Tuoba Sanniang escorted Dou Jing back to his own residence, while Wei Xun carried Baozhu, exhausted to the point of collapse, back to her bedroom.
To carry out her revenge as quickly as possible, she had launched into action with thunderous resolve before her body had healed. That day at the Prince of Qi's Residence, she had forced herself to draw a massive bow beyond the strength of her arms, causing muscle spasms and strains that still left her scarcely able to lift either arm. The cuts from the bowstring had nearly severed the tendons in her hand. Even the simplest daily tasks had become agonizingly difficult; her hands shook so badly that she could not even hold a cup of water.
Before she had threatened Dou Jing, Wei Xun had applied the thick makeup that concealed her sunburn with a brush. Now she needed his help to remove it, too. He dipped a cloth in rice-rinsing water and carefully wiped the lead powder from her face, little by little. Dead skin peeled away with the foundation, revealing tender pink flesh beneath. Her complexion was mottled with uneven patches, no longer smooth and radiant as it once had been.
Wei Xun's heart ached unbearably, but he comforted her aloud. "It's a little better than yesterday. The new skin underneath is almost grown."
Baozhu murmured an absent acknowledgment, her empty gaze fixed ahead, her thoughts seemingly drifting somewhere far away. She had once cherished her looks, always remembering to wear a veiled hat against the sun when she went out, delighting in buying rouge and powder and adorning herself with fresh flowers. Though she had no gold or silver jewelry, she had still enjoyed dressing herself up to the fullest.
Yet since returning from her abduction, she had not looked in