First, they used bamboo and wooden stakes to make a makeshift clothes rack, placing it neither too close nor too far from the fire. Ah Hao first stripped Zhang Yu of his wet outer garment and spread it out to hang on the rack to dry. Then she helped Zhang Yu remove his other clothes one by one, leaving only his undergarments.
His thin, water-soaked clothes clung tightly to Zhang Yu's body, making him practically naked except for certain key areas. His strong, muscular physique was on full display before Ahao, his muscles clearly defined, exuding a powerful and alluring masculinity.
Ahao suddenly felt her face getting hot. She turned her face away awkwardly, remembering the scene of Zhang Yu successfully hunting down a deer with a single arrow. As she hesitated about how to dry his underwear, she heard Zhang Yu cough lightly. Ahao was so frightened that she immediately jumped up, shrinking back and lowering her head, not daring to look at him even once more.
Half a day passed without any further movement. Ah Hao peeked out and realized that Zhang Yu hadn't woken up. She breathed a sigh of relief, but a little worry crept into her heart. She knelt down and checked his temperature; it was a little hot. Ah Hao frowned, putting aside her shyness, thinking that it was more important to dry Zhang Yu's clothes and treat his wounds as soon as possible.
Zhang Yu had several wounds, mainly on his arms. After being soaked in water, the surrounding skin had turned white. While not life-threatening, it didn't mean he was completely unharmed. Remembering how he had fought off those attacks while protecting her, A-Hao was even more gentle when cleaning Zhang Yu's wounds.
After cleaning the wound and drying his undergarments, Ahao covered Zhang Yu with them, then took off his underpants, dried them, and helped him put them back on. Since the wound had stopped bleeding, Ahao didn't bandage it, but waited for the other clothes to dry before dressing Zhang Yu one by one.
Seeing that Zhang Yu's body temperature was getting hotter and hotter, Ahao took a longsword and cut a large piece of cloth from the lining of her skirt. She then used the longsword to split a section of bamboo from a bamboo stalk that she had taken from the fence to fetch water.
When they got up to fetch water, they realized it was already dark. Fearing that Zhang Yu might not wake up all night, Ahao went ahead and dismantled some bamboo and wooden stakes for later use, and also took down a few more bamboo tubes to store water.
Although the hot spring water was warm, the weather was cold. Even though it was warmer here during the day than elsewhere, it seemed to be about the same temperature after dark. After filling the bamboo tube with water, they placed it in the corner of the thatched hut and it cooled down in no time. Ah Hao took a piece of the skirt lining that she had taken off, divided it into two pieces, and soaked them alternately in cool water to apply to Zhang Yu's forehead to cool him down. She also wiped his exposed skin from time to time.
Worried that Zhang Yu might wake up at any moment, Ahao initially hesitated to take off her clothes to dry them. After busying herself for a while and keeping warm by the fire, she gradually felt her clothes were no longer wet, so she didn't pay much attention. Seeing that Zhang Yu's lips were chapped, Ahao fed him some clean, unused water.
The night grew deeper, and the cries of wild beasts seemed to echo from somewhere, sending shivers down one's spine. Ah Hao huddled beside the fire, curling up into a ball, feeling as if dawn was still breaking and time was passing too slowly.
·
Zhang Yu had a dream, a dream filled with everything he knew.
That year he was twenty-seven years old, and the new emperor of Dayuan had been on the throne for five years. The seemingly peaceful coexistence that had been built up over many years of minor frictions was broken, and the new emperor of Dayuan personally led his army to invade the border of Daqi.
When he first ascended the throne as a child, the Dayuan Kingdom frequently harassed the borders of Daqi. At that time, Zhao Liang and Zhao Jian used this opportunity to establish many merits, which also became their capital to coerce their followers.
