Chapter 70 Do you care about me? "You care about me?" Qi Yu suddenly...
The voice sounded quite familiar, but for a moment, he couldn't remember who it was. Liu Yeshu was about to leave when he heard the person continue to say:
"Miss Liu, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed this time. I heard that His Majesty is so pleased with General Qi's victory that he's planning to arrange a marriage for him."
Those words were like a hammer, striking Liu Yeshu's heart with a sudden tightening, her breathing stagnating. She unconsciously moved closer to the source of the sound, fearing she might miss a single word. In the darkness, her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes, her knuckles turning slightly white.
"Hush—" the woman's voice was filled with caution and doubt. "Are you serious? How come I haven't heard of this arranged marriage before? And Miss Liu..." Her voice dropped a few notches, as if worried. "What should she do?"
The man chuckled, his tone tinged with disapproval. "Do you think our general is an ordinary person?" He lowered his voice. "He's a great general, one who has made numerous military achievements. It's perfectly normal for His Majesty to choose a noble lady for him. Besides, I heard the general already has an engagement in the capital." He paused, his voice lowering. "Miss Liu is capable and a good helper, but she's ultimately just..."
Before he finished speaking, the woman understood what he meant and continued with a hint of pity, "She's a cook, isn't she? After all, she's not worthy of being a general."
The man didn't respond, only chuckling softly a few times. His laughter was particularly harsh in the night, like a sharp knife, slicing at Liu Ye Shu's heart.
"Then I'm also a cook, so doesn't that mean I'm not worthy of you?" the woman suddenly asked with a bit of coquettishness.
"I'm just a guard, a perfect match for you." The man hurriedly tried to please, his tone full of intimacy.
It turned out to be Chun Xing and the general’s personal guard Cheng Feng...!
The two chatted for a while, and when Liu Yeshu was about to leave quietly, she stepped on Yuanbao's tail unexpectedly.
"Awooo——" a shrill cat cry pierced the night sky.
Liu Yeshu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly picked up Yuanbao, gently stroking his back with her fingers, silently soothing him. Yuanbao struggled slightly in her arms, but she didn't dare let go, for fear that he would make another sound.
The sound in the house suddenly stopped and there was dead silence.
"Who is it? Go and take a look!" It was Chun Xing's voice, with a bit of panic.
Liu Yeshu's heart was beating wildly. She slowly backed away, taking every step carefully, afraid to make any noise. However, the man's footsteps were approaching the door, and he had obviously become suspicious of the noise outside.
"Go and take a look." Chun Xing urged in a low voice, her tone full of anxiety.
The man hesitated for a moment, then finally pushed open the door. Moonlight streamed across the courtyard like water. Liu Yeshu had just hidden behind an old locust tree, its dappled shadows completely obscuring her form. She held her breath, her heartbeat audibly louder. Yuanbao, in her arms, seemed to sense her nervousness and, unusually quiet, curled up submissively in her embrace.
The man stood at the doorway for a moment, his eyes scanning the courtyard. Under the moonlight, the courtyard was peaceful, with only the evening breeze gently blowing through the treetops, making a subtle sound.
"It might be the cat," he said to himself, and closed the door.
Only when the sounds of footsteps and laughter faded away in the house again did Liu Yeshu breathe a sigh of relief. When there was no more movement in the yard, he gently put down the ingot and quietly turned around to leave.
At dawn, a carriage was ready outside the general's residence. The still-fading morning dew cast a faint shimmer on the wheels. Liu Yeshu stood on the steps, watching the servants load the luggage onto the carriage, feeling a mixture of emotions.
Liu Yeshu walked to the door carrying her simple bag and saw Qi Yu whispering instructions to Cheng Feng from a distance. He was dressed in a dark suit, standing tall and handsome in the morning light.
The conversation overheard last night was still echoing in her ears. Liu Yeshu just wanted to take a detour, but was stopped by Qi Yu.
"You sit in the car and go with me."
Liu Yeshu was slightly startled, but didn't say much. He responded and got into the car.
The carriage was simply furnished yet comfortable, its contents neatly arranged. Qi Yu followed closely behind her and sat down beside her. The carriage swayed gently as it began to move forward. Liu Yeshu unconsciously tightened her collar, trying to calm her inner turmoil. The carriage was silent for a moment, with only the sound of horse hooves and the gentle clatter of wheels to accompany her.
Qi Yu leaned against the inside of the carriage, looking at Liu Yeshu calmly, and suddenly asked, "Can you change the medicine?"
Liu Yeshu was stunned for a moment, then frowned and asked, "Is the general injured?"
Qi Yu had led troops in battle for many years and had suffered many injuries, but she didn't expect him to be injured again during this campaign. A trace of heartache welled up in her heart, and she whispered, "What injury did the general suffer?"
Qi Yu was silent for a moment, then slowly unbuttoned his shirt. As the fabric slipped away, the hideous wound on his chest became visible. Though covered in herbs, the severity of the injury was still evident. The scar stretched from his left shoulder to his chest, where the breastplate had shattered. Bruising and swelling were faintly visible around it.
Liu Yeshu couldn't help but gasp, her heart tightening. She had thought Qi Yu's injury wasn't serious, but she hadn't expected it to still be there. Thinking of how Qi Yu had spent these days fighting while nursing this injury, a wave of sadness welled up in her heart.
She whispered in reproach: "General, the wound is so serious, why didn't you treat it earlier?!"
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Liu Yeshu realized that his tone seemed too intimate, with a bit of excessive concern.
