Qu Linglong visited Bozi Village again the next day. Xiao Shan had everything prepared.
She was surprised to find a cloth curtain hung over the bed. After she finished her acupuncture, he drew the curtain, completely concealing the area.
"Are you trying to guard against me?"
She was a woman, after all! Surely not?
In the morning, Xiao Shan had managed to feed Xue Niang some rice gruel. Clumsily, he had even gotten his clothes wet. After applying medicine and changing her clothes, he had fussed over her for a long time, fearing she would catch a chill. While the curtain was indeed to prevent others from seeing, it was also to keep her warm.
He was always a man of few words, and Qu Linglong had grown accustomed to it, silently accepting his actions.
Who would have thought that a man as stoic as an ancient iron tree blooming would be like this, with such possessiveness?
"When she wakes up, you'll move in for a few days. I need to go to the mountains."
Qu Linglong really wanted to say that he was no longer a general, so why was he still so forceful, issuing commands as if it were natural? But having accepted his money and being used to his authority from her time serving under him, she didn't dare to speak.
She wondered if the little beauty could tolerate him.
"Brother Xiao, perhaps you should shave. With your current appearance... hehe..."
Under Xiao Shan's fierce gaze, Qu Linglong continued with a dry laugh, "It detracts from your handsome features."
What nonsense!
Xiao Shan's expression soured, and he went to the kitchen to boil medicine.
Reflected in the water vat in the kitchen was a rugged, unrestrained face. Hidden beneath the beard, only his bright, tiger-like eyes were visible. He covered the lower half of his face with his hand and examined himself.
It seemed he did look much more pleasant. Without the beard, he might even appear somewhat refined.
Did Xue Niang always mistake him for a villain because of his beard?
In the simple bedroom, Qu Linglong rubbed her waist. She had been sitting for quite some time and was feeling sore. There was no other place to lie down. She really wanted to get into bed and squeeze in with the little beauty, but that was impossible now. General Xiao probably wouldn't allow it.
It was a shame that no one here knew her. Otherwise, she would have loved to complain to her friends, though she doubted anyone would believe her.
After all, his past image of avoiding women like the plague was too deeply ingrained.
A soft sigh came from the bed. Qu Linglong lifted the curtain and saw the beauty's eyelashes flutter as she opened her eyes.
In an instant, the room was filled with her grace.
What kind of eyes were those? Like smoke and mist, carrying the haze of just waking up, then clearing like the sun breaking through the fog, dazzling and radiant. As they moved, a watery sheen flowed, as beautiful as the most expensive gems.
She finally understood why Xiao Shitou had fallen in love. If the beauty were willing, she too would be willing to become a subject of her charm.
She was too beautiful! Qu Linglong had never seen such a beauty in her life. Unadorned, with a touch of sickness on her face, her eyes alone could make one fall captive.
If only that unsightly black mark on her left cheek weren't there! It was like a perfect, exquisite artifact marred by a flaw.
"Xue Niang, you're awake. Don't move, I'll take out the needles for you."
Qu Linglong quickly withdrew the silver needles. During this, she saw the beauty furrow her brows slightly, looking confused.
"What... happened to me?"
Her voice was hoarse and dry, and speaking made her throat hurt, as if it had been parched for a long time.
Qu Linglong helped her adjust her clothes, stopping her from speaking further.
"You had a high fever. Your body needs fluids. Don't talk for now."
In truth, her body was better than she had imagined. She had woken up quite quickly, which indicated a good constitution from before. Despite the ordeal, she hadn't been completely broken.
Xiao Shan had heard the commotion earlier and brought a bowl of water with some brown sugar. His bright, tiger-like eyes gazed at the person on the bed. He naturally sat down beside her and gently helped her sit up.
"Drink."
He thought his voice was gentle enough, but to Qu Linglong, it still carried a hint of command.
Xue Niang felt uncomfortable. He exuded a masculine aura, and his movements were somewhat domineering. She was weak and could only lean against his broad chest, allowing the bowl to be placed against her lips.
"Uh, Brother Xiao, aren't you using a spoon?"
Qu Linglong spoke softly. The two of them together created a striking contrast, a beauty beside a beast. The bowl was large, and her mouth was small, giving it a somewhat forceful impression.
Even though Xue Niang was drinking greedily, water still trickled from the corners of her mouth. Xiao Shan also realized the awkwardness. He handed the bowl to Qu Linglong, frowning as he used his hand to wipe away the water that had spilled onto her neck.
Xue Niang forcefully turned her body away, preventing him from touching her.
Xiao Shan paused. His expression was unreadable. He carefully laid her back down and moved away from the bedside.
"The medicine is here. Take good care of her. I need to prepare to go to the mountains."
"Alright, Brother Xiao."
Qu Linglong clicked her tongue. It seemed the little beauty hadn't accepted Brother Xiao! Her movements were quite resistant. Oh, the poor old man.
"By the way, can you cook? She can't eat anything hard right now."
"Ah? I, I can't. But my maid can. I'll have her come over."
Xiao Shan's expression cleared, and he said no more. He went into the courtyard and began to gather things with clanging sounds.
Xue Niang had been listening to their conversation. Only after he left the room did she turn her head and stare blankly at the doorway.
"Brother Xiao is a rough man and not very good at expressing himself. Actually, he's very good to you. To save you, he didn't hesitate—" Qu Linglong paused, not finishing her sentence.
"Didn't hesitate to do what?"
Of course, he didn't hesitate to expose his identity! You know, the crime of deceiving the emperor could lead to the extermination of nine generations of his family. He was putting his life in danger!
But she couldn't say that.
"Of course, he spent a lot of money! The medicine you're drinking is very expensive. Brother Xiao emptied his family's treasury. And that's not enough, he still has to go to the mountains to hunt, to hunt valuable things like tigers and bears. You can imagine how dangerous it will be."
"Oh, I haven't told you yet. My name is Qu Linglong. I'm Brother Xiao's friend, and I know a bit of medicine. Brother Xiao gave me twenty taels of silver these past few days to take care of you at home."
Xue Niang remained silent. She wasn't ungrateful. This man had saved her again. Apart from occasionally touching her, he hadn't truly harmed her.
She just wasn't used to it and was unwilling to be bullied by a man. If he had truly bought her to be a maid for cooking and washing, she would have been willing.
But anything more than that, she wouldn't accept. She would never allow herself to become a plaything for a man.
"You... are a woman?"
Xue Niang looked at Qu Linglong, whose disguise wasn't very convincing, and saw through it at a glance.
Qu Linglong nodded, then tapped her waist, picked up the medicine bowl, and blew on it. "Shall I feed you the medicine!"
Xue Niang laboriously raised herself and leaned against the headboard.
"I'll do it myself."
After saying that, she took the bowl from Qu Linglong and, without using a spoon, drank it slowly, mouthful by mouthful.
The medicine was very bitter, but she only frowned and finished it quickly.
This made Qu Linglong understand her a little better. It seemed she wasn't as delicate as she appeared.
Indeed, if she were delicate, how could she have survived the human traffickers, let alone have the courage to take her own life?
This was clearly a spirited woman.
It seemed that Brother Xiao wouldn't easily win the beauty's heart.
"You... are tired. You can get on the bed."
Xue Niang had noticed her discomfort long ago, constantly rubbing her waist. She must have been tired from sitting.
Qu Linglong was touched by her thoughtfulness. How could there be such a lovely person! It would be too much of a pity for her to fall into the hands of that rough man, Xiao.