Chapter 241 Barely Suppressing the Heartbeat
Jiang Zhi then realized what he was talking about, and her face immediately turned red.
"No need, I'm fine!"
"Zhizhi, don't be stubborn, your health is the most important thing. I promise I'll only apply the medicine and I won't do anything else."
He stepped forward with the medicine to help her.
Jiang Zhi was so frightened that she backed away repeatedly, saying, "No, no, I know, just put the medicine down and I'll do it myself."
Xie Qi didn't insist, and placed the medicine in her hand, saying, "Then I'll watch you apply the medicine, otherwise I won't feel at ease."
Jiang Zhi's lips twitched slightly. "Do you think that's possible?"
"Hehe, I'm just giving it a try." Xie Qi ruffled his hair, but didn't insist.
"Then apply the medicine properly. Remember to apply it not only around the wound but also inside, since it's probably all scratched. This gel was specially made by someone I had prepared; it's very effective at reducing swelling and relieving pain. Apply it three times a day without fail, and it should be healed in less than three days."
...
Jiang Zhi was so embarrassed she wanted to smash the medicine bottle in his face. "Aren't you leaving yet?"
Xie Qi looked at the blush on her cheeks, and even the tips of her ears were flushed, and felt a tickle in his heart, as if he had been scratched by an invisible hand.
Staying any longer might lead to trouble.
He barely managed to suppress the pounding in his heart, hurriedly said something, and then fled as if he were escaping.
＊
These days, Xiao Xuanyou, Xie Qi, and Lu Yuan are all busy with their respective responsibilities, while Jiang Zhi is hiding in the small courtyard of the General's Mansion, researching food for Lu Yuan and preparing for the Frost Festival.
Soon, this grand sacrificial ceremony began in Yaocheng.
The Frost's Descent Ceremony was presided over by Elder Xu, the most respected elder in Yao City.
The "Holy Maiden" responsible for bestowing blessings is Jiang Zhi, also known as "Miss Ji," who previously brought medicine in an emergency to help the people of Yaocheng overcome the plague.
As night fell, a high platform had been erected in the square in the center of Yaocheng.
Jiang Zhi wore a triple-layered ivory-white sacrificial robe, with a semi-transparent gold overlay. She wore a red-gold jade crown, and a slender pearl chain hung vertically from her eyebrows, trembling slightly as she lowered her eyes.
Jiang Zhi usually prefers simple and elegant styles and rarely wears such gorgeous clothes.
At this moment, her aura was like the melting snow from the top of a snow-capped mountain, carrying an unapproachable aloofness, as if she were truly a saint descended from the heavens.
When Xie Qi picked Jiang Zhi up from the General's Mansion, his gaze remained fixed on her.
Today, as the commander of Yao City, he will lead Jiang Zhi up the high platform and bring her before the high priest.
Xie Qi couldn't help but wonder if this was like him taking Zhizhi to a wedding ceremony.
His Zhizhi is so beautiful, she's absolutely gorgeous.
The priests on the high platform had already begun reciting prayers.
Almost the entire population of the surrounding town came.
Xie Qi and Jiang Zhi waited for the auspicious time to arrive in a secluded little house below the high platform.
Jiang Zhi was a little nervous.
This was her first time participating in such a significant event, and she had to walk onto the high platform under the spotlight.
Xie Qi noticed her nervousness and squeezed her hand. "Zhizhi, don't be afraid, I'm with you."
"Um."
Xie Qi looked at her profile, with her lips tightly pressed together and her eyelashes fluttering, and couldn't help but recall the scene in the cave that night.
The cave was poorly lit, and he was drugged and delirious, only knowing how to vent his anger, so he didn't really see the expression on her face.
He felt a pang of regret whenever he thought about it.
So while Jiang Zhi was nervously reviewing the prayer, he hugged her from behind and kissed her on the cheek.
Jiang Zhi was interrupted, turned her head and glared at him, "Stop messing around."
Xie Qi didn't continue, but instead put his hand into her wide sleeve and intertwined his fingers with hers.
Her fingers were also slender and soft. When he coaxed her to help him before, the delicate and slightly cool touch made him go crazy with joy.
"Zhizhi, how can you be so good? You're good in every way." He couldn't help but sigh, resting his head on the crook of her neck, inhaling the sweet fragrance emanating from her hair after her special bath.
Ever since that time in the cave, he's been hooked and can't stop thinking about her every day.
Unfortunately, he was busy preparing for the Frost Festival, and she was intentionally or unintentionally avoiding him, so he had no chance to get close to her.
Just holding her hand and getting closer now makes his heart race and his mouth go dry.
"Xie Qi, stop fooling around," Jiang Zhi pushed his head away, "The auspicious time is almost here."
"Alright, let me catch my breath." Xie Qi sighed from his chest.
"What's wrong with this person..." Jiang Zhi was still wondering what was wrong with him, but she quickly noticed the unusual heat coming from behind her.
Jiang Zhi froze completely.
"You, you, you!" She never expected that he would react so strongly just by hugging her, and her face turned even redder.
He was about to go out and face the people. If people saw him like this, they would think they had done something inside!
"It'll be quick, Zhizhi. I'll hold you and calm you down." Xie Qi didn't want to do this, but he simply couldn't control himself.
Whenever he gets close to her, whenever he touches her, he gets so excited that he doesn't know what to do.
Soon there was a knock on the door.
Jiang Zhi knew it was time to set off.
She glanced at Xie Qi discreetly and, seeing that he had finally calmed down, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
As soon as I opened the door, a cacophony of noise hit me.
Jiang Zhi was led out by Xie Qi's hand.
The surrounding sounds all fell silent.
Atop the high platform, drums resounded. She stood dignified and composed, her back straight, her steps light and deliberate, her white skirt sweeping across the clean steps.
Xie Qi held her hand steadily the whole time, like a guardian who has always protected her since ancient times, with a devout and careful demeanor.
They soon ascended the high platform.
Old Xu, dressed in priest's robes, had white hair and beard and a solemn expression. He handed her a jade pot.
Jiang Zhi accepted it solemnly.
This jade pot contains snow water collected from the summit of the snow-capped mountains in the northern border region.
She took a cypress branch from the table, dipped it in snow water, and went to the edge of the high platform, slowly scattering it in all directions.
"Frost's Descent heralds the arrival of cold, and heaven and earth are sealed in hibernation. Today, we offer the five grains as a gift and snowmelt as a token, praying that the spirits of heroes and mountain gods will protect this land and its people..."
Jiang Zhi uttered a prayer, her lips taut and her voice clear and distinct.
The plain white sacrificial robes fluttered in the wind, as if they were about to take flight.
The people below the stage cheered in unison, "Thank God for your protection, thank the Holy Maiden for your blessing!"
At that moment, a huge firework suddenly shot into the sky, and the crowd erupted in cheers and shouts, creating a lively and exciting atmosphere.
On the other side of the platform, Xiao Xuanyou and Lu Yuan, who had been invited to witness the ceremony, sat on either side, their cold and stern faces bathed in the dazzling light.
No one noticed that four dark figures had secretly climbed up the wooden frame below the platform.
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