The cool morning breeze drifted through the small courtyard, carrying the scent of damp earth. An old man sat on a simple wooden bench in the corner while the young physician massaged his shoulder with steady, rhythmic motions. A short distance away, near the low courtyard wall where the horses were tethered to iron rings, Hēiláng (黑狼) and Mùyě (牧野) stood talking in low voices.
Pressing his thumb into the knots of the old man's muscles, the physician asked:
"Do you feel any better now?"
The old man let out a sigh of relief. "Ah... yes. The pain has eased quite a bit."
Continuing his work, the physician said in a serious tone:
"It is time for you to retire. With your back and shoulder in this state, you will collapse if you keep pushing yourself."
The old man gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"You speak so easily because you have no wife or children. Life is expensive, young man."
The physician fell silent, merely adjusting the pressure of his hands. Noticing the strangers, the old man glanced toward Hēiláng and Mùyě. He lowered his voice and whispered:
"Who are they?"
"Strangers to this town," the physician replied without looking up. "They brought a patient last night and became my guests."
The old man cast a curious look toward the room. "Is the woman inside with them?"
The old man gave a mischievous grin and nudged the physician in the ribs.
"If she is unwed, you should make a proposal. Perhaps your luck will turn."
The physician's face suddenly flushed. He pulled back awkwardly and hissed:
"Hush! Watch your words." He gestured with his eyebrows toward Hēiláng and added: "That ill-tempered man is her husband."
The old man froze for a moment. "Oh..."
The physician pointed to the bruise under his eye. "He is the one who did this to me."
The old man looked again at Hēiláng's tall frame and disciplined, military-like posture.
"He doesn't look like a commoner."
The physician lowered his voice to a whisper.
"I suspect the same. He paid me a great sum of money just for one night—more than I usually earn in months of practice!"
The old man stared at him in surprise. "Really?!"
The physician simply confirmed it with a sharp nod.
On the other side of the courtyard, Mùyě noticed their whispering. He glanced at the suspicious gestures of the physician and the old man and said to Hēiláng:
"Your Highness, staying here any longer is not safe for you and the Lady. Strangers draw attention quickly in a small town like this."
Hēiláng's gaze remained fixed on the room door. "I know. Once the Lady wakes, you will take her back to Hǎilán (海蓝) and then join me in the Capital."
Mùyě bowed his head. "As you command, Your Highness." He paused for a moment and then asked:
"Did the Lady say what she was doing in that region when the barbarians captured her? It must have been a grave matter to bring her out here."
Hēiláng shook his head. "She hasn't said anything yet. I'm sure she will explain when the time is right."
The physician had finished his work. The old man rose carefully from the bench, muttered his thanks, and left the house.
Moments later, the wooden door of the room creaked open. Hànyuè (汉月) stepped out to breathe the fresh morning air. A faint glow had returned to her cheeks, and she was dressed in the new Hànfú (漢服) Hēiláng had provided; the robe was slightly loose on her delicate frame, but it gave her a certain grace. When she saw Hēiláng, she raised her hand and gestured for him to come.
Hēiláng immediately went forward and entered the room.
"How are you feeling today?" he asked.
Hànyuè gave a faint smile. " I feel much better."
Hēiláng's expression softened, and a mild smile touched his lips. Hànyuè continued:
"We must go somewhere where we can speak privately."
"What is it about?" Hēiláng asked curiously.
"I will tell you.", she said.
An hour later, the two of them rode out of town. They stopped on a small hill overlooking the city. Hēiláng jumped down from his horse, walked over to Hànyuè's side, and took her hand to help her down gently. They walked side by side to the edge of the hill and gazed into the distance, where the small houses of the town glistened under the morning sun.
Hēiláng broke the silence. "You wanted to tell me something."
Hànyuè took her eyes off the landscape and paused for a moment to gather her thoughts. Then she asked:
"Are you going back to Wēichéng (巍城)?"
"I am." he replied.
Hànyuè turned to face him directly.
"Take me with you!"
Hēiláng's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Where would you come?!"
"Take me to Cháng'ān (长安)." Hànyuè insisted. "It is a few days' journey to the Capital, and Cháng'ān is on the way. My cousin lives there; I heard she is pregnant and is due any day now. Her husband is a skin and silk merchant. I will come with you as far as Cháng'ān. Leave me with her, and then you can go on to the Capital."
Hēiláng thought for a moment and said rationally:
"You have only just begun to recover. Hǎilán is closer. Go back to the manor and rest for a while. You can visit your cousin in Cháng'ān later."
Suddenly, Hànyuè stepped forward and hugged Hēiláng, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and leaning her head against his chest. Taken completely by surprise, Hēiláng stood frozen for a moment. Hànyuè's voice trembled, and a sob caught in her throat.
"I don't need rest... I'm not feeling well emotionally. Whenever I close my eyes, that nightmare is there—in that plain, among those people... Don't send me back to Hǎilán like this. Just a few days... let me stay with you for just a few more days. Please." She tightened her grip around him.
Hēiláng closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The struggle between duty and emotion was visible on his face. He asked softly: "What about your father? Won't he worry?"
"I told him a long time ago that I intended to go to Cháng'ān one day," Hànyuè said without lifting her head.
Then she looked up at him with pleading eyes. "I won't cause you any trouble... I promise. Just let me come with you."
Unable to resist her innocent, pleading gaze any longer, Hēiláng gave a short smile and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Alright... We leave for Cháng'ān today."