guess
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Even if I were slow-witted, I couldn't help but resist, shouting in panic, "What are you going to do?"
Yuanzi gave me a cold glare and said, "I'll check your injuries." As soon as she finished speaking, her lips were sealed shut, but her hands were not idle. While I was stunned, she unceremoniously pulled off my shirt until my shoulders and back were exposed. She didn't stop there, ignoring all my struggles in words and actions.
No matter what, I am a descendant of a military general. How could I so easily submit?
She was impolite, and I threw all manners to the wind—but who would be polite to someone who comes up and takes off your clothes right away?
As Yuanzi tried to pull my shirt down further, I reached out and grabbed her wrist, leaning in close to forcefully twist her joint in the opposite direction. This was a close-quarters grappling move that Aunt Xian taught me, a technique I'd only ever used with the ladies in the palace. I'd accidentally used too much force back then, and she'd screamed in pain before kicking me to the ground...
Hmm!
But Yuanzi's methods were no gentler than the young lady's. She snorted and her other hand flashed to my waist with lightning speed. With a pinch, I cried out "Ouch!" and unconsciously let go of her.
"Don't try to show off your shallow skills." Yuanzi said sternly, dragging me to the bed. She was swift and decisive. I felt like a dumpling in the hands of a hungry person, and the skin was removed in a few quick movements. She even pulled open my bodice, glanced at my abdomen, and then pressed and pressed it, completely ignoring my gasps in pain.
Tears welled up in my eyes from the pain, which I couldn't control. I covered my lips and tried my best not to make a sound. Fortunately, Iris's "torture" didn't last long. She got up silently and left the room. I had just hurriedly put my clothes back on when she came in with a bowl of steaming, bitter soup.
"Drink it." Yuanzi handed it to me, her voice still frosty. "Your injuries prevent you from traveling long distances, and we can't get you a carriage. You must recover quickly."
I took the bowl of medicine, feeling both amused and exasperated: "This isn't something I can speed up just because I want to."
But I still lowered my head and took a sip. The fishy and astringent taste made me shudder. The temperature was just right. I wondered if Yuanzi had already tried it. When she saw me stop, she suddenly spoke up: "It's not hot. Drink it all in one go. The longer you wait, the more bitter it will become."
It seemed that not drinking wasn't an acceptable option for her. Under the watchful gaze of the kite, I swallowed hard, half-closed my eyes, and gulped it down in one go. As I put down the bowl, I involuntarily made a gagging sound.
Iris's expression finally softened: "You rest for a while. Someone will bring you food later."
I paused for a moment, then blurted out, "Then, what about Feiyu?"
"Lan Feiyu?" Yuanzi frowned. "She has her own things to do. Why are you asking about this?"
“What am I doing? I came here for her,” I looked at Iris. “I don’t want to rest. I’m going to work with her.”
"Don't make things worse!" Yuanzi frowned. The room was well-lit, and it was only then that I noticed that as her expression changed, the strange color that was faintly surging in her eyes seemed to deepen. I had never seen anything like it before, and I couldn't help but stare at her eyes, unable to look away.
Iris frowned even more deeply. She narrowed her eyes, stepped back to the door, and left without a word. Just as I came to my senses, I heard the door lock shut!
I rushed to the door in alarm, pushing and pulling, and the door did budge a few times, but it remained tightly shut.
What?! What is this?!
I rushed to the window, but unfortunately, both windows of this room faced the backyard of the inn. I could see the stables in the distance, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't see Lan Feiyu.
Where did she go?
I started to feel anxious. Deep in the dense forest, although danger lurked everywhere, at least we were still together. She held my hand and never let go for a moment. I thought to myself then, even if we died together, there wouldn't be any particular regrets.
Now, having escaped danger, I've been placed under house arrest by Yuanzi—
So who exactly is Iris?
Her appearance, her demeanor, and the extent to which Lan Feiyu obeyed her every word...
My heart suddenly skipped a beat, and a flash of inspiration struck me: the name of a country: Tuluo Kingdom.
Wait a minute, this thought process is too abrupt. I don't even understand myself how I came up with that powerful kingdom that was nestled between the eastern and western borders of Chu.
I left the window, bent my legs on the bed, and rested my chin on my hand, trying to recall carefully what was on Yuanzi that made me connect with the Kingdom of Turo.
The first thing is naturally her appearance, which is completely different from that of Han people and also completely different from that of Lan Feiyu and the others. What else is there?
Yuanzi knew everything about Lan Feiyu and Mr. Tao's situation... That's right, that's how it is!
In Bozhou, there is no one left to help Lan Feiyu avenge her father and brother, or to help her fight against those two wicked princes—well, I killed one of the lecherous princes, but that was purely by accident!
Although Yuanzi told me that Lan Feiyu was looking for the king of Baili, hoping to get aid from neighboring countries, this explanation was actually somewhat unreliable.
Based on what my older brother told me, Baili's overall strength, in terms of both territory and population, is comparable to Bozhou. Lan Feiyu never mentioned to me anything that could make the Baili king covet, so it's likely she doesn't. Even if she promised that after seizing power, Baili would receive cities and tribute from Bozhou, it would still be a pipe dream, a mirage. The Baili king, on the other hand, would have to provide real military strength. Who would win or lose is still unknown.
If I were the ruler of Baili Kingdom, I would never engage in such a high-risk, potentially suicidal, bloody deal.
But what if it wasn't Baili who wanted to help Lan Feiyu, but Tu Luo?
Turo...
Although I am a sheltered young lady who never leaves the city, thanks to my remarkable uncle, my aunt who holds a public office, and my older brother who demonstrates to me with a teapot and teacups, I am at least aware that Tulu is a country with ill intentions towards Eastern Chu.
The older brother said that the Eastern Chu court's policies toward Bozhou and Baili have always been a combination of firmness and leniency. Unlike its policies toward smaller states such as Nanyue, it did not try to annex them. Instead, it allowed them to continue to exist as vassal states, precisely because it did not want to directly border Tuluo, leaving no room for maneuver.
If... then all my wild thoughts unfortunately come true, I feel my heart sink rapidly, sinking into an unfathomable darkness:
I, a daughter of Dongchu, have become the enemy of Yuanzi and Lan Feiyu?
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