**Shocked by Secret, Heart Plunges into an Ice Cave**
"This King?"
"Shadow guard?"
These two words exploded in Lín Xiāoxiāo's ears like thunderclaps. She stood frozen outside the dilapidated house, her hands and feet ice-cold, instinctively holding her breath. Inside, Xuán Mò's voice was cold and suppressed, carrying a chilling anger of a superior that she had never heard before. Although she had always known he was extraordinary, the identity of "prince" was far beyond her imagination! And the "shadow guard" she had accidentally heard of seemed to be a secret force possessed only by royalty or the highest nobility…
What had she… stumbled upon a huge trouble! No, she had picked up a walking target for rebellion… ah no, for royal infighting!
The conversation inside seemed to have ended, leaving only Xuán Mò's heavy, suppressed breaths. It was clear that the emotional turmoil of the moment had aggravated his injuries. Lín Xiāoxiāo stood in place for a full minute, her mind racing as she weighed the pros and cons. Finally, she took a deep breath, rubbed her face vigorously, and put on an expression of slight anxiety but "total unawareness" before pushing the door open and walking in.
**Feigning Ignorance, Treating to the Limit**
"I'm back!" she said, trying to keep her tone natural, her eyes quickly scanning Xuán Mò. He was leaning against the head of the kàng, his face paler than before, his lips tinged with blue, cold sweat beading on his forehead. However, his eyes had regained their usual deep gaze, though a trace of lingering hostility remained in their depths.
"How did things go on the mountain?" Xuán Mò spoke first, his voice a little hoarse, sounding no different from usual.
"All sorted! That fellow is called Tiě Zhù, and he agreed to work with us." As Lín Xiāoxiāo spoke, she put down her back basket, took out the straight branches and flexible vines she had found suitable for splints, deliberately ignoring his unusual complexion and getting straight to the point, "Your leg needs to be immobilized immediately, otherwise, don't talk about three days, it won't heal in thirty!"
Without further ado, she stepped forward to examine his left leg. As expected, the swelling in his lower leg had worsened. At the slightest touch, Xuán Mò's muscles tensed instantly, and he let out a suppressed groan from his throat.
"The bone might be dislocated, it needs to be reset and fixed! Bear with it!" Lín Xiāoxiāo's expression was grave. She didn't have professional skills, so she had to rely on her veterinary experience and knowledge of human anatomy.
She had Xuán Mò bite down on a wooden stick, while she recalled the skeletal structure from anatomical diagrams. Grasping his lower leg with both hands, she found the right position, took a deep breath, and suddenly exerted force -
"Nngh!" Xuán Mò's body trembled violently, veins bulging on his forehead. The immense pain made his vision blur, but he gritted the wooden stick hard, refraining from making a loud sound. Lín Xiāoxiāo felt the subtle sound of the bone returning to its place under her hands, and immediately used the branches and vines to firmly immobilize his lower leg. The entire process was swift and decisive, exuding an unquestionable professionalism.
**Frank Confession, Alliance Formed**
After immobilizing the injured leg, Lín Xiāoxiāo wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead and looked at Xuán Mò, who was almost exhausted. He had his eyes closed, his chest heaving, sweat soaking his damp hair. Silence spread through the room.
After a while, Lín Xiāoxiāo suddenly spoke, her voice calm and unwavering, "I was at the door just now, I heard."
Xuán Mò abruptly opened his eyes, his sharp gaze like lightning, scrutinizing her with a hint of undetectable murderous intent.
Lín Xiāoxiāo met his gaze without flinching and continued, "I don't care if you are a prince or anything else, nor do I care what a 'shadow guard' is. I only know two things: First, you are now my patient and my temporary 'partner'; Second, our current goal is exactly the same - to keep you alive and safely navigate this corvée labor crisis."
She paused, her tone carrying a bluntness of someone who has nothing to lose, "Your identity means greater danger, but it might also mean… if we handle it properly, unexpected assistance or a fallback option. Therefore, the cooperation can continue, but it requires deeper trust and a more explicit… division of labor."
Xuán Mò looked at her, the murderous intent in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a complex scrutiny. This woman was more perceptive and bolder than he had imagined.
"What do you want?" he asked in a low voice.
"To survive, together." Lín Xiāoxiāo answered crisply, "And, when necessary, you will need to use your 'prince' status and resources to save our lives and this hard-earned property." She gestured to the dilapidated house, her tone teasing, but her eyes were extremely serious.
Xuán Mò was silent for a moment, then finally uttered a single word slowly: "Agreed."
**Officials at the Door, Crisis Approaches**
A preliminary alliance was forged under duress. Lín Xiāoxiāo immediately moved on to the next step. She doubled the amount of herbs she had gathered, crushing some for internal consumption and others for external application. She then mixed the last wild chicken egg with mashed wild vegetables and chestnut flour, cooking a thick bowl of "convalescent's meal," and forced Xuán Mò to eat it.
"From now on, your task is to eat, sleep, and cooperate with treatment! Your 'performance' evaluation is doubled!" she said with the demeanor of a strict tutor, leaving no room for argument.
Xuán Mò did not object and silently cooperated with her arrangements. The exposure of his identity seemed to have broken some subtle barrier, allowing their cooperation to enter a more direct and efficient phase.
However, the outside world would not slow down because of their internal adjustments. The following afternoon, just as Lín Xiāoxiāo was busy brewing a second batch of herbal medicine, rough shouts from the officials and the fawning explanations of the village head, Liu Daniu, were heard from outside the courtyard:
"Officer, it's this house! That young man is severely injured and lying inside…"
"Stop the nonsense! There's an order from above, all male adults must be verified in person! Even the severely injured must be carried out to be seen! What if someone is impersonating? Open the door quickly!"
Footsteps approached the dilapidated house!
Lín Xiāoxiāo's expression changed, and she looked at Xuán Mò on the kàng. Xuán Mò nodded slightly at her, his eyes extremely calm. He then closed his eyes, adjusted his breathing, and instantly entered a state of severe injury, critical condition, and blurred consciousness.
**Hidden Killing Intent, Trial by Desperation**
With a 'bang,' the dilapidated wooden door was roughly pushed open. A bailiff in official attire, with a stern face, entered with Liu Daniu, the village head, nervously accompanying him. His gaze, like a falcon's, instantly locked onto Xuán Mò, who lay motionless on the kàng. The bailiff approached step by step, with scrutiny and suspicion. Just as he bent down, preparing to lift the tattered robe covering Xuán Mò to carefully examine his face and injuries—
Lín Xiāoxiāo's heart leaped into her throat. And Xuán Mò, who appeared to be unconscious, with the fingers of his right hand hidden beneath the tattered robe, imperceptibly curved slightly, touching the kàng mat and reaching for the blood-stained dagger he had kept close to his person.
**Chapter Ten (End)**