This time, Chen Jinan was gone nearly an hour before returning. When he came back, not only did he bring fruit, but also a bunch of assorted leaves and herbs. Feng Lezhen glanced over and recognized one as the bleeding-stem herb he mentioned earlier.
“I found some more herbs. If Your Highness runs a fever again tonight, we won’t be left helpless,” Chen Jinan said as he handed her all the fruit and began categorizing the herbs.
Feng Lezhen sounded a little exasperated. “Aren’t you tired? Sit down and rest.”
“I’m not tired.” Chen Jinan looked up at her. His eyes were clear and bright—he was clearly doing well. “The bleeding-stem herb doesn’t just stop bleeding—it can also boost energy. Unfortunately, it’s harmful to women, so only I can use it.”
Feng Lezhen raised her eyebrows. “What kind of medicine is gendered?”
“It’s not exactly gendered,” Chen Jinan paused, unintentionally avoiding her gaze, “It’s just that the herb is extremely cold in nature, and women are yin by constitution—so they shouldn’t use it carelessly.”
“Mister Shen taught you that too?” Feng Lezhen asked.
Chen Jinan paused, then nodded.
Feng Lezhen sighed softly again. “Then rest.”
Only then did Chen Jinan stop. Seeing that she still looked fatigued, he hesitated, then quietly scooted closer to her.
The cave wasn’t very large, so any small movement of his fell easily into Feng Lezhen’s line of sight. Knowing he wanted to act as her pillow, she stopped him. “No need to come closer. I can sit on my own.”
Chen Jinan froze, his gaze turning helpless.
…Ever since their reunion, he seemed more fragile than before—easily hurt by the smallest slight. Feng Lezhen had no choice but to explain, “You’re still injured. I can’t bear to lean on you.”
She had once suffered a minor burn as a child—a mere red mark—but even that had hurt when touched. His were large burns. She could hardly imagine the pain he endured last night when she’d put her full weight on him.
“I don’t hurt,” he said seriously.
Feng Lezhen gave a small smile and knocked his head lightly. “Doesn’t matter. Even if you don’t hurt, it’s still not allowed.”
Chen Jinan pressed his lips together and, sure enough, didn’t argue further.
Seeing him finally quiet down, Feng Lezhen handed over some fruit. Realizing what she intended, Chen Jinan immediately tried to refuse, but she cut him off before he could speak:
“Eat. My foot can’t move, so I’ll have to rely on you for everything. If you don’t have the strength, then I really will be out of options.”
Chen Jinan knew she was right. But knowing was one thing—splitting food when supplies were scarce was another. He hesitated for a long while, and in the end only took the smallest fruit.
Feng Lezhen didn’t bother arguing with him. She kept one to quench her thirst and tossed the rest to him.
“Eat all of them,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
Chen Jinan had no choice but to obey.
The two sat facing each other, finishing off the pitifully few fruits, and then began reapplying medicine to Chen Jinan’s wounds.
It had only been two hours since the last application. His back hadn’t changed much. Feng Lezhen carefully removed the old herbs, and halfway through, she noticed he hadn’t moved at all.
“If it hurts, tell me. I’ll be gentler,” she reminded him.
Chen Jinan lowered his head. “It doesn’t hurt.”
“Fool. How could it not hurt?” Feng Lezhen sighed.
“It really doesn’t hurt,” he repeated.
Feng Lezhen knew once he got stubborn, no one could talk him out of it. So she didn’t try anymore and simply did her best to be as gentle as possible.
When the treatment was done, Chen Jinan didn’t react at all, but she was drenched in sweat. After catching her breath, she followed his gaze toward the narrow strip of sky outside the cave.
“I wonder how Ah Ye and the others are doing,” her voice lightened. “She was outside the gates when the explosion happened—her life should’ve been spared. But since Feng Ji dared to do something as despicable as blowing up our ancestral tomb, he must’ve planned more. Still, if Wanwan sent help immediately, Ah Ye should be fine.”
“What should we do now, Your Highness?” Chen Jinan asked quietly.
“Right now, we don’t know the full situation, and with the way we look, it’s not wise to return to the capital just yet. But staying here isn’t safe either…” Though they were well-hidden, the picked herbs, their footprints—all were signs of their presence on the mountain. If their allies came, it would be fine. But if Feng Ji’s people showed up… they would definitely be found.
