Shen Yuan and Xiao Ling each rode a horse, but because Shen Yuan had only learned to ride a horse the night before they set off, she was slower than Xiao Ling the whole way.
Moreover, after riding a horse all day, Shen Yuan felt like her legs weren't her own anymore, and her buttocks were sore from being jostled around.
She couldn't go on any longer and had to rein in her horse.
Seeing Shen Yuan slide down from her horse, Xiao Ling quickly stopped and followed her off the horse.
Shen Yuan gripped the reins and staggered toward the river, trying to get some water for the horse. But with each step, her legs trembled uncontrollably, and she was in great pain.
Xiao Ling suddenly stepped forward, took the reins from Shen Yuan, and tied the two horses to the riverbank, letting them graze and drink on their own.
Shen Yuan steadied herself by holding onto the tree beside her.
Xiao Ling stood in front of Shen Yuan, his gaze fixed on her skirt, questioning her.
Shen Yuan pursed her lips, feeling a little embarrassed, so she said in a very soft voice, "It hurts a little."
Xiao Ling frowned, squatted down, and reached out to pull up Shen Yuan's skirt.
But just as he lifted a corner, his movement suddenly stopped abruptly. He looked up at Shen Yuan, his eyes asking her, "Is it alright?"
Shen Yuan knew that Xiao Ling wanted to check on her injuries.
The injuries were all on her legs, and Shen Yuan was ashamed to show them. But looking at Xiao Ling's open and honest appearance, Shen Yuan felt that she was being coy and petty.
So she exhaled and casually lifted her skirt.
You wouldn't believe it until you see it; Shen Yuan was shocked to find her calves covered in bruises.
Her legs were not only covered in bruises, but her ankles were also noticeably swollen.
These areas aren't particularly painful; she can't see the painful parts, but without a doubt, the unseen areas must be even more horrific.
Shen Yuan's delicate eyebrows furrowed into a knot.
She was injured like this after only one day of riding. There's still half the journey to Jinling City. How is she supposed to get the rest of the way?
Just as I was thinking this, I suddenly felt a chill on my ankle.
Shen Yuan lowered her head and saw Xiao Ling take out a bottle of wound medicine from somewhere and apply it to her.
The moonlight fell on his face, making his handsome features appear even more aloof, and his high, straight nose cast a faint shadow in the moonlight.
The moon's reflection shimmered on the water, and the night breeze ruffled Chen Yuan's long, flowing hair.
Shen Yuan bent down and picked up a stray blade of grass that had fallen into Xiao Ling's hair.
Just as Xiao Ling finished applying medicine to the bruises on Shen Yuan's calf, he handed the remaining half bottle of medicine to Shen Yuan, indicating that she should continue applying medicine to herself.
Shen Yuan took the medicine bottle, sniffed it, and said, "This medicine is well-prepared. Where did you buy it?"
[Qingyun Mountain.]
Shen Yuan frowned as she looked at the three large characters Xiao Ling had written on the ground.
Qingyun Mountain... is not far from the capital.
Did Xiao Ling go to the capital in the past six months?
But the capital is in the north, thousands of miles away from Lingnan. If Xiao Lingzhen really went to the capital, he would probably not have a day of rest for half a year while traveling between the north and the south.
Shen Yuanxin had doubts, but she didn't ask them.
She took the medicine bottle and walked a few steps into the woods until Xiao Ling could no longer see her.
After applying the medicine, Shen Yuan came out of the woods.
This medicine is really good. The area where I applied it felt cool and refreshing, and all the burning pain from before disappeared.
Shen Yuan returned the remaining medicine to Xiao Ling.
While she went into the woods, Xiao Ling gathered firewood and boiled a small pot of hot water.
Seeing Shen Yuan return, Xiao Ling poured the boiled water into a bowl and handed it to Shen Yuan along with the dry rations from the horse.
Shen Yuan took it and sat down by the fire.
She took a bite of a sesame seed cake, then blew on the water in the bowl, and drank a few mouthfuls after the boiled water cooled down.
Eating a flatbread on its own is really hard to swallow; drinking a few sips of hot water makes it much easier and more comfortable.
Xiao Ling's thinking was quite thorough.
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content and resting enough, Shen Yuan picked up the reins and tried to climb back onto the horse's back.
But before she could climb up, Xiao Ling grabbed her.
Shen Yuan froze on the spot, turning to look at Xiao Ling: "What's wrong?"
Xiao Ling pointed to his horse.
Shen Yuan was a little confused. Did Xiao Ling want to switch horses with her?
Did Xiao Ling think that her injury was caused by the horse or the saddle?
Actually, she knew it wasn't that; it was purely because she was bad at the game.
Changing horses makes no sense.
Seeing Xiao Ling's insistence, Shen Yuan thought that perhaps changing to another horse might be better, so she stepped on the stirrups and climbed onto the horse's back. Xiao Ling gently supported her from behind, making it easier for her to climb onto the horse.
Shen Yuan sat on the horse, gripping the reins tightly, and looked down at Xiao Ling: "You..."
She was about to ask Xiao Ling if he wanted to ride her horse when she saw him pull on the rope, give a little effort, and flip himself onto the horse, sitting behind her.
Shen Yuan was held in Xiao Ling's arms.
She was stunned for a moment, not yet realizing what Xiao Ling meant. The next second, her body felt light, and she spun halfway in mid-air before sitting sideways on the horse's back.
Because Xiao Ling moved so quickly, Shen Yuan became a little nervous and gripped his shoulders tightly.
Xiao Ling supported Shen Yuan's lower back, signaling her to relax.
Shen Yuan paused for a moment before understanding what Xiao Ling meant.
Her legs were covered in scratches from the saddle, especially around the groin.
Riding a horse with your legs spread apart is indeed very painful, but sitting sideways with your legs together makes it much better.
But riding a horse sideways is a difficult position to maintain, even for someone who has grown up on horseback, let alone a novice like her, and who might not be able to keep up with the horse's posture without being thrown off.
So Xiao Ling had no choice but to let her sit in his lap, and the two of them rode the same horse. Only in this way could Shen Yuan maintain the posture of sitting sideways on the horse's back.
Shen Yuan understood Xiao Ling's thoughts and whispered, "Thank you!"
Xiao Ling let out a muffled "hmm" and pulled on the reins to make the horses beneath them run.
The horses at the post station were all well-trained. Although no one was riding the other horse, it would follow Shen Yuan and the others on its own.
The night wind rushed past her ears, and Shen Yuan, nestled in Xiao Ling's arms, could only hear the sound of the wind.
She was jostled around like that, and by the middle of the night, she couldn't resist the drowsiness and fell asleep in Xiao Ling's arms.
When Shen Yuan woke up, she was surprised to find that she and Xiao Ling had arrived outside the city gate of Jinling.
She remained seated on the horse in the same position she had before falling asleep, but all the weight of her upper body was resting on Xiao Ling.
Shen Yuan quickly straightened her back, distanced herself from Xiao Ling, and apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't expect to fall asleep."
Why didn't you wake me up?
Xiao Ling lowered his eyes and remained silent, only curving his lips as if he were smiling.
When Shen Yuan looked over, Xiao Ling had already reverted to his usual cold and stern demeanor.
Shen Yuan blinked, thinking that she might be seeing things.
"Let's go down! The city gates are open! We can line up to enter the city!"
As soon as Shen Yuan finished speaking, the world spun around her, and Xiao Ling carried her and landed steadily on the ground.
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