LuoXiang's footsteps entered the pavilion room quickly.
All the servants lowered their knees when the Crown Prince rushed into the Plum pavilion room impatiently.
"YingYing!" he exclaimed. He headed straight to BaiYing's room. The Crown Prince was filled with worry, all mingled into one after hearing from BeiYau that YingYing was hurt.
LuoXiang's eyes widened wide when he saw BaiYing on the bed with his back injured. No one was allowed to enter after he ordered all the servants to leave him alone. But he could not treat his own back, and his maids Yan and Bi were also unable to enter and just stood outside the door of the room.
"Your Majesty, Her Highness Concubine Hua doesn't let us treat her"
Luo Xiang understood that BaiYing could not take the risks of others even his maids knew about his true identity. LuoXiang turned to two maids who were wounded but were reluctant to leave because they were worried about Concubine Hua's condition.
"You guys go back to your room and treat your wound. Concubine Hua will not be happy to see you two still here standing. And, you, bring hot water and medicine to the room, let me treat concubine Hua" said LuoXiang to Tu who was standing beside the two little maids. The young man nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness"
Not long after in the room.
LuoXiang helped BaiYing take off his clothes gently. The pain from the whip made his hand very painful when it moved. The long lash cut across BaiYing's innocent back was getting dried up. Since this afternoon he just let it and didn't let anyone help him. Thinking about that Luo Xiang's heart ached, if only he got back as soon as possible, BaiYing would not endure the pain this long.
"Be careful."
The Crown Prince held his anger and clenched his fists to see the wound on BaiYing's smooth back. He could have killed anyone who touched him let alone injured him like this. However, now treating BaiYing was much more important.
BaiYing groaned slightly as the cold cloth with the medicine touched his wound.
"Akh"
"Forgive me, I'll be so gentle" LuoXiang blew the wound, and slowly put the medicine on it. The young man endured the pain by biting his lips.
"Ekh"
"That person, I will teach them a lesson, how dare she hurt you like this"
BaiYing glanced at the Crown Prince, he could not see his face when he entered earlier because he was suffering from pain in his wound. But, when he saw him now, BaiYing found LuoXiang's face was red, whether because he was too angry or too worried. His hands were slightly shaking. The young man raised his hand to hold the Crown Prince's hand.
"Your Majesty"
LuoXiang looked at him, staring at BaiYing with his red eyes as if he were holding back tears. But the Crown Prince averted his face.
"It doesn't hurt that much, it's just one lash. Sister Yan and Sister Bi have received lashes more than a hundred times. Their small bodies, compared to them my wounds are nothing, I'm ashamed of feeling the pain in front of them" said BaiYing lowering his head.
LuoXiang stopped his movements. He lowered the cloth and took BaiYing's hand.
"I'm so sorry because all this happened to you. I said I would protect you from anything, but..."
BaiYing smiled, he raised his hand to touch Luo Xiang's forehead which was frowned deeply.
"Your Majesty no need to be sorry. All this is happening unexpectedly. Which is certainly not your fault. Your Majesty can not always protect me every time. I should be the one to be more careful"
LuoXiang smears the medicine at BaiYing's back.
"BeiYau found evidence of who brought your drinking water. Certainly Yan and Bi did not touch your drinking water because another servant brought it directly from the kitchen after it was prepared. It was also at the request of concubine Ye, and she, could not possibly drink the water if she knew there was poison in it. Someone might sneak in and do the act when nobody sees him. Probably one of the servants in the pavilion, though, Bei and the others lost track of the last known servant leaving the palace."
BaiYing turned his head towards Luo Xiang, unable to hide his happy face.
"Really? Your Majesty, so, it means Sister Yan and Sister Bi are innocent, right? They can be my servants again, right?" BaiYing grabbed the Crown Prince's hand.
LuoXiang nodded, BaiYing's happy face made him unable to hide the news any longer.
"Yes, of course."
Hearing that, BaiYing immediately shifted his seat and hugged LuoXiang tightly.
"Wow, this is very good, thank you, Your Majesty, I am so grateful."
The Crown Prince patted BaiYing's back gently. He could not be happier than to look at BaiYing's face now. More than anything, it was a face that he wanted to always see from his darling.
"Hehe"
....
Ceklek.
The sound of the Crown Prince's teacup slowly placed on the saucer. He liked the tea the most, especially the high-quality tea from around SanPo which is famous for producing fine teas.
One knelt in front of him, in the living room of the Lotus pavilion. Who else, could make him step into that place, if not Concubine LuiFan who was kneeling with her maid beside her?
Her maid is the one who passes the message to the detention and takes BaiYing's maids to their pavilion.
BeiYau stood behind the Crown Prince, who knows how long it has been since the first Concubine was sentenced to kneel. Not even a word had yet come out of the Crown Prince's lips, just sitting casually enjoying his tea.
Concubine Lui glanced at her maid who was trembling beside her. Who knows what the Crown Prince will do to them but he looks so furious.
"Y-Your Majesty .."
With just a word from the concubine's lips, the Crown Prince's hand had been lifted asking BeiYau to come closer.
"Bei, call the guard closer, and ask them how many times the whip was given to Concubine Hua's maids"
BeiYau nodded. He raised his hand to the guard who was standing near the wall, guarding some guards who the other day were ordered to whip BaiYing's servants and also BaiYing.
Concubine Lui's eyes widened wide after knowing what Bei was asking. This is bad, is the Crown Prince going to whip them too?
"Please forgive us, Your Majesty, please Your Majesty to reconsider, I did that to seek the truth"
LuoXiang grinned,
"Hey, seek the truth? Then, this means Concubine Lui is suitable enough to sit in a chair investigator than being a concubine"
Concubine Lui lifted her head slowly and glanced around.
"Concubine Hua, she must have intended to poison Mu'er by all means, and make her servants do it. I believe she must be involved"
LuoXiang straightened his seat, his eyes widening.
"Insolent! After what you did, do you still have time to blame others? Don't you regret what you did at all? Guard! Give them some whips!" The Crown Prince's loud voice, the guard who was standing not far behind the concubine Lui answered.
"Yes, Your Majesty! "
Concubine Lui was terrified, her eyes widened wide as two guards escorted her and her maid to the door.
" No! Your Majesty, please forgive me, it is unfair, I only did what I should, Your Majesty! "
As the concubine and servants were led out of the field to be flogged, there was a loud cry from the pavilion guard.
"Her Majesty the Queen arrive! "
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