Chapter 66: Tiger Wolf Medicine?!

  "Dad, the road is slippery on snowy days, watch your step."

  Zheng Er Bao carried a lantern in front of him, walking and muttering to himself.

  As the night deepened, the snow fell even harder. Xia Chuqi grasped Zhao Zhen's wrist and headed towards Chengde Hall, with several little maidservants following closely behind. The group trampled the snow on the ground, making crunching sounds. Amidst these sounds, Xia Chuqi couldn't help but think of Dongfang Wanyi's three loud farts at the grand banquet, and her smile lingered on.

  "Is your house cold?"

  Zhao You tightened her hand and suddenly asked a question. Xia Chuqi coughed lightly, originally wanting to restrain his smile before answering, but looking at his face which became even more profound under the night sky, he couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth, shook his head, and laughed so hard that he couldn't speak.

  "Still smiling?" Zhao Zun furrowed his brow.

  "Pffft, not that I wanted to laugh, but I just couldn't hold it in... Pfft..." She imitated Dongfang's fart sound and couldn't help but giggle. "Can't hold it in, can't hold it in, what if I also let out a fart?"

  After finishing speaking, another suppressed laugh burst out.

  Zheng Er Bao and the old ladies did not dare to make a sound, and Zhao Zun also didn't respond.

  With a stifled smile, Xia Chuqi couldn't see his face clearly, but guessed that he had probably darkened another circle.

  Chengde Temple

  Although Zhao Zun's car has been out for more than two years, and it has been idle here for so long, there are people coming in to clean up every day, and it doesn't look like no one has lived here at all.

  Inside the warm pavilion, only two compartments were separated by carved nanmu wood partitions. The furniture in both inner and outer layers was mostly made of purple sandalwood. Antiques, jade carvings, coral basins, Qinghua porcelain vases, tortoise-crane candle holders, gold lacquer screens... all the facilities were extremely exquisite, and the space was spacious enough. The house had a heating system that blocked out the wind, snow, and cold air from outside. Two people sat opposite each other at the window-side kang table, seemingly still able to hear the sound of the wind blowing against the tree leaves outside.

  A royal mansion, suddenly became extremely quiet and deep.

  "Would you like some food?" Zhao You asked faintly.

  "Not bad, not bad, I like it." Xia Chu nodded.

  It has to be said that she once again deeply felt the benefits of being a feudal lord.

  In just a moment, the kitchen had set out another table of all sorts of dishes, not one of which was left over from the big feast earlier.

  What pleased her the most was that, unlike the big fish and meat prepared by Yuè Yù before, Zhao Zun ordered people to bring pickled radish and tofu, which made her more appetizing.

  "Eat more and gain some weight." He continued to serve her dishes.

  "Are you looking down on me again? Alright, then I won't be polite either."

  At the beginning of summer, she couldn't resist the temptation of delicious food. Earlier in the dining room, she was considerate of this man's face and didn't dare to eat too much. Now that there were fewer people, how could she bear it?

  She tore off a shiny chicken wing and chewed happily, the image... I don't know if Zhao Zhu could bear to watch, anyway Zheng Er Bao on the side who had heard something wrong already didn't dare to look straight and turned his head away, while the other two unfamiliar little maids were staring with wide eyes.

  Afraid that her eating habits would lose face for others, or that she would break the rules and be seen by others, Zhao Zhu ordered Zheng Erbao in a soft voice.

  "Everyone stop messing around and go down."

  "Yes, sir."

  A group of people simultaneously bowed and withdrew in an orderly manner.

  Only Zheng Er Bao did not leave immediately. He first poured the warmed wine for his grandfather, then trimmed the wick of the candle, and only after everything was ready did he turn around.

  He was too clear that Chu Qi was more arrogant than his master, and she would absolutely not serve him personally.

  But he had a grievance in his heart, yet he didn't dare to make a sound. You should know that on this cold winter day, the emperor hosted a banquet and his master drank a few cups of wine before hastily leaving the table and rushing back to the mansion. Who was he thinking of in his mind? Isn't it obvious?

  There are no more people with poor hearing on the side, and Xia Zhiqiu eats even more comfortably at the beginning of summer.

  "I say, sir, the food here is too extravagant, isn't it? I reckon one meal could cover a commoner's expenses for a whole year?" As she ate with gusto, she also vehemently denounced the ills of the feudal dynasty, feeling quite self-righteous.

  Zhao Mou furrowed his brow and handed her a handkerchief with an indifferent tone.

  "Wipe your mouth."

  "Whatever... fine." Wiping his mouth with a swipe of his hand, Xia Chuqi continued eating with his head down.

  "Is A Qi having fun?"

  The words from across the way made Xia Chuqi pause with her mouth biting on a chicken bone, then she looked up.

  His eyes were deep and shallow at the same time, his emotions unclear.

  She knew he had guessed that Dongfang Wanyi was done by herself, and she just laughed it off without denying it.

  "It's alright, I had a lot of fun. What's wrong, are you worried about your wife?"

  He gave him a glance without any expression, and Zhao You's tone was flat.

  "How much silver did you get?"

  "Ah?" Xia Chuyi was stunned again, biting on a chicken bone.

  "Divide the spoils." He lowered his voice.

  "What's the loot?" Xia Chuyi's heart ached as he spat out a chicken bone, "Making money isn't easy, sir."

  "It is precisely because it's hard that we must part."

  “……” He couldn't help but roll his eyes, Xia Chuyi thought that in the days to come in this capital, he would still have to put up with this guy, so he didn't pretend anymore, and nodded resolutely. "Alright, I'll give you 100 taels, how about we split it 40-60? Don't think it's too little, after all, I'm the one who did all the work, you're just getting a share of the spoils for free, can't divide it equally, that would be too unfair."

  "Still, it's quite decent."

  Zhao Zun pursed his lips, indicating agreement, and continued to serve dishes into her bowl. But it was unknown whether Dongfang Yuanyi, who had lost her composure in public, would be furious enough to spit blood on the spot if she knew that her beloved husband was currently demanding compensation from the perpetrator for losing face because of her.

  Xia Qiqi was mourning the loss of forty taels of silver that had vanished into thin air when Zhao Zhu pulled out a small, intricately embroidered red satin box from his sleeve and handed it to her.

  "Grandpa can't let you suffer in vain, this is Yue Ze ointment."

