Chapter 57: Saving the Cold-Blooded Female Supporting Character in a Female-Dominated World (8)

Jiang Zhen watched her in silence. She didn’t say it hurt, and she didn’t say it didn’t.

“Let me bandage that for you first.” Song Lingshu pulled her over to sit on the edge of the bed, took the gauze handed over by a palace attendant, and wrapped it around the injured index finger.

A moment later, Jiang Zhen stared at her finger, now wrapped in a dozen layers of gauze, swollen to an absurd size.

“…Damn, are you trying to assassinate me?” Jiang Zhen muttered, unwrapping it in exasperation, deciding to handle it herself.

“No way.” Song Lingshu said earnestly. “How could I ever harm you? I like you so much I can’t help myself.”

Jiang Zhen paused, lifted her eyelids, and shot her a glare. “Do you have no shame?”

“I have no shame. I only have you.” Song Lingshu said without batting an eye or a blush.

“…” Jiang Zhen couldn’t be bothered to argue with such a shameless person.

Just then, the imperial physician at the door could no longer hold back and spoke up. “Your Majesty…”

Only then did the two realize the physician had arrived, though they had no idea how much had been overheard. Song Lingshu summoned her in.

The imperial physician wobbled in nervously, instinctively glancing at Song Lingshu, who pointed at Jiang Zhen instead. “Check her out. She injured her finger.”

The physician stole a cautious look at Jiang Zhen, her mind stuck on the image of the Emperor saying “I like you so much I can’t help myself” to Jiang Zhen—

Too terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.

The Emperor had actually fallen for a woman?!

For a moment, she couldn’t decide if the Emperor keeping three thousand beauties was more absurd, or liking a woman was more absurd.

But then again, their Emperor had never been one to obey rules. Even if she wanted to defy the world and snatch a woman to bring into the palace as a female consort, everyone would only dare to curse her behind her back. After all, no one could stop her from doing whatever outrageous thing she wanted.

But why, of all people, did she have to fall for Jiang Zhen?!

Wasn’t that practically walking to her own doom?!

“How’s the injury?” Song Lingshu grew anxious when she saw the physician staring at Jiang Zhen’s wound without speaking for ages.

“Well…” The physician deliberated for a long moment, then slowly said, “If I had arrived any later, this wound might have healed on its own.”

“?” Song Lingshu said uneasily, “Do you even know what you’re doing? It bled, at least. Hurry up and prescribe some medicine. Her hands can’t afford to be damaged—she’s going to conquer the world later.”

Imperial Physician: She’s going to conquer you first, you lust-blinded fool!

Jiang Zhen pressed her lips together and let out a low chuckle from deep in her chest.

Under Song Lingshu’s repeated orders, the physician had no choice but to hand over some external medicine and a few doses of internal herbal decoction before retreating silently.

Song Lingshu tried to force Jiang Zhen to drink the medicine, but Jiang Zhen refused, insisting she was fine—just a tiny scratch.

“You have no idea how dangerous tetanus is,” Song Lingshu said. “A cut from metal like this, if not taken seriously from the start, can easily get infected. And with the medical conditions here—ahem, I mean technological limitations—if it gets infected, your whole body stiffens up and you’re dead!”

Jiang Zhen: “…Can you please wish me well for once?”

“I’m not exaggerating,” Song Lingshu insisted. Without anything as good as a preventive shot here, the only option was to get treated early. She thrust the medicine bowl firmly toward Jiang Zhen’s mouth. “Drink it. For the sake of your health.”

Jiang Zhen leaned back slightly, looking down at the bowl. “I won’t drink it.”

Song Lingshu studied her for a long moment, then suddenly smirked. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of taking medicine?”

Jiang Zhen lifted her gaze, the warning in her eyes unmistakable.

Song Lingshu couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “The fearless Jiang Zhen, afraid of drinking medicine? What did you call me last night, huh? ‘Worthless fool’?”

“You’re the worthless fool!” Jiang Zhen snatched the wobbling bowl from her hand, held her breath, downed the whole thing in one go, swallowed hard, and scowled.

“Here, take this.” Before Jiang Zhen could see what it was, Song Lingshu shoved a piece of chocolate into her mouth.

“What is this? So bitter.” Jiang Zhen felt the bitterness of the medicine overpowered by another bitterness, then slowly a sweetness spread, like a taste of sweetness after hardship. She smacked her lips. “What is it?”

