Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Because of her excessive worry, Zhen Mi no longer had the knowledgeable and calm demeanor she had when traveling with the caravan. She stayed by Ma Chao's side, trying countless methods, but Ma Chao still showed no signs of swallowing. The medicine kept leaking out, and his condition showed no improvement.

Zhen Mi's eyes were filled with tears, and her eyes were full of panic and helplessness, like a little girl at a loss. She held Ma Chao's hand tightly, her voice tearful, and kept calling out, but the only response she got was Ma Chao's heavy breathing.

Finally, after another failed attempt, Zhen Mi could no longer hold back her anger. Tears welling up in her eyes, she hurriedly jumped off the carriage and trotted to the old shopkeeper. The moment she saw the old shopkeeper, tears welled up in her eyes and she choked up, saying, "Old shopkeeper, please think of a way. He won't drink the medicine. What should I do?" Her hands tightly grasped the corners of her clothes, her body trembling slightly, her face filled with anxiety and fear.

The old shopkeeper frowned and looked serious. He suggested that the men pry open Ma Chao's mouth and feed him the medicine. Zhen Mi hesitated again and again. Although she felt that this method was a bit rough, she had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Everyone followed the old shopkeeper and hurried to the carriage, but before they could get close to the carriage, the white horse acted as if facing a great enemy. Its mane stood up, its front hooves raised high, and it let out a deafening neigh. It put on a desperate posture, staring at the approaching people with fierce eyes. As long as anyone took another step forward, it would attack without hesitation.

The old shopkeeper was so frightened by the scene that his face turned pale. He subconsciously stepped back and tried to get behind the white horse, looking for a chance to get closer to the carriage, but the white horse seemed to have eyes in the back of its head and quickly turned around, blocking him firmly. Seeing this, Zhen Mi was extremely anxious. She hurried forward, gently stroking the white horse's neck and whispering soothingly: "Be good, they are here to help save the general. Don't be afraid."

Bai Ma calmed down a bit after Zhen Mi's soothing treatment, but he still stood in front of the carriage, refusing to let anyone get any closer. The old shopkeeper sighed helplessly, spread his hands, and said with an embarrassed look on his face, "Miss, what should we do? Bai Ma won't let us get close, so we can't feed him this medicine." Zhen Mi bit her lower lip, her eyes reddening again. She looked at the stubborn Bai Ma and the unconscious Ma Chao, and was at a loss for what to do.

The old shopkeeper watched the stalemate unfold, feeling increasingly that this was a serious problem he couldn't shake off. He leaned over to Zhen Mi, lowered his voice, and urged her again, "Miss, this man is unconscious, and Bai Ma is so troublesome. If we keep him with us, the road ahead will be full of risks. In my opinion, it's better... to abandon him as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Zhen Mi's face, which was originally full of worry, instantly turned gloomy, and a trace of anger flashed in her almond-shaped eyes. She turned her head abruptly, stared at the old shopkeeper, and said in a cold and firm tone: "Old shopkeeper, I respect you as an elder, and I am grateful for your care along the way. But I don't want to hear you say this a second time today. How can I do nothing to watch someone die? If you mention it again, don't blame me for disregarding our past friendship." After that, she turned around and quickly returned to the carriage, regardless of the old shopkeeper's astonished expression.

Inside the carriage, Ma Chao remained unconscious, his scorching body temperature seemingly rising even higher. His brows knitted together in agony, and he murmured incoherently. Zhen Mi watched him in this state, filled with heartache and helplessness. Suddenly, as if making up her mind, she bit her lower lip, slowly reached out, and gently rolled up her sleeves, her movements gentle yet resolute.

She lifted the medicine bowl, scooped a spoonful of the decoction, and gently blew on it to cool it. Then she leaned forward slightly, holding the liquid between her lips, and slowly approached Ma Chao. Her heartbeat accelerated rapidly, and her cheeks flushed slightly, but her gaze remained firm. When her lips gently touched Ma Chao's chapped lips, she trembled slightly, but she remained calm and carefully passed the liquid into his mouth. As the liquid trickled in, she nervously watched Ma Chao's throat, fearing that he would feel the slightest discomfort.

Just as Zhen Mi was filled with anxiety, Ma Chao's throat moved slightly, and he began to swallow. Seeing this, Zhen Mi was delighted and immediately put away her shyness. She hurriedly quickened her pace and carefully fed the remaining medicine into Ma Chao's mouth, spoonful by spoonful.

After administering the medicine, Zhen Mi heaved a sigh of relief and called out to the waiter outside: "Quick, bring in the prepared wet cloth!" The waiters quickly handed the soft cloth soaked in warm water into the carriage. Zhen Mi took it, gently wrung out some of the water, then sat down beside Ma Chao and carefully wiped his face bit by bit. Her movements were gentle and focused, from Ma Chao's angular chin, to his high nose bridge, to his tightly closed eyes, leaving no part untouched. After wiping his face, she lifted Ma Chao's clothes again. Her movements were a little hesitant, and her cheeks flushed slightly, but when she thought of Ma Chao's condition, she still plucked up the courage and continued to gently wipe his burning chest and arms with the wet cloth, trying to cool him down in this way.

Outside the carriage, the white horse lay quietly on the ground, occasionally raising its head and looking inside through the gap in the curtain, as if it was also silently paying attention to Ma Chao's situation.

As night fell, the caravan found a sheltered spot to rest. Inside the camp, a bonfire burned brightly, illuminating the faces of those around them. A cook set up a stove nearby, meticulously preparing rice porridge. Curls of steam rose, wafting the fragrance of rice.

