Chapter 12 High Fever. She bit his earlobe.

Shortly after Jing Hui and Lu Songyuan went to sleep, news of the princess and the general's carriage being hijacked reached the capital.

The Imperial Palace.

Emperor Jingwen was drinking his medicine when he heard this and in a moment of panic pushed the bowl away, spilling the medicine and scalding the eunuch. He also nearly burned himself.

Then Emperor Jingwen was so angry that he vomited blood.

The people guarding the bedside were shocked. Ning Lu quickly went to help Emperor Jingwen up and sent someone to invite the Empress Dowager.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager rushed over. Seeing that Emperor Jingwen was unharmed, she scolded him with a mixture of heartache and anger.

Following his instructions, troops stationed in the capital were dispatched, and the people of the capital garrison went out to search for the two men.

After the Empress Dowager finished giving the order and the vast Hall of Mental Cultivation fell silent, Emperor Jingwen's eyes flickered.

He said hoarsely, "Mother, nothing else matters. If something happens to Azhu, how can I face Zitong after my death! I've been restless these past few days, always having dreams about her, always feeling sorry for her..."

The Empress Dowager sighed, sat on the dragon bed, patted the Emperor's chest, and glanced at the Fourth Prince who was attending to the ailing Emperor that day.

He stood at the foot of the bed, head bowed and eyes downcast, as if he couldn't hear anything.

She then turned to the emperor and said, "I will personally send people to look for her later. I will make sure nothing happens to her. You must not lose the dignity that an emperor should have!"

Emperor Jingwen was usually dignified and imposing, and even when the enemy was at the gates of the city, he had never been as flustered as he was today.

The ministers had never seen him like this before, and they were all greatly shocked.

Emperor Jingwen closed his eyes briefly and said, "Your son understands."

"You should rest well, I will go and give the instructions right away."

"Thank you, Mother."

"Take good care of your father, the Emperor."

After speaking to the Fourth Prince, the Empress Dowager steadily left the Hall of Mental Cultivation. After taking a few steps down the jade steps, she instructed the person beside her, "Send the Shadow Guards out to search."

She paused, squinted at the flickering lights in the distance, and said, "We only need to find the Sixth Princess."

The person beside him hesitated for a moment, then replied, "Yes!"

At the same time, people from the Six Ministries, the General's Mansion, the Prime Minister's Mansion, and other places, each with their own purpose, all headed towards the deep mountains.

-

As dawn broke, the morning light pierced through the forest mist, illuminating the woods and falling on the faces of the two people who were fast asleep.

The cloak stirred, and Lu Songyuan was the first to wake up.

Sleeping on the hard ground all night was quite uncomfortable for him.

After catching his breath, Lu Songyuan twisted his stiff neck, slowly pulled out his arm that Jing Hui had been pressing down on all night, and touched the wound on his waist.

The hemostatic herbs that Jing Hui chewed last night have dried up, and the wound has stopped bleeding long ago. His constitution is exceptionally good; after just one night, it has healed more than halfway.

Lu Songyuan patted off the debris, propped himself up to sit up, looked around, and then turned to look at Jing Hui.

When she rolled down last night, her face was covered in mud. Later, when she chewed medicine for him, her lips were also covered in a layer of greenish tinge.

Her hair fell loosely over her face and neck, making her look like Dazai, who had smeared his face haphazardly to become a cat during a Northern dance performance.

Lu Songyuan chuckled softly, then realized something was amiss.

How could she sleep so soundly in such an environment?

Lu Songyuan frowned, reached out and sighed at Jing Hui's breathing.

His breathing was rapid, and the air he exhaled was unusually hot.

"Your Highness?"

As Lu Songyuan called out to Jing Hui, he touched her forehead; it was burning hot.

She has a high fever.

Lu Songyuan called her name several times, but Jing Hui did not respond.

He frowned, pinched the acupoints on Jing Hui's wrist, and forcibly woke him up regardless of the consequences.

"Hmm—"

A moment later, Jing Hui struggled to wake up. With her eyes closed, her wrist was being twisted in Lu Songyuan's hand. "It hurts!"

She thought she had struggled with great effort, but her hand was only brushed against Lu Songyuan's.

Lu Songyuan said in a hoarse voice, "You have a fever."

"Um?"

Jing Hui opened his eyes in a daze, staring blankly at the person in front of him.

The person in front of me had long, loose hair and was indistinct. The morning light fell on his shoulders, making him appear incredibly gentle.

She tilted her head, staring intently at Lu Songyuan.

Just as Lu Songyuan clicked his tongue impatiently, about to ask Jing Hui if she had gone mad from the fever, he saw Jing Hui forcefully get up, hug his neck, straddle him, and press her burning forehead against his neck, mumbling, "Mother."

After calling out, she opened her mouth and took Lu Songyuan's earlobe into her mouth.

Lu Songyuan froze instantly.