  He mentioned this thing before, on July 7th, he said that this thing is very useful for covering scars.

  She didn't know what the effect would be, but since it was given by this stingy old man, she wouldn't reject it for nothing. She took it back and studied it again, which might also be good. The imperial court's secret recipe, those princesses used it, and it should have some effect more or less.

  "Thanks."

  This time, Zhao Zun did not add a sentence asking for silver, but instead filled the white jade cup in front of her with wine, using his light and shallow voice that was full of temptation to command.

  "Father is in high spirits today, let's have a couple of drinks with him."

  "What's there to be happy about?" Xia Chuqi blinked, looking at him sideways, "Have you been promoted again? Or have you received an award from the Emperor? No way, with your current rank, aren't you already out of ranks to promote? If you get promoted again, you can directly become the Emperor."

  Zhao's eyes sank, and he leaned over to cover her mouth with his hand. His palm gently patted her face twice before he spoke in a cold tone.

  "Your sharp tongue! Can you say such a thing? If people hear it, will they still want to keep their heads?"

  She rubbed her face, and Xia Chuqi's ears turned red, "Isn't there anyone around? Is there someone I can talk to? Am I stupid or something? Besides, who doesn't know that Chen Jing is right outside? Where would anyone be able to hear our conversation in this secluded corner? I think you're just taking advantage of me."

  Zhao Zun had an interest in watching her, his eyes narrowing slightly like a fox.

  "Also. Eating tofu, can get silver?"

  "...Shameless." She rolled her eyes and continued eating.

  A snowy day, in a warm pavilion, with fine wine and delicious food, a man and a woman.

  At the beginning of summer, Xia Chuiqi and Zhao Zhu were chatting and laughing. Most of the time, Zhao Zhu just listened without speaking. Before long, the fine wine they had prepared earlier was emptied by the two of them. It seemed like they hadn't had enough to drink, so Zhao Zhu called Zheng Erbao to refill their cups again. One cup for you, one cup for me, as they drank, both of them got into the mood. Xia Chuiqi's face turned bright red from the alcohol, her originally clear eyes became blurry and dazed, like a misty spring river that was hard to resist. Finally, after downing another cup, she let out an unladylike belch.

  "I can't drink anymore, if I drink more I'll be drunk."

  Zhao Zun seemed to have some wine intention, but he didn't mean to stop drinking. He refilled the cups of both people again and handed the white jade cup to her hand. After a moment, he asked coldly.

  "Ah Qi, are you willing to follow grandfather to Beiping Prefecture to guard the fief?"

  "Go to Beiping? Become a vassal king?" Xia Chuyi narrowed her eyes slightly, the wine making her lazy as a cat.

  "Yes, I'm going to Beiping Prefecture. The Emperor has approved my memorial."

  "Beiping? Isn't that just Beijing?" Xia Qi's mind was spinning in circles, half-drunk and half-awake, his head a bit dizzy. Homesick emotions surged strongly, "Hiccup... my home is in Beijing. Zhao Zun, I really miss home, I miss Beijing, I miss my comrades, I miss watching TV, I miss the internet... but now, I still can't go home... there are many things I need to do."

  Beijing?

  Zhao Zun's eyebrows were deep and quiet, quietly sizing her up. Half-drunk Xia Chuqi was smiling more brightly than usual, a true smile that came from the heart, a radiant smile that spread from his eyebrows to his eyes, with sparkling lights shining in the depths of his pupils, exuding joy and satisfaction, and on his cheeks, a small dimple appeared, not a seductive smile, but with its own charm.

  He didn't ask her anything important.

  It remained silent for a long time.

  It wasn't until many years later, when Zhao Zhen moved the capital of Da Yan to Bei Ping Fu and issued a decree renaming Jing Shi Bei Ping Fu as Beijing, that he still had the image of that snowy night floating in his mind. The two of them sat facing each other drinking wine, Chu Qi's appearance after getting drunk, repeatedly saying she wanted to go home. It was also at that time that he deeply realized he had long been trapped in the dimples on her lips.

  No more mention of what happened later, let's just say that at this moment, Zhao Zun fell silent for a while, put down his wine cup, and his throat was a bit hoarse.

  "Ah Qi, come sit down."

  "What's wrong?" Xia Chuqi looked at him with half-closed eyes.

  "Sit over here."

  It was the seventh day of summer, and she was a bit drunk, but not so drunk that she didn't know what she was doing. She couldn't understand why two people drinking together wouldn't sit opposite each other, feeling more at ease, instead of sitting next to him?

  But under his cold gaze, thinking of the little wife who had played a trick on him today, he couldn't refuse anymore and sat down beside him.

  I thought we would still have some drinking and arm-wrestling fun, but unexpectedly, Zhao Zhuo didn't say a word, only handed her a clean handkerchief to wipe her hands and mouth clean, then swept her up in his arms and strode out.

  At the beginning of summer, I suddenly felt a chill, looking at him, but couldn't see through his eyes.

  "Hey, where are you going?"

  "Wait upon Master as he takes his bath." Zhao You said calmly.

  "Ahh...? Oh! But I'm not full yet?" Xia Chuqi's heart was racing.

  "Dad will feed you till you're full."

  His voice was still light and flat, stable and without more expression. It's just that this voice had a slightly unusual hoarseness, which made Xia Chuqi's face flush.

  "Let me go, I can walk by myself."

  "Shut up." She pushed him, wanting to struggle, but his arms were very strong, and he wrapped her already soft body from drinking into his embrace, like a rope tied around her, leaving no room for her to resist?

  Line!

  Anyway, she agreed with him, and it's too late to regret now.

  Besides, there's still a three-year agreement, he won't take advantage of her anyway.

  Thinking so, he quickly came out of the warm pavilion. Outside, the servant girls were waiting in a house. Seeing their master carrying someone out, they all lowered their heads and didn't dare to make a sound, nor did they take another look. Zhao Zun also ignored them and wouldn't care about what they thought, coldly instructing Zheng Erbao instead.

  "Go and prepare a bath for grandfather."

  "Yes, Master."

  Zheng Er Bao responded accordingly, and in a sharp, fine voice, he began to give orders from horseback.

  "Yu Mei, hold the lantern in front and watch your step carefully. Yu Zhu, it's snowing heavily outside, hurry up and quickly bring over Master's sable cloak for him to wear. And you, go quickly and get the medicine that Dr. Chu has prepared for Master..."

