Chapter 253: Chapter 196: The Situation Is Grim

I don’t know how much time has quietly slipped away. In the haze, she seemed to hear Shen Ruoxi’s choked and hoarse voice, “Be gentle, don’t jostle her leg.”

“Ruoxi.” She struggled to let out a hoarse call, seemingly feeling that she was being carried, filled with confusion and doubt.

“Fifth Sister-in-law, how are you?” Shen Ruoxi hadn’t slept a wink all night, her eyes red and full of concern and worry.

“Where’s Chunyu Che?” she asked urgently.

Shen Ruoxi paused slightly, clearly not expecting her fifth sister-in-law to wake up and immediately ask about Chunyu Che.

When they hurried over, Chunyu Che was covered in blood, and it was impossible to tell if it was from the wolves or his own.

She was anxious to find her, and didn’t pay attention. His people should have taken him back to the inn.

As for whether he’s alive or dead, she didn’t know.

The Zou Family saw Shen Ruoxi’s dazed reaction, her heart sank suddenly, her eyes instantly turned red, and she didn’t know what she was feeling.

Shen Ruoxi didn’t know what exactly happened between the two at the bottom of the cliff, and softly comforted, “He’s not dead, but the situation isn’t looking good. Don’t get upset, your fever just subsided, and your calf is broken. It needs to be reattached when we get back, and even that doesn’t look good.”

“Ruoxi, I beg you, save him first. Without him, I would be dead. I beg you.”

Shen Ruoxi could only deceive her, “He’s being treated by his family’s imperial physician, so he won’t have any trouble. I’ll stay by your side.”

Upon hearing that Chunyu Che was fine, the Zou Family couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief, as if her heart finally settled, and perhaps because she felt at ease, she quickly fell asleep again.

Shen Ruoxi, however, was full of doubts, pondering silently, what kind of thrilling events did these two experience throughout the day and night?

The fifth sister-in-law, who once wanted Chunyu Che dead, now cared for him like this, even begging her to save him first. She really couldn’t tell if this was a good or a bad thing.

Chunyu Che was sent back to the inn, while Shen Ruoxi accompanied her fifth sister-in-law back to her mother’s house.

Since the Zou Family’s accident, the Yang Family hadn’t been able to sleep at all last night.

Every night it was the Zou Family coaxing her daughter Xiang’er to sleep. Last night, without the Zou Family, the usually obedient Xiang’er cried and fussed for her mother at night, causing the Yang Family a great deal of stress.

When she saw the Zou Family being brought in covered in blood, her legs went limp and tears fell uncontrollably.

Since the Shen Family encountered misfortune, she and the Zou Family have relied on each other, consulted on everything, and walked through the darkest and hardest days together.

At this moment, she suddenly regretted letting the Zou Family risk their life against Chunyu Che back then.

As the eldest sister-in-law, Shen Ruoxi wasn’t wrong, how could she be so impulsive?

If the Zou Family really suffered an accident, she felt that she would never be able to overcome the guilt and pain in this lifetime.

“Ruoxi, how is your fifth sister-in-law now?” The Yang Family asked with a trembling voice, tears filling her eyes.

Though Shen Ruoxi was angry, she suppressed her emotions and said gently, “Eldest Sister-in-law, when I found the fifth sister-in-law, she had a high fever, was covered in injuries, and her calf was broken.

Whether she can pull through depends on her fate.

Also, when I set the fifth sister-in-law’s bones later, I hope no one comes to disturb us. Please, Eldest Sister-in-law, take care of Xiang’er.”

The Yang Family opened her mouth slightly, wanting to speak but hesitating, and after a long time, she murmured, “Can I go in and see the fifth sister-in-law first?”

“Wait until she’s better, don’t disturb me.” With those cold words, the person then turned around and went into the room, followed by a “bang” as the door was directly closed.

Tears from the Yang Family fell uncontrollably.

Jun Moling hadn’t slept either, his face appeared slightly fatigued, but in comparison, he was still in relatively good shape, except for the deep concern hidden in his eyes for his wife, fearing she might collapse from overwork.

“Prince, why don’t you persuade Ruoxi, let me assist her, it might help a bit?” The Yang Family looked at Jun Moling with hope, her voice carrying a hint of pleading.

Jun Moling bitterly smiled and shook his head, “Eldest Sister-in-law, do you think Ruoxi will listen to me?

Forget it, last night the soldiers spent the entire night searching for the fifth sister-in-law, they worked extremely hard. Eldest Sister-in-law, have the kitchen prepare some food for them, and then let them return to report.”

The Yang Family quickly responded, “Alright.”

