Jingzhe's face was a bit pale, looking unusually vulnerable. However, her gaze fixed on Zheng Yuanqing was still as sharp as a blade. She gave a hard kick to the horse and watched it gallop away. Then she came back to her senses and said to Zheng Yuanqing, "Wait. There should be a cave nearby. Let's find a place to take shelter."
Zheng Yuanqing pursed his lips and silently followed Jingzhe, biting his lower lip tightly.
"You..." Unable to hold it back any longer, Zheng Yuanqing finally spoke up, "You're injured."
"Yeah." Jingzhe nodded and said expressionlessly, "It's just a minor injury. It'll heal soon. Now let's find a small cave first. I'll tend to the wound."
Hearing this, Zheng Yuanqing was still worried, but he didn't know what he could do. He could only let his hands droop helplessly and follow Jingzhe.
Finally, they found a small cave.
Jingzhe walked in and sat straight on the ground. Her face showed an unusual hint of vulnerability.
"Jingzhe, do you need me to help you apply the medicine?"
Zheng Yuanqing was worried. He was fumbling around, clearing up the dry branches in the cave. Then he looked at Jingzhe, who was about to untie her belt with a small bottle between her teeth.
"No need. Turn around."
With the bottle in her mouth, Jingzhe's voice was a bit muffled. Zheng Yuanqing was stunned for a moment, looking a bit confused, but he obediently turned around.
The light in the cave was dim. No one spoke, and it instantly fell silent. There was only the rustling sound of the cloth rubbing and Jingzhe's slightly heavy breathing.
"Really..." Hearing Jingzhe's heavy gasps, Zheng Yuanqing asked hesitantly, "Do you really not need my help?"
He wondered how serious her injury was.
Zheng Yuanqing was extremely nervous. His heart was in his throat, pounding violently. When he smelled the faint smell of blood, he almost couldn't control himself and turned to look at Jingzhe.
Just as he was about to turn his head, a sharp pain shot through his cheek. From the corner of his eye, he saw a cold glint. The tip of Jingzhe's sword was pressed against his cheek. If it moved an inch forward, it would cut him.
"Ah!"
Zheng Yuanqing let out a short exclamation. His hair stood on end, and his hands went weak.
"Don't move." Jingzhe's voice was deep and lazy, "I'm not done yet."
"Okay." Zheng Yuanqing replied dryly. He felt the coldness on his cheek disappear, but he still stood there stiffly, not daring to move.
Why was Jingzhe suddenly... suddenly so shy?
It was so strange.
Did she really care about such things?
Zheng Yuanqing felt guilty for his previous rudeness and was also terrified by the sword that had been on his neck just now.
Hiding the indescribable confusion in his heart, Zheng Yuanqing finally waited for Jingzhe to say she was done. He turned his head and looked at her somewhat awkwardly.
Jingzhe's face was even paler, a translucent kind of pale. Her nose was covered with fine beads of sweat due to the pain.
Seeing him looking at her, Jingzhe raised her head. Her lips were pale. "Wait a while. Go pick up some firewood."
"I'll go."
Just as Zheng Yuanqing was about to take a step, he heard Jingzhe say tiredly, "Wait."
Jingzhe seemed to sigh and said to him, "I don't want to have to save you again later."
After being injured, Jingzhe's tone was much more straightforward than before.
Zheng Yuanqing was used to her straightforwardness, so he didn't show any dissatisfaction on his face. He just looked at her worriedly and said, "Are you really okay? You're injured. You'd better not move around."
"I'm fine."
Jingzhe hugged her sword and sat on a rock. Hearing this, she looked up at him slightly. Seeing the worry on his face, she explained, "It's really just a minor injury. You don't have to worry too much."
"Moreover, there's Song Huaizhi. With his ability, he should be able to find us before it gets dark."
Zheng Yuanqing nodded. He imitated Jingzhe and sat down with his knees hugged, staring blankly into space.
"Why did you react so strongly just now?" After holding it in for a long time, Zheng Yuanqing finally couldn't help asking Jingzhe, "Aren't we both men? What's the big deal?"
Jingzhe noticed that Zheng Yuanqing always became especially talkative when he was uneasy. Just like now, the uneasiness on his face was almost palpable, but his eyes were still fixed on her, as if he wanted to cling to her.
How old was he? He looked so pitiful, like some small animal.
Jingzhe thought Zheng Yuanqing was really amazing. He was a prince and surely had his own schemes in mind, but he still liked to act pitiful in front of others.
Maybe he didn't have many cards in his hand now. Jingzhe believed that Zheng Yuanqing couldn't always be like this. Once he had the ability, he definitely wouldn't be like this anymore.
"Both men?" Jingzhe gave him a half - smiling look. Her voice was full of questions, but she only asked this rhetorical question and didn't say anything more.
What!?
Zheng Yuanqing was stunned on the spot. In his mind was the faint glance Jingzhe had just given him, filled with a hint of emotion and a trace of a smile.
What did she mean?
...
At the Meng Mansion.
Meng Ruyi had just gotten up. She was looking at herself in the mirror, waiting for Lianqiao to comb her hair.
"What hairstyle would the young lady like today?"
"Something simple will do." Meng Ruyi didn't have many requirements. Thinking that she might go to the shop later, she decided to keep it simple.
But she wondered where Brother Song would go today.
Thinking of the conversation she had with Song Huaizhi a few days ago, Meng Ruyi felt a bit melancholy. She frowned as she looked at herself in the mirror.
After casually glancing at the bullet comments, Meng Ruyi saw that all of them were praising her for being good - looking. The gloom in her heart instantly vanished, and her eyebrows gradually relaxed.
[Ah ah ah ah! Baby Yu has grown up. She's really so beautiful!!!]
[She's just my type.]
[Something's wrong. Look at Jingzhe's side. It seems something has happened. But Jingzhe is so good at martial arts. It should be okay.]
[No way!!! This time it definitely doesn't look right! Jingzhe is injured. What should we do!]
What!? Jingzhe is injured!
Meng Ruyi's heart skipped a beat. But she remembered that she couldn't show any panic on her face. She could only sit there stiffly, staring intently at the bullet comments.
This assassination seemed to be a well - planned one. Even Brother Song didn't know about it. What should she do! Should she go and tell Brother Song what was going on now? If she didn't, what would happen to Jingzhe!
Meng Ruyi's heart tightened into a knot. Her brows were tightly knitted in entanglement.
Seeing this, Lianqiao quickened her movements.
What should she do? Should she tell him or not!
The hairstyle was quickly done. Without any more hesitation, Meng Ruyi lifted her skirt and rushed towards Song Huaizhi's small courtyard.
"Knock, knock, knock."
After knocking on the door, when it opened, only a pair of surprised eyes appeared.
"Miss Meng?"
When Li Ergou saw it was her, he immediately opened the door and said, "Is the young lady here to find the master? He went out early today on some business. How about I send someone to look for him now?"
"Miss Meng, please come in and wait for a while?"
Oh no!
Meng Ruyi didn't expect Song Huaizhi to go out so early today. Looking at the increasing number of bullet comments about Jingzhe being injured and almost all the guards being killed...