"Your Highness, those people haven't found us yet. Let's hurry back..."
Dugu Jingdian nodded and stood up.
I walked ahead, "Fourth Prince, let's order quickly..."
As Dugu Jing took a step, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his wound. He instinctively placed his hand on his chest, and his steps faltered.
Suddenly, I realized that the person behind me hadn't followed.
Turning back, he said, "Your Highness, we still have a long way to go, let's hurry up..." He then turned and continued walking.
Dugu Jing paused for a moment, glancing at the slowly spreading bloodstains. He tightened his grip on the wound and used his lightness skill to quickly catch up.
Looking into the distance, it seemed there was still a long way to go.
I stopped in my tracks. "Your Highness, let's rest for a bit before we go."
Dugu nodded.
I glanced at him, sensing that something was off about Dugu Jing today. "Fourth Prince, what's wrong?"
Dugu Jing said calmly, "I'll go get some food." Then he left.
I sat listlessly on the rock, remembering the golden whistle Ruoshui had given me. I took it out…
Suddenly, I heard a loud thud. Then came the sound of birds flapping their wings in fright.
I waited for ages but Dugu Jing never showed up. A bad feeling suddenly crept into my mind.
They walked towards the woods.
"Your Highness..."
"Your Highness..."
Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of a black figure on the ground.
His heart sank, "Fourth Prince..."
I rushed over, supported him, and turned his body over.
His eyes were filled with shock, and there was a large patch of blood on his chest.
I quickly pulled out my whistle and blew it loudly.
He looked at the doctor treating Dugu Jing's wounds.
"Go, go fetch another basin of water..."
I quickly came out with the basin in my hand.
"What happened to the Fourth Prince? Is he alright?"
As soon as I came out, I was surrounded by a group of people, who were asking me all sorts of questions.
It was so crowded I couldn't move at all.
"Shut up!"
Suddenly, all was quiet, and everyone stared at me in surprise.
I was also taken aback for a moment, and glanced at them. I slowly said, "His Highness the Fourth Prince has ordered you to set up camp for the time being, and there is no need to disturb you any further."
The people looking at me nodded and then turned and left one after another.
I wiped the sweat from my brow and carried the water I had prepared inside.
Looking at the small, blood-soaked piece of wood beside me, I felt a chill run down my spine.
"It seems the Fourth Prince was hit by an arrow, and a small piece was left embedded in his flesh when it was pulled out. The wound wasn't treated promptly, and the infection is severe, causing him to have a fever and fall into a coma. It will take some time before he wakes up."
I was still deeply shocked when I realized that he had been tending to his wounds alone last night.
The scene from that morning, where he was clutching his chest and falling behind, flashed through my mind. For some reason, I felt a tightness in my chest. "Doctor, is there anything else we need to do?"
He slowly said, "The dressing needs to be changed every day." He handed me a small blue bottle.
"I see."
"Also, the wound must not get wet. You should brew these medicines according to the prescription I wrote down and give them to him to drink."
I nodded.
He fed the medicine to Dugu Jing.
She glanced at him, his eyes tightly closed. She took out the medicine bottle, slowly removed his shirt, and unwrapped the gauze from his chest. Seeing the wound beginning to heal, she breathed a sigh of relief. She poured the medicine onto the wound and bandaged it again.
After tying it around once, I suddenly felt something was off.
He suddenly looked up.
He met a pair of eyes as black as lacquer.
Startled, "Fourth Prince..."
Looking down, she saw her bare chest again and felt inexplicably embarrassed. "I...I'm applying medicine..."
Those eyes were as deep and still as a still pool. "Oh."
I lowered my head and wrapped the gauze around and around.
Dugu Jing lowered his eyes and remained silent.
A glint of light flashed in his eyes.
I went out and returned to my room. After taking care of Dugu Jing for so long, I could finally get some rest.
I was so tired that I slept until dark.
I went down the stairs.
"Why are you only coming down now? You've already eaten..."
"I see..."
He patted his rumbling stomach, which was rumbling with hunger. There was no other way; the only decent inn the caravan had stopped at was here. For hundreds of miles around, there was nowhere else to eat.
I walked back to my room, feeling somewhat disheartened.
Pushing open the door, I was surprised to see a table full of dishes.
What made me especially happy was that there was also fish and chicken.
I was a little confused; where did these come from...?
Suddenly, a waiter walked in and said, "It was your fourth young master who asked our inn to prepare this specially."
I blankly replied, "Oh."
As the waiter was leaving, he added, "The Fourth Young Master also asked us to prepare hot water. We'll bring the hot water in after the young master has finished his meal."
I nodded.
Looking at the table full of delicious food, my mood instantly brightened.
They picked up their chopsticks and started eating quickly, devouring everything in a whirlwind.
I took off my clothes and smelled the unpleasant odor on my body. I wrinkled my nose.
He sighed and immersed his entire body in the hot water.
With a satisfied sigh, "Ah..."
My mood gradually improved.
He hummed a little tune, "The wind blows gently..."
In the next room.
A person lying in bed reading a book.
Hearing the little tune, the corners of his mouth subtly turned up.
Upon seeing a letter lying beside him, his eyes instantly sharpened.
While I was washing, I suddenly thought of the man who appeared after I blew the whistle.
His face was covered by a purple veil, and were it not for his cold voice, I would have mistaken him for a woman. He was so petite.
His lightness skill was also...tsk tsk...in no time at all, he sent Dugu Jing and me back to the inn.
Then he took out the whistle to take a look at this treasure...
"It's time to hit the road."
I immediately opened my eyes and looked at Dugu Jing, who was calling me, with some surprise.
"Your Highness..."
He actually came running to call me.
Dugu Jing said calmly, "Thank you..."
I immediately realized he was referring to the time I took care of him. I nodded: "Fourth Prince, you're welcome..."