Feng Lezhen was silent for a moment. “When I came to the capital earlier, I left a few people in Zhou family village outside the city. You can go find them and have them send word to the capital.”
“Then once it’s dark, we’ll leave,” Chen Jinan nodded after thinking through their current situation.
Feng Lezhen gave a bitter smile. “With my foot like this, how can I possibly leave?”
Chen Jinan was momentarily stunned—then he suddenly realized why she had said “you” and not “we” earlier when talking about leaving. His gaze dimmed at once. Without even thinking, he grabbed her wrist: “No. If we leave, we leave together.”
“The Junan River runs through five or six cities. Feng Ji doesn’t know where we came ashore—it won’t be easy for him to find us. If you go report it yourself, you’ll be quicker. Maybe our people will arrive before his do. I’ll stay here and wait—it’ll also spare me the jostling.” Feng Lezhen tried to persuade him.
But the usually obedient Chen Jinan was extremely stubborn now. No matter how much she spoke, he just repeated firmly, “If we go, we go together.”
“Chen Jinan.” Feng Lezhen was clearly displeased.
Normally, whenever she called his full name, Chen Jinan would immediately give in. But this time, no matter what, he refused. “I can’t leave Your Highness here alone.”
“Going with you is just as dangerous,” Feng Lezhen frowned.
“At least if I’m here, as long as I’m breathing, I can give Your Highness a sliver of a chance,” Chen Jinan retorted.
Just the thought of her alone in this cave, with no knowing if she’d face wolves or tigers, was enough to drive him mad.
Feng Lezhen took a deep breath. “What did I teach you before? Now that you’re a general, your wings have hardened, huh?”
“Your Highness can say whatever you want,” Chen Jinan turned his face stubbornly, “Either we both stay, or we both go. There’s no third option.”
Feng Lezhen closed her eyes and fell silent.
She had countless ways to force him to yield, but the moment she looked at the burns on his body, she couldn’t bear to use any of them on him… There were still a few hours until nightfall. She might as well think a little longer—maybe she’d find a gentler way to convince him to leave alone.
The cave was silent, save for Feng Lezhen’s occasional sighs. Each one struck like a heavy drumbeat, unsettling Chen Jinan to his core. Several times he nearly caved, but then gritted his teeth and stayed quiet, thinking of what might happen if he gave in.
The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating. Time passed quietly, and the cave gradually darkened. Feng Lezhen still said nothing, only stared silently at the sky outside.
After a long while, rustling sounds came from beside her. Feng Lezhen didn’t look back, but she could feel the chill radiating from him… After all, he’d been bare-chested all day—how could he not be cold?
He seemed to know he didn’t have enough warmth to offer either. After inching closer, he didn’t dare get too near, and instead quietly tugged at the corner of her sleeve. “Your Highness…”
Feng Lezhen deliberately ignored him. As a result, the rustling behind her fell silent.
They stayed like that for a long time, until finally she couldn’t help but turn her head. What she saw was a pair of reddened eyes.
Her heart softened all of a sudden. Just as she was about to speak, he said with a stern face, “Even if Your Highness ignores me for the rest of your life, I still won’t give in.”
Feng Lezhen: “…” What a stubborn child.
They stared at each other in silence for a long moment. She finally sighed. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure,” Chen Jinan replied firmly.
Feng Lezhen said, “My foot can’t walk. You’ll have to carry me.”
“I’m willing to,” Chen Jinan nodded immediately.
Feng Lezhen raised an eyebrow. “What about the wounds on your back…”
“It doesn’t hurt,” Chen Jinan said quickly. “The bleeding-stem herb worked great. I haven’t felt any pain in a while. If Your Highness doesn’t believe me, you can touch and see for yourself.”
As he spoke, Chen Jinan boldly grabbed Feng Lezhen’s hand and pressed it against his lower back. Feng Lezhen instinctively curled her fingers, but still ended up touching the wound. She frowned and looked up at him, but couldn’t find a single trace of pain on his face.
