The Eldest Princess is Always Feigning Poverty and Weakness - Chapter 13

Wen Ningzhou realized once again that this world was entirely different from the one she came from.

This world had martial arts, hidden weapons, lethal poisons, and even a “divine physician”—Dr. Chen.

At this moment, her admiration for Dr. Chen’s medical skills was boundless.

“He really is incredible,” Wen Ningzhou muttered as she carefully unwrapped the linen bandages to inspect the wound.

When she woke up this morning and looked at the gash on Qi Luyao’s chest that had been so bloody yesterday, she found that all the necrotic flesh had vanished. The blood had congealed into a thin layer of scab. As long as she didn’t move too abruptly and tear it open, it wouldn’t bleed anymore.

Wen Ningzhou leaned her head close to Qi Luyao’s chest, staring with intense concentration. Even Qi Luyao, who had remained composed and indifferent for years, felt a wave of bashfulness under such a focused gaze.

“Just lie still, don’t be shy,” Wen Ningzhou noted the crimson tint on Qi Luyao’s earlobes. Like someone discovering a rare treasure, she teased, “What is there to be embarrassed about? We’re both girls. Besides, we’ve already slept together.”

Qi Luyao turned her head away, her cheeks flushing a deep red as she tried to bury her face in the pillow, refusing to acknowledge her.

Seeing her turn away, Wen Ningzhou realized that hiding her face was Qi Luyao’s final stand.

“Alright, alright, why the shyness? You’re so well-endowed,” Wen Ningzhou said, her mischievous side surfacing. She looked down at the soft, wonderful curves and intentionally gave them a poke with her index finger.

The sensation was surprisingly pleasant, so she couldn’t help herself and poked a few more times. With a burning face, Qi Luyao caught her hand and feigned anger. “Stop. Do not move.”

Her face was completely flushed, yet she couldn’t bring herself to speak harshly to Wen Ningzhou. She couldn’t even summon the usual reprimands like “Presumptuous!” or “How dare you!”

Even her anger was forced; it was eighty percent embarrassment and twenty percent discomfort, without a hint of genuine malice.

No one could be truly fierce toward Wen Ningzhou when she looked so innocent, like a wide-eyed kitten.

Despite being the one behaving like a rogue, she looked more pure and easily bullied than anyone.

Forgetting the honorific “Miss,” Qi Luyao held Wen Ningzhou’s wrist firmly. Her phoenix eyes were shimmering with a watery light, the corners tinged with pink. Lying powerless on the bed, she was a picture of breathtaking vulnerability.

I’m so jealous, Wen Ningzhou thought, feeling like she had spent too much time sitting under a lemon tree.

Digital people really were peerlessly perfect. Suddenly feeling a bit melancholy, Wen Ningzhou let out a sigh. “Sigh.”

“What’s wrong?” Qi Luyao stopped her movement of holding the wrist and looked up at her.

Wen Ningzhou really couldn’t handle those eyes; every blink felt like an accidental flirtation. “I’m just so sour.”

“What?” Qi Luyao asked. “Where does it hurt? Am I gripping you too hard?”

“Did I say that out loud?” Wen Ningzhou shook her head repeatedly. “No, you’re not hurting me.”

Realizing she had accidentally voiced her “sourness,” she explained, “I just meant I’m very envious of you. I’m a ‘Lemon Spirit’ Internet slang for jealous.”

Seeing where Wen Ningzhou’s gaze landed, it was obvious what she was envious of. Qi Luyao stopped asking questions. She didn’t understand what a “lemon” was, but she knew better than to ask this little rogue!

The reason Wen Ningzhou dared to be so reckless and blurt out modern slang in front of Qi Luyao was twofold. First, she was the girl’s savior; Qi Luyao didn’t seem like the type to report her or have her burned at the stake.

Second, she knew Qi Luyao wouldn’t be staying long. This was just a fleeting friendship.

