When Shen Liwen finished wrapping He Biya's wounds, she put back all the herbs into a corner and then leaned towards He Biya to feel her forehead. Seeing that there was no fever, she sighed in relief.
"It seems the fever has subsided. Your body was heating up so much when I first found you." Shen Liwen described.
"Do you save everyone you come across?" He Biya suddenly questioned.
"What do you you mean?" There was confusion within Shen Liwen's voice. "It is only natural to want to help."
He Biya sneered, "Kindness may end up killing you."
After saying this, she quickly changed their positions. In the next second, Shen Liwen was on the ground, hands held in place to prevent any struggling. He Biya used one of her own legs to pin down Shen Liwen'a lower body, and her free hand was grasping her throat.
"What if I was a suspicious person? I could even kill you now if I wanted to." Her lips curled into a dark smile as she stared into Shen Liwen's eyes. She didn't attempt to squeeze or hurt the other in any way, however. Her words were only empty threats.
There was fear on Shen Liwen's expression at first, but she gradually composed herself. She didn't try to push He Biya off her and merely responded, "I do not believe you would."
"Is that a challenge?" He Biya was excited by the reaction.
"No, there is something about you that is different from a cold hearted killer." Shen Liwen smiled. The grip on her throat hadn't tightened, but was rather loose. Something about the other woman's mannerism made her believe that she could escape easily without any harm done to her.
"I see." He Biya bluntly said before releasing Shen Liwen.
She was only teasing her just now. There was no way she could actually bring herself to kill a harmless civilian, let alone someone that belonged to her country.
As Shen Liwen sat up, she seemed to remember something and angrily shouted, "Ah! I told you not to move around! Your wounds will reopen."
He Biya wanted to tell her she was worrying over nothing, but when she looked down, she found that her freshly bandaged legs were stained a bright red color. The adrenaline she gained just now had faded, and so her aching pain returned. It really hurt.
"It's… fine. They have not reopened." She lied.
How could the Emperor admit her mistake so easily?
Shen Liwen was silent. Then, she slowly emphasized her words, "I may be blind, but I am still able to see."
?
He Biya was confused. She would soon understand what that meant, however.
Shen Liwen leaned in and felt around He Biya's body. She grabbed her face, then slowly her hands travelled down. Her shoulders, her arms, her hips…
He Biya thought that there was an ambiguous air to her actions, but she felt a hand poke directly at the injury on her right leg.
"See! It is just as I thought!" Shen Liwen exclaimed with a frown. She could feel the blood oozing out the bandages.
"Please stop being so reckless."
Just as she said this, the entrance of the broken down hut opened, and both their heads turned towards it. The cold air from outside entered the room. He Biya was alarmed and shielded Shen Liwen by instinct. She hurriedly searched her surroundings to see if there was any item she could turn into a weapon.
"Elder sister!" The voice of a child called out.
"My, Xiao Miao, where were you?" Shen Liwen seemed to be familiar with the voice and stood up so that she could make her way towards the little girl. "Quickly come inside, I'm afraid you might fall sick!"
The girl looked to be no older than eight, and the only layer of clothing she wore was a thin fur coat. Even then, there were holes in the coat, and it seemed worn out. It couldn't possibly keep her warm out in the freezing snow.
"It's okay! I brought lots of sticks for us!" Xiao Miao grinned and lifted her hand to proudly show off her achievement. She held a pile of firewood in her arms.
"What a good girl you are. Thank you." Shen Liwen gently smiled and patted the little girl on the head.
He Biya sat quietly as she watched them interact. Deep down, she was a bit relieved that she would not have to fight so soon. She would not be able to protect the other in her current state, so if an enemy were to truly appear…
There was no guarantee she would not sacrifice Shen Liwen for her own safety.
"Um, did the big lady wake up?" Xiao Miao tilt her head sideways to make eye contact with He Biya.
"Yes, she has." Shen Liwen replied.
Xiao Miao ran towards He Biya and shoved the pile of wood into her face.
"Here, take one! I got lots of warm sticks! You won't be cold now!"
He Biya was not the best at dealing with children, so she awkwardly accepted one of the firewood. Xiao Miao seemed to be expectantly staring at her with bright eyes, so at last she forced herself to say, "En, I feel… so warm now?"
Shen Liwen covered her mouth to hide her laughter, but He Biya swore she heard a snort. This sly woman was laughing at her!
After collecting the wood from Xiao Miao, Shen
Liwen lit up another fire and then checked to see if the litte girl had any injuries from being out in the cold for so long.
"I told you not to go out without me, did I not? It is so late, what would you do if wild animals had come to attack you?" When she confirmed there was nothing wrong with Xiao Miao other than a mild fever, she continued to scold the girl even more.
"I'm sorry… You said the big lady was cold, so I wanted to help…" Xiao Miao sounded dejected.
Shen Liwen's heart softened and she sighed again.
"As long as you are safe. But please, be careful, alright?"
"Okay!" Xiao Miao happily agreed.
After dealing with Xiao Miao, Shen Liwen turned to He Biya.
"This is Xiao Miao. She was sick and fell at my doorstep one day. I found out that she was like me, having nowhere to go, so we have stuck together since then." She explained.
"So, you really do take in anyone you meet?" He Biya was referring to their previous conversation.
"Ah.. you're still on that." Shen Liwen was amazed by her persistence.