"Help... help me!"
Song Qingchao ran in a panic.
Her expression was terrified, and she kept looking back as she ran.
"Help me!"
Seeing the patrolling soldiers, she darted out of the bushes and lunged forward!
Her feet deliberately went weak, and she fell to the ground.
But the pain in her legs did not stop her from wanting to run forward.
She clutched her tattered clothes, got up, and moved forward.
The patrolling soldiers were startled when they saw her dash out, and half an inch of their swords were drawn.
They thought she was an assassin, but when she ran up to them, they breathed a sigh of relief.
However, what immediately made them nervous was why the maiden whom Feng Canjun had hidden away was appearing here so late at night!
And in such attire!
If it weren't for the hairpin Feng Canjun had given her, they would never have recognized her at first glance!
"Miss Song, do not be afraid! Please retreat to the back, and we will protect you!"
Song Qingchao nodded weakly, then clutched the soldiers' clothes, tears streaming down her face as she retreated, and whispered about her experience.
"I just wanted to go out for a hot spring, but I didn't expect to encounter a wild beast!"
"A wild beast?"
The soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment.
They had been stationed here for several days, and apart from "wild beasts" as dangerous as pheasants, they had not seen any other large creatures!
Their small squad immediately became tense.
After all, if even a single strand of hair on this esteemed young lady were harmed, many people would have to bear Feng Canjun's wrath!
However...
After waiting for a long time, no wild beast appeared.
They looked at Song Qingchao in confusion.
Song Qingchao, however, was still trembling, biting her handkerchief.
Realizing she was being watched, she trembled, "I, I... when I was escaping, I encountered a soldier, and perhaps he blocked that monster."
She felt a little guilty, her eyes flicking left and right unnaturally.
The soldiers felt a little annoyed with her, but seeing her terrified expression, they thought she might have genuinely been scared.
After all, she was a delicate young girl who had rarely left her home and likely only ever seen cats as the largest living creatures.
"Miss Song, do not be afraid. Since the wild beast has not pursued you, perhaps it has been stopped. Shall we escort you back to report to the Canjun, and then send people to look for the one who saved you?"
Song Qingchao, her face pale, hesitated. Just as she was about to agree, she spat out a mouthful of blood, and her body swayed unsteadily.
This immediately caused the soldiers to panic.
But they dared not step forward to help.
They truly dared not!
"Miss Song, please hold on! I will go find a physician immediately!"
Saying this, one of them hurriedly ran off.
Song Qingchao had not truly intended to fall.
If she fell, who knew how she would be sent back...
She merely covered her forehead with her hand, "It's alright, I can go back. Please help me."
They pushed each other, and finally, one who looked rather dazed and foolish was pushed forward.
This soldier, who was pushed forward, was quite polite. He took out a handkerchief from his embrace, placed it on his forearm, and then extended it towards Song Qingchao, "Please, miss."
Song Qingchao very contentedly took his arm and, with his support, returned to her tent.
Within two steps of entering, she intended to fall forward.
It was this dazed and foolish soldier who caught her arm, without any fuss.
But this scene was still seen by Feng Shaoheng.
"Chaocao!"
He lunged forward, shoving the soldier aside, and then hugged Song Qingchao himself.
Held tightly in his embrace, Song Qingchao felt as if she would vomit up the previous night's dinner.
Already unable to bear wearing a cloak stained with someone else's blood, this embrace was surely the last straw that broke the camel's back!
"Shaoheng! I'm fine!"
She tried to struggle free, but Feng Shaoheng thought she was being temperamental.
"Chaocao, don't be difficult. You are very weak. I'll help you to bed."
Song Qingchao: "???"
Do I look like I want to engage with you?
But she had no other recourse, and was eventually forced by Feng Shaoheng onto the bed.
No sooner had she lay down than the physician, lifting the tent flap, stumbled in.
He immediately performed a sliding kneel, "Your subordinate is late, Canjun, please forgive me!"
Feng Shaoheng frowned, "Stop the nonsense and examine her quickly. If anything happens to Chaocao, I will hold you accountable!"
The physician immediately broke out in a cold sweat.
But he still trembling, stepped forward.
Song Qingchao did not trouble the physician this time.
She lay down obediently for the pulse diagnosis.
Her plan had just begun, and she could not rush.
"Reporting to the Canjun, Miss Song is merely frightened. Two doses of calming medicine should suffice. The wound on her arm has also been bandaged; it is only a flesh wound and of no serious consequence. The Canjun can rest assured."
Feng Shaoheng nodded silently, signaling the physician to leave.
He sat on the edge of the bed and tucked Song Qingchao's exposed hand back under the covers.
"Shaoheng, have they found the general who saved me?" Song Qingchao hurried to sit up and grab him, but was pressed down again.
"Don't worry. After the medicine arrives and you change your clothes, we'll discuss it."
After Song Qingchao changed her clothes and was helped back, she sat down.
Pushing aside the screen, Song Qingchao discovered Su Yingying kneeling on the ground with a deathly pale face.
"Say it again, what you just told me."
Su Yingying quickly kowtowed to the ground. Though a little nervous, she boldly spouted a falsehood.
"Miss Song asked this servant to keep watch, saying she was going to meet someone. When I arrived, I saw the two of them embracing and engaging in that sort of activity. I did not see it intentionally."
Su Yingying's voice grew steadier, "You are my master, so this servant had to tell you this. You are my master."
She delivered her words flawlessly.
Shifting all blame onto herself, she slandered Song Qingchao while also pinning a heavy accusation on Feng Shaoheng!
Feng Shaoheng's face grew darker with every word.
Song Qingchao, however, was unconcerned. Supported by her maid, she sat on a chair. Her face was bloodless, but her beauty was striking, and she appeared quite gentle.
She was in no hurry to explain.
Su Yingying's scheme was indeed clever, but she had overlooked one simple thing.
That was the fact that she knew martial arts, unlike the sickly person everyone perceived her to be.
The movement she practiced to strengthen her body appeared ordinary, but she had hidden several pounds of sandbags on her wrists and ankles.
Feng Shaoheng's gaze shifted to the other person kneeling on the side.
It was the soldier who was so measured but appeared dazed and foolish.
"Tell me, what did you see?"
"Reporting to the Canjun, this subordinate was on patrol when I saw Miss Song rush out of the bushes in extreme terror, pleading for help, saying a wild beast had attacked her. I did not see any so-called man."
As the words fell, Su Yingying's originally upturned lips froze, and then she looked at Song Qingchao in surprise.
Song Qingchao raised her eyes indifferently and met her gaze.
Then, she curved her lips into a mocking smile.
Feng Shaoheng stood between them with his hands behind his back, "Tell me, who should I believe?"