Chapter 10: Black Beast, Don’t Think Too Much, Have a Good Rest
Shen Zhiwei threw the bright red gauze into the trash can.
The scraping of the medicine towel between the skin and flesh was like a blunt knife scraping bones. Xiao Wangqing inhaled with a violent tremor, and an uncontrollable broken sob rolled in his throat. Every time he shuddered, the wound was pulled.
He had clearly been able to hold back his cries of pain when under the care of the imperial physician before, but he couldn't do that in front of her.
"Move again?" Shen Zhiwei's voice was low, a little hoarse from coughing. Her hands were steady as she tightened and tied knots at both ends of the medicine cloth.
"I am not a Bodhisattva, nor a kind person. I hate it most when people waste the energy I have already spent. Your Highness, please feel free to sink the boat into the river, but please move it to the bow where I am not here, or," she paused, looked at his drooping eyelashes, and spoke more slowly, "whenever I feel that this deal is a loss, I will personally sink it for you.
"Until then... just be quiet."
Xiao Wangqing felt that he might be crazy, and he actually read some comfort in these words.
It was Shen Zhiwei who spoke coldly, and it was also Shen Zhiwei who bandaged him.
"……good."
Cold sweat soaked his forehead hair and stuck to his cheeks, bringing waves of cold, tingling and itchy sensations.
Xiao Wangqing lowered his eyelids, his gaze passing over the blood-stained handkerchief that Shen Zhiwei had thrown into the slag bucket, then slowly moved upwards, finally stopping at her slightly tired profile.
"...Don't frown," the voice sounded again, more coherent than before, but with a clumsy pleading that he himself was not aware of, "I will be quiet."
Shen Zhiwei paused for a moment, the fingers that had tied the knot tightening the laces imperceptibly, causing a sharp pain to resurface in Xiao Wangqing's already numb wound. He groaned, clenching his teeth, and forcing himself not to flinch again.
He was silent for a long time before speaking again, leaving the simplest promise: "I will live. Since Master Shen is unwilling to kill me, this life is yours. I will not die until the debt is paid."
"I... wasn't plotting, nor was I threatening you, and I never thought you would trust me."
"That night in the cold palace... was my last bit of strength. I wanted to curl up by the well and freeze to death," Xiao Wangqing's voice deepened. "The snow was colder than a knife, and it made my bones crack. At that time, I just wanted... to end it quickly."
"But you came," he gritted his teeth and raised his eyes, his gaze fixed on her back. "When you were wrapped in that white fur coat, I thought you were... a ghost messenger coming to pick me up, or a thief stealing corpses. Just wanting to... take someone with you to be buried with me."
"Chen Zhiwei," he propped himself up, trying to make his posture as solemn as possible while leaning against the soft pillow. For the first time, he called out her name clearly and completely, each syllable carrying the traces of blood. "It's not that I don't know what's good for me! It's just that no one in this palace has ever taught me how to accept... the charcoal handed to me by others. But I will learn, so..."
"I'll crawl through the life you've opened up for me. If you go to Jianghuai to oversee river works, I'll stay by your side and won't cause any trouble. I only ask that you don't ruin yourself worse than I have. If... if you get hurt because of me, I'll never be able to repay this debt even if I crush my bones."
Shen Zhiwei stood there quietly, with no expression on his face. Even the coldness he had before had faded away, leaving only a calmness like a deep pool.
She looked at Xiao Wangqing, at the embarrassment and sincerity that could not be concealed beneath the calmness he tried hard to maintain on his pale face, and at his injured leg that was still trembling slightly in the medicine cloth.
a long time.
She moved the corners of her lips ever so slightly, not smiling, but her lips slightly relaxed the arc of her tightly pursed lips, as if a silent sigh dissolved into the air. "..." The sigh escaped silently, and it seemed to be just Xiao Wangqing's illusion.
Shen Zhiwei said nothing.
She did not rebuke his confession, did not accept his promise, and did not utter another cold mockery.
She just turned around and walked slowly to the door. Instead of opening the door and leaving immediately, she reached out and quietly closed the hatch that had been ajar because of Xie Mingxu's hurried departure.
The slight sound of the bolt falling was particularly clear in the silent cabin.
Shen Zhiwei was upset by his gaze.
