So... that was why the scent of medicinal herb around her smelled stronger.

"Why didn't you say anything if you were in pain?"

"I tried to. But you told me to stop moving around."

His expression gradually become colder as he looked away from her. He knew he was at fault. But mostly, he was angry that someone had hurt his precious treasure. If he found out who was it that dared to harm her, there's no doubt that he would dismember his body.

"Please don't tell my family about this." Her eyes were looking at him with pleading when he didn't answer.

She managed to conceal this secret even from her third brother. It would be bad for her and her third brother if the others found out that she was hurt. He would feel guilty. Then, her elder brother would scold him!

It would be worse for her if the Princess heard about this. She would feel guilty to see her get injured.

Jiang Mingyue placed her hand on his and tried to meet his gaze as he continued to evade her.

"Yang Yun?"

It took him a while before he sighed and nodded. It's not like he could casually mention her injury to her family. Knowing how protective the brothers is towards his sister, he was sure that her brothers would put her into house arrest.

If that happens, how will he get the chance to see her again?

"If you're going to fetch some herbs in the wood, you should have wait for my return," he said. "I will go with you."

"This is medicine for the Princess," Mingyue said. "Once I heard about its whereabouts, I can't wait. We've been looking for this herb to treat this poison for years. You know that. Besides, the third brother went with me."

Yang Yun raised a brow. "Jiang Xiao Liang went with you? And he did not protect you?"

"It's not his fault. We got separated." Jiang Mingyue admitted.

Yang Yun groaned. His gaze went towards her shoulder. If he didn't look carefully, the blood spot on her cloth was not that visible. He wondered how deep her wound was.

He could ask her, but he knew that she would not tell him the truth. Yang Yun sighed again as he gathered her into his embrace. "Then, promise me that you will be careful all the time. "

She buried her face to his chest and nodded. "Un."

Feeling her body so close to him, Yang Yun lifted his hand and caressed her soft hair. His embrace gradually tightened, showing off his protective side. If he can, he would put her in a cage so no one would hurt her.

But he knew that she is not a bird to be entrapped in a cage. He knew this even before he started courting her. After all, the first time he met her, she dared to sneak into the army camp and disguised herself as one of the soldiers.

This girl in his arm could not just sit still.

There's no way for him to keep her hidden to keep her safe. It would only make her unhappy.

He wanted her to be happy. The only way he can do that is by standing by her side. He wanted to pamper her and let her do whatever she wanted to do. What he can do was to support her in whatever she wanted to do and protect her whenever she needed his help.