Chapter 351 He Would Never Allow Her to Have Any Ties to Xiao Lingchuan Again!

Chapter 351: He Would Never Let Her Have Any More Ties with Xiao Lingchuan!

Jiang Shuning recoiled as if burned, her upper body jerking backward.

Her lips still seemed to hold the cold touch of his, mingled with the bitterness of the herbs, a sensation that seared all the way to her heart, making her entire face flush.

Her mind went blank. She stammered out an explanation, "I... I didn't mean to... I was just trying to give you the medicine..."

Before she could finish, she met Xiao Lingchuan's eyes.

Those eyes, usually as sharp as an eagle's, were now glazed with moisture, unfocused, not really seeing anything. He stared at her—or rather, through her—at some distant, blurry figure.

His gaze was so dreamy, so gentle, as if he'd found a lost treasure.

"Shuning..." His cracked lips moved, the words coming out like a soft sigh. "You didn't abandon me... so good..."

The moment he finished, the light in his eyes faded completely, his eyelids fell heavily, and he sank back into unconsciousness.

Jiang Shuning froze.

Time seemed to stop. The wind in the forest, the rustling leaves—all faded away.

Only those two words echoed in her mind.

Shuning?

Who was Shuning?

She frantically searched her empty memories, but found nothing.

He... had mistaken her for someone else?

A wave of indescribable bitterness surged through her, as if someone had poured a whole jar of vinegar down her throat—sour and bitter, making her eyes burn.

So, whether it was his stubborn self-harm in the yamen, or his desperate protection when they fell off the cliff, all his breathtaking sacrifices were only because this disguised face of hers happened to resemble the person in his heart?

After everything, she was nothing but a ridiculous imitation, a mere stand-in for solace.

This realization pierced her heart like a poisoned thorn.

Jiang Shuning's emotions were a tangled mess.

If that was truly the case, then once her disguise faded and she returned to her real appearance, would he immediately withdraw all his tenderness and look at her like a stranger?

What would she do then?

After a moment, she shook her head violently, forcing those messy thoughts away.

What good was thinking about that now? He was dying!

Right now, saving his life was the most important thing!

The self-pitying bitterness in her heart gave way to a stronger panic and heartache.

Pushing down her shame and embarrassment, she lowered her head once more and pressed her warm lips against his cold ones.

This time, there was no romantic thought, only the urgency to save him.

Clumsily, she used her tongue to push the bitter herbal paste into his mouth, little by little, until she was sure he had swallowed instinctively, then she pulled back.

The Dragon Blood Cocoon truly lived up to its reputation as a miraculous healing remedy.

Within moments, the bleeding from the horrific wounds on Xiao Lingchuan's chest slowed noticeably, and finally began to clot.

Jiang Shuning let out a long sigh, her nerves relaxing a little.

But as soon as one problem was solved, another popped up.

She felt his temperature rising sharply, burning to the touch.

He was burning up with fever.

It was no wonder. The old wound on his chest had been repeatedly torn open by himself, and then he had rolled down the cliff with her in his arms. Old injuries combined with new—it was a miracle he'd lasted this long.

She dared not imagine how much he'd been through.

Thinking back to how he had unhesitatingly shielded her when they rolled down the cliff, the bitterness she had felt over being a "substitute" was completely overwhelmed by an overwhelming, indescribable sense of heartache.

Who cared who was in his heart? Who cared if she was a substitute? He had saved her life—that was an undeniable fact.

She couldn't just stand by and watch him die.

Without further hesitation, Jiang Shuning swiftly removed her outer robe and draped it over him, the fabric still warm from her body.

The mountain morning had a chill, and she wore only a thin inner garment. She shivered and instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.

She pressed on his Dazhui, Hegu, and Shixuan pressure points, trying to ease the damage the fever was causing his body.

The fever had flushed Xiao Lingchuan's cheeks an unnatural red, and sweat plastered stray hairs to his smooth forehead.

His usual cold, keep-your-distance aura had completely vanished, leaving only vulnerability and fragility.

His thick, dark lashes cast shadows beneath his eyes, and his tightly pressed, bloodless lips gave him an almost haunting, heartbreaking beauty in the dim morning light.

Jiang Shuning's gaze unconsciously traced his brows and eyes.

She couldn't help wondering: what kind of extraordinary woman must that "Shuning" be, that such a brilliant and powerful man couldn't forget?

Surely, she must be of noble birth, beautiful and talented, a princess of the highest order whose every smile could charm the world.

Definitely not someone like her – lowborn and living a lie.

Jiang Shuning gave a bitter smile and withdrew her hand.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the nearby woods.

Her heart tightened. She looked up warily and met a pair of eyes so dark they seemed to ooze with rage.

It was Jiang Tianze.

Seeing him standing there unharmed, Jiang Shuning breathed a sigh of relief.

In the urgency of the moment, she'd been so focused on getting back to save Xiao Lingchuan that she hadn't had time to worry about him. Now she felt a pang of guilt.

Jiang Tianze's face was dark as thunder.

His gaze, like two blades coated in ice, were fixed on the pair leaning against the tree trunk.

Jiang Shuning leaned against Xiao Lingchuan, wearing only a thin inner robe, while her outer robe lay neatly over Xiao Lingchuan's body.

Jiang Tianze felt a surge of fury explode from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, burning his entire body in pain.

He had clearly shouted for her to run, but without a word, she went to find Xiao Lingchuan.

In those few days at the yamen, what kind of love potion had Xiao Lingchuan given her?

That she, despite her amnesia, would choose Xiao Lingchuan over him without hesitation or a second thought!

Jealousy mixed with rage burned wildly in Jiang Tianze's chest, nearly consuming his sanity.

Step by step, crunching on dry leaves and withered twigs, he slowly walked toward that big tree.

He would never allow her to have any more ties with Xiao Lingchuan!

As Jiang Tianze approached step by step, Jiang Shuning saw the unmistakable murderous look in his eyes.

She saw him draw his longsword; a cold, sinister glint flashed through the forest, pointing directly at Xiao Lingchuan, who lay unconscious in the tree.

Jiang Tianze, poised and ready, was about to leap up.

In that instant, Jiang Shuning's mind went blank, and her body moved before her mind could catch up.

She flung open her arms and, with her frail body, firmly placed herself in front of Xiao Lingchuan.

"Tianze, don't hurt him!"