Chapter 126 - Jiang Ying Yue (22) (1/2)

”Cough! Cough!” With misty eyes and trembling fingers, one of Jiang Ying Yue's hand started to beat her chest while the other reached out for a jug of water. Jiang Li saw her state and frowned at her. If you choke on something, would drinking water be the correct thing to do?

An answer dawned on him.  'Since she can still make a sound, she should not be completely choking, but with a semi-blocked airway.'

His hand moved to pass the container on her. He reckoned that her body was protesting that it could not get enough air. Water should be able to help to lubricate the esophagus, enhancing a natural swallowing process that would then help remove the obstruction. Thankfully, it was not a completely blocked airway or else, instead of giving her water, he would be performing an abdominal thrust.

”Drink slowly.” He reminded the girl madly chugging on the jug as if her life depended on it.

When Jiang Ying Yue's lips parted with the water container, she began gasping for breath. The corners of her eyes still had traces of tears.

The man shook his head and commented inside, 'This is what she gets for not chewing her food properly. Tch. Really the same. If my guess is correct, it seems she choked on food while staring at me.'

Seeing the kind of stare Jiang Li was giving her, the girl's cheeks turned red and all she wanted to do was disappear from there. Thankfully, after that episode, the man didn't say anything. When they finished eating, he only called the servants to clear the table and bring them tea, then he ordered them to disperse again.

”Now that we're full, let's have a long talk about your and my circ.u.mstances.” He said, propping his face up with a hand, elbow against the smooth surface of the table.

Jiang Ying Yue didn't dare meet his eyes. While nursing the cup of tea in her hand, she said, ”This one is thankful for everything Your Highness has given and done for me. It would be this one's honor to answer your questions and requests as long as it is proper and within my capabilities.”

Jiang Li pretended he didn't hear the emphasis on the latter part, instead minding her dizzying speech.

”To be honest, I hate this formal kind of taking the most, Miss Jiang. So let me just get straight to the point. After meeting the witch, what do you plan to do from now on?”

Silence reigned between them for a full minute. The place turned so quiet if a pin dropped on the ground, the sound would reverberate to their ears.

It was still Jiang Li who broke that silence after getting bored of waiting for her reply. ”The Emperor has indirectly punished me to go back to the border three weeks earlier than expected. It's already the fourth day. In three days, I would have to depart with my army and head South where my post is.”