Sharing One Life with My Nemesis - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Xie Huaiyan was unconscious for two days.

And I hurt for two days.

There was Dual Gu in his heart meridian. Whenever the imperial physicians applied needles to him, my chest twisted in pain right along with it.

Gu Heng had someone move a narrow couch into the room and set it beside Xie Huaiyan’s bed.

He said, “It would be best if the two of you didn’t stay too far apart right now.”

I asked, “What happens if we do?”

Gu Heng looked at the imperial physician.

The imperial physician coughed.

“You may both die.”

Me: “…”

Even unconscious, Xie Huaiyan refused to give anyone peace of mind.

In the middle of the night, his fever spiked, and he clutched my hand without letting go.

I tried to pull free, but he suddenly called out in a low voice, “Tingyun.”

I froze.

His brows were tightly furrowed, as if he were trapped in a nightmare.

“Don’t go to the scaffold.”

I sat back down.

“I won’t.”

“Don’t take Lu Xingzhou’s medicine.”

“I won’t.”

“Don’t trust me.”

I went still.

Xie Huaiyan was delirious with fever, his voice growing softer and softer.

“I failed to protect you.”

“Don’t trust me.”

I looked at him, and it felt as if a needle had pricked my heart.

So in our last life, I hadn’t been the only one trapped at the execution ground.

He had been trapped there too.

Running toward me again and again, arriving too late again and again.

I placed my hand back in his palm.

“Xie Huaiyan.”

“Mm.”

“This time, I’ll trust myself.”

He quieted down.

On the morning of the third day, he finally woke.

The first thing he said was, “Where is the Draft Manuscript?”

I was sitting on the couch, paring an apple. I let out a cold laugh.

“Why don’t you ask whether I’m dead or alive first?”

He looked at me.

“You’re paring an apple.”

“So?”

“Alive.”

I stuffed the apple into his mouth.

“Talk less.”

He took a bite, then frowned.

“It’s sour.”

“Then sour yourself to death.”

He looked at me, a faint smile in his eyes.

I turned my face away.

Gu Heng arrived soon after.

The Jiang Family Case had already been reopened for review.

Lu Xingzhou, Zhou Xuan, Dingguo Duke Mansion, and the Crown Prince had colluded to divert military grain meant for the Northern Frontier, forged secret letters, and framed the Jiang Family.

The Crown Prince had been deposed. Everyone from Dingguo Duke Mansion had been thrown into prison.

Father and my elder brother were still being held in the Imperial Prison.

Mother and my youngest brother were confined in Jiang Mansion and not allowed to leave.

They were all still alive.

When I heard those words, the knife in my hand fell to the floor.

Xie Huaiyan also let out a breath of relief.

Gu Heng said, “At tomorrow’s morning court, His Majesty will personally hear the case. Miss Jiang, you must enter the hall to testify.”

I nodded.

Gu Heng looked at Xie Huaiyan again.

“You have to go as well.”

Xie Huaiyan braced himself and sat up.

I frowned.

“Can he go like this?”

Gu Heng said, “If he doesn’t, Lu Xingzhou will insist that every piece of evidence was forged by the Jiang Family to escape their crimes.”

Xie Huaiyan said, “I’ll go.”

I glared at him.

He said quietly, “This time, I’ll stand beside your father.”

A sour ache rose in my chest, but I forced it down.

“Stand steady.”

“Mm.”

“Don’t kneel too long.”

“All right.”

“If it hurts, say so.”

Xie Huaiyan looked at me.

His gaze made me uncomfortable.

“What are you looking at?”

He said softly, “You’re worried about me.”

I tossed the apple core onto the plate.

“The Soulbound Gu hasn’t been fully removed. If you hurt, I hurt too.”

“Mm.”

He smiled faintly.

“Then I’ll try to hurt less.”