"Seventh brother!"
"Your Highness!"
Feng Yu Heng and Ban Zou both had sharp ears and immediately went towards the source of the sound.
Deeper into the mountains, they saw a person come around very slowly and seemingly with great difficulty.
Feng Yu Heng hastily climbed up and rushed towards the person.
She could recognize that it was Xuan Tia Hua. Although he was walking very slowly and was a little disheveled, he was still the deity-like seventh prince. She was too familiar with his presence. Like a lotus, no matter what time or place, both were recognizable at a glance. Even the uneasiness she had been feeling was immediately soothed upon seeing Xuan Tian Hua.
"Don't run and be careful not to fall." Xuan Tian Hua watched a small figure run towards him. Running and sliding, it seemed at times that she would fall. He increased his pace to meet with her. At the time of the avalanche, his ankle had been covered, so it was not very convenient for him to move.
"Seventh brother!" Finally standing before Xuan Tian Hua, she was gasping for air. Her cheeks were bright red like a doll from a New years picture.
Xuan Tian Hua subconsciously reached out a hand and pushed the hair at her forehead. He really wanted to pinch her cheeks, but he drew back the hand he had reached out.
"I am fine." He spoke in a quiet voice that was neither familiar nor distant.
Speaking with this tone suddenly caused Feng Yu Heng to worry. She grabbed Xuan Tian Hua's sleeve and anxiously asked: "Seventh brother, are you hurt? Where are you hurt?" She spoke while feeling his head, "Do you still remember who I am? I am A-Heng! Why are you speaking to me like this?"
Xuan Tian Hua temporarily zoned out. He wanted to grab her hand, but Feng Yu Heng was not obedient at all, as she patted his head and felt his neck. Given her small size, she could not really reach him, so she had to keep jumping, which was very funny to see.
But he could not able to smile.
On the day he memorialized his deceased mother, an avalanche buried him and his retinue under the snow. He struggled his hardest to drag the retinue out, but in the end, he was unable to pull him out.
He had sat in the snow for a long time, and when he tried to move, his foot hurt so much that he could not move. Secondly, he hoped that retinue would be able to escape on his own. The retinue had been with him for roughly ten years and had come with him every year for the memorial; however, in the end, he would end up buried here. How could this not cause him to worry.
This was the first time Xuan Tian Hua regretted not bringing more people when going out. He had always relied on having good abilities and had become conceited, which led to the loss of a life. With the seemingly heavenly Winter disaster, he had been stuck there for two days and one night. He was on the verge of despair, but he heard a girl desperately call out seventh brother.
He only looked like a deity, but he was not one. There were always times where someone or something could arouse emotion from his heart. For example, that night in Feng Tong county when this girl had appeared in the rubble. She was like a small cat, which roused a feeling of pity in his heart.
"Seventh brother is fine." His tone finally calmed down, and his face returned to its usual warm smile, "Silly girl, in such heavy snow, what are you doing out here?"
"Looking for you!" She spoke truthfully, "If it were only snow, I would not have come; however, they said that an avalanche occurred to the North of the city. So I could not continue to hide in the city. Seventh brother, at that time, you were able to bring me out of the burned down rubble. Today, I also resolutely decided that I would pull you out of the snow pile, even if I needed to use my own two hands."
Feng Yu Heng had a resolute look on her face, as her small nose was raised up. She sounded extremely serious.
Xuan Tian Hua pulled on her hand. Though there was an injury on his foot, he still leaned on this little girl and slowly walked back. While walking, he said: "Seventh brother did not die. Even if I was buried in the snow, I can climb back out. But the person who came with me could not escape through the same path I did. Little girl, seventh brother is quite miserable."
She did not reply. Xuan Tian Hua feeling miserable meant he truly felt miserable, but for such a person, it was hard to know how to comfort him. In his eyes, she was just a young child. Whenever a child comforted an adult, it was a bit amusing. Fortunately, there was still the option of accompanying him. She could continue to quietly stay at his side and be a good listener. When he finished speaking, she could look at him with a childlike smile. When she should listen, she would listen. When she should overlook, she would overlook.
