Wei Dongling didn't know how long she had slept. When she woke up, her mind was a complete blank. Looking at the thatched cottage in front of her with few decent possessions, she couldn't help but feel puzzled. Where was this?
She ached all over. Especially her back, which not only hurt but also itched unbearably.
"You're awake?" The cold voice clearly carried an excited tone.
Wei Dongling turned her head and saw Shangguan Yun's perfectly handsome face. She asked hoarsely, "My Lord Yun, where is this?"
Shangguan Yun was sitting beside her. His deep eyes were tinged with joy. "This is Nanfeng Ridge. You should recuperate here in peace."
Nanfeng Ridge wasn't too far away. It would only take a little over three hours to return to the capital. Presumably, it was My Lord Yun who had brought her here.
Seeing that Shangguan Yun looked even thinner, Wei Dongling hurriedly asked, "How is your injury?"
She was in such a bad state herself, yet the first thing she did when she woke up was to care about others.
Shangguan Yun lowered his eyes. "I'm fine. But you've been lying here for a full five days."
There was a hint of dejection in Wei Dongling's voice as she apologized, "I'm sorry. I've dragged you down again." Suddenly, as if she remembered something, she quickly asked, "Where's Uncle Li?"
Shangguan Yun shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
Wei Dongling asked again, "What about my lady? Where's Yu Zixi?"
Shangguan Yun still shook his head.
Wei Dongling lifted the quilt and tried to get up, but the pain made her fall back onto the bed. Shangguan Yun quickly stopped her. "I've already sent someone with a letter. There should be a reply soon. With Elder Li's skills, ordinary people can't hurt him. Your top priority now is to recover well so as not to worry them."
It seemed to make sense. Wei Dongling nodded.
At this moment, a peasant woman walked in from outside. She softly called out to Shangguan Yun, "My Lord, come out for dinner!" Then she saw Wei Dongling waking up on the bed. The woman exclaimed in delight, "The Lady of the Estate has woken up? I'll go tell my father-in-law right away!"
The Lady of the Estate?
Wei Dongling felt as if struck by lightning when she heard this.
Shangguan Yun saw Wei Dongling's trembling lips and explained, "You were seriously injured. The wound on your head was almost fatal, and the knife wound on your back was so deep that you could see the bone. Grandpa Liu originally refused to take you in. It was only after I claimed you were my newly-wed wife that he agreed to save you."
Wei Dongling was silent for a long time and then slowly said, "My Lord has shown such great kindness. This humble one is willing to be a beast of burden to repay your kindness."
Dr. Liu, a hale and hearty old man with white hair and a rosy complexion, quickly came after hearing the news. He nodded at Shangguan Yun, then sat down beside the bed and felt Wei Dongling's pulse. After a long while, he snorted, "The Lady of the Estate has a strong life. It's not in vain that I've used so many fine medicinal herbs."
Shangguan Yun quickly bowed and thanked him, "Thank you, Grandpa Liu."
Dr. Liu waved his hand. "Go have dinner first. I'll fry a decoction for your wife later." With that, he turned around and went out.
Shangguan Yun saw that Wei Dongling's whole face was almost buried in the quilt. Her face was flushed, and only a pair of innocent-looking eyes were showing. He couldn't help but find it a bit funny. This girl was usually so carefree, yet she could still be shy?
Seeing Shangguan Yun go out and come back with some congee and pickles, Wei Dongling struggled to sit up, but the pain in her back made her flinch. Shangguan Yun sighed, "Just lie down quietly. I'll feed you."
Wei Dongling was extremely panicked. "That won't do. I, I'll do it myself."
Shangguan Yun gently supported her to sit up halfway and used a wooden spoon to feed her the congee little by little. Wei Dongling was so frightened that she trembled, but she couldn't refuse, so she had to obediently open her mouth to eat the congee.
After more than an hour, Shangguan Yun fried another decoction and brought it to her.
