Wen Yuxi also smiled. Feng Ling was right, what could he do if he wasn't convinced? He was still a step too late.
"Why are you so dejected? Although the Empress is out of the question, aren't there plenty of other women? One of them is bound to suit you."
"Being alone is fine," Wen Yuxi said faintly, gazing into the distance.
Feng Ling was taken aback, a trace of emotion flickering in her eyes.
"We can only stay here tonight," Feng Ling said slowly, looking at the endless forest.
Wen Yuxi nodded. "Alright."
Feng Ling took out some dry rations from the carriage and handed them to Wen Yuxi. "Eat something!"
With only the water from the waterskin, Feng Ling and Wen Yuxi had a simple dinner.
The sky grew darker. Wen Yuxi stoked the fire, making it burn even brighter. "You rest in the carriage."
"What about you?" Feng Ling asked instinctively.
Wen Yuxi leaped up and landed on one of the trees closest to the carriage, lying down on it. "I'll sleep here."
Feng Ling returned to the carriage. The moonlight was thick tonight, very thick. Moonlight spilled onto the earth, and even through the carriage, she could feel the moonlight outside.
Tossing and turning, she couldn't fall asleep at all.
She walked out of the carriage and looked towards the tree where Wen Yuxi was resting. A blue ribbon was faintly visible – it was the sash he used to tie his hair.
"Can't sleep?" a voice drifted over.
Feng Ling was slightly startled, then asked, "You can't sleep either?"
"Would you like to listen to some music?"
Feng Ling looked up and saw Wen Yuxi had sat up. His fingers lightly brushed the leaves, and a leaf had appeared in his fingers. He placed it between his lips.
A pleasant and melodious tune slowly emerged.
It was elegant and lingering. Feng Ling leaped up and landed on the roof of the carriage, her arms behind her head. She closed her eyes and listened carefully to the music. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.
Wen Yuxi stopped playing the music and gazed into the distance, a strange light flashing in his eyes.
Feng Ling woke up to broad daylight. With a roll, she almost fell off the carriage. Startled, she quickly leaped into the air and landed on the ground.
"Awake?"
She looked up and saw him roasting something by the campfire. She couldn't help but move closer and ask, "What is this?"
"A wild rabbit I caught in the woods this morning," Wen Yuxi said.
Feng Ling's eyes lit up. "So that means there's meat to eat?"
Seeing her eyes shine because there was meat, he couldn't help but laugh. "Do you like it?"
Feng Ling nodded. "If I could eat meat every day, I'd agree to anything."
"How much do you lack meat?" Wen Yuxi couldn't help but laugh.
Hearing this, Feng Ling nodded solemnly. "You don't know, there's very little meat in the tribe, so it takes us a long time to get any."
Wen Yuxi was taken aback. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize..."
"There's nothing to apologize for. It's just that they're unlucky to be so far below the desert, so there's very little. But it doesn't mean we can't eat it. Besides, even if we can't, it has nothing to do with you."
Wen Yuxi couldn't help but reach out and touch her hair. "From now on, I'll provide you with meat. You can eat as much as you want."
Feng Ling's eyes lit up, her eyes sparkling. "Really? I've remembered what you said. It's too late for you to go back on your word."
"I won't go back on my word." He, the dignified楼主 of Qianjin Tower and the Minister of War of Changlong Kingdom, would be a laughingstock if he couldn't even provide meat for one woman.
"You're so kind," Feng Ling said happily.
Wen Yuxi smiled. "Don't be so quick to judge someone. Perhaps I'm not as good as you think."
Feng Ling said, "Not at all. I'm a good judge of character. Both my sister and you, I feel you genuinely care for me. So I want to protect what I've gained so hard."
"Eat!" Wen Yuxi tore off a large piece of the roasted rabbit and gave it to Feng Ling.
Feng Ling took it without ceremony and started eating.
After eating, the two began their journey, finally emerging from the forest on the third night.
"In two more cities, we'll reach the desert," Feng Ling said.
"We'll stay here tonight," Wen Yuxi said.
After days of traveling, they were somewhat weary. They decided to stay in an inn to rest.
"I'm sorry, esteemed guest, but there's only one room left," the innkeeper said apologetically.
Feng Ling was about to suggest they look at other inns when Wen Yuxi had already paid. Seeing this, she couldn't help but ask, "There's only one room. How will we sleep?"
Wen Yuxi glanced at her. "You sleep on the bed."
"And you?" Feng Ling asked.
"On the floor," Wen Yuxi replied, then went upstairs.
Feng Ling had no choice but to follow. Entering the room, she threw her bundle on the ground and said, "This is the boundary. No crossing it tonight."
She saw Wen Yuxi sizing her up, and suddenly felt a strange sensation. "You... why are you looking at me like that?"
"Do you think I'd be interested in a poorly developed little girl like you?" Wen Yuxi couldn't help but curl his lips.
Feng Ling was furious. "You... you're the one who's poorly developed! I'm still young now, but when I get older, I'll definitely surprise you."
"Oh? Then wait until you can surprise me before saying those words."
"You... you..." Feng Ling's face flushed with anger. She hugged her bundle and lay on the bed, huffing.
Wen Yuxi chuckled silently. Feng Ling didn't get up to eat even when the innkeeper brought dinner.
Wen Yuxi spoke, "Alright, come and eat."
Feng Ling didn't reply. Wen Yuxi frowned. Was the little girl that angry?
He walked over and nudged Feng Ling's shoulder with his chopsticks. "Miss Feng, please get up and eat!"
Feng Ling remained unresponsive. He turned her shoulder straight and discovered her face was flushed with an abnormal color, her eyes tightly closed, and she was even mumbling.
"Miss Feng, Miss Feng..." Wen Yuxi called out to Feng Ling.
Feng Ling still had the same expression. Wen Yuxi reached out and touched her forehead. It was already burning hot.
In her daze, Feng Ling felt someone pinching her nose and feeding her very bitter soup. She wanted to refuse, but she had to drink it. She was tormented to death. After several rounds, she finally quieted down.
When Feng Ling opened her eyes, it was already bright daylight. She tried to get up, but found her body soft and limp, unable to exert any strength.
After several struggles, she gave up trying to get up and could only lie on the bed. After an unknown amount of time, the door was pushed open, and someone walked in.
Wen Yuxi, who entered the room and saw Feng Ling awake on the bed, breathed a sigh of relief.
"What's wrong with me? Why do I have no strength?" Feng Ling asked.
"You're sick," Wen Yuxi said.
Feng Ling was startled. "Sick?"
Wen Yuxi nodded. "Yes, you've been asleep for a day and a night."
Feng Ling found it hard to believe. "I rarely get sick."
"Rarely getting sick doesn't mean you won't get sick," Wen Yuxi said slowly.