Chapter Seventy-Two: Heaven Has Not Forsaken Me

This felt like asking him, "Will you marry me?" Yu Hualiang smiled as well, wrapped his arms around his neck, lifted his foot, and kissed him.

The Seventh Prince gazed at him, his eyes full of reluctance. He loved him too deeply; he could not bear for him to die.

He held Yu Hualiang tightly and said, "If there is another life... I would still wish to fall in love with you, Ziliang."

"Alright... but I hope it won’t be in this era."

Cao Zhileng, watching Yu Hualiang in the Seventh Prince’s arms, felt a sudden, dull ache in his heart. He had to admit that perhaps he, too, had fallen for Yu Hualiang.

But he was from Mo, and Yu Hualiang from Fanhe—enemies by nation, impossible in any circumstance to be together. Besides, Yu Hualiang’s heart was not his.

Now, forced to watch the Seventh Prince and Yu Hualiang, a pair of lovers in adversity, Cao Zhileng grit his teeth. "Seize Mu Zicheng for me! Make sure you capture him alive!"

But how could someone like Mu Zicheng be caught by these mere foot soldiers? While he still had strength, the Seventh Prince lifted Yu Hualiang and dashed to the edge of the cliff. Yu Hualiang looked down—on the shadowy side of the mountain, not a single plant grew, only rocks and sparse, low shrubs.

To jump from here meant certain death or at least grave injury. The Seventh Prince's intention was clear: he would rather die than be taken prisoner. Yu Hualiang was afraid of death, but with the Seventh Prince by his side, it seemed there was nothing left to fear.

Just as the Seventh Prince was about to leap with him, a sudden uproar came from below. Hearing the commotion, the enemy knew things had taken a turn—reinforcements from Mo had arrived.

The Seventh Prince smiled, "It seems Heaven has not abandoned me. Cao Zhileng! Surrender quietly now!"

The Fanhe soldiers around Cao Zhileng panicked. Cao Zhileng was furious—was he to let such a golden opportunity slip away?

"General! The enemy’s reinforcements have arrived, we must retreat!" called one of his men.

A soldier tried to pull Cao Zhileng away, but he was as stubborn as an ox, unmoving. Seeing him refuse to go, the others fled for their lives.

Left with no choice, he too had to retreat. The Seventh Prince’s soldiers, overjoyed at the arrival of reinforcements, raised their weapons in celebration.

The Seventh Prince ordered, "Cut off Cao Zhileng’s escape! Whoever brings me his head will be richly rewarded!"

Cao Zhileng, enraged, glared at the Seventh Prince like a wolf about to pounce. Clenching his knife, he suddenly hurled it straight at the Prince.

But in his anger, Cao Zhileng's aim was off—the blade flew toward Yu Hualiang instead.

To save him, the Seventh Prince flung himself at Yu Hualiang, knocking him aside. They dodged the flying knife, but in the chaos, both tumbled over the edge.

Cao Zhileng watched Yu Hualiang fall, overcome with grief and rage. "Yu Hualiang!" he cried.

The Seventh Prince crashed to the bottom, and chaos erupted among the soldiers. Taking advantage of the confusion, Cao Zhileng withdrew with his men.

Yu Hualiang felt as though misfortune had marked him. He had escaped death only to be struck by disaster yet again!

When he awoke, pain wracked his entire body. He had expected to see heaven or the underworld, but instead, he opened his eyes to a lush, green forest. Disappointment swept over him—he had survived yet again.

He remembered the Seventh Prince had held him as they fell. Where was the Prince now? Regaining his senses, Yu Hualiang quickly looked around. Thankfully, he was only superficially wounded, his bones unbroken.

He got up and searched nearby, soon finding the Seventh Prince—who was not so fortunate. Blood covered his body.

Yu Hualiang checked—he was still breathing, merely unconscious. Clearly, the Prince had shielded Yu Hualiang with all his might during the fall; otherwise Yu Hualiang would have ended up just as badly.

"Zicheng? Zicheng?" Yu Hualiang called softly, but there was no response. He grew anxious.

What if he died here? Yu Hualiang thought desperately, dragging the Prince up and, with both hands on his own shoulders, hauling him along.

He had to find a safe place. Fortunately, Yu Hualiang was skilled at surviving in the wild and soon found a small cliffside shelter.

Below the cliff was a large enough space for a person to stand, though it narrowed further in, but it could accommodate as many as thirty people lying down.

Yu Hualiang felt compelled to echo the Prince’s earlier words: Heaven has not abandoned me!

He laid the Prince down, unfastened his clothes, and saw a mass of wounds—old and new, some still bleeding, others beginning to fester.

The wounds were not all deep, but the worst were on his leg and the sword wound on his back, taken in Yu Hualiang’s stead.

Apart from some scrapes on his face, his head had thankfully escaped injury. Yu Hualiang used a dagger found on the Prince to cut small branches and splint his leg.

After tending to his wounds, Yu Hualiang noticed his outer robe had been torn to shreds.

But the Prince was not improving—his wounds needed to be cleaned and medicated or he would soon die of infection.