The new emperor of Dayuan was a capable and courageous warrior, and the soldiers guarding the border of Daqi suffered repeated defeats, greatly diminishing their morale. Prince Anping, Zhao Liang, feigned illness and refused to fight, holding military power but remaining inactive. The court continuously sent envoys to the border, reducing troop strength. Only after Prince Xiaoshi personally went to the battlefield did the situation on the border stabilize.
After a three-year stalemate with the Dayuan Kingdom, Zhao Liang's faction continued to stir up trouble in the court and among the people—they saw this as an opportunity and were determined to bring him down in one fell swoop.
Despite his efforts to suppress their arrogance through various maneuvers, he was inevitably constrained because he no longer held half of the military power. His body, which he had been struggling to maintain for many years, was already in a terrible state; outsiders were unaware, but he himself knew it.
With constant warfare on the borders and the people suffering immensely, the court's continued support was draining its resources. The longer the conflict dragged on, the more detrimental it would be for both him and the Great Qi. Ultimately, he took a desperate gamble, launching a major counterattack against the Great Yuan Kingdom. However, his forces were already dwindling, and Zhao Liang indeed seized the opportunity to instigate internal strife.
Even though good news kept coming back from the border battles, the court gradually couldn't hold on under Zhao Liangyi's relentless offensive. In the end, he didn't get to see Xiao Shi return.
He accepted his defeat, having nothing else to do. The capital fell, but he did not hide; a life of ignominy was not his desire. As long as Xiao Shi returned to Lin'an and seized the throne, that would be enough.
When Zhao Jian and his soldiers surrounded him, who was powerless to resist, and prepared to end his life, Song Shuhao, disguised as a lowly soldier, suddenly jumped out and stood in front of him, who was blinded by rage.
That was perhaps the first time he truly saw this person. Before that, he had never felt that she was any different from other women. Later, he did realize that she was just a little foolish.
Everyone knew that seeking refuge with the Zhao family at this time would guarantee safety or even wealth and status. Song Shuhao, Zhao Jian's wife, instead betrayed him. While he was pleased to see this, he couldn't help but think she was foolish. If not foolish, then what was she?
Song Shuhao shielded him from a sword strike, saving his life, but he fell into the hands of Inspector Zhao. This was the first time Song Shuhao had saved him. Afterwards, Inspector Zhao imprisoned him in a water dungeon, subjecting him to all sorts of torture… and she came to save him a second time. And so, he died.
Looking back now, it all seems a bit ridiculous. Song Shuhao's original intention may have been to rescue him, but it didn't improve his situation; in fact, it made it worse. But he still appreciated her good intentions.
...
Zhang Yu slowly woke up, his head still aching a little. It was getting light outside, and he initially thought it was nearing evening. But seeing Song Shuhao still curled up asleep beside him and the nearby fire, he realized it was the next day.
Noticing that Song Shuhao had taken off her outer garment and covered him with it, Zhang Yu sat up, took the clothes and covered her up without disturbing her. After carefully scanning the few things he had, Zhang Yu had a rough idea of what had happened while he was unconscious.
Ah Hao had one hand curled up in front of her chest, while the other was casually placed at her side, her open palm covered in blisters. Zhang Yu unconsciously pursed his lips, and when he looked at Song Shuhao again, his expression softened considerably. He didn't wake Ah Hao, and didn't care that the blade of his longsword was dull; he quietly walked out of the thatched hut.
·
Ah Hao, who had unknowingly fallen asleep, suddenly woke up with a start. Seeing that Zhang Yu's original spot was empty, she was startled again. Then, noticing that her outer robe was still there, she realized that he had probably woken up on his own. Ah Hao stood up, clutching her outer robe, put it on, tidied herself up a bit, stomped her numb feet, and went outside.
She had only taken a few steps out of the hut when Ah Hao froze in shock. In the hot spring water, Zhang Yu stood naked in the shallows, bathing in the open air, his back to the hut. While yesterday, when she helped Zhang Yu undress and dry his clothes, at least there was some covering; this time, his back was completely naked before her eyes.
Unfortunately, her eyesight was sharp, and she immediately noticed Zhang Yu's muscular physique and long, straight legs... If a beam of light had shone down at that moment, it would have been unimaginable. A single glance made her face burn, and Ah Hao quickly turned around, only to hear a splash behind her, followed by Zhang Yu's voice.
"You're awake." Ah Hao nodded, but Zhang Yu seemed to only say it casually before asking, "Where did those two small pancakes come from?" Ah Hao kept her back to Zhang Yu and gave him a brief explanation, without hearing him say anything more.
Ah Hao wanted to go back to the thatched hut to wait for him, but because she had accidentally seen something she shouldn't have, she didn't dare to move and froze in place. It wasn't until Zhang Yu patted her from behind that Ah Hao was slightly startled, and she quickly turned around and stepped aside to make way for Zhang Yu, her reaction not much different from when she was still in the palace.
After dressing neatly again, Zhang Yu went into the thatched hut to retrieve his long sword and came out, saying to Ahao, "You wait here, I'll go find some food." He was so hungry that he had already eaten all the pancakes on his own, but Song Shuhao must still be hungry, so he had to find some food first.
Before she could even speak, Ah Hao realized Zhang Yu's self-address and looked up at him. Their eyes met, and she quickly looked down, only to hear him say, "Never mind, I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving you here. Stay with me and don't get lost."
Ah Hao neither nodded nor shook her head, but murmured, "His Majesty's injury..."
Zhang Yu narrowed his eyes, turned around to face Song Shuhao, and asked her, "You stripped me naked yesterday?"
As soon as he spoke, he deliberately added a dangerous tone, which terrified Ah Hao. Her face turned red, and she stammered, unable to answer.
Chapter 28 Conditions
In the eyes of Prince Ning and others, Zhang Yu and Song Shuhao's fate was currently unknown. Although a search had been launched immediately after the incident, it would take time, and rushing things was useless. The news was temporarily suppressed and not relayed to Empress Dowager Feng or Empress Shen; even Consort De, who was recuperating at the imperial palace, was unaware of it.
Half a day passed without any news, and another night passed, still nothing. Self-blame and guilt continued to torment Princess Zhang Xin's heart. Even after returning to the camp, she couldn't get a proper rest and barely slept all night. When dawn broke, Zhang Xin went to Xia Mingzhe's tent to see him.
Xia Mingzhe had repeatedly claimed that his injury was not serious, and Zhang Xin, eager to find Ahao, believed him. However, after returning to the camp and having the female healer examine him, she realized that it was not as she thought at all. Xia Mingzhe's arm wound was actually quite deep, and because it had not been treated immediately, it was showing signs of worsening.
Zhang Xin had originally intended to stay with Xia Mingzhe, but then felt that she was clumsy and incompetent, even worse than an ordinary palace maid, and that she would only make it harder for him to get proper care and rest. So she went back to her own tent to sleep that night, and came over again early in the morning.
Under the constant bombardment of concern from the little princess, such as "Are you thirsty?", "Are you hungry?", and "Does it hurt?", Xia Mingzhe finally felt that he should say something serious. He had been forcibly pressed down on the small couch by Zhang Xin, but now he sat up on his own.
Zhang Xin hurriedly asked him what was wrong, and Xia Mingzhe looked at her seriously for the first time, saying, "Your Highness, I am fine. You don't need to worry, and you don't need to waste your time here, making me feel bad."
Xia Mingzhe's serious expression made Zhang Xin uneasy. She wasn't stupid; she could tell that Xia Mingzhe didn't like her getting in his way. She used to call Xia Mingzhe "Little Xia," but she couldn't bring herself to do it anymore.
Feeling utterly inadequate, Zhang Xin stood up dejectedly and said timidly, "Um... I really shouldn't be here. I'll leave now, you get some rest."