The dagger, heated in the flame of strong liquor, was thrust into Liu Xunran's arm.
The sudden, searing pain almost made Liu Xunran cry out, but he held it in.
Lu Qingwan sneered as she meticulously removed the necrotic flesh around the wound, then dug out the bullet lodged deep within.
"If this isn't removed, no matter how skilled your medical arts, this arm will be lost."
With a clink, the spent casing fell into the wine cup. Lu Qingwan retracted the dagger and signaled to Qingyi, "Dress his wound. Change the dressing frequently, keep it clean, and no water."
Qingyi nodded repeatedly, "Understood."
Lu Qingwan nodded and turned to leave. Liu Xunran gritted his teeth and called out to her, "Will you come back in the future?"
His hesitant words were heartbreaking, yet Lu Qingwan replied with extreme coolness, "Not until you learn to speak properly."
With that, she walked out without a second glance.
Cheng Yi hurried after her, "Saintess, Master is just sharp-tongued with a kind heart. He genuinely cares about you. After the eldest sister’s demise, Master was the most heartbroken. You are the eldest sister's only bloodline. Master has transferred his guilt and affection for the eldest sister to you. Can you not be so cold towards him?"
"One learns from mistakes. Even a child understands that. He has already lost one daughter; does he still not understand?" Lu Qingwan sneered. "You say he feels guilty towards my mother and cares for me. I’m sorry, but I truly cannot see it. Besides, I have only known him for a few days. I have no obligation to find a sliver of care within his harsh and blunt words. I don’t lack love, nor do I lack his love. If his concern and guilt cannot be directly felt by me, they are no different than if they don’t exist."
Cheng Yi swallowed all her words, and along with the four disciples, silently followed Lu Qingwan, saying no more.
Meanwhile, Feng Xiwu watched Lu Qingwan, deep in thought. If all concern and care cannot be directly felt, then they are no different than if they don’t exist? Should he do something?
He reached out and took Lu Qingwan's hand. She jumped, startled. "What are you doing?"
Feng Xiwu continued walking, his narrow eyes fixed on Lu Qingwan. "Have I told you that you are the Princess Consort I personally chose?"
Lu Qingwan: "Wasn't it a marriage bestowed by His Majesty?"
Feng Xiwu: ...
"It was indeed a marriage bestowed by my imperial brother. But if I were unwilling, you would not have entered the gates of the royal manor. And Liyang and the others would never have acknowledged you as Princess Consort."
Lu Qingwan blinked. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Feng Xiwu: ...
He finally understood. Lu Qingwan wasn't just making a harsh statement to Cheng Yi earlier; she was genuinely slow on the uptake. He had to admit, she had a good understanding of herself. He took a deep breath and said earnestly, "I am trying to say that I am marrying you, not for any other reason, but because I love you and wish to spend the rest of my life with you. Do you understand?"
Lu Qingwan froze, blinking, her small face slowly flushing. "Why are you suddenly saying this?" They were already married; wasn't it strange to talk about liking or not liking each other now?
Feng Xiwu was exasperated. "Didn't you just say that if concern and care cannot be directly felt, then they are no different than if they don’t exist for you?"
Lu Qingwan's face continued to redden. Cheng Yi and the four disciples, burdened with their boxes and forced to witness this display of affection, were speechless. So, this was how their Saintess was wooed by the son-in-law? They had learned something!
The mountain path was rugged, and the group trekked along, their footsteps rustling. As they neared the base of the mountain, Lu Qingwan thoughtfully offered Feng Xiwu a Bi Zhang Dan (a pill to ward off miasma).
He took the pill, his eyes looking at her with a mournful expression. Lu Qingwan felt a chill down her spine under his strange gaze. "If you have something to say, say it. What kind of look is that?"
"I said, I love you and wish to spend the rest of my life with you."
Lu Qingwan's face flushed again. "I'm not deaf; I heard you. You don't need to repeat it."
Hearing this, Feng Xiwu became even more sorrowful. "Since you heard me, is there nothing you want to say to me?"
Lu Qingwan: ...
"What should I say?"
Feng Xiwu was annoyed. "I've told you I love you, and you have no reaction?"
"What reaction do you want?" Lu Qingwan had a peculiar habit: when she was shy, her mind tended to short-circuit, leading her to do things she wouldn't normally do. Seeing Feng Xiwu’s wronged expression, as if she had wronged him, she suddenly turned and planted a kiss on his lips.
Cheng Yi and the four disciples of the Samsara Hall behind them gasped, their mouths agape, big enough to swallow an egg. Their Saintess was so bold! So, it wasn't the son-in-law who won over the Saintess, but the Saintess who won over the son-in-law?
Lu Qingwan pulled back after her kiss, her face bright red, and said fiercely, "Is this reaction enough?"
Feng Xiwu, his face also flushed, pressed his advantage. "You still haven't said whether you like me or not~"
Lu Qingwan was so exasperated she almost laughed. "If I didn't like you, would I have accompanied you on this arduous journey to find medicine? If I didn't like you, would I have let you act all cute and docile by my side? Are you blind?!"
Seeing Lu Qingwan's temper flare, Feng Xiwu finally realized he had pushed too far! He quickly tried to appease her. "Don't be angry, don't be angry. It's my fault. I was blind. My Princess Consort likes me the most!" He then added with a hint of a pout, "But didn't you just say that concern you can't directly feel is equivalent to none? So I thought the most direct way to show love for someone was to say it! I said I loved you, but you didn't say anything, so how could I not worry that you didn't like me?"
Lu Qingwan retorted indignantly, "Can't I be a hypocrite?"
This was a new term, but this time, Feng Xiwu's mind worked swiftly, and he truly understood! So, other people had to express their liking and care directly to her, while whether she liked someone depended entirely on their perceptiveness? The term "hypocrite" was indeed concise.
"Yes, yes, yes, as long as you're happy, however you want it!" Having gotten the answer he desired, Feng Xiwu felt unprecedentedly joyful, and his temper improved. He doted on her, stroking her hair, and sighed helplessly, marveling at someone who could be so shamelessly self-serving.
The two of them openly poured out their hearts to each other, completely ignoring Cheng Yi and the others behind them. These individuals, choked with so much sweetness, only wanted to leave as soon as they delivered the items to the small courtyard.
"Saintess, Master asked us to bring these things. We'll be taking our leave now." Being around these two made them feel inexplicably stuffed; it was better to leave soon.
Lu Qingwan didn't try to stop them. "Be careful on your way back."
Cheng Yi nodded obediently. "Saintess, please rest assured. I travel this road often; there will be no trouble." With that, he led his companions, who were also visibly stuffed and burping, away from the small courtyard.
Lu Qingwan rubbed her stomach. "I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?"
Liyang said joyfully, "Princess Consort, please wait a moment. We can dine very soon."