Originally, Feng Lezhen had thought he was faking it just to reassure her. But now, observing his reaction—along with remembering how he hadn’t flinched at all when she treated his wounds earlier in the day—she began to believe him a little. “Is that medicine really that miraculous?”
“It is. There’s actually bleeding-stem herb in Your Highness’s wound ointment too—Master Shen just didn’t add much of it,” Chen Jinan answered, once again bringing up Shen Suifeng.
Feng Lezhen pressed her lips together, then after a pause said, “Even if it doesn’t hurt now, walking all the way will surely make the injuries worse.”
“I’ll just rest well afterwards,” Chen Jinan didn’t seem to think it was a big deal.
Feng Lezhen said, “Carrying me, you won’t move fast.”
“I have good stamina. We’ll definitely reach Zhou family Village before dawn,” Chen Jinan replied.
She’d raised two concerns, and he’d rebutted both. What else was there to say? Feng Lezhen let out a faint smile and extended her hand toward him. “Then I’ll trouble my great general.”
Chen Jinan finally smiled. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Silly boy,” Feng Lezhen said helplessly.
Chen Jinan smiled even more brightly. As if afraid she’d change her mind, he quickly dressed, then bent down to carry her on his back.
The moment Feng Lezhen lay across his back, she clearly felt his body stiffen. She frowned and immediately asked, “Can you manage?”
“I can.” Chen Jinan answered. To prove it, he even hoisted her up a little higher.
Feng Lezhen hadn’t expected the usually steady him to do something so reckless. She quickly wrapped her arms around his neck and scolded with a laugh, “Don’t show off! Watch your wounds!”
Chen Jinan’s lips curved silently upward. Using the cover of night, he carried her out of the cave.
The place they were hiding in was a small, desolate mountain. It wasn’t steep, but the ground was littered with loose stones, and wild grasses grew everywhere. Chen Jinan had only just stepped out of the cave when he nearly tripped, and a branch scraped a shallow cut across Feng Lezhen’s face.
Feng Lezhen pressed her lips together and said, “You watch your footing. I’ll take care of clearing these messy branches.”
“Then Your Highness, please be careful not to hurt your hands,” Chen Jinan replied. He knew this wasn’t the time for pride, so he readily agreed.
The two of them worked together like that as they descended. Although it was smoother than expected, it was still very difficult. The moon gradually rose overhead, casting its light over the wild mountain, making the forest look like a monstrous creature with claws bared. Lying on Chen Jinan’s back, Feng Lezhen gazed at the strange landscape and listened to his increasingly labored breathing. It felt like they had stumbled into some demon realm.
She suddenly felt grateful for Chen Jinan’s stubbornness. If she had stayed alone in the cave, facing this vast wilderness and crushing solitude, who knows how much melancholy would have taken root in her.
With eyes lowered, she quietly rested her head against his shoulder.
“Don’t be afraid, Your Highness. We’re almost at the foot of the mountain,” Chen Jinan paused, then spoke softly.
“With you here, what’s there to be afraid of?” Feng Lezhen wiped the sweat off his brow, her breath brushing against his neck. “Don’t worry about me—do you want to rest for a bit?”
“No need. I’ll rest once we’re at the bottom,” Chen Jinan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He hoisted her up again.
Feng Lezhen heard his breathing suddenly grow heavier, before quickly settling again, as though he were suppressing something.
“Are you hurting?” she asked, frowning.
Chen Jinan smiled. “The medicine we just applied—how could it hurt? I just lost my footing for a second and panicked.”
Feng Lezhen curled her lips slightly, about to speak, when she suddenly caught a flicker of firelight in the corner of her eye. Both of them froze. Chen Jinan immediately tried to find a hiding spot, but they had already reached the base of the mountain, and there was nothing but dead branches and rocks—no real cover.
The firelight grew in number and intensity, clearly headed in their direction. Chen Jinan’s heart sank. He turned to run back up the mountain with Feng Lezhen, but she quickly realized what he intended and warned him, “You can’t go back up!”
Judging by the approaching footsteps, a large group was already nearby. If they were going to search the mountain, heading upward now might temporarily avoid detection, but it would also cut off any escape route.
Chen Jinan had only reacted instinctively in his panic. Once she reminded him, he came to a sudden halt.
