"Ziping, hang in there! Listen, someone's singing! There's someone in these mountains!"
Lin Yuqiao still had a few tears on her eyelashes. Upon hearing the sound, she excitedly shook Liu Heng, trying her best to pull him up.
But Liu Heng's spirit was already at its limit. Upon hearing that there was finally a chance of survival, he could no longer hold on. Before he could even smile, his hand slipped heavily from Lin Yuqiao's grasp, his eyes closed, and he lost consciousness.
Although Liu Heng wasn't fat, he was still a strong adult male, and Lin Yuqiao couldn't carry him on her own, so she had to put him aside and follow the singing to find someone.
She walked through the dense foliage of the woods, and after turning past a row of tall bushes, she was stunned by the idyllic scene before her.
In front of us was a small flat area, with neat rows of green vegetables planted on the crisscrossing ridges. At the very edge were two simple mud houses, with a small garden surrounded by a fence.
Lin Yuqiao listened carefully and realized that the singing was coming from the mud house.
Just to be safe, she took out the dagger hidden in her boot, put it in her sleeve with the dagger facing outwards, and then went over and knocked on the door.
Upon hearing the knocking, the singing inside abruptly stopped, followed by the sound of tables and chairs overturning and staggering footsteps.
"Old man, is that you back?"
An excited, trembling voice accompanied the opening of the door, revealing an elderly woman with a full head of white hair. The woman appeared to be nearly seventy years old, with a hunched back, and although her clothes were covered in patches, they were clean and tidy.
The old man looked surprised to see a disheveled but beautiful young woman standing outside.
"Auntie, please save my husband! He's injured and has a high fever. He's lying in the woods over there."
Seeing that the old woman seemed kind, and having no other options, Lin Yuqiao quickly rushed over, grabbed the old woman's hand, and begged for her help.
“Young lady, don’t worry, don’t worry, come with me, I’ll go with you to see him.”
The old woman turned around, closed the door, and followed Lin Yuqiao shakily into the woods.
Because she was getting on in years and couldn't walk fast, Lin Yuqiao was extremely anxious behind her, wanting countless times to push her along.
It took the old lady three times as long as it took Lin Yuqiao to get there before she arrived at the place where Liu Heng was lying.
Slowly bending down, the old woman looked at Liu Heng's flushed face, touched his forehead, and said to Lin Yuqiao, "He looks like he has a high fever. We need to get him inside."
Lin Yuqiao, who was beside her, was also pacing anxiously. She had gone there to ask for help, but it turned out that there was only an old lady living in the house, and she couldn't help her drag Liu Heng over.
"Auntie, is there anyone else living here besides you?"
Remembering that the old lady had called out "Old Man" when she opened the door, she asked the old lady with hope.
With a sigh, the old woman said sadly, "It's just me now."
What could be done? The old lady herself couldn't walk fast, so she definitely couldn't help. After staring at Liu Heng for a while, Lin Yuqiao finally made up her mind. In this situation, this was the only option.
She bent down and grabbed Liu Heng's clothes on both shoulders, trying to drag him off the ground.
It took a lot of effort to drag him forward about half a body length. Lin Yuqiao straightened up and took a breath, then bent down again to drag him, but unexpectedly slipped on her sweaty palms, lost her strength, and fell backward, landing hard on her bottom.
Ignoring the pain in her bottom from the fall, she grimaced and struggled to her feet, determined to continue dragging.
“Young lady, why don’t you come back with me and find a rope to tie around his waist? That way, it will be easier to pull him.”
An elderly woman watching her actions grabbed her hand and gave her a suggestion.
"That would be wonderful, thank you so much, Auntie."
Her forehead and back were soaked with sweat, and there was still dirt on her buttocks that she hadn't had time to brush off. Lin Yuqiao's hair was a mess, and she had never looked so disheveled.
But she smiled gratefully at the old woman, her eyes shining like stars, her features delicate and graceful, still stunning the old woman.
"This child is so beautiful, just like a fairy from heaven."
As the old woman sighed, she took out her handkerchief, pulled Lin Yuqiao down, and began to wipe her sweat.
Following the old woman back, Lin Yuqiao retrieved a thick rope. She tied one end to Liu Heng's waist and the other end to her own, dragging the rope forward step by step, panting like a boatman pulling a boat on the beach.
She didn't drag the person into the house until the moon was high in the sky.
In fact, she was already completely exhausted and was only holding on by willpower. She didn't dare to rest after entering the room and tried her best to pull him onto the bed.
Exhausted and panting heavily, Lin Yuqiao could no longer hold on and collapsed onto the ground.
