Chapter 10: High Fever She saved him, but he hunted her down, imprisoned her,…
The tearing pain and dizziness from blood loss tore at Xiao Chengjing's consciousness.
In the blurred vision, Shu Yao's usually calm face was now tense, with deep wrinkles between her brows.
Her bare hands grabbed the gold-woven brocade sleeve of his left arm and tore it violently.
How tough is that material?
Sure enough, even though she tried her best, she could only leave a few wrinkles on the brocade.
A sense of absurdity flashed through Xiao Chengjing's heart.
During the trial, he used the ownerless hostage to force the Minister of Justice to remain speechless.
Facing the mountains and rivers of his homeland, he just said "I'm in a melon field or a plum tree", which was a perfect excuse for shirking responsibility.
How could such a thoughtful person be so clumsy that he couldn't even tear off a sleeve?
So he sneered at an inappropriate moment.
The next moment, Xiao Chengjing caught a glimpse of Shu Yao standing up to pull out the arrow that was deeply wedged in the wall.
He secretly gathered strength in his right palm, waiting for her to move slightly so that he could break her slender neck immediately.
Yes.
The expected attack did not land.
Shu Yao's jade-white fingers were twisting the arrow shaft tightly.
Unprecedented pain seared through Xiao Chengjing's consciousness.
Her heavy breathing ruffled the few strands of black hair on her temples.
He plunged his gaze deep into her eyes, stubbornly searching for something.
In those eyes, there was no resentment of being imprisoned, no calculations to plot, only the undivided attention to risking one's life for him.
Her focused look was like a key that suddenly opened the rusty lock deep in her memory.
A shadow that had been buried for too long suddenly emerged, so clear and scorching.
She may be good at disguise, or she may be meticulous.
But when faced with life and death, she would still save him without hesitation like she did back then.
He was absolutely certain that she was the young lady from that year.
"Is your Majesty alright?"
He heard her concerned question.
"I need you to ask..." His eyes glued to Shu Yao, he spoke word by word, "Worth it!"
Shu Yao felt extremely uncomfortable when he looked at her, and she quickly turned her face away, not looking at him.
With nowhere to look, he fell straight towards his bloody hands.
She looked at the glaring scarlet, her knuckles trembling slightly.
At that moment, a voice reeking of gunpowder echoed from outside the carriage. It was Zhao Yan, reporting in a low voice: "Your Majesty! All the 120 assassins listed on the list have been caught, and no one has escaped. No one is left unharmed! I hereby report this and await your order."
Hidden stake?
Shu Yao suddenly remembered the riot in the Japanese library. She raised her head abruptly and looked directly at Xiao Chengjing who was standing nearby.
A chill of being exploited ran down my spine, and then a strange feeling arose in my heart.
If it was just to lure the enemy, why did he protect her just now...
Isn't this too contradictory?!
Shu Yao glanced at him with a look filled with resentment.
Xiao Chengjing felt as if his cheek was pricked by a fine needle, causing a slight sting.
His eyelids drooped, and his gaze slid away imperceptibly, falling on the intricate carvings on the car wall.
"Okay." He forced out a few words, "Zhao Qing... did a great job."
As soon as he finished speaking, he sank into the soft pillow as if exhausted, as if trying to hide his guilty conscience with the softness.
His neck was stiff, and he just raised his chin slightly towards the curtain.
Shu Yao was still furious, and somehow, she understood Xiao Chengjing's intention.
She pursed her lips, finally reached out her hand, picked up the ochre-yellow curtain, and lifted it up, her movements full of reluctance.
The curtain was lifted, and the golden light of the setting sun pierced into the dark carriage like a knife.
Xiao Chengjing raised his eyelids slightly, glancing coldly at the corpses strewn across the curtains. "Follow the original route..." His breath was short, and each word was labored like a cramp being torn out. "To the hunting grounds and palace... rest for a while."
After the words were spoken, there was a brief silence.
Shu Yao narrowed her eyes, as if thinking about something.
Although it was abominable that Emperor Liang used her as bait, it might not be an opportunity.
Now that the remnants of the Jin capital have been eliminated, perhaps we can use this as an excuse to buy a glimmer of hope for Lu Bo's ancestors and grandchildren.
She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, drawing up an extremely dull arc: "Your Majesty is so good at planning and strategizing. I... admire you." Her voice was steady and without any ripples in her voice. Only the word "admire" seemed to be wrapped in thin ice and carried a chill.
She continued, "Now that the remaining evildoers have been eliminated, I, Your Majesty, boldly ask for mercy." She completely discarded her forced demeanor, her tone tinged with just the right amount of earnestness. "Lu Bo's grandson and grandson are but pitiful individuals implicated by me. Your Majesty is as magnanimous as the sea. Could you please show mercy and release them? This will be a small token of my gratitude for my humble contribution in helping Your Majesty lure the snake out of its hole."
Xiao Chengjing felt waves of severe pain in his shoulder. He raised his palm and pressed it on the injured area, and his slender five fingers subconsciously closed.
Perhaps because he had taken advantage of her, he felt an indescribable bitterness in his heart.
His eyes swept across her lips, which were pursed until they were pale, and he blurted out, "Okay!" His voice was so crisp that even he was slightly startled.
He frowned, suppressed the strange feeling, and said loudly: "Zhao Yan! Go and do it!"
Shu Yao's tense heartstrings suddenly relaxed. She knelt deeply and performed an impeccable ceremony: "Your Majesty, your humble servant thanks you for your grace!"
Xiao Chengjing said nothing more, closed his eyes, and seemed to fall into a deep sleep.
The carriage suddenly became quiet.
Only two breaths remained, one heavy and one thin, each wrapped in thoughts, entangled in the cramped air.
