She was sleeping somewhat drowsily, her eyes still unable to open fully, only seeing bright daylight filtering through the bed curtains – it must still be broad daylight. She rubbed her eyes, nuzzled against his leg, and drowsily responded with an “mm.”

He smiled, leaning to place the book on the low cabinet beside the bed, freeing his hands to gently embrace her as he asked: “Why didn’t you wait for me to come to Huozhou to fetch you?”

He pinched her face, which had grown warm from sleep, saying with a hint of reproach: “How dangerous for you to travel alone.”

His hands were a bit cool, making Shen Xiling’s consciousness clearer. She smiled, then lazily sat up, nestling into his embrace and leaning against him, tugging at the edge of his sleeve as she said in a small voice: “I’m so capable, there’s no danger at all.”

With a hint of proud petulance that made Qi Ying smile fondly.

Indeed, she was very capable. Originally he had thought the young lady was delicate and weak, needing his care everywhere, but after this ordeal he realized how wrong he had been – his young lady had long grown up, capable enough to save his life.

He held her a bit tighter, saying: “Mm, you’re capable.”

The slight helplessness and indulgence in his tone made Shen Xiling giggle. She wrapped her arms around his neck to kiss his cheek, stretching like a little kitten in his embrace, clinging to him tenderly as she called: “Second Brother…”

It was her usual manner when acting coquettish.

The two had been separated for over half a month this time, truly like a brief separation being better than a new marriage. After all the turmoil, they especially missed each other intensely, naturally like dry kindling meeting fierce flames. Moreover, there was no longer any need for restraint between them, so they quickly became entangled, kissing inseparably.

Their passion was deep, and they had returned to the Fenghe Garden most familiar to them both, right on her very bed – it could be said all favorable conditions of time, place, and people were present. Not indulging would seem unreasonable, except Qi Ying still worried about the young lady’s arrow wound on her back, so he had to restrain himself considerably, suppressing his desire to ask: “…How is your wound?”

He had seen that wound when they were in Xiangzhou. During those days she had forgotten food and sleep worrying about his affairs, even neglecting to apply medicine. By the time he awoke and discovered it, the wound had nearly festered, so severe it shocked him, and more than that, it broke his heart.

This young lady had always liked acting coquettish with him, making him feel sorry for her over the smallest things, yet this time when she was truly severely injured, she remained silent instead. During those days in early June she constantly acted strong, not even saying it hurt once, only urging him to quickly go to Xiaoshan to stabilize the situation, not to worry about her minor injury.

He knew she didn’t want to distract him… but the more she acted this way, the more he worried about and felt sorry for her.

He already loved her deeply.

At this moment the young lady nestled in his embrace, that kiss just now making her cheeks crimson, alluring and provocative, her voice even softer and more enchanting as she pouted: “It stopped hurting long ago, I’d be a puppy if I’m lying.”

But Qi Ying wasn’t reassured. After looking at her for a while, he got up and took a box of medicinal ointment from the low cabinet beside the bed.

Before he even spoke, Shen Xiling immediately made a bitter face, hurriedly shrinking toward the corner of the bed, saying: “It’s all healed, why apply more medicine? I won’t apply it.”

Qi Ying looked at her good-naturedly, saying gently: “I asked the physician, who said your wound needs medicine applied for a while longer – didn’t you say it doesn’t hurt? Then why are you hiding?”

But Shen Xiling still didn’t want to, arguing with Qi Ying for a while until he finally turned stern, resuming that strict elder appearance, and only then did she have to soften and compromise, obediently letting him have his way.

Sigh… when would she ever overcome this habit of fearing him that had been planted in childhood?

Shen Xiling felt somewhat dejected, but had no other choice. She could only reluctantly unfasten her clothes, lying softly on the bed and exposing her fair, delicate back to him.

She was like the most beautiful wind lotus of summer, possessing the purest beauty, yet her figure was too alluring, her lovely shoulder blades having seductive curves. Though she appeared so delicate, her back didn’t look thin, beautiful from every angle.

However… on her back were two vicious wounds, both left from blocking arrows for him.

These wounds were left a month ago and had basically healed by now. They probably didn’t hurt much anymore, but the wounds were still very obvious. Qi Ying could even imagine how bloody and mangled they must have looked initially…

…How much pain must she have endured then? Perhaps, just by a little bit, those arrows might have taken her life.

He had almost lost her.

This intense fear made Qi Ying’s hands somewhat unsteady. Even such an arousing scene before him didn’t stir any romantic thoughts. His expression was very heavy as he applied medicine for her, the tenderness in his eyes so thick it couldn’t dissolve.

This silence was somewhat torturous for Shen Xiling – she knew her back bore traces of the wounds, still quite ugly now. Although she wasn’t actually someone who cared much about appearance, and knew Qi Ying didn’t value such things, she inexplicably cared about this matter, even more unwilling to let him see her unsightly side.

She hoped she could always be beautiful before him… at least, not ugly.

Therefore Shen Xiling was actually somewhat embarrassed now. Though she obediently let him apply medicine on the surface, her heart was anxious. The current silence was truly torture for her. She became somewhat unhappy and a bit aggrieved. By the time Qi Ying noticed, tear tracks had already appeared on her pillow.

