Wang Hong stroked Chen Rong’s porcelain face and faintly smiled. “Listening to your tone, you must know her very well?” He raised an eyebrow, slowly adding: “Ah Rong does whatever she pleases and I do whatever I please. Don’t you think you’re concerning yourself too much, general?”
Sun Yan angrily balled his hand into a fist and was about to throw a punch at Wang Hong’s face, just as Chen Rong chose this exact moment to stir awake. While Sun Yan paused, she poked her head past him, gripped the shaft, and retched.
Color was finally restored to her face once she vomited. Not paying much attention to his ire, she looked up at Sun Yan and shakily asked, “Where’s Old Shang, is he here? Is he still alive?”
They never thought the first person she asked for upon waking up would be her servant.
Sun Yan hadn’t opened his mouth by the time Wang Hong pulled her back into his arms. He gently looked into her eyes and reassured her that: “Old Shang’s fine.”
At the same time Wang Hong answered her, a Wang servant added: “Miss, that old servant of yours had fainted. His leg got wounded by an arrow so he was bleeding a bit. Don’t worry, he won’t die.”
Having received this answer, Chen Rong relaxed, exhaled, and closed her eyes. It wasn’t long before her eyes flew open again. Looking up, she saw that Wang Hong was holding her while looking at a cranky Sun Yan with slightly amused eyes. Chen Rong broke into a smile and murmured: “You’re both here. I’m so very glad.” As though she had spent all her strength, her eyes closed again and her limbs slackened.
Sun Yan harrumphed, grabbed Chen Rong’s arm and, after giving Wang Hong a warning glare, pulled her out of the carriage. He staggeringly stuffed her into another carriage, then turned and shouted: “Got enough rest? Let’s move it.”
Everyone swiftly complied. They urged their horses, took arms, and made sure that their wounds were well bandaged. Those who could continue to ride, rode; those who couldn’t ride were thrown onto the carriages. The cavalcade again rushed away in the direction of Nan’yang.
As they pressed on, unending battle cries and neighs could still be heard from Mo’yang.
Looking at the growing number of torches at the south gate, Sun Yan quietly thought: It seems the barbarians have begun to send reinforcements from the other gates. If those nobles hesitate any longer, they are going to lose their chance. However, it had nothing to do with him, for he felt he had done everything he could.
In the dark, the crackles of fire and cries became the main sounds that helped mask their footsteps.
They hastened on and soon found that dawn had arrived. They had gone 100 miles from Mo’yang and finally reached safety.
The crowd cheered loudly and began to dismount the vehicles and horses. The moment they got off, the horses staggered with some even foaming at the mouth. It was time to rest.
By the time Chen Rong recovered her spirit, daylight had lit the sky. She sat up, stretched her sleeve to wipe her eyes, and found blood stains on it.
While she was staring at her sleeve in a daze, a familiar voice called to her: “Miss.” It sounded weak, as if it wanted to cry but also to laugh; it was Old Shang’s voice.
Chen Rong raised her head to see Old Shang crawling over to her, shakily saying: “Miss, we got out alive.” And then he burst into tears.
On Chen Rong’s wan face bloomed a brilliant smile. “Yes, we got out alive,” she hoarsely repeated. “And so did they.” Her eyes shone brightly as she spoke, her face likewise vibrant. She sat upright, reached for the curtain, and looked outside.
Watching Wang Hong’s carriage and Sun Yan on horseback, Chen Rong shakily whispered, “Old Shang, I have gone to hell and back with them. From this day forth, my situation should be better.”
Old Shang didn’t expect this would be the first thing she thought about after waking up. He momentarily grinned and replied, “Aye,” giving her a look of sympathy and heartache.
Sun Yan turned around to see Chen Rong poking her head out of the carriage. He galloped over to her, leaned a little forward and whispered: “I’ve already warned them. They’ve agreed not to speak nonsense. You can rest assured, Ah Rong.”
“What are you talking about?” she quizzically asked.
Caught for words, Sun Yan stared at her and clamped his mouth with no intention to explain. He waved his hand to one of his soldiers and shouted: “Bring the bamboo tube here.”
“Aye.” The soldier handed him a freshly cut bamboo tube.
Sun Yan stuffed it into Chen Rong’s hands and told her, “Clean the blood on your face.” When he finished, he turned to go back.
Two paces later, he stopped and turned around to look in Chen Rong’s direction, wanting so say something to her but decided not to after some thought.
The bamboo tube was filled with water, which Chen Rong used to clean her face and rinse her mouth.