She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

”Girl, girl. Han Lei.”

Zhao Zun called several times in succession, but still no response. Zhao Zun’s heart suddenly sank.

He quickly walked around the screen, and the scene before him made him freeze instantly—

Han Lei was leaning against the side of the wooden tub, her eyes closed, breathing evenly, evidently asleep. Her delicate face was slightly flushed from soaking in the hot water, making her appear even sweeter. Beneath the calm water surface, a scene of springtime allure lay.

Zhao Zun felt a warmth at his ears, his heartbeat involuntarily accelerated. He hurriedly closed his eyes, swallowed a gulped, and tried his best to steady his inner turmoil.

With eyes shut, he reached out to test the water temperature, finding it indeed a bit cold.

”Quickly bring clothes for Miss Han to wear.” Zhao Zun instructed turning back.

Two maidservants hastily brought clean clothing, carefully wrapping it around Han Lei. Only then did Zhao Zun open his eyes and gently lifted Han Lei from the water.

Her body was lightweight and soft, like a feather. Zhao Zun’s movements were extremely gentle, afraid to wake her. Looking at her bare white calf extending outside the dress, his breath quickly became rapid again.

He quickened his pace to the bed, placed Han Lei down, and turned away behind the screen.

The two maidservants had already brought dry clothes to change Han Lei’s clothes, and then covered her with a quilt.

Perhaps too exhausted, Han Lei remained oblivious to the whole process.

”Prince, it’s done,” Zitan whispered.

”Hmm! Put this on Miss Han’s neck.”

Zhao Zun came from behind the screen, handed the Love Lock he was holding to Zitan, and watched as Zitan placed the Love Lock back around Han Lei’s neck.

He found it on the small table beside the bathtub; Han Lei had removed it and placed it there during her bath.

Entering behind the screen again and seeing the bathtub, the image of Han Lei soaking inside constantly flashed in Zhao Zun’s mind.

Now, facing Han Lei’s sleeping visage, a blush suddenly appeared on Zhao Zun’s cold, handsome face.

He diverted his gaze, placing his hand over his lips, coughed lightly to disguise his awkwardness, then instructed the two maids.

”Take good care of Miss Han. If she awakens, notify this prince immediately.”

Zitan and Jin Ju nodded in agreement. Zhao Zun looked at Han Lei once more, then quietly retreated from the room.

Leaving the courtyard, the rain was growing heavier. Zhao Zun stood under the eaves, gazing upwards at the pattering rain, a tinge of regret in his heart.

Following the scene just now, it seemed an inexplicable force was tempting him.

He regretted it. Tomorrow, he planned to discuss the wedding arrangements with Han Lei.

The undertaking of ”doing him” couldn’t be accomplished in a day or two; it required careful deliberation. But the matter of wedding Han Lei, he didn’t want to delay any longer.

Such a unique and captivating lady like Han Lei, he feared mere reliance on the Love Lock might not be enough to bind her.

Thinking of this, Zhao Zun glanced back at the house, then braced his umbrella and walked into the rain...

...Embrace my book friends...

The pattering rain lasted all night, the sky above the prairie was washed a pure blue.

Across the vast grassland, white tents were scattered like blooming lotuses. Yet a heavy atmosphere loomed over this tranquil prairie.

The Turkic provisions were burned, their general lost, and thereby, their morale shattered.

In panic and disarray, the great army returned lazily to the royal court, soldiers dejected, as if their spirits had been drained.

Upon receiving the scout’s report, Ashina Khan hadn’t expected the army to return within just ten days of departure.

He felt a vague sense of unease within and urgently gathered the tribal leaders, hurriedly exiting the tent to the place of rallying troops.

Ashina Khan and the tribal leaders saw from afar, on the grass before the Sacrificial Wine Platform lay numerous corpses, haphazardly placed.

The air was thick with the muddy scent of damp earth and the odor of horse dung.

Beside the grass, dozens of war horses roamed unattended, leisurely grazing, while dozens of cavalry sat on the grass, devoid of the valiant spirit they held before the expedition, instead there was eerie desolation of despair.

Clearly, this was the sight of defeat!

Facing this scene of despondency, approaching the corpses, Ashina Khan suddenly felt as if his feet were mired in a swamp, heavy and unable to move.

”You... what happened here?”

The usually mighty Ashina Khan now spoke with a lack of strength, even trembling slightly. It seemed he didn’t dare to inquire what actually transpired.