Chapter 29 The aroma of brewed tea... Su Heng seemed not to hear it, and reached out his hand to her.
Seeing that Jiang Geyun did not make a move, Su Heng chuckled softly.
He said, "Medicine for wounds."
Then, his gaze shifted to Jiang Geyun's left hand, which was wrapped up tightly.
Jiang Geyun placed her left hand, which was at her side, on her knees and looked up at Su Heng in surprise.
She knew that Su Heng's keen observation skills would surely allow him to spot her injury, but she also anticipated that given the cold-bloodedness of the main villain in the original story, he would definitely turn a blind eye to it.
Oops, is this really wound medicine? Will she make it to Xuandujian alive today?
Jiang Geyun forced a smile and said, "This humble official has already taken care of it at Yingguang Tower. Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Su Heng lowered his head again to look at the document in his hand. His expression was neither sad nor happy, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Jiang Geyun recalled a story she knew.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the Grand Minister of Agriculture harbored reservations about the reforms. Although he did not speak out directly, he was accused by the Imperial Censor of "seeing that the order was inconvenient, he did not speak out but harbored resentment in his heart," and was eventually executed.
This marked the beginning of the tradition of scholars cultivating their character and speaking cautiously, and it was also one of the pieces of evidence of the extreme development of imperial power.
Jiang Geyun once found this so-called cultivation of inner strength somewhat laughable.
How stifling must one live to be unable to express emotions directly, to have them concealed layer by layer, so that no one can discern their joy or anger? And to use terms like "cultivating inner strength" to gloss over it—isn't it just because of a fear of death?
She was indeed very vibrant back then.
But later, all sorts of things happened.
Jiang Geyun eventually learned to keep her emotions hidden, regardless of her inner feelings of joy or anger.
She learned how much trouble it could bring if her emotions were clearly seen through, and she also learned that this tactic was not only used by those at a disadvantage, but was even more skillfully employed by those in positions of power.
Human hearts are as vast as the sea.
People who don't need to learn how to cultivate their inner energy are probably happier than Jiang Geyun can imagine.
However, it's truly terrifying when even a leader knows this trick.
At this moment, from Su Heng's expression, Jiang Geyun couldn't tell whether the bottle of medicine was good or not.
Su Heng didn't explain further. He rested his forehead on his hand and looked at Jiang Geyun with a gentle smile on his lips. At first glance, he was truly of extraordinary appearance and noble character.
He said calmly, "My lord."
Jiang Geyun immediately bowed and picked up the porcelain bottle from the table.
After opening the porcelain bottle, she carefully unwrapped the bandage on her left hand and examined her wound closely.
Shouzhuo is sharp and clean enough, and with Suguang's supervision, the wound cleaning is also done quite well, so there is no need to worry about wound infection or other problems.
The edges of the wound were pale white, the cut skin was slightly curled up, and some bluish-purple ecchymosis appeared on the surrounding skin, gradually fading outwards from the incision.
She could clearly feel that her left hand was colder than her right hand, and it felt heavier when she moved it.
Some scabs have formed on the wound, so there is a slight tearing sensation when I move occasionally.
Overall, things are going well; things seem to be improving!
Just like her ankle, it transitioned from a burning pain to a dull heaviness, and after a few days the heaviness disappeared, and she could run and jump as usual again, even daring to jump from heights—
Jiang Geyun stopped reminiscing and poured the white powder from the bottle evenly onto the wound.
There was no stinging sensation; it felt like fine sand had been sprinkled on an uninjured palm, just a gentle touch.
Next...
As soon as Jiang Geyun stopped, she heard some noises coming from the table.
Looking up, Su Heng pushed a brocade box towards them.
He wasn't looking at Jiang Geyun; he was focused on the documents in his hands. But the timing of the brocade box being pushed over was far too perfect.
Jiang Geyun wisely opened the package, took out the bandage, and wrapped it herself.
Wrapping a bandage with one hand is a bit difficult, and she wrapped it a little loosely, but she quickly adjusted herself, just to let the wound breathe!
After finishing, Jiang Geyun put the bottle and brocade box back in their original positions and pushed them toward Su Heng.
She said, "Thank you, Your Highness."
Su Heng looked away from the documents for a moment and said, "You're too kind, sir. However, I have a question for you."
In an instant, many questions and corresponding answers surfaced in Jiang Geyun's mind.
She calmly replied, "Your Highness, please ask."
