The Aloof Prime Minister is Pregnant with the Rival General’s Child - Chapter 11

Recalling the fierce creature that had flashed by, its tawny fur streaked with black patterns, Sheng Yuli realized it looked somewhat familiar. A thought suddenly struck his mind. His eyes widened in shock. “It is a Yin Ke!”

Was Shi Hanshang mad? To dare pursue a fierce tiger alone without a single guard by his side! He was truly risking his life just to claim credit before the Emperor!

Sheng Yuli felt a vein throb in his forehead as he remembered the boastful words he had thrown at Shi Hanshang before the hunt began. Could that stubborn fellow have actually disregarded his own safety just because of a moment of spite?

Surprised and angry, Sheng Yuli instinctively took a few steps forward, but then his pride kicked in. He thought to himself, “What does that have to do with me?” This was Shi Hanshang’s own doing. If he were actually eaten by a tiger, Sheng Yuli should be happy!

He turned his horse to leave, gritting his teeth. But if Shi Hanshang really were eaten by a tiger! After a brief internal struggle, his body moved faster than his brain. He yanked the reins and spurred his horse to give chase! He told himself he was only afraid that if a high ranking official died, the Emperor would surely punish everyone involved. That was all!

The scenery blurred as trees flew past him. Shi Hanshang was struggling to remain calm, his eyes locked onto the bright yellow traces ahead, but the pain in his abdomen had reached a turbulent, irregular level. This abdominal pain had come far too suddenly and grew increasingly violent. It was unlike the slight weakness of the past few days that could be ignored. Today, the pain was a heavy, aching bloat that reached his ribs, constantly pulling at his already frayed nerves.

Shi Hanshang intended to slow his horse, but his vision was darkening in waves. His hands were weak and powerless. He could not pull the reins and could only watch as Jiang Xue galloped wildly, carrying him toward an unknown destination.

Just as the pain seemed to ebb slightly, his inner garments beneath his armor were nearly soaked with cold sweat. He took a deep breath and gathered his strength. But as soon as he pulled the reins, a sharp, stabbing pain pierced his abdomen like a needle!

His hand jerked. Startled, Jiang Xue let out a high, panicked neigh and lost its direction. The horse turned and charged down a forest path that had never been traveled before, running faster and faster!

The jarring ride made Shi Hanshang’s head spin. His stomach churned with nausea. He used every ounce of strength to steady himself on the horse, trying to soothe the beast. “Jiang Xue! Stop! Whoa!”

The prey he had been pursuing was long gone, and Shi Hanshang no longer cared about such trivial matters. He had always considered himself a man who moved forward without looking back, yet the heavy, sinking pain in his lower abdomen was so undeniable that he actually felt a rare moment of regret. If he had not tried to prove himself by chasing that tiger, would he be in such a pathetic state now?

Pressing his slender fingers against his cramping lower abdomen, he truly felt as though he might die here today. It was truly a case of heaven not granting human wishes.

Shi Hanshang let out a soft sigh and forced himself to sit upright. He leaned sideways to grab Jiang Xue’s mane, stroking the tangled fur with the same gentle, firm motions he used during rests at the stables. Slowly, he calmed the panicked heart of the stallion.

Jiang Xue finally seemed to settle. The horse slowed down, letting out raspy, low grunts from its throat, and eventually came to a halt.

“Good girl,” Shi Hanshang bit his pale lower lip and let out a long breath of relief. He had not noticed the figure following closely behind him at all.

By the time Jiang Xue had completely stopped in an open clearing, Shi Hanshang’s face was deathly pale from the pain. Sheng Yuli also pulled his reins and stopped five meters away, his sword like brows knitted tight.

On the lush green grass, the man and the horse looked ethereal standing against the wind. The man on the horse had a narrow, firm waist and long, graceful legs. Standing under the setting sun, he looked like a celestial being, as elegant as ever.

However, Sheng Yuli noticed something was wrong. Shi Hanshang’s usually upright posture was slightly hunched, and his head, which Sheng Yuli often mocked for looking down at others through his nostrils, was lowered significantly. His fingers gripped the back of the horse so hard his knuckles turned white. Sheng Yuli wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him, for he thought he saw Shi Hanshang’s body trembling slightly.

Sheng Yuli hesitated. Should he step forward and ask? He was not the type to offer warm concerns, especially to the rival he had competed with since childhood. He had only intended to see if Shi Hanshang was dead. Seeing that he was fine, Sheng Yuli should have just left.

Just as he was about to turn away, he saw the figure move. Shi Hanshang swung a leg over the horse’s back, appearing as if he wanted to dismount. His silhouette was shaky and unstable. His hand on the horse’s back trembled, and his movements were slow and deliberate, unlike his usual swift grace. As his feet hit the ground, he recoiled for a moment.

Sheng Yuli’s eyes suddenly widened!

Shi Hanshang felt the world spinning around him. A dense, stabbing pain flared in his lower abdomen. His legs gave way, and he fell backward uncontrollably. Before he hit the ground, he felt himself fall into a warm, strong embrace. In his last moments of consciousness, he heard a very familiar voice shouting his name, “Shi Hanshang!”

