Everyone in the General’s Manor was shocked to see Liu Ying rush in carrying Liu Jue, their limbs going weak with fright. A physician was already waiting. When Liu Ying pulled open Liu Jue’s armor, he saw that the inner garment underneath had already been dyed red with fresh blood — half his body seemed soaked in blood. Liu Ying’s eyes reddened with grief.
The physician carefully cut open Liu Jue’s clothes. A thin, narrow wound was revealed on his right chest, still bleeding outward. Liu Ying couldn’t help but growl, “Stop the bleeding, quickly! If it keeps flowing like this, he’ll bleed dry!”
The physician flinched at his roar. Fortunately, he was a military doctor and had seen plenty of wounds and blood. Since it was the Pingnan General who was injured, every good medicine on hand was brought out. Once the bleeding stopped and the wound was treated, he spoke: “This sword strike didn’t hit anything vital, and it isn’t too severe — it’s just that he’s lost too much blood.”
Liu Ying roared again, “What does that mean? Tell me clearly!”
“Nothing complicated. Given the General’s constitution, he’ll be lively again after ten or fifteen days in bed. The unconsciousness now is from blood loss — once he’s nourished back up, there won’t be any problem.” The physician gave Liu Ying a sideways glance.
Only then did Liu Ying’s heart settle. He looked back — the tension in the eyes of the Black-Robed Cavalry had mostly faded, and they filed out of the hall one by one, returning to their posts.
Gu Tianxiang, having finished handling matters in the city, arrived at the General’s Manor as well. After Liu Ying and the physician explained the situation in detail, he looked at Liu Jue lying on the bed and felt reassured: “So he won’t actually die after all!”
Liu Ying was long used to his attitude and replied politely, “How could my lord bear to die, when he’s still waiting to drink Farewell Drunk together with the General?”
Gu Tianxiang swept a cold glance over Liu Ying. “What else could you have learned besides that smooth tongue from your master!”
Liu Ying smiled slightly. “Thank you for the compliment, General. It’s this humble one’s good fortune to have learned even a tenth of my lord’s ways!”
Gu Tianxiang turned his head away, not looking at him further. He thought to himself that he should hurry and pick a date to marry Yingxiu, so he wouldn’t have to put up with this master and servant pair making fun of him every day.
Just then, a beautiful woman with loosely coiled cloud-shaped hair rushed in through the door, lifting the trailing hem of her silk skirt. The anxious look on her face only added to her allure. Gu Tianxiang froze — since when did the General’s Manor hide such a peerless beauty?
Liu Ying went to greet her. “Third Miss, my lord took a sword to the right chest, he’s lost too much blood—”
A’Luo had been worrying about the battle and had stayed up, dozing off wearily. Hearing the commotion and footsteps outside, she woke with a start. She opened the door and asked what happened, only to learn that Liu Jue had been carried back injured. Her heart lurched, and she panicked for a moment before rushing out the door. The two Black-Robed Cavalrymen at the entrance didn’t stop her and followed closely behind toward Liu Jue’s room.
She cut off Liu Ying’s words. “Will he die?” She saw Liu Jue lying pale-faced on the bed, unconscious, showing no awareness at all. Her voice rose. “Tell me exactly how he is!”
From the moment she entered, Gu Tianxiang had been stunned — so Cheng Qing was the Chancellor’s Third Miss! That young man, elegant and refined, cultured and knowledgeable, with a face as exquisite as carved jade, was the legendary Third Miss of the Chancellor’s residence who had been abducted by bandits! This Third Miss carried herself with such natural grace, unlike an ordinary young lady, calmly and composedly parrying his earlier probing, successfully dispelling his suspicions. Did she look like someone who’d been abducted? Gu Tianxiang glanced at A’Luo, then at Liu Jue, feeling both amused and exasperated.
No wonder Liu Jue had sent the Black-Robed Cavalry to follow her. No wonder he’d invited him over right after drinking. No wonder this proud young prince had been unable to forget her for three years. Interesting. Gu Tianxiang watched coldly from the side, seeing her panic, tension, and a touch of urgent impatience, her words tinged with anger. His eyes shifted, and he answered with a grieved expression, “She’s lost too much blood!”
