Chapter 83 Some were drunk, some were happy, and some died.

  Zhao Ziyue was never a girl who would let people off the hook. As soon as she heard that she had arrived, Yuan Xiaogong's raised eyebrows furrowed again, and he could only glance at Zhao Zun with a pair of helpless and charming eyes.

  "Let her in."

  Zhao Zun gave a gentle order, and Zheng Er Bao nodded and retreated.

  "You go back too, I'll go to Chengguo Gongfu again tomorrow."

  Looking at the man sitting upright on the chair, Yuanshu pinched his chin and leaned his elbow on the table, a pair of dark and mysterious eyes curved slightly as he stared at him, "This matter of adopting a daughter, do you want to tell my little sister about it? I think she should be happy."

  Rubbing his eyebrows, Zhao Zun's cold and stern gaze sank, and his eyes were slightly dim.

  "Don't tell her."

  He let out a soft sigh, and Yu Xiu's face was filled with a charming smile.

  "Marinating tofu in sauce, one thing counters another. Nineteenth Uncle, are you being cautious or wanting to surprise her, or are you afraid that my little cousin won't agree and you can't convince her, so you want to take action first?"

  This question is quite tricky, and Yuan Xiao Gongzi rarely catches his nineteenth uncle in such a situation, so he wants to tease him even more. However, that gentleman completely ignores him, maintaining a cold and hard expression, only giving him a chilly glance before slowly picking up a chess piece.

  "Ah Qi said that new Lang powder is not a joke, it really exists."

  As soon as he heard the words "new husband powder", Yuan Xiaogong's handsome face turned black, and he suddenly felt itchy all over his body. Thinking that the new husband powder not only cured him, but also made Fan Congliang endure the severe punishment in prison for it, and even took the blame himself, without implicating Chu Qi, how formidable must it be? Cut off one's descendants, why didn't he withdraw from this matter?

  Coughing audibly, Yuan Xiaogongzi got up from his seat.

  "Tianlu, then I'll take a step ahead and bid farewell."

  As soon as he came out of the study, he bumped into Zhao Ziyue who was just entering. The little girl had several bundles of firewood tied to her back, and there were some faint red spots on her face and neck that hadn't faded yet, which looked even more comical in the candlelight, making Yuan Yuao burst out laughing.

  "Oh no, little witch, what's wrong?"

  "Mind your own business!" Zhao Ziyue and Yuan Yu had never gotten along, she glared at him fiercely, hummed in annoyance, then turned sideways and walked away.

  Yuanyou stroked his chin, "Heh heh" smiled, and a thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

  "I see, it seems like this is definitely my little cousin..."

  "Shao Hong!" Zhao Zhu interrupted him coldly, "Aren't you in a hurry?"

  "Ah ha" for a moment, Yuan You reacted and rushed to him with a bow, "Right, right, I'm in a hurry, I'm in a great hurry. The little beauty in the backyard is still waiting for me."

  Yuan You smiled and left, while Zhao Zun remained sitting upright, looking at Zhao Zi Yue who was obediently walking towards him.

  "Looking for me?"

  "Brother Nineteen..." The soft and gentle voice trailed off, Zhao Ziyue stole several glances at him, looking a bit wronged and fearful. She pouted several times before carefully pointing to the firewood tied to her back and said with a bitter face, "Look, I've even carried firewood to apologize, can you please not look so stern?"

  A sentence "negatively carrying sin" made Zheng Erbao, who was standing on the side and was illiterate, very hurt, lowering his eyelids, wanting to laugh but not daring to make a sound. Zhao Zun rubbed his temples, rarely still calm and looking at her.

  "What's wrong with speaking?"

  Zhao Ziyue had been in the Jin Wang Fu for several days, and except for that day when she suddenly broke out in a rash, Zhao Zun hadn't gone to see her at Qingtang Courtyard. How could she not know that her nineteenth brother was still angry with her? A hint of grievance flashed across her eyes, and she uncomfortably scratched the back of her neck, saying sulkily.

  "That day was my fault, I was the one who put a spider in Chu Qi's blanket, I just wanted to scare her and make her behave herself, not be so arrogant and think she can have everything, how could she be worthy of Nineteen Ge?"

  "Get to the point."

  “Is that so…” Zhao Ziyue became even more wronged, she dared to be arrogant in front of anyone, except in front of Zhao Zun, where she was a good baby. “Nineteenth brother, you don’t know how many people are gossiping about your unclear relationship with him. The women in the palace, they would intentionally say things about you and him in front of Mother Empress, making her so angry that she fell ill. She had to drink several bowls of medicine from the imperial doctor, but it didn’t get better. Nineteenth brother, Ziyue also doesn’t like others talking about you like that. Every time I hear them, I want to go and set their houses on fire, see how they dare to be arrogant, dare to talk about you, dare to make my Mother Empress angry…”

  Zhao Ziyue suddenly lost her train of thought again.

