Chapter 45 Changing His Clothes
The buzzing of insects at sunset was drowned out by the clamor of voices. The brilliant sunset faded, and night fell, blurring the blue sky.
The crowd of onlookers dispersed, taking their doubts with them, and the surroundings quieted down.
Jiang Yinyue released her hands from Wei Qin's ears and let them fall to her sides.
The young couple knelt on the long street, their necks intertwined, one burying his head in his wife's neck, the other looking up at the sky.
Clouds drift and gather, ever-changing. In life, we experience countless encounters and partings. Meetings inevitably lead to separations, and partings may never bring us back. A fleeting glance may be a final farewell, leaving only regret in retrospect.
Joyful reunions and sorrowful partings are the natural human emotions.
Jiang Yinyue raised her hand and stroked Wei Qin's dark hair that was scattered outside his hair ornament. "Let's go home."
The hazy moon hung on the branches, enveloping the white linen clothes on the clothesline.
The bloodstains, difficult to wash away, remained on the fabric, like red plum blossoms falling on snow—beautiful yet tragic.
No matter how beautiful a flower is when it is pulled from a branch, it is destined to wither, just like Tang Zhan's short life.
As Wei Qin's abdominal wound was being treated by the doctor, Tang Zhan's mocking and cursing image kept flashing through his mind.
My perceived coldness couldn't outweigh the self-reproach for not protecting my classmate.
A sharp pain shot through his abdomen, causing even the doctor treating his wound to gasp in shock, but he didn't even flinch.
Jiang Yinyue, the only one left in the east wing to assist the doctor, turned her face away, unable to bear looking at the bloody and mangled scene.
"That's fine."
The elderly doctor wiped his forehead and quickly bandaged Wei Qin's wound, instructing Jiang Yinyue, "The wound must not get wet before it heals, you must take the medicine on time, and you must eat plenty of nourishing food."
After seeing the doctor out of the room, Jiang Yinyue quickly returned to the bedside, sat down on the edge, and carefully observed Wei Qin's complexion.
He looked completely pale and unwell.
Those who have survived near-death experiences are severely weakened, as if their seven souls and six spirits have been stripped away.
"You rest well, leave all the other trivial matters to me, and don't get angry."
Wei Qin listened attentively, nodding despite his exhaustion.
Jiang Yinyue grasped his hand and rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb, gradually increasing the pressure.
For those who are sensitive to heat, it feels like being in a furnace.
When the doctor brought the medicine, Wei Qin fell into a deep sleep.
"This medicine should be drunk while it's hot."
"I'll do it."
Jiang Yinyue took the soup bowl, gently blowing on a spoonful of soup, and said, "Wei Qin."
"Wake up, it's time to take your medicine."
How do I administer medication to someone who is not fully conscious?
The young woman, her fingertips red from the scalding soup, glanced at the doctor and said, "You should go and rest."
The old doctor, who would be staying at the Wei family's house tonight, stroked his beard and, before leaving, reminded them, "Make sure it's hot."
The door opened and closed, and the room returned to silence.
Jiang Yinyue stirred the "hot potato," her fair ear tips flushed slightly. She shook her head, not allowing herself to be coy.
Caring for the wounded should be done openly and generously.
With a spoonful of bitter soup in her mouth, she leaned closer to Wei Qin's face, mumbled a few words of explanation, and then pressed her small mouth, still moist with medicine, against Wei Qin's lips.
Her clear almond-shaped eyes twitched slightly, and her slightly red ear tips looked like they were about to burst.
She tried her best to clear her mind, pouted her pink lips, and slowly poured the medicine over her.
"Hmm?"
Noticing the medicine dripping from Wei Qin's lips, she was caught in a chaotic mess. She closed her eyes and used the tip of her tongue to pry open Wei Qin's slightly closed jaw.
One bite after another.
The man's Adam's apple rose and fell as he swallowed the medicine.
Jiang Yinyue spent a full quarter of an hour feeding him a small bowl of medicine, and he broke out in a sweat.
She took out a handkerchief to wipe Wei Qin's neck and slowly let out a sigh of relief.
"Get well soon, I don't have much patience."
Miss Jiang muttered to herself, but her wiping movements were very careful.
