Under his deep, brooding gaze, Tianyun slowly shook her head, her voice lacking conviction, "I can't guarantee it..."
Although she would be disciplined more strictly, she would still try her best to sneak out, because according to the mysterious man, if His Highness was injured, her life would also be in danger.
The two are one; their fortunes are intertwined, and their losses are shared.
Even without this concern, Tianyu could not bear the thought of His Highness being far away at the border, while he could only rely on slow, tortoise-like letters to find out if His Highness was safe.
She didn't want to suffer like this.
Xiao Ziwu covered his lips and slightly raised the corners of his mouth. Putting himself in her shoes, he could roughly understand the little woman's worries. Just as he couldn't let go of her, she couldn't let go of him either.
"I will send someone to protect you—" He concealed the mischievous glint in his eyes, deliberately omitting the second half of his sentence to whet her appetite.
Seeing the young woman's back slump slightly, she pouted in frustration.
Xiao Ziwu couldn't help but chuckle softly, taking a deep sip of her slightly pouting, rosy lips before continuing, "I will send someone to protect you as you journey west with me."
"You don't need to keep up with me. Just enjoy the scenery and walk slowly behind."
The young woman is frail, and also... her period is approaching, so it's really not advisable for her to travel. It wouldn't be too late for her to rest at this inn for a few more days.
"Yes, sir!"
Tianyun's slightly furrowed brows instantly smoothed out, and the corners of her lips curved into a beautiful arc.
※※※※
Xiao Ziwu looked at her, and a captivating light suddenly appeared in his slightly lowered eyes.
"I have to go now. You should get some rest."
The petite woman's soft, dark hair hung down behind her ears, and she held a rice bowl that was bigger than her face in her hands—it all looked so incongruous.
The aroma of honey and ginger shreds filled the entire room.
This morning, Xiao Ziwu carefully inquired with the doctor and learned that this folk remedy could relieve abdominal pain, so he clumsily tried to make it. He added too much candied ginger and then water, and then accidentally added too much water again. He had to add more candied ginger to balance it out. Only when the soup boiled did he realize there was such a large bowl full…
The woman buried her small face in the bowl, sipping the ginger tea slowly. The spicy hot soup filled her mouth, and the cramps in her stomach felt much warmer.
Hearing His Highness's farewell words, she obediently nodded, prompting the man to lean down and touch her forehead.
Tianyun's heart trembled slightly, and then she saw his thin lips curve into a slight smile, "Be good."
"Has Your Highness left?" Shi Que cautiously peeked out from outside the door, deliberately avoiding the Jade-Faced Yama in order to avoid being punished.
Only now that Xiao Ziwu has left did she dare to come out.
Tianyun nodded at her with amusement, "He's gone."
Ultimately, it was I who dragged Shi Que into this mess. She was just loyally protecting her master. If I hadn't acted recklessly and run away, she wouldn't have had to take this risk.
I truly feel I have let her down.
Shi Que breathed a sigh of relief, walked in with a tube of ointment in her hand, and closed the door tightly as if she were a thief.
As if afraid of being overheard, she whispered, "Let me apply the medicine for you."
The girl had been worrying about the red, swollen welts between her legs from the saddle, which hadn't been treated yet. But last night she didn't dare mention it at all, fearing that His Highness would hang her up and beat her if he found out!
Now that His Highness had finally left, she was worried about the girl's injuries, so she quickly brought in medicine.
Tianyun didn't want to refuse, but there was something she found difficult to say...
She hadn't prepared a menstrual pad due to the hasty trip, and her buttocks were currently being padded with His Highness's nightgown. To make her more comfortable, His Highness had taken the softest nightgown for her to use as a pad, but it still caused her many inconveniences.
And the swollen, red wound was located in the most embarrassing area between her legs...
She was too embarrassed to let Shi Que do it, so she said shyly, "Put the ointment down, I'll do it myself in a bit."
"Miss is suffering from abdominal pain and cannot move around, let me do it."
Shi Que refused to budge, only wanting her to lie down and rest comfortably, to make amends for his reckless behavior last night.
Tianyun's ears felt slightly hot. "You should put it down. The most important thing is to help me sew two menstrual belts when you have time."
Yes! This is exactly what the young lady needs right now. How come I didn't think of it?
Shi Que slapped his forehead and rushed out the door.
Tianyun covered her mouth and chuckled, then looked at the small stool beside the couch with a bitter face, where there was still more than half a basin... no, more than half a bowl of maple ginger tea left.
I'm so full, I can't drink anymore...
※※※※
Wei Jian had suffered greatly, with both his hands and feet broken. But this was just the appetizer. In the blink of an eye last night, the precious goods he had exchanged with the Gauls were burned to ashes.
The losses were devastating!
The man who crippled him vanished without a trace, and the stunning beauty was now surrounded by a squad of armored guards, preventing him from even getting close.
Tianyun rested at Laifu Inn for two days before remembering to send a letter home to let them know he was safe.
Then they leisurely found a horse-drawn carriage and set off again.
This time was completely different from the last time when we rushed around.
Inside the ornate carriage, there was a bronze incense burner and a charcoal brazier, and the seats were covered with thick cotton quilts, which were both soft and warm, so that even if the journey was long and bumpy, you wouldn't feel any jolting.
A squad of armored soldiers followed behind the carriage, guarding both sides, making it impossible for even gods or ghosts to approach.
By the time she arrived in Xihai City, it was already twenty days later.
With Xiao Ziwu and his 200,000-strong army, Xihai City's fortunes reversed instantly, and morale soared. The Xihuan army, already exhausted from a fierce battle, was now at its last gasp.
Xi Huan did not expect the general defending Xihai City to be so resolute. He resisted stubbornly for more than ten days until Xiao Ziwu led his army to come to the rescue.
While defending the city, the city lord of Xihai was unfortunately struck by a stray arrow. He was quite suspicious of Xiao Ziwu, the pale-faced prince from the capital, but he could only focus on recovering from his injury and entrust the rest of the situation to him.
My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
