A Foodie Transmigrated into the Palace

Chapter 501

With such a large group, they might scare the animals away before even reaching them.Xia Tingfeng just laughed. "The Emperor is skilled in horseback archery, and his archery is astounding. As long as there are game animals, we won’t return empty-handed!"

Zhao Junyao was even happier after hearing this. After all, coming out here was all about having fun!

"It’s getting late, let’s find a place to rest our feet!" Zhao Junyao said.

His men readily agreed. Looking at the map, they found an open space to eat some dry rations, drink some water, and rest for a while.

About half a Shi Chen passed. Everyone had eaten their dry rations and drunk some water. Just as they were about to get up again, they heard cries for help coming from the nearby woods.

"Help!"

"Is anyone there? Someone please save me!"

The voice sounded like that of a young girl, but... everyone hesitated. Where in a place like this would a young girl come from?

Zhao Junyao also heard it and immediately stood up. "Someone, go check out what’s happening!"

Xia Tingfeng and Vice Commander Xu stood up at once to comply.

Zhao Junyao stopped him. "You’re still injured. Let Vice Commander Xu take some men!"

Xia Tingfeng wanted to argue, but Vice Commander Xu had already gathered some men and departed. He couldn’t say anything more.

After a while, Vice Commander Xu returned and reported, cupping his fist, "Reporting to the Emperor, it’s a woman who was bitten by a snake! Judging by her attire, she looks like a huntress!"

Zhao Junyao narrowed his eyes. A woman? A huntress? Without time for detailed thought, he commanded, "Saving a life is crucial; bring her over!"

Just as Vice Commander Xu was about to acknowledge the order, Xia Tingfeng spoke up, "Your Majesty, allow me to go!"

Zhao Junyao waved his hand dismissively. "It doesn’t matter who goes. She’s just a woman."

Having received the order, Xia Tingfeng hurried towards the woman’s location.

A woman? A huntress? Manxue had said that the person who saved him was also a woman, a huntress by trade. Thinking about it, this forest connects to the one I visited before. Perhaps I might really meet my lifesaver this time?! With this thought, he quickened his pace.

The cries for help ahead grew weaker, and he drew closer and closer to the woman.

Finally, after parting a clump of grass, the woman appeared before him. Her wheat-colored skin didn’t betray her complexion, but her lips were frighteningly pale. She wore a brown cloth outfit with dark boots, and a deerskin belt was wrapped around her waist. A small bundle, seemingly containing dry rations and water, was tied to it. She also had a quiver on her back. Indeed, she looked like a huntress.

The woman’s gaze was already unfocused. Upon seeing someone arrive, she weakly cried out, "Save me..."

Then she fainted.

Xia Tingfeng’s expression tightened, and he hurried over. "Miss! Wake up, Miss!"

Looking at her left calf, he indeed saw two rows of bite marks, from which threads of dark blood oozed. She was indeed bitten by a venomous snake.

Xia Tingfeng immediately cast aside any concerns about the impropriety of physical contact between men and women. He pulled out a dagger, cut off a strip of his clothing, and tied it around her injured leg. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, he placed her calf to his mouth and began sucking out the poisoned blood.

Mouthful after mouthful of dark blood was spat onto the grass beside them. The woman’s frown deepened.

Xia Tingfeng paid no heed to himself, his mind clear of any distracting thoughts. Saving her is paramount.

After some time, the blood gradually began to turn red again, and the woman’s complexion improved slightly. Xia Tingfeng quickly bandaged her leg with the cloth strip and carried her away.

Zhao Junyao watched as Xia Tingfeng carried the woman back, casting only an additional glance and saying nothing more. There was no Military Doctor among the accompanying party. Since venomous snakes lurked further in, there was no need to venture deeper, so Zhao Junyao led the people down the mountain. Fortunately, they had hunted quite a bit of game; it would be enough to add another dish to the banquet. Another person had been saved. If not for this girl, had they continued deeper, they might have been the ones bitten by snakes. Therefore, Zhao Junyao had no regrets.

The others were even more relieved. It was good we came down early. In the future, it’s better to just stay around the perimeter!

The hunting party had set out early in the morning. By the time they returned, it was only mid-afternoon. After the girl was rescued, the Emperor dispatched an Imperial Physician to treat her. Xia Tingfeng, who was alone anyway, stayed by her side. Zhao Junyao saw this but still didn’t say much.

After examining her, the Imperial Physician frowned.

Xia Tingfeng asked, "What’s the matter? Is it... hopeless?"

He had no other thoughts in his heart, only pity for this girl. From her attire, it was clear she must have suffered much hardship. So young; what a pity if she died! Perhaps it was because he knew his own life had been saved by a similar person. That’s why he especially didn’t want this girl to die. Whether she was his savior or not, a fine young woman like her shouldn’t die!

The Imperial Physician sighed and said, "The poison has already spread. We must bleed her now, but I’m uncertain if this girl can withstand it!"

Xia Tingfeng was a bit puzzled. "What do you mean, ’withstand it’?"

The Imperial Physician didn’t beat around the bush and said directly, "If we bleed her too much, her life will be in danger. If we bleed her too little, the poison won’t be fully expelled! The only solution now is to bleed her while simultaneously transfusing fresh blood into her!"

Xia Tingfeng extended his arm almost without thinking. "That’s easy! Use my blood!"

The Imperial Physician frowned. "Not just anyone’s blood will do. The blood of the two people must be compatible!"

Perhaps it was fate that the two were indeed compatible. The Imperial Physician brought a bowl of water and added a drop of blood from each of them into it. The two drops of blood didn’t repel each other; instead, they slowly merged into a single large droplet, though the process was somewhat slow.

The Imperial Physician smiled. "It’ll work!"

Xia Tingfeng personally took a dagger and made a cut on his own wrist. He let out nearly half a bowl of blood before the Imperial Physician repeatedly assured him it was enough, at which point he finally stopped.

With the fresh blood, the Imperial Physician began to treat the girl. First, he used acupuncture to force the poisoned blood to her limbs. Then, using silver needles, he punctured the skin to release the poisoned blood. Finally, the fresh blood was transfused into her.

Watching the girl’s complexion gradually return to normal, Xia Tingfeng finally smiled. "Thank you for your trouble, Imperial Physician!"

The Imperial Physician quickly bowed his head. "Commander Xia, you are too polite!"

Although he had been conferred the title of Third-rank Marquis by the Emperor, most people still addressed him as Commander Xia.

Xia Tingfeng smiled faintly, nodded, and had someone escort the Imperial Physician out. He then instructed the servants, "Take good care of this young lady!"

Having made all the arrangements, he went to report to the Emperor.

Zhao Junyao was sitting in the study, casually holding a book. It was still early, and the banquet had not yet started. They had hunted game today, so naturally, a dish would be added to accompany the wine; there was no hurry.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Xia Tingfeng said, cupping his fist.

Zhao Junyao lifted his eyelids, just in time to see the bandage wrapped around Xia Tingfeng’s wrist. He immediately recalled something. This afternoon, when Xia Tingfeng carried that girl out of the woods, there was a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.