"You must be tired. You should rest well. I've made some tea with willow bark. I'll give it to your husband in a bit."
Helping Lin Yuqiao sit on a chair by the bed, the old woman brought over a bowl of steaming dark green liquid.
"I don't have any herbs here to treat injuries, but I'll take you outside to gather some tomorrow. Now, let's get him down with the bark soup and bring the fever down first."
Lin Yuqiao scooped up a spoonful of medicine and, seeing that he couldn't feed her, she held it in her mouth first and fed it to him spoonful by spoonful.
She couldn't stand bitter medicine. The bark soup in her mouth tasted bitter and nauseating. She forced herself to swallow it down mouthful by mouthful. While being fed the medicine, her mind wandered, thinking that if she vomited, she would feed Liu Heng the vomit along with it.
The scene was too beautiful; the more she thought about it, the more nauseous she felt, so she quickly stopped. After feeding herself a bowl of soup, she immediately rushed to the table and gulped down half a pot of cold tea.
Once she had recovered, she dragged her tired body to the old woman for a basin of hot water and quickly wiped Liu Heng's hands, face, and neck, which were covered in dirt. She then re-bandaged the sword wound on his arm and the open wound on his chest.
"I'm so sorry, ma'am, I've soiled your bedding."
Liu Heng dragged himself along the ground, his clothes on the back were worn to shreds, and his hair and body were covered in dirt. Lin Yuqiao even picked a bunch of leaves out of his hair.
There were still some broken leaves and dirt that couldn't be cleared away for the time being, so Liu Heng had to continue to hold them off.
Lin Yuqiao knew that he had always been very particular about his image, even when he was recuperating in Yuanwu City, he would wash himself and change his clothes every day. But now, after rolling around in the mud all the way, he no longer had the gentle and refined demeanor he once had.
Even with Liu Heng like this, looking at his long eyelashes casting a shadow in the candlelight, his high nose and deep-set eyes, despite his flushed face, she still thought he resembled Fu Fen He Lang.
Lin Yuqiao thought about her experience of fleeing to this desolate wilderness, and no matter what, she felt that her love for Liu Heng must be a touching and genuine love.
and……
Remembering the words Liu Heng said before he fell unconscious, placing her hand on his heart, Lin Yuqiao felt a sweet warmth welling up inside her. His love for her was genuine!
She didn't want to think about the princess and Consort Jiang in the capital anymore. At least in this remote place, there were only the two of them. At this moment, Liu Heng belonged only to her.
"You haven't had dinner yet, have you? I cooked some konjac. Have some to tide you over."
The old woman handed Lin Yuqiao a small bamboo basket containing several things about the size of sweet potatoes.
She watched as Lin Yuqiao quietly lay beside Liu Heng's bed, staring blankly at his sleeping face. As if remembering something, she smiled, her eyes filled with tenderness and nostalgia.
As soon as she got the food, Lin Yuqiao immediately came to her senses. She hadn't just missed dinner; she hadn't eaten for two days. Could the wild vegetables and fruits in between even be considered a meal?
Konjac is the modern equivalent of konjac; it's large and sweet. After eating three konjac taro, she barely felt like she was truly alive again.
"I found you some clothes, change into them first, and get some rest."
Touched, Lin Yuqiao thanked the kind old woman, wiped herself down briefly, changed into the old woman's patched coarse cloth clothes, and fell into a deep sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
She slept until noon the next day. Her back and waist ached as if she had been run over by a car. Lin Yuqiao turned over, the movement a little too much, and felt her arms and stomach chafing painfully.
Over the years, she has always been particular about the finest food and the finest ingredients, and her undergarments are always made of fine cotton or silk. Cotton cloth is too coarse and makes her skin itch and hurt.
"You're up? I've just finished making lunch. Hurry up and wash your face to eat."
The old woman brought the last dish to the table, wiped her hands on her clothes, and warmly greeted her.
After dozing off for a short while, Lin Yuqiao suddenly sat up and looked at the bed where Liu Heng was sleeping.
"Your man woke up early; he's young and has a good foundation."
The old woman picked some food from each of the dishes and placed it on top of the rice. She then handed the bowl and chopsticks to Liu Heng, who was already half-sitting up and leaning against the pillow.
Overjoyed, Lin Yuqiao jumped off the bed and rushed to Liu Heng's bedside.
"Ziping, you're awake! I was so worried about you last night."
Looking at the person in front of him with long, flowing hair who was clinging to his arm, Liu Heng's eyes were deep and thoughtful.