A’Luo’s mind went blank, and she sank down onto the bed. Slowly turning her head, she saw Gu Tianxiang wearing a pained expression, and looking around further, the attendants and maids all had red-rimmed eyes as if they had just been crying. A’Luo turned to look at the physician, who kept his face lowered as though shaking his head. She looked at Liu Ying again — he had already turned his back, his body trembling slightly as if he could barely hold back tears. Lost too much blood? She cried out, “Then give him a blood transfusion, quickly!”
Everyone around her froze. The physician asked cautiously, “How does one give a blood transfusion?”
A’Luo’s mouth fell open. She suddenly came to her senses — there was no transfusion equipment here, there was no way to give Liu Jue a transfusion. Tears burst out at once. She hated herself for not having studied medicine. Her mind went completely blank; she couldn’t think of any way to save him. Was there no saving him? Wave after wave of pain struck A’Luo’s heart.
No longer looking at the others in the room, she stared blankly at Liu Jue’s handsome face — pale and drained of color, lying there without moving. A’Luo reached out a trembling hand to touch his face; the icy chill startled her. She turned around and shouted angrily, “Doesn’t anyone know to bring in more braziers?!”
Everyone jumped. The attendants rushed out to fetch braziers. Liu Ying seemed to understand Gu Tianxiang’s intention, rubbed his eyes, and said in a choked voice, “Third Miss, please… stay with my lord a while longer.” With that, he gave a signal, and everyone lowered their heads and left the room.
Outside the door, Liu Ying bowed deeply to Gu Tianxiang. Gu Tianxiang shook his head, looking at the faint dawn light with snow still falling, and glanced at Liu Ying. “Bring me an oiled paper umbrella. I feel like a warmed pot of Farewell Drunk.”
Inside the room, everything was quiet. Liu Jue’s breathing was somewhat labored. A’Luo stared at him without blinking, unable to help patting his face. “Wake up, won’t you? Please don’t be like this, please.” Her throat tightened and she began to cry. “Do you know that losing too much blood can kill someone! I’m scared of death! Please don’t die in front of me, please!”
Liu Jue remained motionless, sunk into unconsciousness from blood loss. Could he no longer hear what she was saying? Would he never again leap up to talk with her, to bicker with her? A’Luo felt a hollow emptiness slowly expanding in her chest, tears falling in large drops. Memories surfaced one after another. So this was how much she actually cared about him. She had thought she wouldn’t get entangled emotionally with anyone in this world, had thought she would simply wander freely, find some place free of conflict, and live out her life in seclusion. But why did she care this much? Why did the thought of him never waking again hurt so badly?
She gently stroked Liu Jue’s brow, murmuring, “Actually, you’re quite handsome.” Her fingers slid down his nose. “Actually, you’re quite cool too.” She brushed his lips. “You really are sharp-tongued but soft-hearted.” Suddenly remembering how she’d inexplicably ended up in this world, living each day in fear, she couldn’t help crying again, aggrieved.
Liu Jue’s eyelashes twitched. His head throbbed badly; in his daze he saw A’Luo’s tear-streaked face, like a pear blossom in rain, right in front of him. He mumbled, “Am I dreaming…”
A’Luo snapped to attention and, without hesitation, shouted, “Someone! Doctor! Physician! Liu Ying!”
Hearing the scream from inside, Liu Ying and the others rushed in, asking repeatedly, “What happened?”
A’Luo was at a loss for words, pointing at Liu Jue. “He, he, that—”
Liu Ying stepped forward quickly, hand outstretched. “Where’s the medicine?”
An attendant hurried to hand over the medicinal decoction that had already been prepared, and Liu Ying quickly fed it into Liu Jue’s mouth. A’Luo watched anxiously. “Will it work? Will this actually work? Is this just a last flare before the end?”
After the medicine went down, Liu Jue’s throat tasted bitter, then soothed. His vision finally cleared. In a weak but calm voice, he said, “If I die, you’ll be free — don’t even think about it.”