But it was already too late—the firelight was gathering in their direction. To avoid triggering unnatural movement in the branches while running, he could only carry Feng Lezhen and duck toward the cliff wall nearby.
The cliffside was steep and barely wide enough for two people to stand. A step forward meant falling off a sheer drop. To stand more stably, Chen Jinan had no choice but to set Feng Lezhen down first. But the moment she stood, her injured foot slipped, and she almost tumbled off the edge.
“Don’t be afraid, Your Highness,” Chen Jinan held her tightly. Hearing her panicked heartbeat, he whispered, “We’re already at the foot of the mountain. This may be a cliff, but it shouldn’t be too high.”
Feng Lezhen nodded and, using the cliff wall for cover, peeked outside.
In the short time they’d been hiding, the spot where they had previously stood was now crowded with people. A thin, wiry man stood with his back to them. He looked familiar, but the flickering torchlight made it hard to see his face clearly.
“Keep your eyes sharp—don’t let a single fly escape until the search is done!”
It was Li Tong.
Feng Lezhen’s gaze turned icy.
The footsteps multiplied, and the once-silent mountain base grew noisy. Chen Jinan held Feng Lezhen close, doing his best to minimize their presence. A few meters away, after giving the search orders, Li Tong personally led men up the mountain. The once-busy base suddenly had only two guards remaining.
“What’s with Li Gonggong? His Majesty already gave orders to stop the search, and the Imperial Guard’s been recalled too. Isn’t he afraid the Emperor will blame him when he returns to the palace?”
“Who knows what’s going on? We’re his people—we naturally have to follow his orders. Either way, if anyone gets punished in the end, it’ll be him, not us.”
Hearing the two of them talking, Feng Lezhen suddenly felt thankful that Jinan had insisted on taking her with him. If she had stayed alone in the cave, she would’ve surely been found by Li Tong by now. And once Jinan discovered those people, he would no doubt have turned back for her… Thinking of what would’ve happened if they were captured, even someone as fearless as Feng Lezhen broke into a cold sweat.
“You make it sound easy. When the time comes to take the blame, you think he won’t throw us under the bus?”
“That I don’t know. All I know is, if we don’t follow his orders now, we might not live to make it back to the palace. Don’t forget you and that maid from the Consort Dowager’s palace—who’s there?!”
Before he could finish, a faint sound came from behind them. The two immediately shouted, but there was no further movement.
“W-Who’s there…” one of them called out cautiously, while the other crept toward the cliffside. Just as he was about to step forward, his foot suddenly slipped.
“Careful!” His companion quickly pulled him back. He raised his torch, revealing a small cliff edge ahead.
He’d nearly stepped into it. One more step and he would have fallen straight down.
“What was that sound just now?” It was a small area—under torchlight, everything was visible. Below the cliff, all they could see were tangled branches—nothing else.
“Probably a rabbit or something,” one of them muttered. They turned and returned to their original spot to continue keeping watch.
Below the cliff, Feng Lezhen was leaning against a tree, her vision swimming with black spots.
Just moments ago, she and Chen Jinan had been eavesdropping when they lost their balance and fell off the cliff. Thankfully, as he’d said, they were near the foot of the mountain, and the cliff wasn’t too high. The branches had caught them on the way down, so they hadn’t been killed in the fall.
But when she landed, her already injured right foot struck a rock again. The pain was so intense it left her drenched in cold sweat, yet she didn’t dare make a sound—she could only gasp for air like a fish out of water.
After a long while, the pain dulled to something she could bear. Her body felt as if she’d just been pulled out of water, soaked in sweat. As her mind cleared, she realized Chen Jinan had made no sound at all since the fall.
“Jinan…” she called tentatively.
No response.
“Jinan!” Panic surged in her chest, but she didn’t dare raise her voice. She lowered it forcefully and struggled to crawl around, groping blindly. “Jinan, where are you? Are you alright…”
“…Hhh—”
A sharp, labored inhale suddenly broke the silence, followed by a muffled cough.
Feng Lezhen’s eyes lit up immediately. She scrambled toward the sound. “Jinan!”
“Your Highness…” Chen Jinan’s voice was low, but he quickly reached out.