But Xuan Tian Hua only said those few words. After that, he no longer spoke. He only tightly held her hand and did not let go for a long time.
The group continued to walk back. Wang Zhuo looked at Xuan Tian Hua's injured foot and took the initiative to bring up carrying him; however, he was refused. For someone as proud and deity-like as Xuan Tian Hua, how could they allow themselves to rely on the back of another person?
Feng Yu Heng felt an urge to make use of her space to send him back. The words had reached her mouth a few times, but she could only swallow them back down each time. In the end, she did not have the courage to reveal this secret, even if it were to Xuan Tian Hua.
Like this, they continued down the path until the black sky began to turn light. When they finally saw the Northern gate of the capital, Xuan Tian Hua was no longer able to endure. Leaning against a tree, he slid to the ground.
The usually refined person was disheveled to such a degree, but he still did not let go of Feng Yu Heng's hand.
She followed him and half knelt on the ground. She used her other hand to feel his ankle and pleaded: "Just let me take a look, ok?" Seeing Xuan Tian Hua did not say anything for a while, Feng Yu Heng simply gave Wang Chuan an order: "You guys go back first and go to Hundred Herb Hall. Either way, we are almost there. I will accompany his Highness the remainder of the way."
Wang Chuan nodded and remained silent. She knew that Ban Zou would remain. The city's gates were just before their eyes, so nothing could happen. Thus, she brought Huang Quan, Wang Zhuo and his partner back to the capital first.
When they were further away, Feng Yu Heng turned her head and called to the person in black clothes behind them and said: "Ban Zou, you go back too."
"I can't do that." The person advanced a few steps and arrived before the two, "If you do not go back, it's not possible for me to return alone."
"Seventh brother is here. It will be fine."
"His Highness is injured."
"Ban Zou!" Feng Yu Heng became furious, but her eyes stared straight at Xuan Tian Hua's injured ankle. After a long time, she said: "Go back first. I am begging you."
Xuan Tian Hua shook his head to her, "There is no need. Go ahead and look." After speaking, he took off his shoe and sock. The swelling on his ankle made this action very difficult and was only managed by using a great deal of energy.
Ban Zou backed up a couple steps and turned around. Although he did not leave, he did not look in that direction.
He had been at Xuan Tian Ming's side since he was young. He naturally had a very good understanding of this seventh prince. He had a very deep impression of him. Forget about taking off shoes and socks. The seventh prince had never even taken off his outer rober in front of outsiders. Every time Xuan Tian Hua appeared before others, he had a refined and deity-like appearance. He had never revealed a trace of being disheveled. He had never forgotten his manners in the slightest. Even before Xuan Tian Ming and imperial concubine Yun, this was no exception.
Feng Yu Heng wanting him to leave was not to break Xuan Tian Hua's habits. Instead, it was to comfort him. Protecting Feng Yu Heng was more important than protecting his own life. He had already made a mistake once in Feng Tong county, so he could not afford to make another.
Feng Yu Heng glanced at Ban Zou and did not say anything else. She only shifted her body slightly, putting her body between Ban Zou and Xuan Tian Hua.
Xuan Tian Hua understood her feelings, but he could only sigh internally.
"It is dislocated, but the bone is not broken." Feng Yu Heng pulled her hand from Xuan Tian Hua's large hand and carefully examined his injury, "But that does not discount the possibility of a fracture." She raised her head to look towards Xuan Tian Hua and said: "I will give you some pain-killing medicine. Endure a little longer and return with me to Hundred Herb Hall. I will take a proper look at you then."
Xuan Tian Hua nodded, "Everything will be done as you say."
Feng Yu Heng did not say anything else. She directly reached into her sleeve and pulled out a bottle of spray anesthetic.
