Deep into the night, the bright moon had hidden itself behind the clouds. Inside the room, the dim candlelight flickered and danced as Ji Yu pushed the door open.
“Master Qi, I’m here to change your dressing.”
She walked to the bedside and placed the medicine and bandages on a stool nearby. She then looked at Nan Xing with a ready smile.
Nan Xing sat up slightly, but the movement pulled at the wound on his left chest. He couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath of pain.
Blood had seeped through the bandages and stained his inner garment. Ji Yu rushed forward and pressed her hands firmly on his shoulders to stop him from moving. Her voice carried a hint of worry and slight reproach.
“Be more careful! Look, you’ve opened the wound again, haven’t you?”
Nan Xing looked down. Indeed, a patch of his clothing over his left chest was soaked dark red, caused by his own movement just now.
He looked up at her. He had intended to say he could do it himself, but knowing her personality, she probably wouldn’t let a patient “misbehave” like that. So he lowered his eyes resignedly.
“Then I shall trouble you to change it for me.”
Ji Yu gently pulled his inner garment down halfway, exposing his left shoulder and arm. The layers of bandages covering his chest were completely soaked through with blood. Her brows furrowed deeply, her expression troubled.
This man really had a high tolerance for pain. Even looking like this, he didn’t utter a single cry. If she were injured this badly, she would have been wailing and crying long ago.
After all, she was just a fragile university student who couldn’t stand pain at all.
She worked seriously, reaching to undo the bandages. Her movements were as gentle as possible, but since the wound had opened, some of the flesh had stuck to the cloth. Peeling it off meant tearing the raw skin away.
In the half-month since she had transmigrated, she had only treated minor ailments. She had been shocked the first time she saw such a gruesome wound, and seeing it again now gave her another fright.
Even someone with Nan Xing’s immense willpower couldn’t fully endure the pain of tearing flesh. He gritted his teeth, holding it in, making absolutely no sound. When Ji Yu asked if it hurt and told him it was okay to make a sound, he merely replied calmly that he was fine and she should continue.
Ji Yu admired him sincerely. He truly was the second male lead described by the author. Although only a supporting character, he was given noble lineage, stunning looks, and excellent character.
It was just his love life that was a bit tragic. He fell in love with the villainess, but her heart belonged to someone else. His unrequited love was destined to fail. That was why readers like herself felt so sorry for him and hated the author for not giving him a proper happy ending.
Lost in her thoughts, Ji Yu let out a soft sigh. It was quiet enough that only she heard it, but Nan Xing caught it.
He looked up at her. Her brows were tightly knit, and her eyes held undisguised distress.
Distress for him? What was there to feel sorry for?
The pain was intense, but bearable. Compared to the excruciating pain he had to endure every month, this was nothing. It just looked terrifying.
The bandages were finally removed. Ji Yu dipped a cloth in warm water and gently wiped away the dried blood around the wound.
As the blood was cleared, the true horror of the injury was revealed. The skin around the wound was no longer normal flesh color—it was black and purple, and the discoloration was spreading outward.
Ji Yu was shocked. The poison was far more potent than she thought! She had believed she had suppressed it enough to stop it from spreading for at least three days. But less than a day later, it was already creeping outward.
If she didn’t act immediately, within two days the poison would reach his heart and mind, and not even the gods could save him.
Her expression turned grave. She picked up a dagger from the stool and held it over the candle flame to sterilize it.
This necrotic, blackened flesh had to be scraped away immediately, or the poison would spread faster.
Holding the sterilized dagger, she held her breath and leaned closer. She glanced at Nan Xing; his face was calm, showing not a shred of fear.
She was about to scrape away rotten flesh and bone without any anesthesia! Wasn’t he afraid?
True to his nature, during the entire hour of the procedure, he only frowned slightly. Not even a single groan escaped him. Ji Yu looked at him with even more respect and admiration.
Next, she took out a salve from a small jar, dabbed some onto her finger, and applied it gently to his chest.
The salve felt cool and icy against the wound, causing Nan Xing to shiver involuntarily.
“Did I hurt you, Master Qi?” she asked quickly.
“…A little.”
Ji Yu was confused. Scraping flesh didn’t make him flinch, but applying medicine did? She figured this Prince must have a strange pain threshold. She smiled softly.
“Then I’ll be even lighter.”
She slowed her movements, but strangely, Nan Xing found it even harder to bear. The coolness faded, replaced by an unbearable itch spreading from the wound.
Thankfully, it was done quickly. She then sprinkled medicinal powder from a small bottle and began to wrap him up with fresh bandages.
Since the wound was on his left chest, the bandage had to wrap around his entire shoulder and arm.
