After speaking, his chest hurt again, Jiang Ling groaned and glared at Jiang Lai.
"Did I say something wrong?"
"You didn’t say anything wrong, I’m just useless. Even after he did that, I still like him. There’s nothing I can do. I’ve seen nothing in life and believed he’s the only excellent good man in the world."
Jiang Ling looked at her serious expression, feeling an inexplicable sense of frustration in his heart.
This woman usually bared her fangs and acted fiercely, being sharp-tongued towards him without any reservation, but whenever it involved Murong Dun, she turned into this submissive figure.
Even if she is Jiang Xiong’s daughter, she is someone he will seek revenge on in the future, how could he stand by and watch her be bullied by someone else now.
"There are plenty of good men in the barracks. Once we return, I’ll take you to see what a real good man is."
"The men in the army are just like father, rough and reckless, I prefer civilized, elegant and handsome men, not smelly and sweaty ones."
Saying this, Jiang Lai gave Jiang Ling a disdainful look, which made his face turn dark directly.
"In terms of handsomeness, your husband is not even as good as me."
Jiang Lai smiled without saying a word.
What Jiang Ling said was true. Although he was tall and strong, his physique was well-proportioned and perfect. His usual casual wear was mainly dark, fitting well, highlighting his narrow waist, broad shoulders, and long legs, besides his face was more defined with sharp facial features yet not lacking in delicateness.
At a young age, he had already become the second in command in the barracks, managing tens of thousands of elite soldiers under him, and was currently the hottest future marriage prospect in the capital.
"Heard that Princess Yang Lai is interested in you, almost wanting to accompany the army for you. It seems the Jiang Family indeed has good young men, who are quite skilled in charming young maidens."
Jiang Ling looked at Jiang Lai’s nonstop talking mouth, first feeling chest tightness and shortness of breath, then looking at her hand lightly pressing on his chest, the heaviness in his heart inexplicably dissipated a lot, leaving just a sense of helplessness.
——
To let people outside find them, Jiang Lai tore off the red dudou from inside and hung it on a withered tree by the pond.
The dudou’s color was bright, hanging there conspicuously. Murong Dun, who had just woken up from unconsciousness, saw the red dudou embroidered with mandarin ducks, momentarily overwhelmed with anger and anxiety, almost fainting again.
"Jiang Lai!"
He gritted his teeth, staring at the exquisite dudou and shouted deeply.
"Shameless, take it down quickly!"
Jiang Lai nonchalantly adjusted her collar and said indifferently.
"It’s just a piece of clothing."
"There are other men here, I am your husband!"
"I’m also your wife, yet didn’t you hug and kiss other women in front of me too? Besides, this is my brother, not another man, right, Ling."
Jiang Ling silently shifted his gaze away from the dudou, then nodded without changing his expression.
Murong Dun knew he was wrong, but the dudou was too conspicuous. Since their marriage, he hadn’t even touched Jiang Lai’s hand, but no matter what, Jiang Lai was his wife, his woman!
Such private items, even looking, should be in a private place for him alone.
Now it’s hanging so obviously in Great Ming City, if this news spreads out, where will his face go!
But Jiang Lai simply ignored him. After lighting a fire, she handed Jiang Ling a bowl of bitter medicinal soup that could make people cry.
"Do you really have to drink it?"
Even though Jiang Ling was a real man who could remain calm even amidst a poisoned arrow wound, he still couldn’t bear to look directly at this sisterly affection medicinal soup brewed by Jiang Lai.
Not to mention drinking it, even smelling it a bit more made him want to vomit.
"You have to drink, guarantee you to be lively and vigorous within seven days, invincible on the battlefield!"
Jiang Ling frowned, under Jiang Lai’s gaze, gulped down the contents of the bowl in one go. After handing the bowl back, he impatiently took out two plums from his pouch and popped them into his mouth to dilute the bitter taste.
"Good boy."
Jiang Lai patted his head, this time her wrist was seized by Jiang Ling.
"A man’s head can’t be patted casually, don’t you know?"
"What kind of man are you, not particular when it comes to family brothers."
Saying that, Jiang Lai poured the rest from the pot and handed it to Murong Dun.
The man was seething with anger, and Luoyang told him that the origin of this medicine was unknown, best not to drink it, so he took the bowl and poured it away directly.
"Showing off one’s skill before an expert, Young General it’s better to avoid consuming such indeterminate things in the future."
Jiang Ling smiled.
"It’s better for the Prince to be careful yourself, less contact with indeterminate things."
After speaking, he gave Luoyang a meaningful look, under the mask, Luoyang’s face turned green and white alternately.
Jiang Ling was very sharp-tongued, adept at reprimanding others, making two people obedient without Jiang Lai even needing to speak.
By noon, they still hadn’t waited for anyone, Jiang Lai brought a bow and caught a wild pheasant, after slaughtering and plucking it, strung it on a bamboo skewer. The chicken was fat, sizzled with oil while roasting, quite tempting.
One chicken, Jiang Lai tore it apart and shared it with Jiang Ling, from beginning to end without glancing at Murong Dun.
Luoyang also tried to find some prey outside to fill their hunger, but the animals in this mountain valley were as smart as foxes, as soon as she pulled her bow the animals would detect it and run swiftly.
In the end, all they caught was a palm-sized rabbit, skinned it, the meat was pitifully scarce. The two, sharing hardships as a couple, took a bite each after persuading each other, neither was full, only felt hungrier.
As dusk fell, just when everyone thought rescue wouldn’t come today, Little Buding reminded Jiang Lai.
"They’re by the pond, hurry and go out."
Jiang Lai hurried out upon hearing this, seeing the torchlight, shouted for help loudly.
Finally, after being trapped for a whole day and night, the people on the mountain found them.
Among the clusters of torches, Jiang Lai’s first sight was Jiang Xiong.
Jiang Xiong, in his prime, was exceptionally tall and powerful, but his hair was already graying. His voice was hoarse as he loudly called Jiang Lai’s name, clearly having shouted for a long time.
After being rescued, Jiang Lai silently stood beside Jiang Ling, watching him clutch his chest as he walked up to Jiang Xiong, lowered his head listening to Jiang Xiong’s scoldings, silently not speaking.
Just as Jiang Xiong raised his hand, about to land a slap on Jiang Ling’s face, Jiang Lai suddenly rushed over, shielding Jiang Ling directly.
That solid slap landed hard on Jiang Lai’s head, causing her upper and lower teeth to ache, her head buzzed, vision darkened, and the whole person staggered into Jiang Ling’s arms, took quite a while to regain clarity, then sobbed while saying.
"It was Ling who saved me, otherwise I would’ve fallen to death long ago, Father you must not hit him, if you want to hit, hit me and my husband, it’s us who wanted to go hunting, it has nothing to do with Ling."
Murong Dun, who was about to be carried away, looked dumbfounded.