I forced my mouth open, but no sound came out.
I wanted to tell him that I was fine.
Are you still going to the capital?
I nodded.
He clenched his fist, barely managing to keep it from slamming against the bed frame. His words were spoken through gritted teeth: "If I hadn't..."
He bit off half of it with his own hands and swallowed it with such difficulty.
If it weren't for his dire circumstances, retrieving his severed arm from the capital would have been an easy task for him. Now, however, I'm being asked to risk my life. His helplessness was quite evident, and I couldn't blame him.
He closed his eyes briefly before saying, "Most of them are just superficial injuries. Take care of yourself. That girl is gone. It wasn't your fault, so don't blame yourself too much. Heal your wounds, take your things, and go back. At least Jimo will protect you."
I nodded.
He took out many medicines and taught me about them one by one, including the dosage and effects of each. I wrote them all down, but he repeated them again.
After a long silence, he looked into my eyes and suddenly said, "I'm waiting to drink your tea; no matter how I brew it, it never tastes good."
I nodded in agreement, and only then did he get up, feed me water and rice, and finally leave.
Who knows when we'll meet again this time?
Those few days were very difficult for me; I could barely walk. However, his medicine was always effective. After resting for seven days, although I still had some aches and pains, I couldn't stay still and set off for the capital.
Wolongkou is now a ruin, and the aura of immortals that had accumulated over thousands of years can no longer be found. The surrounding area is deserted, and I no longer need to wear my straw hat, because there is no one here anymore.
The road was long, and I had nowhere to buy horses, so I had to leave on my own two legs.
As time ticked by and the sun began to set, all I could do was find a place to rest as quickly as possible, have a drink of water, eat some dry food, and wait to continue my journey the next morning.
The days repeated themselves, one after another, until I lost all sense of time. A figure flashed before my eyes, and I suddenly realized that even living a life of wearing a veil and a straw hat was something that evoked such longing.
By the time I found a horse, found the way, and arrived in the capital, I couldn't remember how much time had passed. I only remember that the moment I rode through the city gate, the prosperity of the capital dazzled me.
Dazzling prosperity, dazzling tranquility, dazzling familiarity. I almost slipped off my horse.
For nearly twenty years, whether happy or sad, I have lived here. Though I have served with the army, this place has always been my home. Whether lonely or bustling, desolate or war-torn, this has always been my refuge. But now, I grip the reins tightly, reminding myself not to relax. If I relax, I will no longer have the strength to leap onto the horse's back.
The scars on my body had long since healed, but a deep, ugly wound remained on my forehead, slashed by rubble. Fortunately, I always wrapped myself up tightly, even hiding my eyes in the shadow of my straw hat.
The palace guards didn't recognize me when they saw me. When I removed the veil covering my face, my surprised expression was quite amusing.
"Miss Liao!" They wanted to kneel, but I just raised my hand to signal them to open the door.
No need for pretense, the journey was unobstructed. Back in the dark and gloomy basement of the Liao family mansion, I never imagined that such a magnificent palace would be open to my free movement. The long, straight road easily gave one the illusion that the sunlight was created just for me. But I knew it wasn't created for me; I've known that clearly since childhood.
Chongyuan Hall, the towering Chongyuan Hall, I rode my horse up to it.
With Ji Mo absent, even the palace officials in charge of etiquette have become lax. In the past, such disrespect would have resulted in countless executions.
All the palace servants were alerted, but I searched alone in silence. Then I knocked over a celadon vase, scattering shards all over the floor. A woman suddenly knelt down.
"Miss Liao, don't make things difficult for these servants. If they break something, they'll have to pay with their lives." A voice rang out, a clear and melodious voice that I recognized.
Nan Qing, the fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl who accompanied him on the day he ascended the throne. She is still in the palace.
"What is Miss Liao looking for?"
I raised my right arm, wondering if she would understand.
I'm always speechless when it comes to her; I can't even utter the simplest sentence, like a mute.
She narrowed her eyes; those eyes were as clear as water, so beautiful they inspired envy.
Suddenly, as if realizing something, she raised her eyebrows and covered her mouth, before finally saying, "Brother Jimo's..."
I nodded quickly, but still couldn't stop her from calling him "Brother Jimo." With all the servants present, how could she not respectfully address him as "Your Majesty"? A horse neighed at the door. I lowered my head. We were, after all, in the same boat.
"You want that... it wouldn't be..." She hesitated, but I understood what she was going to say; her gaze was too direct.
Did she think I knew witchcraft?
Looking down at her palm, it's no wonder she thought that way.
He shook his head, not bothering to comfort her slightly frightened heart.
"Then why?"
Looking at her, I could tell she clearly knew, yet she insisted on making trouble.
I frowned at her, then held out my palm, gesturing for her to take it. I didn't have time to waste with her. No one could predict what might happen on the way back and how much time would be lost.
She frowned as if pondering something, glancing at me every now and then. I grew increasingly agitated, staring at her intently, until I slammed my fist on the table. The jade pot vibrated, making a rather pleasant sound.
She was startled and stared at me blankly.
It seems I've never been like this before. Indeed, normally, who would notice my existence, my joys and sorrows? Now that I've laid it all out for her to see, she naturally can't understand, has no way of knowing.
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