Chapter Five: Let Me Lay Out One, Two, Three, Four Conditions for You

Su Jingluo and Xiao Jingxuan were both speechless. If she wasn’t three or five years old, could she be six or eight?

Su Jingluo gently pushed Yunbai behind her and turned to Xiao Jingxuan. “I can save them. Let me handle the child.”

“Stop wasting time, Su Jingluo. Hurry and follow me to save them. I have no patience for your lessons on parenting.”

Xiao Jingxuan was so embarrassed he could only change the subject.

“I have a condition,” Su Jingluo said.

“What is it?” Xiao Jingxuan was nearly beside himself with anger.

“Su Jingluo, aren’t you shameless? What right do you have to bargain with me?” His face was as dark as ink.

“Because I can save your whole family. Hurry up, you may be able to wait, but can they?” Su Jingluo knew he wouldn’t dare risk his family’s lives in pointless arguments.

“You really are shameless. Just say it already.”

“Find two teachers for Yunbai—one to teach him literature and etiquette, another to instruct him in martial arts for self-defense.” Given her current situation, Su Jingluo couldn’t provide either herself.

Xiao Jingxuan frowned. When had Su Jingluo become so clear-headed? She was nothing like before. But was it really necessary for the child to learn martial arts? He’s already bold enough to use poison without knowing anything; if he learned martial arts, wouldn’t he try to pierce the heavens?

“Fine!” Xiao Jingxuan thought it over. This was his son, after all; he had no reason to refuse. But from now on, he would have to be even stronger himself. If his son really did stir up trouble, he would need the ability to protect him.

Only then did Su Jingluo follow Xiao Jingxuan outside, but after a few steps she collapsed, weak and exhausted.

Xiao Jingxuan frowned, looking at Su Jingluo.

She smiled awkwardly. “I’m too weak. I can’t walk anymore.”

“You’ll walk even if you can’t. What, do you expect to be carried in a palanquin by eight men?”

“No, no, there’s not enough time. By the time the palanquin arrives, everyone will be dead. Saving lives is urgent—why don’t you carry me?” Su Jingluo had thought of the quickest way to get to the scene.

“Don’t push your luck!” Xiao Jingxuan instinctively started to crouch, but remembered how much he had disliked this woman before. Carrying her now felt completely out of character.

“Then we won’t make it in time. I’m not complaining about you—just hurry up.” Su Jingluo’s words irritated Xiao Jingxuan, but saving lives was indeed urgent. He feigned reluctance as he crouched down.

“Mother, don’t let this villain carry you. I’ll carry you,” Yunbai anxiously pleaded, afraid the “bad man” would take his mother away. He crouched down, exposing his back.

“Kneel there! Did I tell you to get up? Wait until I return, then I’ll deal with you.” Su Jingluo almost cried from frustration. With his tiny frame, he’d be crushed under her weight. Was the child clever or just pretending to be foolish?

Watching the villain carry his mother away, Yunbai bit his lip tightly, tears streaming down his face. In a childish voice, he vowed, “If the villain steals my mother, I’ll fight him to the end.” Ruihuan quickly hugged Yunbai, assuring him that wouldn’t happen.

Xiao Jingxuan was carrying a woman for the first time. She was so light; it was clear she’d had a hard life these years. Hearing her words today, he wondered—if he’d had a mother like this, would he have felt less hatred, less resentment?

“Xiao Jingxuan!”

“Yes?”

He was still lost in thought when he heard Su Jingluo’s weak, soft voice calling him. He responded instinctively.

“Promise me one more thing, will you?” Su Jingluo lay on his back, her tone gentle, whispering in his ear, distracting him for a moment.

“You do have a lot of demands. Don’t be too greedy. Aren’t you afraid I’ll use you and then discard you?”

“If you regret it later, there’s nothing I can do. But if you kill me, I’ll bite you before I die. I’m not easy to deal with. Wait—did you just call me a donkey?”

Su Jingluo was about to get angry, suddenly realizing that a prince would speak like this—it was clearly an insult.

“Are you going to say it or not?” Xiao Jingxuan felt he’d gained the upper hand in the exchange and quickly changed the subject, trying not to let Su Jingluo’s sharp tongue turn it around.

“I want you not to act like enemies with me in front of Yunbai. You can hate me in your heart, bully me if you want, but don’t let him see it. I want him to grow up without hatred or resentment, to feel the kindness of a mother and the love of a father. Just pretend, and spend time with him now and then.” Su Jingluo spoke cautiously; this prince didn’t even treat her kindly, how could he care for their child? But she wanted to try, just in case he listened a little.

“Alright!” Xiao Jingxuan agreed readily, surprising Su Jingluo so much she wondered if she’d misheard.

With her weakened body, Su Jingluo went to the front courtyard and set up three large cauldrons. The medicine recipe was easy to prepare, but the prince’s residence had limited supplies and manpower. They had no choice but to send Zhuoyue’an and a thirty-man elite squad from the city outskirts to knock on doors and buy medicine, delivering it to the residence by cart.

As dawn broke, the medicine was finished and distributed from the three cauldrons. Exhausted, Su Jingluo curled up like a kitten on a chair, dozing off. The final report arrived: everyone had taken the medicine and awakened. Su Jingluo relaxed at last, sliding from the chair and fainting.

Xiao Jingxuan walked over nervously, wanting to pick her up, but Zhuoyue’an and the secret guards stared at the scene as if seeing a ghost. Zhuoyue’an and his group always guarded the residence and the prince. These years, the prince had forgotten the princess; after her crying, arguing, and banging her head against the wall, was he really showing concern now?

“Someone, take the princess to her chamber. I don’t want to carry her myself—it would dirty my hands.” Xiao Jingxuan was about to pick up Su Jingluo, but everyone’s gaze reminded him that he was supposed to hate her. Carry her? Not a chance—he’d sooner die than touch her.

“Your Highness, the maids have just recovered from poisoning and are resting. Even if they tried, they wouldn’t be able to move the princess. Should I carry her in?”

Zhuoyue’an approached Su Jingluo, but suddenly sensed a chill. His instincts as a secret guard warned him of danger. He looked up to find Xiao Jingxuan glaring at him coldly. Zhuoyue’an quickly feigned dizziness, holding his forehead. “Your Highness, I haven’t slept all night and my head is spinning. May I return and rest for a few hours?”

“Go ahead.” Xiao Jingxuan’s expression softened, and he nodded. Zhuoyue’an and the secret guards slipped out of the room like lightning, each faster than the last.

Xiao Jingxuan looked around; everyone was off resting. Only then did he pick up Su Jingluo and carry her to the chamber. Su Jingluo was truly exhausted, her body weak—she’d worked for two days straight. No ordinary person could withstand it, let alone someone as frail as her. Even through her clothes, Xiao Jingxuan could feel her burning with fever.

He intended to lay her on the bed and summon the physician at once, but Su Jingluo, burning with fever and delirious, clung tightly to his neck, refusing to let go. She murmured weakly, “Mother, I’m so cold,” her voice soft and feeble, shivering as if she were a wounded kitten.

Unconsciously, she nestled closer to Xiao Jingxuan’s embrace. For a moment, his mind went blank. He tried to push her away, but she held onto him with arms and legs like an octopus, refusing to let go.