Chapter 51: Share Half the Bed

 

It took half a year to completely remove the residual poison.

 

Yu Tingwan cast a skeptical glance: ???

If that’s true, then your brain damage wasn’t from the fall—it was there from the beginning.

 

“What about the traitor?”

 

Wei Zhao’s lips curled slightly. His voice was light, almost casual, yet it sent chills down one’s spine.

 

“Him?…”

 

“Fu Meng ate him. First, it bit off his legs, then tore off his arms, and finally, his head. His body was ripped apart piece by piece, and even the bones were crushed and swallowed.”

 

At that time, Wei Zhao had been sitting calmly, brewing tea, as the Wei family soldiers stood nearby, watching closely—witnessing the fate of those who betrayed him.

 

Yu Tingwan: …

 

She could picture the whole scene vividly.

 

Seeing her silence, Wei Zhao assumed he had frightened her.

 

He had wanted to die. Yet at this moment, an inexplicable, faint pleasure stirred within him—elusive, almost imperceptible.

 

Wei Zhao grasped Yu Tingwan’s hand and pressed it against his chest.

 

The medicine available now wasn’t suitable for him. Even though he had to reapply the ointment daily, the wound showed no signs of healing—only growing redder, more swollen, and more terrifying.

 

The sensation beneath her fingertips was unfamiliar, yet warm to the touch.

 

Yu Tingwan didn’t dare press down, her fingers twitching away instinctively, afraid that a careless movement might make the wound bleed.

 

But Wei Zhao didn’t let her pull back.

 

His eyes lowered, his voice calm.

 

“This is…”

 

He suddenly smiled.

 

“A wound I gave myself.”

 

The battlefield was thick with dust, crows cawing desolately from the treetops. The clash of weapons, the pounding of war drums, and the cries of the dying filled the air, deafening and relentless.

 

Amidst the smoke, severed limbs and broken bodies littered the ground. Arrows rained down in a chaotic storm as he fought with a frenzy.

 

The enemy was on the verge of collapse.

 

Beside him, strategists shouted orders, the triumphant drums of victory resounding.

 

The young general lifted his gaze to the vast blue sky.

 

Who would have thought that Wei Zhao, the most renowned general of the capital, was nothing more than a joke?

 

The Cloud-Breaking spear, which had slain countless enemies for years, its blade gleaming coldly under the sun—pointed at himself for the first time.

 

Clad in armor, he gripped the spear, pressing it inch by inch into his own chest. The blade pierced through his body, blood spraying as he collapsed into the growing pool beneath him.

 

And yet, he didn’t die.

 

Instead, he ended up here.

 

Wei Zhao gazed at Yu Tingwan, searching her face for fear or horror.

 

But he found none.

 

She simply looked at his wound with soft, gentle eyes.

 

The injury was shocking to behold. He must have suffered terribly—how much pain had he endured?

 

Yu Tingwan leaned in and carefully blew on the ugly scar. When she looked up at him again, the concern in her eyes seemed genuine.

 

“It must have hurt so much.”

 

Wei Zhao froze.

 

He was used to endless praise.

 

People called him a prodigy, a warrior.

 

They said he was born to defend the nation.

 

Even when he returned wounded and poisoned after a hard-won victory, all he ever heard was—

 

“As expected of General Wei. He truly is remarkable.”

 

Everyone cared only about the outcome. No one ever considered the price he had paid.

 

This was the first time someone had ever asked him if it hurt.

 

Wei Zhao’s throat tightened. The absurdity of it almost made him laugh.

 

But he didn’t remain dazed for long—

 

The next moment, Yu Tingwan had already finished tending to his upper body and was about to strip his inner trousers.

 

Wei Zhao’s eyelid twitched. His body instinctively leaned away.

 

“No.”

 

Yu Tingwan: “I don’t mind.”

 

Wei Zhao met her innocent gaze and finally lost his patience.

 

“But I do.”

 

Oh.

 

So you actually care about something other than that protective talisman.

 

…Oh.

 

Your chastity.

 

And your possibly broken—

 

Yu Tingwan quickly withdrew her hands.

 

“Sorry, sorry!”

 

She had completely forgotten!

