Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Ding Xiang with a Hidden Secret
308 Mysterious Ding Xiang
Sun Daqing and Sun Youli were both rough and sturdy men, so traversing the mountain path was a breeze for them.
It was a bit more difficult for Ding Xiang, but Liu Yian took special care of her along the way, and their pace remained steady.
Ding Xiang: "Thank you, Young Master Liu."
After Liu Yian helped her up again when she almost fell, Ding Xiang thanked him gratefully.
When he first met Ding Xiang, Liu Yian wasn’t particularly struck by her beauty, since he saw beautiful women every day back home.
As the only Young Master of Lingjian Villa, he had seen all sorts of beautiful women. So, when he first met Ding Xiang, he didn’t pay much attention to her.
Helping her now was just part of his character.
Seeing her thank him, he just smiled faintly and said, "It’s nothing. Just be careful."
And so, the group crossed through the mountains and forests, encountering no dangers along the way.
「 」
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Zhitong had left the cave, while Zhao Yu and the others were heading towards it. Fortunately, they didn’t miss each other and met halfway.
At first, seeing lights in the distance, both sides grew very alert and nearly came to blows. Fortunately, they called out in time and recognized each other.
Nonetheless, Qiao Muchen and Zhao Zhitong were not in great condition.
Not long after they left the cave, they encountered several black-clothed men, and a fight ensued. Though the black-clothed men were eventually outmatched and fled.
However, Zhao Zhitong had been accidentally injured. Qiao Muchen was carrying her, rushing towards them.
Seeing Zhao Zhitong unconscious in Qiao Muchen’s arms, Zhao Yu and the others became anxious and hurriedly asked about the situation.
Qiao Muchen’s forehead was covered in sweat, his face also slightly pale. He said anxiously, "Tongtong is injured! We need to get down the mountain quickly!"
With a single sentence, he offered little explanation and then continued to carry Zhao Zhitong down the mountain.
The others, seeing that Zhao Zhitong was injured, followed without delay, descending the mountain.
As Qiao Muchen carried Zhao Zhitong at the front, Ding Xiang, who had been paying close attention to him, noticed that his back seemed to be soaked with blood...
Yet, he acted as if he hadn’t noticed.
And so, the group hurriedly descended the mountain.
「 」
De Ren Tang Medical Clinic.
Qiao Muchen and Zhao Zhitong had both made it out of the cave alive, so Magistrate Han didn’t go to the Sun Family. Instead, he returned to the county government office to report to Song Renying.
The Liu Clan’s servants had also left. However, Liu Baixue wanted to make sure Zhao Zhitong was safe before returning, so Liu Yian naturally waited with her.
Thus, everyone crowded into one room.
Qiao Muchen had just laid Zhao Zhitong on the bed when he anxiously asked Sun Kang about her condition.
Sun Kang was also worried. He shook his head helplessly at the anxious Qiao Muchen and said, "You should at least step away from the bedside. Let me sit down and take her pulse before you say anything."
Qiao Muchen couldn’t help but feel embarrassed and quickly moved away from the bed, giving Sun Kang room.
A moment later.
The room was silent, everyone watching Sun Kang take Zhao Zhitong’s pulse.
Qiao Muchen asked anxiously once again, "How is she?"
Sun Kang stroked his beard and sighed with relief. He said, "It’s not too serious. She bumped her head and needs to rest quietly for a few days. That’s good; it will keep this young girl from running outside all the time."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room breathed a collective sigh of relief.
It was good that she was fine.
"Alright, it’s getting late, and everyone’s tired from the day. You should all go back and rest. Tongtong is fine; I’ll watch over her as the physician."
After a day of frantic activity, everyone was indeed exhausted. So, Sun Kang suggested they all go home and rest.
Liu Yian nodded and said to his sister, "Uncle Sun is right. Bai Xue, let’s go back first. It’s so late, and you’re not feeling well."
Liu Baixue agreed. She went over to Zhao Zhitong and bade Sun Kang and the others goodbye. "I’m relieved that Tongtong is fine. We’ll leave first, and I’ll come see her again tomorrow."
Sun Kang naturally stood up, thanked them, and saw off the Liu siblings.
He also told Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue to get some rest, but Qiao Muchen was still a little worried.
At this moment, Ding Xiang said with concern, "Young Master Qiao, I noticed your back seems to be injured too. You should apply some medicine and rest."
"Injured?" Sun Kang was taken aback and hurriedly called out, "Here, come over, let me take a look."
As he spoke, he grabbed Qiao Muchen’s wrist and took his pulse. Then he called out to Sun Daqing, "Daqing, bring some trauma medicine for Little Master Qiao to apply."
Then he said to Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue, "You two don’t need to go to the academy. It’s late, and you’re injured. You might as well stay and rest here in the medical clinic."
This was exactly what Qiao Muchen and Zhao Yue wanted. Zhao Zhitong still hadn’t woken up, and they were worried, so the two agreed.
After Sun Kang had Zhao Zhitong drink a bowl of medicine, he told everyone to go rest.
When everyone had left, Ding Xiang stood at the door, biting her lip lightly. She watched Qiao Muchen’s retreating figure as he entered his room, her eyes full of sadness.
If she had only guessed before, now she was certain: Qiao Muchen liked Zhao Zhitong. His anxious expression and the look in his eyes just now couldn’t lie. Thinking of this, her hands involuntarily clenched into fists, her heart filled with unwillingness and jealousy. She used to be so high above everyone else! She could have received a better education than Zhao Zhitong. She should have been more outstanding, definitely not inferior to Zhao Zhitong! But now, she had fallen to such a state, hiding like a rat, forced to live under an assumed name. It was all because of that person! At this moment, the usual innocence and gentleness in her eyes vanished, replaced by a bone-deep hatred.
"Xiang Xiang, Xiang Xiang."
It was only when she heard Sun Xiaoxue and Sun Xiaoyu calling her that she snapped back to reality.
"Xiang Xiang, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Do you want Grandpa to take a look at you?" Sun Xiaoxue asked with concern.
The hatred in Ding Xiang’s eyes dissipated. She forced a smile and shook her head, "No, no, I’m just a little worried about Tongtong."
Sun Xiaoxue and Sun Xiaoyu sighed in unison. "Yeah, we’re also worried about our cousin. But Grandpa said she’s fine, so don’t worry anymore. Let’s go to sleep quickly. She’ll probably wake up by the time we do tomorrow."
"Mhm!"
Ding Xiang nodded and went back to her room to rest with Sun Xiaoxue and Sun Xiaoyu.
The night passed without incident.
The next day, as soon as daylight broke, Zhao Zhitong woke up. The first thing she said upon waking wasn’t a request for water, but a declaration of "Hungry!"
Sun Kang couldn’t help but chuckle. "You must be hungry. That’s good. Your Aunt and Eldest Aunt are already cooking porridge. How are you feeling now?"
Zhao Zhitong touched her head and said, "My head feels terrible."
She vaguely remembered that before she fainted, she seemed to have been thrown against a rock by the black-clothed men. She couldn’t help but worry about her head. Hitting a rock that hard... she was sure it was what modern medicine called a concussion! I hope this doesn’t turn me into an idiot!