Chapter 31: Injured

After the match concluded, Xie Yunzheng entered a woodshed where a man was hiding behind a pile of firewood. Just as he was about to explain, he received a slap.

“Dare you lay a hand on the Junzhu?”

The man was stunned. To achieve his goals, what did it matter if he injured the Junzhu? Could it be… he still had lingering feelings for her?

“He’s been clinging to the Junzhu, so this was the only way to lure him.”

“Shut up! You are not to hurt her again!”

“Yes.” The man felt utterly aggrieved. Why did his father make him serve?

He didn’t want to serve anyone anymore!

In Shen Shurong’s carriage, she was heartbroken, while Xie Yunzhao was still smiling.

His Rongrong was worried about him; just for that, enduring pain was worth it.

He reached out to wipe her tears, afraid of hurting her delicate skin, and took out a handkerchief to gently wipe her tears. “Crying like a little flower cat, don’t cry anymore.”

Shen Shurong couldn’t help but laugh. “If I don’t look good, will you still marry me?”

“Of course; no matter how you look, I will marry you.” Xie Yunzhao dared not tease further. “I really am fine!”

“This injury is suspicious. Our horses must have been tampered with.”

“I know, didn’t Xie Yunzheng say he would investigate?”

Shen Shurong pouted. “You really believe him?”

Xie Yunzhao paused, realizing he had left Qingying behind precisely to have him investigate. So, did she think that she could trust Xie Yunzheng more?

“You don’t trust him?” He leaned slightly closer, looking intently at Shen Shurong, filled with hope.

Shen Shurong couldn’t deceive him and said openly, “I used to trust him, but since being tied to you, I only trust you.”

Xie Yunzhao felt as if he could soar to the sky with joy. He bit his lip to suppress his laughter. “I will not betray your trust; I will always protect you.”

Shen Shurong certainly believed him. She ruffled his hair, which was covered in dirt. “We are to walk hand in hand through life, so I will protect you too.” She had already asked Mama Hua to look into it.

The warmth between them gradually deepened. Xie Yunzhao, who had lived in a daze before, now clearly understood that he had someone to protect for a lifetime.

And that person would protect him in return!

When they returned to the Duke of Lu’s Mansion, the Duchess, frightened, wiped her tears as she helped her son inside to lie down.

Shen Shurong sat on a couch, waiting for the physician to arrive.

“What happened?” The Duchess was in a panic. How did they both end up injured?

“I’ve called for the physician; there’s no need for you to worry, the Heir is already investigating the stables.”

“Let me see if the physician has arrived. I’ll get the house physician to check on him first.”

News reached the Grand Princess’s estate and the Commandery Prince’s residence, and they hurried to the Duke of Lu’s Mansion. Upon seeing Xie Yunzhao’s back injury, they all gasped. One could only imagine what would have happened if Yongjia had been injured instead…

They didn’t even dare to think about it. Seeing how this boy had protected Yongjia multiple times, they harbored no grievances.

The Commandery Princess Consort sent someone back to fetch medicinal herbs to properly care for her son-in-law.

Hearing the term “son-in-law,” Xie Yunzhao felt half of his pain disappear.

The house physician focused on preparing the medicine while the official physician tended to his wounds. Shen Shurong sat on a chair beside the bed.

Xie Yunzhao could only lie on his stomach, staring at Shen Shurong, which made the pain more bearable.

The physician’s hand was gentle, as Yongjia Junzhu had repeatedly requested him to be careful.

“Rongrong, I’m fine. Don’t scare Physician Hu,” Xie Yunzhao said with a smile on his face, noticing how worried his little girl was for him.

“During this recovery period, you shouldn’t go out for half a month, nor should you read. Just lie down and let your wounds heal gradually.”

Xie Yunzhao felt anxious. Half a month without seeing her?

“I’ll be fine in three days. No, two days.”

Shen Shurong hit his arm playfully. “What are you in such a hurry for? You’re injured, and you’re still thinking about going out to play?”

“It’s not that…”

Just as Shen Shurong was about to ask what he meant, she suddenly realized: he couldn’t possibly think they wouldn’t see each other for half a month, could he?

“I was worried you’d be bored, so I was going to come every day to keep you company. Since you want to go out and play so much, I won’t come!”

Xie Yunzhao suddenly became agitated, trying to sit up. “No, no! I’ll take good care of my injury. You have to come and keep me company.”

Shen Shurong’s heart softened completely; she had known it. “Alright, I’ll come every day to be with you.”

Physician Hu shook his head helplessly. Couldn’t they treat him like a living person?

He pressed down on Xie Yunzhao, insisting that he behave and allow him to apply the medicine properly.

The Duchess was in the adjacent room with the Commandery Princess Consort, feeling embarrassed at her son’s antics. What a foolish boy, truly embarrassing her.

The Commandery Princess Consort cleared her throat. Her daughter was also quite embarrassing. “Ahem, Yongjia, Physician Hu says your ankle also needs a few days of ‘quiet’ care.”

“It’s fine, Mother. We just sat in the carriage to get here.”

The Commandery Princess Consort wanted to knock some sense into her head. Could they really keep coming in and out every day?

There was no point in saying more; her daughter was determined to come daily, which was too embarrassing to admit. “Hahaha, Yongjia is a grateful and good child. She’s a blessing for your Duke’s Mansion.”

The Duchess, also feeling awkward, quickly chimed in, “What the Commandery Princess Consort says is true. Yongjia is indeed a good child, and Yunzhao is responsible, knowing how to protect his fiancée. Both of our children are good examples.”

Physician Hu resigned himself to the fact that he was simply a qualified physician.

The “harmony” in the room deeply pierced the hearts of those outside.

Xie Yunzheng felt he should personally check on Xie Yunzhao, but upon hearing the conversation inside, and that she said she would accompany him every day, his feet felt as heavy as lead.

He saved her again. Did she already have feelings for Xie Yunzhao?

Or was it merely gratitude and guilt?

Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside, greeting the two elders before walking into the inner room.

Seeing Xie Yunzhao’s injured back, he showed no signs of heartache. Looking at the two of them so close together made his frustration grow. “We caught the troublemaker. It was just a little servant who fed the horses the wrong fodder. Knowing he injured you, he was so frightened that he attempted to take his own life.”

Shen Shurong didn’t turn around. She had said it was unreliable; Xie Yunzheng was nothing but a hypocrite, full of loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, but it was all for his own benefit.

Xie Yunzhao snorted coldly. “I see.” He had suspected Xie Yunzheng from the start, but he couldn’t tell Shen Shurong. What if she didn’t believe him and thought he was trying to sow discord?

Yet, one thing puzzled him. He wouldn’t harm Shen Shurong; could there be someone else?

Xie Yunzheng stared at Shen Shurong’s hairpin. She was still angry because of Li Wan’er and didn’t even look at him.

Li Wan’er was indeed skilled at polo, but she could never replace Shen Shurong. One day, he would tell her that himself.

“Junzhu, you should walk less these days and make sure to rest.”

The room fell into an awkward silence. While there was nothing wrong with his words, he had been Shen Shurong’s fiancé, and now he was her distant brother-in-law. It felt a bit inappropriate to say such caring words.

Physician Hu for the first time felt his age was a hindrance, thinking he was taking too long with the medication.

He also blamed Xie Yunzhao for the size of his injury; he had unconsciously increased the force used.

When Shen Shurong heard Xie Yunzhao suck in a breath, she hurriedly pressed on his arm. “Physician Hu, be gentler.”

Physician Hu realized and wiped the sweat from his brow, responding in earnest.