Leng Feng was unaware of Su Ling'er's complex thoughts. He leaned weakly against the bedside. Moments before, he had thought Leng Heng intended to harm Su Ling'er and had forcefully shielded her behind him. That action had drained all his remaining strength, leaving him so exhausted he could barely lift an arm.
Seeing Su Ling'er motionless, Leng Feng assumed she was still dazed from being frightened by Leng Heng and didn't call out to her to help him up.
He remained seated on the floor, his eyes fixed on the food and tea Leng Heng had brought to the table. He then licked his lips, which were dry and peeling. He hadn't eaten or drunk anything since morning, and his internal energy had been sealed off by the Prince. He was now truly parched and famished.
By the time Su Ling'er had finished her inner deliberations and snapped back to reality, Leng Feng was on the verge of losing consciousness. "Brother Leng, what's wrong with you? Ah! Why are you so cold?"
With great effort, Su Ling'er managed to help the weak and listless Leng Feng onto the bed.
"Water... I'm so thirsty..." Leng Feng mumbled, wanting to drink. His eyelids were heavy, threatening to close completely.
Su Ling'er quickly poured a cup of tea and, supporting his head, began to feed him. However, Leng Feng drank too eagerly and without swallowing properly, choking and coughing.
He had little strength left in his body, making even coughing a difficult task. When he couldn't cough effectively, the tea lodged in his throat, neither moving up nor down, making it impossible for him to breathe. His face turned the color of a pig's liver.
Su Ling'er was startled by his condition. She hadn't realized Leng Feng was so severely injured that even coughing was such a struggle.
Seeing him on the verge of suffocation, Su Ling'er quickly grabbed his arm and pushed him to lean over the edge of the bed, patting his back with all her might. Once the water from his mouth and throat flowed out, Leng Feng felt as if he could finally breathe again.
After this ordeal, both of them were soaked. Leng Feng had completely lost all his strength. The sensation of not being able to breathe had dulled the hunger in his stomach, and he tilted his head, slowly drifting off to sleep.
Su Ling'er looked at the disheveled and dirty person on the bed, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes. This Leng Feng was truly useless! She had considered marrying him and living a good life if she ever gained her freedom.
But looking at him now, a cripple on the verge of death, how could he be worthy of her affections? Would he remain like this forever? Would she have to take care of him for the rest of her life!
Su Ling'er shook her head, unable to bear the thought of spending her life with such a useless person. If that were the case, she would rather...
She had intended to leave Qingya Pavilion and find another opportunity. However, the aphrodisiac had already been used and could not be used again. Thinking of how she had finally managed to get in, and her meticulously planned scheme...
Su Ling'er gritted her teeth, suppressing the disgust she felt towards Leng Feng and her resentment towards heaven's unfairness, and resigned herself to tidying the room and the messy wooden bed.
If any other deputy generals from the Leng Squad came in and saw the messy room and Leng Feng's disheveled state, they would surely blame her for not taking good care of him and would drive her away.
Moreover, Su Ling'er thought that Huo Qiyuan might arrive at any moment. She was still fantasizing about becoming the Regent's concubine after the aphrodisiac worked its magic, so she absolutely couldn't leave a bad impression.
Thus, she waited and waited! It wasn't until six in the afternoon that someone else came to deliver food. Su Ling'er mistook them for Huo Qiyuan and quickly pretended to tuck Leng Feng into bed, then positioned herself at what she considered the most flattering angle, turning her face to the side to look at the person entering.
It wasn't Huo Qiyuan! It was Leng Heng, who came to deliver food for both of them and to collect the empty bowls from lunch. Seeing the clean bowls, he assumed he had served too little food at noon, not enough for the two of them.
Leng Heng felt a pang of guilt. Fortunately, this time he had brought an extra portion. But then he thought it wasn't his fault. He hadn't known this little maid would suddenly come to see his third brother. The lunch had originally been prepared only for his third brother.
What Leng Heng didn't know was that the food hadn't been eaten by Leng Feng at all. He hadn't woken up since falling asleep at noon. All the food had been eaten by Su Ling'er.
She had brewed medicine and brought it over without eating lunch herself, and then stayed in the room. After tidying up everywhere, she was extremely hungry and finally noticed the two large bowls of food on the table.
Su Ling'er hadn't thought there was anything particularly delicious inside, but when she opened the lids, she was captivated by the food. These were dishes and flavors she had never tasted before. Even after following Wang Bingchang and her living conditions had greatly improved, she had never eaten such delicious food.
So, Su Ling'er finished both large bowls of food in one go, leaving not a single bite for Leng Feng, completely unconcerned about whether he would be hungry when he woke up.
Seeing Leng Heng carrying the empty bowls and about to leave, Su Ling'er, despite her desire to see what food had been brought this time, suppressed her inner urges.
She put on a show of being very worried about Leng Feng, stopping Leng Heng as he was about to exit. "Deputy General Leng, please wait. Why hasn't anyone brought medicine for Brother Leng Feng for so long? He looks very weak. He couldn't even swallow water just now. He's the Prince's personal guard, your brother for so many years. He was attacked while protecting the Prince. Can't you at least call a doctor for him?"
Su Ling'er spoke righteously, feigning indignation on behalf of Leng Feng. She believed that by adopting a righteous posture similar to Su Muqing's, she could attract the attention of those around her.
Leng Heng looked at the woman before him with complex emotions, unable to understand what his second brother saw in her.
And what was she saying? Attacked while protecting the Prince? Was this something his second brother told her? Or was it something her own pig-headed brain came up with?
Su Ling'er's mention of "brothers for so many years" stirred complex emotions in Leng Heng. It was precisely because of their years of brotherhood that Leng Si and Leng Ao were unwilling to visit Leng Feng.
Leng Feng had shattered his eldest brother's entire left shoulder. Despite his usual resilience, Leng Heng had personally witnessed Leng Ren shedding tears in pain while his wounds were being treated.
The military doctor was helpless against such severe injuries. Even the spiritual spring water had little effect this time. With the Prince currently away from Si'an Prefecture, everything could only be decided after his return. Perhaps they would even have to seek help from His Majesty in Yaocheng.
If even His Majesty could not heal his eldest brother's injuries, then Brother Leng Ren's left arm might be crippled for life!