Dandere General and his Lord

6. A Noble’s Whims

The marquis also used those tweezers to pick up a small, curved needle which resembled a fishhook and was fitted with a thin string of thread which was typically used to sew clothes. 

He consoled him, “It will hurt a bit, but bear with it. Your wound is too big, it’s better to suture it.”

He said it would hurt. 

Suture? What did he mean by suture? 

Mo Qiao Sheng felt a couple of light stabs of pain which didn’t faze him in the slightest. 

He was more alarmed at the fact that the noble in front of him was sewing up his wound bit by bit with a needle, as though he was sewing clothes.

Although unskilled, his expression was very focused and conscientious. 

While sewing, he explained, “This is only temporary. After going back, you have to cut off the thread and pull it out three days later, got it?” 

The outer appearance looked terrible, but the result was indeed great. Mo Qiao Sheng saw that the diamond shaped wound on his shoulder which was initially difficult to heal had been tightened and was no longer bleeding.

Marquis Jin Yue opened a porcelain bottle and carefully applied a layer of fine, yellow powder on his wound before pressing a block of clean, white gauze on it. 

Mo Qiao Sheng finally realized that he was treating his wound. He subconsciously wanted to lift up his hand and unclenched it before recalling that his hands were tied behind him and he could not move. 

“Don’t move. It’s still not done.” A gentle voice sounded gently in his ears. 

The man leaned over his ear and wound a circle of breathable gauze around his shoulder. The breath of his words caressed his face.

An inexplicable emotion passed through Mo Qiao Sheng’s heart, like being scratched by a kitten’s paws. Sour and painful, yet unable to snatch a trace. 

This Marquis, will you let me go? 

He secretly expected it. 

Then he immediately admonished himself that he must not have such extravagant hopes. 

Having met such a kindhearted noble who does not torture me, but also treats my wounds for me, and….. does that sort of thing to me, I can already be regarded as lucky. 

Cheng Qianye used the scissors and cut off the clothes remaining on his body. When that slender body was revealed to her gaze, her heart really felt sore. 

The young body was covered all over with bruises and scars, large and small, new and old. There was a stab wound on his abdomen that was even more serious than the wound on his shoulder. It was bound tightly with a strip of dirty cloth. 

His limbs, which should have just left its teenage stage, already had some joints that were slightly deformed from excessive training.

This was indeed a cruel era and this man was a pitiable one. 

Cheng Qianye sighed heavily and tried to make her movements as gentle as possible. 

Mo Qiao Sheng looked at that face displayed beneath the light. That honourable marquis was personally sewing up his wound, sighing softly. 

He was focused and earnest, and the light shining down on him gave him a brilliant glow. 

The needle pierced through his skin, forming a very strange scene. 

However, Mo Qiao Sheng felt his frazzled nerves slowly relaxed. 

With this relaxation, a dense sense of sleepiness assaulted his exhausted body that had gone day and night without sleep. 

He couldn’t help wanting to shut his eyes. 

He roused himself and struggled to keep his eyes open. 

No, no, I can’t sleep. 

I can’t fall asleep and leave my body at the mercy of a stranger. He couldn’t imagine what he would face after waking up. 

What’s more, did you forget your identity and for what purpose you came here? 

This Marquis just wrapped up your wounds so gently. When he wants to use you later only to see that you’ve fallen asleep, wouldn’t he be infuriated? 

Mo Qiao Sheng heard a gentle voice. 

“Sleep. You’re tired. So sleep for a while if you want to. Have a good rest.” 

He said I could sleep. 

He gave his consent. 

He said I could sleep for a while. 

Just for a while

He repeated these thoughts to himself as he fell into a deep sleep. 

________

Cheng Qianye finally finished tending to all kinds of injuries. 

She wiped her sweat as she thought that she should still call for an army doctor to come and take a look. 

The stitches on his abdomen looked crooked thanks to her lack of skill and nervousness. 

It’s a pity that there’s no suturing at this time. I’m so unskilled, it must have caused him a lot of pain. 

Cheng Qianye raised her head but was surprised to see that the young slave had sunken into sleep long ago. 

He was sound asleep, his bloodless lips slightly open. 

Being able to fall asleep in the middle of getting stitches without any anesthesia, it was obvious that he must have been wholly exhausted. 

Forget it, don’t wake him up. Let him have a good sleep here. 

Others will probably think I took liberties with this slave. She sighed. 

Anyway, this “older brother’s” reputation has always been like this. With this, I’ll appear more natural too. 

Cheng Qianye pulled the bedding and gently covered the half naked body. She herself made do with the couch for the night. 

When Mo Qiao Sheng woke up from his deep sleep, the day was already bright. 

He rolled out of bed and turned back to look at the gorgeous bed behind him, bewildered. 

He doubtfully stroked the dry and soft quilt he had just rolled out of. It was still nice and warm from his remaining body temperature. 

I… I slept through the whole night?

He lowered his head and saw that the restraints that bound him were already undone. 

