Pampered By All In Different Planes

Early spring, March.

The air was still slightly cold, fine rain fell on the damp earth, mixed with the scent of mist lingering in the air.

The man hurried along, his tall and sturdy figure adorned with a straw hat and a short cloth shirt. His eyes were sharp and resolute, like that of an unsheathed longsword glittering coldly, and his muscular arms exuded strength. His bronze skin added to his rugged and uninhibited charm.

"Xiaoyuan, why are you closing up shop so early today?" The pretty widow at the head of the village saw the man and her eyes instantly lit up with joy, "If you're not busy, come to my house for some hot tea. Otherwise, with no woman at home to help, you'd have to boil water yourself."

The auntie next door who was weaving willow branches spat in disdain upon hearing this, "Put those flirty eyes away, twisting your body into a pretzel."

As the auntie turned around, she saw her own husband looking in that direction, and her face showed even deeper contempt. "Forget that dream, if you want a man, I could introduce you to one."

Twisting her impressive assets, the widow put down the basket she was weaving and perched on the wall to start a war of words.

"Mom, they all like Brother Xiaoyuan. How can I marry him then?" Cuihua, passing by, tilted her head and asked the woman beside her worriedly, "The widow dresses like that every day. What if, what if Brother Xiaoyuan gets seduced?"

Her mother was adamant, "Don't worry, Hua, what good has all her flaunting done? Your Brother Xiaoyuan doesn't even spare her a glance. Look around this village, you're coming of age soon and you're beautiful. It's very possible that Brother Xiaoyuan has taken a liking to you a long time ago."

The girl was still worried, "But when I went to the county last time, I saw women even more beautiful than me. Can I really marry Brother Xiaoyuan?"

"He's not a saint; unless there's someone hiding in the house prettier than you, which how could that be possible," her mother joked, "Don't worry, you just need to bring some food to his house more often, show a gentle demeanor, and what man could withstand that? When the time comes, he'll certainly come to ask for your hand."

It seemed the woman had convinced her, as a blush of girlish redness appeared on Cuihua's face.

She glanced back at the widow, her prideful snow-white skin revealed nearly half of her body, making onlookers blush with embarrassment.

*

Ji Xiaoyuan returned to his home.

The yard wasn't large, but it was kept very clean, with a few chickens in the coop.

As he pushed the door of the outer room, a faint fragrance greeted him, and he stood still.

"Miss, are you awake?"

After a moment, a female voice came from the inner room.

"…Yes, I am," the woman responded in a muffled voice, then softly added, "Could you come in and help me?"

Taking a deep breath, the man then pushed the door open.

As the door opened, he was utterly stunned by the scene before him.

The young girl was lying on the floor, her light pink immortal dress sprawled all around, with broken porcelain pieces by her hand. Her black hair was scattered, her palm-sized face was pale, looking pitifully delicate. She leaned against the foot of the bed, beating the side of her leg with her hand, her eyes moist.

Seeing him arrive, Su Zhiruan finally let out a sigh of relief. She looked up with reddened eyes, "I… I accidentally fell down."

The man's throat tightened, "I'll help."

He quickly approached in big strides, his large hand supporting her slender back, and scooped her up to place her back on the bed.

With the warm fragrant jade in his arms, Ji Xiaoyuan tucked her into bed then beat a hasty retreat, "You must be hungry. I'll make you something to eat."

Su Zhiruan nodded resignedly, watching him leave quickly.

She was somewhat depressed thinking about this experience.

She had been in this world for over half a year now, and though the task seemed simple, it left her completely clueless.

The original host was a Princess of the Wan Dynasty, prepared to be offered in marriage to the Wang Dynasty, to marry the Regent King and become a Princess Consort.

There were rumors that the Regent King was a brutal killer, with blood flowing into rivers, and none who entered the Prince Residence met with a good end. As a result, princesses were avoiding the marriage, and the task finally fell upon the original host, a princess who was not favored.

Su Zhiruan couldn't find the system, but the task entry showed that this Regent King was the son of the realm, so she was conferred the title of Princess Jialan in preparation for the marriage alliance.

However, she kept an extra eye out, and after several investigations, she discovered that the Wang Dynasty's Regent King had long been missing. Some said he had died of illness, some said he had retired to the fields, and others said he had undertaken too many killings and had gone to a temple to practice Buddhism.

During her journey to the marriage alliance, she was pursued and attacked. All her attendants were killed, and she fell off a cliff, breaking her leg. She was discovered by Ji Xiaoyuan, who was out hunting, and was brought back by him.

When Su Zhiruan woke up, she faced two pieces of news, one good and one bad.

The good news was that, inadvertently, Ji Xiaoyuan was indeed the son of the realm, the bad news was that she had broken her leg.

As she was lost in thought, a man's voice came from outside the door, "Dinner is ready."

Then, he entered, carrying a tray.

Su Zhiruan craned her neck to see. On it was a bowl of shredded chicken porridge and two eggs. The chicken seemed to have been cooked in advance, and it smelled particularly fragrant, with the fresh taste of chicken soup and the sweetness of the porridge.

"We're having meat today?" Su Zhiruan's eyes lit up as she attempted to prop her body up with her elbow.

The man put down the tray and walked to her side, "Let me do it."

After speaking, his muscular arms half-lifted her and tucked a soft pillow behind her.

He was accustomed to hunting in the mountains and had strong physical strength, lifting her with ease.

The girl was slender, particularly around her waist. Perhaps because she was just growing up, she was slim but well-proportioned, her little face soft and tender, like it could be broken with a blow, contrasting sharply with her surroundings.

Ji Xiaoyuan had thought, when he first brought her back, that she did not belong in an earthen house, but rather should be adorned in fine clothes and pampered within the palace.

"I, I can do it myself," Su Zhiruan said, wrapping herself in the blanket, trying to gently shift herself, but her legs were completely immobile. The hopeful look in her eyes eventually dimmed, becoming pleading as she looked at Ji Xiaoyuan, "I... "

Ji Xiaoyuan supported her waist so she could lean against the wall, and also arranged her immobile legs.

"My name is Ji Xiaoyuan. Since I've saved you, you don't have to be polite. Call me when you need me."

Su Zhiruan nodded lightly.

"Your leg has been set, but it still needs to be treated with herbal poultices and fixated with splints, so it can heal properly," the man said as he handed her the porridge, which was just the right temperature, neither too hot nor too cold. He watched the girl take the bowl, sipping slowly, and sat beside her, keeping her company.

As Su Zhiruan drank the porridge and felt his gaze on her, she looked back at him.

He was too tall, at least one meter ninety.

People from ancient times tended to be shorter on average, and he was the tallest and most burly person Su Zhiruan had seen since she came to this world, with wide shoulders, a narrow waist, and a muscular build that clearly came from regular work. Ji Xiaoyuan also had a high and straight nose.

Her gaze continued to drift downwards.

At the cross, she noticed a bulging large package...

She instantly withdrew her gaze.

She was slim and delicate, easily bruised. If later on she really—

Su Zhiruan was a bit worried about herself.

...

In this way, after she finished her porridge and placed the empty bowl aside.

The man, focused on peeling the eggs, failed to notice her movements. Seeing that she had finished the porridge, he placed the peeled eggs into her bowl, "Eat these two as well."

"I'm full," Su Zhiruan propped herself up on the bed, shaking her head, then looked at him, "You eat them."