4 – Are you well?
Feng Shan reached out to touch her, and Gu Pingting shrank back.
Feng Shan didn’t let her retreat. His large hand gripped her small face, while the other reached over to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “What are you afraid of? What scared you? Tell me.”
His hands were calloused, rough and hard, scraping against her face and causing some pain. Gu Pingting cried even harder.
What had scared her? Gu Pingting didn’t know.
Perhaps it was the howling wind outside, or maybe this unfamiliar environment. Even the water she drank had frightened her—she had never tasted water so harsh and astringent…
Gu Pingting was terrified. From the moment she fell off the cliff, her fate had veered off course, heading in a direction she could never have predicted.
This fear of the unknown made her afraid, made her feel wronged.
She cried so hard that she couldn’t speak for a long time. Feng Shan pinched her small face—it felt so good.
Feng Shan liked it.
Feng Shan grinned and asked, “Why aren’t you talking? Tell me, and I’ll help you solve it.”
His strength was immense. With just a slight movement, Gu Pingting felt the pinch, but looking at his burly figure, she didn’t dare cry out in pain.
But the more she held back, the more wronged she felt. Finally, she couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into loud sobs. “Don’t pinch me… I… I’m afraid of you.”
Gu Pingting was afraid of the wind outside, afraid of this place, but most of all, she was afraid of Feng Shan. He was too strong! When he grinned, it seemed like he could devour her.
And surely, he wouldn’t even spit out the bones.
She wailed loudly, and Feng Shan found it utterly amusing. “Why are you afraid of me? I saved you.”
Gu Pingting knew he was her savior, but she was still afraid.
His appearance wasn’t frightening, but he carried an aura about him—sharp and domineering. In his presence, Gu Pingting didn’t even dare to breathe.
Her small frame trembled with fear. Feng Shan released her face and turned to stride out of the room.
Gu Pingting hadn’t expected him to leave. After a moment of stunned silence, she cried even harder.
She didn’t want to be alone in this room. The wind was howling outside, and she was terrified. But Gu Pingting didn’t dare ask Feng Shan to stay. She could only watch his broad back disappear from the tiled house.
Gu Pingting hadn’t been crying for long when she saw Feng Shan return, carrying a basin of water. He walked to the bedside, wrung out a damp cloth, and said, “Look at you, crying so hard you’re covered in sweat. Let me wipe you down.”
As he spoke, Feng Shan used the cloth to wipe Gu Pingting’s face. This time, he restrained his strength, trying his best not to hurt her.
After crying for so long, she felt dizzy and feverish. The cool, damp cloth against her face immediately made her feel much better.
While wiping her sweat, Feng Shan comforted her, “Stop crying, and don’t be afraid of me. I’m a rough man, not very good at being gentle, but I like you now and only want to treat you well.”
His movements were gentler, and his voice wasn’t as loud. With someone in the room to keep her company, Gu Pingting’s sobs gradually subsided.
She cried until her whole body felt weak. Feng Shan helped her sit up, allowing her to catch her breath.
Once Gu Pingting had fully recovered, she looked up at Feng Shan and whispered, “Sir, can you take me back to the royal capital? I want to go home…”
As she spoke, she was on the verge of tears again. Feng Shan quickly agreed, “I’ll take you home, but didn’t I tell you? You need to wait until your injuries heal. Your leg is broken, and you can’t move around recklessly now.”
“Really? You’re willing to take me back to the palace? And you believe I’m a princess?” Gu Pingting felt a flicker of joy. She had been afraid Feng Shan wouldn’t believe her—after all, the two peasant women earlier hadn’t.
Feng Shan didn’t speak immediately. He also thought this little woman had knocked her head silly, but she insisted so stubbornly and was still seriously injured.
Feng Shan could only comfort her first: “Mm, once your injuries heal, I’ll send you back.”
Gu Pingting was overjoyed and hurriedly said many words of thanks. She suddenly felt that the tall Feng Shan wasn’t so frightening after all.
As Gu Pingting was expressing her gratitude, Feng Shan interrupted her: “Hey, what’s your name again?”
Gu Pingting bit her lip. She had already said it twice, yet he still couldn’t remember. “…Pingting, Gu Pingting.”
Feng Shan nodded, mumbling the name twice in his mouth. “Gu Pingting, Gu Pingting. I’ll remember this name, won’t forget it for the rest of my life!”
“Sir, how far is it from here to the capital?”
“About five hundred li or so.” Feng Shan then asked her, “How old are you this year?”
Five hundred li—so far! Gu Pingting felt somewhat dejected and replied gloomily, “…Sixteen years old.”
Feng Shan grinned. Sixteen—old enough to marry.
Feng Shan looked at Gu Pingting seriously. A pity, though—she was just too delicate. He wondered if she could withstand him on the kang bed?
“Where is this place? About how long would it take to return to the capital from here?”
“This is Xiaogaodi Village in Hong County. From here back to the capital, it’d probably take over twenty days.” Feng Shan found a fan and began fanning Gu Pingting to cool her down. “Are you usually in good health?”
