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When Shen Xiling awoke again, she was back at the Yan Duke’s residence, lying in her own room. Outside the window, a vivid and fiery sunset bathed the sky.
The setting sun was breathtakingly beautiful, its crimson hues reminiscent of the flames that had engulfed Zhe Mo Mountain earlier that day. This sight left Shen Xiling feeling somewhat dazed.
She propped herself up to sit, and the movement caught the attention of Wan Zhu, who was outside the bed curtains. The maid quickly pulled back the curtain, tearfully calling out “Mistress,” as Gu Jingqi, who had been waiting in the outer room, rushed in crying and hurried to Shen Xiling’s bedside.
The little girl called out “Sister-in-law” and sobbed, “Why did you run into the fire? Didn’t you see Brother had already come out? You scared us to death! If Brother hadn’t rushed back in to save you, you would have...”
She couldn’t bring herself to say the word, but her tears spoke volumes—she had been truly terrified.
Shen Xiling’s expression was calm, no longer bearing the madness she had displayed in the inferno earlier. Her gaze was deep, as if contemplating something.
She consoled Gu Jingqi for a while before asking, “Good girl, where is your brother?”
Gu Jingqi sniffled, wiping her tears and hiccupping through her sobs, replying, “After Brother escorted Sister-in-law back home, he went to the palace. He just returned and might be in the study now.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Xiling nodded and gently patted Gu Jingqi’s head, saying, “I’ll go speak with your brother. Can Jingqi play by herself for a bit?”
Gu Jingqi looked at her sister-in-law, sensing something subtly different about her now. Though equally gentle, there was an indescribable quality that made her uneasy.
Gu Jingqi hesitantly nodded and stepped back from the bedside. Shen Xiling then slowly got out of bed.
She swayed slightly after standing, startling those around her, but she steadied herself by holding onto the bed frame.
Wan Zhu, worried, said, “Mistress, perhaps you should rest. There’s no need to speak today. The doctor mentioned you inhaled smoke and needs proper rest.”
Shen Xiling showed no reaction, still moving towards her dressing table.
Wan Zhu thought she was going to freshen up, but instead, she took out a few sheets of paper from the dressing table and quietly tucked them into her sleeve.
Wan Zhu knew her mistress had a habit of writing letters, which she never sent, storing them in her dressing table or boxes when they accumulated. She didn’t know what these papers were, but watched as Shen Xiling slowly walked towards the door, leaving behind a quiet statement: “No need to follow. I’ll go alone.”
The Yan Duke’s residence was vast, and it took quite some time to walk from Shen Xiling’s quarters to Gu Juhan’s study.
The mansions of nobility were all quite similar; for instance, the Yan Duke’s residence bore resemblance to the Qi family estate. Especially since she moved in, intentional or not, many alterations mirrored Fenghe Garden, making it resemble places familiar to her.
Still, she felt a sense of unfamiliarity here.
The servants who saw Lady Shen respectfully greeted her, surprised to see her unaccompanied by attendants. They also noticed she hadn’t groomed herself, though her beauty remained, it wasn’t suitable for public appearance.
Unperturbed by their scrutiny, Shen Xiling continued towards Gu Juhan’s study.
The study door was closed, and Xu Chuan was guarding outside. Seeing Shen Xiling, he was quite astonished, not expecting her visit. After five years of marriage, she and Gu Juhan maintained a respectful distance, rarely disturbing each other’s spaces.
Xu Chuan moved to bow, but Shen Xiling waved him off and called out, “General,” through the door.
A response came quickly, Gu Juhan’s voice sounding surprised: “Xiling?”
“It’s me,” Shen Xiling calmly replied. “May I come in?”
This time, Gu Juhan hesitated, and the sound of things being hastily tidied up could be heard inside. After a moment, he hurriedly said, “Yes, come in.”
Shen Xiling pushed the door open and gently closed it behind her.
Gu Juhan’s study differed from the Forget Room—it was smaller with fewer books. Being a military officer, his collection mainly consisted of military strategies and some historical texts, nothing more.
The room smelled strongly of medicine. Gu Juhan stood by the desk, where uncollected medicine bottles and a copper basin filled with water sat. A dry cloth lay beside the basin. His attire was slightly disheveled, indicating he had hastily dressed.
His expression was uneasy, asking, “...What brings you here? Are you still feeling unwell?”
