When Shen Tang woke, her whole body ached as if she had been run over.
She heard heavy breathing beside her and instinctively turned her head. It was Meng Huaiyan.
They were lying very close together, and Meng Huaiyan’s breath brushed across her face.
Their breaths mingled, making them seem almost intimate.
Shen Tang’s face flushed. She felt a little awkward.
The people who had rescued them must have mistaken them for husband and wife and put them in the same bed.
Shen Tang sat up and gave a light cough, composing herself.
Then she reached over and felt Meng Huaiyan’s forehead. His temperature had returned to normal, and his breathing was steady.
Apart from looking a little pale, he seemed to be out of danger.
She looked around. The house was the kind of earthen home commonly found in the countryside, with walls made of woven bamboo and yellow clay and a thatched roof.
The room was small and entirely visible at a glance, but neat and clean.
Suddenly, someone pushed the door open. Seeing Shen Tang awake, the woman who entered sounded agitated. “You’re finally awake! You’ve been asleep for a whole day. You gave me such a fright.”
Shen Tang looked up. The woman appeared to be in her thirties, beautiful and kind-faced.
She must have been the one who had saved them.
Shen Tang hurried out of bed and bowed to her, speaking with heartfelt sincerity. “I’m Shen Tang. Thank you, Madam, for saving our lives.”
The woman hurried forward and helped Shen Tang up. She was just an ordinary village woman, and this was the first time anyone had thanked her so formally. For a moment, she didn’t know what to do. “There’s no need to call me Madam. You’re too polite.”
“My name is Liu Yuniang. Just call me Yuniang.”
“Besides, it was only a small thing. Everyone runs into trouble when they’re away from home. If I can help, I will.”
At that, Liu Yuniang furrowed her brow slightly, worry filling her eyes. “But your husband’s injuries were truly serious. The doctor said that if you’d arrived any later, even the gods might not have been able to save him. What happened to you two?”
Hearing her call Meng Huaiyan her husband, Shen Tang thought, So she really did misunderstand their relationship.
Trying to explain now would probably only make things more complicated.
Besides, they were an unmarried man and woman who had slept in the same bed last night. Explaining that would be troublesome too.
Better to avoid making a fuss.
Shen Tang replied gently, “My husband and I went out for an excursion, never expecting to run into bandits.”
“We had no choice but to flee into the woods to escape them. Thanks to you, Madam, we were able to get out of danger.”
Liu Yuniang couldn’t help feeling sorry for them. Their clothes and bearing were both refined; they must have come from a wealthy family.
Yet they had suffered this undeserved calamity and endured so much hardship.
Those bandits were truly despicable.
Seeing how pretty and well-mannered Shen Tang was, Liu Yuniang’s voice softened with affection. “You must be hungry. I made some porridge. Come and have a little.”
Shen Tang was indeed famished, so she didn’t stand on ceremony with Liu Yuniang.
After a bowl of hot porridge, Shen Tang finally felt alive again.
As she ate, she looked around the small courtyard. Liu Yuniang seemed to be the only one living there, so Shen Tang asked, “Where’s your family?”
Liu Yuniang sighed, her voice tinged with pain. “My husband passed away. My son enlisted in the army a few years ago, and I haven’t heard from him since. I don’t know whether he’s alive or dead.”
Shen Tang hadn’t expected her casual question to touch on such a painful subject. She immediately regretted asking and apologized guiltily. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
Liu Yuniang hurriedly waved a hand. “It’s all right. I’ve gotten used to it over the years.”
Though she said it was all right, the worry on her face was impossible to hide.
Seeing that, Shen Tang quickly tried to comfort her. “Actually, no news can be good news.”
Liu Yuniang nodded. No news at least meant there was still a chance her son was alive. She could still hold on to a little hope.
Shen Tang thought for a moment, then suddenly remembered that her uncle had some connections with Sun Qi, the Minister of War.
With that in mind, she asked Liu Yuniang carefully, “Tell me your son’s name, when he was born, and what year he enlisted.”
“My uncle knows the Minister of War. When I see him, I can ask him to make inquiries. Perhaps he’ll be able to find out something.”
Liu Yuniang’s expression grew animated. She had spent years asking around and had paid out quite a bit of money, but she had never learned a thing.
It was as though her son had vanished from the face of the earth.
Now Shen Tang had told her she knew someone who might be able to find a trace of him. Liu Yuniang was overcome with joy and excitement.
She didn’t know what kind of official the Minister of War was.
But one year, an official whose title she couldn’t remember had come to their county. The county magistrate, who was usually so arrogant and overbearing, had bowed and scraped before him.
He must have been a very powerful official.
If such a high-ranking official helped search, he would surely be able to find out more than she could. At last, she had a little hope again.
