Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li stayed at a mansion that belonged to a merchant who had fled north of Yunlan River long before Yong Lin was under siege. It seemed the wealthy always feared death more than the poor. There was a large study in the front yard that came with a bedroom, which was why Ye Li didn’t pay much attention when Mo Xiu Yao stayed in the study for the night. After all, he needed to take care of a load of affairs now he had just arrived. However, after her meeting with Feng Zhi Yao, it occurred to her that she hadn’t seen Mo Xiu Yao for almost 24 hours since last night. She had breakfast and lunch by herself. If Mo Xiu Yao was indeed so busy, there was no reason for Feng Zhi Yao to have nothing to do but strolling along the city wall at leisure. Besides, back in the capital, Mo Xiu Yao wasn’t shy to ask her help with all kinds of affairs.

Ye Li stepped into the study. It was empty as expected. Quickly, she headed to the bedroom at the back. Before opening the door, she heard something fall to the ground and rushed inside.

As soon as she was there, she was shocked by what she saw.

The man that was valiant and invincible on the battlefield yesterday now sat on the ground in a sorry figure. Quilt was shredded to pieces and thrown all over the place. Not far away from the bed was a vase that was knocked down with several chinaware littered around. With eyes tightly closed, the robe on Mo Xiu Yao looked as if it was drenched in water. His fingers were covered with blood.

“Ah Li, go away…” Hearing the footsteps, Mo Xiu Yao said without looking up.

Ye Li paused but didn’t stop or turn around. Instead, she walked towards him rapidly and supported him up. “Do you feel better now?”

He nodded, weary, and went lying back in bed with her help and said with a bitter laugh: “Ah Li, it seems you always see me in my worst state…”

She said calmly: “You asked for it this time. We… we are husband and wife, not strangers. It won’t be possible for us to always see each other in the best state, right?”

With his eyes closed, he smiled slightly and said: “Put it more specifically, you’ve never seen me in my best state.” He had lost that before he met her.

Holding his hands which were still trembling because of intense pain, she said smilingly: “How so? You were great yesterday.” Looking down at his blood-stained fingers and the scars on his palms, she asked beneath her breath: “When did this start?”

It seemed the pain had eased and Mo Xiu Yao was more willing to talk than usual. A moment later, he answered: “Around dawn…”

Ye Li’s hand froze. Her heart ached. Now it was three in the afternoon, which meant he had been suffering for about nine hours.

“Have some sleep now that you feel better.”

Mo Xiu Yao didn’t reply. The shallow long breath showed that he was fast asleep. However, even in his sleep, he had a faint frown on the forehead. At times, he seemed in pain.

Ye Li wanted to go and grab him a new quilt but found her hand in his tight grip. She gave up on that idea and sat down again. Looking at his wet clothes with a frown, she didn’t want him to catch a cold but didn’t want to wake him either. Given the dark shadows under his eyes, she knew he hadn’t had a good sleep for some time.

When it turned dark, Mo Xiu Yao finally woke up. Though he only had two hours of sleep, he felt better. He was secretly relieved that he had got through this.

“You awake?” Ye Li’s voice reached him from outside.

He lifted his head and saw her come with a tray.

After putting the tray on the table, she spoke again: “Now that you are awake, have a bath first before dinner.”

He was a bit stunned. “Ah Li, why did you…” He recalled what happened before he fell asleep. Among his confusion and the endless pain, her voice reached his mind clearly which pulled him back from a break down. After that, he finally fell asleep in that calm voice.

With him staring at her in silence, Ye Li walked over a bit worried as she asked: “What’s wrong? Are you not well? Shall I ask someone to send for the doctor?”

He caught her hands and said: “Nothing. I just feel a little dizzy because of the long sleep. I can’t see a doctor that I don’t know.”

She didn’t expose his little lie. To her, he was clear-headed even when he was in sleep. “Then take a bath. I’ve had it prepared.”

Mo Xiu Yao looked at himself and found himself indeed desperately in need of a bath.

Soon, he got out of bath.

Ye Li hurriedly went forward and put a cape over him, seeing how thinly dressed he was.

He looked at her and said: “Ah Li, I’m not that fragile.”

She nodded and said seriously: “Right. Even a fragile person is in a better condition than you are. Sit down. Eat.” She passed a bowl of delicious porridge to him, she watched as he ate.

Mo Xiu Yao had no choice but to have a try at the porridge and it not only smelled good, but also tasted good. He hadn’t eaten anything since last night. The porridge warmed his stomach which stimulated his appetite that was originally ruined by tiredness and pain. “It doesn’t taste like secret guards’ work.”

With the owner of this mansion gone, so were all the servants. Mo Xiu Yao and Ye Li couldn’t use people of unknow background during their stay so all their basic needs were taken care of by secret guards. Though secret guards were well-trained, they weren’t good cooks.

With her hands supporting her chin, Ye Li watched him eat. “I cooked it. Is it bad?”

Mo Xiu Yao paused, then shook his head with a faint smile as he said: “No, it’s delicious.”

She nodded happily. Though she wasn’t good at cooking, she could do homely dishes and porridge. This chicken porridge had taken her two hours to make. She had tasted it herself that it wasn’t too bad.

“Ah Li, is there anything you’d like to tell me?” Feeling her eyes fixed on him, Mo Xiu Yao put down the bowl and asked.

Ye Li took the bowl and filled it again as she said: “I don’t approve keep all the things to oneself. That isn’t how a husband and wife supposed to get along either. What do you think, Your Highness?”

Mo Xiu Yao took the bowl she passed him and sighed slightly: “You see… Ah Li, it’s not because of you… You know it. With this toxin I have in my body, I would have got here sooner or later.”

“You’ve already got here because or not because of me. What I mean is… Aren’t you afraid that you’ll get yourself killed shutting yourself in the room alone, Your Highness?” She asked with raised brows.

“I won’t,” said Mo Xiu Yao. “I won’t. Phoenix grass won’t kill me. Mr. Shen has said it would simply add a bit pain.”

A bit pain… She really wanted to open his skull and see what was inside it.

“Ah Li, you must know that this is the best possible situation. If Mr. Shen hasn’t brought back phoenix grass…” Then he wouldn’t have been able to come to Yong Lin’s rescue, Scattered Snow Pass would have fallen and Nan Zhao would have invaded Great Chu already. Ah Li…

“From now on, I’ll stay by your side,” said Ye Li calmly.

“… Alright.”