Jing Wang’s brow furrowed in confusion, his gaze focused on her hand. He lifted her sleeve, revealing two shocking wounds. Jing Wang inhaled sharply at the sight – two wounds nearly exposing bone, wrapped around her wrist and occasionally seeping blood. Fortunately, her hand was not permanently damaged.
Jing Wang couldn’t describe his current emotions, like an overturned five-flavor bottle, with sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty all mixed together, making him feel uncomfortable. With a trembling heart, he gently pulled her hand and applied medicine to her wrist. Tears welled up in his eyes. Who could be so heartless to leave her in such a miserable state? Given her current status, it seemed there was no one but him who could have done this. Suddenly recalling the hatred between Huoyuan Nan and the Manyi Nation, he was certain this was because of that incident, and she had become a sacrifice. How unfair it was to her. At this moment, Jing Wang’s pity for her exceeded his infatuation. A firm belief arose to rescue her from her suffering.
The midday sunlight was piercingly bright and scorching. However, Shan Xiaoya, lying in bed, felt no warmth from the sunlight. She had been bedridden for two days, with each day consisting only of eating, applying medicine, and sleeping – nothing else. Her previous whip wounds had restricted her movement, and now her foot injury further limited her actions. Though her body was mostly unharmed, she felt incredibly frustrated. If she moved, her foot would hurt terribly.
Xiaoyu entered the room.
“Shan Xiaoya sat up, reminding Xiaoyu for the nth time, ‘I’m not a madam. Don’t call me that again.’ Xiaoyu smiled and said nothing.
Shan Xiaoya continued, ‘Xiaoyu, please open the door wide and all the windows. I want to see the sunlight outside.’ Xiaoyu followed Shan Xiaoya’s instructions and opened all doors and windows.
Shan Xiaoya gazed out the window at the multicolored sunlight, her disappointment evident.
Huoyuan Nan returned from the training ground and entered Shan Xiaoya’s room. He waved away Xiaoyu, who bowed and left the room.
Huoyuan Nan approached Shan Xiaoya’s bed. Softly, he asked, ‘Do you want to go out?’
Shan Xiaoya nodded, then looked up, meeting his concerned gaze.
Before she could respond, Huoyuan Nan draped a cloak over her and lifted her, striding towards the door. His hard chest and powerful arms held her tightly.
Shan Xiaoya suddenly found herself in his embrace, a distinctly masculine scent enveloping her.”
The smell wasn’t entirely unpleasant, but his embrace felt cold and rigid, unsuitable for her.
She passively allowed him to carry her outside, finally feeling the sunlight on her skin, its warm embrace. However, his stiffness disrupted the sunlight’s beauty.
Hu Yannan gained an additional daily task of bringing Shan Xiaoya out to sunbathe after returning from the training ground. Sometimes they would sit together for an entire afternoon. Not a single word would be spoken, with Shan Xiaoya closing her eyes to enjoy the sun bath, while Hu Yannan sat quietly watching her.
Every night when the moon rose and everything was silent, the Prince would sneak into Shan Xiaoya’s room, point her sleep acupoint, apply the royal special medicinal cream to her wounds, and gaze at her sleeping face until the sky began to lighten before leaving.
Shan Xiaoya’s wounds healed extraordinarily quickly, even surprising the doctors at the General’s mansion. In just seven days, such a serious injury had completely healed without leaving any trace. Upon careful observation, one could see a faint pink scar that would soon disappear entirely.
Shan Xiaoya looked at her recovered foot, happily walking back and forth. Her foot was finally good.
These past few days, being carried around by that man, she had forgotten what walking felt like. Now she would no longer be like a disabled person, dependent on others’ charity to sunbathe…
Hu Yannan entered the room to see Shan Xiaoya happily walking around. His heart felt complicated. These past days, he had used her inability to walk as an excuse to stay by her side. Now that she had recovered, what reason did he have to remain close to her? Right! She was his legitimate wife.
Hu Yannan set aside his hesitation and approached Shan Xiaoya. “Does your foot hurt when you step on the ground?”
“Thanks to you, I don’t feel any pain at all. You’ve worked hard these days. Thank you!” She nodded slightly at Hu Yannan.
Hearing her gratitude made Hu Yannan feel strange. He didn’t want things to be so distant between them. “It’s good that it doesn’t hurt. To celebrate your recovery, let’s have a drink tonight.” He then turned to Xiaoyu, “Prepare a full table.”
“Yes!” Xiaoyu responded and left the room.
Shan Xiaoya heard him call her directly by her name and was about to object, but then thought, “Whatever. I won’t be staying here long anyway, and it’s just a code name.” She gave Hu Yannan a friendly smile and continued walking around the room…
After fighting for many years and traveling through countless places, he had never heard of Hong Kong Village. Puzzled, he asked, “Which country is Hong Kong Village in?”
Dan Xiaoya blinked, “Hong Kong Village naturally belongs to the Golden Sun Country. But I just don’t know how to get back.”
Hu Yan Nan thought that since it was in the Golden Sun Country, it would be easy. He would send an official document to local officials to help find Hong Kong Village; he didn’t believe they couldn’t locate it. He patted Dan Xiaoya’s hand comfortingly, “Don’t worry, we’ll definitely find it. Leave this to me.”
Dan Xiaoya looked at his hand covering hers and gave him a sense of security. Her heart wavered slightly, and she revealed a charming smile. “General, I’ll leave everything to you.”
Hu Yan Nan, mesmerized by her smile, said enthusiastically, “No need to be polite, this is what I should do.” He looked at Dan Xiaoya with passionate eyes filled with desire. “Xiaoya, I…”
Dan Xiaoya lowered her head, pulling back her hand, and said with a coy glance, “General, I am a conservative woman. Before you formally marry me, I won’t…” She didn’t finish her sentence, covering her face with a handkerchief and running away.
Hu Yan Nan watched her stunning beauty, his inner fire burning fiercely.
Her shy and cute appearance made him parched and unable to restrain himself. Her sudden departure left him feeling like something was missing, as if a large part of his heart was gone.
Dan Xiaoya ran to a place she considered safe and stopped. Her face showed no shyness, but instead a mischievous grin. She looked back, confirming no one followed her, and laughed heartily. Although she had never slept with a man, she wasn’t someone who held chastity too preciously. If two people genuinely liked each other, she wouldn’t object to living together. But this general could forget it; she didn’t want any connection with him. Thinking about her just-performed melodramatic performance, she smiled wickedly.
Chapter 041
Huyan Nan looked at Shan Xiaoya’s retreating figure, feeling somewhat lost. He used to think Shan Xiaoya was wild and unruly, beautiful and stubborn, but somehow she had touched his long-frozen heart. Today, her feminine demeanor moved him even more. His heart tightened, and her feminine charm made his blood boil. Unfortunately, her request… he would not make it easy. No woman had ever piqued his interest like this, including Sisi. Yet she had accomplished it so simply… Ah!
Itching with desire, he suppressed his impulse to chase after her, picked up the wine jug, and gulped down all the wine directly from the jug.
Shan Xiaoya packed everything neatly, placing her most valuable items in her bag. She walked lightly towards the general’s mansion gate. Upon reaching the gate, the guard blocked her path.
“Madam! You cannot leave without the general’s order.”