  A large group of people are busy for a grandfather.

  Outside, the heavy snow was still falling thick and fast, but Zhao Zhu wore a purple sable cloak, holding Xia Chuyi in his arms, the cloak wrapped around her body, she didn't feel cold, only her heart was in turmoil. The group headed towards the hot spring bathhouse, the winding lanterns on the snowy ground, apart from leaving footprints, also made it clear to everyone in the Jinwang Fu that this Chu physician, was truly a person cherished by Master deeply, absolutely not rumors, don't dare provoke her.

  ……

  ……

  Through the garden, across the archway, turning left and right, they walked up to a corridor built over the water. Just as the seventh day of summer was about to dawn, the group finally stopped. The building in the middle of the lake was the "Tang Spring Bathhouse", and behind the stone gate carved out of marble was the Tang Spring bathroom reserved for Zhao Zhu.

  It's too extravagant!

  "She sighed, 'You're just taking a bath, why make it so complicated?'"

  Zhao Zhuo looked down at her and didn't respond. Zheng Er Bao bowed his body, threw down the dustpan, stepped forward with force and pushed it open. With a "creaking" sound, the stone gate carved out of marble opened, and Xia Chu Qi found the scene very interesting, and couldn't help but widen his eyes.

  "Wow, is this an organ?"

  She didn't know that the stone gate was carved by a famous craftsman in the capital, and it was extremely exquisite. Zhao Zun also didn't explain, but gave her a "foolish" look, still coldly instructing.

  "All the bathing items are ready, you can wait outside."

  "Yes! Grandfather."

  Another burst of uniform responses.

  As soon as I entered the hot spring bathroom, on the seventh day of the first month of summer, my mind was dizzy for a moment, and I truly admired the wisdom of the ancients.

  She really didn't expect that there would be such a place in the Jin Wang Fu. The warm spring water was introduced into the mansion for bathing, and according to the Feng Shui principle of "flowing in but not flowing out to gather fortune", the treatment of water filtration and purification as well as sewage discharge were done indoors, with good ventilation and air circulation, which can also ensure privacy, it's awesome.

  But this is completely different from what she imagined at first.

  She originally thought it was a large wooden barrel, he would wash inside and she would admire outside, drooling, after he finished washing, at most she would help him dry his body and then give him a comfortable Thai massage. Who knew it was such a place... They had dismissed everyone, just the two of them alone, wasn't it easy for something to happen?

  "Ah Qi, help grandfather change his clothes!"

  Zhao Zhu stretched out his arms freely, his sleeves slightly drooping, waiting for her to serve him a bath.

  "Cough, cough!" He took off his outer cloak and Xia Chuqi seemed to be unable to hold his liquor, suddenly collapsing onto a stone chair carved with auspicious beasts. "Hiss" - he let out a soft sound, rubbing his temples hard, "Sir, why don't you go take a bath first? Let me...let me sober up for a bit, my head hurts so much, I've had too much to drink."

  "Good."

  A faint word entered his ear, but it made Xia Chuqi feel puzzled.

  He actually agreed so readily? Won't there be any trickery?

  But the other party really did it, in her eerie gaze, he slowly and calmly removed his crown, untied his jade belt, took off his outer robe, and then stripped off layer after layer of intricate clothes. Just as her heart was racing with anticipation, fearing that he would strip completely naked and cause embarrassment, he only wore a pair of large red underpants, without looking at her, and walked straight to the bathing pool separated by a screen wall.

  Pfft!

  It's red again.

  Looking at those red pants, she couldn't help but laugh.

  "Hey, it's your zodiac year, isn't it?"

  “……”

  No one answered her inside.

  The carved flower screen wall is still made of marble, very wide and long, completely blocking the bathtub inside.

  Heaving a sigh of relief, Xia Qiqi's wildly racing heart finally calmed down.

  He didn't expect it would be so easy for him to let her go.

  Lying lazily on the chair, she didn't dare to hear the sound of water inside the mirror wall, nor did she dare to imagine what kind of stunning face the man had when his clothes were stripped off. She just felt parched in her throat and gazed at the surroundings of the hot spring bath with a drunken eye. The stone lotus flower-colored gauze curtains were layered on top of each other, and all the tables, chairs, and desks were made of marble, which would not be affected by the years of heat and humidity inside, and there were even flowers and plants that bloomed due to the warm weather, it was simply like a dreamy utopia.

  What a great place!

  It would be great if she could soak in it too.

  She leaned on the stone chair, propping up her cheeks, and thought about that taste, couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh.

  A Qi

  A faint voice in the wall, like a devil's hand, instantly choked her throat, making her think that she could relax and shatter her heart to pieces.

  "What's going on?"

  "Come in and serve the master."

  "What's wrong? Didn't you just take a bath?"

  She asked somewhat embarrassingly, he lightly hummed a sound, and two words made her realize she was overthinking.

  "Massage."

  Ah! She was taken aback for a moment.

  Fortunately, it was just a back massage and not letting her go "bang bang bang" with him.

  Xia Chuiqi let out a sigh of relief, but as she walked past the mirror, thinking about what she was about to see, her ears were still a little hot.

  She is a doctor and has seen many naked men before.

  That thing, I've seen more of it in anatomy class and Japanese adult videos.

  That feeling is just different...

  Because that person was Zhao Zhu. Her brain began to fill in the gaps on its own, broad shoulders, narrow waist, tight and firm buttocks, water droplets hanging from her enchanting skin, years of fighting and martial arts training had honed her biceps, six-pack abs and a deadly fishbone line, and then there was... By the time she stood at the edge of the steaming hot spring pool, her mind was still a bit dazed.

  "Did your head get caught in the door? What's wrong?"

  Zhao Zhuo learned a sentence of her scolding words and suddenly pulled her back to reality.

  She coughed dryly and rubbed her scorching face, then walked over.

  In fact, the hot air in the hot spring pool was too thick, and apart from his biceps and a few pieces of pectoralis major, she couldn't even see the six-pack abs and mermaid line in her fantasies, let alone his chicken breast. She curled up the corner of her mouth and forced out a smile, feeling both regretful and relieved at the same time, before quickly reverting back to her usual playful expression, with a hint of sadness in her eyes as she gazed at Zhao Zhu's cold face.