She rushed to instruct the servants to prepare, and thoughtfully had them prepare food for Jun Moling first.

The exquisite pastries were brought up, but Jun Moling only ate two bites before stopping, perhaps having been too hungry, he no longer had much appetite.

His heart and mind were filled with worry for his wife, knowing well that she had always been a person who valued emotions deeply.

Though the Zou Family had temporarily escaped life-threatening danger, the injuries were so severe that even she might not be certain that the fifth sister-in-law could survive unscathed.

Time ticked away second by second, and not only was Jun Moling deeply anxious, but even the Yang Family was nearly overwhelmed.

Every time she recalled the events, she couldn’t help but cry.

At that time, the situation was urgent, and she hadn’t thought so much; now thinking carefully, the Shen Family could really withstand no more storms.

Thinking of how Yao was already an orphan, what if it was Xiang’er?

Her heart ached unbearably, as if being tightly gripped.

Such a dangerous task should have been done by someone older like her, how did it come to the much younger Zou Family stepping forward?

Inside, Shen Ruoxi was fully focused on setting Zou Family’s bones. Fortunately, with the aid of anesthetic powder, otherwise, she couldn’t imagine what kind of pain her fifth sister-in-law would have to endure.

Once the leg bone was set and the body’s wounds were all bandaged up, Shen Ruoxi was covered in sweat, appearing somewhat exhausted.

She gently touched Zou Family’s forehead; the fever had completely subsided, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The words she had said to her eldest sister-in-law now seemed somewhat heavy upon reflection.

Her fifth sister-in-law was out of danger, primarily because there was no damage to her internal organs, but the situation with Chunyu Che was indeed uncertain.

She washed her hands, instructed the servants to guard well, and then slowly walked out of the room.

“Ruoxi.” Yang Family’s lips trembled, voice choked with emotion, eyes red and swollen like walnuts, not knowing how long she’d cried.

Shen Ruoxi’s heart softened instantly, “Fifth sister-in-law should be fine now.”

“Thank heaven,” Yang Family said, clasping her hands together.

As soon as she finished speaking, the gatekeeper hurriedly came in to report: “First Young Madam, Miss, someone from the courier station has come to ask Miss to go over. They say Chunyu Che might not make it.”

Jun Moling heard the guard’s address to his wife, feeling displeased, but the news of Chunyu Che’s impending death consumed his thoughts, and he did not dwell on it.

“Serves him right!” Yang Family said angrily.

But Shen Ruoxi frowned slightly and said without hesitation, “All right, I’ll head over now.”

Yang Family paused for a moment, hurriedly saying, “Ruoxi, you…”

Shen Ruoxi didn’t glance at her, instead looking at Jun Moling, softly saying, “Husband, you don’t look well, go home and rest a bit first, I’ll go take a look.”

Jun Moling shook his head firmly, his eyes full of worry: “I will accompany you, wife, I worry about you.”

No more words were needed, Shen Ruoxi nodded slightly, indicating her agreement.

Yang Family hurriedly grabbed her arm, urgently saying, “Ruoxi, if that bastard dies, then let him die…”

Shen Ruoxi’s gaze was clear and cold like snow, breaking free from Yang Family’s hand, saying, “Eldest sister-in-law, if not for him, fifth sister-in-law would have died long ago. Take good care of fifth sister-in-law, I’m off.”

With that, and not caring what else Yang Family wanted to say, Jun Moling had already taken Shen Ruoxi’s hand and quickly left.

The entire courier station was filled with a stifling atmosphere, several Imperial Physicians successively walked out with solemn expressions, bowing towards the Emperor, saying: “Your Majesty, the monarch of Beichang might not make it, never in our years of practicing medicine have we seen such numerous and severe wounds.”

“Let’s wait for the young lass to come; her master is a divine healer, she wouldn’t be any less capable. I won’t believe anything you old fogeys say,” Sword Shadow Residual Wind said urgently.

Just then, Shen Ruoxi and Jun Moling burst in without announcement.

After greeting, the elder didn’t bother with complete etiquette and went directly into the room with Shen Ruoxi.

Only to see Chunyu Che’s condition was appalling; for fear that moving him would worsen his injuries, the clothes slashed and mangled by wolves had not been changed, his whole body was a bloody mess, a horrifying sight.

His face was as pale as paper, devoid of any blood, eyes tightly shut; if not for the occasional rise and fall of his chest, he would be no different from a corpse.

“Young lass, I promised an old friend I’d keep him alive; my reputation can’t be tarnished here, I’m counting on you.”

The elder looked at Shen Ruoxi with eagerness, trust shining in his eyes.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep