Jingting appeared already cleaned up, clothed outside the bathroom screen, where Liu Sheng waited. And it was a sight to see.
He stood there, the dark teal silk robe fitting his shoulders and figure perfectly, the white collar contrasting with his skin, making it look painfully fragile. The belt Sheng gave him was making Jingting's slim waist stand out even more. Once he moved the wide sleeves, the movement of light unveiled the intricate silk peony pattern. His dark hair was tightly secured in a top knot, without any mesh. Liu Sheng frowned.
"Give me a second," he said and walked deeper in his room. For a few moments, he was obviously searching for something, and later he came back. He stood dangerously close to Jingting, but raised his hands to Jingting's hair. He placed a silver hair crown with a paired hairpin and took a few steps back again.
"Perfect," he breathed out, admiring the beauty Jingting was. It wasn't that before he was ugly. No, he always felt like a beautiful plum blossom to Liu Sheng, but now, he has become a luxury orchid. Jingting's ear reddened.
"It's a waste. I need to treat the soldiers now. I will make it messy again, maybe get blood on it. I need something worse." Liu Sheng laughed.
"Too bad. This is the worst I have," he said. But it wasn't true. Actually, this was one of the more expensive pieces he had. But somehow he wanted to see Jingting in it and at the same time… spoil him. Jingting was born into the Wen family, he was supposed to be noble. He should have worn clothes like this since he was born, not to hide himself in the ugly brown he always wore because it was practical.
"Dear heaven, he is so beautiful." His mother, always composed and stoic, was standing in the room door, staring at the person in Liu Sheng's clothes with her mouth open.
"Come here, son, you are beautiful," she said and grabbed Jingting by his hands. Since when she adopted another son? Liu Sheng asked, confused, but unwilling to share, he took Jingting's hands and smiled at his mother.
"Mom, Jingting has to go and treat our soldiers. We have to go," he said before Jingting could even say a word. And dragged him away.
"Get on," he said when getting into the saddle of his own horse and reached out with his hand to Jingting.
"Not a chance. Get me a horse." He was strictly against it. There were too many people.
"You can't ride a horse in the town. I can in an emergency. And this is an emergency. I won't get beheaded. You will." Jingting gritted his teeth and took his hand. With his help and his skill, he swung up on the saddle. Why did he end up in the front, being hugged by his general, he had no idea.
Every slight touch of their bodies made him feel too hot. He felt like molten lava was poured on his skin.
"How many can you save?" Liu Sheng whispered into Jingting's ear. He jerked himself, getting goosebumps all over his body. Jingting smacked him over the hands that held the reins, feeling his rugged skin. He was definitely working on his martial arts. His hands had the feeling of holding a weapon the entire day. When he was wounded, they got a bit softer. Why was he noticing those things? Jingting shook his head and went back in his head, thinking about the soldiers.
"I already sorted them. Xuhua already went ahead to take care of the flesh wounds and to prepare whatever we will need. I will take care of only the worst ones." Liu Sheng felt a sense of pride, even though he was nothing to Jingting. He felt so proud of even being attracted to him, even though it really made no sense.
Once they arrived, Jingting was the first one to get down, and before Liu Sheng could give his horse to the stableman, he was in the bing fang.
The smell of medicine, blood, and death was all around. He followed Jingting into a special room, passing by the sitting soldiers. Some of them wanted to bow to him, but he dismissed them quickly enough.
"You are sick. You don't need to…" he said loud enough for everyone to hear. "Focus on getting better," he finished and followed Jingting further into the house. On the second floor, he finally managed to catch up to him when he stopped inspecting Xuhua.
"Do we have enough boiled silk threads?" he asked. Xuhua nodded.
"Fang Tao took care of everything. He helped me with the salves and saw me sewing up the wounds. He is now preparing the hot water for you." Jingting nodded back. Xuhua was weirdly silent, then she stopped sewing and looked at Jingting.
"He is not so bad, but the wound… It's weird. Fang Tao asked if he could watch your work…" Jingting remained silent. Then he looked back at Liu Sheng.
"Is he… trustworthy?" he asked. Sheng stopped his awkward shuffling around and stared into Jingting's deep eyes.
"He saved my life many times, and so he did save other soldiers. Don't say who you are, but your skills… well, him knowing at least some, can save many more lives." That was enough. He nodded to Xuhua and bit his lip when turning back to Liu Sheng.
"You come with me too. I will need you to hold a mirror and a candle. Or at least find something that will help me see better into the wound." Liu Sheng was fascinated. He saw many cut wounds, so he was not afraid to be disgusted. He nodded in agreement and followed both Xuhua and Jingting, who went deeper into the house.
"Hello, I'm Fang Tao. This garrison's medical healer. I'm really happy I can watch your work. Ms. Han is amazing when I saw her at work, so when she told me you are even better, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to see you at work." Fang Tao was nothing like his own disciples. They were all silent, calm, maybe even aloof. But no. Fang Tao looked young despite his beard, his eyes still had the spark of life, yet Jingting had no doubt he had seen many people die. It was fascinating. He was staring at him until Liu Sheng had walked in between them.
"Fang Tao, calm down. Mr. Li is not here to cater to your fantasies. He is here to help people, so get to work." Jingting peeked out to see Fang Tao's face harden, the young person as if disappeared, and a much older-looking person appeared in his place. So that was it… he was hiding beneath a mask while working.
Just as everyone here in this room was.