“Chocolate.”

“What the hell is that?”

“Something good.” Song Lingshu bared her teeth in a grin. “Open your mouth, let me see.”

Jiang Zhen opened her mouth, and sure enough, there was still chocolate stuck to her teeth. Song Lingshu pointed at her and laughed, then picked up a mirror and placed it in front of her. “Take a look at yourself.”

Jiang Zhen looked, immediately returned to a cold face, and smashed the mirror with one punch.

Song Lingshu: “…”

A moment later, the palace attendants cleaned up the shards, and Song Lingshu brought over another bowl of medicine. “You just punched the mirror and got hurt again. Come on, one more bowl.”

Jiang Zhen: “………..”

Song Lingshu saw the look in her eyes, smiled, and decided not to tease her further—otherwise, the next thing she’d be punching would be her.

The next day, more than half of the people in the imperial harem had left. Though a few stubbornly refused to go, Song Lingshu didn’t dare to wander around the harem anymore. She simply ordered the palace attendants to urge them again. Once the deadline arrived tomorrow, those who still lingered would face forceful measures.

If anyone was dissatisfied with their severance pay, she would wait for them to come discuss it in the Golden Throne Hall after the morning court.

Early that morning, she sat in the court hall, handling these trivial matters. She assessed how much severance silver to give based on each person’s past performance. Those who had indeed worked hard received a little extra, but some had their pay docked. As a result, when everyone came to collect their severance, they began to tread carefully. Those who had hoped to swindle a fortune abandoned the idea, took the generous silver offered, and left the palace.

That evening, when Song Lingshu returned to the bedchamber, she heard that Jiang Zhen hadn’t come back yet.

Early that morning, Jiang Zhen had gone outside the palace, saying she wanted to walk around. Song Lingshu had naturally agreed happily, even offering to send a few guards to protect her. After being turned down, she didn’t mind and told her to have fun outside.

But now it was almost dark, and she still hadn’t returned. Song Lingshu took off her dragon robe, changed into plain clothes, and prepared to go out of the palace to look for her.

The guards quickly reported to General Li. So when Song Lingshu walked out of the palace gate, she saw General Li waiting outside, saying she would accompany her on the trip.

Song Lingshu didn’t refuse, after all, this place wasn’t like the 21st century—people killed without blinking here!

Suddenly, she was terrified of assassination.

Song Lingshu shivered. “General Li, you must keep a close eye on me.”

“Rest assured, Your Majesty.” General Li said solemnly.

Song Lingshu felt relieved and led her into the street. “Where did Jiang Zhen go?”

“I don’t know, Your Majesty. I just came back from the drill grounds.”

“Mm, then where do you think she might be?” Song Lingshu asked.

“That’s even harder to guess.”

“I bet she’s at an inn.” Song Lingshu said.

The inn was full of people and chatter—a perfect place to hide one’s identity and gather information at the same time.

She turned and headed for the biggest inn in the city. Inside, the place was packed with guests, clinking cups and laughing merrily. The lively atmosphere came to an abrupt halt the moment she stepped through the threshold.

“What are you all staring at? Keep drinking, I’m not here for you.” Song Lingshu waved her hand, signaling them to ignore her. “Continue the music, continue the dancing.”

The young master singing on the stage obediently resumed plucking his pipa, but his brows carried a hint of timidity, and his eyes looked at her with shy hopefulness, wondering if he could catch her eye. Yet this notoriously lustful emperor didn’t spare him a glance. She swept her gaze around the main hall, then lifted her skirts and headed for the private rooms on the second floor.

Song Lingshu pushed open door after door, but didn’t find Jiang Zhen anywhere. She did, however, ruin quite a few people’s fun.

“Who the hell is that? How dare you interrupt my fun? Do you know who I am?” A woman inside was just about to get cozy with a man when the sudden door crash startled her. She turned around and said in a coarse voice, only to see Song Lingshu standing at the door. Trembling, she immediately knelt. “Your Majesty!”

Song Lingshu took a look and recognized her as a mere ninth-rank minor official. “Resign from your post tomorrow.”

Without waiting for a response, she went back to searching for Jiang Zhen. But after scouring every guest room on the third floor, she still found nothing. She hurried downstairs. “Maybe she’s at a different inn. Let’s go!”

“Slow down, Your Majesty! Watch your step!” General Li called out from behind.

