“Eat,” Chu Yuan said, bringing some meat and tearing off a piece to feed her. He then grabbed a handful of clean snow from the branch and passed it to her, saying, “Make do with this. There’s no water nearby.”
After eating wolf meat and chewing cold snow, Ruan Ning felt a bit better. She noticed the deep wound on Chu Yuan’s shoulder and asked, “Should you have a doctor look at your injury?”
Chu Yuan replied flatly, “No need. It’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Ruan Ning remained silent. Thankfully, he didn’t seem intent on killing her now.
They stayed on the branches for the rest of the night.
Ruan Ning initially fought to stay awake but eventually fell asleep. Upon waking, she found Chu Yuan holding her horizontally, her head resting on his injured shoulder, which he had padded with cloth to prevent discomfort.
Startled, Ruan Ning quickly sat up and met Chu Yuan’s dark eyes. He asked casually, “Awake?”
She nodded nervously, concerned about hurting his wound, but he seemed unconcerned, pulling her closer and stating, “Let’s go. The Emperor’s men are coming.”
Ruan Ning followed his gaze to a large group of soldiers in bright red robes kneeling silently beneath the tree, awaiting his command.
Without a word, Chu Yuan leaped down while still holding her and began walking. The soldiers rose to follow.
Nearby was a green sedan chair, but Chu Yuan ignored it and inquired, “Where’s my horse?”
A black horse was quickly brought to him. He mounted, securing Ruan Ning in his arms, and headed toward the city.
Ruan Ning hesitated, saying, “Your Highness, I’m a runaway slave. I can’t enter the capital…”
“With me here, no one will dare touch you,” Chu Yuan replied dismissively.
However, the original owner was not an ordinary runaway slave—she was the daughter of a recently beheaded minister. Ruan Ning quickly added, “My father was just executed, the Minister of Ning…”
“
Chu Yuan repeated, “With me here, no one will dare touch you.”
Ruan Ning finally relaxed, closing her eyes with tears sliding through her eyelashes.
“Open your eyes,” Chu Yuan said flatly.
Ruan Ning tightened her eyes.
“Open them,” he commanded, his voice rising slightly.
Trembling, Ruan Ning cracked her eyes open.