Health? Gu Pingting didn’t understand, but after thinking carefully, she guessed Feng Shan might have noticed her frailty and was worried she couldn’t endure the journey back to the capital.
Gu Pingting quickly replied, “I’m in very good health. I rarely get sick and am not afraid of long travels.”
Feng Shan chuckled happily and nodded. “Good health is all that matters!”
If she weren’t healthy, she wouldn’t be able to endure his… vigor.
Gu Pingting only thought Feng Shan meant he would take her back to the capital once her injuries healed. She pursed her lips and smiled.
Though they weren’t talking about the same thing, both of them were happy…
Knowing Gu Pingting was afraid, Feng Shan deliberately waited until she had fallen asleep before going to sleep on the kang in the next room.
Lying on the kang, Feng Shan—a man who usually fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow—felt unusually excited and thrilled tonight.
He had picked up a fair and tender little wife himself. Though she was a bit troublesome, a bit delicate, and cried a bit too easily…
He really, really liked her…
Feng Shan’s parents were both dead, leaving him alone in the family.
Now, having decided to marry Gu Pingting as his wife, he had to treat her well! Had to give her his whole heart!
He was a rough man, not meticulous, but he had a burning heart to show Gu Pingting.
When Gu Pingting woke the next day, the sky was already bright. The summer sun was radiant, filling the tiled house with light.
Many little birds were chirping outside. The sunlight and birdsong were delightful to the ears.
Gu Pingting sat up and looked around. Feng Shan wasn’t there, but she didn’t call out.
After sitting on the bed for a while, she saw Feng Shan stride in. As soon as he entered and saw she was awake, he immediately turned and went back out.
Not long after, he returned carrying a large bowl, saying gruffly, “You’re thirsty, right? Here, drink up quickly.”
She hadn’t managed to drink the water yesterday, and after a whole night, Gu Pingting was indeed parched. As the large bowl was brought to her lips, she sipped the water.
Gu Pingting drank half the bowl in one go, feeling exhausted afterward, and let out a long sigh.
Feng Shan drank the remaining half-bowl of water, smacked his lips, and asked her, “Is this water still too hard?”
Gu Pingting shook her head. “Today’s water doesn’t scratch my throat.”
Feng Shan chuckled, staring at Gu Pingting. “You’re so delicate! So you won’t drink well water, only mountain spring water.”
Gu Pingting blinked her eyes.
“I got up before dawn and went into the mountains to fetch spring water. Sure enough, you’re willing to drink it.” Seeing her wide-open eyes, cuter than a porcelain doll, Feng Shan felt a softness in his heart. “It wasn’t a waste of me running all that way.”
Gu Pingting said, “You’ve gone to great trouble, warrior. When we return to the royal capital, I’ll definitely have my Royal Father and Royal Mother reward you generously.”
Feng Shan didn’t respond. Instead, he went to the kitchen and cooked a bowl of hot noodle soup, bringing it to her.
Feng Shan fed her, and Gu Pingting ate slowly and deliberately. She glanced at Feng Shan; she wasn’t as afraid of this man anymore.
She could sense that this man meant no harm.
This man had saved her and even said he would take her home. Not only was Gu Pingting no longer afraid, but she was also deeply grateful to him.
Gu Pingting smiled gently. “Warrior, thank you, truly.”
Sunlight streamed through the earthen window, falling upon her. When she smiled faintly, two dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth. The golden, fragmented sunlight bathed her, making her beauty seem out of place in this humble tiled house.
Feng Shan grinned. His little wife—she looked beautiful when she cried, but even more beautiful when she smiled!
“Don’t call me ‘warrior’ anymore. From now on, call me by my name.”
Gu Pingting obediently nodded and softly hummed in agreement.
Today, she wasn’t afraid of him and even smiled at him. Feng Shan felt so elated that bubbles seemed to rise in his heart. He reached out and pinched Gu Pingting’s little cheek—it was smooth and tender. “Say it, let me hear.”
Her cheek pinched, Gu Pingting felt a bit displeased, but considering he was her savior, she held back and mumbled, “…Feng Shan.”
It sounded so wonderful!!
Feng Shan laughed heartily, his laughter so loud it startled Gu Pingting!!
Gu Pingting: …
Feng Shan released his hand and sighed. “I’m in a good mood today! I’m going to eat all the noodles in the big pot! After eating, I’ll have the strength to go up the mountain and hunt a wild boar for you to nourish yourself!”
Gu Pingting: …
Feng Shan finished the remaining hot noodle soup from Gu Pingting’s bowl, then stood up and strode out.
After Feng Shan left, Gu Pingting rubbed her sore cheek where he had pinched her. This man was truly rough!
After eating, Feng Shan went up the mountain to hunt wild boar, bidding farewell to Gu Pingting before leaving.
Gu Pingting, having eaten, felt sleepy again and went back to sleep.
True to his word, Feng Shan returned with a wild boar. Though Gu Pingting lay inside the house and didn’t see the boar, she tasted pork that evening.