“I’ll stop teasing you, I’ll stop,” Wen Ningzhou said. Noticing that Qi Luyao’s movements were straining the wound, she didn’t dare be playful anymore. “Careful with the injury. Don’t move, or it’ll tear and bleed again.”

Qi Luyao let go and lay back. She was the fish on the chopping block, and Wen Ningzhou was the butcher; she could only let the girl do as she pleased.

When Wen Ningzhou had cleaned the wound yesterday, Qi Luyao hadn’t felt anything unusual. But today, seeing her recovery, Wen Ningzhou was in such a good mood that she had the energy to be cheeky, which made Qi Luyao feel constantly unsettled.

She really wanted to wrap herself up in the quilt.

Yet Wen Ningzhou insisted she stay still, while she herself couldn’t control her urge to talk nonsense. “Yesterday, I saw everything I should have seen, and everything I shouldn’t have.”

“Hehe.” That little snicker of delight made Qi Luyao’s face explode in red once more.

Wen Ningzhou laughed happily. “You get embarrassed so easily.”

She was the one doing the flirting, yet she blamed the other for being thin-skinned. “Let me tell you a secret.”

Wen Ningzhou whispered, “I even touched them. Hehe.”

For convenience, she was kneeling at the head of the bed so as not to block the light. As she spoke, she lifted her face from Qi Luyao’s chest and leaned in close, meeting her eyes at a very short distance.

Qi Luyao had sharp phoenix eyes, while Wen Ningzhou had peach-blossom eyes—round and almond-shaped. As she spoke, her expression was exactly like a cat that had stolen a piece of dried fish; since she hadn’t been caught, she was now arrogantly licking her paws and showing off.

Seeing Qi Luyao about to raise her hand again, Wen Ningzhou suddenly became serious. She dipped a cloth in water, wiped away the dried blood around the wound, cleaned it up, and prepared to apply the medicine.

“In the eyes of us medical practitioners, there is no distinction between male and female, nor any distinction between body parts. I am the healer, and you are the patient. That is all,” Wen Ningzhou babbled on, sounding very professional.

“So, Miss, do not overthink it,” Wen Ningzhou continued. “No matter where I touch, it is the duty of a healer. Saving lives and helping the injured is our responsibility.”

Qi Luyao was not comforted in the slightest. She suspected Wen Ningzhou lived in this desolate place alone to hide from enemies—likely because too many people wanted to beat her up for her nonsense.

“Wandering hands weren’t my intent, but the lady is simply too tempting,” Wen Ningzhou babbled happily.

She hadn’t had a good talk with anyone in a long time. When she went down the mountain to buy supplies, she spoke as little as possible, paying and leaving immediately for fear of revealing her identity.

Living halfway up the mountain was peaceful, but it was also lonely. Far from the crowds, she had gradually become isolated without a companion to talk to.

Talking to Hongzhong was useless; the bird would only crane its neck and honk, having no sense of romance or conversation.

Qi Luyao didn’t find Wen Ningzhou’s chatter annoying. On the contrary, she felt this girl was adorable in every way.

Perhaps it’s because she’s my savior, Qi Luyao thought.

After changing the dressing and re-bandaging the wound, Wen Ningzhou’s technique was much better than yesterday. She remembered Dr. Chen’s instructions and tied a slipknot.

“This medicine will definitely be more effective,” Wen Ningzhou said, putting away the small bottle. “When Dr. Chen sold me this yesterday, he looked very reluctant to part with it.”

Qi Luyao glanced at it and recognized it as the gold-sore ointment made by her own secret guards. She didn’t say anything. Whenever Wen Ningzhou praised the doctor, she remained silent, offering only a knowing smile.

Once the medicine was done, Wen Ningzhou began preparing breakfast while also brewing Qi Luyao’s oral medicine.

Back in the bedroom, the mere smell of the herbs was enough to make one choke.

Then Qi Luyao thought of this girl, a stranger, brewing medicine for her and standing by the stove where the smell must be much stronger.

Breakfast wasn’t elaborate. Wen Ningzhou made some pan-fried cakes for herself and steamed a soft egg custard for Qi Luyao.