The cool earlobe fell into the warm mouth, and he couldn't quite describe the feeling. The nimble tongue glided across the earlobe, leaving a wet trail, and the hot breath kept drilling into his ear, numbing half of his body.

Lu Songyuan stood there stunned for a long time before frowning, shuddering, and shrinking his neck to try and avoid it.

This action enraged Jing Hui. She bit Lu Songyuan's earlobe with her teeth and tugged at him, whimpering and refusing to let him leave.

Lu Songyuan remained motionless for a while. After adjusting slightly, he narrowed his eyes, tilted his head, and asked in a hoarse voice, "What did you call me?"

"Um--"

Jing Hui shook her head, released Lu Songyuan's earlobe, tilted her head, and fell asleep with her head on his shoulder, then remained still.

The forest quieted down again. Lu Songyuan looked down at Jing Hui and saw her sliding down. He reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her up a little.

Could it be that they're deliberately tormenting him while he's sick?

Lu Songyuan stiffened his arm, glanced at the culprit, but ultimately didn't throw the person away.

As the sun rose higher, Lu Songyuan leaned against a withered tree, looked up, and knew that it was probably the end of the Mao hour (5-7 AM).

They haven't even found those people from the palace on this hillside yet; they really are a bunch of useless fools.

Just as he was thinking this, a familiar voice suddenly came from the hillside.

There were only one or two voices, and these two seemed to be keeping their voices down.

Lu Songyuan knew the calls and footsteps all too well; they were Lu Qingyue and Lu Zhouxue.

"General—"

"Princess--"

Are you down there?

After calling out, it stood still at the top of the slope.

You'll die if you walk down!

Lu Songyuan responded and then cursed, "Get down here!"

"Huh?"

Lu Qingyue asked in confusion, "General, is that you?"

"Get down here now!"

"It's noisy."

Jing Hui felt uneasy, her chest heaving. She reached out and groped around haphazardly, touching Lu Songyuan's cheek and then, with a snap, covered his lips with hers.

...

When Lu Qingyue slid down, he saw a scene that he had never imagined could appear on Lu Songyuan.

His general leaned against a withered tree, a few strands of his hair falling loose, which were held in the hands of the beauty he was embracing.

The beauty straddled his lap, her hand obscuring the lower half of his face.

Lu Qingyue's eyes widened, a sly smile on his face, as he pulled Lu Zhouxue over.

Stopping a short distance from the two, Lu Qingyue crossed her arms, tilted her head, and said to Lu Zhouxue, "Oh, sister, look who this is?"

Lu Zhouxue's long hair was tied up high, and she held a silver snowflake sword in her hand, exuding a cold and aloof air.

She ignored Lu Qingyue and bowed to Lu Songyuan, saying, "I am late, General, please forgive me."

What about deep in the mountains?

Lu Songyuan pulled Jing Hui's hand away and asked.

Lu Zhouxue said, "Everyone in the palace knows that the princess is missing and they are all rushing to search for her. Waves of people have been sent to the deep mountains, and among them are some who are trying to take advantage of the situation. One group of assassins came for you and wanted to take your life. They have now been captured by us and are being held in the Northern Army's garrison."

"The usual."

Lu Songyuan coldly uttered, "After the interrogation, execute them by slow slicing. Whoever sent them, throw them in front of them."

Both of them were already used to it, and Lu Zhouxue quickly agreed, "Yes."

"Report your whereabouts to those people, and then call for a carriage."

"yes!"

Lu Zhouxue agreed and turned to leave.

Lu Qingyue stayed where he was, watched Lu Songyuan and Jing Hui for a while, and then, with a malicious smile, walked to a spot not far from them and squatted down, stopping just out of Lu Songyuan's reach, and began to spout nonsense.

"How was it, General, to spend a night alone with the princess?"

Lu Qingyue rested her chin on her hand and casually picked up a tree branch from the side to play with it.

"With such a beautiful woman in your arms, have you told her your life story so that the princess will cherish you even more and say a few good words about you to Emperor Wen?"

Lu Songyuan glanced at him, "Do you want to die?"

Lu Qingyue shook his head repeatedly, but kept talking.

His grumbling was so annoying that it even woke Jing Hui up. She turned her head to look in the direction of the sound and vaguely saw a person bathed in sunlight. She asked in confusion, "Who are you?"

Her face was flushed from the high fever, and Lu Qingyue caught her breath, quickly regaining her composure. "Your subordinate Lu Qingyue greets Your Highness."

Jing Hui couldn't hear clearly, "You're too noisy, stay away from me and Mother."

"Yes—no? Who?"

Lu Qingyue stared wide-eyed and blinked hard, looking back and forth between the two faces.

After Jing Hui fell asleep again, he still couldn't figure out what new tricks his two masters were up to.

-

Lu Zhouxue returned in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, with a large group of high-ranking officials and soldiers following behind her.

A large group of people surrounded the hillside, chattering and asking questions about the two of them, which gave Lu Songyuan a headache.

