The Beloved Concubine of the Eastern Palace (book 2)

Chapter 239 - Unconscious

Deep in the forest.

Fang Yun had no idea how far they had gone.

From frantic running to a slower pace, they were now barely moving. Having escaped this far without pursuit, they found a hidden spot to rest.

They settled in a small sand pit behind a cluster of trees, catching their breath.

Fang Yun felt dizzy, her abdomen tight and uncomfortable. Thankfully, there was no bleeding.

Pei Yao, however, was in worse shape. His waist wound, along with new injuries from fighting the four men, left his clothes soaked in blood and dirt. Exhausted, he was on the verge of passing out.

"Your Highness," Fang Yun said, wiping his face with her inner garment. "Let me bandage your wounds."

Pei Yao, barely conscious, insisted, "I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm just tired. Let me stop the bleeding," she insisted.

Using his sword, she cut strips from her clean inner garment to bandage his wounds. Pei Yao, too weak to resist, let her work.

After bandaging the major wounds, Fang Yun felt relieved, but her relief was short-lived as Pei Yao lost consciousness.

Panicking, she checked his breathing—he was alive. She tried to revive him, but he remained unconscious.

Forcing herself to stay calm, she decided to drag him further. It was partly out of gratitude—Pei Yao could have abandoned her, but he protected her, getting injured in the process.

She couldn't leave him behind. If he died, everything she had would be lost.

Strapping his sword to her waist, she hoisted him onto her back. It was more dragging than carrying, but she had to move him.

After dragging Pei Yao for a while, Fang Yun heard children laughing nearby.

"Dad, Dad, look at the bird eggs I found!"

"Bo'er, be good. Put them back. The birds will be sad if they return and find their eggs gone."

The gentle voice of a middle-aged man followed.

From a distance, Fang Yun saw a father and son gathering firewood. She considered hiding, but the boy climbing a tree spotted them first.

"Dad, there's someone over there! They look hurt!" the boy shouted.

"Where?" his father asked.

"There!" The boy pointed towards Fang Yun.

The man, dressed in coarse clothes, hurried over. Seeing Fang Yun's disheveled state and the unconscious man she carried, they were shocked but still offered help.

Exhausted, Fang Yun saw the honest father and son and lowered her guard, accepting their assistance.

When Pei Yao woke, he found himself in a small, clean hut.

Startled by the unfamiliar surroundings, he sat up quickly, looking around the tidy but humble room.

Not seeing Fang Yun, he grew anxious, ready to get up, but then heard her familiar voice outside.

"Thank you, Brother Liu, Sister Liu. Without you, my husband and I might not have survived."

Hearing Fang Yun, sounding safe, Pei Yao relaxed a bit.

Then he heard a gentle woman's voice.

"Don't thank us. Anyone would help in such a situation. But I must say, your aunt and uncle are too cruel, trying to kill you for your money. When you're better, you must go to the authorities in the capital."

Realizing they had been rescued by nearby villagers, Pei Yao felt more at ease.

He lay back, coughing to signal his awakening.

Fang Yun entered the hut, relieved to see him awake. She quickly went to his side, helping him sit up.

"How do you feel, husband? We were fortunate to meet kind people. Brother Liu and his family are the only ones living around here."

Her words conveyed essential information to Pei Yao.

Though unused to being called "husband," he responded.

"I'm fine. How is my wife?" Pei Yao asked, his gaze shifting to Fang Yun's belly.

"We're both alright," Fang Yun reassured him.

Pei Yao turned to the slightly uneasy Liu couple standing at the doorway and bowed. "Thank you, Brother Liu and Sister Liu. We owe you our lives and will repay your kindness one day."

The man waved his hands modestly. "No need to thank us. It's our duty to help."

Just then, the sound of horse hooves echoed from outside.

Pei Yao tensed, and Fang Yun gripped his hand, looking warily towards the noise.

A voice called out as the person entered. "Father, there are many soldiers outside searching for someone. Some of them don't look friendly, so I didn't go out."

Hearing this, Fang Yun relaxed slightly and whispered to Pei Yao, "This is Liu's eldest son, Liu Qin. He went out to buy medicine for you."

Pei Yao relaxed a bit more.

A young man around seventeen or eighteen entered, resembling the older Liu. He had a scholarly air about him.

Noticing Pei Yao awake, Liu Qin turned to his parents. "Father, Mother, something is happening outside, so it's not safe to go to the city. Prepare some food; this gentleman and his wife must be hungry."

The parents nodded and left.

Once alone, Liu Qin respectfully bowed to Pei Yao and said, "This commoner greets the Crown Prince."