In the dark, their hands met. Feng Lezhen finally felt her heart settle.
“Are you hurt?” she asked softly. She hadn’t forgotten that the moment they fell, it was his body that shielded hers. The branches had been kept from hurting her because of him. But the impact had separated them almost instantly.
“…No. I just blacked out for a moment. Are you alright, Your Highness?” Chen Jinan, now fully awake, gripped her hand more tightly.
“I’m fine too,” Feng Lezhen replied.
“Then we should leave now—no telling what might happen if we wait.” Chen Jinan struggled to sit up. In the dark, Feng Lezhen saw him tuck something into his clothes.
His breathing was faster than before. She didn’t ask what he had hidden, only worriedly said, “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine—just sore all over from the fall.” Chen Jinan chuckled despite himself.
Feng Lezhen laughed too, then sighed. “I’m sore all over too.”
“When we get back, we’ll sleep for days.”
“You can sleep as long as you want—no need to report for duty like the others.”
“…Will I still get my monthly pay?” Chen Jinan asked suddenly.
Feng Lezhen clearly hadn’t expected him to joke with her. She paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.
In the darkness, hearing her laugh made Chen Jinan’s face heat up. Maybe it was because he’d grown used to army life over the past six months, or maybe the night emboldened him—either way, he found himself rambling on.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, he was just wondering whether he should apologize when he heard Feng Lezhen teasingly ask, “And what would you use your monthly pay for?”
“To buy jewelry for Your Highness,” Chen Jinan replied without hesitation.
Feng Lezhen blinked, something in her chest suddenly struck.
Compared to the jokes, it was the honest words that suited him more. Composing himself, Chen Jinan said seriously, “When I was in the south, I saw a fine piece of jade rough. If it were carved into a hair ornament, Your Highness would surely love it.”
“Did you buy it?” Feng Lezhen asked, unable to hide the smile in her eyes.
Chen Jinan fell silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his tone was sheepish: “…Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“…It’s too expensive.”
Feng Lezhen: “…”
“M-My monthly pay is decent, but still not enough for that piece of jade,” Chen Jinan explained hurriedly. “But I did save that merchant’s life—he promised to hold it for me for ten years.”
“…Ten years?” Feng Lezhen’s tone turned oddly amused.
Chen Jinan didn’t notice. He kept explaining earnestly: “Actually, it won’t take that long. Now that I’m a general, all my expenses are covered by the army—I don’t spend anything extra. At most, it’ll take six years.”
He seemed genuinely committed to saving money to buy her something, and his breakdown of the timeline was quite methodical.
When she heard him say he was going to spend six years of his salary on a piece of raw jade, Feng Lezhen felt as if something had filled her chest—so full it was almost overwhelming.
“Why are you so good to me?” she asked softly. “Even if I’ve shown you some kindness, these past years of loyal service should’ve repaid it already. Why still be so good to me?”
Six years without spending a coin, saving every penny just to buy a single set of jewelry—others might never do such a thing, but he absolutely could. After all, the crystal lantern he once gifted her was still hanging outside her window.
“There are actually many people in this world who treat me well,” she said. “Many who are willing to die for me. But you…”
Ah Ye had followed her since childhood, Qin Wan owed her life to her, then there was Qi Jingren, Fan Gonggong… There were too many who would give everything for her. But none of them would live like an ascetic for six years, just to buy her a gift she might not even care about.
Feng Lezhen let out a quiet sigh. “You’re just too good to me. I honestly don’t know why.”
“Because…” Chen Jinan only got out one word before abruptly closing his mouth.
Feng Lezhen asked, puzzled, “Because what?”
“…Because Your Highness is the best master in the world,” Chen Jinan said resolutely.
Feng Lezhen could tell he wasn’t telling the full truth—at least not all of it. But she didn’t feel like digging into something so unimportant on a night like this. She gave a silent smile and reached for a nearby tree to help herself up.
Chen Jinan noticed her movement and immediately reached out to assist her. Feng Lezhen also lifted her hand—but her fingertips accidentally brushed against his belt.
“It’s wet,” she said.
“Mmm,” Chen Jinan replied. “I brushed against quite a bit of dew just now.”
