Dao ran ahead to open the gates while Yan Ling and Bai Shen led Fei Long inside. The walls enclosed them like the embrace of an old friend, but there was no relief yet. Fei Long still wasn’t moving.
‘Old Liang, we need a physician,’ she said when the steward met them in the hallway to Fei Long’s chamber. Then to Bai Shen, ‘Go with him, please.’
Bai Shen was wily and knew all the tricks. He took Fei Long the remaining distance to the bedchamber and laid him as gently as possible on the bed. Then he hurried off with the steward to fetch a physician.
‘I’ll bring some water,’ Dao volunteered, rushing away.
Yan Ling understood the sentiment. Everyone wanted something to do, even if it was something insignificant, to keep the overwhelming helplessness from sweeping in.
‘Yan…Ling.’ Each word came out in a laboured puff of breath.
Fei Long stirred as she rushed to his side. ‘You’re home.’ She brushed her fingers tenderly over his face, keeping her touch as light as possible. ‘Bai Shen is going to get a doctor. Do you need anything?’
It was important for her to keep on talking, though she didn’t know why. After a long pause, Fei Long opened his eyes. He swallowed with difficulty and his voice came out as a faint rasp. She leaned in to hear.
‘Your hands feel cool,’ he murmured before closing his eyes again.
The knot in her chest tugged loose and pain poured into her until she didn’t know if she could hurt any worse. Yan Ling laid her head down, her cheek against his. She was able to hold back her sob, but couldn’t keep the tears from spilling.
* * *
Bai Shen and Old Man Liang returned with the physician who they’d roused out of bed at this late hour. Everyone waited anxiously in the parlour during his examination and Dao made tea that sat in the pot, growing tepid. At one point, the physician called for assistance and Bai Shen went to his aid.
After an hour, the physician left with a promise to return in a few days. They surrounded Bai Shen once he emerged.
‘Broken ribs on his left side,’ he reported. ‘He needs to rest in bed for several weeks and move as little as possible. This will help the pain.’ He handed a small parcel wrapped in paper to Dao. ‘There’s enough for tonight. The physician said you can get more from the herbalist tomorrow.’ Then he gave a short bow to no one in particular. ‘The show is over. Li Bai Shen will take his leave now.’
Bai Shen looked worn through and through. His feeble attempt at good humour only highlighted the ordeal.
Yan Ling stopped him as he was about to step out into the courtyard. ‘Why don’t you stay? It’s so late and you can get some sleep here.’
He flashed her a half-smile. ‘You remember what Fei Long said.’
At first she was confused. Then she realised he was referring to when he’d kissed her to make Fei Long jealous. It seemed like a memory from a previous life.
‘That can hardly matter now,’ she insisted.
Bai Shen’s smile widened, but his eyes remained morose. A faint discolouring still showed on his jaw. ‘That man takes every word he says very seriously.’
‘Thank you,’ she said as he turned to go.
‘Fei Long is strong. He’ll be all right, my pretty lady.’ He added the last part to tell her to smile and she tried, but only out of obligation.
Bai Shen disappeared through the gate.
A little while later, Dao returned from the kitchen with
the medicinal brew. Yan Ling moved to take it, but Dao stopped her.
‘I’ll do it,’ Dao said, gently but firmly. She fixed a meaningful look on Yan Ling that was full of challenge.
As if a few moments alone in his chamber would make any difference. Yan Ling could rip out the seedlings of emotion that sprouted at the surface, but what she felt for Fei Long had taken root much deeper.
* * *
Every movement hurt. Breathing hurt. So Fei Long lay in bed and tried to move and breathe as little as possible, though he wanted nothing more than to grab his sword and storm into Zōu’s stronghold.
He knew exactly which strike had broken his ribs. Four men had surrounded him in the street and crowded him into the alleyway. His sword had been wrestled from his hands and his fists couldn’t hold them off for long. A blow to his face had staggered him to his knees.