The decoction was so bitter that Wei Dongling frowned. Shangguan Yun took out a candied plum from somewhere and handed it to her. The sweet and sour taste diluted the bitterness in her mouth.
Wei Dongling said, "My Lord Yun."
"Yeah."
Wei Dongling said sincerely, "I apologize for my previous recklessness. I'm really sorry for the trouble I've caused you."
Shangguan Yun raised his eyes and glanced at Wei Dongling. He gently parted his thin lips and said, "Let bygones be bygones. You've been reckless for a long time."
Wei Dongling:...
It seemed that was really the case. The first time she saw him, she climbed through the window and caught him taking a bath. The second time, she directly climbed over the wall and broke into the prince's mansion to see him playing the zither. Later, he stepped forward to save her at the horse - training ground, but she repaid his kindness with ingratitude and kicked the young master into the water. Finally, she even spread rumors everywhere.
Thinking about what she had done, Wei Dongling was so ashamed that she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
She secretly made up her mind that she would never cause trouble for the young master again.
However, when Shangguan Yun came to change the dressing on the wound on her back, she still trembled and said, "Um, can you ask Aunt Xiu to come and help me change the dressing?"
Aunt Xiu, the peasant woman, was Dr. Liu's daughter - in - law.
Shangguan Yun said patiently, "Aunt Xiu has gone to work in the fields."
Wei Dongling:...
She couldn't help scolding herself in her heart. As a modern person from the 21st century, she had seen all kinds of bikinis and backless dresses. What was she being so reserved for!
Then she heard Shangguan Yun say something earth - shattering: "I'll take responsibility for you!"
Wei Dongling burst into tears instantly.
If Miss Jinxuan knew about this, she really wouldn't be able to live anymore! My Lord, could you please take responsibility for my lady instead?
Shangguan Yun helped her sit up properly and gently untied her cotton clothes. She was left only with the light - colored bellyband that Luokou had given her. Wei Dongling still blushed shyly.
Shangguan Yun looked at her fair and delicate skin, slender shoulders, and delicate scapulae. His face also flushed. He trembled as he cleaned the wound and applied the medicine.
Wei Dongling's forehead was covered with cold sweat from the pain. She bit her lip and didn't say a word. Shangguan Yun felt an inexplicable pain in his heart when he saw this.
He helped her put on her clothes again. Wei Dongling was so ashamed that she buried her face in the quilt. She was nervously thinking about how to explain this to her lady.
When she woke up groggily, it was already pitch - black outside.
Shangguan Yun was reading a medical book by the light of an oil lamp. When he saw her wake up, he went to fry another decoction and brought it to her to drink. Then he stuffed a candied plum into her mouth.
At night, she was surprised to see that Shangguan Yun had made a makeshift bed on the floor. Wei Dongling was really in a bad mood.
Shangguan Yun didn't seem to mind. He calmly explained, "It's simple here in the countryside. Grandpa Liu only has a few rooms here. Besides, it's more convenient for me to take care of you if I'm here." Judging from his proficient movements, he should have slept on the makeshift bed like this for the past few days.
Wei Dongling was in a turmoil. What should she do? How could she face Miss Jinxuan in the future?
It was so difficult.
What was even more infuriating was that just after Shangguan Yun blew out the oil lamp and went to sleep, she suddenly had to go to the toilet...
Shangguan Yun heard her sighing repeatedly. He sat up in the dark and asked, "What's wrong with you? Does your wound hurt?"
Wei Dongling was about to cry. "I want to go to the latrine. Can you call Aunt Xiu to help me?"
Shangguan Yun replied in the dark, "Aunt Xiu has gone to sleep." Soon he added, "I'll carry you there."
What?
Wei Dongling stammered, "This, this isn't appropriate, is it?"
"You're seriously injured. What's inappropriate about it?" Shangguan Yun lit the oil lamp and leaned over to carry her.
Wei Dongling was so anxious that she was about to cry.