Ultimately, Heaven granted them a chance to survive.
Remembering how his aunt had told him how hard Lin Yuqiao had worked to bring him here and how hard she had taken care of him, his heart softened.
He understood that she was a pampered heiress from a noble family, and it was already quite remarkable that she had achieved what she had. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't have to suffer so much.
Liu Heng moved the rice bowl aside and helped her straighten up. He noticed that her face had become thinner and her delicate chin was even more pointed. He felt a pang of heartache, but said, "You look disheveled."
Hearing such a jarring remark, Lin Yuqiao pouted. This man was still the same as ever. Wasn't it said that love could change a person? Why hadn't he changed at all for her?
The old woman listened to their conversation and chuckled. The way this young man spoke, though he clearly loved her, reminded her of her late husband.
"Come and eat, my lady. This afternoon I'll take you to gather herbs. When we get back, give them to your husband, and he'll be able to get out of bed in a few days."
Sticking out her tongue, Lin Yuqiao got up and followed the old lady to eat. After taking two steps, she suddenly stopped, and quickly kissed Liu Heng on the cheek.
Liu Heng watched as she casually ruffled her hair, awkwardly tied it into a simple bun, and then went to sit down to eat. He found it somewhat amusing, wondering if she didn't know how to style her hair.
After dinner, Lin Yuqiao volunteered to help the old lady wash the dishes and tidy up. Although she was a little clumsy, she was familiar with these basic household chores because she had lived alone in modern times.
Touching her soft, white hands, the old woman asked, "Young lady, you don't do much work, do you? You look like you were raised in luxury."
"Yes, my mother loves me very much and doesn't want me to work hard." Lin Yuqiao nodded. She didn't often work in this era, and had never done any work at all.
"If I had a beautiful little daughter like you, I wouldn't want to give her up either."
The old lady's words made Lin Yuqiao feel a little embarrassed, and her eyes also felt a little hot as she thought of her mother.
"I haven't seen my mother for a long time since I got married, and I miss her very much."
“Once you leave this house, you’ll be considered an outsider. You’re still a little one; once you have your own children, you won’t miss your mother anymore.”
Having a child? Lin Yuqiao thought to herself, she'll only be sixteen next year, it's still a long way off.
Together with the old lady, they picked some herbs in the mountains. After returning, they painstakingly ground them into a fine powder. Lin Yuqiao then gently applied the medicine to Liu Heng.
What's going on?
After applying the medicine, Liu Heng grabbed her hand, looked at the bruise on the back of her fair hand, and asked with a frown.
"It's nothing, I just got hit by the medicine-grinding hammer while grinding the herbs."
Seeing Liu Heng silently touching her hand, Lin Yuqiao smiled slyly, "Ziping, are you feeling sorry for me? If you can feel sorry for me, then my injury is worth it."
The wound on the back of her hand was glaringly obvious to Liu Heng. Looking at the woman who was still smiling gently, he couldn't help but say softly, "Don't talk nonsense."
When she returned in the afternoon, Lin Yuqiao boiled a large pot of hot water and took a good bath.
When she reached Liu Heng, still damp from the rain, she remembered his hair covered in leaves and dirt and couldn't help but ask mischievously, "Ziping, is your hair itchy?"
Then she described it to him in detail, showing him the leaves, dirt, and even moss she had cleaned from his hair, gesturing enthusiastically as she did so.
Seeing Liu Heng's face growing darker and darker, she didn't dare to make a fuss anymore. She immediately backed down and tried to salvage the situation, saying, "Just bear with it for now. I'll help you clean up after your fever subsides tomorrow."
Her reminder had made Liu Heng unable to bear it any longer. His scalp felt increasingly itchy, and the filth was something he would never forget.
"But I've used up all the water."
Hearing Liu Heng's insistence on washing her hair and body, Lin Yuqiao felt extremely regretful and dawdled, making excuses.
It's all her fault. She only cared about momentary pleasure, and now she's in trouble.
Boiling water requires gathering firewood, watching the fire, and adding more firewood – it's incredibly tiring, yet she can't trouble her aunt for help.
They were already very kind to take them in, so why should we continue to trouble the elderly?
Seeing Liu Heng's insistence, Lin Yuqiao pouted helplessly and went out to boil water, only to see the old lady smiling at her at the door.
“Your husband is clearly a clean person. I’ve already boiled the water, so please help him wash up. I’ve found some of the old man’s clothes; let him change into them first.”
"You're so kind, Auntie!"
Excitedly, Lin Yuqiao stepped forward and hugged the old woman, burying her face in her shoulder.