Her Winter clothes had large sleeves, which were convenient for hiding things. Xuan Tian Hua did not feel this was suspicious. He only looked at the thing in her hand and asked: "That's the one Ming'er used, right?"
She sprayed it on the injury and said: "Correct, Xuan Tian Ming has used it. Fei Yu has also used it."
Xuan Tian Hua felt the area that had been sprayed was very cool. The amount of pain he had been feeling instantly decreased. After a little while longer, it had been completely replaced with a feeling of numbness. He did not feel any pain at all.
"It really is amazing." He sighed, looking at the small bottle. He then added: "But without any feeling in this foot, I... can't walk."
"Your Highness, please allow this servant to carry you." Ban Zou turned around and looked at Xuan Tian Hua. His eyes were filled with a pleading look, "It is almost light out. Master has looked for you for an entire night, and she..."
"You can may carry me." Xuan Tian Hua interrupted him and spoke up, which caused Feng Yu Heng to frown. "It's fine." He patted his shoulder, "Returning quickly is most important."
"Then I will help you put on your shoes." Feng Yu Heng lowered her head and quietly picked up Xuan Tian Hua's shoe and sock, stubbornly refusing to allow him to take them back. She wanted to personally put them on for him. "You let me call you seventh brother, so that means I am your younger sister. A younger sister helping older brother put on shoes is very normal. Moreover, seventh brother, you have saved my life twice." Whether it was saving her from the river or pulling her out of the rubble of a fire, the person who had saved her from the underworld was Xuan Tian Hua.
Finally, Ban Zou helped him onto his back then freed up a hand and grabbed Feng Yu Heng. Exercising his qi gong, he supported the weight of an additional two people and flew into the air. Although his speed was lower than usual, it was still much better than walking back one step at a time.
When they neared the city's gates, Ban Zou let Xuan Tian Hua down and returned to simply supporting him. Having returned a bit earlier, Wang Zhuo was waiting for them at the gate. Seeing the return, he quickly ran up and said to Feng Yu Heng: "The two girls said they would be returning to Hundred Herb Hall first. This lowly one prepared a sedan, do you want to use it?"
Feng Yu Heng shook her head and asked him: "Can carriages be used in the city now?"
Wang Zhuo pondered a while then said: "This lowly one will bring a few people to clear a path for the carriage. It will be a bit slower, but the carriage should be usable."
"Then prepare the carriage."
She led Xuan Tian Hua to the side to rest for a while. After a short period of time, Wang Zhuo brought the carriage over. Feng Yu Heng and Xuan Tian Hua entered the carriage, and Ban Zou personally took care of driving. Wang Zhuo then led a group of people to the front to clear out the snow.
When the carriage finally stopped before Hundred Herb Hall, Feng Yu Heng let out a sigh of relief. Xuan Tian Hua also let out a sigh. The two opened their mouths at the same time to say: "I've troubled you." The two froze then shrugged and laughed.
Because Wang Chuan and Huang Quan had returned before them, they had already brought Wang Lin to wait at the entrance of Hundred Herb Hall. Ban Zou saw that they had arrived and handed the carriage over to Wang Lin before disappearing. Wang Lin had already become accustomed to this sight. He simply groaned and held the reins tight. Wang Chuan and Huang Quan then helped Xuan Tian Hua out along with Feng Yu Heng. The group had finally entered the room.
Wang Lin had prepared his own bedroom for Xuan Tian Hua. Feng Yu Heng helped him sit down then immediately sent everyone out. When the door was closed, only the two remained in the room. Only then did she say: "Seventh brother, I want to carefully examine your foot once more, but this examination will be a bit strange. I must give you an explanation first."
Xuan Tian Hua waved his hand, "I trust you."
"Good." Feng Yu Heng nodded then turned and left the room. When she returned, she had brought back equipment for an infusion.
Xuan Tian Hua watched her lift a large bottle and insert a tube into it. At the end of this tube, there was a very thin needle, which she aimed and inserted into the back of his hand. In an instant, his mind dulled and his consciousness faded.