After Shen Lingzhen changed into clean clothes, she hurried back to the adjacent room to inquire about Huo Liuxing’s condition.

Thinking that Huo Liuxing would likely not calm down for quite some time, Jingmo had no choice but to cover for him, blocking the doorway and making a hushing gesture to send Shen Lingzhen away. Only after leading her outside did he say to her: “The young master needs quiet rest right now. If the young madam wouldn’t mind the trouble, please help grind some medicinal herbs for him. This humble one will go outside to get some food.”

Watching him produce a basket of medicinal herbs from the carriage as if performing a magic trick, Shen Lingzhen hastily took it and focused intently on learning how to grind medicine with Jianjia. After meticulously pounding several fresh plants into a semi-paste consistency and placing them in a wooden bowl, she tiptoed over and gently pushed open the half-closed wooden door of the adjacent thatched cottage.

Inside the room, an oil lamp burned weakly, its flickering light harmonizing with Huo Liuxing’s heavy breathing in and out, creating a particularly peaceful atmosphere in this quiet night after the rain had cleared.

The thatched cottage faintly emanated the scent of decaying wood. For Shen Lingzhen, who had lived a pampered life since childhood, this unfamiliar smell was unpleasant. To say she felt no distaste would naturally be false, but seeing Huo Liuxing sleeping so deeply and remembering how he had once said that during military campaigns in the past he could eat raw meat and drink blood to survive, then looking at this shabby bed and yellowed walls, it seemed she could find contentment even in these circumstances.

She crouched down beside the bed, wanting to wake him to apply the medicine, but her mouth opened and she stopped, unable to bear doing so.

She didn’t know where Huo Liuxing had been these past few days or what he had done, but now dark circles ringed his eyes, and his chin had sprouted prickly stubble. His entire spirit seemed scattered, and even in his dreams, his brows remained tightly knitted, as if still worrying over some thorny matter.

Shen Lingzhen extended one finger, wanting to smooth out the furrows between his brows that had formed into the character for “river,” but unexpectedly, the moment she touched him, Huo Liuxing’s eyes flew open.

In the next instant, the world spun upside down. Before she could even make a sound, he had pinned her down on the bed. Looking down in shock, she saw his five fingers instantly tightening around her neck.

Shen Lingzhen suddenly gasped for air, struggling to push him away.

Huo Liuxing started, seeing her face clearly, and quickly released his grip.

After Jingmo left, he had recovered from that bout of discomfort and soon truly fell into an unconscious sleep due to physical exhaustion. When Shen Lingzhen approached him just now, he had been battling enemies in his dream.

Shen Lingzhen was badly frightened by his fierce grip. Rolling and crawling, she got up and scrambled awkwardly to the corner of the bed, coughing as if her lungs would come out. Hearing Jianjia’s panicked inquiries from outside the door, she managed to force out the words “I’m fine.”

Huo Liuxing gradually became fully awake and moved forward to pat her back gently: “I was confused from sleep. Are you hurt? Let me see.”

It had truly been a killing move with no restraint held back. Although it lasted only a brief instant, Shen Lingzhen’s neck already bore a ring of red marks. Just from Huo Liuxing’s gentle touch, she hurt so much her eyes reddened, and she looked at him with tears brimming as she coughed.

Huo Liuxing stroked her back while rummaging through the pile of damp clothes nearby to find a jar of medicinal salve, then used his finger to carefully apply it to the red marks.

Only after quite a while did she fully recover. Looking at her feet that could now move freely, then touching the scabbed-over corner of her forehead, then feeling her burning neck, she said sadly: “Since marrying you, my disasters great and small have never ceased.”

Huo Liuxing rubbed his temples: “In the future, when I’m sleeping deeply, don’t get this close to me.”

“How is it that you’re blaming me instead? Earlier in the carriage, when I wiped you down, you were perfectly obedient. Who knew you’d become like this now.”

Huo Liuxing coughed unnaturally.

The reason he had been able to allow Shen Lingzhen to “have her way” in the carriage earlier was entirely because he had been completely conscious. In reality, after he truly fell asleep, even the slightest subtle sound in his surroundings would alert him, and no one could get close at all.

He avoided this topic and, following the normal response of someone who had just woken up, said: “Where is this? How did you find me?”

Shen Lingzhen briefly explained the sequence of events, then asked in return: “Why did you suddenly lose contact? Did you encounter formidable enemies along the way?”

“I ran into some trouble.”

Seeing how secretive he was being, Shen Lingzhen hesitated for a long time, but finally spoke directly: “Are you afraid I’ll betray you, which is why you won’t tell me clearly?”

Before Huo Liuxing could deny it, she continued: “Actually, even on that night when I was angriest, I never thought of betraying you. At the time I only said some words in a fit of anger. Although even now, looking back on all the ways you deceived me in the past, I still feel aggrieved, I’m not heartless, and I can distinguish between what’s important and what’s not. Right now you’re in danger—how could I still have the mind to sulk with you? I only want wholeheartedly to accompany you through this crisis and turn peril into safety.”