After the rice porridge was ready, Zhen Mi hurried back to the carriage, carrying a bowl of the mushy porridge. Ma Chao was still unconscious, unable to eat on his own. Looking at Ma Chao's pale face, Zhen Mi didn't hesitate. As naturally as she'd fed him medicine during the day, she scooped up a spoonful of porridge, gently blew on it, and when it was the right temperature, she held it between her lips and slowly leaned over to Ma Chao.

Her heartbeat was audible in the silent carriage. Though a subtle blush still lingered on her face, her eyes were filled with determination and concern. When her lips touched Ma Chao's again, she forced herself to calm herself, gently prying open his teeth and shoving a little rice porridge into his mouth. She paused with each spoonful, observing his reaction and ensuring he swallowed smoothly. Outside, the night deepened, with the occasional chirping of insects and the crackling of a burning campfire. This slightly shy yet deeply tender scene, combined with the scene inside, created a strange scene.

The old shopkeeper watched the carriage from afar, watching Zhen Mi coming in and out, busy and concerned, and couldn't help but shake his head secretly. He had witnessed Zhen Mi's growth throughout this caravan, and he had never seen her treat anyone with such care, this kind of meticulous attention to detail, not at all like treating a stranger.

His brow furrowed, his expression heavy, his heart filled with worry, as he pondered, "Is this a blessing or a curse?" Thinking of Zhen Mi, already betrothed to the Yuan family and soon to become their daughter-in-law, yet now living day and night with this man of unknown origin, the old shopkeeper felt a pang of anxiety. How would he explain this to the Yuan family when he returned to Yecheng? If rumors got out, not only would Zhen Mi's reputation be tarnished, but the entire Zhen family could also be implicated.

The old shopkeeper paced back and forth beside the campfire, his pipe, forgotten to smoke, its spark gradually extinguished. He would occasionally glance up at the carriage, his eyes filled with helplessness and worry, yet he was helpless and could only pray silently in his heart that things would not take the worst possible turn.

Late at night, all was silent, the caravan camp serene except for the occasional snore and the crackling of the burning campfire. Suddenly, a subtle yet painful sound from within the carriage shattered the stillness. Ma Chao's fever had returned. He clenched his teeth, their fangs chattering violently, and an unconscious cry of pain emanated from the depths of his throat: "Cold..."

Zhen Mi, who was sleeping beside him, was instantly awakened from her dream. She sat up with a start and reached out to touch Ma Chao's forehead. The scorching heat made her anxious. "Someone come!" she shouted loudly, and quickly jumped out of the car, "Hurry and send two sets of bedding over, thick ones!"

Soon, the servants arrived with blankets. Zhen Mi took them and hurried back to the carriage, covering Ma Chao with layer after layer of blankets, trying to dispel the chill within him with warmth. Even so, Ma Chao shivered with cold, curling up into a ball with a look of agony on his face.

Zhen Mi sat by the bed, holding Ma Chao's hand tightly, rubbing it with her own to keep him warm, murmuring soothing words: "Hold on, it'll get better, it will definitely get better..." However, nothing seemed to help. Ma Chao's fever persisted, and his painful moans twisted Zhen Mi's heart. She was extremely anxious, her eyes filled with helplessness and anxiety. In the silent night, she didn't know how to save the unconscious man before her.

Sweat trickled down Zhen Mi's forehead. She bit her lower lip, her heart churning. She knew that as an unmarried woman, if word got out about such an act, her reputation would be ruined, her family's reputation would be tarnished, and she feared she would never be able to face her family and the world again. But her gaze fell on Ma Chao's anguished face, his pale face tormented by his illness. How could she bear to sit back and watch?

Her hands trembled, and as her fingertips touched the belt, she hesitated. Her mind flashed back to her first encounter with Ma Chao: his wounded yet undiminished heroic figure, and that white horse, so full of human nature. It was as if some mysterious force had bound them together. "Is this fate?" she murmured. "Your BMW's trust in me must be a sign from heaven that we're destined to be together."

With a resolute heart, she untied her belt with trembling hands, removed her outer garment, and posed in her underwear. Her cheeks burned, not from the heat, but from shyness and nervousness. Taking a deep breath, she slowly lifted the covers, slid into bed, and carefully pulled Ma Chao's cold body into her arms. She couldn't help but shudder at the touch of skin, but she held him tightly, warming him with her body heat. At that moment, she thought to herself, she had already given him her innocence, and she only hoped that this sincerity would bring him peace.

Her heartbeat was intense, especially clear in the silent carriage. She tilted her head slightly and placed her face against Ma Chao's forehead, feeling his warmth as she whispered softly, "You must get better, please..."

After an unknown amount of time, Ma Chao finally stopped trembling. His tense body gradually relaxed, his brows softened, and his rapid breathing became steady. Sensing the change in her arms, Zhen Mi tilted her head slightly upwards. In the dim light of the carriage, she nervously and carefully examined Ma Chao's face. His face remained pale, but the pain had faded considerably. His long eyelashes cast a faint shadow beneath his eyelids, and the slight rise and fall of his chest told Zhen Mi that his condition was improving.

Zhen Mi's frayed nerves finally relaxed a little, her lips curling up unconsciously, tears glistening in her eyes. It was a sense of relief after worry, a sense of joy. She gently adjusted her position, fearing to disturb Ma Chao, yet she couldn't bear to release her embrace, as if this was the only way to continue protecting him. She pressed her cheek against Ma Chao's chest, quietly listening to his faint heartbeat. This sound was like the most beautiful melody in the world, completely calming her panicked heart. Outside the window, the night gradually faded, and the faint light of dawn quietly seeped in, as if cheering for the turning point in this long watch.