A Stolen Romance - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: A Novel Experience

“Puff—puff—” The dark brown bubbles of boiling medicine burst one after another, releasing plumes of white steam. Shi Yuning leaned forward from her small stool to take a look, then pushed some charcoal out from the small stove to reduce the heat to a simmer. She picked up a palm fan from the side and vigorously fanned herself.

The heat on her face made her heart feel feverish, and she told herself it was just because of the summer weather, or because she was too close to the stove, or because the steam from the boiling medicine was rising to her face.

It was definitely not because of what just happened in the room that her face was red and her heart was racing!

Shi Yuning fanned harder, trying to blow away the images in her mind. But her mind seemed determined to fight her. The more she tried not to think about it, the more the memory forced its way to the front, playing out the scene again right before her eyes.

She couldn’t be blamed for this; it was all Xie Zhaoran’s fault. A kiss was a kiss, but why did she have to use her hands?

It was also her own fault for being so dazed that she didn’t even realize when Xie Zhaoran undid the laces of her outer robe. But she couldn’t be blamed for that either! Xie Zhaoran’s fingers were slender and nimble. Shi Yuning had noticed it before when she was tying the knots for her pouch. Her fingers were slender and well-proportioned, perfect for delicate work.

No, it’s all her fault. Her hands would have been so much better used for needlework. Why did they have to do such wicked things to her?

When that single, hot hand pressed against her bare back without warning, her mind went completely blank. Shi Yuning wanted to ask Xie Zhaoran what she was doing, but her lips were already sealed by Xie Zhaoran’s, wet and sticky. She couldn’t speak, only let out small moans that she didn’t dare to listen to too closely. They carried a soft, delicate affection that didn’t sound like her at all. When had she ever been so tender? She never knew Xie Zhaoran’s hands could be so hot. Every place they touched felt like molten lava flowing through her. As the heat spread, Shi Yuning’s voice softened, and soon her entire body seemed to melt from the warmth. She collapsed in Xie Zhaoran’s embrace, completely defeated. Finally, she lost all strength, allowing Xie Zhaoran’s hand to ignite fires everywhere and then soothe them.

Shi Yuning closed her eyes tightly and forcefully fanned her arm in a circle, trying to push these images out of her mind. But she fanned too hard, and the half-dead charcoal in the stove suddenly began to crackle and burn brighter. Shi Yuning quickly stopped, put the fan aside, and used a corner of her skirt to lift the lid and take a look. It was almost done. She pushed some of the charcoal out again.

Sitting back down on her stool, Shi Yuning noticed some gray ash on her skirt and casually brushed it off. As she brushed the ash from her chest, she paused, looking down. As if a thought had struck her, she gently rubbed the spot. It felt soft, but nothing special. Why did it feel so different just a moment ago? Shi Yuning’s brow furrowed. Was there an acupoint there? When they were in Xie Zhaoran’s hands, with just a light twist, all the blood in her body seemed to rush backward to her head, exploding in her mind with a buzzing sound. The unbearable tingling sensation was so overwhelming that it brought tears to her eyes.

So embarrassing! Shi Yuning covered her face in frustration, feeling she had lost all composure and made a fool of herself in front of Xie Zhaoran again. But then she thought, this isn’t my fault! She had no idea what came over her. The feeling was so strange, she couldn’t even find a way to describe it.

Shi Yuning rubbed her face. It wasn’t fair, it wasn’t fair at all. She hadn’t even laid a hand on Xie Zhaoran. She pondered whether she should get even, but then she thought of the new Xie Zhaoran. It was like she had changed into a different person. The formerly proper and reserved person now looked at her with an intensity that always made her nervous. She didn’t dare to bring up “tying it even” with Xie Zhaoran again. Xie Zhaoran had just used those very words to corner her. “If you want to tie it even again, you have to kiss me like this.”

Aaaaaah, you villain! How would I know how to do that?! Shi Yuning looked at the steaming pot of medicine and was so mad she wanted to add some coptis root to it.

The rich scent of medicine wafted along the base of the wall and through the open bedroom window. Xie Zhaoran twisted a long strand of hair around her finger, slowly winding it. She watched as the strands of hair tightened around her slender index finger, leaving faint red marks. A smile appeared on her lips. This strand of hair had fallen on her from Shi Yuning’s head just moments ago. Her hair was like her—it looked shiny and black but was actually fine and soft.

As she wound the hair, the tension in Xie Zhaoran’s heart couldn’t dissipate, not even a little. She was very conflicted. The tear Shi Yuning shed just now felt like it had landed right on her heart. What’s wrong with her? Was she uncomfortable? Xie Zhaoran felt panicked by this uncontrollable feeling. She wasn’t much better off than Shi Yuning and had no experience. She hoped the books Xiao Lijun gave her weren’t lying. She looked down at her slightly flushed finger, which had been wrapped in hair. The subtle sensation of touching that soft, delicate skin still seemed to linger. Xie Zhaoran took a sharp breath and abruptly released the hair. The finger, which had been red as if with blood, suddenly turned white before returning to normal.

She glanced at her crudely bandaged leg. The medical care in the countryside was quite lacking. She wondered how long it would take for Xiao Lijun to find them. She needed her own military doctor. She didn’t want to delay the treatment of this leg injury at all. She just wanted to get it healed quickly. And it was no longer safe to stay here. Although she didn’t know much about the countryside, she knew that matchmakers weren’t known for being discreet. Soon, everyone in the vicinity would know there were two young women here, one with a broken leg and limited mobility.