Huo Liuxing’s gaze flickered slightly.

Seeing him say nothing, she asked in a muffled voice: “Don’t you believe me?”

If these words had come from someone else’s mouth, Huo Liuxing indeed might not believe them. After all, before meeting Shen Lingzhen, he could hardly have imagined that the murky environment of Bianjing could still nurture someone so kind, innocent, and reasonable.

But since she had already said this much, he naturally would believe her—he simply still couldn’t reveal the truth.

The purpose of his trip was to root out the “mole” hidden in the Dingbian Army who was coordinating with the Xiqiang from within. After several days of secret investigation, the matter had already taken shape. This morning he had locked onto his target and lured the person to East Valley Camp. If things went smoothly on that end, they might have already discovered the mastermind behind it all.

But this “mole” affair, at its root, was the serious crime of collaborating with the enemy and betraying the nation. Investigating to the end would most likely involve connections to high-ranking and powerful figures in Bianjing, and those figures, no matter which way you pointed, would have ties to Shen Lingzhen as a member of the imperial clan. Telling her might very well put her in the contradictory position of being torn between loyalty and affection.

Huo Liuxing fell silent for a moment, then said: “Of course I believe you, but the matter has already been resolved smoothly without danger, so there’s no need to discuss it further.”

Shen Lingzhen heard that this was just an excuse, but didn’t insist on getting to the bottom of it. Remembering the bowl of ground medicinal herbs, she quickly climbed down from the bed to fetch it: “I heard from Jingmo that on rainy days, your leg joints often ache and feel weak. If you apply this medicine as a wet compress, it will feel somewhat better.”

Huo Liuxing originally hadn’t thought much of it, but when she sat on the edge of the bed and rolled up his pant leg, and her warm fingers touched his skin, his whole body instantly stiffened and he pulled away: “You don’t need to do it, I’ll apply it myself.”

Shen Lingzhen was taken aback: “Am I too clumsy? I truly haven’t done this kind of work before, and when I was grinding the medicine just now, it also took me a long time…”

Huo Liuxing’s heart felt like it had been struck with a soft hammer. Thinking he absolutely couldn’t let her fumble around and break through his defenses, his mouth had already said: “I don’t dislike you—I’m just afraid you’ll tire yourself out.”

Shen Lingzhen immediately beamed with joy: “I’m not tired! Just lie still obediently!” As she spoke, she pushed him onto the bed.

Huo Liuxing truly hadn’t expected that he, a grown man, would one day be pushed down by a little girl without the strength to truss a chicken. By the time he reacted, he was already lying flat on his back, while Shen Lingzhen at his feet was rolling up her sleeves with the air of someone about to accomplish great things.

He reminded her in time: “This herbal medicine is potent—just apply it to the knees and ankles. Don’t touch it with your hands either; use a spoon to scoop it.”

Shen Lingzhen’s hands, which had been intending to spread the medicinal juice all over both his legs, suddenly stopped. She said “Oh” twice and did as instructed. Halfway through the application, seeing his calf muscles seemingly starting to spasm, she quickly stopped: “Does it hurt very much?”

Huo Liuxing truly didn’t want to give her the chance to cause chaos, but he also wasn’t lying. Once the juice of this medicinal herb penetrated the skin, it was bone-chillingly cold. Applying too much at once really was unbearable.

He shook his head and said through gritted teeth: “It’s a bit cold, but I can endure it. Continue.”

Shen Lingzhen had witnessed how strong his willpower was—someone who could smile calmly even after smashing his kneecap against a wall. Yet now he was being tormented until his face turned pale. She couldn’t imagine what kind of excruciating pain it must be.

With trembling hands, she finished applying the last bit of medicinal juice and asked: “It’s this cold even in midsummer? Is there any way to relieve your suffering?”

Every bone in Huo Liuxing’s body seemed to be trembling, yet he still shook his head, indicating it was fine. Because he didn’t want her to see his loss of composure, he turned away from her with teeth clenched.

Shen Lingzhen’s heart clenched tightly. Looking at his back, she hesitated for a moment, then seemed to make some kind of decision. She took off her shoes and climbed onto the bed, circling her arms around him from behind: “Does this help at all?”

Huo Liuxing stiffened and tried to pry away her hands clasped around his waist, but instead she only held him tighter.

She said softly: “I’m warm. Don’t be stubborn anymore—let me warm you.”

Huo Liuxing remained frozen and silent for a long time. He closed his eyes, turned over to face her, gently cupped her face with both hands, and tremblingly uttered a few words: “You really want to warm me?”

Shen Lingzhen felt inexplicably anxious at this sudden strange behavior, but still nodded.

“Then do it this way.” Huo Liuxing lowered his head and kissed her lips.