Patting Lin Yuqiao on the back to help her stand up straight, the old woman placed the clothes on Liu Heng's couch and smiled at him, "The young lady is so delicate, just like a little baby."
That's right, even after marrying him, she still hasn't grown up.
Liu Heng couldn't help but agree with the old woman's words.
After he finished washing her, Lin Yuqiao's hair was completely dry. With her hair down and looking refreshed, she leaned against the bed. Liu Heng asked her to fetch a comb.
"Are you going to comb my hair?"
Lin Yuqiao obediently moved a stool and sat on the lower side of his bed, feeling his hands gently running through her hair. Although a little awkward, he was very familiar with how he would bend and twist her hair.
After finishing, she examined Liu Heng's work in the bronze mirror, finding it better than her own. Suddenly, however, she wondered how he could style a woman's hair; had he styled someone else's hair before? A slight unease crept over her, and she turned to him, a hint of sourness in her voice, and asked.
"Have you ever combed other women's hair before?"
Seeing that she was jealous again, Liu Heng felt helpless. "No, I learned it by watching my mother do my hair when I was little."
"Oh." That works too?
Still harboring some doubts, Lin Yuqiao looked at him again and added, "This wasn't the case before, and from now on, you're only allowed to comb my hair."
Sensing her possessiveness, Liu Heng hesitated for a moment, his mind racing with thoughts, before finally agreeing, "Okay."
"It's settled then! We need to get it stamped!"
Lin Yuqiao's so-called "stamp" was simply a kiss on his lips. Seeing her happy expression, Liu Heng felt a warmth in his heart.
He loved her bright smile and her unpretentious, passionate, and pure way of facing him. He wanted to protect her innocence and hoped that she could continue to live happily like this in the future.
After tidying up the outside, the old lady came into the house.
Watching the two people leaning against each other, talking intimately, her expression was both tender and nostalgic.
"Looking at you reminds me of my youth."
Sitting in a chair, holding a teacup, the old woman slowly began to tell her story.
On this moonlit night with few stars, those memories of youth and love, swallowed up by time, are imbued with the fragrance of gardenias, becoming vivid and clear once more.
The old woman's surname was Xu. She was a villager from a town at the foot of the mountain. On the day she got married, she met the old man Liu Guojiang for the first time.
She was 16 years old then, and he was 6.
He was still a child when he broke his front tooth. According to local custom, if a child who has lost a front tooth has his mouth touched by the bride, a new tooth will grow in. So his aunt carried him to her sedan chair and asked the bride to touch his mouth.
At that time, Aunt Xu was in the prime of her youth, and her stunning beauty under her phoenix coronet and wedding gown left a lasting impression on him, who was still a child at the time, and the memory remained vivid for many years to come.
Time flies, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. She is no longer a beautiful bride full of expectations, but a widow without children, driven out of her home by her mother-in-law who accused her of being a jinx.
She struggled to make ends meet by gathering wild mushrooms in the mountains and weaving straw sandals. Meanwhile, he had grown into a strong young man, and they became acquainted after he rescued her from falling into the river.
Later, he would often take the initiative to help her carry water, chop firewood, and take care of housework, and he did this for four years without interruption.
Widows are often the subject of gossip, and she was no exception. His kindness became her original sin, and she was bombarded with all sorts of pointing fingers and idle chatter, making her life in the village increasingly difficult.
Finally, one starry night, he knocked on her door. He looked at her with unwavering and passionate eyes, and asked her to come with him.
"As long as I live, I will always be good to you."
His words touched her, and his courage inspired her. The road ahead was long, and she was willing to walk it with him.
After that, they fled together to this deep mountain forest, living a simple yet fulfilling life.
He cut down trees, cleared land, farmed, and built houses, working up a sweat, while she wove straw sandals or cooked meals, singing the songs he loved.
"Get up early on the first day of the lunar new year to visit my husband"
My son is sick and sleeps on his gums.
"I'll go to see my lover with rice in my pocket..."
Even after he left her first, she would always have a vague feeling that whenever she sang this song, he would be outside, wiping his sweat, shaking his head and smiling at her.
“Once my husband has recovered from his injuries and can walk again, I will take you down the mountain. There is another path on this mountain that only I know. Every step there was carved out by my old man with an iron hammer over the years.”
Year after year, he carved a path into the cliff face, just to prevent her from falling when she went out. Even though, in all these decades, she had descended the mountain less than five times.
In this life, she was content to grow old with the one she loved. Now, all that remains for her in the rest of her days is memories and waiting.
He waited over there, while she waited over here.
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