jdhmnovel Chapter 426 Returning to Chuzhou
Chapter 426 Returning to Chuzhou
He didn't know if she could hear him, but he instinctively wanted to comfort her.
His fingertips slid slowly across the back of her hand, gently brushing over the gruesome wounds, his movements as tender as if he were handling a rare treasure.
The candlelight flickered, illuminating her pale, paper-white face, clearly showing the cracked lines on her lips and the cold sweat still clinging to her forehead.
Choi Jiho got up, poured a glass of warm water, and carefully wiped her lips and forehead with a clean cotton cloth.
A drop of water landed on her lips, and she seemed to instinctively purse them. This subtle movement instantly softened Choi Jiho's heart, making him feel both sour and swollen.
He recalled the scene when they first met. She was wearing an elegant dress, standing under a pear tree, with clear eyes and a slightly timid look.
At that time, he only thought of her as a smart and quick-witted girl. He never thought that he would have such an entanglement with her, let alone watch her fall into such a dangerous situation.
The rustling of leaves in the wind came from outside the window, mixed with the occasional chirping of insects in the distance.
The room was so quiet that you could hear the girl's faint breathing, each rise and fall as light as a feather, keeping Cui Zhihao's heart constantly in suspense.
He stayed by the bedside, motionless, as if he wanted to make up for all the care he had missed these past few days.
After some time, soft footsteps came from outside the door. It was Yuan'er who came in carrying the medicine she had just brewed.
The little girl walked very quietly, afraid of disturbing the people inside, and saw Cui Zhihao standing by the bedside with red eyes.
He didn't dare to say much, but gently placed the medicine bowl on the table and whispered, "Young master, the medicine is ready, keep it warm."
Choi Jihoo glanced back at her, nodded, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "Just put it there."
Yuan'er responded, then looked at the unconscious Miss Shi on the bed, her eyes filled with worry, but she knew she couldn't help much.
She could only obediently step aside and silently tidy up the mess left behind by the doctor.
Choi Ji-ho turned his gaze back to the girl's face. Seeing that she still showed no improvement, he picked up the medicine bowl on the table, scooped up a little medicine with a small spoon, blew on it, and tentatively tried to feed it to her.
But as soon as the medicine touched the corner of her lips, she instinctively turned her head away, her brows furrowing even more, clearly having difficulty swallowing.
Choi Ji-ho's heart sank again, and he could only put down the medicine bowl and hold her hand again.
No matter how important this medicine is, we can't force-feed it to her and make her feel uncomfortable.
He could only hope that dawn would break soon, that they could arrive in Chu City as soon as possible, and that the imperial physicians in the palace could find a way to cure her.
Shen Yanzhou is right, we will arrive in Chuzhou City tomorrow.
There are the best imperial physicians and the most complete range of medicinal herbs there; she will surely recover.
Choi Ji-ho kept telling himself this in his heart, as if he were encouraging himself, or as if he were making a promise to her while she was unconscious.
He recalled the force with which Shen Yanzhou patted his shoulder when he left, and the worry and understanding in the Crown Prince's eyes.
They all knew that this was no accident, and that someone was definitely behind it all.
The girl was merely an innocent victim caught in the crossfire.
Once she recovers, he will definitely find out the truth. No matter who hurt her, he will never let them get away with it.
As night deepened, Choi Ji-ho showed no signs of sleepiness. He sat by the bed, gazing intently at her face by candlelight.
Looking at her furrowed brows and pale lips, countless emotions surged within him—self-blame, heartache, anger, and a deep fear that even he himself was unaware of.
He was afraid, afraid that those eyes would never open again, afraid that the once clear and lively girl would fall into eternal sleep.
He gently reached out, wanting to smooth the wrinkles between her brows, but his fingertips brushed against her slightly trembling eyelashes as soon as they touched her skin.
Like the fluttering of butterfly wings, it carried a faint force, yet instantly struck Choi Ji-ho's heart.
“Miss Shi…”
He called out softly, his voice carrying an expectation he himself was unaware of.
"Wake up, okay? When you wake up, I'll take you to eat the most famous osmanthus cake in Chuzhou City, and to see the painted boats on the Chu River. Wherever you want to go, I'll go with you."
The only response he received was her still faint breathing.
Choi Jiho was not discouraged; he simply gripped her hand tighter, as if that would allow him to transfer his strength to her.
He stayed there, watching from the deepening of night until the first light of dawn appeared in the east. The candlelight was gradually replaced by the morning light, and the room was filled with a faint warmth, but the person on the bed still showed no signs of waking up.
The sounds of carriages and horses preparing to depart came from outside the post station. Shen Yanzhou's voice rang out from outside the door, tinged with a hint of caution: "Huai'an, are you ready? It's time to set off."
Choi Ji-ho took a deep breath, glanced one last time at Ms. Shi on the bed, gently placed her hand back under the covers, tucked the blanket in, and then slowly got up.
His eyes were bloodshot, and a light stubble of bluish beard appeared on his chin. He looked exhausted, yet he exuded an undeniable determination.
"Let's go."
He responded in a hoarse voice, turned and walked out, but looked back once more as he reached the door.
"Yuan'er, take good care of Miss Shi."
Yuan'er quickly replied, "Don't worry, young master, I will."
Cui Zhihao then turned and walked out of the room, meeting Shen Yanzhou's concerned gaze.
"How is she?" Shen Yanzhou asked.
"Still not awake."
Choi Ji-ho's voice was deep, "Be extra careful on the road, and make sure the carriage is stable."
"Don't worry, I've already made arrangements."
Shen Yanzhou patted him on the shoulder, "You'll be fine once we get to Chu City, don't worry too much."
Cui Zhihao nodded, his gaze fixed on the carriage carrying Miss Shi, his eyes filled with deep worry.
He knew that the road ahead was long, but no matter what, he would stay by her side until the moment she woke up.
The carriage slowly drove away from the post station and headed towards Chuzhou City.
The wheels rolled over the road, making a rhythmic sound, as if telling a story of a long and expectant wait.
Cui Zhihao sat beside the carriage, his gaze never leaving the tightly closed curtain, silently thinking: Miss Shi, when you wake up, we'll go home.
The sunlight outside Chuzhou City carried the coolness of early autumn, and a thin layer of mist floated on the official road at the city gate, blurring the shadows of the distant trees.
Lin Yiyu, dressed in a blue outer robe, stood beneath the majestic city gate, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the jade pendant at his waist, his gaze frequently drifting towards the end of the official road.
Behind him stood two imperial physicians with white hair and beards, their medicine chests heavy on their arms, their faces bearing a similar solemnity to Lin Yiyu's.
Since receiving the personal letter from Crown Prince Shen Yanzhou yesterday, the line "Sister Shi's injuries are critical and she has not yet woken up" has weighed heavily on Lin Yiyu's heart, keeping him awake all night.
"Lord Lin, you have been standing here for two hours."
The physician on the left spoke softly, his tone filled with comfort.
"His Highness the Crown Prince and Young Master Cui are always prudent in their actions and will certainly do their best to protect Miss Shi. All we need to do is prepare the treatment methods."