Qi Yu slowly turned his head, his eyes as sharp as a knife, and a hint of sarcasm at the corner of his mouth: "What does it have to do with you?"
Those four words were like a bucket of ice water, waking Liu Yeshu from her earlier worry. She froze in place, the color draining from her face. Yes, she was just a cook in the mansion. What right did she have to question a dignified general in such a tone?
The conversation she overheard last night suddenly echoed in her ears, making her heart ache. Those words about the arranged marriage were now an even clearer reminder of her identity.
The atmosphere inside the carriage suddenly grew colder, even the early summer sun seemed chilled. Liu Yeshu hurriedly lowered her head, her fingertips twisting the corners of her clothes tightly. Her voice was as thin as a mosquito's, "I...I overstepped my bounds..."
The scenery outside the window flew by quickly, but the interior of the carriage seemed frozen, with only the sound of horse hooves and the grinding of wheels against the ground. Liu Yeshu lowered her head, but she could feel Qi Yu's sharp gaze lingering on her, making her dare not even breathe too loudly.
"Are you concerned about me?" Qi Yu suddenly spoke, with an elusive meaning in his voice.
"Yes." Her voice was soft but firm.
"Why?" he pressed on.
This question actually aroused the stubbornness in Liu Yeshu's heart. She raised her head, a trace of anger flashing in her eyes: "I'm afraid no one will pay me."
Qi Yu obviously didn't expect her to say that. Seeing her rare angry expression, he couldn't help but laugh out loud. His laughter was low and pleasant, echoing in the small carriage.
"Don't worry, if that day ever comes, I'll have Butler Zhao give you a generous severance pay..."
This completely infuriated Liu Yeshu. Impulsively, she tried to cover his mouth with her hand, but halfway through, she realized she was being rude and hurriedly pulled it back to cover her ears. However, a warm grip suddenly gripped her wrist, and she involuntarily leaned forward.
Qi Yu's force wasn't strong, but it didn't allow her to break free. His eyes softened, and he whispered in her ear, "It was that heart armor that saved my life. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to come back. So, I owe you another favor."
Warm breath brushed past her ears. Liu Yeshu lowered her head, feeling the tip of her ear burning. She whispered, "General, you are too kind. This is just my job." She raised her head and tried to make her voice sound calm. "General, let me change the dressing for you. It would be bad if you get infected on the way."
Qi Yu nodded, released her wrist, and handed her the medicine bottle he had brought with him. Liu Yeshu took the opportunity to withdraw her hand, but she still felt a hint of warmth from where he had held her. She carefully opened the bottle, gently approached him, brushed her fingers over his wound, and gently and meticulously opened the old medicine.
Neither of them spoke, but their breath and body temperature intertwined in this small space. Liu Yeshu's fingers trembled slightly, and every touch felt like an electric current flowing through them. She could feel Qi Yu's gaze lingering on her, burning so hot that it almost melted her.
"General...will it hurt?"
Qi Yu chuckled softly, the sound coming from deep in his chest, a little hoarse: "Once you're used to it, you won't feel the pain anymore."
The tips of Liu Yeshu's ears flushed red, and her fingers paused for a moment before she slowly applied the new medicine to the wound. She then took out a clean bandage and carefully wrapped it around his arm. She lowered her head and carefully tied the knot, her fingers gently touching his arm.
It’s so itchy, Qi Yu thought.
In order to divert attention, Qi Yu made small talk, "I've been less worried lately and lost weight again."
I finally gained some weight, but from now on I have to eat by myself.
After hearing this, Liu Yeshu lowered his head and smiled: "General, if you take care of yourself, I will worry less."
"In that case, I'll do as you say." Qi Yu's voice was low and soft, with a hint of doting, "As long as you apply the medicine for me, I won't let you down."
Liu Yeshu lowered her eyes, hiding the emotions surging in them, and with trembling fingers she tied the final knot. She carefully confirmed the bandage was in place before reluctantly retreating. "General, the medicine has been applied. Remember to avoid water for the next few days; it will heal faster."
The early summer sun streamed in through the gauze curtains, and tiny dust particles danced in the beams like a silent melody. The carriage rocked gently, with a sleep-inducing rhythm.
Liu Yeshu hummed softly, wanting to rest against the carriage wall, but the jolting ride forced her body to tilt sideways. She tried to keep her heavy eyelids open, but the fatigue of the past few days was too much to bear. After last night's eavesdropping, she had been tossing and turning, and now the exhaustion was even more overwhelming.
Gradually, Liu Yeshu's consciousness began to blur, and her head drooped slowly. Qi Yu noticed her sleepiness and wanted to call her, but when he saw her tired face, he swallowed the words back. He adjusted his sitting position slightly, carefully avoiding the wound on his chest, so that his shoulder could just catch her swaying head.
With a slight bump in the carriage, Liu Yeshu's head finally rested gently on Qi Yu's shoulder. Her breathing gradually became long and even, and her long eyelashes cast a faint shadow on her face, trembling gently like butterfly wings.
Qi Yu looked down at her peaceful sleeping face, his gaze softening unconsciously. Her hair was slightly disheveled from the turbulence, a few strands of black hair playfully dangling from her forehead. He wanted to reach out and smooth it over, but halfway through, he was afraid to wake her, so he just let her lean against him quietly.
The sunlight shone through the car window onto the two of them, giving the fine hairs on Liu Yeshu's cheeks a golden edge.
Qi Yu could feel her warm breath brushing against his neck, carrying with it a faint sweet fragrance.
This road should be longer, Qi Yu thought.
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