BLHO Chapter 54

Chapter 54: I’m Here

Lin Shuangxu’s white clothes were soaked in blood, frightening everyone.

Back at the General’s Manor, the military doctor dared not delay and quickly came to examine his wounds.

Guo Yao and the others stayed by his side. He Yuncheng’s hands were stained with blood. In his extreme anxiety, his muscles stiffened.

He stood by the bed, watching the military doctor examine Lin Shuangxu’s injuries, his bewildered expression as if he had committed a terrible mistake.

Lin Shuangxu lay on the pillow, his face pale in a semiconscious state. His wounds were still bleeding, and his body trembled violently.

He Yuncheng’s heart twisted into a knot. Not knowing what to do, he leaned forward to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.

But in wiping, he smeared the bloodstains on his cheek.

Startled, He Yuncheng quickly tried to wipe the blood off onto himself.

After a few wipes that didn’t clean it, he stopped caring and softly called out, “Lin Shuangxu…”

Lin Shuangxu’s eyes were tightly closed, his brows furrowed. At that moment, his mind was entirely occupied by the pain, and he couldn’t hear what He Yuncheng was saying.

The people around him were all He Yuncheng’s confidants. They looked at each other helplessly, not knowing how to comfort him.

No one had ever seen He Yuncheng like this in all these years.

He was truly frightened.

After examining the location of the arrow wound, the military doctor breathed a sigh of relief and said to He Yuncheng, “It didn’t hit any vital points.”

He Yuncheng nodded, feeling slightly relieved, but his worry didn’t lessen at all.

He knew arrow wounds all too well. The sharp blade pierced the body, and the sharp barbs bit tightly. Pulling it out was like carving out flesh, a pain that ordinary people couldn’t endure.

Lin Shuangxu had come to the He family as a child, and the elders and younger generations had all carefully protected him. He had never suffered such a thing.

The military doctor also knew that Lin Shuangxu’s constitution was not as tough as the rough men in the army. Before pulling out the arrow, he first took out a pill from the medicine box and said to He Yuncheng, “This is for pain relief. Have the young master take it, so he’ll feel better when we pull out the arrow later. General, please help me lift the young master up.”

He Yuncheng nodded in agreement. The two worked together to help Lin Shuangxu sit up.

With the arrow still in his back, he couldn’t lean back, so He Yuncheng let him lean against his chest.

The military doctor brought the medicine to Lin Shuangxu’s mouth, but he was so disoriented that he couldn’t swallow actively. The military doctor gently pinched his jaw, trying to make him open his mouth.

Lin Shuangxu felt someone forcibly feeding him something and instinctively tightened his lips, refusing to eat anything.

Perhaps in his confused state, he didn’t know he was safe and thought the enemy was forcing him to eat something.

The military doctor was helpless. He Yuncheng said to him, “Give it to me.”

He took the pill, lowered his head, and spoke into Lin Shuangxu’s ear, “It’s me.”

Hearing his voice, Lin Shuangxu groaned in pain, as if struggling within.

“I’m here, don’t worry, it’s okay.”

He Yuncheng coaxed him softly and brought the medicine to his lips again, “Open your mouth, take the medicine.”

The familiar voice reassured Lin Shuangxu. Taking advantage of his lowered guard, He Yuncheng pried open his lips and pushed the medicine in.

The bitter taste spread in his mouth, making Lin Shuangxu extremely uncomfortable.

He Yuncheng gently stroked his hair, comforting him with the intimate touch.

After waiting for a moment, the military doctor said, “Almost ready, General. I’m going to pull the arrow out for the young master. Although this medicine can relieve the pain, it won’t make him feel nothing. It will still hurt, so try not to let the young master struggle, to avoid repeated attempts that enlarge the wound.”

“Mm.”

He Yuncheng laid Lin Shuangxu back on the bed, but found that he was holding onto his clothes tightly. As soon as he moved his body, he struggled in pain.

Tears of incontinence slid silently from the corners of Lin Shuangxu’s eyes. The painkiller was actually just a placebo, its effect negligible.

The military doctor saw that the blood from his wound was starting to flow again. With the foreign object in his body, the more he struggled, the more dangerous it became. He reminded He Yuncheng, “Don’t let the young master move around.”

“Okay, I’ll hold him.”

He Yuncheng didn’t force him to lie down, but pulled him back into his arms again.

Lin Shuangxu’s whole body was limp and weak, lying face to face in He Yuncheng’s arms, tightly protected by him.

The military doctor quickly cut open his clothes from behind. At the place where the arrow had entered, there was a bloodied hole as thick as two fingers.

He Yuncheng’s expression was stiff, and he couldn’t speak. One hand held the back of Lin Shuangxu’s neck, and the other arm wrapped around his waist.

The military doctor used a white cloth to pad the broken arrow shaft, held his breath, focused his mind, and after aiming accurately, he no longer hesitated, exerting force with his wrist and pulling it out in one go.

The sharp arrowhead brought out dark red pieces of flesh, and blood spurted out, splattering on the ground.

The military doctor quickly pressed the wound to stop the bleeding. Lin Shuangxu’s body was shaking, but he didn’t utter a sound, desperately holding onto He Yuncheng.

He Yuncheng’s Adam’s apple rolled with difficulty. With extremely gentle movements, he nuzzled his cheek against him again and again.

“It’s okay, it’s okay, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”

After a lot of effort, he finally finished applying the medicine and bandaging the wound.

Before leaving, the military doctor instructed that Lin Shuangxu shouldn’t be allowed to get cold or feverish, otherwise it would affect the wound’s healing.

