The Female Regent’s Daily Guide to Spoiling Her Wife - Chapter 27

Yunxia slowly turned her head and saw a young wolf staring at her from a distance, its green eyes glowing in the dark.

The drizzle blurred her vision as raindrops fell on her face. An overwhelming chill washed over her, and her teeth chattered uncontrollably.

She had no idea if the rest of the wolf pack was nearby. Gripping the dagger tightly against her chest, she cautiously retreated step by step, her eyes fixed fiercely on the young wolf. She couldn’t help but feel grateful that it was just a young wolf otherwise, she would have had no chance of survival.

After a long standoff, the young wolf suddenly arched its back and lunged at Yunxia.

The impact sent her stumbling backward until she collided with a tree. In that moment, a surge of strength she didn’t know she possessed rushed through her. She raised the dagger and slashed fiercely at the wolf’s neck.

The wolf’s violent snarling echoed in her ears, and a sharp pain shot through her shoulder. A desperate will to survive erupted within her she couldn’t die. There were people who loved her and people she still wanted to love!

Clenching her teeth against the agony, Yunxia raised the dagger again and hacked repeatedly at the wolf’s neck and legs.

It seemed to be the young wolf’s first hunt. Its sharp teeth gnawed relentlessly at her shoulder, and low growls rumbled in its throat.

Finally, the young wolf let out a piercing howl that echoed through the forest and collapsed silently. Yunxia’s face, chest, and neck were drenched in blood she could no longer tell whether it was hers or the wolf’s.

Pain every part of her body felt battered, and the excruciating pain in her shoulder made it impossible to lift her arm.

Wiping away the mixture of blood and tears on her face, Yunxia gazed despairingly into the pitch-black surroundings. The young wolf’s howl was sure to attract the rest of the pack. Was she really going to die here tonight?

The forest grew darker, and the fine rain fell densely on her face and body, seeping into her bones with a chilling cold. Trembling, she moved toward a towering tree and crouched down, hopelessly awaiting the arrival of the wolf pack.

Not far away, the howls of wolves echoed, and the sound of animals moving through the forest became distinctly clear in the silent night. More and more pairs of green eyes emerged, closing in on her. The wolf pack had been drawn to her or perhaps they had been nearby all along, quietly encircling her step by step.

The wolves drew closer, their leader standing at a distance, scrutinizing Yunxia with a predatory gaze.

Her teeth chattered, and the pain in her arm intensified. Despair washed over her she was finished. She had no strength left. Killing the young wolf had drained her completely, and now she could barely hold onto the dagger.

Yunxia smiled bitterly. It seemed this was where her life would end. She wondered if Lu Zhao would avenge her and whether her sister could take care of herself. Her short life of just over a decade had been filled with so much hardship.

The lead wolf stared intently at Yunxia, its front paws slowly scraping the ground. Baring its sharp teeth, it lifted its head and let out a howl before lunging fiercely at her!

Yunxia closed her eyes in despair, her hand weakly covering her face as tears streamed down like threads through her fingers. But after a long moment, the expected pain never came. Instead, she felt her body lifted lightly and enveloped in a warm embrace.

Yunxia trembled slightly, unable to believe that person had actually come to save her! It was a possibility she hadn’t even dared to imagine. Yet, the faint, cool scent of sandalwood at the tip of her nose reminded her unmistakably: it was indeed her.

In her ears was the heavy, rapid sound of Lu Zhao’s breathing. She was held tightly in her embrace, as if Lu Zhao wanted to meld her into her very being.

Yunxia slowly opened her eyes and tilted her head slightly upward. Her gaze met Lu Zhao’s pale face, and in those dark pupils, she saw her own small reflection. In an instant, all her grievances, fears, and despair dissolved into tears. Clinging to Lu Zhao, she began to sob softly.

Lu Zhao’s chest was already soaked with Yunxia’s tears. With trembling hands, she caressed Yunxia’s delicate face, holding her close as she let out a deep sigh. “Xiaxia, thank goodness.” she murmured.

When she had learned that Yunxia had ventured into the back hills of the General’s estate, only heaven knew how terrified she had been in that moment. For twenty-two years, no matter how complex the situation, she had always remained calm and composed, believing that step by step, everything could be resolved. But today, for the first time, she understood the fear of losing someone the kind of dread that rises from the depths of the heart and surges straight to the mind.