Late at night, a ladle of water was poured into a copper basin, and with a "splash," water droplets splashed onto Jiang Yinyue's face.
She rubbed her face, wrung out the handkerchief, tiptoed to the bedside, and began to wipe Wei Qin's exposed skin.
A small lamp illuminates the woman's busy figure.
The night was pitch black, and the pale yellow figure rose slowly like the morning sun.
The next day, before dawn, the rooster next door jumped onto the roof and crowed. Jiang Yinyue, who was sleeping by the bed, was startled awake and immediately went to check Wei Qin's breathing.
After confirming that everything was alright, he stood up groggily and swayed his aching back.
Footsteps sounded outside, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimney, indicating that Madam Gu was preparing medicinal cuisine with the doctor.
After washing up, Jiang Yinyue sat in front of the dressing table and styled her hair alone.
The "skillful" person's hair was tied up crookedly, and even the hairpin was inserted haphazardly.
"If you don't wake up, no one will comb my hair anymore."
She applied some rouge to brighten her complexion, then returned to the couch, resting her chin on her hand to keep Wei Qin company. Normally, she was always busy, but this time she didn't find it boring at all.
As dawn broke through the streets and alleys, Wei Xichen, who had not rested all night, returned to the inn after visiting the families of the deceased, including Tang Zhan. He washed up briefly and sat by the window to have breakfast.
The little tabby cat climbed onto his lap, curled up in a ball, and wagged its tail contentedly.
After knocking on the door, the deputy commander of the guards walked up to the man and said, “Your Highness, according to the coroner’s examination, the fatal wounds of those assassins were all in the heart. It seems that Tao Qian was careless and did not provide them with breastplates.”
The guards accompanying the Crown Prince on his southern tour were all equipped with bows and arrows and muskets; they were the elite palace guards assigned to the second son by Emperor Shunren. To ensure absolute safety and to make them as effective as ten men, Emperor Shunren specifically instructed the deputy commander of the guards to have them wear breastplates.
Wei Xichen put down his chopsticks and took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his lips. "Will Tao Qian be careless?"
"This humble general also cannot understand how Tao Qian would dare to send someone to assassinate His Highness."
“Apart from high-ranking officials of the court, no one can supply muskets to the retainers. Tao Qian is inextricably linked to this. Given his vindictive nature, he is capable of killing Wei Qin and sowing discord between me and Minister Jiang.”
However, Wei Qin's actions of both silencing him and sending assassins to the post station were highly unusual.
The deputy commander of the guards speculated, "Could it be that someone is stirring things up and framing Tao Qian?"
The Third Prince Wei Yangwan not only had Tao Qian under his command, but also Xie Xun, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Over time, two tigers cannot share one mountain, and one of them might want to use another to kill the other.
If Xie Xun were the oriole unaware of the danger, he could bribe Tao Qian's retainers and instigate them to assassinate the Crown Prince at the same time as assassinating Wei Qin. This would allow him to use Tao Qian to sow discord between the Crown Prince and Jiang Song, and also allow the Crown Prince to eliminate Tao Qian, achieving two goals at once.
Wei Xichen pinched the bridge of his nose, a ring within a ring, a scheme within a scheme, difficult to discern for a moment.
But whether it was Tao Qian who gave the order or Xie Xun who was waiting in the wings, he could use the dead retainers as bargaining chips to question Tao Qian, or even put Tao Qian to death, and then cut off the third brother's most relied-upon wing.
Was it Xie Xun who gave him a generous gift, or was it someone else?
Wei Xichen couldn't help but think of the group that intercepted Gong Fei and kidnapped Yan Zhuyi. Was it related to Tao Qian or Xie Xun?
In a house not far from the post station, Yan Yi climbed onto the roof with a wolf's tail grass in his mouth and sat down next to the silver-robed painter.
"Young Master, was your attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince impulsive and without consideration?"
The silver-robed painter tucked his brush behind his ear and blew on the still-wet painting. "It's not that I didn't think it through; it's that I considered it one step ahead. It's risky, but it can divert the attention of the Crown Prince and the others."
"More details."