The look in Xiao Wangqing's eyes when he looked at her was so heavy that it made her feel more suffocated than the bite he gave her in the snow in the cold palace.
It was not just the burden of a life that she was carrying, but also a suffocating feeling of being entangled in something sticky, as if it was going to wrap around her bones and suck everything out.
To be honest, it was quite scary. Shen Zhiwei had never dealt with people like Xiao Wangqing before, and she felt troubled by his excessive stubbornness.
What's more, she is not a person of strong will, and she has given in and been soft-hearted again and again when it comes to his affairs.
What can she say? The Third Prince knows nothing, and it is impossible for her to open her heart to him.
There are many things that cannot be said.
Shen Zhiwei was indeed angry before, but she was just annoyed that he was self-deprecating and wasted her energy in saving him.
When I realized it, I felt that I was a little too harsh, but I didn't know how to speak properly.
So she could only cover her sleeves with a few coughs, forcing herself to appear indifferent, and silently walked to the low table by the window and sat down. The bird's nest soup on the table had long since turned cold and solidified. She pushed the bowl away, her fingertips accidentally touching the delicate, warm hand warmer.
It was left by Xie Mingxu.
The slightly warm temperature from the furnace wall passed through her fingertips. Shen Zhiwei paused, then finally gathered it into her hands. The slight warmth was extremely limited, but it miraculously dispelled the chill that had been lingering in her bones.
"Third Prince," Shen Zhiwei's expression brightened slightly as he gathered the hand warmer in his palm and gently spun it. "I saved you. It was a calculated move, or perhaps a moment of weakness in the snow. Even I can't tell. You don't have to think of it as some kind of favor, a burden, or a debt you have to repay."
She stood up and walked in front of Xiao Wangqing, leaning down slightly, and the shadow completely covered him. The two were so close that they could see the bloodshot reflected clearly in each other's eyes.
"You just need to think clearly about one thing. Since you've chosen to live, live it to the fullest, to the fullest extent possible, and strengthen these broken bones in your body. Don't be a burden seeking death and stirring up trouble, making me regret my meddling in other people's business in the snow every time I look at you."
"Do you understand?"
A burden. A broken bone. Regret for meddling.
Xiao Wangqing twitched the corners of his lips. How could he not understand? People who grew up in the deep palace should naturally understand these calculations with clear prices.
But when these words came out of Shen Zhiwei's mouth, the greedy luck and tiny hope that had quietly grown after Shen Zhiwei picked it up from the snow were still crushed to pieces.
Yes, that's how it should be. This is the clarity that the East Palace Crown Prince's companion should have. Who is he, Xiao Wangqing? A wicked person who crawled out of the cold palace, who was lucky enough to get mercy once, should be grateful.
He opened his eyes again, and the watery glint and the sincerity he had forced upon them had completely faded, leaving only a stagnant silence. He watched as Shen Zhiwei tucked the gilded hand warmer into her sleeve, her movements revealing a genuine desire for warmth, even though her expression remained distant and distant.
She accepted Xie Mingxu's kindness, even though Xie Mingxu's approach had a purpose.
The only thing I say to him is… “Don’t waste my energy” and “Behave yourself”.
"Xiao Wangqing...I'll keep this in mind. Thank you for your guidance, young master."
"How the Third Prince wants to express his gratitude is his own business. You don't need to tell me," Shen Zhiwei interrupted him, "Being alive is the best reward."
She emphasized the word "alive" in her tone, but in fact she didn't want to see him look lifeless again.
A gentle knock on the door broke the silence just in time.
"Master Shen? Third Prince?" It was Xie Mingxu's voice, deliberately subdued with concern. "The kitchen has made some chicken porridge, which is very nourishing. We also have a few light side dishes. Could you bring them in?"
Shen Zhiwei didn't respond immediately, his eyes sweeping over the silent Xiao Wangqing on the couch. He still kept his head bowed, as if the outside world had nothing to do with him anymore. Only the hand resting on the quilt had its knuckles slightly curled.
"Thank you, Prince." Shen Zhiwei calmed down and his voice returned to calm.
The door opened slightly, and Xie Mingxu appeared at the door, followed by two servants holding trays, with lowered brows and pleasant looks. With an impeccable smile on his face, he quickly scanned the cabin with his eyes.