Arriving at the hunting grounds and palace, the imperial physician carefully examined the wound. He placed the back of his hand against Xiao Chengjing's forehead for a moment, then drew back his hand in a gasp, feeling the heat. "Hiss... Your Majesty's wound..." His voice changed tone. "The wound is long and narrow, deep, and after being jolted by the carriage, cold air and dirt have been forced into the skin, causing it to ulcerate! This high fever is a sign of danger! Debride the wound immediately and remove the dead flesh..."
After the rotten flesh was removed, ointment applied, and bandaged, the imperial physician breathed a sigh of relief and turned to Cui Jinzhong, "Chief Steward Cui, Your Majesty is in dire straits tonight. The high fever persists, and there's a risk of delirium and convulsions. Someone must be on duty all night. Apply a cold handkerchief to your forehead, rub your body with warm water to dissipate the heat, and take the decoction immediately. If you experience any unusual symptoms, call me immediately!"
Cui Jinzhong nodded repeatedly.
After the palace maid changed Xiao Chengjing, who was unconscious due to a high fever, into a clean undershirt and tucked in the corners of the quilt, she tiptoed quietly out of the hall.
The lanterns in the corridor swayed, stretching Shu Yao's silhouette.
Cui Jinzhong stepped forward, a look of sorrow on his face as he bowed deeply to Shu Yao, who was avoiding him. He said earnestly, "Madam Jiang, the emperor's health is unwell because... of your care and support." He tentatively threw out the word "support," his eyes glancing imperceptibly over Shu Yao's drooping eyelashes. "Although the imperial physician has already treated him, the emperor's body is burning with fever, and the danger is not over. This old servant dares to ask you to step inside and personally serve the medicine..."
Seeing Shu Yao seemed to hesitate, he paused, lowered his voice, and spoke with a sense of sincerity: "From an emotional point of view, His Majesty has taken this serious injury for you; from a logical point of view, you have experienced it firsthand and know the ups and downs of His Majesty's injury. I hope you will not refuse the hard work."
Shu Yao was overwhelmed by Cui Jinzhong's words and could only respond with a low "OK".
He walked into the inner hall with unsteady steps and sat stiffly on the low stool beside the couch.
Seeing her resignedly wringing her handkerchief, Cui Jinzhong felt a little relieved and immediately found an excuse: "Oh! The temperature of this medicine is of paramount importance. I must personally monitor it!"
Before he finished speaking, his feet had been greased and he slipped out of the hall silently.
Shu Yao gently placed the half-dried handkerchief on Xiao Chengjing's forehead.
Her eyes fell on his bloodless lips, and a sense of bitterness suddenly rose in her heart.
Emperor Liang imprisoned her at the slightest disagreement, suspected her at every turn, and tested her.
At this moment, I am just a mortal who can get sick and injured.
As he sighed, Xiao Chengjing seemed to be haunted by a nightmare. He suddenly turned to the left and was about to press on the wound.
Shu Yao's breathing was stagnant, and before he could think, she rushed forward.
She placed her palm against his warm right shoulder and pressed down with all her strength.
During the pushing and shoving, the white collar of the shirt opened mostly, revealing the firm and cast skin.
I saw a bright red mark on the spot about an inch from Xiao Chengjing's heart!
Birthmark?!
Shu Yao's hand seemed to be burned by fire, and she suddenly pulled it away from his shoulder.
The past came crashing back, freezing her hand in mid-air as she tried to pull it back.
The sickly young man she had sent oranges to visit at Ci'en Temple...
It turned out to be Emperor Liang Xiao Chengjing? !
Suppressing her fear, she put her right hand back on Xiao Chengjing's shoulder.
He pretended to be calm and stroked her twice, trying to cover up the panic he had just felt when he pulled his hand away.
Holding her breath and concentrating, Shu Yao carefully observed Xiao Chengjing's tightly closed eyelashes.
I saw her long eyelashes trembling slightly, casting a dark blue tint under her eyes. She didn't look like she was about to wake up.
The breath that was held in my chest slowly subsided.
Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, with his fingertips about to leave.
A large hand like a branding iron, with an unquestionable force, tightly gripped her slender wrist.
His thumb pressed against the throbbing pulse in her wrist.
Shu Yao felt as if she had fallen into an icy cave, her whole body shaking violently.
Horror forced her to look up.
Xiao Chengjing opened his eyes without knowing when.
His eyes were burning red, but his pupils were terrifyingly bright.
Where was the slightest bit of chaos? Only a near-insane ecstasy.
The corners of his lips curled up imperceptibly, and his fingertips greedily felt the rapid pulse of her wrist: "It really is you!"
The candlelight in the hall crackled, making the fire in his eyes even brighter.
Shu Yao's eyes flickered between Xiao Chengjing's flushed cheeks and disheveled clothes.
A thought suddenly pierced through the fog in her mind.
He did it on purpose!
He was betting that she would be soft-hearted and stop him from turning left.
Even if he loses the bet, he can still successfully reveal his birthmark and force her to recognize him.
Shu Yao was horrified.
Xiao Chengjing's reminiscent murmurs echoed in his ears when he first came to the Library: "Have you ever seen any records about Chongwenguan in these old files? I remember that they took in some foreign students..."
The words Xiao Chengjing had said when he pushed the frozen pears over to the carriage not long ago came back to him: "Fresh winter fruit is hard to come by in Jin. Jiang Qing, try some..."
No wonder he had expectations in his eyes!
No wonder he spoke so gently!
It turned out... he recognized her early on.
She foolishly thought that all this was just political manipulation.
The hand that Xiao Chengjing grabbed felt a chill from the fingertips.
What a cruel joke fate plays...
She saved him, but he hunted her down, imprisoned her, and tested her?
The author has something to say:
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There is one more wild harvest, so happy, I'll save one more chapter [Panda Head]
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