Su Wanwan paused slightly.

This journey is arduous, taking several hours each way. If you have any injuries, you're probably not feeling well.

He truly "endured hardship even when there was none."

Serves them right.

That being said, she still instructed the coachman to go slowly, so as not to cause too much jolting and aggravate his injury.

The carriage fell silent again.

Perhaps because the car was moving slower, Lu Xingjian's expression softened considerably, and he lowered his hand from his chest and placed it on his seat.

The carriage wasn't large, and the distance between the two people wasn't far.

Su Wanwan's hand, which was hanging down on the seat, touched his little finger with hers.

Su Wanwan paused slightly and quietly withdrew her hand.

Lu Xingjian suddenly reached out and pulled her to his side.

Su Wanwan gasped and tried to push him away, but heard a muffled groan from the man.

She dared not move again.

I don't know the extent of his injury.

She had intended to ask him last time, but she didn't bring herself to ask until he left.

Now, the words swirled in her throat several times, but she finally swallowed them back down.

Neither of them spoke.

Ambiguity lingered in the train carriage.

Silent and tranquil.

The man's fingers gently landed on her cheek, caressing it tenderly.

The slightly cool fingertips made her pause.

Is his health really that bad?

In her memory, his hands were always warm and moist.

After struggling for a long time, she finally whispered, "You should rest and recuperate."

Lu Xingjian took a deep breath, his upright body suddenly relaxed, and he leaned softly against her shoulder.

"Um."

Su Wanwan remained stiff and did not push him away.

Their breaths mingled, their scents mingling, making it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

In this pitch-black carriage, it was only a moment of weakness, and no one knew it.

She was deceiving herself.

The two people, intertwined and nestled together, looked like a deeply affectionate couple.

At this moment, he was no longer the aloof and ruthless emperor.

He was not a strong, ordinary person, but a weak man who needed to rely on others.

When the carriage slowly came to a stop, the two people were still nestled together and did not move.

Su Wanwan said softly, "I should go."

Lu Xingjian slowly sat up straight, coughing a few times, perhaps aggravating his injury.

Outside the carriage, Chief Eunuch Li asked with concern, "Your Majesty, has your injury worsened? Can you still hold on?"

Su Wanwan, however, smelled a bloody odor.

She lifted the side curtain of the carriage, and the dark color on Lu Xingjian's lips looked particularly glaring.

He coughed up blood?!

"Manager Li, Manager Li?" Su Wanwan's expression changed drastically, and she quickly called for help.

Steward Li quickly entered the carriage to check, his expression grave: "I'm afraid the bumpy ride has aggravated his internal injuries."

“Miss Su, you think it would be best to let the master rest in bed as soon as possible. This old servant will send the imperial physician over.”

Su Wanwan hesitated for a moment but then nodded: "Okay."

As soon as I got off the carriage, I saw a figure separated by the guards.

Su Wanwan's breathing stopped for a moment.

Shouldn't Xiao Bin be recuperating in the house?

Why did you come out?

Lu Xingjian followed her off the carriage and walked slowly toward the Su family's gate.

Seeing Su Wanwan standing there stunned by the carriage, he even stopped to wait for her.

"Wanwan, let's go."

Su Wanwan suppressed her racing heart and tried her best to act nonchalant as she walked towards the door.

I tripped over the threshold.

Lu Xingjian, who was walking in front of her, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head and reached out to grab her slender wrist in time.

"Watch your step," he whispered.

His tone carried a hint of displeasure.

But he didn't let go of her wrist.

She was completely tense.

He protested in a low voice: "Let go."

Lu Xingjian glanced at her indifferently, "I need help."

Su Wanwan stopped talking and used a little force to support his hand.

Since they've entered their own house, it won't become common knowledge.

Su Wanwan comforted herself and quickly led him to the second courtyard.

Lu Xingjian was assigned to live in the east wing of the second courtyard.

This was originally my father Su Nan's study.

The imperial physician arrived quickly and frowned after examining the patient: "The injury has relapsed somewhat. Do not move the patient for the next few days and rest in bed until fully recovered."

Su Wanwan then inquired in detail about his injuries.

The imperial physician answered each question in detail: "He was shot by a crossbow bolt. Although it did not penetrate the chainmail and cause external injuries, the internal injuries were quite severe, and his heart and lungs were somewhat damaged."

"To fully recover, you need to rest for about three months and must avoid strenuous activity."

Su Wanwan's breath hitched.

Is it that serious?!

He went to the Su family's house half a month ago?

I made a long and arduous trip today just to bring her back to the city.

She paused as she was about to leave the east wing, then walked back to the bedside to look at his somewhat pale face.

Lu Xingjian simply lay quietly on the pillow.

His brow furrowed slightly.

Sensing someone by the bedside, she opened her eyes and looked over.

The two looked at each other silently.

Su Wanwan couldn't help but think of the days when he was poisoned and bedridden.

Back then, they were still just kids, but they had a sense of mutual dependence.

Now, they seem closer than they were back then, yet also more distant.

Perhaps it was because his gaze was so calm, just like it had been back then, that she sat down on the chair by the bed, waiting for the medicine to be brewed and brought over.

"You should get some sleep first. I'll wake you up when your medicine is ready."

Lu Xingjian didn't speak, but instead took Su Wan's hand, intertwined their fingers, and slowly closed his eyes.

Su Wanwan lowered her eyes and stared at their clasped hands.

He wondered if he would hold Xia Xueyi's hand like this when they were together.

When Steward Li brought in the bowl of medicine, Su Wanwan took the opportunity to pull her hand away.

Lu Xingjian didn't even have the strength to sit up.

When Steward Li tried to help, he wouldn't let him.

Seeing that they were at an impasse, Su Wanwan stepped forward and supported his shoulders and back to help him up.

The man, who was usually as upright as a green mountain, was now like a dodder vine, leaning on Su Wanwan's shoulder and obediently waiting for her to feed him spoonful by spoonful of medicine.

Manager Li suppressed a laugh, not daring to show it on his face.

He thought to himself, "Oh my goodness."

Even during the days when the injury was most severe, he was never seen so weak and unable to take care of himself.

...

Early the next morning, Su Wanwan rearranged the Su family members, with the vast majority moving to one of her mother's dowry houses nearby.

This would make room for those who serve Lu Xingjian and also prevent any problems from arising.

He also sent someone to inform Madam Yu that they would meet at the teahouse.

Lady Yu brought a shocking piece of news: "I heard that His Majesty's birth mother has been living in the laundry department, and now Marquis Anren is advocating that his birth mother be brought back to live in the palace."

Su Wanwan felt as if she had been struck by lightning.

I can't believe it's real.

She was in a hurry to leave, but was stopped by Madam Yu: "My master asked me to pass on a message to Wanwan, to stop this matter at all costs!"