Wait for a moment. When he woke up again, he was inside a tent at the camp. Song Qing and Sheng Yuli stood on either side of the bed, both of them wearing expressions of shock and worry. Song Qing was primarily concerned, while Sheng Yuli was mostly stunned.

Sheng Yuli had been scared out of his wits. When Shi Hanshang collapsed, he thought the man was playing a joke. It was only when he actually caught the falling figure that he realized Shi Hanshang had truly fainted! He saw Shi Hanshang’s closed eyes and his face drenched in cold sweat. That complexion, usually as pale and clear as jade, was now like white paper. His long eyelashes trembled like the wings of a frightened butterfly. Sheng Yuli called his name several times, but there was no response.

Only then did Sheng Yuli believe it. Was Shi Hanshang injured by the tiger? But he had clearly seen the tiger running in the opposite direction! Could it be that Shi Hanshang was injured earlier during the hunt?

Sheng Yuli was used to Shi Hanshang being arrogant and haughty. Seeing him so battered and weak caused him to lose his composure. After all, Shi Hanshang was the Prime Minister. Everyone in the capital knew of their discord. If Shi Hanshang died in the wilderness with no one but Sheng Yuli around, he would never be able to clear his name! Once he regained his senses, he picked the man up and galloped back to the camp!

Meanwhile, the Imperial Physician, Song Qing, was leisurely drinking tea and enjoying the sunset. He was startled when Sheng Yuli burst through the curtain, nearly dropping his teacup! When he saw that the unconscious person in Sheng Yuli’s arms was Shi Hanshang, his leisure vanished. He knocked over his tea to clear a space for them!

“Sheng, Sheng Yuli, you!” Song Qing watched as a sweating Sheng Yuli laid Shi Hanshang flat on the bed. He stepped back, his suspicious eyes darting between the two men.

Sheng Yuli was as anxious as an ant on a hot griddle. He turned to find Song Qing looking at him defensively, having moved toward the tent door for some reason. He yelled, “Song Qing, why are you standing so far away? Come here and check on him!”

Song Qing’s face was grim, and he hesitated for a long time. Sheng Yuli, not understanding why, stepped forward and dragged Song Qing back to the bed. He pushed him forward and snapped, “What are you doing? Hurry up, do not delay the treatment!”

Song Qing stumbled. Seeing Shi Hanshang’s pale face, his anger finally overcame his fear. He swallowed hard and reached out a trembling finger to check the breathing under Shi Hanshang’s nose. He let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, he was still breathing!

Song Qing quickly placed a few refreshing pills into Shi Hanshang’s mouth to sustain him, then hurried to remove the armor. He needed to check for wounds. When he reached the last layer, Song Qing paused and looked at Sheng Yuli hesitantly.

Sheng Yuli crossed his arms and said, “What are you looking at me for? We are all men. It is not as if I do not have what he has. He is not a maiden, so why do we need to avoid anything?”

Song Qing’s lip twitched, but he said nothing and continued undressing him. He only prayed that when Shi Hanshang woke up, he would hit Sheng Yuli and not take his anger out on the physician! When the outer robe was removed, leaving only the innermost garment, Song Qing’s eyes scanned the body. He suddenly stopped.

On the inner side of Shi Hanshang’s thigh, near a certain area, there were several bright red spots that were incredibly eye catching.

Song Qing flew into a rage. He stood up and shoved a surprised Sheng Yuli, shouting, “Sheng Yuli! You are too cruel! To think you would strike a man on his thigh!” He naturally assumed the injury was Sheng Yuli’s doing.

Sheng Yuli finally realized why Song Qing had been so afraid of him. He was both angry and shocked. “You think I injured him?”

Song Qing crossed his arms. “If it was not you, then who was it?”

“I!” Sheng Yuli did not know how to explain. “It really was not me! He was already like this when I found him! If I had not been kind enough to bring him back, he would be lying in the wilderness being eaten by wild beasts right now! I am the one who saved him!”

“Do you take me for a fool?” Song Qing clearly did not believe him. He craned his neck and said, “Do you think I do not know that you were in the east and Lan Bie was in the west? If you had not sought him out on purpose, how could you have met him on the way? And you say it has nothing to do with you! Sheng Yuli, you are despicable!”

Sheng Yuli was shocked. “What kind of logic is that? Why must it be that I sought him out and not the other way around? No! Even if I did seek him out, I did not do this!”

Song Qing wanted to argue further, not noticing that the man behind them had slowly opened his eyes. Hearing the noise of the quarrel, Shi Hanshang found it incredibly annoying. His lower abdomen still throbbed with a dull pain. He struggled to open his eyes, and through his blurred vision, he saw two figures arguing until they were red in the face. His head, already aching, was now ringing from the noise.

Before he could figure out where he was or what the situation was, Shi Hanshang pressed his hand to his temple. He forced his weak upper body up and could not help but shout, “So noisy!”

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