After spending more than half a month here, Lin Jiayan’s condition had finally improved. The discomfort that had plagued her since arriving had eased considerably, and she felt much more energetic.
Chahar and most of the tribe’s men were away, and without their imposing presence, she found life surprisingly comfortable.
Whenever she had free time, she would visit Dulan, play with A’ming, and pick up a little Mongolian along the way.
Today, Dulan was holding a man’s outer robe, embroidering golden patterns along the inner lining.
“What’s that?”
Lin Jiayan examined the design. It didn’t look like an ordinary floral pattern.
“It’s the Wolf God’s totem,” Dulan explained with a gentle smile. “It’s meant to protect Zhana on the battlefield.”
“Oh…”
Dulan and Zhana clearly loved each other very much. Over the past few weeks, Lin Jiayan had heard countless stories about their life together.
“I used to make Chahar’s clothes too,” Dulan added. “From now on, that should be your responsibility.”
“Huh?”
Lin Jiayan stared at the intricate embroidery and felt her head ache.
Sewing wounds? No problem.
Embroidery?
That was an entirely different matter.
Dulan patiently guided her step by step, but after hours of effort, Lin Jiayan’s stitching was still crooked and misshapen.
“Looks like I really don’t have any talent for this.”
She sighed, hoping Dulan would finally give up trying to teach her.
“It’s alright.”
Dulan carefully cut apart the mistaken stitches and redid them without the slightest trace of impatience.
“Our embroidery patterns are different from those in the Central Plains. You’re just not used to them yet. Take your time.”
The two women spent most of the day bent over their needlework.
Eventually, Lin Jiayan stretched her arms and back.
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Dulan pressing a hand against her lower back with a slight frown.
Recently, she had noticed the same thing several times.
Whenever Dulan sat or squatted for too long, her lower back would start hurting.
“Sister-in-law, does your back hurt?”
“It’s an old problem.”
Dulan straightened up with a smile.
“When I was giving birth to A’ming, the tribe was moving with the army during a campaign. I wasn’t able to recover properly afterward, and it left lasting problems. It hurts a few times every day now. I’m used to it.”
Lin Jiayan recalled the acupuncture and therapeutic massage classes she’d taken in medical school.
Her acupuncture skills were mediocre.
Massage, however, wasn’t bad.
She often massaged her parents’ shoulders and necks at home, and it usually helped.
“Sister-in-law, I know a little massage therapy. Would you like me to try?”
Dulan looked surprised.
A pampered princess from the Southern Kingdom knew massage techniques?
“You’re delicate enough as it is. Don’t waste your strength on me.”
She laughed.
“It’s an old problem. I can endure it.”
“You’re still young. Why let something like this affect your health?”
Lin Jiayan insisted.
“Let me try first. Whether it works or not, we can decide afterward.”
Before Dulan could refuse again, Lin Jiayan had already pulled her onto the couch.
Unable to win the argument, Dulan finally surrendered.
Pulling aside the outer robe, Lin Jiayan rubbed her hands together until they were warm.
Then she placed the heels of her palms against Dulan’s lower back and began massaging outward from both sides of the spine, gradually increasing pressure.
Recalling anatomical charts from memory, she pressed steadily on several acupoints near the kidneys and lower spine.
Dulan let out a comfortable sigh.
“Yanyan, you actually know what you’re doing.”
She sounded genuinely impressed.
“I always thought princesses from the Southern Kingdom spent their days studying music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, never touching anything practical.”
Lin Jiayan’s hands paused briefly.
Her mind immediately began racing.
“I wasn’t particularly favored growing up.”
The lie came naturally now.
“Father never paid much attention to me. I wasn’t interested in music or painting, so I spent my time reading medical books instead. I’ve never really had a chance to use any of it until now.”
She smiled.
“If I can help relieve your pain even a little, then my studies weren’t wasted.”
Hearing that the girl had lost her mother young and grown up neglected by her own father, Dulan’s heart softened even further.
Poor child.
No mother.
No affection from her father.
Alone her entire life.
Dulan silently resolved to have a serious talk with Chahar when he returned and make sure he treated his wife better.
Lin Jiayan continued the massage for nearly half an hour before Dulan finally stopped her.