"The wind and waves are quite strong, and the boat is shaking. We need to prepare everything carefully to avoid spilling it." Xie Mingxu gestured to the servant to put down the tray. He walked around the low table and came to Xiao Wangqing's bed with a small bowl of porridge. "The Third Prince is still seriously injured and cannot stand cold and dampness. Can you enjoy this bowl while it's hot?"
He did not have the airs of a prince at all, and his movements were so natural as if serving Xiao Wangqing was his job. He scooped up a spoonful of steaming porridge and brought it to Xiao Wangqing's lips.
The smile was really beautiful, but the look in her eyes was like poisoned needles, silently piercing the soft spot of the person on the couch.
He really deserves a beating.
Xiao Wangqing raised his eyes. The silent pond he had just faced Shen Zhiwei suddenly froze over, a ferocity surging beneath the ice. Those dark eyes were chillingly cold, filled with undisguised disgust. His jaw was clenched, his lips tightly pressed together in a silent rejection.
Shen Zhiwei had been stirring the porridge in the bowl to dissipate the heat, but when he saw this, he put down the spoon.
"Thank you, Prince."
The voice was not loud, but it was enough to make Xie Mingxu stop.
The smile on Xie Mingxu's face froze for a moment, then it spread out again as if nothing had happened. He tilted his head to look at Shen Zhiwei: "Little Master Shen?"
"The Third Prince has injured his bones, and swallowing can easily cause discomfort. The Imperial Physician has instructed that he should eat slowly and not force-feed hot food immediately," Shen Zhiwei picked up the bowl of porridge in front of her and rubbed her fingertips along the warm bowl. "Let the porridge cool down first. The Crown Prince is considerate. Why don't you test the porridge for him to see if it's suitable for him to eat?"
Xie Mingxu tightened his fingers holding the bowl, took back the spoon awkwardly, and put the bowl of scalding porridge back on the low table.
"Ahem, I was negligent," Xie Mingxu coughed dryly and forced a smile, "It should be cooler now, but Master Shen is more attentive."
He took the step and picked up another bowl, carefully blowing on the hot steam, pretending to test the temperature. But out of the corner of his eye, he kept glancing at Xiao Wangqing.
The porridge cooled slightly, and Xie Mingxu patiently brought it over again. This time, Xiao Wangqing didn't resist, but sipped silently, his movements awkward and stiff. Every swallow seemed to consume a great deal of his energy, and the sweat on his forehead never dried.
Xie Mingxu watched him swallowing painfully, a hint of pleasure flashed across his eyes, but was then replaced by deeper regret.
I just lost my temper.
The meal was incredibly dull, with only the occasional soft sound of the spoon hitting the bowl's wall. Shen Zhiwei wasn't a big eater, so she took only a few bites before putting it down and looking out the window at the darkening night. "My Lord, the wind and waves seem to be getting stronger tonight."
Xie Mingxu immediately understood: "It doesn't look good. I've already told the boatman to find a suitable bay to anchor for the night and sail again tomorrow when the wind is calm. Master Shen, please go to bed early. I'll be in the next cabin. Just call me if you need anything."
Shen Zhiwei didn't respond, only nodded slightly. When Xie Mingxu and the eunuchs quietly closed the cabin door, she stood up and put the heavy black fox fur coat back on her body, covering her thin shoulders and neck.
"If you need anything, call the eunuch on duty. The imperial physician will come to check every two hours."
Of course, these words were said to Xiao Wangqing. There were no other living things left in the room. Shen Zhiwei spoke helplessly, and his voice was no longer as stern as an order.
"Don't think too much, just have some rest."
The bolt fell again with a soft sound.
The only light source in the cabin was the candlelight lit by Shen Zhiwei, which stretched Xiao Wangqing's shadow into a huge and distorted one, casting it on the cold and slippery cabin wall. It swayed with the swaying of the ship, like a huge black beast with a huge mouth.
Survive.
Even if she has to crawl, she will crawl to the position she wants to see.
He will remember every bit of her efforts along the way, engraving it into his bones, hoping that one day...
She climbed to a position where she was qualified to protect that thin and weak figure under her wings, and no one dared to make her frown or get angry.
The author has something to say:
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Xiao Wangqing, whose mother was sentenced to death by the emperor due to a witchcraft case, lived alone since childhood.
I also learned a lot
For example, the crying child gets candy.
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