"Em... Emperor..."
The Imperial Physician knelt on the ground, trembling with fear, almost wetting his pants.
Zhao Junyao looked at him with a cold smile.
"Is this what you call a minor injury?"
The Imperial Physician glanced at the wound, nodded with great reluctance.
"Emperor, although this wound looks frightening, someone has already treated it earlier!"
"Apply some more medicine and wait for it to scab over, and it will soon heal!"
"So..."
Despite these words, Zhao Junyao’s expression remained grim.
After a long silence, he coldly asked again.
"How did it happen?"
It didn’t look like a sword or knife injury; it was such a large area.
Could it be a burn or scald?
But there were no blisters, just a large area of blood and flesh, with some places faintly scabbed over.
It seemed to be healing, yet was still very shocking.
The Imperial Physician had observed it carefully and replied immediately.
"Returning to the Emperor, from the situation at that time, the wound should be from a stone cut!"
"The stones that were just blasted open are quite sharp, so they can cut the skin!"
"But they’re not as sharp as blades, so the wounds are not deep!"
"It just looks shocking, but actually there’s no damage to the muscles and bones inside!"
"As long as the bleeding is stopped, there will be no danger!"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Junyao’s expression finally improved a bit.
He glanced coolly at the Imperial Physician.
"Hurry and apply the medicine, you fool!"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
The Imperial Physician kowtowed and hurriedly stepped forward to take the ointment, gently serving the empress to apply the medicine.
Zhao Junyao watched from the side.
He felt heartache for Qingqing while recalling the scene at that time.
At that time, stones kept falling from the cave.
After risking to send Qingqing out, he looked up to see the cave about to collapse.
Without thinking, he grabbed his sword and charged into the passage.
Even if the enemy had set up a formation, even if there were swords and fire ahead.
Even if he would end up dying at their hands after fighting, it was better than waiting for death.
Fortunately, he won.
The people the enemy sent were not enough to kill him.
He fought his way out single-handedly and finally escaped.
After coming out, he immediately returned to Guangnan City and sent someone to find out the situation.
Imperial Censor Zhou reported.
"Reporting to the Emperor, due to the enemy’s use of gunpowder, almost all of our people were sacrificed!"
Zhao Junyao was shocked at that time.
Originally thinking that everyone outside was his own, there would be someone to support Qingqing when she got out.
He didn’t expect... that they all died!
He was alarmed and immediately sent people to search for Qingqing’s whereabouts.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
Outside the city was an endless deep forest, where could he search?
During that time, Zhao Junyao was awakened by nightmares every night.
He couldn’t eat or drink and was so worn out that his eyes were dark and his face pale, losing a lot of weight, looking like his soul had left him.
Until that day, he received a message from Zhao Junqi, saying Qingqing was in his hands.
If he wanted her alive, he had to agree to his terms.
Only then did Zhao Junyao feel alive again.
He immediately ordered everyone to be on high alert and intensified the search.
He sent out a message himself, agreeing to negotiate, he only wanted her alive.
That’s why today’s event happened.
Recalling these experiences.
Zhao Junyao suddenly had a bitter smile on his lips.
Looking back now, it’s as light as a cloud.
But at that time, how did his heart ache so deeply, twisting repeatedly?
He swore.
Since his ascension to the throne for so many years, he never had such a moment of fear.
Even in the face of a plague, even with armies at the border.
He had never feared even a little.
Only when his beloved women’s life and death were unknown, did he feel such fear.
Qingqing!
I never thought there’d be a day I’d spend so much effort on a woman.
Even I am a bit shocked.
But...
Seeing her struggle so hard, seeing her tortured to this point, I really wish I could take her place!
How great would it be if it were I who was injured?
She has never been away this long since entering the palace.
She’s so timid, she must have been terribly scared these days.
It’s all my fault!
It’s all my fault for being careless!
Zhao Junyao was filled with extreme remorse.
...
The Imperial Physician finished applying the medicine and bandaging carefully, then stood up and retreated.
There were only two people left in the room.
Zhao Junyao went nowhere, just quietly watched her.
After an unknown amount of time, Xia Ruqing slowly regained consciousness.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Zhao Junyao sitting beside her, looking at her with a frown and a face full of worry.
Xia Ruqing was a bit confused.
"Where am I?"
Zhao Junyao breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly approached.