Su Heng closed the document in his hand and placed it into the brocade box on his right. His movements were restrained, just like his gentle voice at this moment. "Why doesn't Your Excellency have the scorching mark of the Zhenyi Division's natal fire?"
As she expected, it was another fatal problem.
What Su Heng was referring to was the mark on the right hand of Xie, Pei, and the other two, which was the same color as their natal fire and could materialize from the illusory flame.
This is something even the system can't help her with.
I don't understand, I really don't understand. I don't know what Zhengyi wants to do, and I don't know what Suheng wants to do.
However, what Jiang Geyun wants to do is very clear.
She must complete the tasks assigned by Zhengyi, do the hard work of Xuandujian, and in order to gain identity, knowledge, and ability, she can solve Su Guang's problems, the system's problems, and her own problems.
Jiang Geyun said frankly, "Does Your Highness suspect that I am not a member of the Xuandu Supervisory Office?"
Su Heng's tone was tinged with doubt, "Why do you think that? I don't know much about the Xuandu Bureau, hence this question."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Geyun smiled and said, "That's not surprising. I just came from the Netherworld and was affected by it. Your Highness, please forgive my rudeness."
He himself said he didn't understand Xuan Dujian, so we should take her explanation as the standard and not try to find any more loopholes in her explanation.
Su Heng said, "I see..."
Seeing that he seemed to want to ask something else, Jiang Geyun raised her voice a few decibels and said, "Your Highness's questions will be answered when we arrive at the Xuandu Supervisory Office."
So stop asking her questions here. These kinds of questions should be left to the people who have the worries to worry about. She's just a temporary helper!
Su Heng replied, "What I wish to ask is, would you like some tea, sir?"
Jiang Geyun choked for a moment, then replied, "Thank you for your reward, Your Highness."
After saying that, she bent down and poured herself a glass, holding the glass as if to drink.
But then she noticed that Su Heng was staring intently at the cup in her hand, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
Jiang Geyun stopped what she was doing and said, "...Your Highness?"
Su Heng smiled, "This is the famous Floating Light Snow Bud from Yinguang Tower."
After Su Heng's explanation, Jiang Geyun understood why the tea smelled familiar.
She would occasionally smell this fragrance in the Yingguanglou restaurant, but she didn't pay attention to food, so it didn't leave a deep impression on her.
Thinking about it this way...
She thought of Cheng Xi.
Before parting, the man had mentioned to her that the tea at Yingguanglou was worth trying.
Jiang Geyun originally didn't think she would taste this tea, since she wasn't very interested in food and drink and wouldn't make a special effort to try it. However, since Cheng Xi had said so, she was thinking of going to experience it.
But I didn't expect it to be so fast, so close.
The tea soup is clear and refreshing. Biting the rim of the cup, the tea spreads out on one side, and the light reflected in the tea soup is just like snow waves reflecting the sun, which coincides with the artistic conception of the tea's name.
Although the time and place were different, she and he had drunk the same cup of tea, and the taste was more impressive to her than she had imagined.
At times like this, I really miss my teammates; now she's all alone, suffering the torment of reality...
However, according to Su Guang's description, Cheng Xi probably won't have a good time back in the Cheng family either, since he and she are the same kind of people.
Su Heng called out, "My lord?"
Jiang Geyun realized that she had been silent for a while.
She finished her tea and racked her brains for words of praise.
Su Heng continued to stare at her hand and the teacup in it.
Jiang Geyun felt uneasy under his gaze.
Is it because the main villain finished reading the documents and had nothing else to look at, that he started staring at her for no reason?
Or is there something wrong with this cup and the tea?
Is there something wrong with the tea?
She doesn't feel any discomfort right now, and the villain wouldn't need to drug her at a time like this.
Before she could ask, Su Heng looked at her loosely bandaged left hand, as if suddenly intrigued, and said, "Does Your Excellency need any help?"
He's looking at this.
With the question answered, Jiang Geyun breathed a sigh of relief.
She said, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. It's nothing."
If Su Guang or Cheng Xi offered to help her bandage up, she would definitely be happy to take the easy way out.
But this Crown Prince? Let's forget about it.
Su Heng seemed not to hear her, and extended his hand towards her, saying, "My lady."
This means there's no arguing with them.
She hasn't had enough of the word "adult" yet, but she's already developing PTSD.
Jiang Geyun felt a chill run down her spine and handed her tightly wrapped left hand to Su Heng.
