Blame the Villain – Chapter 139

Villainous Fake Eunuch (16)

When she woke up, she found that it was pitch black before her eyes.

There was a warm, comforting light shining on her, and the surrounding air was very fresh. She could hear the sound of flowing water, cicadas chirping, and birds calling…

Her head still ached terribly, and the muscles throughout her body felt stiff and rigid after a long sleep, but her entire body felt extremely refreshed. The familiar cool, soothing sensation came from the wound where she had been shot by an arrow, indicating that it had already been treated and medicated…

Given this situation, it seemed that she had not fallen into the hands of the enemy.

After reaching this conclusion, she slowly opened her eyes and gradually sat up.

In front of her, there were flickering, blurred shadows. Gu Ruyu blinked her eyes, and when she looked out at the external world, all she saw was a vague, hazy darkness…

Recalling the suffocating toxic fumes that had previously swarmed her eyes when she was desperately trying to escape with Song Xuyi, Gu Ruyu had a rough estimation of the situation.

She slowly sat up from the bed, and after regulating her inner energy for a short while, she soon heard Song Xuyi’s surprised voice approaching from the distance: “Ruyu, you’re awake?”

Gu Ruyu instinctively turned her gaze towards the source of the sound.

Before her eyes, there was still only a black shadow, but Gu Ruyu could feel that Song Xuyi was right in front of her. Song Xuyi’s joyful voice rang out next to her ear: “Ruyu, how do you feel? I was so worried during the three days you were unconscious…”

“Three days… is it?”

Gu Ruyu pressed her lips tightly together.

She reviewed the experiences of this period – these recent days had been extremely difficult for Gu Ruyu.

She felt that each day passed by particularly slowly. Every day, she both yearned to see Song Xuyi and feared seeing her, and Song Xuyi seemed to have already noticed her distance and had also started to become more formal and distant with her…

Gu Ruyu had originally thought that she would get used to it, the two of them gradually returning to being strangers.

However, all of this was just her assumption.

She also didn’t expect that she would be so impulsive. In that chaotic situation, she had still run over to search for Song Xuyi. Even when she discovered that the enemy’s attack was becoming increasingly fierce, she still didn’t have the thought of abandoning Song Xuyi. She even felt that if she could be buried in this place together with Xuyi, it would not have been in vain…

But at this moment, listening to Song Xuyi’s concerned questioning, Gu Ruyu was unusually dazed.

However, this happy voice, like a small lark¹, suddenly lowered – Song Xuyi had noticed the abnormality in Gu Ruyu’s eyes.

“Ruyu, your eyes-” Song Xuyi spoke with worry, her voice carrying a tone of unfamiliar crying.

Even though she could not see, Gu Ruyu could imagine the appearance of Song Xuyi’s eyes, filled with concern and worry, gazing at her.

“It’s nothing.”

Gu Ruyu pressed her lips and spoke softly. In her heart, a faint joy arose, as if she hadn’t felt Xuyi’s closeness and care for her in a long time. This was also not the most embarrassing situation Gu Ruyu had encountered, and her heart was not particularly sorrowful. Moreover, Gu Ruyu had a basic understanding of medicine and intuitively felt that the poisoning was not severe, and she would soon be able to resolve it herself. Even if her eyes were truly damaged, although it would bring many troubles in the future life, compared to losing her life, this deal was still quite worthwhile.

However, Song Xuyi apparently did not think the same.

Gu Ruyu felt a pair of trembling hands brush over her eyes, the familiar, vibrant warmth of breath caressing her eyeballs. Immediately after, Song Xuyi turned her head in another direction, her voice sounding extremely anxious: “Miss Zhao, my sister’s eyes can’t see anymore. Is there a doctor around here?”

“Miss Song, in this deep mountain forest, where would there be a doctor?”

“To find a doctor, we can only go into the city. But now the officials are searching three times a day. Not only can you not leave the mountain, you might even be arrested by the officials if you leave this house-” That Miss Zhao seemed to have some reluctance in her heart as she said this, and then continued: “I do have some blood-activating, stasis-resolving, and heat-clearing medicinal herbs here. Do you want me to make some medicine packs for her to apply? Going into the city is really too dangerous for you two right now…”

Gu Ruyu listened as Song Xuyi repeatedly expressed her gratitude, and then that Miss Zhao went into the room to search for the herbs.

Afterwards, from Song Xuyi’s mouth, Gu Ruyu also learned of the current situation: Yesterday, they had fled to this mountain peak, and Song Xuyi had falsely claimed that she and Gu Ruyu were singing girls kept by a certain wealthy household, and had escaped during the commotion. This person called Zhao Qin was kind-hearted and had taken the two of them in.

Gu Ruyu had never thought that Song Xuyi would praise a person so highly.