He Yuncheng didn’t dare to slack off. He dismissed everyone else and personally stayed by his bed to watch over him.

Lin Shuangxu lay on his side in the blanket, exhausted after the ordeal and fell asleep.

The days of imprisonment had worn down the already slender man, making him even thinner. His narrow little face was pressed against the pillow, making him look pitiful.

Too many doubts plagued He Yuncheng. He couldn’t figure things out for a moment, and he was just angry at himself for not protecting him properly.

He held Lin Shuangxu’s pale hand, closed his eyes, and his thoughts were in turmoil.

What had he experienced in prison these past few days?

Wasn’t everything Shen Tan had done under Li Yuliang’s orders?

Who else was on the carriage that took him away…

–

Commander Shen had been in charge of the Northern Garrison for many years. Had she ever thought that one day, she would become a trapped beast in this Imperial Prison?

The relapse of the Life-Extending Paste addiction tormented Shen Tan, causing her to pass out several times.

Li Yuliang showed no regard for their past relationship. Whenever she lost consciousness, he ordered people to wake her up with cold water.

Her body was bound to a wooden cross, unable to struggle, unable to even seek death.

“Still not talking?”

Li Yuliang was expressionless. The flickering light and shadow illuminated his face, making him look like a vengeful ghost.

“Why did you take Lin Shuangxu away? Who told you to instigate He Yuncheng to rebel?” he questioned Shen Tan.

Shen Tan’s eyes were already glazed over. Even the strongest-willed person would have given in by now.

But she still didn’t say a word.

Li Yuliang stood up, walked over to her, knowing her character well enough to know that torture wouldn’t work on her. He took out a small porcelain jar from his sleeve and held it in front of her eyes.

The familiar scent of the medicine wafted over, and Shen Tan knew what was inside.

Her emotions spun out of control for a moment. Li Yuliang saw the animalistic desire in her eyes.

“Confess honestly, and I won’t kill you,” Li Yuliang coaxed her.

Shen Tan gritted her teeth, struggling internally, and despairingly lowered her head.

Li Yuliang didn’t force her.

If she didn’t want it, then so be it.

He put the porcelain jar back into his sleeve and turned to leave.

“Wait…”

A hoarse voice came from behind, almost inaudible.

Li Yuliang stopped and turned back, meeting Shen Tan’s bloodshot eyes.

“Let’s make a deal…” Shen Tan said to him with a slow, difficult pace.

Li Yuliang paused, then walked up to her with a cold smile.

“Speak.”

Shen Tan stared intently into his eyes, speaking very slowly, “You let me go, and I’ll tell you… where Song Jiting is.”

Li Yuliang’s smile froze instantly.

–

“Song, Ji, Ting.”

In a dark and sunless chamber, Song Jiting’s hair was disheveled, his bones were like firewood, no longer possessing his former radiance.

A steamed bun was thrown in front of him.

He hesitated for a moment, then reached out to pick it up, but the dog chain around his neck was too short, and he was firmly tethered, unable to reach it.

A person not far away wore a bizarre smile, watching him suffer with great interest.

After a moment, that person walked forward, picked up the steamed bun from the ground, and came to him.

Song Jiting didn’t look up. In his sight was the gold-embroidered hem of a robe, the true dragon pattern on it piercing his eyes.

He once thought that Li Yuliang was the darkest point in his life.

Now he knew what true despair was.

“Why do you not kneel when meeting the Emperor?” came the dissatisfied question.

Song Jiting had no right to resist. Numb as a puppet, he knelt down on the ground.

The other party slowly leaned down and ordered him, “Raise your head.”

Song Jiting raised his head.

He met Gu Huan’s face.

The young emperor had shed his innocence at some point, and looked violent and cruel.

He looked at Song Jiting with pity and disgust, “Empress Dowager is still too soft-hearted. She should have executed the entire Song family, to avoid leaving behind future troubles.”

Song Jiting’s whole body shook.

The Emperor had discovered his identity. Then his father…

Overwhelmed by the pain, he trembled uncontrollably.

Gu Huan smiled contemptuously, “With so little courage, you dared to collude with people in the palace, intending to rebel?”

“I didn’t…” Song Jiting croaked in protest, “This commoner only sought to live a humble life, and never had any rebellious intentions…”

“If you had no rebellious intentions, why would you willingly submit yourself to a eunuch?” Gu Huan asked condescendingly, “Don’t tell me that you’re so base that you actually developed true feelings for a eunuch.”

Over the years, Song Jiting had lived in humiliation every day, and he was no longer surprised by such words.

He lay on the ground, without a word of defense, carefully pondering Gu Huan’s words.

From the tone of his words, he didn’t seem to know that his father was still alive.

“What are you thinking about?” Gu Huan asked him with interest, “Thinking about when he will come to save you? Do you think, when he’s preoccupied with his own troubles, he’ll still care whether you live or die?”

Song Jiting still didn’t react.

Gu Huan didn’t need to use these words to hurt him.

Li Yuliang wasn’t sincere, and there was no need for others to tell him that.

Gu Huan handed him the dirt-covered steamed bun.

“Eat it. I grant you permission to continue living.”

To continue living, to continue being tortured.

Regardless of whether he was guilty or not, if the person in control of power said he was guilty, then he was.

Song Jiting looked at the steamed bun in Gu Huan’s hand, took it, and took a large bite.

Life was as cheap as weeds, and even the right to live required the permission of others.

But he was innocent, with a clear conscience before heaven and earth. Why couldn’t he live on?