He looked at Lu Qingyue, who understood and stood up, stopping everyone and saying repeatedly, "The general is fine, the princess is fine, thank you all for your concern."

While Lu Qingyue was dealing with the crowd, Lu Zhouxue and her men were systematically clearing away the weeds, preparing to let their two masters into the carriage.

As soon as Ayu saw Jing Hui's appearance, she rushed towards her, crying, "Princess!"

Ayan followed closely behind, and the two of them looked at Jing Hui's flushed face with great concern.

They exchanged a glance and said, "Please let go, General, and we will help the princess into the carriage."

Lu Songyuan held Jing Hui in his arms for so long that he forgot he was still holding her.

He glanced down at Jing Hui, then released Jing Hui with his arm. "Mm."

"don't want."

Lu Songyuan let go, but Jing Hui refused to let go.

She clung tightly to Lu Songyuan's neck, and no one dared to pry her too hard, so they all looked at Lu Songyuan.

Despite facing dozens of gazes, Lu Songyuan showed no sign of embarrassment.

He didn't touch Jing Hui or say anything, afraid that if he woke her up again, she would call him "Mother".

It will be truly impossible to say for sure then.

"The princess was frightened last night and is currently running a fever."

Lu Songyuan covered Jing Hui's ears and said to everyone in an affectionate tone, "This general feels sorry for the princess. Please bring the wheelchair so I can carry her back to the manor."

The group looked at each other, bewildered.

Rumors say these two don't get along, so what's going on?

Oh right, it's the princess who's having disagreements, while the general is deeply in love.

The crowd exchanged glances and made way for them.

"Yes, General, please wait a moment."

The official from the Ministry of Works was the first to react, and quickly waved his hand, ordering the people behind him, "Hurry up and move it over!"

A short while later, a group of people carried a new wheelchair down the hillside.

"The general's wheelchair rolled off the cliff last night and was badly damaged. This is a new wheelchair that the Ministry of Works made overnight for the general's short-distance use. Once you return to the general's residence, this old minister will immediately send someone to make a new wheelchair to be made to your specifications."

Lu Songyuan glanced at the ordinary wheelchair and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."

Lu Qingyue, now perceptive, quickly stepped forward to block the two and had her men help Lu Songyuan up.

Lu Songyuan carried Jing Hui, and the two of them sat in the wheelchair together. Lu Songyuan took the cloak from A Yu's hand, wrapped it around Jing Hui, and ordered people to lift them into the carriage.

After successfully boarding the carriage, Lu Songyuan opened the window slightly, briefly greeted everyone, and then ordered the carriage to set off back to the mansion.

As the group from the General's Mansion gradually walked away, the people standing in place, each with their own ulterior motives, greeted each other and went off to report to different places.

The mountains gradually quieted down, birds flew overhead and chirped, and Lu Qingyue looked at Ayan beside him.

Helplessly, she said, "The princess is injured. Aren't you going to take care of her, sister?"

Jing Hui told Lu Qingyue to walk back, and Ayan had to watch Lu Qingyue walk back so that everyone would know that the princess's dignity was not to be offended.

She raised the corner of her lips at Lu Qingyue and said, "The princess's decree is above all. Since you know I care about the princess, you should leave quickly."

After speaking, Ayan mounted her horse, held the reins, and looked down at Lu Qingyue.

"yes."

Lu Qingyue reluctantly took Jing Hui's horse, lazily responded, and strode towards the capital city.

-

Bizarre and fantastical, floating and sinking.

Jing Hui's dreams were filled with the fear of being abandoned in the mountains as a child. This fear led to images of deep-seated terror in her dreams, with gaping maws repeatedly pulling her from reality into her dreams, while large hands in her dreams tried to push her out.

After going back and forth several times, Jing Hui could hardly distinguish between reality and dreams anymore.

"Boom—"

What woke her was a muffled clap of thunder.

Lightning flashed across the sky, startling Jing Hui and causing him to open his eyes abruptly.

Large beads of sweat slid down her temples. She stared at the dim tent ceiling above her head and blinked slowly.

It was only later that I realized I had returned home.

My whole body ached, the place behind me was incredibly hard, and it felt like I was holding someone else's hand.

Jing Hui cleared her dry throat, turned her head to look at Lu Songyuan, who was leaning against the pillow, and asked in a hoarse voice, "What time is it?"

"Just past Chen Shi (7-9 AM)."

Lu Songyuan stretched his hand, which Jing Hui had been holding all night, put down his book, brought her a cup of tea, and handed it to Jing Hui, saying, "Get up and have some water."

The tent was dimly lit. As she slowly sat up, Jing Hui realized that she had been leaning against Lu Songyuan's chest the whole time.

She paused for a moment, took the teacup, drank a few sips of water, and handed the cup to Lu Songyuan. Just as Jing Hui was about to lie down again, the room was once again illuminated by lightning, and several loud claps of thunder came from outside, followed by a torrential downpour as if the sky had burst open.

Jing Hui suddenly snapped to attention, "Oh no!"