  "Grandfather, how does it feel after taking this medicinal bath?"

  "You feel nothing." he retorted.

  It's also too depressing.

  Xia Chuqi let out a hum and took a towel to scrub his back for him.

  "I spent the whole afternoon, and that Zheng Er Bao is really foolish. So many medicinal soups were poured into the pool water, and after being diluted by the water, the concentration naturally decreased, so the effect had to be discounted..."

  She used words like dilution and concentration with ease, without feeling anything out of place.

  What's even more out of place is that Zhao Zun lightly hummed a tune, closed her eyes, and lazily sat on the specially made green jade stone steps by the hot spring pool, enjoying her servant's attendance, as if she didn't find it strange at all.

  How strange!

  Xia looked down and glanced at him on the seventh day of summer.

  The hot air was swirling, the man's body was robust and strong. This scene was completely different from what she had imagined before July 7th. Seeing him with his eyes closed, her face flushed, and her courage grew, as she massaged his back, she couldn't help but peek into the water, but damn it, the hot spring in the mist, except for the upper body, nothing else could be seen.

  "Want to see?"

  A gentle yet heavy questioning tone made Xia Chuqi cough.

  Even with her eyes closed, she knew he was looking at her?

  "Go, is there anything worth seeing? Not interested anyway."

  She snorted, increasing her grip and scrubbing harder, but suddenly let out a cry of surprise as the man pulled her into the water. As she fell into his arms, a scent with medicinal notes mixed with the faint aroma of his bath products wafted up to her nose. The warmth of his skin was like fire under her palms, making her heart flutter and her blood rush from her hands to the rest of her body, leaving her stunned.

  "Don't you want to see your grandfather?"

  "Do you still want to save face? Who wants to see you now?" Xia Chuyi's face was burning like fire.

  "Stubborn."

  A low, husky voice spoke slowly and deliberately, not waiting for her to refute, the arm that held her body tightened. The other hand lifted, tossing away the hat on her head, and pulled out the hairpin that bound her hair, a head of black silk scattered down like water, the original masculine awkwardness transformed into feminine shyness.

  "What are you doing?" Xia Chuqi pushed him and felt her heart was already in her throat.

  "He" was still a word, before she could retort with a red face, he lowered his head and first kissed her cheek, then pecked at the tip of her nose that had turned red. His lips slowly covered hers, like when she was a child eating jelly, gently grinding in circles, before slowly prying open her trembling lips, entering the sweet soft mouth, stirring intensely for a few moments, the breathing of the two people became heavy, the two tongues entwined like two slippery fish, sticking together, swallowing, and tangling, as if restless, yet yearning...

  "Feed... three... three years!"

  She trembled and stuttered out a few words, the palm on her back tightened again, the man wrapped his arms around her, turned her over, and pressed her heavily onto a smooth jade stone at the edge of the pool, with fiery breathing, deeply kissing each other, pressing tightly together, without a single gap.

  "Uh... Zhao... Zhao Zhu..."

  The seventh day of summer still has some rationality.

  Although she was drunk, her training made it difficult for her to become a dead person who didn't know anything. Her mind always retained a bit of clarity, which was originally something she took pride in. But at this moment, under Zhao's unreasonable and tight entanglement, she could only passively perceive his existence and couldn't do anything else.

  "No, go..."

  Taking advantage of the pause, she took a deep breath and added another sentence.

  "A promise for three years... you promised..."

  Her narrowed eyes, with a hint of intoxication and dizziness, her wet clothes clinging to her body, tightly wrapping the small breasts that had finally developed, making it impossible for air to pass through. She didn't need to see herself to imagine how embarrassing she looked.

  "Really don't want?"

  "No." She panted.

  "My grandfather meant the same thing!"

  The faint voice had just fallen, and the guy who was holding her suddenly let go of his hand and threw her into the hot spring. He quickly stood up, and under her stunned gaze, he walked up along the stone steps. Unfortunately, she didn't have a chance to feast her eyes. Just as she closed her eyes when she fell into the water, he wrapped a towel around his waist, and except for his six-pack abs and hip line, she couldn't see anything else.

  I'm going to die from laughter!

  Bai let him eat tofu.

  "Take it easy."

  Zhao Zhu wiped her body, as if reading the regret on her face, and rarely raised her lips to bring out the "evil" in his bones to the extreme.

  "Sooner or later you will see, don't be impatient."

  "Who's in a hurry? Who's in a hurry?"

  The awkwardness turned into a miserable tease, Xia Qi made an effort to shake off the water droplets on her head, feeling that this scoundrel was hateful to the extreme. He deliberately lured her over, making her lose her mind, kissing her until she forgot her own surname, and then suddenly threw her into the hot spring, with a masculine posture, as if he wanted to pounce on her like a mother, pulling out all sorts of tricks, extremely infuriating.

  At the thought of this, she added with a snort, "A scrawny little chicken like you, what's there to look at? I'm not interested."

  He glanced at her, and Zhao Zhu slowly sat down on a stone chair by the pool, wearing a soft satin nightgown, revealing a tempting firm physique, gazing at her lightly, as if in thought, propping up his temples, rubbing them slowly, one word at a time.

  "It talks contrary to one's mind."

  On the seventh day of summer, he puckered up his mouth, wiped his face with a towel, gave a sly smile, and then sank into the water.

  Soon, a blue cloth garment was thrown onto the shore.

  Then, there is another thing.

  Next, she threw the pants one by one to Zhao Zhuo's position without any politeness, until a "mask" fell on his leg and a wet "bulletproof pants" fell on his shoulder. She then laughed out loud with her head exposed above the water surface.

  "Are you leaving? Wait for me to finish washing up and I'll come out to settle accounts with you."

  Such a bold person, apart from Xia Chuqi, it's hard to find a few more.

  In the steaming hot spring, misty and hazy, she hummed and muttered to herself, unable to see how ugly his unchanged icy face was. Alone, humming a little tune, all awkwardness gone, completely captivated by the comfort of soaking in the bath.

  "Envy, jealousy, and hatred! You, Your Highness, are truly amazing. If I could take a bath every day, I'd become Yang Yuhuan or Zhao Feiyan in no time. Say, can you get me some milk? Give me a pool of milk to bathe in every day, and after three years, I'll probably have skin as white as snow and as tender as milk... Ah, bliss!"

  She spoke comfortably, with one sigh after another.

