Chapter Fifty-Six: Fainting

When Jing Hu woke up again, it was already the time to light the lamps. Beside her was only a drowsy Dou Lu and her third sister-in-law. She looked around, unsure whom she wanted to find.

“Third younger sister, you’re awake,” her third sister-in-law said, gently nudging Dou Lu. “Go quickly and bring a cup of tea for the county lady.”

Jing Hu still felt a bit dizzy and struggled to sit up. The young madam hurried to help her sit properly.

Dou Lu had just woken and was even more confused than she was. She walked toward the table with the tea cups and almost stumbled. Jing Hu said, “Dou Lu, no need to rush; I don’t want to drink right now.”

The young madam, startled by the earlier voice, glanced at Dou Lu, then turned back to Jing Hu. “You don’t feel thirsty now, but is your head still dizzy? Should I call the imperial physician to check on you again?”

Jing Hu shook her head. “What’s wrong with me?”

The young madam replied, “The afternoon sun was a bit strong, and after seeing such a scene, the imperial physician said you were overly shocked.”

“It didn’t feel very hot this afternoon. I didn’t expect I’d be so useless,” Jing Hu muttered. She was normally brave enough to draw a bow and hunt, but the sight of blood had scared her into fainting.

Her skin was naturally pale, and after the shock, she had slept half a day. Even her lips were pale now. Her voice lacked its usual vivacity, heavy with all sorts of emotions, and seeing this, her third sister-in-law couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

“Not just you, even I would be frightened. Coming from a military family, I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

“Your brother was also frightened when he saw you collapse. Seeing that Lord Qi had someone caring for him, he hurried to have you sent back first.”

Since Lord Qi had attendants looking after him, and Lord Huaiyi also had people tending to him, it was only natural that her third brother came to care for her as well.

Qi Yuanfang was his junior martial brother. He had lost so much blood, which was far more serious than her fainting. There was no reason for her to despair; perhaps he didn’t even know what had happened.

Seeing Jing Hu’s silence and the sadness in her expression, the young madam seemed to understand what was on her mind.

“Lord Qi was attacked. Apart from Lord Ke, no one around him knows medicine. Moreover, his injuries are severe; he’s still unconscious. Even Lady Pei...”

Jing Hu frowned. “Who dares be so bold? One is a titled noble in the court, the other an official. Today is the Longevity Festival, yet they dared to carry out an assassination in Jianye.”

The young madam’s expression grew grave but she didn’t reveal much. “We’ll have to wait for your brother and the others to find out. They already have a good idea who it might be.”

All the assassins were dead; finding any trace would not be easy. Judging by her third sister-in-law’s face, she seemed to know something but was unwilling to tell her.

Though she had only met Qi Yuanfang a few times and was even more a rival to Lord Huaiyi, she did not wish for their deaths.

“Will they be alright?”

The young madam looked weary. “At dinner, when you still hadn’t woken, I went to see them. The situation isn’t very good. But they will be fine. They must be.”

Suddenly, she remembered something. “Dou Lu said you didn’t have lunch in the hall and have been unconscious for so long. You must be hungry. I’ll have them bring you dinner.”

Jing Hu waved her hand, lying back down on the bed. “No need. I have no appetite. I want to sleep a bit more.” Then she added, “Third sister-in-law, you’ve stayed with me so long. You should rest early. Tell third brother I’m fine.”

The young madam was about to persuade her but thought better of it. “Then rest well. If you get hungry in the middle of the night, no matter when, just have someone prepare something for you. Don’t force yourself.”

She truly treated Jing Hu like a sister. Yet Jing Hu barely understood her. When had the county lady of Jingling ever begrudged herself? She simply didn’t want to eat.

She knew that Ke Mingxu’s choice to stay by Lord Huaiyi and Qi Yuanfang’s side at that moment was significant; their lives were in danger. She was only a minor matter. A nap would solve nothing.

Though she understood this well, she couldn’t help but feel a little sorrow.

In the past, when she feigned a fall or was only mildly hurt, he was always by her side. Today, she really fainted, falling hard, hurting her heart, yet he couldn’t be there.

Seeing Jing Hu insist on resting and close her eyes, the young madam stood up, gave Dou Lu a few instructions, and then returned to her own chamber.

Watching her third sister-in-law’s figure retreat, Jing Hu finally called Dou Lu over; she wanted someone to talk to.

Dou Lu approached her bedside, but Jing Hu didn’t know what to say.

Dou Lu seemed equally puzzled, so she spoke first. “Young Lord Ke is quite impressive. He said the little county lady would wake around this time, and sure enough, you did.”

Jing Hu suddenly lifted her head, suppressing the joy rising in her heart. “When did he say that? Has he come to see me?”

Dou Lu nodded. “He came during dinner. The young madam wasn’t there, so Lord Ke came over. He even sat by your bed for a while.”

Jing Hu pressed, “Did he say anything else?”

“Only that the little county lady would wake around this time. I had to ask him before he said it. He seemed a bit unhappy.”

He looked displeased.

After what happened today, who could be in a good mood? Hearing that he had come to see her and sat by her bedside, she no longer cared about her own sadness.

Qi Yuanfang was his junior brother in martial arts. Regardless of how things stood with Lord Huaiyi, they had a childhood bond like siblings. Besides, he had just said Qi Yuanfang’s visit to Jianye was for something important.

Thoughts flashed rapidly through her mind. What Qi Yuanfang was doing was to move to the House of Marquis Wuning Zhang and the Third Prince. The only ones with motive to take such a risk in Jianye were either Marquis Wuning or the Third Prince himself.

The Third Prince was, after all, her paternal cousin.

But Jing Hu had never liked him—a feeling hard to describe. He seemed no different from the other princes or even the crown prince, but she always sensed ill intent from him.

She didn’t want to think about this anymore and asked Dou Lu, “What happened afterward?”

“Then Lord Ke said he had to go change clothes and would come see you again when he had time. I noticed there was still blood on his clothes and was quite shocked.”

“He didn’t even change clothes?” That must mean he came straight from Qi Yuanfang’s side to see her.

No matter what, she and Qi Yuanfang had some connection. In a few days, perhaps she should go visit him.