She initially thought the villain just wanted to tighten the ends of her bandage where they weren't properly tied, and even wondered if he might deliberately put pressure on her wound to make her uncomfortable.
However, the villain's character was well maintained even in this small space with only two people.
After all, he didn't know that she knew his personality, Jiang Geyun thought to herself.
Su Heng's movements were extremely gentle. Compared to him, Jiang Geyun's bandaging method just now seemed like she was "torturing" herself.
He first gently lifted her left hand.
Su Heng didn't use much force to begin with, and with the thick bandages in between, he was so gentle that Jiang Geyun could hardly detect the amount of force he used, only the subtle guidance he was giving.
Jiang Geyun sensed it and consciously moved up slightly as he wished, making it easier for him to move.
She arrived at the right spot.
Su Heng moved very lightly, and immediately unwrapped all the bandages.
As he looked down to check the wound, his restrained, warm breath gently touched Jiang Geyun's palm.
Jiang Geyun's fingers trembled slightly with the other hand she wasn't extending, and for some reason, she couldn't help but hold her breath for a moment.
She is far more sensitive than she appears.
Su Heng skillfully twisted the bandages, as if he had practiced it before, layering them and wrapping them around Jiang Geyun's palm.
He asked, "Does it hurt?"
Given the extent of his movements, it would be absurd to say that he was in pain, right?
Jiang Geyun replied truthfully, "Your Highness is too kind to worry about me. It's nothing."
Upon hearing this, Su Heng chuckled softly and continued his actions with increasing gentleness, caution, and tenderness.
Back and forth, the actions seemed intimate, but in reality, they were separated by bandages from head to toe. Their skin did not have any direct contact at all, only a faint warmth was transmitted from one end to the other.
After the bandaging was completed, Jiang Geyun hurriedly withdrew her hands from Su Heng's.
She glanced down and realized that it was indeed much neater than what she had done before.
Amidst a vague sense of panic, she was still thinking that it was clearly not enough to get her to surrender, even disregarding her status as the main villain.
Firstly, because Zhengyi had already used his leverage against her, and secondly, because she had experienced this kind of tenderness before, so she didn't find it rare.
I'll just get lost in memories.
The system, having witnessed the entire process, excitedly shouted, "Host, shouldn't we investigate this further?!"
I didn't expect the system would require her authorization to check my favorability...
Jiang Geyun replied dismissively, "Go ahead and investigate!"
The back-and-forth between the two in the car caused Jiang Geyun immense anguish.
I don't know exactly how much time has passed, but I feel that the pace of the carriage has gradually slowed down and the sound of the silver bells has gradually faded.
Su Heng withdrew his hand and leaned back against the cushion. He was tall, even taller than Cheng Xi, which made the spacious car interior seem somewhat cramped.
It must be because of her body shape, otherwise why would she always feel slightly suffocated?
Su Heng's voice rang out: "I do not understand Xuan Du Jian, yet you did not point out the problem in my words, which is rather strange."
They still came.
Jiang Geyun cautiously replied, "This humble official was so worried that Your Highness might misunderstand that I didn't listen carefully to what Your Highness was saying. It was my fault. I wonder what Your Highness was trying to say?"
Su Heng smiled gently, "Not only the people of the Zhenyi Division, but everyone in the Xuandu Supervisory Bureau has been branded with these marks. Did you not even notice this, sir?"
Jiang Geyun paused for a moment, then quickly replied with a puzzled look, "Did Your Highness mention this?"
Su Heng's expression remained unchanged. He smiled faintly and said nothing more, then lightly tapped the car wall with his index finger.
The lowered curtain was immediately rolled up.
The stone steps outside the car door are towering and seem to stretch endlessly into the distance.
Su Heng said, "The lord said that my doubts would be resolved when I arrived at Xuandujian. I wonder if that is true."
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Author's Note: I'm genuinely surprised! This chapter was supposed to be half interactive and half plot-driven, but the interaction just keeps going on and on...!
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P.S.: No updates tomorrow (there will be updates the day after), so adults don't go there for nothing [poor face].
The rankings are complete, so we'll temporarily resume updates every other day. [droopy-eared bunny head]
This book hasn't been doing so well in terms of readership, and it hasn't made it onto any good charts yet. So I'm trying to extend its exposure by posting updates every other day, hoping more people will see it. But don't worry, everyone, I'm working hard every day, and I'll finish this book properly. As always, thank you to all the readers! Love you all! [hugs]
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