Chapter 90 The Stolen Army Deployment Plan (2/2)
Hua Jing fastened her hands into fists in her sleeves. How she desperately wished that she could consent to Lady Zhao's proposal! However, she recalled what the Empress had said to her when she was about to leave the Imperial Palace. If she divorced Zhao Yingjie at this moment, she would certainly be condemned as a hardhearted woman by everyone. Thinking of the stigma the divorce would bring for her, Hua Jing lowered her head to show pitiful meekness. She said while sobbing, ”The Emperor's Son-in-Law is missing. I know mother must feel sad and worried for him. But, mother, please don't say something like that again. As Yingjie's wife, I feel no better than you. No matter what happens to him, I will bear the consequence with you, shoulder to shoulder.”
Yun Shang was sitting near Hua Jing. She glanced at Hua Jing with a look of contempt, and thought to herself, You are smarter now, Hua Jing. I should never have underestimated you.
Yun Shang cast her eyes on both women before speaking with Lady Zhao with a smile, ”Hua Jing is right, Lady Zhao. You two should not quarrel with each other at this time when the Emperor's Son-in-Law is missing. Her Highness is worried for the Emperor's Son-in-Law, too. Her Highness came to the border in search of the Emperor's Son-in-Law. She left the day after you left the Imperial City. All people in the Imperial City are talking about the virtuous deeds of Her Highness and lauding her faithfulness to the Emperor's Son-in-Law. But Prince Hua Jing had gotten lost along the way, and was delayed in arriving here. Her Highness must have suffered tremendously. Wouldn't it be improper for you to blame Her Highness after so long and hard a journey?”
Yun Shang smiled. Though she seemed to speak in favor of Hua Jing, Lady Zhao was clever enough to catch the subtext behind the words. Hua Jing sought to better her repute among the populace by leaving th
w the Prince had suffered because of Qingsu in her previous life.
Yun Shang heard a hiss while in deep thought. It seemed the Prince had aggravated his injury when he was about to pick up the teapot on the table. He had worn a white night robe to pretend as if he had been awakened from his sleep for something urgent. The cut was bleeding now, and there was blood on his robe.
Yun Shang said with a frown, ”The cut has torn open.” She walked to the Prince, rolled up his sleeve, and unbound the bandage. The cut was so deep that even the bone could be seen. Yun Shang frowned again at the sight of the cut. Then she walked towards the screen and fetched a white jade bottle. She poured some powder onto the cut from the bottle, and bound it again with a strip of clean cloth.
Yun Shang was so focused on treating the Prince's injury that she didn't pay attention to the Prince's smile. She said, ”You looked as health as anyone else. I thought maybe you were not hurt badly. But the cut is too deep. Please don't lift anything heavy again.”
”It's OK. Just a mild wound. I have suffered many such wounds on my body. Not to mention those scarred ones. It doesn't matter.” Then Prince Jing continued, ”We cannot control everything at the border. I was lucky this time as I could get treatment for my wound. I can even take rest as there is time before the next battle. But it was quite different three years ago when I was at war with the State of Xia. I was shot by an arrow and there were enemies chasing me. I didn't have the time to take a break. And it was snowing. I escaped into a thick forest, and passed out there in the snow. Fortunately, I had a narrow escape. I awoke later, and met my subordinates who came to save me. But the would festered for lack of attention. I had to lie in bed for quite a few days. I almost lost one of my arms that time.”
Yun Shang was breathless as she listen to the Prince tell his story. She felt so sad for him that she only regained her ability to speak again after a long while. ”People that narrowly escape are blessed. No matter what the situation is, taking care of one's body is of great importance. And it is also important to stay alive. You will break the heart of those who care you, if you don't take care of yourself. Having so many scars can be unsightly. What if your wife dislikes you for your scars when you get married?”
Prince Jing raised his head to look at Yun Shang after hearing her words. ”Hum? Dislike? It doesn't matter. Doctor Xue Yan has many medicines that eliminate scars. But...” Prince Jing continued with a bitter smile, ”If I cannot marry the woman I love, I would rather stay single for the rest of my life. Then nobody would have the chance to dislike me.”
Yun Shang paused when she heard the Prince's words. Then she managed to tie a knot on the bandage, and started another topic. ”Keep the wound away from water. My medicine is much better than the military physician's. Please keep this bottle, and let the military physician use this medicine instead.” Yun Shang gave the bottle to the Prince after finishing speaking.
Instead of taking the bottle, Prince Jing said, ”Although the military physician's medicine is slow in taking effect, it is effective, too. You keep this for you. It might be of help if you get hurt.”
Yun Shang was taken by surprise. She lowered her head to look at the white bottle in her hand, and replied gently, ”Yes.”
Yun Shang felt embarrassed now and could not utter another word. Fortunately, the curtain was raised. Then the Deputy Commander came in. He realized what had happened when he saw the Prince's bound up arm and the bottle in Yun Shang's hands. The Deputy Commander felt a little flushed, too. But he quickly reported to the Prince, ”My Lord, Princess Hua Jing is missing.”