"Brother Tingyun, don't push yourself. Your shoulder wound is down to the bone; you should have it treated. Wounds can easily get infected this time of year," Yu Mingyue said with familiarity and concern in her voice.
Although Gu Tingyun was not accomplished in either literature or martial arts, he was responsible.
He had fought desperately with the guards earlier. If he hadn't taken that blow for Sister Han, she would have been in danger.
"Young Master Gu, the seventh young lady sent me to bandage your wound," a young servant hurried over.
It was a servant from the Han family. Han Dingxin, who was seventh in her family, owed Gu Tingyun a life-saving debt and naturally intended to repay it.
"Brother Tingyun, hurry and get bandaged," Yu Mingyue urged.
When Yu Mingyue turned her head, she met Xie Jiayan's gaze, which held a complex emotion.
"Brother Jiayan, what's wrong?" Yu Mingyue subconsciously lowered her voice.
"Are you injured?" Xie Jiayan stepped forward, his eyes showing restraint.
Yu Mingyue still wore a smile. She wiped the blood from her face with a handkerchief, then turned around in front of him, feigning lightness. "No, the blood is someone else's. I'm not injured."
"You don't have to be like this," Xie Jiayan took a breath. "You don't have to be like this in front of me."
"What?"
"You don't have to pretend to be strong like this. I..." Xie Jiayan's words stopped abruptly.
The sentence "I can protect you" remained unspoken. He... was not worthy.
She was clearly terrified, and even with a smile, the fear in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
She was precocious and perceptive, considering others without regard for her own gain, arranging everything meticulously, yet never considering herself.
The pampered pearl of the Yu family, doted on by her father and brothers, with the Cui family behind her, she truly didn't need to be so proactive. Someone would always provide the best for her.
Everyone in Luoyang said the sixth young lady of the Yu family was spoiled, but he felt she was the most sincere.
"..."
Yu Mingyue was taken aback, her eyes slightly reddening. Although she hadn't said it, she was indeed afraid.
After all, it was the first time she had witnessed the cruelty of battle firsthand.
But perhaps it was the blood of her father and brothers flowing in her veins; in that moment, she suddenly understood the choices made by her father and brothers in the storybooks.
She didn't want to be a great hero; she just didn't want to shame them, didn't want to be the Yu Mingyue in the storybooks who died miserably.
Yu Mingyue's voice had a slight nasal quality as she feigned lightness. "I knew someone would come to save us. Those Kongming lanterns were made with the mechanism book you gave me, Brother Jiayan. Did you see them?"
"Yes, I saw them," Xie Jiayan chuckled lightly.
He had said long ago that she was exceptionally intelligent and could apply what she learned, not only saving the seventh prince's party but also preventing the capital from being ravaged.
"Brother Jiayan, do you remember what you said?"
"What?"
"'Though there be thousands against me, I shall go forth!'"
Xie Jiayan paused slightly, then chuckled, "You did very well."
"It's all thanks to Brother Jiayan's good teaching."
Xie Jiayan's lips parted, and just as he was about to say something more, a voice called from not far away, "Sixth sister."
The air outside was still thick with the smell of blood after the recent battle.
They had been inside earlier, and the sounds of swords clashing outside had frightened them greatly. Emerging now, they saw the scene, and some of the more timid ones' legs turned to jelly, almost causing them to fall.
Yu Miaoling and the others, seeing Han Dingxin injured and worried about Yu Mingyue, disregarded the guards' warnings that the area was not yet cleared and rushed out.
Yu Miaoyan and Yu Miaoqing's sisters' legs were trembling as they walked cautiously. "Sixth sister!"
Yu Mingyue saw their ashen faces, pale with fright, and quickly explained, "I'm fine. The blood on my clothes is someone else's."
After Yu Miaoyan checked, she patted her chest. "Thank goodness, thank goodness, you're alright."
This time, she was truly convinced. No, she had been convinced long ago. From this day forward, her admiration would only grow.