The couple whispered more sweet words with each other, when a black figure floated in and kneeled at once, "Sorry, lord, I came back late."
The life-savor came back! Asan and Awu immediately turned back and almost cried. This life-savor wasn't referred to that life-savor! If they continued to stay here, they would be poisoned by the publicly shown affection between lord and lady.
Seeing a person coming in, Mo Qianxue straightened up her back and sat erected.
The softness on Ning Shaoqing's face also reduced and it was replaced by the usual stern, "Not late! Just in time." He gestured to let the man in black get up, "Thank you!"
As the man in black looked up, the ferocious scar on his face came into sight. It was exactly the shadow guard.
When he first found old Mr. Wang, he had known what the poison in his body and the guiding herb required for the cure was.
Requesting Mr. Wang to pick up the herb was only a tactic to mislead the enemies.
The doctor was too big and obvious as a target, so Ning Shaoqing hadn't cherished too much hope in him, but he had still dispatched a group of people to escort him during the journey to pick the herb, because this was exactly his tactic to let the enemies believe that Ning Shaoqing had no other choice.
In fact, he had already secretly inquired that there was also the same herb at another place and sent a group of people to guard it. The other group of hidden guards had been sent to perform this mission.
The reason why the shadow guard had gone out was to guarantee the successful obtaining of the herb.
Now that Ning Shaoqing had promised to protect, he would keep his words and live well.
To survive, he wouldn't put all the hope in one person. Even if the shadow guard failed to complete his mission, there would be one more alternative on the way.
The only thing that had troubled him was the earlier breakout of the poison which caught him by surprise.
Fortunately, his girl wasn't so stupid as to make a decision on her own to allow the doctor to use the wicked on him, otherwise he would really cry.
The shadow guard reached into his pocket and took out a light golden root. The strange doctor, just now snoring in the chair, instantly sprang up and grabbed over the herb, "The guiding herb! Why didn't you tell me earlier? You guys!"
Ning Shaoqing had told him but he didn't believe it and went to sleep. Mo Qianxue shook her head but didn't dare to say much, fearing that any word might offend this strange doctor since now it was a critical moment.
"Yes. It's exactly the root of the rare flower." The strange doctor carefully examined the light golden root and nodded, "It's in good condition and still glistens. The medical efficacy will be nice."
Hearing his praise, the shadow guard covertly breathed a sigh of relief, and Asan and Awu smiled together.
Ning Shaoqing grabbed tighter the hand in his hand and Mo Qianxue pinched him back with a relief.
After examining the root, the doctor casually threw it back to the shadow guard.
The shadow guard reached out to catch it in a hurry.
Mo Qianxue sweated, fearing that the herb might be dropped to the ground.
This was no kidding matter. It was the cure for Ning Shaoqing. Throwing away the root of the rare flower, the strange doctor took out from his pocket a small porcelain bottle, and without any warning in advance, again threw it away casually, but this time, to Ning Shaoqing.
Ning Shaoqing at once catch the porcelain bottle in his hand, but Mo Qianxue's heart almost jumped out.
She really wanted to kick the ass of the strange old man. The room wasn't very big. Would his hand break if he handed things to others?
If a clumsy-handed person didn't catch it and the herb fell on the ground, would he wave his sleeve, turn around to leave while laughing at the person?
Ning Shaoqing found Mo Qianxue's glaring round eyes amusing. If he wasn't able to catch the small bottle, he would have died for numerous times.
Amusing as it was, he was also touched.
Hence, he gently patted her hand. Then Mo Qianxue looked away, lowered down her head with a snort.
Yet, nobody knew this inconspicuous interaction between the couple gave the strange doctor a feeling of bitterness. Once upon a time, there had been a woman who also glared at him like this.
He only blamed himself for having been too young to cherish. Afterwards, his tone soft, he said to Ning Shaoqing, "This is cure that I've prepared before. You take it first. Now I'll begin to acupuncture on you."
Then he turned to the shadow guard, "Grind the root into powder and add rootless water (raindrops which have never fallen on the ground). After the acupuncture, bring this to your lord to drink. Then, his poison will be removed mostly."
Mostly? What about the rest? Mo Qianxue couldn't help worrying, looking up expectantly at old Mr. Wang and going to ask the question.
Old Mr. Wang then turned to point to the porcelain bottle that he had thrown to Ning Shaoqing, "Then, take the pills in that bottle for seven days in a row, and the poison will be removed completely."
Ning Shaoqing raised folded fists to thanked him, "Please."
The strange doctor readily accepted that, "Now let's start."
Ning Shaoqing took a comforting look at Mo Qianxue and than swept over Asan and Awu, "You can leave now."
Asan and Awu looked at each other, bowed and left.
"Qianxue, you may leave too," Seeing Mo Qianxue sat motionless, he comforted her again, "With Mr. Wang here, I'll be fine. You go to lie down and take a rest. I'll be right away."
She, an ordinary person, didn't know the rules among the martial artists.
Usually, when a master performed acupuncture, he wouldn't allow others to observe on the spot.
The previous acupuncture had aimed to stimulate his nerves to wake up Ning Shaoqing, so others didn't have to evade; but now, the doctor was going to perform real secret techniques, so others should leave the spot.
Seeing her lingering, Mr. Wang thought she still worried about that problem and gave a meaningful look to her, "Cough…after the guiding herb removes all of his poison, all kinds of interaction between you will be fine. You can have as many children as you'd like to…"
These embarrassing words made Mo Qianxue hasten out of the room.
Yet, she didn't go back to the bedroom but stood at the door and waited with Chiyi, Shiwu, Asan and Awu.
She wanted to be the first one to know that he was well.
*
It was dawn, the sky dimly bright, the storm stopping. It seemed to know that the couple hadn't slept for the whole night and needed a good rest.
Asan, Awu, Chuyi and Shiwu all employed the catwalk for fear that any noise would wake up lady and lord.
In the peach forest not far away from the Wang village still stood nineteen men in black.
A tall figure erected on the hillside and stared in the distance at the Wang village.
A person kneeled on one knee and reported, "Lord. The Ning's turns quiet and silent now, and the strange doctor has left for the Tianxiang city."
For the whole last night, people came in and out of the Ning's in a clamor, and the strange doctor was specially invited.
It seemed that Xue was badly injured.
However, since the strange doctor had showed up and now the Ning's became quiet, it was proven that Xue was alright now. It was the time for him to leave.
Even to fight for her, he should wait until Xue was well.
He wouldn't resort to violence again. He would let Ning give up willingly and let Xue go with him whole-heartedly.
Thinking of this and making up his mind, Feng Yuchen turned around in a hurry, taking a final glance at the peach forest and pointing to Feng Bo and Feng Luan, "You stay here and pay attention to lady. Report to me on a daily basis."
Feng Bo and Feng Luan took the order and replied in unison, "Yes."
Feng Yuchen didn't look back and commanded in a cold voice, "Retreat!" His voice determined, he marched forward and leaped onto the horse back. The sixteen guards took the order and followed him.
The seventeen riders rushed all the way, stirring clouds of dust in the air.
**
On outskirt the capital, a woman on a horse was galloping towards the Tianxiang city.
The woman wasn't young but agile and valiant in her movement of riding and spurring the horse.
In the meeting room of the Mo mansion, the master was sitting upright and having tea.
Servants came up to report, "Master, before dawn, nanny Mo has ridden a horse and left the capital."
"Damn!" The master slammed the teacup on the table. This bitch did have her own plans.
"A few days ago, she said she was ill and now she sneaked out of the capital. There must be a trickery." The treacherous hideous eyes disclosed deep intention of killing, "You send more people to follow her. Remember, don't get too close. The bitch is very cunning. Don't let her discover you."
"Yes, master. We'll be careful."
"When she saw the person, don't act rashly and report to me. I'll make an arrangement."
"Yes."
*
Half-awake in her sleep, Mo Qianxue felt Ning Shaoqing getting up and speaking to Chuyi.
She tired hard and opened her eyes, when Ning Shaoqing had let Chuyi leave and was standing at the bed staring at her. Seeing her waking up, he stroked her head and smiled, "Did I wake you up?"
Mo Qianxue struggled to get up, and he hurriedly held her down, "It's still early. Go back to sleep." The anxious and loving eyes made Mo Qianxue feel warm and mumble an "oh" before closing her eyes and falling asleep again.
This wasn't her fault. Injured and staying up for the whole night all busy and worried, she was really too sleepy!
After she fell asleep, Ning Shaoqing squinted his deep pretty eyes.
The wound wasn't serious and would be fine in two or three years. But the hard work last night slightly tore the wound which bled more blood to even congealed her clothes. Judging from the coagula, it had been bleeding for a long time.
Yet, she hadn't made it known at all and insisted to wait until his poison was removed and didn't let Chuyi help her cleaning the wound until she saw him going to bed.
She had thought he was asleep, but in fact he bad been awake and heard every word told to Chuyi.
He had also seen clearly the inner clothes soaked by blood but pretended to fall asleep because he didn't want to fail her kindness.
By carefully regarding, her profile in sleep was so beautiful, the heart-shaped curve running smoothly in a curvature of a perfected-carved jade, that her whole face looked like a finely-crafted artwork.
A beam of ray from outside casting on the bridge of her nose which rose from between her eyebrows made her face glistening with luster. The cute little nose flapped regularly with her breathing.
Then, further lower, it was her full lips like a cherry blossom which pouted slightly in deep sleep, giving out fragile and crystal lure to tempt him to approach and to forbid him from waking her up from her dream. He stayed near yet didn't touch her.
He had never regarded her features so closely and carefully in such quiet before. Now he only felt that her beauty was beyond the reach of the most beautiful languages.
Mo Qianxue opened her eyes again. Ning Shaoqing sat on the bedside, holding her hand and smiling at her, "Wake up?"
Mo Qianxue smiled back, and he supported her to sit up in most gentle movement, "Do you like some porridge?"