She had been crying silently.

Qi Ying was startled, quickly asking if she was in pain. She didn’t speak, just shedding tears there. Qi Ying felt terrible, pulling her into his embrace again, repeatedly calling “Wenwen” and asking what was wrong.

While wiping her tears, she said in a small voice: “Ugly…”

He didn’t understand at first, then heard the young lady sob and add: “I don’t want you to see me ugly…”

Qi Ying: “…”

He really hadn’t expected this was what bothered her, momentarily feeling both helpless and amused.

He sighed, pulling away her little hands that were wiping tears, helping her dry them while laughing and scolding: “Your crying is getting more and more ridiculous.”

Shen Xiling huffed, her little mood not yet subsided. Qi Ying smiled, then looked toward her back. She was angry and wanted to push him away, but unexpectedly he suddenly used some force to turn her around, and when she came to her senses… he had already kissed her wounds.

Tender as water.

Beautiful moments like a dream.

He kissed her scars tenderly, the tingling sensation spreading from her back to her fingertips. For a moment she felt she might melt, just melt in his embrace, becoming a pool of water, never able to grow bones again in this lifetime.

…How could she love him so much?

Shen Xiling sighed in her heart, then felt herself being embraced from behind, his voice right by her ear, saying: “How beautiful must you be to be satisfied? Besides, it’s not ugly at all.”

“Even if it really were ugly,” his voice carried some seriousness, “I would love you for life.”

Love.

Thinking carefully, though they had been committed to each other for so long, the number of times this word was mentioned was pitifully few, probably because neither of them were talkative people who liked expressing feelings, especially him, even more reserved and taciturn than her.

But now he spoke this word to her, not at all ceremoniously, just very naturally and ordinarily, which instead made her feel his sincerity.

He really loved her very much… she needed no suspicion or worry.

The corners of Shen Xiling’s mouth couldn’t help wanting to turn up, that inexplicable little mood from earlier finally receding, which immediately made her realize how affected and ridiculous she had been just now. She felt even more embarrassed, but didn’t want him to notice, so after a brief silence she tried to change the subject. After thinking for a long time, she could only ask him whether today’s enthronement ceremony went smoothly.

Qi Ying knew her little thoughts but didn’t expose them, helping her dress while answering: “Everything was normal, nothing went amiss.”

But hearing this, Shen Xiling still harbored some worries.

Though she had indeed asked about this to divert the conversation, even without this incident she would have wanted to ask him about it. The reason was simple – she understood his current situation was somewhat complex. True, he now held complete power and would no longer be constrained by others as before, but he faced many new problems.

Such as the eyes of court ministers and discussions throughout the realm.

Such as that young His Majesty.

She pressed her lips together, asking: “Those court ministers… did they make things difficult for you?”

This phrasing was somewhat veiled. Shen Xiling certainly knew that in Great Liang’s current court, no one would dare openly conflict with Qi Ying, but what undercurrents might exist beneath the surface was uncertain. She especially worried that old aristocratic ministers might appear compliant on the surface while causing trouble behind the scenes. With the realm newly stabilized, such instability would be fatal.

Moreover, how sharp were scholars’ pens? How would they speak of him, write about him? She could almost imagine – they would call him a rebellious minister, a treacherous villain.

The young lady’s brows carried faint worry, while conversely Qi Ying’s expression was quite calm.

The world was fair – gaining something inevitably meant losing something else. Since he had gained the power to control the court, he naturally had to give up reputation both in life and after death. There was nothing to regret; such awareness had been prepared five years ago when he joined forces with Gu Juhan to launch that war.

At this moment he comfortingly patted Shen Xiling’s shoulder, saying: “What is gained are external things, what is lost are also such. No need to worry.”

Shen Xiling smiled upon hearing this.

He had always been an open-minded person, and after so many years seemed even more detached, not even caring what kind of reputation he left in historical records. Thinking about it, Shen Xiling felt she was far inferior to him. It seemed she would need to cultivate her character more in the future.

She was quiet for a while, then asked: “…What about the young emperor? How is he?”

Before Qi Ying could answer, Shen Xiling’s brow furrowed as she added: “He personally witnessed the Xiaoshan rebellion. A four or five-year-old child already understands things – how could he truly not mind? He’ll remember it when he grows up too, and will probably always regard you as an enemy.”

Speaking of this, she pursed her lips and added with some emotion: “Besides, with parents like that, what good could he be taught? He’s bound to be troublesome.”

These words carried some personal grudge. Qi Ying laughed, asking: “What kind of parents? How do you know?”

Shen Xiling had a “of course” expression, getting even more worked up as she said: “They bullied you so much and made you take Five Stone Powder – how could they be good people?”

Mentioning Five Stone Powder made her even more agitated. She suddenly hugged Qi Ying, her voice lowering: “No one is allowed to bully you…”

Author’s Note: Shen Wenwen is really… such a double-faced person… when her boyfriend was unconscious she was incredibly capable… but as soon as he wakes up she’s like this… can she be a bit more consistent!