After a while, Yunxia caught sight of the wolf that had tried to attack her lying motionless nearby, glimpsed from the crook of Lu Zhao’s arm.

Lu Zhao gently covered her eyes with her hand and sighed softly, her voice hoarse as she said, “Xiaxia, don’t look.”

Yunxia nodded obediently. Since Lu Zhao had arrived, her heart had settled considerably.

Lu Zhao frowned as she surveyed their surroundings. The forest was imbued with the art of the Eight Trigrams and Nine Palaces easy to enter but difficult to leave. The longer they stayed, the more dangerous it would become, and escaping would be no simple task. They would likely have to wait for the General’s deputy to arrive. Lu Zhao sent a signal flare into the sky.

In an instant, fireworks burst overhead, illuminating the dim forest.

Lu Zhao looked down at the person in her arms. In the drizzle, her features were blurred, her lips pale, and the bite wound on her delicate shoulder looked especially horrifying.

Without a second thought, Lu Zhao removed her outer robe and wrapped Yunxia in it. “Xiaxia, bear with it a little longer,” she said, her voice filled with heartache. “I’ll get you out of here soon.”

Yunxia clung tightly to Lu Zhao’s waist, her heart completely at ease. What did physical pain matter? She pressed her cold cheek against Lu Zhao’s palm, rubbing it gently like a cat. “Ah Zhao, as long as you’re here, I’ll be fine.”

Before long, hurried footsteps approached from the distance, and the glow of torches drew nearer. Xi Gui spotted Lu Zhao sitting to the side and rushed over. “Master, are you all right?”

Lu Zhao stood up, holding Yunxia horizontally in her arms, her expression as calm as still water. She addressed Deputy General Zhao, “It’s nothing. We need to leave this place quickly. The lead wolf has been killed, but we don’t know when the pack might attack again.”

Wen Yuan, catching sight of Yunxia in Lu Zhao’s arms, ignored the danger and began making teasing gestures at Lu Zhao, unable to resist poking fun.

Deputy General Zhao, his expression grave, pondered for a moment before speaking. “Lord Regent, if I may, the trees in these back hills shift according to the formation. There’s only one path out. We must hurry. Guard Xi, please accompany me to scout the way ahead.”

Before Xi Gui could respond, Wen Yuan stepped in front of Deputy General Zhao and said nonchalantly, “Let Xi Gui stay with Lu Xiaozhao. She’s carrying a beauty and might not be able to handle danger easily. I’ll go ahead with you.”

At some point, Song Ziyan had quietly fallen to the back of the group. Hearing that Wen Yuan intended to accompany Deputy General Zhao, he frowned slightly and silently moved behind him. His rough voice broke the silence: “Uncle Zhao, I once heard the general mention the situation at the back mountain. I’ll go with you as well.”

Deputy General Zhao furrowed his brow, intending to refuse, but seeing that Song Ziyan had already taken the lead, he said nothing.

Lu Zhao’s gaze darkened as he watched Song Ziyan walking ahead. Though the voice and build were different, the concern for Wen Yuan felt genuine. Could this masked youth be him?

Wen Yuan felt a strange curiosity. When had this masked youth joined them? Why did he always feel the boy’s gaze lingering on him, faint yet unmistakable? In an instant, he recalled the possibility Lu Zhao had mentioned, and his heart stirred.

Wen Yuan suddenly wrapped an arm around Song Ziyan’s neck, leaning his head close in an intimate gesture, and said playfully, “Little brother, I haven’t even asked your name! General Song seems to care a great deal about you!”

Song Ziyan felt enveloped by Wen Yuan’s presence, his heartbeat quickening uncontrollably. A faint blush crept up behind his ears as he pushed Wen Yuan away, his voice cold: “Your Highness, Prince Rui, please show some restraint.”

Wen Yuan’s heart skipped a beat, and he tightened his hold, teasing, “Little brother, we’re both men, what’s there to restrain? Could it be that you’ve been captivated by my charm and secretly harbor feelings for me?”

Beneath the mask, Song Ziyan’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment and frustration. He was still as shameless as ever!