With no other choice, Yu Hualiang set off to find water and herbs. To keep wild animals out while he was gone, he blocked the entrance with a couple of small trees.

He sometimes admired his own pessimism; the medicinal recipes Doctor Wang had written for him actually turned out to be useful.

He walked a long way, finally finding a stream; nearby, he stumbled upon an abandoned house.

Though dilapidated, it offered shelter from the elements, far safer than the cliffside hideout. It was merely four walls of packed earth, half a thatched roof, and dust everywhere. Yu Hualiang coughed for ages before it cleared. He gathered dry straw and spread it over the cleanest spot in the house—this would do for the Prince to sleep on.

He added another layer of straw and surveyed the place. It had clearly been abandoned for a long time. Only half a ceramic jar remained, but it could still be used.

As night fell, he hurried back to bring the Prince to the house.

The Prince remained unconscious. Yu Hualiang grew anxious and boiled water in the half jar for him to drink.

He also used hot water to clean his wounds. The more he cleaned, the sadder he became, and finally broke down in tears. Why was his fate so bitter? He once had a good job, a wonderful girlfriend...

But ever since he crossed into this world, he had suffered every hardship and indignity, even changing his orientation. What more did fate want from him?

Yet his crying woke the Prince. Eyes closed, the Prince murmured, "Ziliang..." Yu Hualiang quickly wiped his tears and took his hand.

"Zicheng! Zicheng! It's me, it's me. How do you feel? Tell me if you’re in pain," he said, only to realize the Prince was still dreaming. A bit disappointed, but his heart was warm.

He held his hand and whispered, "Zicheng, you mustn’t die. I’ve only just... started to like you."

Yu Hualiang slept beside him through the night. The next morning, he found the Prince shivering, burning with fever. Yu Hualiang was terrified—there was no doctor nearby. What should he do?

Thinking it through, he realized the fever was caused by the wounds. He needed medicine urgently. Following the prescription, he searched before dawn, but could find only five of the required herbs; six were missing from the area.

He brewed what he could and fed it to the Prince, using the rest to treat his wounds.

Though food was scarce in the mountains, the stream had fish, the woods had wild vegetables and mushrooms, enough to stave off hunger.

His persistence paid off. After three days and nights of vigil, the Prince finally woke.

Yu Hualiang was fetching water when he returned to find the Prince smiling at him. He almost dropped the half jar in surprise.

"Ziliang..." the Prince called softly.

Yu Hualiang’s eyes glistened with tears as he rushed over and took his hand. "Zicheng, you’re awake! How do you feel? Tell me if you’re unwell."

The Prince looked deathly pale and exhausted, but seeing Yu Hualiang, his spirits visibly lifted. He’d thought he would die here, but Yu Hualiang had saved him once more.

"I’m fine..." he said weakly, and drifted back to sleep. Feeling his grip loosen, Yu Hualiang thought he’d died.

Tears streamed down his face, but as he sobbed over him, he discovered the Prince’s heart was still beating. Yu Hualiang almost wanted to laugh at himself for being a fool—thank goodness the Prince was only asleep.

If he had seen Yu Hualiang crying like that, he would surely have teased him again, and Yu Hualiang didn’t want to be seen as a woman.

Yu Hualiang realized that with these hands, he might actually make a fortune in this ancient world. He chopped small trees and wove a vine bed, hoping the Prince could sleep more comfortably.

The Prince watched him. "Ziliang, what are you doing?"

"Weaving a vine bed," Yu Hualiang replied.

"Did you learn this before? How do you know so much?" the Prince asked curiously.

Yu Hualiang thought for a moment. "Haha, I used to sketch landscapes in the mountains. I often had to camp out, so I picked up some wilderness survival skills. Never thought I’d actually need them here."

Saying this, Yu Hualiang felt a pang of homesickness, and his expression grew forlorn. The Prince frowned, wanting to comfort him, but was too weak to move.

"Ziliang, you are the most remarkable person I’ve ever met," the Prince said, changing the subject.

Yu Hualiang laughed in agreement. "Really? Zicheng, you are the best prince I’ve ever met."

The Prince grinned. "How many princes have you actually met?"

Counting those in history books and television, he’d encountered quite a few, but in person, only two. Yu Hualiang replied awkwardly, "Two."

The Prince burst out laughing. His Yu Hualiang truly was his medicine, the treasure he could never bear to let go.

Once the laughter faded, Yu Hualiang grew worried. "Now we’re trapped here, and you’re gravely wounded. What are we going to do?"

"There are wolves and tigers in the mountains, Ziliang. Don’t wander too far when you go out. The soldiers saw us fall that day; Ye Fang will surely come looking for us. It’s only a matter of time."

Hearing this, Yu Hualiang felt reassured. The Prince and Ye Fang had always been close, regardless of rumors. Ye Fang had never left the Prince’s side.

Yet why did the Prince leave with Yu Hualiang instead of Ye Fang? If Ye Fang had been there, perhaps the Prince wouldn’t be in such dire straits.

"Zicheng..."

"Hmm?"

"There’s something I want to ask you..."