Chapter 177
Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li stayed at a mansion that belonged to a merchant who had fled north of Yunlan River long before Yong Lin was under siege . It seemed the wealthy always feared death more than the poor . There was a large study in the front yard that came with a bedroom, which was why Ye Li didn't pay much attention when Mo Xiu Yao stayed in the study for the night . After all, he needed to take care of a load of affairs now he had just arrived . However, after her meeting with Feng Zhi Yao, it occurred to her that she hadn’t seen Mo Xiu Yao for almost 24 hours since last night . She had breakfast and lunch by herself . If Mo Xiu Yao was indeed so busy, there was no reason for Feng Zhi Yao to have nothing to do but strolling along the city wall at leisure . Besides, back in the capital, Mo Xiu Yao wasn't shy to ask her help with all kinds of affairs .
Ye Li stepped into the study . It was empty as expected . Quickly, she headed to the bedroom at the back . Before opening the door, she heard something fall to the ground and rushed inside .
As soon as she was there, she was shocked by what she saw .
The man that was valiant and invincible on the battlefield yesterday now sat on the ground in a sorry figure . Quilt was shredded to pieces and thrown all over the place . Not far away from the bed was a vase that was knocked down with several chinaware littered around . With eyes tightly closed, the robe on Mo Xiu Yao looked as if it was drenched in water . His fingers were covered with blood .
“Ah Li, go away . . . ” Hearing the footsteps, Mo Xiu Yao said without looking up .
Ye Li paused but didn't stop or turn around . Instead, she walked towards him rapidly and supported him up . “Do you feel better now?”
He nodded, weary, and went lying back in bed with her help and said with a bitter laugh: “Ah Li, it seems you always see me in my worst state . . . ”
She said calmly: “You asked for it this time . We . . . we are husband and wife, not strangers . It won’t be possible for us to always see each other in the best state, right?”
With his eyes closed, he smiled slightly and said: “Put it more specifically, you’ve never seen me in my best state . ” He had lost that before he met her .
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Holding his hands which were still trembling because of intense pain, she said smilingly: “How so? You were great yesterday . ” Looking down at his blood-stained fingers and the scars on his palms, she asked beneath her breath: “When did this start?”
It seemed the pain had eased and Mo Xiu Yao was more willing to talk than usual . A moment later, he answered: “Around dawn . . . ”
Ye Li's hand froze . Her heart ached . Now it was three in the afternoon, which meant he had been suffering for about nine hours .
“Have some sleep now that you feel better . ”
Mo Xiu Yao didn’t reply . The shallow long breath showed that he was fast asleep . However, even in his sleep, he had a faint frown on the forehead . At times, he seemed in pain .
Ye Li wanted to go and grab him a new quilt but found her hand in his tight grip . She gave up on that idea and sat down again . Looking at his wet clothes with a frown, she didn’t want him to catch a cold but didn’t want to wake him either . Given the dark shadows under his eyes, she knew he hadn't had a good sleep for some time .
When it turned dark, Mo Xiu Yao finally woke up . Though he only had two hours of sleep, he felt better . He was secretly relieved that he had got through this .
“You awake?” Ye Li’s voice reached him from outside .
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He lifted his head and saw her come with a tray .
After putting the tray on the table, she spoke again: “Now that you are awake, have a bath first before dinner . ”
He was a bit stunned . “Ah Li, why did you . . . ” He recalled what happened before he fell asleep . Among his confusion and the endless pain, her voice reached his mind clearly which pulled him back from a break down . After that, he finally fell asleep in that calm voice .
With him staring at her in silence, Ye Li walked over a bit worried as she asked: “What’s wrong? Are you not well? Shall I ask someone to send for the doctor?”
He caught her hands and said: “Nothing . I just feel a little dizzy because of the long sleep . I can’t see a doctor that I don't know . ”
She didn't expose his little lie . To her, he was clear-headed even when he was in sleep . “Then take a bath . I've had it prepared . ”
Mo Xiu Yao looked at himself and found himself indeed desperately in need of a bath .
Soon, he got out of bath .
Ye Li hurriedly went forward and put a cape over him, seeing how thinly dressed he was .
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He looked at her and said: “Ah Li, I’m not that fragile . ”
She nodded and said seriously: “Right . Even a fragile person is in a better condition than you are . Sit down . Eat . ” She passed a bowl of delicious porridge to him, she watched as he ate .
Mo Xiu Yao had no choice but to have a try at the porridge and it not only smelled good, but also tasted good . He hadn’t eaten anything since last night . The porridge warmed his stomach which stimulated his appetite that was originally ruined by tiredness and pain . “It doesn’t taste like secret guards’ work . ”
With the owner of this mansion gone, so were all the servants . Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li couldn't use people of unknow background during their stay so all their basic needs were taken care of by secret guards . Though secret guards were well-trained, they weren’t good cooks .
With her hands supporting her chin, Ye Li watched him eat . “I cooked it . Is it bad?”
Mo Xiu Yao paused, then shook his head with a faint smile as he said: “No, it's delicious . ”
She nodded happily . Though she wasn't good at cooking, she could do homely dishes and porridge . This chicken porridge had taken her two hours to make . She had tasted it herself that it wasn't too bad .
“Ah Li, is there anything you'd like to tell me?” Feeling her eyes fixed on him, Mo Xiu Yao put down the bowl and asked .
Ye Li took the bowl and filled it again as she said: “I don’t approve keep all the things to oneself . That isn't how a husband and wife supposed to get along either . What do you think, Your Highness?”
Mo Xiu Yao took the bowl she passed him and sighed slightly: “You see . . . Ah Li, it's not because of you . . . You know it . With this toxin I have in my body, I would have got here sooner or later . ”
“You’ve already got here because or not because of me . What I mean is . . . Aren’t you afraid that you’ll get yourself killed shutting yourself in the room alone, Your Highness?” She asked with raised brows .
“I won't,” said Mo Xiu Yao . “I won’t . Phoenix grass won’t kill me . Mr . Shen has said it would simply add a bit pain . ”
A bit pain . . . She really wanted to open his skull and see what was inside it .
“Ah Li, you must know that this is the best possible situation . If Mr . Shen hasn't brought back phoenix grass . . . ” Then he wouldn't have been able to come to Yong Lin's rescue, Scattered Snow Pass would have fallen and Nan Zhao would have invaded Great Chu already . Ah Li . . .
“From now on, I’ll stay by your side,” said Ye Li calmly .
“ . . . Alright . "