The human heart could not withstand a test like that. A ruthless glint flashed in Xie Zhaoran’s eyes. If any fool came looking for trouble, they shouldn’t blame her for being heartless.

…

At Qingsui Cliff, Chen Da was pulled back up by his men, a look of joy on his face. He took off his climbing gear as he walked toward the camp of Marquis Shi and his son. Since Shi MinDa had vowed not to leave until they found his daughter, Shi Chao had ordered his soldiers to set up camp there and had the military doctor give Shi MinDa some calming medicine. Since the accident, Shi MinDa had not closed his eyes for a moment. He stood at the edge of the cliff, yelling “Ningning, come back! Ningning, come back!” all night, whether Shi Yuning could hear him or not. His throat was hoarse, but he wouldn’t stop. He also tried to sneak past the guards several times to put on climbing gear and go down to search for her.

The guards had not believed that the Marquis’s daughter could have survived such a fall. Although they were searching on orders, they were only doing it to fulfill their duties. But seeing Shi MinDa’s grief, they were moved. They went from not believing that Miss Shi could be alive to praying that she must be. The thing they feared most today was finding her body.

Fortunately, Chen Da brought back good news.

When Chen Da reported to Shi Chao that there was a river at the bottom of the cliff, Shi MinDa, who was supposed to be sleeping soundly from the medicine, suddenly opened his eyes. With his eyes swollen like walnuts, Shi MinDa clung tightly to Shi Chao’s leg. “Dad, Ningning must be alive! This is great, this is so great! Ningning can swim!”

Shi MinDa was overjoyed. He pulled the towel from his forehead and used it to wipe his tears. “Ningning is an excellent swimmer. The heavens have eyes! Ningning must still be alive!” He didn’t know about anyone else, but when their Ningning fell into the water, it was like a fish returning to its element. When Ningning was not yet seven, she once competed in a breath-holding contest with some of the older village boys and beat them all.

Shi Chao’s old tears flowed freely. As long as there was hope, it was good.

Chen Da was also moved by the atmosphere and became more determined to find Miss Shi. Shi Chao ordered him to make arrangements. This time, they would use longer ropes and bring bamboo rafts or rubber rafts. Once they were at the bottom, they would search downstream along the river. If Shi Yuning was alive, she would have definitely gone downstream. Chen Da took his leave, and Shi Chao also informed the people Xiao Lijun had sent to help.

Now that the princess regent was governing in place of the emperor, Shi Chao had no objections. Compared to the unreasonable nature of Prince Yu, he would rather choose this princess. But he also had some worries. The emperor was gravely ill and had no children. If something were to happen, who would the throne be passed to? The late emperor only had two sons. Fortunately, the emperor had already issued an edict to hunt down Prince Yu. Otherwise, if Prince Yu were to rise to power again, their Shi family would be finished. Sigh, Daye had truly reached a dangerous moment.

In the palace, Xiao Lijun listened to her subordinate’s report on the Shi family’s new discovery, but she was not as happy as they were. This was because Xiao Lijun knew Xie Zhaoran couldn’t swim, and that Shi Yuning was so thin and small, she didn’t seem capable of saving two people. In a life-or-death situation, it would be difficult to force someone to risk their life to save another. Xiao Lijun thought that if it was Xie Zhaoran who could swim, she would be much happier. Given Xie Zhaoran’s feelings for Shi Yuning, she would undoubtedly risk her life to save her.

Xiao Lijun thought for a moment, then told her subordinate to find the Commander of the Navy and borrow their rubber rafts. She also ordered them to send a team of skilled swimmers to assist Marquis Shi.

At Qingsui Cliff, when Shi Chao saw the naval forces, his impression of Xiao Lijun improved even more. He even thought that if the princess regent could ascend to the throne, she would be an excellent ruler. Unfortunately, she was a woman, and that was just wishful thinking.

Shi MinDa bowed deeply towards the direction of the imperial city, thanking the princess regent. Whoever could help him find his daughter was a great benefactor to the Shi family! “Ningning, don’t be afraid! Your father is coming to save you—” Shi MinDa yelled with all his might toward the bottom of the cliff.

“Achoo—” Shi Yuning let out a loud sneeze, which made her whole body tremble. She quickly felt her forehead, hoping she hadn’t caught a cold. There were only two of them, and they couldn’t both get sick at the same time. Feeling no fever, Shi Yuning breathed a sigh of relief. She got up from her small stool and went to the kitchen to find a new bowl with fewer chips. She then went to the well in the backyard and drew a bucket of water. The well water in the summer was clear and cool, a welcome relief.

Shi Yuning first washed her hands thoroughly, then cupped some water and splashed it on her face, cooling the redness that came from her chaotic thoughts. After that, she carefully washed the slightly chipped bowl before pouring the medicine from the pot into it.

It was a thick, black bowl of medicine with a strong, pungent smell. Shi Yuning felt a deep sympathy for Xie Zhaoran, as she had been afraid of bitter medicine since childhood. The medicine was still a little hot to the touch. Shi Yuning couldn’t find a cloth, so she simply lifted the corner of her skirt, folded it, and used it as a pot holder, carefully carrying the bowl of medicine back toward the room.

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