"Think about it, if there hadn't been an assassination attempt on the Crown Prince, and the illusion had been created that the assassins were acting in two separate groups, wouldn't the Crown Prince and his men have focused all their attention on the young master? With all the assassins mobilized, the constables would have been no match for them, and the young master doesn't have three heads and six arms, so how could he have escaped death? Wouldn't they have started to wonder how the young master had survived?"
"Um."
"The Crown Prince is suspicious, and right now he's probably focused on eliminating the suspicions of important officials in the court. Who is Tao Qian? He's the head of the Third Prince's faction. How could the Crown Prince not concentrate his efforts on getting rid of him!"
"What if he has the energy?"
"Hey, you're so stupid, and you still won't admit it!" The artist flicked the young man's head with a flick of the wrist. "I already told you, we created the illusion that the assassins split into two groups, with the main attack concentrated at the inn, while the other group's lethality was greatly reduced! Young Master's martial arts are superb, and even if he escaped death, he was seriously injured, which can dispel the Crown Prince and the others' doubts."
Yan Yi rubbed his head. "I don't want to think about it anymore. You guys are the brains. I'll just do as you say."
The painter left behind his masterpiece, climbed down the ladder, and wandered through the deep alleys until he reached a scholar's home.
Heartbreaking sobs echoed from inside the mansion.
"Sigh!" The painter left behind a bulging money bag, which hung on the door knocker, and walked away with his shoulders drooping.
This is a small token of the young master's affection. The young master also has another wish: to use the Crown Prince's power to eliminate Tao Qian and avenge these wronged souls.
"Thank you, artist."
As they reached a fork in the road, the painter turned around at the sound and saw Wei Ying, dressed in a light blue dress, walking towards them accompanied by a maid.
Wei Ying was grateful to the man with exceptional painting skills, but she only knew his surname and not his given name. Not wanting to pry, she addressed him as "Painter Xie".
The way you walk reminds me of an old friend I knew.
The man asked with a smile, "May I ask which old friend you are?"
"Manager Xie, a jeweler."
The man straightened his back in a daze, regaining his upright and imposing posture. Having pretended for so long, he had unintentionally mistaken himself for a shrewd businessman again.
This girl has a sharp eye for people; luckily, she's naive.
But when did I become her old friend?
"That's a shrewd businessman, my wife should avoid him if possible."
"He has never cheated me."
When Wei Ying mentioned Manager Xie, her face lit up with a smile. Although this relationship was somewhat far-fetched, she had very few outsiders, and among her casual acquaintances, Manager Xie was the person she had the most contact with.
Artist Xie Jincheng felt a mix of helplessness and relief. Who says a shadow can't be remembered?
He smiled, nodded in farewell, and walked into Xunfeng with his hands behind his back, his posture upright and his demeanor imposing.
For several days in a row, the Wei family, including Wei Ying, went to the Tang family to visit. On the day of Tang Zhan's burial, Wei Qin arrived at the scene with Jiang Yinyue's help.
The young couple stood in front of Tang Zhan's grave for a long time, until the sun set in the west.
Back at his home, Wei Qin spent another night suffering from recurring fevers, and his wound became infected.
"This was due to the lack of timely handling."
The doctor who was temporarily staying at the Wei family cleaned and rinsed Wei Qin's wound, and then applied herbal pressure to stop the bleeding.
"Do not go out without permission again!"
The old doctor was somewhat irritated, with a kind of anger that Wei Zhongchun and Gu Shi couldn't understand. It was out of concern for the injured and the benevolence of a doctor.
Judging from their tone, it seems like the two are old acquaintances.
Their son didn't know this doctor.
When Jiang Yinyue returned to her room with the medicinal meal, only Wei Qin remained in the east wing.
Seeing Wei Qin about to get up, she hurriedly ran to the bedside, "What are you doing? Lie down!"
"The wound is bleeding."
Jiang Yinyue looked in the direction Wei Qin was pointing, her heart tightening even more.
Blood stained the hem of his clothes and spread to his trousers.
Sensitive areas.
"Wait for me a moment." Jiang Yinyue put down the medicinal meal and, with a mix of coaxing and support, invited the old doctor back to his bedside.
The old doctor quickly and efficiently treated the wound, ignoring everything else.
