mtl008 Chapter 429 Brother Cui's Care
Chapter 429 Brother Cui's Care
Cui Zhihao's steps were steady yet hurried. He carefully lifted Shi Wanxia in his arms, afraid that the slightest jolt would aggravate her wounds.
Shi Wanxia rested her head gently against his chest, her breathing weak, her face pale from blood loss and exhaustion, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings, carrying a touch of fragile beauty.
Walking along the flagstone path and past a few banana trees swaying in the night breeze, Cui Zhihao went straight into the east wing.
The room had been carefully cleaned, and the air was filled with a faint medicinal fragrance and a calming incense aroma.
He gently placed Shi Wanxia on the bed covered with a soft brocade quilt, tucked her in, and lingered his gaze on her pale face for a moment, his eyes filled with unconcealed worry and heartache.
Just then, the person on the bed trembled slightly and slowly opened their eyes.
Those eyes, which were usually clear and bright, with a hint of cunning and intelligence, were now veiled with moisture, making them appear somewhat lost and weak.
"Wanwan, are you awake?"
Cui Zhihao was overjoyed and quickly turned around to walk to the table, picked up the warm kettle on the table, and poured a cup of warm water.
He carried the water glass back to the bedside, carefully helped Shi Wanxia sit up, and let her lean against him.
With his other hand, he held the water glass and brought the rim to her lips. "Drink slowly, moisten your throat."
Shi Wanxia was not fully awake yet, her throat was extremely dry, and she subconsciously began to swallow small sips from his hand.
But after only two sips, a sudden itch surged up her throat, and she couldn't help but cough violently: "Cough cough cough..."
The violent coughing made her tremble all over, and her already pale face instantly turned an unnatural flush.
Her eyes were red and swollen from coughing, and glistening tears welled up in them, threatening to fall but not yet dripping. Combined with her weak appearance, she looked exceptionally fragile and aggrieved, making her all the more pitiful.
"Wanwan, how are you?"
Upon seeing this, Cui Zhihao panicked and quickly put down his water glass. He reached out and gently patted her back, his movements as tender as if he were protecting a rare treasure.
"Is your wound starting to hurt again? It's all my fault, I shouldn't have let you drink water so soon."
"Should I go find the imperial physician to examine you again right now?"
His voice was filled with obvious tension and self-blame, and his eyes were fixed on her, as if afraid that she might feel uncomfortable in any way.
Shi Wanxia coughed for a while before calming down a bit. She quickly reached out and gently pulled on Cui Zhihao's sleeve as he was about to get up, then shook her head.
Her voice was hoarse and weak from coughing: "No...don't go, I'm fine...it's just...cough cough...I choked a little."
Her fingertips were slightly cool and trembling as she gently gripped his sleeve. The weak grip seemed to carry a sense of dependence, instantly softening Choi Ji-ho's heart.
Looking at her reddened eyes and listening to her hoarse voice, his worry deepened, but he could only suppress the urge to immediately seek out the imperial physician and continue to gently help her catch her breath.
"Okay, okay, I won't go, I'm not going."
Choi Ji-ho softened his voice and patiently coaxed her.
"Then rest a while longer, don't talk, save your energy."
He lowered his head, his gaze falling on her furrowed brows and pale lips, and he made a silent vow to take good care of her and help her recover as soon as possible.
However, the atmosphere in the courtyard outside the east wing was completely different from the warmth inside the house, carrying a sense of solemnity and grimness.
Shen Yanzhou, dressed in a black brocade robe, stood tall and straight like a pine tree under the corridor. His dark eyes were unfathomable as he coldly stared at Zhao Hu, who stood with his head bowed in front of him.
He exuded a powerful aura, making the surrounding air seem to freeze.
Lin Yiyu stood to the side, his expression equally serious. He knew the Crown Prince's anger at that moment.
Although Miss Shi's recent predicament was a natural disaster, it also exposed the lapses in her protection, and Zhao Hu is to blame.
Zhao Hu,
Shen Yanzhou's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, and every word seemed to strike the heart.
"I have only one request: from today onwards, increase the number of guards around Miss Shi's courtyard and keep watch over her every step of the way."
"If she suffers any further harm, even just a minor scratch, I will not let you off easily!"
He emphasized his last sentence, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes—a warning that could chill anyone to the bone.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Hu trembled violently, and a fine layer of cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead. He knelt down with a thud.
He bowed deeply, his voice trembling with fear: "Your Highness, rest assured! This humble servant... this humble servant will do everything in his power to protect Lord Shi! I will never dare to cause any further mishap!"
Ever since the girl was swept away by the sudden flood, he has been living in constant fear and unable to eat or sleep.
During those days, His Highness the Crown Prince and Lord Cui's faces were so gloomy they could drip water, and the entire guard was shrouded in a low-pressure atmosphere.
He knew better than anyone that Miss Shi was no ordinary woman.
She is not only exceptionally intelligent, but more importantly, she possesses blueprints and knowledge that could change the fate of Cangling, representing Cangling's greatest opportunity for revival and rise to power.
His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince valued her far more than anyone could imagine.
If anything else goes wrong this time, even ten of his lives wouldn't be enough to compensate for it.
Shen Yanzhou seemed unsatisfied with his assurance, and didn't even bother to look at him again. The indifference in his eyes was more alarming to Zhao Hu than any rebuke.
He turned around and called out loudly, "The fifth day."
As soon as he finished speaking, a dark figure appeared silently behind him like a ghost.
On the fifth day of the lunar month, he was dressed in a sharp, close-fitting outfit, wearing a black iron mask that revealed only a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes. He exuded a cold aura that kept strangers at bay.
He was Shen Yanzhou's most capable bodyguard and his most trusted confidant.
"My subordinate is here."
On the fifth day, he knelt on one knee, his voice low and respectful.
"Personally select a few capable subordinates,"
Shen Yanzhou's voice regained its usual calmness, but carried an unyielding command.
"Keep a secret vigil near Miss Shi's courtyard and ensure her safety. Anyone who approaches on suspicion should be killed without exception."
Chu Wu was slightly taken aback when he heard the order. He knew that Miss Shi was no ordinary person to His Highness, but to be ordered to personally dispatch secret guards to protect her was already an extremely high level of protocol.
You should know that these secret guards are usually only responsible for the safety of His Highness the Crown Prince.
He hesitated for a moment, but couldn't help asking, "Yes, I obey."
"But...the guards around you, Master..."
If the manpower is divided, will His Highness's safety be affected?
Shen Yanzhou raised his hand, directly stopping him from saying anything more, his tone carrying an undeniable firmness: "I am the Crown Prince of a nation, and my fate rests on the shoulders of the Cangling Kingdom. If they don't want to live, feel free to try and attack me."
"I will let them know that they cannot afford the consequences of angering me."