Chapter 191: Chapter 191: You Didn’t Know?

Huangfu Jingchen’s heart was a mix of anxiety and anticipation. He enjoyed Wenjin’s meticulous care yet feared that after this, she would leave again, and he wouldn’t know where to find her.

Sometimes, when he woke up halfway through the night, he subconsciously searched for Wenjin.

He worried she would once again leave without saying goodbye.

Fortunately, Xia Wenjin was still there.

She was not far away, sitting on the grass with her arms around her knees, silently dozing off.

After not seeing her for a few days, she seemed to have lost some weight and appeared quite exhausted. It was the kind of exhaustion that comes from physical weakness and fatigue.

Huangfu Jingchen looked at the wound on her wrist, trying hard to recall the very blurry images from when he was swallowed by that darkness, and a guess formed in his heart.

But he himself couldn’t be sure if it was a dream or reality.

He felt conflicted, eager to recover quickly so Wenjin wouldn’t have to exhaust herself. Yet, he worried that once he recovered, Wenjin would surely leave again.

This brief time together was ultimately fleeting, like a dream of ephemeral beauty.

Two more days passed, during which Xia Wenjin tried her best to hunt or catch fish to improve Huangfu Jingchen’s meals. She also gathered herbs to change Huangfu Jingchen’s bandages.

Luckily, this was the mountains, and there were plenty of medicinal herbs for wound healing.

By the ninth day, Huangfu Jingchen was able to sit up and even walk a short distance.

His recovery was going well.

Huangfu Jingchen wished that when he was struggling to walk, Xia Wenjin would support him, allowing them a chance for close contact.

Unfortunately, at first Xia Wenjin just coldly watched from the side.

Then, seeing his genuine struggle, she turned around and left, only to return with a newly carved branch in her hand to use as a crutch.

Xia Wenjin herself was also recovering well, and the wound on her wrist had scabbed over.

Looking at the state of Huangfu Jingchen’s injuries, Xia Wenjin said, “You can move now; we should find an inn to stay at. It would be more convenient for you to recover there. Also, we can buy more herbs and make medicine for you!”

Moreover, the conditions here were truly too basic. They had to hunt for food, and there weren’t even tools to make soup. Huangfu Jingchen, having lost so much blood, would benefit greatly from medicinal soups and stews.

Not to mention, having to walk far to the stream to bathe each time, and using only cold water—she missed the comfortable feeling of a hot water bath.

Hearing Xia Wenjin’s tone, Huangfu Jingchen was delighted that she intended to go with him, and he readily agreed.

Xia Wenjin packed their belongings, which weren’t much—a small bundle belonging to her.

In these days living off the mountains, they had survived over ten days with the contents of that small bundle.

Huangfu Jingchen had completely shaken off the shadow of death. His injuries were severe, yet his recovery was impressive. Leaning on the crutch made from a branch, he walked slowly but steadily.

After walking and resting intermittently, Xia Wenjin hired an ox cart midway, and finally, by evening, they reached the nearest market.

They found an inn and rented two rooms. Xia Wenjin asked for hot water and had Huangfu Jingchen settled into one of the rooms before she went out again.

She instructed the kitchen to make soup, gathered herbs, and upon returning, had the attendant bring some charcoal and a small stove for her to personally prepare the medicine.

Shortly after, the kitchen soup and the meal she ordered arrived.

The meal was directly taken to Huangfu Jingchen’s room for the two of them to eat together.

After enduring the hardships of the wild for more than ten days, finally, they could have a proper meal. Xia Wenjin’s eyes lit up. Not having to cook it herself, with all the seasonings and ingredients complete, it looked promising.

She served a bowl of rich soup to Huangfu Jingchen, saying, “Drink this.”

This was the soup she specifically instructed the kitchen to make for Huangfu Jingchen, nourishing his body.

Huangfu Jingchen obediently took a sip, then set it aside.

Xia Wenjin asked, “Does it not taste good?”

Huangfu Jingchen replied, “It’s okay!”

Xia Wenjin placed the entire bowl of soup in front of him, “Then drink it all!”

Huangfu Jingchen: “…”

Still, thinking of Wenjin’s hard work in taking care of him, he continued to drink it silently.

Throughout the meal, he battled with that bowl of soup.

By the time Xia Wenjin finished her meal, he had just finally finished the soup.

Xia Wenjin gave him a look of disdain and said, “A grown man, fussing over a bowl of soup, someone might think you were a woman!”

Huangfu Jingchen blushed and mumbled, “When I was hurt, you dressed my wounds, changed my bandages, you’ve seen my body. Don’t you know if I’m a man or a woman?”

Xia Wenjin: “…”

Oh, this brat knows how to snap back at her now.

She might have tended to his injuries and changed his bandages, but she assured herself she hadn’t seen what was under his big shorts.

She wasn’t interested in seeing such things either!

Xia Wenjin went to the door and called the attendant to clear the dishes.

Huangfu Jingchen panicked, “But I haven’t eaten yet?”

Xia Wenjin leaned against the door, looking back at him with a half-smile, “Are you sure you still have room?”

Huangfu Jingchen fell silent. That big bowl of soup filled him up completely, and now he truly couldn’t eat another grain of rice. It turned out that all the dishes Wenjin ordered were meant for herself, while he was given just a bowl of soup.

Huangfu Jingchen thought he might get hungry in the middle of the night. However, after a few visits to the restroom, he didn’t feel hungry at all, likely thanks to the ingredients in that soup.

Xia Wenjin only allowed Huangfu Jingchen to walk around the room or the courtyard, whereas she herself went out every day.

Since being chased by those assassins, Huangfu Jingchen realized with his current physical state, if he encountered another assassin, he wouldn’t stand a chance, and the time and effort Xia Wenjin spent on him would be wasted.

So he obediently followed her instructions.

But he was curious about the things Xia Wenjin kept bringing back to the inn. Once, he even saw her carrying a box of gold leaves to hide.

This market was just an ordinary market. Where had she gotten a whole box of gold leaves?

If she wanted gold, he had it, though not on him at the moment.

If she liked gold and silver, perhaps he still had a chance to cross paths with her again?

After all, Yunzhou Feudal Land, managed by his father for twenty years, wasn’t lacking in wealth.

Thinking of this, Huangfu Jingchen felt a bit happier.

Xia Wenjin left early and returned late, but she still meticulously took care of Huangfu Jingchen’s daily needs. Meals were brought to him by the inn staff at set times, and the dishes were exquisite. Every day, there was a big bowl of strong, thick soup prepared for him.

Every night when she returned, Xia Wenjin personally prepared a pot of medicine for him, never leaving it to others. In the courtyard of the inn, with the stove and charcoal provided by the attendant, she would simmer the medicine herself. She handled everything precisely—from the amount of water and timing to the addition of various herbs, every step was meticulous.

In the evening, Xia Wenjin was once again in the courtyard preparing the medicine.

Huangfu Jingchen walked over, noticing that tonight’s medicine was different from last night’s. He couldn’t help but curiously ask, “What did you add this time?”

“Poison!” Xia Wenjin replied without even looking up.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep