Jeune Premier ministre, un ermite - Chapitre 5
Wei Zijun chuckled inwardly, thinking that he was just a child and shouldn't be made to feel bad for him.
I gently stroked my cheek. What kind of face is this?
How could she not care? You know, she used to be quite good-looking. If she were born an ugly monster, she would really want to bang her head against a wall.
But why? Why does she never have the thought, "Whose body is this?" It's as if this body is hers alone, and even the pain and injuries are taken for granted. Is it because she has an overly strong capacity for acceptance? It seems she truly possesses an extraordinary heart.
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Note: ① Brother, dear readers, please don't think the author is talking nonsense again. This word existed in ancient times. It originated from the Xianbei language and was adopted into Chinese during the period of great integration with northern ethnic groups. Originally, it referred to father, but in the early Tang Dynasty, it came to be used to address elder brother. The female protagonist is a modern person and didn't notice anything wrong with this word, so she didn't consider the historical context.
[Volume 1, Deer City Chapter: Chapter 4, Catching Shrimp]
"Dieyun, can we stop taking this medicine?" Wei Zijun frowned, recalling how she had vomited black soup all over her lapel under Dieyun's coercion a couple of days ago.
"No, you have to eat for three full days." The answer was crisp and left no room for negotiation.
Wei Zijun sighed helplessly. She still believed Dieyun's words. If he could pull her back from the brink of death, he must have superb medical skills. She had to accept her fate.
"Eat quickly, there will be fruit after you finish." With that, Dieyun took out a bright green fruit from behind her.
"Fruit?!" Wei Zijun's eyes lit up instantly, her fair face glowing. But when she saw the unripe fruit, the light dimmed. "So green! It must be sour and astringent!"
"It's delicious! You should try some first."
Wei Zijun took the fruit and tentatively took a bite. "Mmm...so fragrant...what kind of fruit is this..." It felt soft and smooth in her mouth, leaving a lingering fragrance. The fruit tasted like a peach, a plum, a melon, and a pear, overflowing with juice, thick flesh, and thin skin. Just as she was about to take a second bite, her vision blurred, and the fruit was already in someone else's hand.
"Drink the medicine, then give me the other food."
Watching Wei Zijun close her eyes, wrinkle her nose, and drink the medicine, then snatch the fruit and wolf it down, Dieyun smiled with satisfaction.
Thinking back to the past two days, watching her eat and vomit repeatedly, I felt a pang of heartache for no reason. Despite the hardship, I climbed the opposite cliff halfway up that very night to pick the few remaining Heavenly Spirit Fruits. These fruits are bright red during the day and emerald green at night; only by being picked at night will they remain green. Eating them not only prolongs life but also neutralizes all poisons. Because I've eaten these Heavenly Spirit Fruits with my master every year for years, I'm already twenty and still ridiculed for being a child. Thinking of this, I glared fiercely at the person who was drooling over their fruit. As for the fruit that turns bright red during the day, it is the most potent poison in the world, and the only antidote is the fruit that turns green at night.
Wei Zijun quickly finished the fruit, her face full of unsatisfied expression, looking at Dieyun like a greedy cat, as if to say: Is there any more?
Dieyun immediately raised her other hand behind her with a big smile.
"Oh, Dieyun! You're so kind!" Wei Zijun reached out and grabbed the fruit.
"Call me brother! Call me brother and I'll give you food!"
"I won't call! If you don't want to give it, then don't!" Wei Zijun turned her head away in frustration.
"If you really don't order it, then not only will you not get this fruit, but you won't get your next dose of medicine either. You'll just have to suffer."
Hearing that she would suffer next, she couldn't help but feel conflicted. Besides, the fruit was indeed very delicious, so what was wrong with calling out? Would it cost her a piece of meat? "Brother!" she called out readily, and then opened her slender, white hands to wait for the fruit.
Looking at that greedy look, Dieyun thought to herself, how could she be so different from that person who wore armor and, even in a coma, still exuded charm?
Seeing Wei Zijun's tongue licking her lips, Dieyun grinned smugly. "You're so spineless! You just say it when I tell you to! But your voice was too soft, say it again."
Wei Zijun was furious. She turned her face and glared fiercely at Die Yun, her clear eyes radiating a light that could freeze a person to death. How could someone as proud as her be manipulated by a little kid? She was just regretting that she shouldn't have called out to him earlier, but she never expected him to humiliate her like this.
"Ouch~~~ It's so cold. If you don't call, then there's no food~~~" Dieyun twirled the fruit in her hand and swayed as she walked out.
"You dare lie to me! You brat!! You little brat!!! You little brat—" Wei Zijun yelled and threw a cushion at the figure behind her.
"Oh dear! You personally delivered the pillow to my door, perfect for getting some sleep. I was up all night yesterday, so tired..." Dieyun took the cushion and yawned. She really needed to get some sleep; she'd wasted half a night's rest because of that wretched woman.
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The early summer morning sun is cool yet warm, and the fragrance of herbs in the air is refreshing.
Finally able to go out and move around, Wei Zijun stretched and gently touched her abdomen. The wound had miraculously disappeared, leaving only a faint red mark that had not yet healed.
This is a deep valley surrounded by mountains on all sides. The valley walls are steep and straight, as if cut by a knife, and covered with unknown flowers, grasses, and trees. In the distance, on the opposite cliff, a series of waterfalls cascade down, their roaring sounds continuing, before converging into a stream below, tinkling and melodious, its destination unknown.
Their dwelling was located in a clearing on the west side of the middle of the valley. The house was built of thin bamboo with a thatched roof. It was a small three-room structure facing north. The shadow of the cliff to the south fell just on the roof and then stopped, allowing the small bamboo house to be bathed in half of the sunlight while also having a cool spot behind it.
To the east, there's a bamboo grove, some bamboo shoots as thick as bowls, with tender shoots sprouting from the ground. No wonder we've had fresh bamboo shoots in our dishes these past few days.
The bamboo house was located on the western side, which was exactly the side where Wei Zijun fell off the cliff. The cliff face was overgrown with tangled trees, making it impossible to see the bamboo house from the top. All that could be seen was a desolate scene of overgrown weeds and tangled trees below. The other sides were bordered by vast stretches of barren mountains and forests.
This valley is one that can be entered but not exited. According to Dieyun, there is only one secret passage that no one knows about, leading to the outside world.
Therefore, this undisturbed place truly became a paradise on earth!
"Master, what are you doing—" Wei Zijun shouted, making a megaphone shape with her hands when she saw the strange figure of her master dozens of meters away.
“Catching shrimp—” the master replied.
Catching shrimp? I used to catch them when I was a kid, back in the countryside. But that childhood fun seems so distant now; I never imagined I'd be able to relive it today.
Wei Zijun ran over as fast as she could.
"Master, how come fish and shrimp live in this flowing water?" Wei Zijun was very curious. Not only were there dense, transparent little shrimp in the crevices of the rocks under the stream, but there were also many small fish.
"The water seems to be flowing continuously, but it is still below. You see, the waterfall is flowing very fast, and there are indeed no fish in the main stream that falls to the ground. But this is a very weak branch with a slow flow. In addition, those rocks are the best shelter, so small fish and shrimp hide here. There are also some big fish brought from upstream, but now is not the time."
"Master, I'll catch some too." With that, he took the fishing net next to his master and climbed towards the surface of the water.
While concentrating and holding my breath, I quietly extended my hand and leaned forward gently. As the fishing net lightly touched the water's surface, it stirred up ripples. Suddenly, I noticed a broken reflection on the water's surface.
My heart pounded, and I dropped the fishing net and ran upstream. I knelt by the stream for a long time, as if I had made up my mind, and then resolutely leaned my body over.