Nangong Yehen was severely injured and unable to rest properly. Riding on horseback, his wounds never healed, and blood and fluid seeped from the stitches.
Now, the cold poison had invaded his body, affecting his constitution, adding insult to injury and making him even more miserable.
Although Chu Lingzhi had never personally experienced this, she had once heard her grandfather say that this poison torments its victims as relentlessly as the madness of cancer.
Even immortals couldn’t endure such pain.
Nangong Yehen was no immortal. As he lay unconscious, the agony twisted his brows and drenched him in cold sweat.
Looking at him like this, Chu Lingzhi would be lying if she said she wasn’t heartbroken.
Chu Junyu, Nangong Yichen, and Ouyang Ruobing stood nearby, their expressions heavy with concern and sympathy.
From start to finish, Ouyang Ruobing had watched everything.
She saw Chu Lingzhi’s skilled acupuncture technique, the speed with which she cleaned Nangong Yehen’s wounds with herbal water, and her focused, calm handling of the injuries.
The sight of Nangong Yehen’s festering wounds was enough to make anyone’s heart race. If it were her, Ouyang Ruobing knew she would be trembling with fear.
Only Chu Lingzhi could treat him without losing her composure.
While Chu Lingzhi fought desperately to save him, Ouyang Ruobing could only stand by, crying her eyes out, unable to help in any way.
She wanted to step forward and assist, but seeing the wounds still oozing pus and blood, she felt both fear and panic, hesitating and retreating.
In that moment, Ouyang Ruobing understood more clearly than ever that Chu Lingzhi was the one better suited to stay by his side.
Her heart sank into despair once again.
Suddenly, she felt she lacked the ability to compete with Chu Lingzhi for Nangong Yehen.
Whatever she had, Chu Lingzhi also possessed.
But what Chu Lingzhi had, she did not—like the ability to bear him healthy, intelligent children.
She wept softly, and Chu Lingzhi frowned slightly, glancing at her.
Her eyes and nose were swollen and red from crying.
“Let’s go out and let him get some good sleep,” Chu Lingzhi said, standing up and gently, carefully tucking the blanket around Nangong Yehen.
“Mommy, how is Daddy’s injury? Why did he suddenly collapse?” Chu Junyu followed behind Chu Lingzhi, his delicate, handsome face filled with worry.
“His injuries aren’t serious. With proper rest, he’ll recover soon.”
These two days were critical for the wounds to heal, but he hadn’t lain still to rest. Instead, he moved around, aggravating the wounds and causing them to bleed. Now, the injuries looked horrifying.
But she understood his condition—it wasn’t the wounds that caused him to collapse.
His wounds were indeed gruesome, but they weren’t infected with bacteria, so they shouldn’t have left him so weak and miserable.
“If it’s not serious, then why is he like this?” Nangong Yichen frowned, a trace of worry crossing his handsome face.
He had coughed up blood and lost consciousness, and even in his sleep, he seemed to be in such agony. How could it not be serious?
Chu Lingzhi glanced at Ouyang Ruobing, afraid to worry her, so she didn’t reveal the truth.
“The wounds are infected. He passed out from the pain,” Chu Lingzhi said.
“Lingzhi, thank you,” Ouyang Ruobing said, looking deeply at Chu Lingzhi.
Chu Lingzhi smiled, a hint of weariness in her expression.
“No need to thank me. It’s my job.”
Ouyang Ruobing’s heart sank slightly as she forced a faint smile.
Yes, it was her job.
She was the one Nangong Yehen loved, and since he was injured, it was only right that she take care of him.
Chu Lingzhi looked at Ouyang Ruobing intently. “Don’t worry. He will definitely recover.”
“With you by Nangong’s side, I feel at ease,” Ouyang Ruobing said, her smile a little distracted.