  She had never felt so comfortable washing her body for such a long time, although the water was used by Zhao Zhuo and made her feel slightly awkward. Fortunately, he washed his body every day and wasn't dirty, but this feeling of sharing a bath with someone made her skin hotter than usual.

  The only feeling on the seventh day of summer.

  It's been a long time since she had such a relaxing bath experience that it made her forget about something very serious.

  It wasn't until she had finished a cup of tea that she came to from her trance-like state in the hot spring bath, raising her voice to call out "Hey".

  "Dad, I don't have anything to wear, bring me a set."

  Zhao Zhu looked at her and didn't respond.

  She swam alone in the pool and said, "Hey, get me a clean set of clothes."

  The man still didn't react, she glared at him gloomily, "Ten liang."

  It's clear that Grandfather doesn't think much of him.

  "Twenty taels."

  ...but Grandfather still didn't react.

  "Thirty two, can't give you more, I don't have any left if I give you again."

  She didn't say a word, slowly got up and walked around the screen to go out. Not long after, her tall and slender figure came back, holding a moon-white soft satin nightgown in her hand, unfolding it bit by bit in front of her, looking at her with an evil taste.

  "Come on, I'll help you get dressed."

  Her face twisted and twitched, Xia Chuqi smiled with a silly grin.

  "It's not good for men and women to be too close, is it? You can just put your robe over there."

  "It's rare for me to serve someone, don't spoil my mood."

  "Cough cough, I'm not used to being naked in front of a man. It's too indecent."

  "Don't worry, I didn't take you as a woman—"

  He lowered his voice and said with a hint of anger, Xia Qi's head popped up from the water surface, looking rather comical due to his rage.

  "So you still want to kiss me? Don't tell me you like men?"

  Zhao Zhu's eyes narrowed, and he put down his robe and sat on the chair. "Not getting up? Then just soak in it!"

  This piece of junk!

  Playing the rogue thoroughly and still wanting to swindle her money!

  Hating to think about it, Xia Qi thought that she couldn't lose face in front of him, so she dared to conclude that he wouldn't really do anything to her. The more she acted tense, the more fun this guy would have. If she really didn't care about her dignity, he might just leave directly.

  "Hmph, she wickedly curled up the corner of her mouth, narrowed her eyes, and was even more rascally than him."

  "Alright, I'm getting up. One, two, three, I really got up!"

  Zhao Zun's face was cold and calm, his eyes fixed on her without moving.

  One!

  Two!

  "Three!"

  At the beginning of summer, after shouting "three", she splashed a handful of water at him, pretending to want to jump up from the bottom of the water. However, after the water was splashed away, he didn't show any intention of turning around and leaving. His posture remained elegant and unmatched, his eyes still staring at her unwaveringly.

  The daughter! She secretly called out a bitter cry and then retreated back into the water.

  "Alright, alright, let's stop joking around. Sir, be magnanimous and spare me, okay?"

  He gazed at her slowly, his eyes gleaming in the candlelight, and it was unclear what he was thinking. After a brief pause, he still didn't say anything and walked out from behind the screen.

  At the beginning of summer, on the seventh day, she got up from the water and put on her clothes to go out. At that time, he was leaning against a stone chair carved with auspicious beasts, his handsome face unparalleled in ancient and modern times, his charming figure made her heart skip a beat.

  "Ah Qi, give grandpa a head massage."

  Her thoughts were all scattered because of his one sentence, Xia Qi walked past wiping her hair.

  "Does your head hurt again?"

  "As soon as I see you, I get a headache."

  “……”

  Speechless, Xia Chuqi walked to his back, her hand placed on his head, first using a towel to wipe his hair for a while, until it was half dry, then slowly massaging him while thinking about the matter of blowing wind.

  "Zhao Zhu, I think you should have the conditions to get a hair dryer, using silver charcoal would be fine. With it, after washing your hair, you can quickly dry it, especially in winter, having wet hair all the time is not good for scalp diseases."

  "Dryer?"

  Zhao Zhu slowly asked, but didn't continue, just closed his eyes, and let her small hands press for a while before saying "it's okay" in a low voice. He caught her hand and pulled it to the front, under her puzzled gaze, he suddenly hugged her waist, pressed her against himself, and tilted his head to ask her.

  "Chu Qi, you haven't answered me yet."

  "What?"

  "Are you willing to follow me to Beiping Prefecture?"

  There was a faint scent of fragrance on his body, which was somewhat bewildering to the mind. This made Xia Chuyi hesitate for a good while before firmly shaking her head.

  "I won't go to Beiping Prefecture, I want to stay in the capital."

  He wasn't surprised by her response, but instead wrapped his arms around her body, swiftly turning her over and pinning her down on the wide stone chair, his voice low and husky, making it hard for her to breathe.

  "Is Master Ruo going to take you now?"

  Her ears "buzzed" for a moment, looking at his condescending face, Xia Chuyi told the truth.

  "Let's not say it's impossible, even if it is, I won't go."

  His face was slightly cold, and he lowered his head to bite her earlobe, "Bastard!"

  She let out a pained whimper, her body rubbing against his intense physique. Xia Chuqi's eyes widened as she tried to speak, but he sealed her lips with his own. Her legs kicked wildly, and her face was kissed red like a monkey's buttocks. No matter how hard she struggled, the man on top of her didn't care, his movements becoming more and more unbridled. She let out two gasps, her throat dry and hoarse, feeling like she was going crazy, completely crazy.

  "Zhao Zhu! Listen to me——"

  "Speak." His hoarse voice was like a beast's, full of savage menace.

  She took a deep breath and propped up his heavily oppressive body, but hesitated.

  She wanted to ask him loudly, "Can you have only me as your woman after tonight? Can you marry me with a grand wedding and take me home as your wife? Can you openly tell the world that I am your wife and your only wife? Can you refuse the emperor's arranged marriage for me and not marry even a nominal princess? Can you drive out all the concubines in the mansion who are used to balance the court relationships for me? Can you? You can't. If you can't, please stop."

  What a pity! If she said so, it would be the biggest joke in the world.

  He must think she's gone crazy.

  She swallowed hard and curled up the corner of her mouth, with an extremely relaxed tone, teasingly smiled lightly.

  "Father, there's something I forgot to tell you. On my way back to the mansion today, those concubines of yours gave me a headache, but I also discovered that they all love you deeply and would stop at nothing to get your attention. As you know, I, Chu Qi, am a kind and righteous person with unparalleled medical skills. To prevent you from making a mistake that would be regretted for eternity, I added a medicine called 'Longing Damage' to the medicinal soup I previously prepared for you."

  "Are you pining for someone?"

  Zhao Zhu's dark eyes stared at her for a long time without moving.

  At the beginning of summer, she twisted her body and dodged her eyes, but couldn't help smiling, "After taking that medicine to bathe, you have to abstain for a month."

  He didn't say anything, but his eyes were deeply cold...

  "Don't be afraid, that medicine is indeed fierce, but it won't have any effect on your body. It's just that, after taking this medicine, if a man has intercourse with a woman within a month, he will ejaculate prematurely and become impotent from then on." Seeing his face getting darker and darker, Xia Chuyi smiled slyly and poked him on the shoulder, "Hey, don't be so gloomy? It's just one month, no big deal. Are you thinking of using it on one of your wives right now? That would be quite embarrassing, why not wait another month?"

  "Chu Qi——"

  Zhao's face fell completely black.

  ……

  ……

  After bathing on that day, Xia Qiuzi never saw Zhao Zilong again.

  Although she still lived in the ear house of Chengde Temple, and that master could be considered to be under the same roof, they happened to have different schedules.

  She had not yet gotten out of bed when he got up and went to court. She had already gone to sleep at night, and he came back against the wind and snow.

  She knew about his situation all from Big Mouth Mei Zi.

  It is said that the Golden Guards who returned from Shu have been returning to the court one after another, and they are all stationed in the three major camps in the capital area. He is busy with military affairs every day.

  Besides, since he was returning triumphantly, there were banquets every day and he couldn't get away.

  But on the seventh day of the first month of summer, Xiao knew it wasn't so.

  She was really angry after hearing she gave him that kind of medicine.

  Any normal man would care about that kind of thing, and Zhao Zhuo is no exception.

  Of course, all those "longing" were fabricated by her.

  Is there a miracle medicine in the world that can't be used after taking a bath, and one use will make it ineffective? That's too far-fetched. Logically speaking, with Zhao Zun's IQ, he shouldn't have believed it, but for some reason, perhaps because of her past medical exploits, he was taken aback by her. He didn't come to ask for an antidote, nor did he come to find her again, as if he completely ignored her existence.

  But thinking about it, a big man, with an arrow on the string, she was stunned and gave someone a head-on blow, even if he's normal, he'd be angry for a while.

  She knew it in her heart, but she wasn't anxious or worried.

  Since two people have made an agreement for three years, she must abide by it.

  She still couldn't quite figure out why that old man had to make her serve him a bath, and then he went and got himself all burned up, looking like he was about to burst blood vessels.

  Is she really that charming? She's so weird.

  But she can't be bothered to think about it.

  The days when he didn't come to bother her, she lived a carefree life as usual.

  During the day, I would go to a good doctor's place and squat for a while, looking at those medical classics. In the evening, I would ponder my own affairs in my ears, chat with Li Mo, and wait for the response to the rumors that had been put out. The days passed by like a gentle breeze on the water.

  These two days, the backyard has been unusually quiet. I don't know if Dongfang Wenyi finally understood that she was the one who made a mistake. Anyway, since the day she lost her temper and made a scene, she hasn't come to find fault with anyone again. According to Meizi, she's been staying in her own "Nanlaiyuan" courtyard every day, reflecting on her actions, not seeing anyone, and no longer gossiping. Probably feeling ashamed to face people, she can't think clearly for the time being.

  While others didn't bother her because of Zhao Zhu's "care".

  Although that ancestor didn't come to find her, on the surface he valued her quite a bit, and indeed was very righteous.

  He has just returned to the court, and it's almost New Year's Day. Not to mention what Your Majesty and Her Majesty gave him, but even the rare treasures presented by officials from various departments were all taken to the Jin Wang Fu one by one. But where did those things go? As long as the Jin Wang thought they were good, most of them were given to Xia Chuqi, making her two rooms so luxurious that people couldn't help but drool.

  For a time, everyone in the capital knew that Nineteenth Master was doting on the good doctor in his mansion with all his heart.

  The feeling of being so "spoiled" by others should be great, but Xia Chuqi felt more and more guilty.

  She knew in her heart that his feelings for Zhao Zhu were not at that level yet.

  Since ancient times, those who have been too proud and arrogant have never had a good ending.

  On the third day of her service, also on December 27th, Xia Chuyi heard a piece of news that Princess Gong had begun to select candidates for the position of Jin Wangfei. For this matter, the old emperor who was already in his sixties prepared to hold another round of imperial concubine selection after the New Year's Day, not only to replenish his harem but also to choose beautiful women to continue the lineage of his sons and grandsons.

  Even so, Consort Gong seemed still dissatisfied.

  On this afternoon, the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Guard, Cui Yingda, brought five beautiful women bestowed by the Emperor.

  This act of sending the beautiful woman to Zhao Zhuo is self-explanatory and everyone understands it.

  In fact, on the very next day after Zhao Zuo's court, the old emperor lavishly rewarded the generals of the southern expedition against Wu Na in the Fengtian Hall. According to their merits, they were each granted a crown and clothing, and given a certificate. Even Chen Daniu, who couldn't recognize a single character, was granted the title of "Ding'an Hou" with an annual salary of 1,500 stones, which would be passed down to his descendants. This man had won at life and had a secure future. The others were also granted titles as marquises or given beautiful women as rewards. In total, more than 100 Jinwei military leaders were granted new titles.

  So, Zhao Zun, as the old emperor's biological son, naturally wouldn't lose out. Since there was nothing more to be gained in terms of official rank, he added another character "Wang" to his title "Godly Martial General", making it "Godly Martial General King". Zhao Zun's request to go to Beiping Prefecture to guard the border also received the old emperor's approval. However, the old emperor said that with current affairs in the court being busy and the crown prince being seriously ill, roughly meaning "My son, if you were to have an accident on your journey, I wouldn't be able to see you off, which would be a pity".

