The night was gradually deepening.
In the dead of winter in December, the cold air gathered in the valley. Every breath exhaled turned into white mist.
Liang Yuzhou began to cough softly.
Song Wanchu could tell that he was trying his best to hold back.
His lung disease was not yet cured, and he was most afraid of the cold air getting into his body.
Each cough shook Song Wanchu's chest, and her lungs ached.
"Do you still have your medicine?"
She remembered that Liang Yuzhou always carried a kind of pill that could suppress coughing.
Liang Yuzhou's voice was hoarse from the severe coughing. "I don't know where I lost it when we fell."
The small porcelain bottle was not sturdy enough to withstand a fall, let alone from such a high cliff.
Song Wanchu became even more anxious. She craned her neck and looked forward, but her view was blocked by the dense forest.
If there was a village ahead, there should be lights at this hour.
However, there was only endless darkness ahead. Every step deeper into the forest seemed like being swallowed.
"Liang Yuzhou, put me down first."
Song Wanchu grabbed his trembling shoulders.
He had been carrying her for nearly three hours. No matter how strong his physical strength was, it should be exhausted by now.
If they couldn't find a village tonight, they would have to spend the night in the forest.
"It's okay. I can still hold on for a while."
Liang Yuzhou refused to let go of her legs. He tilted his head slightly so that Song Wanchu could see his smile.
The moonlight filtered through the trees, and the light and shadow crisscrossed on his three - dimensional profile. His skin was as cold and white as jade, and it was always stunning no matter how many times one looked at it.
Although he couldn't see, he could feel the warmth in Wanchu's gaze.
He tilted his head a little more, and his lips brushed against her tender cheek. He whispered in her ear, "Don't you know how good my physical strength is?"
Song Wanchu instantly felt her body temperature rise several degrees. She glared at him angrily, too shy to say a word.
In front of others, he was like a cold and otherworldly celestial being.
Only she had seen his most unrestrained side.
The cold wind couldn't blow away the heat on her face.
Since he had aroused this heat, she pressed her cheek against Liang Yuzhou's neck, trying to pass some warmth to him.
They walked for another half - hour.
Liang Yuzhou's coughing got worse, and a sweet and fishy taste welled up in his throat.
He forced it down.
He couldn't let Wanchu worry more.
Song Wanchu was observant. She noticed that Liang Yuzhou's steps were getting heavier.
He was too tired. He had carried her for more than three hours, even with serious injuries.
Finding a village was the only hope that kept them going.
Suddenly, a flickering flame came into her sight.
Her voice choked with excitement. "Liang Yuzhou, I see a flame. There must be a family ahead!"
"Yeah, that's great." Liang Yuzhou's tone also became lighter.
Soon, she realized something was wrong.
The flames were gathering more and more, gradually forming a line and moving towards them.
The lights in a village wouldn't move!
Song Wanchu's heart was in her throat. Her hands unconsciously tightened on Liang Yuzhou's shoulders. "It's not a village. Those flames are moving. It's the Crown Prince's cavalry coming."
Meeting people in a bottomless forest, Song Wanchu didn't feel any joy. Instead, she became even more nervous.
Those people wanted Liang Yuzhou's life!
The flames were moving quickly towards them, and the noisy footsteps could already be heard.
Then a man's voice came, "Brothers, hold on a little longer. The road ahead is flat. We'll soon reach the upper reaches of the river!"
Song Wanchu's heart went cold, and a chill ran down her spine.
It was that man's voice!
The man who had shot arrows at Liang Yuzhou twice!
Liang Yuzhou also recognized Xu Mufeng's voice.
"Let's hide quickly!"
Song Wanchu whispered in a hushed voice. "We'd rather spend the night in the forest than let them find us!"
Liang Yuzhou smiled calmly. "It was Xu Mufeng who caused us to fall into the valley. His head is still on his shoulders, which means Lu Sihong is letting him atone for his sins with merits. Don't be afraid. He won't hurt you. He wishes he could find you and take you back intact."
"But he's hostile to you!"
Song Wanchu was so nervous that her palms were sweating. She didn't even care to ask Liang Yuzhou how he knew that man's name.
Liang Yuzhou listened carefully for a while. "There are about thirty people in their team. They're no match for me together."
His shoulders were bleeding, his eyes couldn't see, and he was on the verge of exhaustion, but he could still say such words calmly.
If it were someone else, Song Wanchu would definitely think he was bragging.
But when these words came from Liang Yuzhou, Song Wanchu's nervous and fearful mood was soothed.
"We don't need to hide. Wanchu, we both need help now. You're a precious thing in their eyes. Even if you act like a spoiled young lady and order them around, they won't dare to disobey."
"You want me to exploit the Crown Prince's influence?"
Song Wanchu agreed with Liang Yuzhou's words. These people would be respectful to her only because the Crown Prince liked her.
But she didn't want to do that.
"In the Battle of Red Cliffs, Zhou Yu even borrowed the east wind. What's wrong with you borrowing Lu Sihong's influence?"
Liang Yuzhou didn't care at all.
Song Wanchu pursed her lips and said nothing.
Liang Yuzhou chuckled and gently pinched her thigh. "Do you think doing that would be a betrayal of me?"
Her secret was exposed. She angrily lay on Liang Yuzhou's shoulder and ignored him.
The flames were close enough to illuminate the area where they were standing. Xu Mufeng held up the torch. He first saw Liang Yuzhou, and then his gaze fell on the face behind him.
He was like seeing a Bodhisattva descending to the mortal world. His tense body quickly relaxed. His knees went weak, and he almost knelt down in front of Song Wanchu.
"Thank God, Miss Song, you're still alive!"
His voice was filled with sobs from excitement.
Great, Miss Song was still alive. His head was saved!
Song Wanchu got off Liang Yuzhou's back. Xu Mufeng walked forward respectfully and bowed to her.
"Miss Song, it's cold at night, and the mountain road is difficult to walk. I'm afraid Miss will have to spend the night in the forest tonight. You don't need to be afraid. I and my brothers will take turns to keep watch. We'll never let any danger get close to you."
He divided the cavalry into eight small teams, with thirty people in each team. After entering the valley, they split up in eight directions to look for Song Wanchu's trace.
The Crown Prince's elite cavalry were all battle - hardened. Before they entered the valley, they had brought a lot of equipment. It was no problem for them to let Song Wanchu spend a warm night in the wild.
Song Wanchu looked at Xu Mufeng warily and nodded slightly. "Okay."
Xu Mufeng glanced at their clasped hands.
Liang Yuzhou was covered in blood, but his eyes still emitted a powerful deterrent, like a fierce and dangerous wild animal in the forest.
When Xu Mufeng was looking at Liang Yuzhou, Song Wanchu noticed that his eyes were full of fear.