The nostrils were filled with the heavy scent of medicine, wafting through the room, feeling somewhat oppressive.
There was a hot water bottle tucked inside the quilt, very warm. Between the flickering flames, Feng Yun became momentarily bewildered.
She had had a long nightmare.
Her past lifeās trials felt like an ordeals; she once thought she was deeply trapped in the nightmare, never to struggle out...
Thankfully!
She was still alive.
Behind the canopy, a vaguely discernible shadow sat upright, tall and straight, casting a real and intimate outline on the curtains. She felt grounded.
"General..."
Her voice was nothing like its usual clear and bell-like timbre, croaking as though through a broken gong, and speaking caused her excruciating pain.
She immediately began coughing.
Someone flipped back the canopy in a swift move.
Pei Jue glanced at her and called for Qian Sanniu.
"Fetch Doctor Yao."
Feng Yun lifted her eyes weakly, "Whatās... happened to me?"
Pei Jueās expression was calm as he slowly sat down, his hand touching her forehead, cool and lingering for a moment before loosening her quilt.
"You have a fever."
His voice was low, revealing no emotion.
Feng Yun wasnāt sure how much he knew; she held her breath as she looked at him, her eyes seemingly holding stars.
"But Iām so cold."
Pei Jue lowered his head, tucked the loosened quilt back in place, and wrapped her up snugly.
As his arm reached across, Feng Yun weakly gripped it.
Pei Jue looked over silently.
She also pursed her lips, her fingers slowly crawling up to his neck, pulling him down a little, pressing against his face, "Itās indeed very hot."
There were footsteps outside; Pei Jue thought to rise, but Feng Yun wouldnāt allow it, entwining her pulling arm around his neck. Pei Jueās breathing hitched, his body suddenly stiffened, his breaths quickening.
The bed curtains rustled. Yao Ru, followed by Zuo Zhong, arrived and saw the two entangled in the canopy, promptly turning away.
Zuo Zhong coughed lightly.
"General, Doctor Yao has arrived."
Pei Jueās dark eyes stared into those sly ones, as he slowly released her hands and stood up.
"Come in."
Doctor Yao approached with his head down, took her pulse, and his diagnosis was not much different from Puyang Jiuās, simply that her body was weakened and needed good care.
Pei Jue ordered the freshly brewed medicine to be brought in front of Feng Yun.
Feng Yun didnāt really want to take it, but Pei Jue stood there with a cold face, not looking very pleasant, so she sighed softly and put up with the bitter taste to swallow most of it.
Just as she was about to set the bowl down, she heard him say, "Drink it all."
Even these last two mouthfuls wonāt do?
Feng Yun knew he was quite displeased at the moment, hesitating, she handed him the soup bowl.
With others present, Pei Jue said nothing more, circled her with one arm and took the medicine bowl with the other. With a deft move, he seized her chin and forced the remaining medicine down her throat.
Feng Yun: ...
Having gulped it all down, and seeing Yao Ru and Zuo Zhong suppressing their laughter at the side, she felt bitterness in her mouth and even more in her heart. She had no words for the moment, merely gasping and glaring.
Yao Ru, with a smile, bowed and said, "Madam, eat something, then sleep some more. The more you sleep, the faster youāll recover."
The stiffness in Feng Yunās face slightly eased up as she thanked him, her voice hoarse beyond recognition.
Yao Ru bowed and went out.
The room fell silent.
The light and shadow played on Pei Jueās face, revealing neither joy nor anger, only an unchanged cold demeanor.
Feng Yun didnāt know what time it was, or the current situation, but she knew a little about Pei Jueās temperament.
If she didnāt initiate conversation, Pei Jue could probably stand there for an eternity.
"Are you angry with me, General?"
Pei Jue remained silent, looking over.
Feng Yun felt pressured by his gaze, her breathing tightened, and then she heard him say:
"Iām no longer a general."
Feng Yun was taken aback, her heart pounding rapidly.
The voice that followed seemed eerily surreal.
"What happened?"
Pei Jue replied, "Isnāt everything within Lady Yunās expectations?"
Feng Yun saw a cutting edge in the depths of his eyes. No matter how well she concealed it; it was inevitable to reveal a hint of unease.
Their eyes met.
In those deep black pupils was an unfathomable depth. Feng Yun didnāt know how to respond.
When Pei Jue carried her out of Li Sangruoās room, she was conscious; she couldnāt pretend to know nothing, nor could she lie to his face.
"Does the General know everything?"
"I could pretend I donāt." Pei Jueās gaze was intense as he slowly bent down, gripped her shoulders, "Lie down and rest."
The skin he touched felt as hot as fire.
Feng Yunās chest tightened as if suffocating; stubbornly, she remained rigid, confronted those cold eyes head-on, and retorted, "If thereās anger in your heart, just say it. Thereās no need to hide it. If you also believe that I deserved to be framed, that fighting back amounts to heinous defiance, then I have nothing to say."
Pei Jue looked down at her intently, "Are you saying youāve done nothing wrong?"
"No." Feng Yun met his gaze head-on.
Pei Jueās eyes were deep, harboring an undercurrent of desolate emotion that overwhelmed Feng Yunās breathing.
After a moment, he released his hold and lay her back down.