My elder sister forced me to become a concubine; I was reborn and remarried into the emperor's

Pei Ji grew up on horseback on the battlefield, so he knew some basic medical skills. In his eyes, a sprained ankle was just a minor ailment.

But the one who got hurt wasn't him, nor were his thick-skinned subordinates.

He felt he hadn't used much force; he had only gently pinched the ankle in his hand, and a few whimpering sounds came from it.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch! Be gentle! Can't you even do that?"

Pei Ji's brows were already showing some impatience, but when he met those tearful eyes, he lowered his head again and loosened his grip on her foot.

"Swollen."

"Nonsense, do you even need to tell me? It's swollen up like a steamed bun, anyone can see that."

Pei Ji was about to say that it was just swollen and there was no fracture or crack, so it was just a minor injury, but he was forced to stop himself.

Her feet were resting on his knees. The so-called new clothes he was wearing were forced on him by her; they were dark blue robes embroidered with bamboo patterns. She was already well-proportioned with fair and delicate skin, and the dark blue robes made her slightly bulging breasts look even more startling.

Forget it, there's no reasoning with a woman when she's so emotionally out of control.

He supported her foot with one hand and used the other to apply ointment to the wound.

The plaster was cool, but his palms were slightly warm, causing her to instinctively shrink back.

It wasn't that it hurt; it was just too stimulating.

But before she could pull back, she was grabbed by the ankle and dragged back: "Don't move, do you still want your foot?"

His palm was pressed tightly against the sole of her foot, and her foot was the same length as his palm, fitting perfectly. His other hand skillfully rubbed the injured area gently.

It hurt, of course, but Wei Nanxun could tell whether he was deliberately tormenting her or genuinely applying medicine to her.

She bit her lower lip and clenched her hands tightly to prevent any cries from escaping.

Even knowing it was for applying medicine, this gesture was still too intimate. Even Pei Yuyan had never touched her feet.

Perhaps the medicine had been rubbed in and the pain had subsided, leaving only a slightly warm feeling.

When she looked up, she could see Pei Yuyan bowing his head and looking serious. His eyelashes were long and fluttered like butterfly wings. He turned half of his face to the side, revealing his clear jawline and slightly pursed lips.

Although he was not talkative and always seemed fierce, his movements were incredibly gentle, making Wei Nanxun feel safe for the first time.

It was no longer her looking up at a man, but someone willing to lower their noble head before her. The two were no longer superior and inferior; they could sit on equal footing.

She was good to him, and he reciprocated in kind.

It's like a bird that has just weathered a storm finally finding a place to shelter from the storm.

Pei Ji put her feet down and said, "Alright, apply the medicine again tonight. Don't exert yourself too much. You'll be able to walk after resting for two days."

Wei Nanxun seemed to wake from a dream, her eyes unfocused as she asked, "Is that all?"

Pei Ji mistakenly thought she didn't trust his judgment, and frowned unhappily, saying, "Don't you trust me?"

"No, no, it's just that I feel... fast..."

It was too fast; she was actually a little reluctant to let go, wishing his fingers could linger a little longer.

Suddenly realizing what she was thinking, Wei Nanxun blushed furiously. How could she have such thoughts!

That's incredibly shameless.

"I... I was just saying you're amazing. I... I should go eat now."

As she was about to get up, she forgot that her foot wasn't fully healed and she wasn't even wearing shoes and socks. As soon as she stood up, she bumped into his solid chest.

Pei Ji was completely worn down by her teasing and lost all his temper. He took a deep breath and uttered two words: "Don't rush."

Wei Nanxun was initially embarrassed and ashamed, but for some reason, upon hearing Mo Ji's slightly helpless tone, an image of him holding a book, shaking his head like an old gentleman suddenly appeared in her mind.

It was somewhat amusing.

Forget it, why should she bother arguing with a proud, pedantic, and old-fashioned bookworm?

It was already quite an achievement that he was willing to set aside his principles to apply medicine for her; she should be happy about it.

Thinking this, Wei Nanxun looked up at him, her eyes sparkling, and asked, "You're not angry anymore?"

Pei Ji couldn't look directly into those eyes; they were too bright and clear, and his image was reflected in the dark pupils. How could a woman be so shameless?

Angry? What does he have to be angry about?

He looked away uncomfortably, but then he saw what Wei Nanxun was hanging at her waist, and his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Wei Nanxun was still waiting for him to speak when, unexpectedly, that hand went straight for the jade pendant at her waist.

How did you come to have this?

She looked down and realized that she had taken the jade pendant with her when she left home to change the cord. If she hadn't come to coax him in the middle, she would have taken it back to her room and carefully put it away.

Wei Nanxun snatched the jade pendant back and held it carefully in her hand.

"Don't touch this."

After she got the jade pendant back, she finally heard what Pei Ji said and couldn't help but show some surprise. Why was he reacting so strongly? It seemed that he recognized the jade pendant.

"Why are you so curious about my jade pendant?"

"Your jade pendant?"

Pei Ji bit down on those four words, his brows furrowing involuntarily. When did his personal belongings become hers?

This jade was made after he conquered the first city and smashed that damned emperor's jade seal. The character "寂" (ji, meaning loneliness/silence) on it was carved by him stroke by stroke.

In recent years, he has occasionally suffered from headaches and confusion. The old monk said that he had accumulated too much negative karma from killing and needed to go to his Baiyun Temple every few days to rest and recuperate.

On his way to Baiyun Temple, he was suffering from a splitting headache. He didn't want his quiet place to be known, so he didn't bring any attendants. That's why he was ambushed by assassins and fell off a cliff.

Perhaps it was just his own mind playing tricks on him, but whenever he liked to think things through, he would touch the jade, feeling that it could help him suppress the anger within him.

Ever since he lost the jade, his hands have felt somewhat empty.

No wonder I couldn't find it before; it must have been left with her that time.

Wei Nanxun felt a little guilty under his gaze. These belonged to her benefactor, not hers. But she knew she would never see her benefactor again in this life, so keeping his things was a way of remembering him.

"If it's not mine, then is it yours? Why are you so nervous? Do you recognize this jade pendant?"

She had stopped crying long ago, but her eyes were still slightly red. Her eyes, washed by tears, seemed even clearer and cleaner.

He swallowed back the word "yes" completely. Yes, he was now Ji Shouzhuo, not Pei Ji.

How could this jade pendant possibly belong to him?

He coughed lightly a few times: "I don't recognize it, but I think this jade is excellent, the characters on it are also very well carved, and it doesn't seem to be a woman's item."

Wei Nanxun didn't notice his unease. Hearing him praise the jade, she nodded in agreement.

"You have good taste. This jade is of course excellent. Although it is not mine, its owner is very important to me."

Pei Ji raised an eyebrow and looked at her in surprise.

Wei Nanxun carefully placed the jade pendant against her heart and said in a very soft voice, "It's so important that I would protect it with my life."