Chapter 250: Chapter 193: Treating Each Other

Zou Family froze for a moment, her thoughts gradually becoming clear as she recalled them falling together, and he used his body as a cushion for her.

She originally wanted to say: “Who asked you to save me?” but her stomach growled uncontrollably, and a strong sense of exhaustion swept over her. She knew well that if she fell asleep at this moment, she might never wake up again.

Only by getting out alive could she have a slim chance of killing him again.

She bit her lips tightly and finally forced out a word through her teeth: “Okay.”

Chunyu Che seemed unafraid of her murderous intent, turning his back to her and gently lifting his shirt.

Upon seeing this, Zou Family almost couldn’t help covering her mouth.

His back was riddled with scars from sharp stones.

The dense wounds were shocking, with some even deep enough to reveal bone.

And yet, he spoke to her while carrying such severe injuries and even carried her all the way here.

Her face instantly turned as pale as paper, and she stood frozen in place, not knowing what to do.

Because she clearly understood that if it weren’t for him shielding her with his back, she would be the one with such a horrendous back, and she didn’t believe she could survive such injuries.

Chunyu Che’s back was exposed to the cold air. As she lingered without moving, his skin broke out in goosebumps.

Moreover, being watched by a woman like this, he urged in a low voice: “Hurry up, the rain has lessened, we can’t delay any longer.”

It was then that Zou Family snapped out of it, trembling hands slowly sprinkling the golden sore medicine onto his back wounds.

The medicine’s sting made Chunyu Che’s body instantly tense, beads of sweat falling from his forehead due to the pain, his hands clenched tightly.

“I know you won’t believe anything I say. I’m the person who hates war the most, but what can I do?

On the battlefield, if you don’t kill, you’ll be killed.

I know I can’t explain the war crimes that were committed.

Reaching this point, I never intended to slaughter so many soldiers of the Shen Family Army, but they stubbornly refused to surrender.

I could have not come, not faced the consequences of this war because it wasn’t solely caused by me.

But for the sake of my people, I could only come and apologize.

You thought I went to your Shen Family to provoke, but in fact, I just wanted to pay respects to Marquis Shen and the Shen Family Army.

Because what he fought for with all his might was peace, so that future generations would no longer suffer the pains of war.”

Zou Family’s hand paused slightly, her lips almost bitten through, yet she remained silent, continuing to sprinkle medicine on his wounds, her heart filled with complex and mixed emotions.

In this dark cave, Chunyu Che’s voice was exceptionally heavy: “I know you can’t empathize, but the death of your Shen Family Army is also a burden weighing on my heart.

When I took the arrow for Princess Consort Zhan, I thought I would die, but fate had other plans, and I ended up being forced into that high and lonely seat.

To let our people live well, I risked my life to come to your country to die. Actually, I didn’t have to come.”

Zou Family silently finished applying the medicine for him, tidied his clothes, and said coldly: “What you’re saying I don’t understand. I only understand that a life for a life, a debt repaid. My husband is dead, and I cannot let the person who harmed him live.”

Her eyes were filled with determination and resolve, reflecting her deep longing for her deceased husband and her resolve for revenge.

Chunyu Che seemed to have anticipated her attitude and didn’t attempt to dissuade her from wanting to kill him.

After all, with so many vibrant lives lost, and with Shen Ruoxi being so different from her, how could he expect everyone to forgive him?

“Thank you. I’ll go find some food. With fire, wild beasts wouldn’t dare approach. If I don’t return, when your leg gets better, lead the fire outside, and the people looking for you will find you.”

After saying this, Chunyu Che adjusted his clothes and turned to walk out of the cave.

The phrase “if I don’t return” made Zou Family’s heart jolt.

Yet, she bit her lips and couldn’t bring herself to say “I’ll wait for you to come back.”

With such severe injuries, in this perilous mountain forest, encountering beasts would probably lead to certain death.

Didn’t she wish for his death? But at this moment, she unknowingly felt a twinge of unwillingness in her heart.

Zou Family thought of her husband, who had taken care of her and was so considerate, and those beautiful times seemed like they were right in front of her.

And now, separated by life and death, all this tragedy was intricately linked to the man before her.

Reaching this point, she forced her heart to harden again, bitterly saying internally: “It would be best if he dies by a beast’s mouth, it’s his deserved retribution!”

However, as time passed, and the sky grew darker, the rain outside seemed to have stopped.

Zou Family’s heart couldn’t help but tense up. She tried to find an excuse for her worry: “I’m not worried about Chunyu Che, I’m just afraid of being eaten by wild beasts or starving to death here.”

Yet deep down, that hint of unwillingness quietly spread, making her emotions more complex and conflicted.

Although the rain outside had stopped, the wind howled. In this desolate mountain’s depths, in this uninhabited cave, Zou Family’s heart was filled with fear.

Her lips pressed tightly together, every nerve in her body stretched taut, and an anxious feeling spread through her heart.

She seemed to hear the howls of wolves in the distance, the sound echoed in the vast valley, making her shiver.

She unconsciously curled up, her heart like it’s being gripped tightly by an invisible hand, almost making it hard for her to breathe.

Time seemed to stand still, and she had no idea how much time had passed.

Suddenly, she heard a rustling sound at the entrance, scaring her pale as a sheet.

However, what followed was Chunyu Che’s voice: “I caught a rabbit and two birds, we’ll roast them to eat later.”

For some reason, upon hearing his voice, the heart that had been hanging in Zou Family’s chest suddenly felt much steadier.

But she still pouted, stubbornly saying: “I won’t eat what you caught.”

Chunyu Che didn’t respond. He really didn’t have the strength to speak.

Because just moments ago, he had encountered a pack of wolves, and it took great effort to divert them, even getting bitten on the arm by the lead wolf.

Due to the heavy scent of blood on him, he had to hide in a tree for a long time, uncertain if he had completely shaken off the wolves.

Luckily, they still had fire for warmth, and this cave for shelter, so it seemed unlikely the wolves would rush in hastily.

As long as they could hold on until dawn, when the people searching for them arrived, they might be saved.

He silently lowered his head to deal with the prey he had caught.

Zou Family watched him expertly skin and clean, her eyes filled with doubt and incomprehension.

Was this person really the Emperor? How could he possibly know how to do everything?

Perhaps feeling uneasy under her scrutinizing gaze, Chunyu Che said coldly: “I grew up in the Cold Palace, and back then, my biggest dream was to take my mother and leave that hellish place.

Who would have thought, one day, I’d become the fortuitous one, seen as a calamity star.

Only by me going to war could we win, only then could my mother be kept safe, what else could I do?

After the war, I just wanted to take my mother to see the outside world, but unfortunately, I was ultimately pushed onto the throne.

So, don’t think I can’t do anything, when starving, I’ve even eaten rats.

After saying this, he deftly removed the entrails of the prey, placing the prepared meat on the fire rack to slowly roast.

Zou Family was silent for a moment, then asked: “But why did you provoke our Shen Family?”

Chunyu Che replied in the same icy tone: “I’m willing to be humiliated, I’m willing to be scolded, is that enough?

How many times have I said it, why don’t you believe? If I’ve done something, one must bear the consequences, that’s taking responsibility.

I had no intention of insulting you, I just wanted to offer incense and bow sincerely.

In reality, we are all just victims of this war.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep