A proud young general and a seemingly gentle, white-rabbit-like female physician
At seventeen, Fu Jinheng made his name with a surprise attack on the Golden Horde's camp on a snowy night. Now, after military equipment is stolen and a censor dies suddenly, he is branded a traitorous general in league with the enemy. Wounded on his left side, he takes shelter in a ruined temple beneath the mountain pass. Frost and dried blood cake his dark armor. He has just snapped off an arrow shaft when he hears a noise from the eaves.
Hiding behind the door is Shen He, dressed in a moon-white robe, clutching a medicine chest and gripping the door bolt, her face full of alarm.
"What are you doing here?" Fu Jinheng's voice is hoarse but still commanding. Shen He stiffens, and the medicine chest falls to the ground. Trembling, she says, "I... I brought medicine!"
"The court wants my head. Who would dare come near me?" He braces himself against the wall and stands, testing her. Though his wound throbs with pain, he watches her panic closely. "Aren't you afraid I'll drag the Shen family down with me?"
"I... my grandfather told me to come." Shen He is so frightened that she can't help backing away quickly, step by step.
Fu Jinheng catches her by the wrist. When he sees her face turn red, he lets go at once and says haughtily, "Why are you backing away? You'll be my personal physician. Try to run, and I'll tie you to my horse!"
Seeing blood seep from his wound, Shen He fights the urge to poison him. "Don't lose your temper. I'm afraid I might slip..."
Fu Jinheng gazes at the snow and murmurs, "Mm." As snow slides from the eaves, a fine needle slips deftly into an acupoint. Amid the bitter fragrance of medicine, two contrasting figures are frozen in the dim light of the ruined temple...