  However, although the time to go to Beiping Prefecture was delayed, preparations did not stop. It is said that the old emperor had already sent a second-grade official and several skilled craftsmen to Beiping Prefecture, and also issued an edict to Ma Chenghong, the governor of Beiping, ordering him to personally supervise the construction of the Jinwang Mansion in Beiping. The layout refers to the Imperial City in Beijing, only slightly reduced in scale, but even so, the construction area of the Jinwang Mansion is said to be nearly 500 mu, which is over 300,000 square meters in modern calculations...

  That is to say, he has been rewarded with everything he deserves.

  These five beauties are here to correct their son's "bad habits".

  It was learned that the government had newly introduced a beautiful woman, and the three people in the backyard didn't know what they were thinking. Anyway, the servant girls were all whispering to each other in private, only Xia Chuqi was transparent by herself and had no interest in this matter at all.

  Just as everyone expected that the five beauties would be driven out of the mansion according to convention, but were not driven out by Zhao Zun, the eyes of the people in the mansion began to glance at Xia Chuyi again.

  I suppose everyone wants to see if she will take any action or make a move because of this matter.

  But honestly speaking, I didn't feel anything on Qixi Festival at all.

  Those girls she had seen, were only about 15 or 16 years old, and their height was similar to hers, they hadn't even fully developed yet. The taste of that ancient person was really heavy, and she couldn't believe that Zhao Zhuo would "slap" them.

  She's really not worried about these things.

  Zhao Zhen, if he really wanted to find a woman, where would it be that she could take care of him?

  She now worries about three things.

  The first one is that the fool has no news, and there is also no movement on Ning Wang's side.

  The second is that there was no news even if it was spread out, and the East Palace did not send anyone to invite her to treat the crown prince.

  The third thing was about Fan Congliang. She had followed Zhao Zun back to the capital by water, and they were moving very quickly, while Yuan You was escorting Fan Congliang on land, and it was said that they would be returning to the capital in two days. Although Zhao Zun hadn't discussed with her how to resolve the matter of Fan Congliang, she knew clearly in her heart that Dongfang Qingxuan wasn't someone who could be easily fooled. She had died but then "come back to life", so it wouldn't be easy to settle this matter. The Jin Chan escaping from its shell was something that might deceive others, but it definitely couldn't deceive the ears and eyes of the Brocade Guard; Dongfang Qingxuan would never let her off.

  At the thought of Dongfang Qingyun's face, she got a headache.

  If Jin Yiwei interrogates Fan Zongshi, and he confesses everything, what will she do?

  These few things made her think that even hiding in the palace and keeping a low profile was no longer possible.

  The next day was the 28th of the twelfth lunar month, and there were only two days left before the New Year.

  She spent the whole morning in Liangyishuo, probably thinking about too many things. When discussing Fang and Jingfang with Sun Zhengye, she was a bit absent-minded.

  Could it be that the people of Jin Gong Xing didn't spread the news?

  It shouldn't be the case logically speaking.

  In the tea houses, wine shops and brothels, rumors are easily spread. Moreover, there are many high-ranking officials in Jinxiu Building, if they hear such news, wouldn't someone take the initiative to recommend it to the Emperor or the East Palace for merit?

  "Older brother, we need to go out for a bit."

  On the seventh day of summer, I felt something was off and had the idea to go out and ask in person.

  "What's wrong?" Li Mian looked at her in confusion.

  "You introduce me and I'll go find that old acquaintance of yours, the one from Jin Gong."

  She expressed her own thoughts, and Li Mo thought for a moment before nodding.

  As a good doctor in the Jin Wang Fu, although living in the Jin Wang Fu, after all, not being one of the women in the backyard of the Jin Wang Ye, coming and going is still relatively free.

  Of course, this was also the reason why she had to become a good doctor in the palace at first.

  After lunch, she asked for leave from her superior, Liang Yizhong Sun Zhengye, and led Li Mo out of the Jinwang Mansion.

  The streets were still bustling with activity.

  It's just that the ancient times can't be compared with the modern world, because the Da Yan Dynasty had clear regulations on the clothing and living habits of the common people. As a result, the clothes worn by ordinary people on the street were extremely simple in style and color, and anyone who dressed slightly more luxuriously was not an ordinary person. This resulted in it being very easy to distinguish between different social classes just from their clothing alone.

  Because of his recent "disagreement" with Zhao Zun, Xia Chuyu and Li He walked out without calling for the horse carriage from the mansion.

  As she walked towards the Jinxiu Building, she was thinking about what it would be like to stroll through an ancient brothel. Suddenly, a shrill and noisy cry came from across the street.

  The crowd around also quickly squeezed to the side.

  "It seems like something's gone wrong."

  At the beginning of summer, after muttering a spell, he saw Li Mo had already drawn his long sword from his waist and rushed towards that direction.

  She slightly stunned, clenched her fists and followed closely, somewhat unclear. Li Mo's person looked cold, but actually had a somewhat impulsive temperament, she feared that the girl would suffer a loss.

  "Yuan Xing, how are you?"

  It was Li Miao's slightly panicked voice in the crowd.

  "This person is probably done for." Someone sighed softly.

  "Was that just an assassin? I didn't even see a shadow, and they killed someone before vanishing." Someone was terrified.

  "Hurry up, Second Brother, hurry! Carry Big Brother onto the horse cart and take him to Huiyao Hall..." someone shouted loudly.

  It was a struggle to squeeze into the crowd on the seventh day of summer, and by the time I got in, it had already become chaotic.

  The center of the crowd was a man with thick eyebrows and a high nose, dressed as a martial artist, with a mustache. His clothes were soaked in blood, he was half-lying on the ground, with a large knife beside him. On the ground, on the knife, there was a pool of bright red blood, while his face was twisted, one hand tightly covering his abdomen, his complexion pale as a ghost.

  "Chu Qi, come and take a look." Li Mo carefully supported him.

  Xia Zhi Qi hastily walked over, furrowed her brow and asked, "Eldest Brother, who is he?"

  "He is Yuan Xing."

  Li Mo didn't have time to explain much, as soon as he mentioned the name, Xia Chuyi understood.

  Yuan Xing was the man Li Mo had saved more than two years ago, who was also the leader of Jin Gong Hang. It's not too surprising that such a person would be hacked and injured on the street.

  A person in a chaotic world would naturally have many enemies and must have been ambushed by someone.

  In her mind, Xiaoyi didn't hesitate, she squatted down and moved Yuan Xing's arm, simply examining the injury. She saw that although Yuan Xing was in pain, he gritted his teeth and didn't make a sound, just like a heroic outlaw from the Water Margin, which made her feel a little admiration for him.

  "Brother, go back to the mansion and bring me my medical box, hurry."

  Li Miao nodded, she had great confidence in Xia Chuqi's medical skills, and didn't ask any more questions. She turned around and got into Yuan Xing's carriage. The driver didn't hesitate either, and whipped the horse to gallop away quickly.

  The horse carriage left and Xia Qiqi's emergency treatment began.

  She quickly took off her outer robe, tore it into strips, and made a bandage to bind Yuan Xing's wound, preventing his internal organs from falling out and making treatment more difficult. After doing this, she bent his legs at the knee and placed the remaining clothes under them to reduce tension and pain in his abdominal wall. Having done all this, she raised her head and calmly ordered Yuan Xing's subordinates to hurry to the medicine room to prepare some necessary wound dressings.

  "Is he a doctor?"

  "It's probably so, just looking at his age is not big, I'm afraid..."

  In the midst of the noisy crowd's suspicious murmurs, Yuan Xing's brothers under his command were busy and flustered, and some of them were even frightened.

  "Sir, why don't we first take our eldest to Huiyao Hall, it's very close by."

  "With such injuries, moving is certain death—"

  At the beginning of summer, when treating severe illnesses, she was also a serious and rigid person, and her words were even more forceful. She didn't explain much to them either, she just looked at Yuan Xing with her eyes, giving him a hint of "do you want to lose your life?" Yuan Xing didn't know who he was, but he was extremely familiar with Li Mo, and he endured the cold sweat on his forehead, letting her toss him around, weakly waving his hand at his younger brothers, and gritting his teeth to spit out a few words.

  "Thanks for your trouble... first... sir!"

  "Never mind. You just shut your mouth and conserve your energy."

  Yuan Xing awkwardly closed his mouth, Xia Chuyi's eyebrows were furrowed in concern that he might go into shock from blood loss, and she tightly pinched the Renzhong acupoint on his chest.

  Li Mian's speed was very fast, and it took no more than half a cup of tea to go back and forth to the Jin Wang Fu. Xia Chuyi also chatted with her for a while, only to let Li Mian hold down his arm, and then let two people press down on his legs, take out the scissors from the medical box, cut open his abdominal clothes, use self-prepared disinfectant water to detoxify, and check his injuries.

  "Yuan Gege's luck isn't bad." Ran into her!

  It can be said that he owes his life to her, Xia Qi. If it weren't for her timely rescue, such severe injuries would have been almost impossible to treat with today's medical conditions.

  There were no surgical equipment and conditions available here, so Xia Qi could only rely on her experience. First, she used silver needles to perform "anesthesia" and "hemostasis" acupuncture on him, then disinfected and sutured the wound. Amidst the buzzing of the onlookers, she completed the precise surgery with a calm face, although her forehead was covered in cold sweat. The incision was quite long, looking at least ten or more centimeters, fortunately it didn't affect any vital organs.

  She was sewing at the time, but that figure suddenly opened its eyes wide and stared at her in disbelief.

  "Little master, you... are truly... a divine doctor... it doesn't hurt..."

  "Shut up."

  Xia Zhuo Qi glared at him, continuing to work on the task at hand. Once the wound was stitched up, she sprinkled a layer of her homemade Sanqi hemostatic powder on his injury. At this time, Yuan Xing's subordinates in the pharmacy brought over the dressing they had prepared. She carefully wrapped the dressing around the wound, then wrapped a circle of disinfected gauze around Yuan Xing's abdomen. After finishing the bandaging, she wiped away the cold sweat from her forehead and let out a long sigh of relief.

  "Alright, it's done, now we can take him to the pharmacy."

  Yuan Xing's lips trembled a few times, looked at her, and then flashed a smile at Li Mo.

  "Far away, this nephew of yours is really a divine doctor."

  His face was all stubble, his skin was dark, and he looked like a bandit from the green forest, except for two rows of white teeth. The twisted smile caused by pain made Li Mo wrinkle his brow.

  "My younger cousin is a famous divine doctor, and his medical skills are naturally exceptional. However... Brother Yuan, who could have hacked you up like this on the turf of Ying Tian Fu?"

  Yuan Xing thought for a moment and shook his head suspiciously.

  "I also don't know, those people's skills are really good..."

  Li Mia frowned, wanting to ask many questions, but at this moment on the street, countless people were watching "the divine doctor saving lives". She didn't dare say more, and only supported Yuan Xing's shoulder, saying in a low voice, "Brother Yuan, it's not convenient here. Let them take you to the pharmacy first, we'll talk carefully later."

  "Good." Yuan Xing's pale face said, and several of his subordinates quickly lifted him up and sent him to the horse carriage. Soon, that horse carriage left the scene with a "driving" sound.

  Having finished saving lives and treating injuries, Xia Chuqi, who had been squatting for a long time, finally felt a sense of accomplishment as a doctor, but her two legs were numb and sore.

  What a medical condition! So annoying.

  She was muttering to herself, randomly slapping her sore and trembling knees and thighs. As she slapped, a pair of black leather boots suddenly appeared on the ground in front of her, motionless. Then, right on cue, an unfriendly voice came from above her head.

  "Sir, my master has invited you."

  Master?

  Alas, there are too many masters under the emperor's feet!

  She slowly stood up, casually dusting off her clothes and gazing sideways.

  Just across the street, a black lacquered carriage with four horses stopped at some point. Inside the green silk curtains of the carriage, there was a pair of eyes that were as gentle and captivating as they could be. The person also looked at her sideways, with elegant eyebrows and eyes, black hair tied high on top of his head, looking clean and refined like an immortal, but with an air of royalty emanating from his bones.

  For a moment, thoughts that seemed to be separated by thousands of waters and mountains came rolling in...

  Digression

  (15,000 words, making up for yesterday's cliffhanger)

  Yesterday I wasn't feeling well, so I took a day off and posted about it in the comments section below. I also asked the administrator to notify everyone, but some of you might not have seen it and are probably feeling frustrated or disappointed with Er Jin. Ah, I understand how you feel when chasing after an update, but I don't know what else to say. After writing for so long, now that my body isn't doing well, I truly feel... only when the body is good can everything be truly good, and there will be a long future ahead. I won't stop updating without reason, please forgive me, thank you...