Su Hanchu pushed his hand aside and continued to undo his clothes.
"Hurry up, we don’t have much time. We still need to get moving. Besides, I’m a woman and I don’t mind, so why should you care!"
Upon hearing this, Jun Moye had no choice but to turn his face away, slightly bend over, and press his lips together without speaking.
Su Hanchu removed his outer robe and lifted his inner garment, revealing a large patch of bruises on his buttocks. The more severe areas were bleeding, staining both his clothes and trousers red. Fortunately, he had been lying face down the whole way; otherwise, the damaged skin and flesh might have stuck to the fabric.
"Bear with it a little. I’ll rinse it with water first before applying the medicine…"
After saying this, Su Hanchu used her cloak as cover to take out a bottle of Spirit Spring Water from her Spatial Dimension. She poured it over Jun Moye’s wounds, cleaned them, then sprinkled on the Golden Sore Ointment and bandaged him with gauze.
"I’ll bandage you up. You can’t lie face down the whole journey. Having it wrapped with gauze will help. When we left, I managed to take a set of clothes and hid them under my cloak. Change into them later. With the cloak that was covering you earlier, you shouldn’t be too cold on the way."
Jun Moye’s face flushed completely red. Even though she was his wife, they hadn’t yet entered the bridal chamber or even gotten to know each other properly. Yet, under such circumstances, she had seen everything.
Su Hanchu helped him change his clothes, then wrapped up the soiled ones to wash later when she had the chance.
She pressed the Golden Sore Ointment into his hand.
"When we get back, you and Mother should find a way to apply medicine for Father. I’ll go buy some things."
Then she helped him walk back.
Jun Moye felt the jade bottle in his palm still seemed to carry the warmth from her hand. Watching her carefully supporting him, he slowly spoke.
"You took clothes for me, but didn’t take any for yourself?"
Su Hanchu replied as she helped him walk back.
"I didn’t get beaten, and I’m wearing two extra layers. I’m not cold."
After helping Jun Moye sit back down,
Su Hanchu took a few sips of Spirit Spring Water from her Spatial Dimension and hurried toward the area where goods could be purchased.
Although she had everything in her Spatial Dimension, she needed a plausible reason to take things out.
After quickly scanning the stalls selling goods, Su Hanchu first bought a Nangjie (what would be called a backpack basket in modern times), then bought over a dozen steamed buns and flatbreads, wrapping them up and storing them away. She also bought more than ten potatoes and sweet potatoes, so she would have an excuse when she took these items out later.
She placed the bundle on top to cover the items, then slung the Nangjie over her shoulder and headed back.
Upon returning, she saw the Chen Family members all eating, with Chen Siyu and her sister looking smugly at Su Hanchu.
Su Hanchu gave them a faint glance before turning her gaze toward Jun Moye’s side. Seeing Liu Guanshi, Liu Shan, Hui’er, and Jun Moye all sitting around Prince Qin’s stretcher, she understood they were applying medicine for Prince Qin.
She couldn’t help but stop in her tracks, turning her body to face the direction of the Su Family.
Only after Jun Moye saw his mother finish applying medicine for his father did he call out to Su Hanchu.
"Hanchu, come over."
Su Hanchu then walked over and sat beside Jun Moye, taking a steamed bun from the Nangjie and handing one to him.
Then she walked over to Chen Wenqiao and offered a steamed bun.
"Mother."
Chen Wenqiao gave her a cold look, her tone tinged with displeasure.
"I don’t deserve to be called ‘Mother’ by you."
Eat it or not, Su Hanchu directly handed the steamed bun to Ping'er.
Then she gave one to each of Liu Guanshi's family, sat down beside Jun Moye, and began eating the steamed bun.
Jun Moye took out an oil-paper package from his pocket and handed it to her.
"Eat this."
Su Hanchu took it and opened it—it was actually a still-warm meat pie, likely sent over by the Chen Family. He hadn't eaten his own portion and had kept it all this time.
Seeing him eating the steamed bun she had given him, Su Hanchu broke the meat pie in half and handed one half to him.
"One half each!"
Jun Moye had no choice but to reach out and take half.
Su Hanchu brought the meat pie to her mouth.
After just a few bites, an unfriendly voice rang out.
"Shameless, bullying our Chen Family on one hand and eating our food on the other."
Sure enough, when she looked up, she saw Chen Siyu walking over with a mocking expression.
Hearing this, Su Hanchu took another bite of the meat pie and, under Chen Siyu's disdainful gaze, said:
"Can't help it. I have a husband who dotes on me, and he's willing to save the good food for me. Are you jealous, Miss Chen? But it's no use—he's already my husband."
As she spoke, she triumphantly put the last piece of the meat pie into her mouth and ate it.
"Mmm, this meat pie my husband specially saved for me is delicious."
Jun Moye felt an indescribable emotion rise in his heart as he heard her repeatedly calling him "husband."
Seeing Su Hanchu's smug expression, Chen Siyu stomped her foot.
"Cousin, Grandmother only asked me to bring that to you because you're injured. How could you give it to her?"
Jun Moye was about to respond when the convoy escort's voice rang out.
"Hurry up and get ready to leave! Time's up!"
Su Hanchu quickly stood up.
"Jun Moye, hurry and lie down on the stretcher. We're leaving."
Jun Moye hesitated. Having his wife carry him was truly embarrassing.
"Maybe I should walk on my own."
Su Hanchu pushed him while speaking.
"Hurry up. We'll talk about it when your injuries are better. If we fall behind, we'll get beaten."
Jun Moye had no choice but to lie down on the stretcher.
Su Hanchu shouldered her Nangjie and, together with Ping'er and the others, lifted Jun Moye and hurried ahead.
Many in the crowd were shedding tears, and there were even muffled sobs.
At the farewell pavilion, this parting meant leaving their hometowns behind, likely never to see their loved ones again. Even the hope of returning to their roots in old age had become a distant dream.
The escort guards swung their whips.
"Move faster! Anyone who slows us down will taste the whip."
Su Hanchu quickened her pace even more.
Jun Moye lifted his eyes and could see her hands tightly gripping the stretcher. They were delicate hands that had never known hard labor, yet they had carried him such a long way.
The winter sun set early.
Fortunately, they managed to find a dilapidated temple to rest in just in time.
Upon hearing the convoy escort's words:
"Everyone stop. We'll rest here tonight."
Su Hanchu quickened her steps and said:
"Hurry, rush in and claim a spot."
Ping'er and Cui Pozi's mother and daughter followed Su Hanchu, speeding up their pace.
Since Su Hanchu had been walking at the front all along, they naturally secured a corner of the broken temple.
After setting Jun Moye down on the ground, Su Hanchu sat down, panting slightly. She took out the Spirit Spring Water, drank a few sips, and handed the water pouch to Jun Moye.
"If you don't mind that I drank from it, have some."
Jun Moye also had a water pouch on him, which he had previously sent Liu Shan to buy. However, seeing the water pouch she handed over, he half-propped himself up against the wall, took it, and drank a couple of sips.
He discovered that the water was exceptionally clear, sweet, and delicious—even more delightful than sugar water.
Chen Wenqiao, who was walking with the Chen Family, arrived a step too late and found that there were no good spots left in the dilapidated temple.
So, she brought Liu Guanshi and his son, carrying Prince Qin, over to this side…