Xin Hexue felt a little sleepy. He nuzzled Zhou Shanheng’s neck like a cat, adjusted to a comfortable position, and closed his eyes to nap.
He said, “Call me when we reach the foot of the mountain.”
Zhou Shanheng: “Alright.”
Zhou Shanheng’s back was broad and warm, his body tall and solid. He was not like the usual weak scholars, but also not as rough as a ruffian.
Overall, he was still a gentle and modest scholar.
The steps were long, but they made it safely to the foot of the mountain.
The foot of the mountain was not far from Xushou Village.
Xin Hexue said bluntly, “Zhou xiong, I’m quite thirsty. Can I go to your house for a cup of tea?”
Zhou Shanheng lowered his head, “If you don’t mind.”
Zhou Shanheng: “I still have some medicinal wine at home. Your ankle is swollen and there might be bruising. Using some medicinal wine to massage it should help.”
Xin Hexue agreed and Zhou Shanheng carried him home.
Zhou Erlang was probably still on the back mountain picking wild vegetables and hadn’t returned yet.
Because he was preoccupied with Xin Hexue’s injury, Zhou Shanheng didn’t notice that the water vat was missing a streak of white shadow.
He set Xin Hexue down on the bamboo chair and went to fetch the medicinal wine from the house.
“Excuse me.”
After saying this, Zhou Shanheng knelt down and removed Xin Hexue’s left shoe and sock.
Twisting an ankle was just an excuse, and Xin Huexue used some tricks to create a bruise.
As soon as the cloud climbing shoe was removed, an ankle as white as frost and snow was revealed.
The ankle was very slender, almost like porcelain, and very fair, so fair it was almost translucent, with faint blue veins running over the instep.
Zhou Shanheng lifted it with extreme caution.
Because it was so white, the swelling and bruising on the ankle looked even more shocking and alarming.
Zhou Shanheng held the medicinal wine in his palm, pressed it against the ankle and rubbed it until it was warm and hot. This would help to unblock the blood vessels.
It was all just a diversion; Xin Hexue wasn’t in pain at all. Instead, being rubbed by Zhou Shanheng like this made him feel numb and itchy.
After a short while, he refused, “Alright, alright…”
Zhou Shanheng thought he was afraid of the pain, so he patiently blew on it and comforted, “Just bear with it a little longer, it’ll get better soon.”
He poured more medicinal wine into his palm and continued massaging the ankle.
Xin Hexue’s ankle felt hot and he refused again, “It’s really alright, really, you can stop now.”
Zhou Shanheng was suspicious and finally let go hesitantly. Then he heard his mother’s call from the east wing.
He said to Xin Hexue, “Then just sit here and air it out for a bit. By the way, where do you usually stay? The sun is about to set, and the city gates will be closed due to curfew. If you don’t mind, you can spend the night at my house.”
After saying this, he left Xin Hexue some time to consider, and went to the east wing to check on his mother’s condition.
But when he came out and looked at the main hall, the bamboo chair was already empty.
He figured he had already left.
Zhou Shanheng glanced around the simple house and lowered his head.
Mother Zhou’s condition had improved a bit yesterday; she did some needlework and even ate dinner with them, but today she wasn’t doing well again and was coughing heavily. After dinner, Zhou Shanheng brewed medicine for her as usual and brought it over.
After explaining the day’s Thousand Character Classic content to Zhou Erlang, he went back to his room to study.
But it wasn’t long before Zhou Erlang came running frantically, “Gege! Something’s wrong, something’s wrong! Mother coughed up blood and fainted!”
Zhou Shanheng immediately stood up.
The medicine had been prescribed by a traveling doctor from the village and was no longer effective. So he had no choice but to seek treatment at the familiar medicine shop in the city.
The night dew was heavy, the road was far, and there was a curfew. But if he waited until tomorrow to set out, he feared she might not make it through the night…
Just as he was hesitating, the sound of horse hooves came from outside the courtyard.
The horse neighed softly.
As soon as Zhou Shanheng opened the wooden gate, he saw a carriage outside the courtyard. The driver stopped the horse in front of the gate.
The curtain lifted, and Xin Hexue stepped down from the carriage, “Zhou xiong, I was passing by here and saw that your house was still lit. Did something happen?”
Zhou Shanheng told him the situation truthfully.
Xin Hexue said quickly, “Then hurry and bring your mother onto the carriage. If it’s for seeking medical treatment, the guards shouldn’t be too strict.”
Their group got on the carriage.
Zhou Shanheng looked at Xin Hexue sitting opposite him, “Xin gongzi, your injury…”
Xin Hexue turned his gaze, “Your medicinal wine worked very well. I’m just walking a bit slower, it doesn’t hurt as much now.”
Although Zhou Shanheng was doubtful, he noticed that Xin Hexue didn’t want to say much, so he didn’t continue asking why Xin Hexue happened to be passing by in a carriage.
Xin Hexue looked out the window, a trace of worry in his brows.
If he hadn’t arrived in time, Mother Zhou might not have been able to receive treatment and would have passed away, and by the laws of Dacheng, Zhou Shanheng would have to observe mourning at home for a year, missing next year’s provincial exam.
He lifted the curtain and looked at the retreating night scene outside.
He estimated the distance.
The guards at the city gate understood their situation, confirmed their identities, and, finding nothing suspicious, opened the side gate to let them pass.
The medicine shop was just about to close, and they arrived just in time. Mother Zhou became the last patient admitted that day.
The young apprentice at the medicine shop smiled at Zhou Shanheng, “What a coincidence. If you hadn’t come in time, our shop’s doctor who specializes in treating this condition was scheduled to go on a house call early tomorrow morning and wouldn’t be back for two or three days.”
Zhou Shanheng was momentarily stunned.
For some reason, everything tonight felt a bit too lucky.
Happening to meet Xin Hexue, the guards were unusually accommodating, the medicine shop happened to still be open, and the doctor was still there…
Zhou Shanheng had never been this lucky before.
He looked at the young man waiting outside.
The night dew was heavy, the willow smoke lingered softly, and the moonlight shone like frost, enveloping Xin Hexue.
His smooth black hair was loosely tied with a single jade hairpin. The night wind stirred it, and a few strands of dark hair gently fell along his earlobe, silent and still, tranquil and beautiful.
Xin Hexue extended his hand, revealing a slender, fair wrist from within his wide sleeve. He raised his hand to gently pat the horse at the front of the carriage as if in comfort.
Zhou Shanheng was about to step forward but Xin Hexue suddenly lowered his head and coughed, his face faintly showing a pale color.
Catching sight of Zhou Shanheng from the corner of his eyes, the young man’s deep, quiet black eyes turned this way, and his lips curved into a faint smile.
[Zhou Shanheng love value +15]
[Zhou Shanheng’s current love value: 30]
