Bingtang also felt somewhat remorseful for being too rash and actually making Qin Yining sad. She hurriedly said, “Miss, don’t worry. With proper care, this wound won’t be fatal. This servant spoke so harshly only to make Prince wake up and be alert.”
“I know.” Qin Yining wiped her tears with her sleeve and forced a smile. “Please treat him quickly. I’ll go ask Ji Yun to prepare some late-night refreshments.”
Qin Yining was about to leave.
“Don’t go, I’m not hungry.”
Having finally managed to enter the city to see her, how could Pang Xiao bear to let her leave his sight?
“Nonsense. Since you disguised yourself to enter the city and had to avoid the surveillance around my home to meet me secretly, you certainly haven’t had a chance to eat properly. Bingtang says you’re still running a fever – you mustn’t be careless with your own body.” Speaking to this point, Qin Yining couldn’t help but blush as she added, “I’ll be back immediately.”
With that, she turned and lifted the curtain to go out.
Thinking of Qin Yining’s tearful yet bashful face, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but smile foolishly for a while before saying to Bingtang, “Don’t say such things in front of your miss in the future, lest you make her sad.”
Bingtang snorted. “My miss is very clever. Do you think that because she doesn’t say much, she doesn’t understand anything? She simply chooses not to speak up. If you truly care for my miss’s wellbeing, please take good care of yourself. Since you’ve already pursued our miss across national borders, don’t make her sad anymore. Miss’s health isn’t good either.”
Pang Xiao understood this principle well, but sometimes being in his position meant he couldn’t help himself.
“How is her injury?”
“Excessive blood loss injured her foundation. She needs proper recuperation for quite some time. With my miss’s status, there are always endless troubles to handle, and she worries too much. Tell me, what person can live a long life while feeling gloomy every day?”
Pang Xiao frowned with concern.
Bingtang continued, “Not to mention distant matters – last month when the city had no grain, the common people somehow learned that the Grand Emperor had hidden silver. Over ten thousand people rushed to Xuansu Temple together to question our miss about the situation. Just thinking about that scene is frightening.
“Miss isn’t a court official, but merely bears an empty title. When His Majesty failed to marry miss, in his anger he ordered her to practice cultivation, which gave the common people reason to make things difficult for her.
“If miss had said even half a wrong word that day, she would have faced the scorn and trampling of ten thousand people. After giving His Majesty advice, she was thoroughly troubled by the empress again. Such incidents are all too common. Even if miss were a female Zhuge Liang, her heart would grow weary.”
Speaking to this point, Bingtang gave Pang Xiao a withering look and carefully bandaged his wound before saying, “Our miss has such a bitter fate, yet you won’t let her have peace.”
Bingtang wholeheartedly favored Qin Yining, so naturally she exaggerated somewhat, though she wasn’t far from the truth.
How could Pang Xiao not know of Qin Yining’s hardships? He frowned and said nothing.
Bingtang organized her medical kit, wrote out a prescription and handed it to Pang Xiao. “This servant will go brew the medicine.” Then she withdrew.
This strong dose of medicine – she hoped Pang Xiao would think more of Qin Yining in all his future actions.
At this time, Qin Yining returned with Ji Yun, carrying freshly cooked brown sugar millet porridge, accompanied by steamed dumplings and several small dishes, all placed on the small table. Ji Yun brought over a square table to place on the canopy bed, transferring the food and dishes one by one. Then she bowed and withdrew, drawing both layers of the bed curtains closed and standing guard outside.
Qin Yining handed him chopsticks and took a round fan, sitting beside him. She first draped one of her light green jackets over Pang Xiao’s shoulders, then gently fanned him while watching him wolf down the food.
“I’ve asked Bingtang – when you return, you must recuperate properly. Unless absolutely necessary, don’t engage in battle. Leaving behind chronic ailments affects one’s entire life. When you’re older and your body suffers, who will you cry to?”
“Naturally I’ll cry to you.” Pang Xiao ate the steamed dumplings one by one, quickly yet elegantly.
Qin Yining couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head. “I can listen to your crying, but I can’t suffer in your place, so you must treasure yourself.”
“Are you promising me a lifetime?” Pang Xiao stopped eating and gazed at Qin Yining with burning eyes.
Qin Yining recalled their recent conversation and finally realized the implication. Her face reddened as she tapped him once with the round fan. “Eat quickly. After eating, you need to take medicine. Fortunately, my health isn’t completely recovered either, and I take medicine daily, so brewing medicine won’t attract attention. After you take the medicine, stay here tonight.”
Pang Xiao laughed and said insincerely, “I could just look at you and then leave.”
“It’s so dangerous outside, and you’re injured – how could I feel at ease letting you go out?” Qin Yining gave him a look. “Getting an advantage and still acting coy, must you make me say this? Would you really refuse to stay?”
“Of course not.” Pang Xiao smiled. “I just wanted to hear you say a few more words.”
“Such a smooth talker.” Qin Yining also smiled.
After Pang Xiao had eaten his fill, Qin Yining brought strong tea for him to rinse his mouth and took a damp cloth to wipe his face.
Pang Xiao sat on the canopy bed, watching her bustle about for him like a little wife. His heart was already filled with happiness and longing.
“Yi jie’er, stop busying yourself. Let’s talk.” Pang Xiao took her hand and seated her on his lap.
Qin Yining squirmed uncomfortably but was held fast by his arm around her waist like an iron hoop, unable to break free. She could only sit temporarily, protesting, “What is this for? This is such a large bed – surely there’s no place for me to sit? Release me quickly.”
“Don’t move.” Pang Xiao’s muscles tensed throughout his body, not wanting to pay excessive attention to his overly excited emotions from having a beauty in his arms. He said, “I just missed you. Even though I’m staying with you tonight, tomorrow I must find an opportunity to leave the city. We truly have so little time together and so much apart – don’t avoid me.”
Thinking that he would leave tomorrow, Qin Yining immediately felt reluctant to part and no longer refused, obediently leaning against his shoulder.
Pang Xiao held her with one arm, looking down at her black hair resting on his shoulder, while his other hand couldn’t help but rise to gently caress her cheek.
“Rest assured, I will end this war as quickly as possible. The sooner it ends, the less we both suffer, and the common people can live peaceful lives one day earlier.”
Living in the city with adequate food and clothing, Qin Yining naturally didn’t know what conditions were like outside. Pang Xiao couldn’t bear to tell her. But under war, even with the strictest military discipline clearly stated, there were still many civilians who were accidentally injured or killed for various reasons.
Qin Yining knew she couldn’t ask him about military affairs. After all, they were still on opposing sides. If he said too much and something went wrong, it would surely cause unnecessary suspicion and conflict between them. So she only said, “Just follow heaven’s will in everything. As long as you can be safe, feel free to act boldly.”
Moved, Pang Xiao kissed the top of her head. “I know.”
“Miss, the medicine is here.” Ji Yun’s voice came from outside. Qin Yining’s face reddened as she hurriedly broke free from his arms and stood to receive the medicine.
Just at that moment, they heard Sun Shi’s voice from outside. “Bingtang is brewing medicine? Is Yi jie’er feeling better?”
Qin Yining was startled and nearly dropped the medicine bowl. She quickly turned back and whispered urgently to Pang Xiao, “Hide quickly!”