Feng Lezhen rubbed her fingers together. “This dew feels kind of sticky. And it’s not even that much.”
“Not much. Just that spot,” Chen Jinan circled around to face her. “Come on up, Your Highness.”
Feng Lezhen responded with a soft “mm,” and carefully leaned onto his back, afraid of worsening the injuries on his back.
Chen Jinan said nothing more. He took a deep breath and began walking forward, leaving all the flickering torches on the desolate mountain behind them.
There was no moonlight tonight—the sky and earth were shrouded in darkness. Who knew how long this road would be? As Feng Lezhen listened to Chen Jinan’s heavy breathing, she reached out and touched his forehead—it was slick with sweat.
“Why are you sweating so much?” she asked in a low voice.
Chen Jinan tried to even out his breathing before speaking but found it too difficult and gave up: “I… was walking fast. It’s normal to sweat.”
“Why don’t you put me down and just support me while we walk? It might be easier,” Feng Lezhen quickly suggested.
Chen Jinan shook his head. “That would be too slow. If they catch up, it’ll be bad.”
Feng Lezhen furrowed her brow. She was just about to argue that such a long journey couldn’t rely on him alone, when Chen Jinan suddenly spoke first: “That man earlier—was it Li Tong?”
“Yes.”
“Wasn’t he working in the Cold Palace as a menial? How’d he suddenly pop up again?” Having spent half a year at Mount Yangyue and a few months now in the capital, Chen Jinan still knew some palace gossip.
Feng Lezhen replied, “A centipede dies but never stiffens.”
Chen Jinan’s expression darkened. “If I’d known this, I should’ve killed him back then.”
Feng Lezhen chuckled. “You had no feud with him. What reason would you have had to kill him?”
Well… not exactly no feud. In his past life, he had been killed by Li Tong. But that was a past life…
Feng Lezhen sighed quietly and leaned carefully against Chen Jinan’s back.
Sensing the warmth of her body, Chen Jinan felt his heart soften all at once. And in that softness, his mind wandered just slightly.
“This Li Tong is nothing but a petty clown. What I’m more curious about,” Feng Lezhen said, her face pressed against his neck, not minding the sweat, “is why Feng Ji would recall the imperial guards who were searching for me. He blew up the royal tombs—clearly a desperate, final move. He would want to find me at any cost, dead or alive. So why would he give up… unless…”
“Unless something forced him to. Something that made him have to call back the guards,” Chen Jinan finished her thought.
Feng Lezhen let out a quiet laugh. “Looks like our people aren’t sitting idle after all.”
Chen Jinan gave a small grunt of agreement and kept walking.
Feng Lezhen raised her sleeve to wipe his sweat again and said, “You should really rest for a bit.”
Now that she knew Feng Ji had been checked, she no longer felt quite as urgent about returning.
But Chen Jinan declined. “If Li Tong’s men find the cave, they’ll realize we’re nearby. We need to get as far away as we can.”
“Can your body still take it?” she asked again.
“I can manage. I won’t push myself too hard,” Chen Jinan replied firmly.
“But you’re sweating so much.” Feng Lezhen frowned slightly.
Chen Jinan smiled—his breath caught for a moment but he masked it quickly. “We’re rushing. Of course I’d be sweating. The smell must be awful—apologies, Your Highness.”
“What hardship is there for me?” Feng Lezhen said helplessly. She leaned once again against his neck. His body felt cool now—probably from the sweat—and after a moment’s thought, she reached out and covered the exposed skin with her palm. At once, she felt the muscles underneath tense.
Feng Lezhen closed her eyes and sighed softly. “You…”
Chen Jinan pressed his lips together, obedient as ever.
There was no moon tonight. No stars, either. Likely tomorrow would be overcast.
Feng Lezhen pressed her face to his sweat-drenched nape, listening to his labored breathing, and before she knew it, drifted off to sleep.
It wasn’t a restful sleep. When she opened her eyes, her whole body ached—her limbs no longer felt like her own. Meanwhile, the pace of Chen Jinan’s footsteps had clearly slowed.
“Stop and rest,” she said softly.
Chen Jinan replied, “We can’t. We have to find our people before dawn.”
“Just rest a little. A moment more won’t make a difference.”
