention Miss Kou, he grew even more confused.

Shouldn't the royal princess be happy about Miss Kou's release?

"Royal brother, you ordered them not to be rude to Miss Kou! Yet, she was whipped with a barbed lash until her skin was torn apart. Not to mention the pain she endured; such a young girl might be left with scars!" Princess Zhaoyang’s anger grew with each word.

Emperor Xingyuan's face darkened. "Is this truly the case?"

Princess Zhaoyang sneered. "Would I lie to you, royal brother, after seeing it with my own eyes? It’s you who gave your word, yet cruel torture was inflicted on Miss Kou, leaving me humiliated in front of her!"

"These arrogant fools!" Losing his composure, Emperor Xingyuan coldly instructed Sun Yan, "Summon Xiao Lengshi to the palace. Wait, bring Jinlin Guard Commander Feng Lin as well!"

While they were waiting for the two to arrive, the Kong siblings entered.

"Fu'er is here," Emperor Xingyuan greeted them. He treated his nephew Kong Rui with casual regard but doted on his only niece more than the imperial princesses.

Unafraid in front of the Emperor, Fu'er puffed out her cheeks in displeasure. "Uncle, bad people have hurt Miss Kou. You must severely punish them!"

Emperor Xingyuan couldn't help but glance at Princess Zhaoyang, a hint of worry forming in his mind. "Is Miss Kou's condition very serious?"

Princess Zhaoyang snorted coldly.

Fu'er nodded vigorously. "It's very serious. She hasn't woken up yet!"

At that moment, a eunuch entered to report that Feng and Xiao had arrived.