Shen Zhixi was momentarily dazed, thinking she had misheard.
In truth, she had orchestrated all of this precisely to hear those words from Tang Zhou.
But when he actually spoke them aloud, especially under such circumstances and when she was caught off guard, the shock was genuine.
“You…”
Just as she began to confirm, Tang Zhou wrapped an arm around her waist and, with a light tap of his foot, carried her up to the cliff’s edge in an instant.
Once they landed steadily, he bent down, gesturing for Shen Zhixi to climb onto his back.
“But… the basket is still down there, with the herbs inside.”
Tang Zhou ignored her, his voice low and firm. “Get on.”
“But those herbs took a whole day to find, and it wasn’t easy…”
“Those herbs are useless.” Tang Zhou’s tone shifted, tinged with what seemed like anger. “They’re not medicine for eye ailments. They’re not worth keeping. Get on.”
“I…”
“Get on!”
As he spoke, Tang Zhou handed her the torch he was holding, signaling for her to take it.
His insistence left Shen Zhixi no choice but to comply.
She then climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Once she was settled, Tang Zhou straightened up and began carrying her back the way they had come.
Shen Zhixi held the torch in her right hand while her left arm remained hooked around his neck, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Looking back, the dark abyss of the cliff was already far behind them.
“Why are those herbs useless?” In truth, she knew perfectly well that the herbs had no effect on Tang Zhou’s injuries. This was merely a deliberate question.
Tang Zhou fell silent for a moment before speaking, his voice tinged with a hint of heartache.
“They’re not medicine for eye ailments.”
As he spoke, he glanced slightly over his shoulder, clearly distressed on Shen Zhixi’s behalf.
“If not for eye ailments, then what are they for?”
Tang Zhou paused, exhaling in displeasure. “For madness.”
“For madness? But that physician said…”
“He lied to you. They say physicians should have compassion, but that one looked down on patients without money, even maliciously misled them. A quack who disregards human life doesn’t deserve to practice medicine. Don’t go to him again in the future.”
Shen Zhixi could tell that Tang Zhou was upset she had been deceived.
“Are you saying that he looked down on me for seeking treatment without money and deliberately directed me to find the Madness-Curing Herb as a roundabout way of calling me mad?”
Tang Zhou remained silent, his grim expression serving as the clearest answer.
“And I actually believed him, running deep into the mountains to search for herbs. Not only did I twist my ankle, but I also fell off a cliff, dragging you and Herb into the trouble of searching for me. I’m such a fool. It’s all my fault. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. You were only trying to heal my injuries.”
“Sister, are you alright?” Yuanyang finally appeared from the opposite side, noticing the dirt on Shen Zhixi’s skirt as if she had taken a fall. “It’s a good thing Mr. Tang Zhou has sharp ears and heard your cries for help, or we might have missed you.”
“Yes, thanks to Tang Zhou.”
Tang Zhou paused for a moment, his voice calm. “As long as you’re found, that’s what matters. Let’s head back first.”
Yuanyang nodded and moved ahead to scout the path.
Shen Zhixi held the torch high, carefully watching the ground to guide Tang Zhou.
After walking for a while, she couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Tang Zhou, you… what you said earlier…”
Tang Zhou understood what she was asking and repeated calmly, “I’ll marry you.”
“Is it because you feel indebted, so…”
Halfway through her words, Tang Zhou interrupted and asked her in return, “The wedding is just a few days away, so why hasn’t that hunter come to visit even once? Since a wedding is to be held, there must be many things to prepare—wedding attire and invitations are the basics. Even though I cannot see, I can sense there isn’t the slightest hint of celebration in the house.”
Shen Zhixi did not respond. That wedding was fake, of course, so there was no need for such unnecessary preparations.
It was all a lie from the start, so she felt no sorrow.
But while she felt nothing, Tang Zhou grieved on her behalf. Seeing her silence, his heart ached even more for her.
“That hunter never intended to marry you properly, did he? He won’t hold a wedding ceremony either, right?”
“Actually…”
“Don’t lie to me.”
Shen Zhixi smiled inwardly, pleased by his anxious concern for her.
She let out a soft sigh near Tang Zhou’s ear and replied with melancholy, “You’re so clever—how could I ever deceive you? You’ve guessed it all, haven’t you? Yes, he has no intention of marrying me properly. He only told me to bring my belongings and go to his house in a few days. There will be no ceremony, no banquet, nothing at all. He’s heard the rumors about me and Steward Liu, saying I’m tainted and that holding a wedding would be shameful. He thinks it’s already generous enough to take me in.”
Tang Zhou seemed angered by this and abruptly stopped walking.
“And you’re willing?” he asked.
The wind swept past the torch, making a whooshing sound that mingled with the calls of nightingales in the forest, creating an atmosphere of tension.
Tang Zhou was tense, worried that she truly intended to resign herself to such a fate.
“Does it matter whether I’m willing or not?” Shen Zhixi asked.
The torchlight flickered incessantly across Tang Zhou’s profile, casting soft shadows, yet his jaw tightened, making his features appear increasingly rigid.
“You said you fear growing old alone, with no one to care for you, afraid of dying by yourself. But do you really think marrying someone like that will ensure you’re taken care of? Do you truly believe his children will be filial to you? Are you so certain he’ll provide for you in your old age?”
It was clear he had given serious thought to her situation.
“What else can I do? Steward Liu has status and influence. If he’s determined to take me as his concubine, what can I do? I have no parents, no power, no one to help me. How could I possibly stand against him? Dealing with a village girl like me is as easy as crushing an ant. I have no other choice.”
Tang Zhou let out a heavy sigh and spoke with solemn resolve, “Then, I’ll marry you.”
“You…”
“Whether you see it as repaying a debt or not, I cannot stand by and watch you marry someone like that. That hunter is not a good man—he’s not your way out. Instead, he’ll only lead you to ruin. Marrying into such a household will bring you endless suffering for the rest of your life. I can’t do it. I can’t just stand by and do nothing. I promise you, I’ll take care of you. I’ll ensure you live the rest of your life in peace, free from hardship.”
Shen Zhixi turned her head to look at him, suddenly feeling as if she had gone deaf.
The sound of the wind and the birdsong seemed to fade away, leaving only the pounding of her own heartbeat echoing in her ears.
She couldn’t describe her feelings at that moment. There was joy, yes, but even more so, there was unease.
Just like the day Tang Zhou broke through the window to save her, when she should have felt elated, an inexplicable fear had crept in.
This time, she still couldn’t understand what she was afraid of.
But suppressing her fear, she knew she had to continue the act.
“You don’t have to force yourself like this,” she said.
“I thought I would feel wronged, but when I spoke the words, when I said I wanted to marry you, strangely, I didn’t feel the slightest bit of resentment. Instead, I felt relieved.”
“Relieved?”
“Yes, very relieved.”
“…”
“Don’t worry. Once my wounds have healed and my eyes are better, I’ll take you away from here. Believe me, I can ensure you a worry-free life from now on.”