The eggs were local ones she had been reluctant to eat. There were only a few, barely larger than quail eggs, and she had used them all for Qi Luyao.

She didn’t make porridge; a patient with a stomach full of herbal soup probably wouldn’t have the appetite for it. As for herself, she was too lazy to bother and just drank some plain water.

The egg custard didn’t require chewing and was steamed to a very tender consistency with a cozy, home-cooked flavor. Since Qi Luyao couldn’t sit up properly, Wen Ningzhou fed her.

She would scoop up a level spoonful, blow on it gently, and then feed it to Qi Luyao.

This made Qi Luyao feel very self-conscious. Wen Ningzhou’s tenderness and kindness were overwhelming; she didn’t know how she could ever repay her.

Qi Luyao’s status was noble, but she disliked having others near her, let alone having someone blow on her food and feed her so intimately. Consequently, she had never experienced such treatment.

When the small bowl was empty, Wen Ningzhou felt satisfied. “Was it good?”

“It was delicious,” Qi Luyao nodded.

Wen Ningzhou said, “I’ll make it for you again later. I’m actually a great cook with other dishes too.”

“You really lucked out meeting me,” Wen Ningzhou teased, her energy returned after eating. “How can you be so lucky to run into such an all-around excellent person like me?”

“I have the heart of a compassionate healer and the skills of a fine cook,” Wen Ningzhou bragged shamelessly.

Qi Luyao silently agreed. Meeting her truly was a stroke of luck a discovery that light still existed in the world.

Wen Ningzhou loved chatting with Qi Luyao. Finding someone in this strange world with whom she could talk without reservation was rare. She didn’t know when she would get another chance to babble like this.

After breakfast came the time for the medicine. Happy times were always brief, and Qi Luyao was about to face her first hurdle of the day.

The external ointment was what the secret guards had given Dr. Chen. Since Qi Luyao’s injuries were external and she had already taken detoxifying pills, she didn’t technically need more oral medicine. Thus, the guards hadn’t provided any; these herbs were what Dr. Chen had provided himself.

The brewed herbs had to be taken every morning and evening. This was just the morning dose. Thinking about having to drink it again in the evening and for the next few days having seen the packets Wen Ningzhou brought back—Qi Luyao felt that life was suddenly very difficult.

Wen Ningzhou had stayed by the stove since early morning to brew this medicine, carefully filtering it through clean linen so there were no dregs. She was as hardworking and devoted as a “Snail Maiden” from the fairy tales.

Drinking the medicine spoonful by spoonful was like being slaughtered by a dull saw—a slow, agonizing torture.

With a strong will despite her physical state, Qi Luyao propped herself up against the window sill, determined to sit halfway up. she really didn’t want to savor the taste bit by bit.

Holding the bowl with both hands, she looked down at the dark brown liquid and then looked up at Wen Ningzhou. Her eyes were full of unsaid pleas. “Can I…”

“No,” Wen Ningzhou refused flatly before she could even negotiate.

Qi Luyao wasn’t actually going to refuse it—after all, the girl had worked hard to brew it. She just wanted to see if she could drink a little now and a little later.

Holding her breath, Qi Luyao downed the half-bowl of medicine in one go. Her beautiful features twisted into a knot from the bitterness. Immediately, a fair hand reached out, holding a bowl of water.

With the sweet sugar water in her mouth, Qi Luyao’s cheeks puffed out slightly. The look she gave Wen Ningzhou was full of gratitude. Using the word “cute” to describe such a celestial beauty seemed unfitting, yet her expression at that moment was remarkably vivid.

While Qi Luyao was drinking the sugar water, Wen Ningzhou stepped out. After finishing, Qi Luyao quietly smacked her lips, savoring the lingering sweetness.

Wen Ningzhou returned, her hands hidden behind her back as if concealing something.

“Guess what I have?” Wen Ningzhou stood there playfully.

Qi Luyao looked wary. “Another bowl?”

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