The only source of light in the cave was the flickering bonfire. The orange-red flames tried to dispel the small circle of darkness and dampness around them, illuminating the three tired faces sitting around them.
Jiang Songyi, clinging to her last shreds of consciousness, tended to the arrow wound on her brother Jiang Jinzhao's arm. The blood from the arrow's removal stained the strips of cloth she had torn off. With deft movements, she applied the hemostatic powder she carried with her, then instructed Jiang Jinzhao to apply a simple yet secure bandage himself.
After doing all this, her nerves, which had been tense all day, seemed to be suddenly pulled free, and a strong sense of drowsiness came over her like a tidal wave.
Jiang Jinzhao was throbbing with pain from his wounds, and he had no desire to sleep. His sword-like brows were slightly furrowed, but his eyes could not help but fall on his sister across from him. Jiang Songyi was seen hugging her knees, nodding her head, like a tired little bird returning to the nest after foraging, dozing off like a chick pecking at rice. She was obviously very tired. The thrill of dealing with the assassins during the day, the hard work of caring for the two wounded, and the bumpy ride on horseback had already exhausted her strength. The cave was cold and damp, and it was difficult to find even a flat and dry stone wall to lean against to sleep. Just as she slammed her head down again, a small but clear sneeze slipped out uncontrollably.
Almost at the same moment, the two men took action.
Jiang Jinzhao unhesitatingly took off his large, flowing brocade robe, made of fine material. Simultaneously, Xinyi Daoyi, who was sitting next to Jiang Songyi, also naturally took off his equally elegant outer garment, which was made of a more elegant material.
The two robes, still carrying the body temperature of their owners, were like two gentle clouds, gently covering Jiang Songyi's curled up, extremely thin shoulders, without any particular order.
The sudden warmth and heaviness startled Jiang Songyi awake. She raised her head blearily, her long eyelashes still shrouded in moisture, her face filled with confusion and bewilderment. She subconsciously tucked her extra robes closer, her gaze darting back and forth between Jiang Jinzhao and Xinyi Daoyi.
The flickering firelight illuminated Jiang Jinzhao's handsome, slightly pale face. He rarely saw Jiang Songyi look so defenseless, even a little bewildered, towards him. Her usual aloofness had faded, revealing a touch of childish endearment. An indescribable warmth, mingled with bitterness, surged through his heart. He lowered his voice, a subtle coaxing: "Songyi, brother is here. This cave is cold and gloomy. If you're extremely sleepy, just lean on my shoulder and sleep. You'll be warm." His tone carried a long-lost, awkward attempt at intimacy.
Jiang Songyi blinked, her gaze lingering for a moment on the shoulder Jiang Jinzhao extended, a shoulder that belonged to him as a brother. Then, her lips curled up almost imperceptibly, and a soft, nasal sound escaped her: "Hmph." The meaning was self-evident—disdain. She didn't even bother to say another word. She lazily tilted her head, and with a touch of willful intimacy, she leaned precisely on Xin Yidao's broad, stable shoulder.
The moment she leaned in, Xinyi Daoyi's body paused, almost imperceptibly. He tilted his head, his clear, picturesque features lowered as he gazed at the furry little head resting on his shoulder. The firelight cast flickering glints of gold in his deep eyes, and there was no trace of rejection in them, only a familiar, almost indulgent, gentle smile. He didn't move an inch, his shoulders straight as a pine tree, firmly accepting the heavy burden of dependence, allowing her to absorb the warmth and fall into a deep sleep.
Jiang Jinzhao's outstretched arm froze in mid-air. Watching his sister choose the other shoulder without hesitation, the warmth that had just risen in his heart was instantly extinguished like a bucket of cold water, leaving only a biting chill and a hint of embarrassment. His brow furrowed, his thin lips moving several times, and the words "Men and women shouldn't touch each other" and "How shameful!" were on the verge of bursting out. But his eyes met Jiang Songyi's sleeping face, which looked remarkably peaceful and tranquil in the firelight, and the faint shadow of blue under her eyelids, and he swallowed back those dogmatic rules.
Never mind...my sister is truly exhausted. He silently withdrew his hand, and with it the slight disappointment of being rejected. In these desolate mountains and wilderness, late at night, with no one else but the three of them, after all...after all, it wouldn't damage my sister's reputation. This was the only way he could comfort himself. However, when he looked up at Xin Yidaoyi again, his gaze no longer retained the usual respect. It was mingled with scrutiny, suspicion, and a subtle hint of a brother's vigilance - this esteemed Crown Prince was being too...indifferent.
At first, Jiang Songyi simply leaned against Xinyi Daoyi's shoulder, her breathing gradually becoming even and long. However, once she fell asleep, her body instinctively sought a more comfortable and warm place. Her head gradually slid down, finally resting naturally on Xinyi Daoyi's knees. Her soft black hair spread across his dark fabric, like a piece of fine satin.
Xin Yidao lowered her eyes, their gaze fixed on the defenseless face sleeping in her lap. The warm glow of the campfire outlined her soft features, her long eyelashes casting shadows like small fans under her eyes, and her breathing was light and shallow. His handsome face, as delicate as a jade tree and orchid, was now coated with a layer of warmth by the firelight, and the indulgent smile in his eyes deepened, even carrying a hint of tenderness that he himself was unaware of.
This quiet and beautiful scene fell into Jiang Jinzhao's eyes, but it made his mind buzz, and four big words popped up in an instant - drunkenly lying on the lap of a beauty!
No! He shuddered suddenly, sitting upright as if pricked by a needle. What beauty's knees! This was a man and a woman alone, on a rainy night in the mountains, and his sister, an unmarried girl, was sleeping soundly on a stranger's lap! No matter how you looked at it, it was his sister, Jiang Songyi, who might be the one whose reputation was damaged!
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