Chapter 101: 90 Candid (Revision)

Xiao Liulang had no clue about the old lady’s secrets, let alone know where she got the golden wound ointment from. However, this wasn’t the time to contemplate these issues. Gu Jiao’s condition was critical, and her wounds needed immediate attention.

Though they had shared a bed, it was always with their clothes on. Now, however, he had no choice but to lift her garments.

Xiao Liulang steadied his emotions, then gently turned her over so she was lying on her stomach.

His slender fingers, trembling slightly, hooked up her slightly warm undergarments, gradually revealing her skin.

The lengthy whip mark ran from the barely visible right side of her waist all the way to her left shoulder.

He reluctantly had to strip her of her clothes entirely, revealing her smooth and unblemished back.

Her hands were placed on her pillow, her position accentuating the beautiful shape that was unique to young girls.

In order to assess her injuries clearly, Xiao Liulang lit an oil lamp in the room, but his gaze unintentionally lingered on places it shouldn’t have.

His breath hitched for a moment, and he hurriedly looked away, daring not to gaze any further.

Once he steadied his emotions again, he dipped his fingertips in the cool ointment and gently applied it bit by bit onto her whip marks.

Seemingly feeling some discomfort in her slumber, she slightly furrowed her brow.

The whip marks were hideous, as if not caused by an ordinary whip.

She didn’t seem like someone who would allow herself to be bullied, at least not now. Xiao Liulang couldn’t help but wonder how she sustained such injuries and who her adversaries were.

That she seemed indifferent to her injuries, as if it was something she was accustomed to, perplexed him even more.

Although she had a bitter life since childhood, it wouldn’t extend to being abused constantly.

Carrying his doubts, Xiao Liulang finished applying the ointment and covered her wound with a clean piece of cloth. Only afterward, did he lower her clothes and cover her with a quilt.

After completing all this, he planned to return to his room but accidentally kicked something while standing up.

With a loud thud, it seemed like a box had fallen over, its contents scattering all over the floor.

Xiao Liulang placed the small wooden box back onto the table and picked up the scattered items, placing them all back onto the table. Looking at the pile of items covering the entire table, he was left bewildered.

“What are all these things?”

“And, why are there so many?”

The variety of peculiar objects were spread all over the table. He wondered how a small box could hold so many items.

The day when Gu Jiao fell into the water for the first time, he had come to her room looking for something, he was certain that she didn’t have this box at that time.

First, it was the inexplicable injuries, then it was this peculiar box. How many secrets was she harboring?

Xiao Liulang shot a complex glance at the sleeping Gu Jiao. He felt irritated, yet he couldn’t pinpoint what exactly was bothering him.

Ultimately though, he didn’t have a habit of prying into others’ secrets. He didn’t investigate the medicines on the table and placed them all back into the small medicine box.

Even he was amazed at how the small box could fit so much inside. Truly impressive.

Now, he truly planned to get back to his room.

However, he must not have placed the medicine box securely as it tumbled off the tabletop with a thud, the contents once again scattering all over the floor.

What was astonishing, however, was that these items seemed to be different from what fell out earlier!

“Is my vision playing tricks on me or…”

Xiao Liulang suspiciously looked at the medicines on the floor, for the first time doubting his own eyes.

He placed the items back into the box, planning to overturn the box again to verify. Suddenly, Gu Jiao, who was sleeping on the bed, turned over and hurt her wound, she murmured uncomfortably.

Xiao Liulang halted his actions, he suddenly realized that it was inappropriate to rummage through someone’s things in the middle of the night. With a sigh, he placed the box back and left her room.

The next day, Xiao Liulang woke up early.

Gu Jiao’s high fever had mostly subsided, but she was so exhausted that she continued to sleep deeply.

Xiao Liulang didn’t wake her up. He made breakfast, informed the old lady, and then proceeded to the Academy.

At the villa, the Yao family, who had waited all night, couldn’t wait any longer and followed the Governor Gu to the village.

The door was opened by Little Kong.

Generally, doors in the countryside were not locked, but Little Kong had bolted it to prevent people from disturbing Gu Jiao’s sleep.

Little Kong peeked his round little head through the door crack, curiously staring at the Yao family and Governor Gu at the doorstep.

He recognized the Yao family, a beautiful woman who often went to the temple to offer incense.

He also recognized Governor Gu, the big bad guy who had ordered the capture of him and Jiaojiao!