Chapter 322: Chapter 130: Fortunate (Part 2)

Mr. Xie let out a hearty laugh. "What happened earlier is not important. Since you’re here in the Prefecture, how about I treat you and your wife to some tea?"

Of course, they couldn’t go for tea. The hour was late, and Zhao Jing had to enter the examination hall the next day. If he drank tea and couldn’t sleep that night, it would likely affect his state for the exam tomorrow.

So, they arranged to have tea together in a few days when they were free.

As they were leaving, Mr. Xie suddenly recalled something and quickly offered his good wishes to Zhao Jing. "The top prefectural rank is as good as yours. I’ll be here at Moxiang Pavilion, waiting for the good news that Mr. Zhao has also secured the top rank in the academy exam."

"You flatter me."

"It’s because you are extraordinarily talented. Every word you write is a gem."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Wanqing and Zhao Jing were finally able to head home.

On the way back, the streets had grown much quieter, with noticeably fewer pedestrians. Only the rows of lanterns hanging before the shops continued to glow tirelessly.

Chen Wanqing cautioned Zhao Jing, "If something like that happens again, you can’t just rashly attack them."

Today, that drunkard was too intoxicated to fight back, and his two attendants were useless. If they had been more skilled, Jing would have been the one at a disadvantage.

Jing was at a critical point with his exams; he couldn’t afford to get injured in the slightest.

So, it was best to just endure things...

"I can’t endure it, Wanqing. You were in so much pain your lips turned white from biting them."

"Nonsense. It only hurt a little."

"I have eyes, you know. I can see. And I wasn’t being reckless. I knew what I was doing. Cui Junrong and those other two are weak on their feet, their bodies worn out from debauchery. And that’s not even mentioning they were drunk... All three of them together were no match for me."

"You’re still trying to argue."

"Wanqing. I will not stand by and do nothing while you’re being bullied. If I did that, marrying me would be no different from marrying a beast. I told you before, once we were married, I would cherish and protect you. I meant what I said, and I have to live up to it. I can’t let you suffer abuse just because I’m afraid they outnumber me."

"Alright, alright, I believe you, okay? Now stop talking. Let’s just hurry home. If we don’t get back soon, De’an will start to worry."

But De’an wasn’t worried at all. He was sitting calmly at his desk, reading.

When he heard the two of them return, he simply got up and glanced outside. Seeing that nothing was amiss, he thought no more of it and went back to his room to read. In his haste, he still remembered to call out, "There’s hot water in the pot. You should bring it to Wanqing so she can wash up."

Zhao Jing did as told, bringing Chen Wanqing hot water to wash up. After she had cleaned herself and climbed into bed, he went outside to wash up as well.

The whole process didn’t take much time, but when Zhao Jing came back into the room, he found Chen Wanqing already fast asleep.

Even in her sleep, something was clearly bothering her. Her brow was slightly furrowed, and she looked very uncomfortable.

As Zhao Jing drew near, he caught the strong scent of a medicinal ointment.

This time, he was certain the scent of the ointment was coming from her. ’Where is Wanqing hurt?’

Zhao Jing reached under the pillow and, just as he expected, found a small white porcelain bottle. Opening it for a sniff, he realized the contents must be a medicine used to relieve pain, reduce bruising, and promote healing.

He recalled that she had ridden on horseback the entire way here. The insides of her thighs must be chafed raw.

Zhao Jing frowned, annoyed with himself.

’No wonder Wanqing was walking so slowly. I thought she was just exhausted, or maybe she wanted to take in the sights of the Prefecture. It never even occurred to me how painful it must be for a girl who’s been delicately raised at home and never ridden a horse before to spend three days on horseback.’

Zhao Jing gently lifted the quilt covering Chen Wanqing’s lower body, then reached for her silk trousers.

Half-asleep, Chen Wanqing’s eyes fluttered open. In the hazy candlelight, she saw Zhao Jing’s handsome face, still damp from washing.

She gave him a weak push and mumbled, "Jing, your friend is still in the courtyard."

Zhao Jing struggled to ignore the warmth beneath his fingertips and the sight of her soft, dazzlingly white skin.

He lowered his voice, whispering, "Wanqing, I’m not going to do anything. I just want to see your wound."

"My wound..." Chen Wanqing mumbled, becoming a bit more alert.

The skin on her inner thighs was chafed raw. It was a ghastly sight; she couldn’t even bring herself to look at it. Every time she applied the ointment, she would just slap it on hastily to get it over with, and even that brief contact made her tremble from the pain.

"It’s nothing serious, and I’ve already applied the ointment. Jing, don’t you have to study? Go on, get to your books."

"Wanqing, let me take a look."

"You don’t have to."

"Wanqing."

"...Fine."

A cool breeze, or perhaps a warm breath, caressed her skin. Chen Wanqing couldn’t tell which it was.