Chapter 121: A Person Falls from the Sky with a Thunderous Crash

After Xiao Jingxuan left, Su Jingluo, despite being very tired, found herself unable to sleep. Her mind kept replaying Xiao Jingxuan’s possessive kiss over and over again. Unconsciously, she drifted into a hazy sleep, and just as Xiao Jingxuan’s face began to appear in her dreams, a sudden thud outside the door startled her awake. A loud noise rang out by the window, followed by an eerie silence, as if the sound had been nothing more than a dream.

Su Jingluo jolted fully awake, her heart pounding wildly. She quickly threw on her clothes and cautiously pushed the door open.

Below the window, a group of black-clad guards surrounded another figure dressed in black who lay on the ground. They whispered urgently among themselves.

“What are you doing?” Su Jingluo stepped closer, holding her oil lamp forward. Weren’t these the same guards who had defied her just a few days ago, refusing to submit to the princess’s authority?

“Princess, this, this—we’ll leave right away,” one of the guards said nervously, immediately trying to pull the fallen guard to his feet.

The guard on the ground looked no older than thirteen or fourteen. As he was dragged, he bit his lip, his delicate, youthful face contorted in pain, sweat instantly beading on his forehead.

“Stop! What are you doing? This child is injured, and you’re being so rough,” Su Jingluo said sharply, her medical experience telling her the young guard’s leg was broken. Dragging him like this was cruel.

“Princess, please don’t tell the prince or Commander Zhuo. We’ll disappear right away and won’t disturb your rest,” the older guard holding the boy pleaded anxiously.

“This child might have a fracture. Don’t move him. Quickly, bring him inside,” Su Jingluo urged, bending down to examine the boy’s leg more closely. It was definitely broken.

“How can this be?” The other guards were shocked. A group of men entering the princess’s chambers? If the prince found out, wouldn’t they be beaten to death? Was the princess really so easygoing and generous?

“What are you men dawdling about? Can’t you see how much pain this child is in?” Su Jingluo pressed, growing more anxious.

“This is the princess’s private chamber. We—we wouldn’t dare,” the guards said, their expressions darkening. The princess might be casual, but they certainly were not.

“Oh my, stop this nonsense! Is life more important, or reputation?” Su Jingluo held her forehead in frustration. How could they be so rigid?

“The princess’s honor is important!” The guards said in unison, their voices firm and synchronized.

“Fine, fine. I’ll tell the prince later. Given the circumstances, let’s see how you explain this to him and Commander Zhuo.” Though Su Jingluo wasn’t sure what exactly needed explaining, from the guards’ reactions, it was clear that reporting this to the prince and commander was a very serious matter. It was as grave as a child tattling to a teacher.

“Well, Princess, this…” The guards faltered, exchanging glances as each wondered who would take the blame.

Su Jingluo grew impatient with the men’s hesitation. If she could lift the boy herself, why had she called them? She bent down, trying to pick up the young guard—after all, he was only about twelve or thirteen years old. But Su Jingluo was too slight to carry him. Worse, as she moved him, the boy’s face turned even paler. He bit his lip tightly but didn’t utter a sound of pain.

Still just a child, yet so strong. Su Jingluo felt a pang of sympathy. She had worked in emergency rooms before, seeing adults in their thirties or forties writhing and crying in pain—it was a natural, physiological reflex. Overcoming such instinct was no small feat.