A’Luo froze, then turned to Liu Ying. “He’s not going to die?!”
Liu Ying lowered his head, embarrassed. “He’s lost too much blood!”
Liu Jue reached out and grabbed A’Luo’s hand, lying back down and closing his eyes. “You’re not allowed to leave!”
A’Luo felt his grip was still strong and couldn’t help but laugh through her tears. Her heart eased with relief, realizing Gu Tianxiang had misled her. She answered softly, “I won’t leave.”
Her eyes turned to Liu Ying. “You were smiling just now?”
Liu Ying’s face flushed red at once. “Yes — yes, tears of overwhelming joy! I — I’ll go check the kitchen!”
“Wait. Tell the kitchen — from now on, every meal must include pork liver for him. Porridge or soup, either is fine, and steep dates and goji berries in water for him to drink.” A’Luo thought over what little she knew about foods that replenish blood, and hurried to instruct Liu Ying.
Liu Jue’s head was still spinning badly; he had no strength to speak, but a faint smile rose at the corners of his mouth. He held onto A’Luo’s hand and refused to let go, and just like that, fell into a deep sleep again.
When he woke, his energy had recovered to seventy or eighty percent. Moving his body, he felt a sharp pain in his right chest; he circulated his internal energy briefly and found no serious issue. Opening his eyes, he discovered he was still holding A’Luo’s hand — she was slumped by the bedside, still asleep, with only a blanket draped over her shoulders. Fortunately the brazier was burning strong, and the room was as warm as spring. Liu Jue looked at her slightly swollen, reddened eyes, his gaze softening, then suddenly cried out, “Ouch, it hurts so much!”
A’Luo jolted awake. Seeing Liu Jue frowning in pain, she immediately remembered the events of the previous night and said hurriedly, “You’re not going to die!”
“It hurts!”
“Of course it hurts after being stabbed with a sword — there’s no anesthetic here.” A’Luo had no choice but to call out, “Someone! Your general is awake!”
A maid came in, bringing water steeped with dates and goji berries, saying happily, “The General is awake! The physician also said it’s nothing serious — resting for about ten days will let the wound heal nicely.”
The maid handed the water to Liu Jue, who was thirsty and drank it all in one go, then cried out again, “It hurts so much!”
A’Luo’s eyes reddened, welling with tears again. “What should we do?” She turned to the maid. “Go ask the physician if there’s any medicine that can relieve the pain!”
Liu Jue’s heart warmed. “So you do worry about me after all.”
A blush rose on A’Luo’s face, delicate and alluring, her eyes still misted with tears, soft as water. Liu Jue stared at her, unable to look away, then suddenly frowned. “Did Tianxiang come by?”
A’Luo turned her face aside and nodded.
“He saw you like this?”
“Huh? What’s wrong with that?”
“Didn’t I say you’re not allowed to step outside this room?” Liu Jue’s voice turned cold.
A’Luo grew annoyed. “You looked like you were dying, what was I supposed to do!” She angrily tried to pull her hand away.
Liu Jue gripped it tighter, closing his eyes. “Did I ever say you could leave?”
A’Luo glared at him, helpless, and after a long moment said bitterly, “If it weren’t for the fact that you’re injured, I’d beat you until you couldn’t find your own teeth!”
“I want to eat the dishes you make! Nothing vegetarian!” Liu Jue added.
“Then let go of my hand!” A’Luo was so annoyed she almost wanted to laugh — how could he still be so whiny and petulant?
“You’re mine — I won’t let go!” Liu Jue remained utterly unreasonable.
“So you want me to marry you?” A’Luo asked softly.
“It’s not about wanting — it’s already settled!”
“Then let go of my hand right now! I’ll go make you something to eat!”
Liu Jue slowly opened his eyes and released her hand. She stood up, put her hands on her hips, and said with a cold smile, “I’ll make you something to eat, but if you want me to marry you, you’d better have a better attitude, hmph!” With that, she swept out grandly.
Liu Jue gritted his teeth, and the moment he moved, his chest wound gave a sharp pull of pain. He thought to himself: what arrogance!