I seemed to have slept for a long time, but it was very peaceful, and I didn't dream. When I woke up, I hardly recognized the scene before me.
It was already dark, and he was looking at the map again, but this time, he was close to the edge of the bed.
"Awake?" he suddenly asked, without even turning his head. For a moment, I even thought he wasn't talking to me.
He picked up his brush and sketched on the map before turning his head and reaching out to brush my forehead. Instantly, the cool temperature of his fingertips felt very comfortable.
He frowned slightly and said, "Don't push yourself so hard, it hurts my heart."
I avoided his gaze and carefully looked away.
"Your leg..." he asked very carefully, "Does it hurt?"
I thought about it for a moment, then shook my head.
He didn't speak for a long time, just looked at me. The flickering lamplight made his face look very gentle.
"I'll go get you a bowl of porridge. You've been sleeping for a long time." He forced a smile. "We've already captured two cities."
Has it been that long? Two cities are not things that can be taken in a day or two.
"You're back, things are going much better now." His smile was faint.
Have I been gone for too long and made him worry? He's probably the only ordinary person in the world who would worry about me like this.
He got up, and as he walked to the door, he suddenly turned back to look at me with a deep gaze. He seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he didn't say anything and just left.
The armor was still the same, but from a distance, the person inside looked thinner.
I was delayed for many days on my way from the capital. When I returned, his army had not advanced much south. At that moment, I was worried about him, but I just couldn't help but fall asleep and slept for so long.
During the days I was away, he didn't have it much easier than I did.
The war was going badly, rumors were spreading in the south, and then, to make matters worse, a natural disaster struck Wolongkou. It seemed... as if even the heavens were watching over Fuqi. Mortals cannot see the heavens, they can only see him; he is the emperor. His words carry immense weight, affecting the entire world. He alone bore all the pressure, and at this time, I left him.
I'm not the only one who's been through this ordeal.
He returned shortly afterward, carrying a bowl of porridge. My nose was stuffy, so I couldn't smell the aroma, but just seeing the rising steam warmed my stomach.
"Don't move, I'll help you up. The doctor instructed us not to touch your leg," he said in a deep voice. He strode over, put the bowl aside, and then placed his arm under me, gently lifting me up without disturbing my injury.
He freed his hand, turned around, picked up a spoon, scooped up a mouthful of porridge, blew on it to cool it down, and then turned back to bring it to my lips.
Without his right hand, even simple tasks like eating are very difficult for him.
I opened my lips, took a sip of the porridge, and said nothing, nor did I interrupt him.
He's already worked so hard; he doesn't need anyone to remind him of his disability. He's willing to do it, no matter how difficult it is. I'll stay by his side, watch quietly, and support him when he's tired.
"Has the old chef's skill improved?" he said with a smile, turning around to fill the spoon again.
I nodded slightly.
Vegetable leaves were added to the porridge, finely chopped and cooked until soft and tender.
"Then eat more."
He leaned over and handed me another spoon.
The flickering lights suddenly fell silent, and his features became instantly clear. After many days apart, the angles of his face were even more defined. He was clearly smiling, yet the slight wrinkle between his brows wouldn't disappear. He was only in his twenties; with those wrinkles, wouldn't he look old?
Ironically, this subtle trace between his brows held a certain charm. His smile concealed the ferocity of battle; his gentle expression revealed a remarkably ethereal quality, even surpassing that of Fu Xi. Yet, he often wore cold, heavy armor, always radiating the aura of war.
I raised my hand and nudged his, pushing the spoon towards his lips. His lips were clean and sharp, and the slight upturn of his lips was captivating.
He paused for a moment, looked at me, and then smiled: "You don't mind me?"
I savored the taste, blushed, and lowered my head, while he swallowed the spoonful of porridge in large gulps. When he turned back and brought it to my lips again, I didn't know how to eat it.
That meal ended with me unable to taste anything, which was a pity considering the old chef's meticulous care.
I felt like I couldn't wake up, and stayed at his place for two more days to sleep soundly before I regained some energy. In those two short days, he once again broke camp and advanced south.
I had just returned, and his campaign seemed to be progressing much more smoothly. Whenever he mentioned it, he would become increasingly unconventional, putting his arm around me and saying, "Aren't you auspicious?" He said it so ostentatiously, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
After a series of victories, when I returned, the atmosphere in the military camp had finally eased somewhat, and people were no longer so anxious.
I suddenly remembered the victory we finally achieved in Biezhou after a long and arduous journey. He took me on a solo ride to pursue the remnants of the Guifang army. His horse was so fast that even his closest generals couldn't keep up. When the Guifang soldiers laid out their crossbows, I thought it was all over. I thought that even someone like Jimo would eventually die from carelessness and underestimating the enemy.
However, no, he smiled calmly and said that I was an auspicious omen. On that day, the heavens seemed to treat him as if he were the "Son of Heaven," taking good care of him and allowing him to safely pass through that calamity, causing the Guifang people to flee without a fight.
I hope I can achieve a victory like that this time.
Fate is hard to defy. Along my journey north, many rumors have circulated among the people of Jiugao. If he can successfully capture Pingjing, then no matter how much power Fuqi holds over the people, the rumors will gradually fade away.
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