Rong Jiangyu got out of the bed. With his inner robe wide open, revealing his broad chest, he staggered towards Tang Youyou.
He reached out a hand and twirled a lock of her long black hair from her shoulder. "Since that's the case, why don't you just follow me? Rong Xun can abandon you and marry someone else, but I will never do that."
As he spoke, his face got closer and closer until the warm breath from his nostrils fanned across her neck.
A shiver ran from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. She instinctively tried to dodge backward, but he grabbed her by the waist.
"What are you dodging for? I won't eat you."
Tang Youyou was very uncomfortable with this intimate gesture. Every hair on her body seemed to be protesting. She struggled in his hold, trying desperately to break free.
"Let go."
Her eyes shot out a fierce glare. She stared into his smiling eyes with her hostile ones. "If you want some fun, go to the beauty on your bed. All I want to know now is where my guard is. If you don't tell me, I'll turn this entire camp upside down to find him."
In the end, Rong Jiangyu was the first to look away. He released his hand. "Why are you in such a hurry? I know he's your man, so I won't do anything to him without permission."
"However, if I promise to bring him to you, you have to promise me one thing in return."
Tang Youyou knew this man wouldn't let her get what she wanted so easily. So she asked, "What is it?"
"Early tomorrow morning, the Xia army will gather in Qianzhou City. I want you to go with me."
Qianzhou City was right next to Quzhou. The two cities were very close. What she had seen outside Quzhou City was not the main force of his army.
According to what he had just said, the main force was now gathered in Qianzhou.
In terms of geographical advantages, Qianzhou was closer to the imperial city than Quzhou. But most of the roads in Qianzhou were mountainous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. For Rong Jiangyu, Quzhou was the better choice.
But now he had gathered his troops in Qianzhou, which meant he wanted to catch the imperial city off guard.
Moreover, he had mentioned the military power of the Xia Kingdom. How did he get control of the Xia army?
Thinking of General Lan'er she had seen before, Tang Youyou knew he was one of the most outstanding generals in the Xia Kingdom. But since she had come to this camp, she had never seen this Xia general.
So he had gone back to mobilize troops, she thought.
"Okay, I promise you."
For now, Ye Yue's safety was more important. She agreed immediately. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the young girl on the bed sitting there trembling.
"Good! We'll set off early tomorrow morning. Miss Tang, don't go back on your word."
"Of course not. I, Tang Youyou, always keep my word!"
When she walked out of the tent, she saw the doctor standing in the wind waiting for her. His back was shrouded in a shadow by the sand.
"He really looks alike."
Tang Youyou couldn't help but sigh as she looked at his back. For a moment, she actually mistook him for Rong Xun.
But then she came to her senses. Rong Xun's whereabouts were still unknown. She had never asked Ye Yue about his news.
She was keeping their promise and hoped Rong Xun would do the same.
He rolled up his sleeve and glanced at the black line on his wrist. The time was almost up, but he still had no idea about the antidote.
That old guy Lin Yuan had hidden himself very well. Last night, Tie Shou had sent a message saying that they had searched the entire Western Region but found no trace of Lin Yuan.
At the same time, Tie Shou and Wen Xue were also trying their best to find a way to replace the antidote. They had consulted fortune - tellers, famous doctors, and poison - making experts, but none of them had ever heard of the poison called Ruowu.
The prescription they had now could only temporarily suppress the pain when the poison flared up, but its effect was getting weaker and weaker. They didn't know when it would stop working.
"Sir, why are you standing here?"
Hearing Tang Youyou's voice, Rong Xun quickly pulled down his sleeve to hide the prominent black line.
"Are you done? Did he do anything to you?"
Tang Youyou smiled. "What could he do to me? I, Tang Youyou, may be a woman, but I'm not the kind of person who can be easily bullied."
Hearing her say this, Rong Xun showed a relieved expression. "That's good. It's windy outside. Go back quickly."
Actually, Rong Xun had heard their conversation inside the tent clearly.
He would definitely punish Ye Yue severely when he got back.
"Achoo!"
Ye Yue, who was stoking the fire at the moment, suddenly sneezed. He was now the official medicine - boiling guy appointed by Zhui Feng. All he had to do was watch the fire.
Ye Yue couldn't meet Tang Youyou for now. If the people in this camp found out, who knew what Rong Jiangyu would do.
Early the next morning, Tang Youyou was woken up by someone outside.
"Miss, this is the snow lotus and white fungus soup specially ordered by the king for you. Drink it while it's hot."
Snow lotus? It was such a precious thing, yet they used it to make soup for her so casually.
"This is ginseng chicken soup."
"This is shark fin and bird's nest."
"Wait, wait." Tang Youyou looked at the food being served. Although she had eaten these things before, she had never had such a luxurious meal. She hardly ever touched things like snow lotus and ginseng.
She didn't think she needed such a big tonic.
"Does Rong Jiangyu think I'm short of blood?"
She sat down and took small sips. Although it tasted good, if she drank all of this, she might end up with excessive nutrition.
After a while, Zhui Feng brought up the boiled medicine. Rong Xun took it and brought it to her.
Tang Youyou was used to taking medicine. Now, even the smell of the medicine seemed a bit sweet to her.
She felt that her sense of taste and smell were going wrong.
"Drink it slowly. Don't gulp it down. No one is going to fight you for it." Seeing that she was about to drink it all in one go, Rong Xun quickly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist.
Zhui Feng secretly raised the corners of her mouth. She had never seen the master like this before. She was really lucky because of the pavilion master's wife.
"Get my cloak."
Tang Youyou didn't need to be reminded. She knew to dress warmly on her own.
After all, now she couldn't just take care of her own body. She also had to think about the little one in her belly.
Rong Xun had already fetched her clothes before she even opened her mouth. He carefully put the cloak on her, tied the strings, and even put the hat on her head.
"It's windy outside. Be careful."
For a moment, Tang Youyou thought this doctor she had only known for a few days was like an old nursemaid or a nanny. He not only took care of what she ate but also thought of all the little details in life.
Rong Jiangyu had found not a doctor but a personal nanny for her.
"We've known each other for a few days, but I still don't know your name, doctor."