Transmigrating to Woo the Villainous Young Lady - Chapter 41
No matter how Xu Wenqing tried to dissuade her, Fu Guiyi remained unmoved. Instead, her suspicions grew.
Why would bandits only kidnap a single maid? Why didn’t they target the entire convoy?
Clearly, no matter how beautiful a maid might be, it wouldn’t be worth the bandits risking so much effort and danger.
Combined with Xu Wenqing’s uncharacteristic panic, Fu Guiyi became almost certain that he was the mastermind behind this incident.
Her hands gripped the rope tightly, slowly sliding down the mountainside, the veins on the back of her hands straining.
Fu Guiyi couldn’t understand why Xu Wenqing would target Shen Li so relentlessly. She had simply found someone she loved—it wasn’t as if she were neglecting affairs of state.
Could it be…?
An impossible thought surfaced in her mind: Does Xu Wenqing have feelings for me?
No, no, no!
Fu Guiyi quickly banished the terrible thought from her mind. How could that be possible?
Normally, she would never recklessly descend into a deep ravine of unknown depths without first sending the Black Armor Army to scout ahead.
But now, her heart burned with anxiety.
She had no time for such precautions, her only thought was to reach the bottom of the ravine as quickly as possible and rescue Shen Li.
Fu Guiyi hadn’t even considered what she would do if Shen Li had fallen to her death.
She refused to entertain such a possibility. As long as she hadn’t personally witnessed Shen Li’s death, she wouldn’t accept it as reality.
After sliding down for the time it takes several incense sticks to burn, Fu Guiyi finally touched soft earth. The ravine was filled with icy spring water, and the sound of rushing water filled her ears.
She lit a tinderbox, pulled a torch from her waist, and continued her search.
Before long, she spotted a large patch of bl00d. Fu Guiyi’s heart leaped in alarm. In her haste to descend, she had forgotten to bring her bow and arrows.
However, she still carried a dagger at her waist.
She could manage against a hungry wolf, but a giant bear would pose a serious problem.
Fu Guiyi lowered her brows, determined not to return without finding Shen Li.
After taking a few more steps, Fu Guiyi noticed the bloodstains growing increasingly prominent. Following the trail, she soon discovered Shen Li lying in a mountain cave.
Shen Li’s face was deathly pale, and she seemed to have barely any strength left.
Shen Li!
Fu Guiyi’s heart jolted with alarm. She rushed forward and knelt beside Shen Li, only to find her eyes tightly shut, unresponsive.
Trembling, Fu Guiyi reached out to check Shen Li’s breathing when she heard her murmur weakly, Young Mistress… save me…
The faint voice pierced Fu Guiyi’s heart. Ignoring the dirt, she knelt down to better support Shen Li.
After planting the torch nearby, Fu Guiyi reached out to help Shen Li sit up.
That’s when she noticed Shen Li’s limp leg. Lifting the hem of her skirt, Fu Guiyi saw the leg was broken, crudely wrapped in fabric.
Bl00d had already soaked through the makeshift bandage, indicating a dire situation.
Wen Qing…
Fu Guiyi bit her lip. She had repeatedly forgiven Xu Wenqing, relying on their childhood bond, but Xu Wenqing had only grown more brazen.
Shen Li had been incredibly fortunate to survive. Falling from such a height, she had only broken her leg. Had her luck been worse, she would have died instantly.
This could not be tolerated any longer.
Fu Guiyi had to make a choice: between her affection for Shen Li and her loyalty to the steward who had been by her side since childhood.
Neither option seemed easy.
Yet Fu Guiyi felt no hesitation. She knew exactly what she had to do.
On the battlefield, where fortunes shifted in an instant, a commander had to make split-second decisions.
Shen Li, it’s me.
Fu Guiyi pulled Shen Li into her arms but didn’t immediately lift her. Years of leading armies had given her some medical knowledge.
With Shen Li’s leg broken so badly, it needed temporary stabilization. Without it, the situation would worsen rapidly.
Fu Guiyi quickly found a straight branch, split it with her dagger, glanced down, and tore off the hem of her military uniform.
Then, she carefully began splinting Shen Li’s leg.
Only after finishing all this did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Shen Li had been awakened by the pain earlier, but she pressed her lips together, enduring it without uttering a word.
Her eyes, brimming with tears, made her look particularly pitiful.
Don’t cry. We’ll get a doctor to check you as soon as we get back, Fu Guiyi said, her heart aching inexplicably at the sight of Shen Li’s tear-filled eyes.
Young Mistress, I’m not crying, Shen Li retorted stubbornly, but the next moment, the pain from her broken leg made her wince.
Young Mistress, be gentle…
Tears finally spilled from her eyes.
Fu Guiyi turned her back to Shen Li. Climb on. I’ll take you the long way around.
Though the ravine was deep, it wasn’t impossible to circumvent, just more time-consuming.
When the Young Mistress didn’t return after a long while, several Black Armor Army soldiers slid down the ropes and found Fu Guiyi carrying Shen Li on her back.
They hadn’t gone far.
Young Mistress, let us carry this servant girl!
Even if Shen Li’s relationship with Fu Guiyi was unusual, a slave was still a slave. Having entered slave status, Shen Li was unworthy of being compared to the Young Mistress.
Forcing the Young Mistress to carry someone was an utter humiliation.
It was as if they were daring to move earth on the Grand Duke of Jupiter’s head.
No need.
But…
The Black Armor Army soldier hesitated slightly.
I said no need, and I mean it. One more word and you’ll be taking the punishment yourself.
Fu Guiyi’s tone was harsh, the only hint of gentleness reserved for her earlier conversation with Shen Li.
Yes, ma’am.
The soldier fell silent, and Fu Guiyi continued her brisk pace, carrying Shen Li effortlessly.
Young Mistress, aren’t you tired? Shen Li asked, enduring the pain as she tried to make conversation. She didn’t want Fu Guiyi to carry her the whole way; it was too much trouble.
Not at all.
But you… how did you fall?
The bandits captured me. I escaped when they weren’t looking, but I tripped in my haste.
Thank you, Young Mistress.
No need to thank me. I should be thanking you. Thank you for being so lucky to survive. Otherwise, who would warm my bed?
Young Mistress, you rule all of Cloudsea City. Finding another bed-warming maid would be effortless, wouldn’t it?
Despite the excruciating pain in her leg, Shen Li refused to let Fu Guiyi off the hook, continuing to tease her relentlessly.
You…
Fu Guiyi took a deep breath, speechless for the first time in her life.
In the past, anyone who dared to undermine her like this would have faced her arrow. But this was Shen Li, leaving her utterly helpless.
Fu Guiyi lowered her head, her foot crunching on fallen leaves, her ears flushing crimson.
You know perfectly well, Shen Li, that I like you. That’s why I couldn’t bear to lose you.