Without hesitation, Liu Yuniang dropped to her knees before Shen Tang, crying, “Thank you, Miss! Thank you, Miss!”
Her sudden kneel startled Shen Tang, who hurriedly tried to help her up.
But Liu Yuniang stubbornly refused to rise and insisted on kowtowing.
No matter how Shen Tang tried to reason with her, Liu Yuniang wouldn’t listen. At last, she had no choice but to threaten, “If you don’t get up, I won’t ask.”
Liu Yuniang could tell Shen Tang wasn’t joking. She hesitated, then finally stood.
Shen Tang let out a breath of relief. “You saved my life. This is the least I can do.”
“Besides, I can’t promise there’ll be any news. I’m only asking someone to make inquiries, and the result may not be what you hope for.”
“You should still prepare yourself.”
Aunt Liu understood what she meant, but she was already delighted that someone could make inquiries for her. “I know. It’s just that having hope is better than having none.”
Shen Tang nodded.
After chatting for a while, Shen Tang got up and went to check on Meng Huaiyan.
He still hadn’t woken. Seeing that his lips were dry, Shen Tang spoon-fed him a little water.
She was about to leave when she noticed Meng Huaiyan’s fingers twitch.
Was he waking up?
Meng Huaiyan slowly opened his eyes. The unfamiliar surroundings and the pain in his body made him frown slightly.
Seeing his eyes open, Shen Tang hurried over and asked excitedly, “You’re awake? Do you feel unwell?”
Meng Huaiyan shook his head.
Shen Tang asked again, “Would you like to sit up?”
He had been lying down for a day and a night and was indeed uncomfortable, so he nodded.
Shen Tang moved closer, taking care to avoid his injuries as she put an arm around his shoulders and helped him sit up.
She had been looking after Meng Huaiyan for the past few days, so she was used to this kind of physical contact. Besides, her mind was entirely innocent; she didn’t think anything of it.
Meng Huaiyan, however, stiffened slightly. They were so close that the girl’s delicate fragrance drifted straight to his nose.
He knew that scent well. Though he’d been unconscious these past two days, he hadn’t been completely unaware.
He knew Shen Tang had changed his dressings, cared for him, and brought him out of the woods.
His mother had been strict with him. To keep him from becoming infatuated with women and neglecting his studies, she had made sure his personal attendants were all men.
This was the first time a woman had been so close to him while he was conscious.
It was rather…
Shen Tang tucked a pillow behind his lower back and asked, “Is this all right?”
They were so close that he could hear the breath in her voice right beside his ear. It made his ear tingle.
Meng Huaiyan clenched his fingers, resisting the urge to touch his ear. “That’s fine.”
For a while, neither of them said anything. They weren’t close to begin with, and neither knew what to say.
Suddenly, a “gurgle, gurgle” sounded. In the quiet room, it was especially clear.
Meng Huaiyan’s face tightened. He pressed a hand to his stomach, looking a little uncomfortable.
Only then did Shen Tang realize that he hadn’t eaten for nearly two days. “I’ll get you some porridge.”
“All right,” Meng Huaiyan said.
Shen Tang went out and brought back a bowl of porridge, filled more than halfway.
Meng Huaiyan took it and sat quietly, drinking. Shen Tang sat in a chair, silently gazing out the window.
There was something unexpectedly harmonious about it.
When Meng Huaiyan had finished, Shen Tang took the bowl and chopsticks to the kitchen and washed them.
She had just finished when Liu Yuniang returned from outside, carrying a basket of fresh vegetables.
Seeing Shen Tang washing dishes in the kitchen, she hurried over. “You should’ve left the dishes for me. Why trouble yourself?”
Shen Tang didn’t mind. She had been used to washing dishes and cooking ever since she was a child. “It’s only a dish. It’s not hard work.”
“Besides, you kindly took us in. We can’t eat for free and do no work at all.”
Liu Yuniang was about to say something, so Shen Tang quickly changed the subject. “Yuniang, do you have another room?”
“I’m a restless sleeper, and I’m afraid I’ll disturb my husband’s rest.”
After all, given her relationship with Meng Huaiyan, sharing a bed was highly inappropriate.
If they could avoid it, they ought to.
Liu Yuniang shook her head. “No. There are only two rooms in the house.”
“I’ll bring you another quilt later. It might be better if you sleep under separate covers.”
Shen Tang sighed. There was nothing else they could do.
Still, Meng Huaiyan had been avoiding her as if he feared she’d cling to him. Having to share a bed with her must be eating away at him.
Thinking of Meng Huaiyan’s frustrated, helpless expression, Shen Tang couldn’t help smiling.
So Meng Huaiyan had finally gotten his comeuppance.