“Alright, Yanyan.”
Dulan sat up and caught her hands.
“I already feel much better. You should rest now.”
Only after stopping did Lin Jiayan realize her arms were so sore she could barely lift them.
“This kind of problem won’t be fixed in one or two sessions.”
She flexed her aching fingers.
“I’ll come massage it regularly. After a few courses of treatment, it should improve.”
“A few… courses?”
Dulan blinked in confusion.
“Uh…”
Lin Jiayan nearly bit her tongue.
“It means… several rounds of treatment. I read it in a medical book.”
Quickly lowering her head, she picked up a teacup with trembling hands and took a large sip.
“Our medicine on the grasslands isn’t very advanced.”
Dulan sighed.
“Mongolian physicians are excellent at treating injuries from battle. But when it comes to things like women’s postpartum weakness, there’s usually nothing they can do.”
She squeezed Lin Jiayan’s hand warmly.
“It’s a good thing we have you. You’ve helped me tremendously.”
Lin Jiayan shook her head.
“Tremendously” was an exaggeration.
But Dulan was the only person here who treated her with the affection and care of an elder family member.
Naturally, she wanted to repay that kindness however she could.
That evening, Dulan insisted she stay for dinner.
By the time Lin Jiayan returned to her own tent, she was so exhausted she could barely speak.
She collapsed flat onto the bed.
Her eyelids felt as though they weighed a thousand pounds.
Lianxin helped her wash up and prepare for bed, but she was so tired she barely registered any of it.
Late that night, the army finally returned after nearly a month away.
The thunder of galloping hooves rolled across the camp like distant storms.
Dulan stood outside with others to welcome them home.
The moment Zhana spotted his wife, he dismounted before even reaching the camp and ran toward her.
After so long apart, the two embraced tightly.
“How did it go? Were you hurt?”
Dulan cupped his face in her hands and carefully examined him.
“Everything went smoothly.”
Zhana grinned.
“No injuries.”
Then he grabbed her face and planted a loud kiss on her cheek.
“I missed you to death.”
The people of the grasslands were open-hearted and passionate.
When they loved someone, they never hesitated to show it.
The crowd immediately erupted into laughter and cheers.
Meanwhile, Chahar remained mounted on horseback.
His gaze swept slowly through the gathering.
Searching.
Yet he failed to find the small, delicate figure he had been expecting.
“Yanyan was tired today.”
Noticing his wandering gaze, Dulan smiled knowingly.
“She’s probably asleep already. Her health isn’t very good, so I didn’t wake her.”
“I’m not looking for her.”
Chahar immediately withdrew his eyes and replied stiffly.
Then he nudged his horse forward and rode away.
Dulan merely smiled.
She clearly didn’t believe him.
The army had only just returned, and there were still military matters to report.
After removing their armor, Zhana and Chahar went straight to the Khan’s tent.
The men gathered around great bonfires, drinking and recounting stories from the campaign.
The atmosphere was lively and jubilant.
Inside her tent, Lin Jiayan was awakened by the noise.
Still half asleep, she climbed out of bed and peeked through the window.
Outside, figures moved in the firelight.
The camp was bustling with celebration.
Looks like the army’s back.
Then Chahar and the others must have returned too.
Everyone seemed so happy.
The campaign must have gone well.
Rubbing her eyes, Lin Jiayan wondered vaguely what time it was.
She was still incredibly sleepy.
After watching for only a moment, she crawled back into bed, pulled the blankets over her head to block out the noise, and promptly fell asleep again.
By the time the military discussions ended, dawn was beginning to brighten the horizon.
Zhana exchanged a brief farewell with Chahar before hurrying home.
Watching the warm glow of lamplight flickering inside his brother’s tent, knowing someone was waiting there for him, Chahar sighed quietly.
Then he returned to his own lonely tent.
The woman had truly never come back while he was away.
Fine.
Maybe she had been upset before.
But they were married now.
They had stood before the Wolf God and become husband and wife.
He had just returned from war, and she hadn’t even come to greet him.
The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became.
Grinding his teeth, Chahar made up his mind.
As soon as the sun came up, he was going to have a serious talk with that troublesome princess who clearly needed to learn some manners.