Shang Mian laughed, grasping her hand to tighten the reins and pulling the galloping horse back on course. He whispered in her ear, “So why were you shouting about riding a big horse on me that night?”
Ruan Ning almost kicked him off, her face flushed as she gritted her teeth. “Shang Mian, aren’t you afraid of having your tongue pulled out in hell?”
“Is that so?” Shang Mian laughed. “These are your words. I’m just repeating them.”
“When did I ever say that?” Ruan Ning felt embarrassed and angry, almost on the verge of tears.
Shang Mian hesitated, recalling that shortly after she mentioned riding a big horse, she had called out a man’s name during an altered state of mind. Her words then felt like a secret buried deep within her.
Should he press her? What good would that do? Anyway, she was his now, and no one could take her away.
Shang Mian laughed again, saying, “You said it when you lost your mind. I remember it was the first time you were on top.”
“Shut up!” Ruan Ning shouted in response.
The Xuanyi Guards nearby quietly moved a bit further away.
Shang Mian enjoyed her angry, puffed-up expression. He thought for a moment and added, “You seem to like being on top.”
“Shut up, shut up!” Ruan Ning was furious and reached out to cover his mouth, forgetting she was still on horseback.
Shang Mian quickly grabbed the reins to control the horse.
At the same time, he was restrained for the first time as she pulled his mouth and shouted, “Don’t say it!”
“My Lord!” A Xuanyi Guard who had been sent to scout returned, “There are at least 100,000 pursuers. Several newly promoted officers have been identified, indicating that at least half the troops from the capital have been deployed.”
Upon realizing his typically wise and powerful lord was sitting in a woman’s embrace, the guard was momentarily speechless.
“Return to the capital,” Shang Mian said, pushing away Ruan Ning’s hand.
Her breath was warm against him, but it felt cool on her earlobe. Ruan Ning, biting her lip, suddenly felt him take her earlobe into his mouth, his tongue tracing the contours with a hint of sensuality. She gripped his arm, breathing slightly, “Don’t, everyone’s watching…”
Realizing how softly seductive her voice had sounded, Ruan Ning hurriedly closed her mouth and cleared her throat. Shang Mian, still sleepy, raised his head and laughed softly, “Don’t worry, they all know and won’t look.”
Ruan Ning recalled reading that wealthy individuals often had servants attend to them in the bedroom, even during intimate moments. Her heart twinged, and she asked, “Do you do this in front of others with other women too?”
Shang Mian laughed, pinching her cheek and responding, “What do you think?”
His lack of denial left Ruan Ning disappointed.
Shang Mian chuckled, the starlight illuminating the rugged mountain path. Reminded of his youthful adventures, he mused how different it felt now with Ruan Ning beside him.
He raised his hand and said softly, “Rest here.”
The Xuanyi Guards dismounted. Shang Mian chose a grassy spot to sit, pulling Ruan Ning beside him and whispering, “Are you jealous?”
Ruan Ning rolled her eyes in response.
Shang Mian smiled as a guard approached to change his dressing. The red clothing was removed, revealing his muscular physique, with blood continuing to seep through the thick linen wrapped around his back.
The guard held his breath as he unwrapped the linen, carefully separating the parts that were stuck to the coagulated blood. His hand trembled with fear of hurting Shang Mian, while Ruan Ning watched, feeling inexplicably afraid of the severity of the wound. How could he endure this without resting?
Suddenly, Shang Mian reached back, tearing off a corner of the linen and tossing the soiled cloth aside. “Clean up, leave no trace,” he ordered.
Ruan Ning’s face turned pale, and she gripped Shang Mian’s hand tightly, as if her touch could ease his pain.
Shang Mian smiled and placed a cool kiss on her cheek. “Don’t be afraid, it doesn’t hurt.”
For a moment, Ruan Ning forgot they were in public and looked up at him, confused. “How can it not hurt? Stop being tough.”
“With you here, it doesn’t hurt,” he replied, nuzzling her forehead. “When I fought wars, it was much more painful. Without you, I didn’t feel pain. How could I feel pain now?”
His smile turned mischievous as he pointed to his mouth. “If you’re really worried, just kiss me. I bet it’ll work better than any medicine.”
Ruan Ning blushed. “You’re so badly injured, and you’re still not serious.”
“Kiss me, how about it?”
” He lowered his head, tracing her lips and whispering, “I’ve kissed every part of you, except here. You should make up for it.”
Ruan Ning yelped, covering her face and trying to run, but he caught her, pulling her into his embrace, laughing: “Will you or won’t you?”
“Shut up! Stop talking!” Ruan Ning shouted, covering her face.
The guard applying the hemostatic powder was startled and spilled half the bottle, covering Shang Mian in a thick layer of yellow powder.
The Xuanyi Guards looked skyward, thinking: We didn’t see or hear anything. We are the wind, the grass, the air. We do not exist for our master.
Shang Mian laughed softly. No matter how intimate they were, she always resisted kissing him, even when held down. He had never experienced a passionate kiss, but he felt he would soon taste that wonderful sensation.
Moonlight was bright, stars sparse. Horses grazed on mountain grass. The Xuanyi Guards rested, while Shang Mian lay on a thin blanket, side-lying with his head on Ruan Ning’s lap, sleeping soundly.
Ruan Ning wasn’t asleep yet, her eyes watching his wound closely. She remembered reading that external wounds heal better without immediate bandaging after hemostasis.
She had suggested applying powder and waiting for blood to coagulate before wrapping, which Shang Mian accepted. The bleeding had almost stopped; perhaps a scab would form soon, avoiding the pain of tearing the cloth again.
Faint sounds of grass insects chirping made the night silent.
Shang Mian slept peacefully, his long eyelashes casting a shadow like raven’s wings. Ruan Ning thought he looked youthful, recalling his teenage years—famous in battle at fifteen, spending over a decade fighting. For someone who had faced countless battlefields, what was this minor wound?
Unconsciously, she touched his hair. He was twenty-eight now, yet looked barely twenty. Beautiful people truly were heaven’s favorites.
Seemingly sensing her touch, Shang Mian reached out and held her hand. Ruan Ning thought he had awakened, but he remained asleep. This intimacy surprised her, as she recalled a time when being grabbed by the neck would threaten her. Today, when she yelled at him in public, he said nothing.
This won’t do; she wanted him to die. His quick change would soften her resolve and hinder her ability to act.
Ruan Ning leaned against a tree, her thoughts chaotic as she drifted into a dream.
When she woke, dawn had not yet arrived, and the team had already set out. Shang Yan was holding her on horseback. As soon as he noticed she was awake, he asked, “Are you cold?”
“No,” she replied hoarsely, touching his back, “Are you still bleeding?”
“The method you mentioned worked. There’s no more bleeding, and it’s scabbed over,” Shang Yan said, rubbing his lips on her forehead. He then kissed her lips, his eyes bright with laughter, “No wonder you didn’t let me kiss, turns out you have bad breath.”
The playful atmosphere vanished. Ruan Ning said, “Who doesn’t have morning breath? I don’t mind you, and you’re complaining about me?”
“Brushing teeth?” Shang Yan pondered. “You mean rinsing? Another new word.”
Ruan Ning remained silent, letting it go.
“Let’s go,” Shang Yan said, rubbing her head. “I’ll show you how I fight. Believe me, it’ll be interesting.”