“No…”
“Jinan,” Feng Lezhen called his name.
Chen Jinan fell silent for a moment, then finally stopped.
The road to Zhou Family Village was a flat one, lined with vast fields of farmland. Young wheat shoots had already begun to sprout, and when the wind passed over them, it looked like a silent sea rippling.
The two of them hid in a dry ditch between the road and the fields. For a time, neither spoke.
After a long while, Feng Lezhen asked in a low voice, “Are you alright?”
“I’m fine. And Your Highness?” Chen Jinan returned the question. Perhaps he was just too exhausted from walking so far—his voice was weak and breathless.
In the darkness, Feng Lezhen shifted slightly closer to him, and once again her hand brushed against his robes—they were still damp.
“They’re still wet,” Feng Lezhen murmured.
“Mmm. It’s a humid night, clothes don’t dry easily,” Chen Jinan said, pulling his robe back.
Feng Lezhen adjusted her own tattered dress, only to find a damp patch from her calf to her ankle—it must’ve been from clinging to his waist, rubbing against the wet on his body.
She rubbed her fingers together. It felt a little sticky, but she didn’t think much of it.
Chen Jinan only rested a short while before insisting they continue on. Feng Lezhen had no choice but to bend one leg and carefully climb onto his back again.
As he supported her legs and stood up, his body suddenly wobbled. Feng Lezhen instinctively tightened her grip around his neck. Before she could ask what was wrong, she felt him steady himself.
“I stood up too quickly, felt a little dizzy,” he explained on his own.
Feng Lezhen frowned deeply. “Are you sure you’re alright?”
“What could happen to me?” Chen Jinan laughed and continued walking through the darkness with her on his back.
This night felt endlessly long—so long that as Feng Lezhen stared at the road that seemed to stretch on forever, she truly felt they might die out here. And yet, night was also far too short—daybreak could come at any moment.
She lay against Chen Jinan’s back and once again drifted off to sleep.
This time, she slept quite well, without any dreams. It was only partway through that she vaguely heard someone calling her.
“Your Highness… Your Highness…”
Feng Lezhen opened her eyes and only after a while realized it was Chen Jinan’s voice.
“You’re awake?” he asked when he heard her breathing change.
Feng Lezhen softly answered, “How long did I sleep?”
“Nearly an hour,” Chen Jinan replied. “It’s almost dawn.”
Feng Lezhen looked toward the sky—it was already tinged with pale gray. The surrounding wheat fields were also becoming clearer.
“Your Highness, we’ve got about an hour left before we reach Zhou Family Village. Do you still remember how to get there?” he asked gently.
Feng Lezhen closed her eyes briefly. “Yes. Follow this road to the end, turn left into a small path, then cross the mountain road and we’ll be there.”
Chen Jinan gave a short laugh. “Good. Do you think… Your right foot—can you walk on it?”
Feng Lezhen tried moving it. A stabbing pain shot through her foot, making her frown, but she still said, “Yes. Put me down.”
She thought he couldn’t hold on any longer and wanted her to walk for a while.
But Chen Jinan didn’t let her down. He just smiled and said, “I can still carry Your Highness a bit longer. But after that, I’ll need to trouble you to walk on your own.”
“What do you mean by—” Feng Lezhen started to ask, but then her gaze suddenly fell on her own fingertips.
In the dim light of dawn, she saw that they were stained with a not-so-old red—already dried, but still reminiscent of that sticky sensation when it was fresh.
“Chen Jinan…” she heard her own voice tremble.
Chen Jinan acted as if he didn’t hear, continuing to walk forward with her on his back.
“Chen Jinan, stop!” she suddenly raised her voice.
In the very next instant, Chen Jinan collapsed to the ground. Feng Lezhen instinctively shielded his head as they both fell to the earth.
Her injured right foot was crushed under them. The pain sent a wave of blackness across her vision. When her sight barely recovered, she saw that Chen Jinan lay still, unmoving.
Only then did she see clearly—his once-handsome face had long since been scratched by countless twigs, and in his abdomen, a branch as thick as a thumb was embedded. Bright red blood slowly oozed from the wound beneath the branch, soaking through most of his robes.
Her own dress, too, was stained with that same color.