The first time she did this, he had been unconscious and let her do as she pleased. Now he was awake, and to wrap it properly, she had to stand very close, almost in an embrace.
Ji Yu felt a little nervous, but then she remembered—this was her “Golden Thigh” (her way to wealth). She needed his reward to pay off her debts. Immediately, any romantic thoughts vanished, leaving only one goal in her mind: Heal him well.
With her mind clear and focused, the bandaging went smoothly. Seeing the cold sweat on his forehead, she kindly took out her handkerchief and wiped it away for him.
“All done, Master Qi. It’s late now, please rest well.”
As the door opened and closed quickly, the slender figure disappeared. Nan Xing looked down at the clothes she had helped him put back on, feeling thoughtful.
This Miss Ji… was a little too attentive.
***
Having worked hard all day and slept late last night, plus the sound of rain acting as a perfect lullaby, Ji Yu slept like a log. Consequently, she overslept.
By the time she woke up, the sun was high in the sky. She scrambled into her clothes and shoes, not even bothering to wash her face, and rushed straight to the kitchen.
Looking at the sunlight, it was almost noon.
Back in her world, she often slept until noon on days without classes. Since transmigrating, living alone, she allowed herself to laze around too. But things were different now. She had a noble guest in the house! How could she let a Prince starve until noon?
She had vowed last night to wake up early and make a lavish breakfast to make up for poisoning him several times. She wanted to prove she wasn’t a bad cook and ease his suspicions.
And now she had slept in. He must be starving!
Ji Yu frantically lit the stove, washed rice, and chopped vegetables. She wished she had six hands to do everything at once.
***
Because he had also stayed up late, Nan Xing didn’t wake up early either. The fresh dressing had eased the pain somewhat, but he still couldn’t get out of bed.
He could only lie there, looking at the ceiling or the closed window. Bored, he studied every piece of furniture in the room.
Time passed, yet Ji Yu still hadn’t come. He assumed she must have gone out to see patients.
His stomach growled loudly. Nan Xing pulled a paper package from under his pillow and opened it seriously. Inside were three pastries—the ones she had brought last night.
He put one in his mouth and chewed mechanically.
Good thing he had been foresighted enough to save some for emergencies. It turned out to be a wise decision.
Three pastries weren’t enough to fill him up—maybe only a third full—but it was better than nothing.
After eating, he felt thirsty. He leaned over to reach for the teapot on the stool beside the bed. Ji Yu had thoughtfully placed it there so he could reach it easily.
Just as he was about to pour a cup, the door was pushed open. Bright sunlight flooded in, only to be shut out again immediately.
“Master Qi, I made you break… uh, lunch!” Ji Yu smiled awkwardly, carrying the food box to the round table.
The table was a few steps away from the bed. Since he couldn’t walk, she decided to move the table next to the bed.
As she moved the table, Nan Xing observed her.
Miss Ji didn’t seem to know how to style her hair properly. Yesterday, she had just braided it. Today it was even more casual—just tied back loosely with a ribbon, not even braided.
Also, according to the customs of Daqi, unmarried women kept their hair long, usually down to their waist or longer. But Miss Ji’s hair was different. It looked like it had been cut, the ends uneven, and it was about a third shorter than most women’s hair.
The table was now beside the bed. With her help, he sat up. When he saw her face clearly, he looked twice.
“Miss Ji.”
“Yes?” Ji Yu continued taking dishes out of the box and arranging them. “What is it, Master Qi?”
“There is… soot around your mouth.”
“Huh?” Ji Yu touched her lips blankly. Soot?
She remembered trying to light the fire. It had rained last night, the wood was wet, and it wouldn’t stay lit. She had been blowing through a bamboo tube to stoke the flames…
Realization hit her. Her mouth must be completely black! And he saw it! So embarrassing!
“There is a mirror over there,” Nan Xing pointed out kindly.
Ji Yu withdrew her hand, smiling awkwardly, and hurried to the mirror to clean up.
After wiping her face and mouth clean, she returned to the bedside with a calm smile. She filled a bowl with rice and picked up some vegetables.
“Master Qi, your left chest is badly injured, so your left arm can’t move much. You probably can’t hold the bowl. How about I feed you?”
She looked at him with a bright smile. *Look how attentive I am! I’m even feeding you personally! Don’t forget to reward me with a hundred taels of gold and a mansion when you recover!*
Nan Xing was startled and quickly refused. “No need to trouble you, Miss Ji. My left hand is useless, but I have my right. Just place the bowl on the table.”
“Please don’t be polite,” Ji Yu insisted gently, scooping up a spoonful of rice and bringing it to his lips. “Open your mouth, Master Qi.”