The clothes on his body were missing and he was only left with his trousers that had been cut short so that it only covered his shame.

The small and big wounds on his body were all tightly wrapped up with clean, breathable gauze, emitting a faint scent of medicine. 

Mo Qiao Sheng examined himself twice from head to toe to make sure that his body hadn’t been used or shown any outward signs of injury.

He raised the curtain in the tent, feeling somewhat apprehensive. 

The curtain divided the big tent into two rooms. 

That noble person from last night was sitting outside.

He leaned on the table, holding a roll in one hand and a steaming cup of tea in the other, sipping it gently. 

Only an obscured figure was visible against the rays of the morning sun. 

Such a gentle personage, even if he wants to do something to you, you should not resist. 

Mo Qiao Sheng touched the snowy white bandage on his shoulder as he urged himself repeatedly. 

Such a matter is actually nothing. It won’t hurt for too long and it’s better than getting cut with a blade twice. I need to get over it. This is how everyone lives. 

Being with such a kindhearted person for your first time, you’re already fortunate. 

Mo Qiao Sheng forced himself to be ready to devote himself. He walked over to Cheng Qianye’s side and knelt at her feet. 

Holding the hem of her robe, he recalled how those little prostitutes in Chuhuai Hall kissed the hem of the guests’ robes to appeal for those nobles to show sympathy for them. 

However, he found his neck was stiff and refused to bend. 

His hands that were holding onto the robe trembled so much that it wrinkled the fine cloth. 

“What are you doing?” A gentle voice sounded above his head. 

“I……” He raised his head and his lips quivered. He could not bring himself to say those shameful words that those little prostitutes in Chuhuai Hall used to say. 

I don’t want to. 

I’m sorry. 

I really don’t want to. 

Can you spare me? 

I beg you, let me go.

He screamed desperately in his heart. 

A bowl of sweet porridge with red dates and longan was stuffed into his hands. 

“Drink. Drink this and go back.” That voice said, as if hearing the innermost screams in his heart. 

Mo Qiao Sheng finished the porridge in a daze, unable to even taste what entered his mouth. 

He walked out of the tent in a muddle, the glare of the sun rousing him from his stupor. 

He touched the new clothes and the bottle of medicine given to him by Marquis Jim Yue and still felt dazed, as if he was dreaming. 

Mo Qiao Sheng licked his lips and felt a subtle taste. Sweetness?

His whole mouth was filled with the faint remnants of this sweetness. 

Is this sugar? The legendary sugar. 

I’m not dreaming. He said to himself. How can I dream of something so sweet. 

Mo Qiao Sheng returned to the slave barracks. On his way back to his cubicle, he saw that the door to A’Feng’s cubicle was not closed and there was a disheveled body on the floor. 

Mo Qiao Sheng went inside and picked him up and put him on the bed. 

He gazed at the tragic scene of the body and sighed. He stroked the bottle of medicine in his bosom and gently rubbed it with his fingers before pulling out the cork. He gently spread out the yellow powder on the most severe of A’Feng’s wounds. 

“Where did you get the medicine?” A’Feng turned around and asked. His beautiful phoenix eyes were swollen on one side and the corners of his mouth were split and bruised. 

Mo Qiao Sheng paused for a moment before he said, “Jin Yue Marquis bestowed it.” 

A’Feng looked him up and down before turning over and groaning. “So lucky. What about that fool A’Yun?” 

“I haven’t seen him yet.”

“That idiot. I don’t know if we can see him again.” A’Feng stopped talking. 

Mo Qiao Sheng simply handled his wounds for him and walked out the door. 

A’Yun’s condition was still unknown. Mo Qiao Sheng knew that A’Yun’s disposition was more outspoken than his, and even more unable to control his temper. 

Feeling worried, he quickened his pace, wanting to return to his cubicle earlier and see whether that younger brother next door needed his help. 

At that moment, two slaves came from the other end of the path, carrying a stretcher. There was a corpse on the stretcher, his body covered with filthy rags and his bloody legs exposed. 

This sort of situation was a common sight in the slave barracks and Mo Qiao Sheng passed by apathetically. 

An arm suddenly dropped down from the stretcher. There was a sinister looking scar winding around the back of that pale hand. 

Mo Qiao Sheng paused suddenly. His pupils contracted and he clenched his fists. 

That pale, lifeless arm swayed past him. 

A’Yun. 

It was A’Yun. 

Just after one night, that A’Yun who loved to laugh had disappeared. 

Just yesterday, the five of them had passed by here. A’Yun’s voice seemed to ring through the deserted pathway. 

“I wonder what master is going to bestow on us. A’Jia, do you think it could be meat? I haven’t eaten meat in such a long time.”

This world was so unjust. A vivacious life that had struggled so hard was ended so casually just because of a small bit of anger from those aloof nobles. 

Mo Qiao Sheng closed his eyes painfully. He clenched that small porcelain bottle in his hand, as if wishing he could draw in a trace of warmth from that cold bottle to fill the huge, aching cavity in his heart.