She sat up and leaned against the bed, asking in weak voice, "You've been sitting here?"
Ning Shaoqing smiled and nodded.
Mo Qianxue still sounded concerned, "Why don't you sleep more? Your poison is just removed. You need more rest."
Meanwhile, Ning Shaoqing had made a wet handkerchief to clean her face and hands.
Putting down the handkerchief, Ning Shaoqing received her concern and smiled sweetly, "I don't need that. Once the poison is removed, I feel every inch of my veins and vessels is unburdened, even more comfortable than the first time I get through them with internal strength."
What a description! Mo Qianxue burst into laugher. Ning Shaoqing brought her the porridge, which he had asked Chuyi to make in advance, "Last time I was ill, you fed me. This time, it's my turn."
Mo Qianxue was a little shy, "I can eat on my own."
Afterwards, she reached out to carry the bowl, but Ning Shaoqing stopped her by his idle hand and put her hand on the side, insisting, "No, you're injured and shouldn't move too much. Be careful not to tear up your wound again."
Mo Qianxue still struggled, and Ning Shaoqing pressed her hand down, scolding, "Be a nice girl."
From his scolding, Mo Qianxue detected affection and helplessness.
At last, the bowl of porridge was all fed to her by him.
Ning Shaoqing took the bowl out, and Mo Qianxue stared at his dark-blue-clothed back in a daze. She had never expected that such an elegant noble lord like him should voluntarily serve others. She wondered whether, after they returned to the capital, the sweet and pure relationship that forbade even a grain of sand could continue to maintain the current state.
The capital was the center of politics and power. It was the most prosperous place but also where the fiercest competition and the filthiest schemes and conspiracies lied.
She was lost in her thought, when the door was pushed open and Chuyi went in carrying medicine, "Lady, take it before it gets cold."
Mo Qianxue collected her thought and looked to the dark medicine soup which smashed her heart hard, "My wound is fine already. Take it away."
"Lady, please. Lord has ordered me to make it early in the morning. It's best to cure injury like yours. I know you don't like bitter medicine. I also prepared sugar for you."
Chuyi said and pointed to a small plate of sugar.
Yet Mo Qianxue even didn't take a glance, "I said no. Take it away. Who do you listen to?" If this bowl of medicine was taken, she was afraid that she would threw up her stomach, then the porridge would be wasted.
Mo Qianxue got up to push the bowl, sitting at the dressing table, "Comb hair for me."
Ever since Chuyi and Shiwu came here, her hair had been made by Chuyi, but she didn't let Chuyi make those noble hairstyles but the most ordinary ones, but of course, Chuyi was able to make the prettiest hairstyles even if they were the ordinary ones.
"Of course, I listen to you lady." Chuyi was in a dilemma, but she still put down the bowl and began to do Mo Qianxue's hair.
While combing, she tried to persuaded her again, "Afterwards, let's take the medicine, so that the wound will be healed quicker, otherwise, I'm afraid lord will blame me…"
"No! If you're afraid of him, then pour it and lie to him that I've taken it…" As she talked, a cough rang from outside, "I just left for a moment and you don't behave yourself again, um?"
Ning Shaoqing paced in from outside, saying in a scolding but pampering tone. The question was pronounced through his nose, carrying obvious threat in a long tone.
"I think I should leave since lord is here taking care of lady." Chuyi said jokingly and left at once, shutting the door for them.
Seeing Ning Shaoqing picked up the bowl, Mo Qianxue subconsciously pressed her lips in nervousness and moved back.
Ning Shaoqing suddenly laughed, "Are you afraid of the bitterness?"
They had been living together for so long, and he had never seen Mo Qianxue so scared and alerted.
In this world, there people who feared death, poverty or ghosts or… She only feared bitterness. Was that so funny?
Mo Qianxue stepped back to the desk, annoyed, "Lord, I shouldn't bother you to take care of me. Let Chuyi do it. Just now you've bothered to feed me with the porridge. Why not you take a rest now?"
Ning Shaoqing's lips arched in the corners by Mo Qianxue's begging, and he coaxed her like treating a child, "Honey, come here. It's not bitter."
Encouraged by the enchanting cello-voice, Mo Qianxue plucked up and took a look at the dark frightening soup. Instantly she changed her mind and looked up pitifully.
Hem. What he had taken was pills, but now he forced her to drink the bitter soup.
This man was so black-bellied and evil.
Ning Shaoqing felt was a little distressed to force her, but he wouldn't have done this but for having seen the red congealed blood on her clothes last night.
If she didn't take the medicine, the wound might get infected and lead to fever, so he continued to coax her, "How can I let you take the medicine?"
In view of his soft tone but determined steps, Mo Qianxue pondered for a while. Although her man was nice to her but was very stubborn in terms of principles. It seemed that she couldn't get away with this bowl of medicine today.
If she must have to take it, then she should deal with the dose. Looking at him standing there holding the bowl, she came up with an idea.
She took a seat on the chair behind the desk, eyes gleaming with cunningness, saying fragilely, "I'm so powerless now. If you can jump over the desk, I'll take it."