Listening to Song Xuyi’s words about “Zhao Qin being beautiful, cheerful, lively and fond of laughter, kind and intelligent, hiding us in the storage room; able to cook delicious dishes that leave one’s teeth and palate fragrant…”, Gu Ruyu’s heart was not at ease.

Especially when she recalled how Song Xuyi had described her when she was Zhao San, Gu Ruyu pressed her lips even tighter, inexplicably not wanting to stay in this little house any longer. She subconsciously felt her side: Gu Ruyu’s sachet had a special fragrance, and a specific wild beast would track the scent all the way. Last time when she and Song Xuyi fell off the cliff, her subordinates were able to find them so quickly, all thanks to this special fragrance.

But this time, Gu Ruyu’s waist was empty…

Did she lose it in the escape? That’s why her subordinates haven’t come over these three days…

Gu Ruyu pressed her lips thoughtfully.

Seeing Gu Ruyu’s hand reaching towards her waist, Song Xuyi guiltily averted her gaze.

The special fragrance had been deliberately tied to the leg of a bird by Song Xuyi, and now it had flown off to who knows where.

Song Xuyi also didn’t expect the system to guide them to the residence of the female lead Zhao Qin in their panicked and haphazard flight.

The taciturn and amnesiac male lead Zheng Lian refused to shelter the two of them. He couldn’t give a reason for his refusal, but his eagle-like eyes were fixed unwaveringly on the unconscious Gu Ruyu, only saying that he felt Gu Ruyu was extremely dangerous.

Song Xuyi didn’t expect the amnesiac male lead to still harbor such deep wariness towards Gu Ruyu. However, his wariness was solely based on intuition, a reason insufficient to convince the female lead Zhao Qin, who still took the two of them in and helped conceal them from the searching officials.

Now, the male lead, due to the resentment in his heart, has been staying outside chopping firewood and tending to the tea trees² for the past three days, rarely entering the house except for mealtimes.

But Gu Ruyu’s discovery of Zheng Lian’s existence was only a matter of time. Song Xuyi had always been worried that Gu Ruyu would harm the male lead Zheng Lian after waking up. Last time when they fell off the cliff, Gu Ruyu’s subordinates arrived extremely quickly, and this matter had an air of suspiciousness everywhere. So Song Xuyi and the system studied it, found the special fragrance Gu Ruyu was carrying, deliberately tied it to the leg of a bird to mislead Gu Ruyu’s subordinates, and at the same time sent a signal to the emperor’s men.

Song Xuyi wanted to create a time difference: Gu Ruyu was severely injured and would not be able to do anything to the male lead for the time being. If the emperor’s men could find Gu Ruyu and Song Lian before Gu Ruyu’s subordinates arrived, that would be the most ideal situation for Song Xuyi.

“System, should we try to notify Gu Ruyu’s subordinates again? Her eyes can’t be delayed-” Song Xuyi had originally thought that Gu Ruyu would wake up soon, after all, Song Xuyi had roughly examined Gu Ruyu’s body, and Gu Ruyu had injured her shoulder again, but fortunately the wound had not become infected, and her body seemed normal.

However, Gu Ruyu had been sleeping for three days, and Song Xuyi had been somewhat worried in her heart, but she didn’t expect that Gu Ruyu would wake up and lose her sight…

Thinking about how Gu Ruyu’s shining and dazzling eyes might never see things again, Song Xuyi felt an unbearable pain in her heart.

“This…” The system was also a bit flustered. Although it was always cursing the great villain, it didn’t want her to really get hurt, let alone this injury being sustained for Xuyi’s sake.

That fierce attack last night, if Gu Ruyu hadn’t shielded Xuyi, Xuyi might not have been able to escape unscathed from such a fierce onslaught.

The system thought about it, and although it didn’t want to admit it, it still needed to rely on Gu Ruyu’s goodwill.

“The only way the great villain can contact her subordinates is known only to her. If you actively ask about it, it will only arouse her suspicion.” The system sighed sadly, not expecting that there would be a time when it owed the great villain, and spoke solemnly: “Then… take her out for a walk! If she plans to send a message to her subordinates, we’ll just pretend not to see it-“

Song Xuyi understood that this was the greatest concession the system could make. Now that the officials were still searching everywhere, going down the mountain would undoubtedly be like a wolf entering a tiger’s den. Aside from this method, it seemed there was no other way to go about it.

After finalizing the plan, Song Xuyi couldn’t help but look at the Gu Ruyu in front of her. The blind Gu Ruyu’s lips were slightly pale, her white clothes loose and empty, her gaze devoid of the previous shimmering luster, her expression pensive and distracted, emanating a sense of desolation and bewilderment that made one feel pity upon seeing her.

Such a proud and powerful person having fallen to this state, she must be feeling so distressed in her heart!