 

Yu Tingwan: “Then we can wait for father to return, and let you…”

 

Before she could finish, Wei Zhao had already pulled on his inner robe, looking at her with a dark expression.

 

Fine.

 

She had clearly bruised his ego.

 

“Are you hungry?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then wash your feet.”

 

By the time Yu Tingwan carried the basin out, cleaned herself up, and returned, Wei Zhao was already lying down with his back to her, refusing to communicate.

 

She blew out the oil lamp, kicked off her shoes, and climbed onto the bed.

 

The blanket was just as comfortable as she had imagined.

 

Outside, Wei Shouzhong had returned, and was speaking in hushed tones with Hui Niang outside

 

Beside her, Wei Zhao’s breathing was steady and quiet.

 

For the first time, Yu Tingwan felt truly at ease.

 

She rested her hand under her pillow and turned toward him.

 

Though the room was pitch dark and she couldn’t see a thing—

 

Yu Tingwan scooted closer. Then closer still.

 

“Can I hold your hand while I sleep?”

 

As she drew near, the faint fragrance of her body drifted into his nose.

 

A soft, pleasant scent.

 

She was so poor—surely, she couldn’t afford perfume.

 

Wei Zhao kept his eyes shut and responded coldly.

 

“No.”

 

Fine.

 

Yu Tingwan pursed her lips.

 

A moment later—

 

“Then can you warm my feet?”

 

Back when her mother was alive, she would always tuck Yu Tingwan’s icy feet between her calves to warm them.

 

But once again, she was rejected.

 

“No.”

 

Wei Zhao spoke with his eyes still closed.

 

“Say one more word, and you’ll be sleeping on the floor.”

 

Yu Tingwan: ??

 

She could hardly believe such heartless words had come from his mouth.

 

She frowned, feeling hurt.

 

“Why should I sleep on the floor?”

 

Wei Zhao replied wearily: “I’m injured. You’re too close.”

 

Yu Tingwan understood.

 

That was fair.

 

She gradually inched away, creating space between them.

 

Wei Zhao: “Turn your head away.”

 

Yu Tingwan refused. “Why? How does facing you affect anything?”

 

You’ve really been spoiled.

 

Yu Tingwan decided not to argue, softening her voice.

 

“I’ll sleep on the outer side. If you need anything, just call me. If you want water, I’ll get it for you. If you need to get up, I’ll help you. I’ll look after you so nothing happens in the dark.”

 

Then she asked, “How about that?”

 

“Not great.”

 

Yu Tingwan ignored his response and continued, “Having a wife is actually useful, right?”

 

No.

 

“Don’t worry, I sleep well. Just give me half the bed—we won’t cross any boundaries. I won’t touch you.”

 

Only then did Wei Zhao grunt in vague acknowledgment.

 

Yu Tingwan’s eyes sparkled, as if stars had been scattered inside them.

 

She was already imagining their future.

 

“Husband, you should become a storyteller in town. I heard it pays well.”

 

“The rich folks go there for entertainment. They pay two coins per session.”

 

“Just tell them the same stories you told me, and then make up the rest. People will definitely pay to hear them.”

 

“If business is good, Mother and I can set up a stall nearby—sell tea, snacks, wontons, and roasted peanuts from home.”

 

This would earn much more than gathering herbs in the mountains.

 

The more she talked, the more feasible the plan seemed.

 

But that was for the future. They had to wait for Wei Shen to recover first.

 

She shifted position. Normally, she would be asleep by now, but tonight, she wasn’t the least bit drowsy.

 

Maybe it was because there was someone beside her.

 

Yet no matter what she said, Wei Zhao ignored her.

 

Yu Tingwan fiddled with her pillow, then her blanket.

 

She shifted again. Clearly, she wasn’t settling down.

 

At last, the room quieted.

 

Wei Zhao’s tense brows relaxed slightly.

 

But then—

 

The young lady suddenly sat up.

 

“Wei Shen.”

 

Yu Tingwan’s voice was calm, serious—

 

“How did I do in bed?”

 

Wei Zhao: …

 

Was this something a respectable young woman should say?

 

Yu Tingwan: “I think I did great.”

 

She glanced at the uncooperative Wei Zhao.

 

“You, on the other hand—not so much.”