His discomfort stemmed from several factors: being seen in disarray and the guilt of having knocked her unconscious earlier. Additionally, there seemed to be undisclosed reasons.
Shen Xiling didn’t delve immediately, walking to his desk, glancing at the items, and then looking at him, asking, “Were you applying medicine, General?”
Gu Juhan uncomfortably nodded.
Indeed, he must have been injured. Today, when he rescued her from the fire, a burning beam had struck him, surely leaving wounds.
Shen Xiling was silent for a moment, then asked him to sit, remaining standing, and said, “Let me take a look.”
This request stunned Gu Juhan completely.
She... wanted to see his wounds?
As a military officer born in turbulent times, he frequently went to battle. After marrying her, he had fought many campaigns, inevitably sustaining injuries each time, which she knew but never expressed interest in seeing. He understood the barrier between them—she strictly maintained that boundary.
But now, she wanted to see his wounds.
Was it because she felt responsible for them?
Gu Juhan was unsure, and the thought of undressing in front of her made his palms sweat. He tried to dissuade her, saying, “It’s... not necessary. Just minor injuries, no need to worry.”
However, Shen Xiling was insistent. Without words, her gaze conveyed her determination: she would see them.
Gu Juhan was surprised, not expecting such resolve from her one day, stirring complex feelings within him.
After a moment’s thought, he ultimately didn’t refuse her. Sitting on the chair, he turned his back to her, removed his shirt, revealing the wound on his back.
Born into a military family, Gu Juhan’s physique was more robust than average due to martial training since childhood. Years of campaigning alongside his father and uncles had left numerous scars, crisscrossing his body, narrating the hardships endured by him and his family.
He was indeed covered in scars.
Now, atop these old wounds, a new injury marred his back—a combination of burns and bruises. The burning beam had scorched his skin, causing redness, swelling, bleeding, and some charring, appearing quite ghastly.
Gu Juhan sat shirtless, his back to Shen Xiling, yet he could feel her gaze lingering, making him tense, his muscles tightening, his breathing uneven.
He struggled to maintain composure, hoping she wouldn’t notice, but her silence left him clueless about her thoughts, adding to his unease.
Clearing his throat to mask his discomfort, he asked, “Are you frightened? The wound might look alarming...”
She didn’t respond immediately, pausing before saying, “Why didn’t you call a doctor? Why are you treating it yourself?”
Gu Juhan chuckled lightly, casually replying, “It’s not serious. No need for a fuss.”
Indeed, to him, this injury was trivial compared to others he’d endured, like a blade piercing his left shoulder in battle. With such experiences, he had grown resilient, considering this mere scratch insignificant.
But Shen Xiling thought differently. Knowing he was injured saving her, she deeply regretted it.
She said, “...I’m sorry.”
Gu Juhan didn’t intend for her apology or gratitude. Upon hearing it, he was about to console her, but then he saw her delicate and beautiful hands reach for the cloth by the copper basin.
...She seemed intent on treating his wound.
This gesture was subtle, both reasonable and slightly overstepping given their five-year relationship, treading a blurred boundary. Gu Juhan’s mind wavered, unable to react immediately. By the time he realized, she had already wet and wrung out the cloth, gently cleaning his wound.
Gu Juhan’s body tensed further.
The damp cloth carried a cooling sensation, yet the areas she cleaned grew hot. Though her hands didn’t touch him, he couldn’t help but feel... stirred.
Aside from professional doctors, she was the first to tend to his wounds. As an adult, unless life-threatening, he never allowed others to handle such matters.
Yet now, she cared for him, evoking a sense of warmth.
...As if they were truly husband and wife.
He was somewhat intoxicated, knowing her actions stemmed from guilt and gratitude, not love. Still, his tense body gradually relaxed, his heart softening.
At this moment, he heard her ask from behind, gently cleaning the wound, “I heard you just returned from the palace. Are all the nobles safe?”
Her movements were gentle and deft, comforting Gu Juhan, who let her tend to him, replying, “They’re fine. Fortunately, the fire didn’t reach where His Majesty resided. Empress Dowager was startled, but otherwise, everything is alright.”
Shen Xiling softly acknowledged, setting down the cloth and picking up the medicine bottle. Carefully pouring powder onto her fingertips, she gently applied it to Gu Juhan’s wound. Her cool touch made his breathing falter.
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