The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 188: Chapter 188: Faint Light

Xia Wenjin chopped a heap of dried grass with a dagger, spread it on the sheltered ground, sprinkled insect-repelling powder, and layered another two stacks of grass over it. Then she opened the bundle, took out a coat, and cautiously moved Huangfu Jingchen onto it.

At least, let him lie more comfortably.

She went to search for some herbs, not daring to venture far, sticking to the area within half a mile. Fortunately, she was lucky enough to see a rabbit.

She had little strength left, only managing to throw the dagger skillfully and accurately, piercing the rabbit right through.

Xia Wenjin was overjoyed, immediately carrying the rabbit back. She carefully made a cut on the rabbit’s neck, pried open Huangfu Jingchen’s mouth, aiming the cut so that the blood flowed into his mouth. The rabbit had just died, its blood still warm.

This method of replenishing blood was just a last resort; Huangfu Jingchen’s body was too weak.

Even though unconscious, Huangfu Jingchen could still swallow, so after letting him drink a few mouthfuls, Xia Wenjin stopped. She wiped clean the blood from his lips and mopped the sweat off her forehead.

Earlier, she had seen a mountain stream. She processed the rabbit upstream, used leaves to make a cup, and fetched some clean water back.

She gathered some firewood, lit a fire, used branches to make a grill, and started roasting the rabbit.

If he woke up later, the cooked rabbit would be just right to eat.

She needed to replenish herself too.

After finishing all of this, she was sweaty. The dizziness from blood loss had not yet passed, leaving her somewhat weak.

Huangfu Jingchen remained unconscious. These days, she was busy with matters at Feiyun Pavilion, constantly rushing about without proper sleep, exacerbating the weakness from blood loss. She sat by the fire, feeling dazed, seemingly about to fall asleep.

She shook her head, struggling to ward off drowsiness.

Behind her, incoherent murmurs arose.

Xia Wenjin turned around; Huangfu Jingchen’s lips were cracked, making sounds, but they were hoarse and unclear, impossible to discern.

His face was flushed; even from several steps away, Xia Wenjin could sense the heat.

Is he running a fever?

What Xia Wenjin feared had indeed happened.

Huangfu Jingchen was severely injured, having lost too much blood, and though she replenished some, it was insufficient; he must rely on himself to pull through.

The chance of fever is ninety percent.

Fever can be dangerous.

Moreover, the environment here is too simple.

Fortunately, Xia Wenjin had considered this problem earlier and collected herbs for treating it.

The herbs had no container, nor pot, so they could only be crushed and applied to the wound, or their juice dripped into his mouth.

Afterward, she dipped a silk handkerchief in the stream, used clean leaves to fetch clean water, and adhered the handkerchief to Huangfu Jingchen’s forehead to lower his temperature, occasionally dunking it in the leaf-cup when it heated.

But even so, she made countless trips.

Shuttling back and forth between the stream and Huangfu Jingchen, exhausted to the point of seeing stars, feeling dizzy. But as long as Huangfu Jingchen’s fever hadn’t subsided, she couldn’t rest!

In the end, she collapsed a short distance from Huangfu Jingchen, passing out from fatigue.

When she woke up again, the sky was full of stars.

She got up and checked Huangfu Jingchen’s forehead.

Thank goodness, his temperature has finally returned to normal.

Relieved, Xia Wenjin then noticed her stomach growling.

Turning to look at the fire, it had long since extinguished.

The rabbit was half burnt to a crisp.

Fortunately, the other half was still edible.

She peeled off the charred outer layer of the rabbit’s leg, tore the tender meat inside into strips, and fed them to Huangfu Jingchen. He ate very slowly, gradually consuming a bit over several moments.

That was enough; as long as he could eat, it was a good sign.

She bit into some rabbit meat herself, a bit dry and fibrous, but lucky she had sprinkled some salt earlier, so it wasn’t tasteless, though still far from well-managed roast meat.

Despite the poor texture, Xia Wenjin forced herself to finish an entire rabbit leg.

After scattering insect-repelling powder, there was no worry about mosquitoes. Xia Wenjin avoided lighting a fire, sitting beside Huangfu Jingchen to keep watch.

She didn’t dare sleep, fearing he would relapse after breaking the fever.

Thus, she sat wide-eyed, watching through the night.

Luckily, Huangfu Jingchen slept soundly this time.

Chased by seven black-clad assassins, Huangfu Jingchen knew it was bad after a few exchanges with them.

These seven were determined to kill him; Huangfu Jingchen refused to die here so inexplicably.

Appearing ready to fight them to the death, he feigned vulnerability, seizing an opportunity to leap onto his horse.

Unfortunately, the assassins were clever too, launching hidden weapons. He dodged them, but the horse could not and perished.

His plan to quickly leave the battlefield and strategize afterward failed.

However, such a chase stretched the group into a long line.

As he ran and fought, he seized opportunities to claim lives, preventing the seven from completely cornering him.

Against the final two assassins, it was almost mutual destruction.

As he killed those two and fell into darkness, two thoughts crossed his mind.

He never got to see Xia Wenjin!

His death was such a disgrace; if his mother knew, she’d berate him for being inept.

His training wasn’t diligent enough; otherwise, these First-class Initial Tier experts shouldn’t have been able to take his life.

But now, there was no time to consider much; he lacked the strength to think further.

Enveloped in deep, boundless darkness, he felt light and weightless, drifting repeatedly.

His mind blank, unable to think, see, touch, or feel anything.

Yet he felt no fear, nor panic.

He simply allowed the darkness to surround him, going with the flow.

Perhaps it had been very long or very short; he saw a faint light nearby.

In the endless darkness, the faint light cleared his thoughts. He felt compelled to find that light.

Following the glow, he walked, and walked, covering great distances, until nearly exhausted, he saw a door, which opened, yet suddenly darkness erased the light.

Huangfu Jingchen’s heart raced with urgency as he harshly opened his eyes.

Dazzling light stung his eyes, forcing him to blink repeatedly, gradually adapting until he could gently open them.

Underneath, it felt soft, like a bed.

Yet he remembered being severely injured in the wilderness; where did a bed come from?

Moreover, the clear sky above indicated he was still outdoors. Slight movement resulted in the rustle of grass beneath him. So, was he actually lying on grass?

But how was the grass so soft?

Unless it was a heap of grass!

Turning, Huangfu Jingchen was startled; he saw a familiar face.