At that moment, someone sat on the rooftop, holding a pot of wine, watching their departing figures with great interest.

“Running around lifting her skirts, how ridiculous,” Jiang Zhen commented. She had never seen a woman run like that. A woman should ride horses and shoot arrows, not run more bashfully than a man—and even get scared sleepless by a puddle of blood.

This Southern Kingdom was doomed, Jiang Zhen thought, raising her head to take a swig of wine.

She wondered what other stupid things this flashy woman would do to find her. She stood up, disappeared from the rooftop, and silently tailed them.

“Huh? What’s this?” Song Lingshu suddenly stopped, drawn by a roadside stall. She leaned in curiously.

“This is dart throwing. Hit the bullseye five times and you win a sword,” General Li explained.

Jiang Zhen: …Hey hey, aren’t you supposed to be looking for me?

“Fun! I want to try too!” Song Lingshu immediately grabbed a nearby dart and threw it at the target across from her. Not a single one hit.

Waste of space, Jiang Zhen sneered inwardly.

“Let me throw for… the master.” Though many commoners recognized Song Lingshu, General Li still insisted on keeping a low profile during outings, addressing her as “master.”

“Fine, it’s all yours.” Song Lingshu solemnly handed the dart to her, her expression as serious as if she were handing over the tiger tally.

General Li took it and hit the bullseye every single time. Song Lingshu got so excited that she clenched her fists and screamed as if she had thrown them herself. “Aaaah! You’re amazing!”

General Li handed the prize to her and scratched her head shyly. “Just a little demonstration.”

“So powerful! With you, the Southern Kingdom is safe!”

From the shadows, Jiang Zhen ground her teeth. Powerful my ass, she thought. One day I’ll destroy your Southern Kingdom!

After the two left, she walked up to the stall, picked up a dart, and knocked General Li’s bullseye darts off the target.

Cheers erupted around her. She raised her chin proudly and turned to leave, but someone grabbed her arm.

“Hey, you haven’t paid yet,” the stall owner said.

“…”

After paying, Jiang Zhen continued following them stealthily. She saw the two squeezed into a crowd watching a street performance.

An artist was performing fire-breathing, and Song Lingshu was utterly mesmerized. Though she had seen plenty of high-tech magic tricks and acrobatics, this raw skill in this world felt fresh and authentic.

“Aaaah, so cool! Give them money!” Song Lingshu excitedly slapped General Li.

After General Li tossed some silver, the performer came over and breathed fire right in front of them.

A flame suddenly burst before her eyes. Song Lingshu first covered her face in fright, then lowered her hands, laughing so hard her eyes nearly disappeared.

The firelight reflected on her smiling face. She looked like a little girl seeing the world for the first time, with the purest, most innocent smile.

Watching from the shadows, Jiang Zhen couldn’t help but curl her lips.

At that moment, another performer wearing a ghost mask jumped in front of Song Lingshu, startling her so much that her face went pale. She quickly turned away and grabbed hold of General Li.

General Li raised a hand to shield her and waved the ghost mask to stay back.

Jiang Zhen’s smile froze. She rolled her eyes hard.

Song Lingshu, still shaken, led General Li away. Passing by a street food stall, she launched into a culinary healing journey—buying and eating nonstop along the street. She actually discovered quite a few local delicacies and ate until she was stuffed. She turned and handed the roasted chestnuts to General Li. “Why am I the only one eating? Have some too.”

“I dare not.”

“Don’t stand on ceremony with me. Eat whatever you want—you’re the one paying anyway.”

“…Then may I have just one?”

“You can finish them all if you like.” Song Lingshu laughed and even bought her a pastry.

The two walked and ate, but neither noticed a carriage hurtling toward them.

“Move! Get out of the way!” The driver struggled to rein in the horses.

In an instant, Song Lingshu had no time to react. She stared in shock as the carriage rushed at her.

In a flash, someone wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her hard to the side, sending the chestnuts scattering everywhere.

It took her a while to recover from the fright. She looked up at her rescuer with delighted surprise. “What a coincidence! I’ve been looking for you all night!”

For some reason, she felt that her words only made the other’s expression darker.

Jiang Zhen stared at her blankly, then glanced back at General Li, who had gone to stop the mad horse. In General Li’s hands were all the food Song Lingshu had personally given her.

Was she really looking for me, or just out having fun with her subordinate?

Jiang Zhen’s face turned cold. “Heh.”

Song Lingshu: “?”