Thinking that Gu Ruyu had become this way because of her, an endless sense of guilt welled up in Song Xuyi’s heart.

“Ruyu,” Song Xuyi softened her voice, taking a step forward and carefully grasping Gu Ruyu’s hand: “You’ve been bedridden for many days, would you like to have some water?”

Gu Ruyu nodded, and Song Xuyi poured her a cup of water.

Gu Ruyu was extremely quiet while drinking the water. The gentle sunlight softened the coldness on her face, and her long black hair fell from her shoulders, giving her a gentle and docile demeanor.

“The sun outside is scorching, would you like to go out for a walk and bask in the sun later?” Seeing the obedient Gu Ruyu, Song Xuyi’s voice unconsciously softened.

Gu Ruyu pursed her lips, lost in thought, her sightless eyes sweeping in the direction of Song Xuyi, and finally curved her lips: “Okay.”

“Then wait here-“

Song Xuyi was accustomed to Gu Ruyu’s imperious and teasing manner, but when she first saw this obedient and compliant Gu Ruyu, meeting her smiling face, her heartbeat inexplicably quickened for a moment, and her face suddenly felt a bit hot. She could only pretend to ask Zhao Qin something and went into the small kitchen.

Song Xuyi borrowed some things from Zhao Qin, set up a wicker chair under the tree in the courtyard, placed a small table, cut some fruits and placed them on top, feeling that her erratic heartbeat had calmed down, only then returning to Gu Ruyu’s side, carefully supporting her to the wicker chair.

“Try lying down and see how it feels?”

Gu Ruyu reclined on the wicker chair, her upturned face becoming even more beautiful, radiant to the point of near saintliness. She accurately ‘looked’ in the direction of Song Xuyi, a hint of a smile flowed through her vacant eyes, her lips curving slightly: “Since Xuyi has arranged it, it must be good.”

But Song Xuyi furrowed her brows, carefully scrutinizing Gu Ruyu’s smiling countenance:

In the past, Song Xuyi did not dare to gaze at Gu Ruyu so intently, but now that Gu Ruyu could not see, Song Xuyi indulged her gaze-

Looking at her up close, Gu Ruyu’s perfect face was still flawless, and Song Xuyi inwardly marveled, but at the same time became more perplexed: Why had Gu Ruyu suddenly become so obedient and gentle?

Logically speaking, if a person suddenly lost their sight, they would certainly be unable to accept it, yet Gu Ruyu seemed to have accepted this fact in an instant, and thereafter her behavior appeared normal.

Song Xuyi’s gaze involuntarily fell on Gu Ruyu’s blind eyes – was it because she had lost her sight, and now that they were dependent on each other, she was afraid that Song Xuyi would abandon her, so she had to pretend to smile at her?

Song Xuyi felt a little distressed, not wanting to see Gu Ruyu ‘force a smile’ at her. To express her gratitude for Gu Ruyu saving her, Song Xuyi crouched beside Gu Ruyu’s legs, looking up at her sightless eyes and speaking softly: “That night, I am deeply grateful that you saved me again. I know I can’t help you much now, but don’t worry, I will definitely find a way to heal your eyes as much as possible, and until then, I will do my best to take good care of you. You don’t have to be afraid…”

A trace of bewilderment clearly flashed through Gu Ruyu’s sightless eyes, and then, as if afraid that Song Xuyi would see the emotions in her eyes, she closed them.

After a long while, Gu Ruyu finally spoke in a soft voice: “Okay!”

No one knew that Gu Ruyu had retracted the fingers that had touched the inner pocket of her sleeve, where she had hidden a bait that could attract special animals and summon her subordinates.

Gu Ruyu’s smile towards Song Xuyi was merely a subconscious comparison to the ‘lively and cheerful’ Zhao Qin that Song Xuyi had mentioned. She could sense the slight irregularity in Song Xuyi’s breathing.

She had originally intended to contact her subordinates, but Song Xuyi had promised her – that she would always take care of her.

Would there be other opportunities in the future where she could indulge in getting close to Xuyi like this?

Gu Ruyu pressed her lips together –

Just… indulge this one time!

The author has something to say:

Awoo, the other night I had to go to the hospital because I stayed up too late. Going forward, if there’s no update by 12 AM, there’s a high probability that I won’t be updating. My little angels, you shouldn’t stay up late like me either, go to bed early.

LP: Re-translated on August 27, 2024

1. Lark: A small songbird known for its cheerful, melodic singing. It’s often used as a metaphor for something that is happy, joyful, or lighthearted in tone.
2. Tea trees: Refers to camellia sinensis plants, which are the source of tea leaves used to make tea. Camellia sinensis is a type of evergreen shrub or small tree that is cultivated for its leaves and buds, which are processed and dried to produce various types of tea, such as green tea, black tea, oolong tea, etc.