With his wife around, why would he, an old codger, need to step in?
The thorny issue fell back into Jiang Yinyue's hands. She quickly walked to the wardrobe, took out a brand-new set of inner garments, clasped her hands in a fist and coughed, "Let me help you lie down."
"I'll do it myself."
Jiang Yinyue refused to listen, stepped forward, and bent down to untie Wei Qin's belt.
My hands were trembling, my heart was pounding, and my face was red.
As she removed the man's undergarment, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over his muscular chest, Jiang Xiaoniangzi said with a fleeting look, "Raise your hand."
Wei Qin did as she was told, letting the woman in front of him do as she pleased.
The scent of pears diluted the smell of blood, lingering between the two.
Changing clothes is a small matter that should be easy for her, but the more flustered she became, the more her hands trembled. Jiang Yinyue had no choice but to step forward again and again, stand on Wei Qinwei's slightly open knees, and bend down to tie a bow.
"alright."
She smiled and looked up, meeting Wei Qin's lowered gaze.
"What are you looking at?"
"Miss is sweating."
Jiang Yinyue lowered her head and smoothed her bare collar, then straightened up and helped Wei Qinping lie down on the couch.
Taking care of the wounded is an urgent matter and there's nothing to be ashamed of.
She muttered to herself, pinched the two ends of Wei Qin's waist, and tried to pull it down, but after a long time, it only managed to get stuck on the man's hip bone.
"Turn off the lights."
"Okay, okay." Jiang Yinyue, sweat beading on her nose, turned to the side and blew out the candlestick. She then groped in the dark to pull down her blood-stained pants and reached out to grasp Wei Qin's ankle.
Changing a pair of shorts takes more effort than secretly giving her medicine last time.
After the change, the young lady collapsed at the foot of the bed, using up all her strength.
We also need to feed them medicinal meals...
The woman, who had never lifted a finger to cook, got up and tirelessly lit the candlestick, then spoon-fed Wei Qin the whole bowl of nourishing soup.
At midnight, she quietly lit a small gauze lamp in the small room where the candlesticks had burned out, hung it behind the screen, and sneakily climbed into the bathtub to wash away the sweat.
The water splashed everywhere, and a cool breeze wafted through the air.
I feel much better now.
On the satin screen with flowers and birds, a beautiful woman's silhouette appeared, her outline clear and her lines graceful, catching Wei Qin's eye.
He had no intention of spying, but his gaze unconsciously fixed on the spot as he glanced around.
The light from the small gauze lanterns adds an ethereal and dreamlike charm.
Indistinct and graceful, lively and charming.
The sound of water breaking, accompanied by a rich aroma, assaulted Wei Qin's senses.
"Knock knock knock".
Du Juan's voice came from outside the door, "Second Young Madam, this servant has come to bring you some medicine."
Jiang Yinyue quickly tied her skirt sash, slipped on her shoes, and ran to the door. The night wind blew in, blowing on her damp clothes that clung to her skin.
"Give it to me."
"The doctor told me to drink it while it's hot."
Jiang Yinyue nodded, her wet hair disheveled, and walked to the bedside, softly calling to Wei Qin, who was pretending to be asleep.
Is she asleep again?
She held a bowl in one hand, and with the other hand she brushed her wet, long hair over her left shoulder, took a mouthful of medicine, and brought her lips close to Wei Qin's.
Gently press your tongue against his lips, and use the tip of your tongue to pry open his teeth.
"Hmm? Hmm!"
The man, who had been in a coma, regained consciousness, gripped the back of Jiang Yinyue's neck, and began sucking the medicine from her mouth.
Glug glug, swallowed down the throat.
His prominent Adam's apple rose and fell dramatically.
Jiang Yinyue, whose neck was being held in a clamp, tried to get up but instead fell onto Wei Qin's chest.
The bitter soup spread between their lips, slowly disappearing, and they tasted the warmth and smoothness of each other's lips.
Wei Qin gripped Jiang Yinyue's neck tightly, using his tiger's mouth to restrain her, and sucked on her sweetness.
The woman's lips were so delicate that they became slightly swollen after a few sucks.
It's plump and soft, even more bouncy.
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Author's note: 100 little red envelopes [pat on the head]
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