Shufeng was still hazy when he overheard the faint murmurings echoing feelings of frustration and forlornness.
"We cannot hide here indefinitely. It has been six days, and with each passing day we are at risk of being discovered."
"His fever will not drop and his chest wound is showing early signs of infection," stated Li Ji anxiously.
Shufeng's eyes opened half way and fell upon the dying embers of the campfire then further down to the entryway of the cavern. There a ramrod straight silhouette stood for a while, looking in his direction, then disappeared into the night.
Li Ji helped Shufeng propping himself up against the gravelly rough wall. He shifted his gaze around bit by bit and began to size up the environment.
The glowing worms hanging like stalactites above their heads, intermittently flickering their light, transformed the cave into a magical starry firmament shimmering with a sapphire pallor.
He was rubbing out his throbbing temples, and with every breath, pain inundated his chest. He had no idea how long he had been asleep.
"One day," replied Li Ji.
Blood seeped out of the bandages wrapping his torso.
"Your Highness, I need to clean your wound."
As she unwrapped the strips of fabric, his eyes winced at the dried blood and the yellowish substance gathered around the torn and burnt flesh.
It smelled like rotten fish.
Li Ji carefully removed all of the pus and the loose scabs.
He bit his lips to stifle the pain and squeezed his fingers into tight fists, nails cutting through the skin.
Next, she scrapped off the flacon the remaining medicinal powder, and applied it into the wound.
His chest constricted violently, and his hand instinctively grabbed Li Ji's wrist. After a minute or so, his fingers slowly untwisted, and his hand fell limp on the ground.
She took his wrist and read his pulse, then leaned down and touched his forehead.
"At last, your fever is dwindling away. Now," she said as she opened a little box, "don't be alarmed." It was full of writhing maggots!
"It is unpleasant but it won't hurt. They will eat the dead flesh and help with the healing process."
The legless grub started feasting.
Shufeng felt nauseated.
"Your Highness, why don't you close your eyes."
Surely not! He wanted to keep a close eye on those maggots in case they crept to some uninvited places on his body.
She tore up the pink robe into strips and covered the wounds loosely with the make-do bandage, starting with his shoulder.
"It is to stop the maggots from wandering all over your body. Please keep still while they are doing their work."
The top of the brothel's dress was still not cut into bandages, so Li Ji made him wear it to cover his chest wound and tightly knotted the pink fastening ribbons at the front.
"You, young Miss," one brow arched high, "have gall."
She tossed back a cheeky grin as she said, "Your Highness, pink is a better match for your complexion than the colour of my dress."
He looked at her ragged robes—the fabric torn and used for his bandages—and felt saddened. She caught his sorry gaze and gave him half a smile.
"What about a second royal decree?" she proposed, keeping his torso warm with the blanket. "The Emperor shall bestow upon this faithful handmaiden the most luxurious and beautiful silk raiments."
A sound from the outside made them jolt.
They heard a scratching noise, then nothing.
Shufeng propped himself up with his sword, staggering painfully to his feet and swaying a little because of the dizziness caused by the blood loss.
"You should hide deeper into the cavern and wait for Jian," he whispered, "whatever happens do not come for me."
She would not hide! Instead, Li Ji pulled out a dagger from her waist—a familiar dagger.
His eyes widened out…
"Wolves?" she asked.
… staring at the white jade hilt with moss-green veining carved in the shape of a dragon.
"Or worst," he replied, "our enemies."
Shufeng was puzzled as why this dagger of doom was currently in her hands.
Suddenly the intruder was right in front of them.
He had crept up quiet as a shadow.
"What took you so long?" her voice cracked like a whip as Li Ji put the dagger back in its scabbard.
Jian had returned with more firewood and food, "We have to leave tonight," he blurted out.
The urgency of his voice was a very bad omen.
Then he threw a small dry log to the dying embers. "The messenger owl has brought news from Yunyang Mountains. The Emperor's soldiers are closing in on Uncle's camp. They have reached Grey Forks which is about four days away from reaching the mountains. If we do not want to go head to head with the imperial army we have to leave now."
Shufeng agreed, "We'll leave after we finish eating."
Jian squatted down and started roasting a couple of rodents while Li Ji scraped the maggots off the prince's body.
After wrapping tightly his chest and shoulder with new strips of fabric, she helped him getting dressed.
"Don't bend forward," she had slipped a supporting arm around his shoulders, "it will antagonise your chest injury."
She wrapped the washed embroidered floral pattern Shenyi robe over his white cotton tunic and trousers, fastened the left lapel over to the right side, "I have done my best mending all the tears," and she fastened up the buttons.
Lastly he slipped into his black overcoat and Li Ji tied up the sash.
Shufeng started coughing violently, as if a fiery ball got stuck in his throat, slid down to his heart, then spread to the tips of his fingers. He couldn't swallow his food so he gave it to Li Ji instead.
At first, she thought he was asking her to wrap it to eat later, so she intended on adding some of her meat to his portion. But he said in a near commanding voice: "It's for you to eat."
Li Ji looked at the delicious rodent meat—hunger makes everything taste like mutton.
He immediately held her wrist, staring at the hesitant girl who had licked her lips reflexively, and guided her hand towards her mouth. "Go on… eat it." With a frown, he added: "I know about your little secret."
She finally took one mouthful of the dark meat when—
A violent cough. Blood spluttered on her sleeve.
Both his companions's expression turned even graver.
"Maybe we should stay here one more night… Huh?" Li Ji begged with those half-moons eyes of hers while she watched Shufeng wiping the blood off his chin.
"No need," said Shufeng with an assertive tone but a withered voice. "My body has rested enough. I can assure you I am able to bear the journey. Time is of the essence."
"But, Your Highness, one more night won't make much of a difference. Will it Jian?"
Shufeng swiftly dismissed her solicitude with one glance. "You worry too much." Gleaming resoluteness filled his eyes, naturally they both were unconvinced by his words. This was because they knew very well the extent of his wound and burns. Only an immortal could fully recover after being stabbed in the chest, the dagger puncturing a lung, and being hit by lightning.
Rubbing the nape of his neck, Jian simply mumbled: "It's a cloudy night with no moonlight to guide us… the woods are dangerous… the terrain is rough… and there are cliffs around here."
Jian cleared his throat, "It is wiser to leave at the first rays of light," and he threw another log into the campfire, "We might as well get some sleep."
Truthfully, his heart was reluctant. It was a two day's trek to Yunyang Mountains, but with Shufeng's extensive injuries, it would take twice as long.
Jian scrubbed his hands over his temples, pressed his fingers against his closed eyes, then dropping his hands he exhaled deeply.
Threads of fear knotted into the pit of his stomach. How could he protect them? Jian knew with absolute sureness that they would not reach the rebels' camp in time, even if they left right now.
As he stood sentinel at the mouth of the cavern, he was stroking his mother's handkerchief tied up around the hilt of his sword—the only keepsake of his family.
Silent tears rolled down his cheeks and rage swallowed him whole.
Falsely accused of treason, he had sadly doomed his family to be executed. He clutched at the hilt—I can't die now, not before avenging my family, not before I run them through with my sword!
Empress Dowager Yū Miko, and Emperor Taizong, and Empress Emika.
He wanted them dead!
Tomorrow he would be a step closer to his vengence.