  Those hateful people in her mouth all became the noble ladies of the palace.

  Zhao Zun furrowed his brow and cleared his throat slightly.

  "Continue with your confession."

  Zhao Ziyue pouted and lowered her eyes in frustration.

  "I was wrong to scare him with the spider, and I was also wrong to bully my brother's loved one. But he still thinks of a reason to force me to eat the spider, isn't that his fault?" As she said this, she saw Zhao Zun glance over at her coldly, so she quickly shrank back, "Okay, it's all my fault, I've already apologized and admitted my mistake today, brother you just forgive and forget, don't hold a grudge against Zhiyue, we siblings have made up, okay?"

  Gazing at her lightly, Zhao You's eyebrows relaxed a bit.

  "It's enough to know."

  Zhao Ziyue stuck out her tongue, "So, brother, you forgive me?"

  Zhao Zun sighed, "Why would I bother with a little girl like you? Remember, don't do it again next time."

  As soon as she heard this, Zhao Ziyue immediately became happy, and with two or three swings, she shook off the firewood tied to her back, clapped her hands, and excitedly called out for the little girl Qingteng waiting outside to come in.

  "I know brother has been working hard on military affairs for days, besides carrying firewood to apologize, he also personally cooked the soup and warmed up wine for brother's midnight snack, it was made by me, look at my hands."

  Zhao Ziyue spread out her hands and indeed had several blisters on her white and tender fingers.

  "So, brother, you should eat more."

  Zhao You didn't show much emotion and his dark eyes scanned her calmly.

  "Come over here."

  Qingteng made a bow and opened the food box in his hand, brought out a white porcelain soup bowl, a pot of warm wine, and several small dishes to go with the wine. He ladled out a small bowl of soup, carefully stirred it with a spoon, and placed it in front of Zhao Zun one by one.

  "Please have some."

  Zhao Zun didn't look at the exquisite dishes and wine in front of him, but instead waved his hand at Zhao Ziyue, "Alright, you can go rest now. Stay well in Qingtang Courtyard, don't run around randomly. Once the rash subsides, come back to the palace for me, so as not to worry Empress Dowager."

  "No! I won't go."

  Zhao Ziyue called out somewhat urgently, and upon seeing Zhao Zhuo look over, she became slightly more tense. She rubbed the hand that had been making bubbles and walked to Zhao Zhuo's desk with her eyes cast down, personally holding the bowl of soup. Pouting, she leaned in close to Zhao Zhuo's face and said, "I have to watch you eat it myself. If I leave, you'll secretly pour it away or give it to some servant, and all my hard work will be for nothing."

  She said this sentence very skillfully.

  Zhao Zun's face slightly stiffened, but he didn't say much, still just looking at her. "Zi Yue, you're 14 years old now, not young anymore." He said inexplicably, then paused for a moment before picking up the bowl of soup and downing it in one gulp, his eyes coldly fixed on Zhao Zi Yue.

  "Alright, I've had enough, you can go now."

  His overly heavy voice startled Zhao Ziyue, and she felt a chill run down her spine. Her eyes darted around evasively.

  "Brother, have some more wine. This osmanthus liquor is something I brought from the palace, and Empress Dowager also likes to drink it. After drinking it, one's whole body will be filled with the fragrance of osmanthus, so pleasant."

  Zhao Zhu looked at her and said, "Good."

  Without using a wine cup, he directly picked up the wine jug and tilted his head back, pouring the entire jug of Osmanthus wine down his throat. Then, elegantly putting down the jug, he stared at Zhao Ziyue.

  "Anything else to say?"

  Zhao Ziyue's face turned pale, her nineteenth brother had always been unpredictable, and tonight's cooperation made her original anxiety turn into intense unease. She touched her head, her lips moved several times, but she still bit her lower lip and shook her head.

  "I, I want to say that in Ziyue's heart, brother is a very important person, there is no one more important than brother. Ziyue hopes that brother's heart is also like this, and must not have any dislike towards Ziyue because of some unrelated person."

  Zhao You's expression turned cold, and he lowered his eyes, no longer looking at her.

  "She is not an irrelevant person."

  Zhao Ziyue bit her lip hard, and the momentary hesitation that had just arisen was gone because of Zhao Zhu's words. Her most important brother, if he were to be taken away by a woman, it would be okay, but how could he be taken away by a man?

  She suddenly grabbed Zhao Zhu's arm and her eyes flowed with some pleading.

  "19th brother, since you moved out of the palace and into your own residence, my brother and I haven't had a chance to talk together in a long time. Ziyue misses 19th brother very much, but you're always busy, from the beginning of the year to the end, you're always busy. In a few days, I'll be returning to the palace, who knows when Father Emperor will arrange my marriage and I'll get married, then I won't even have the chance to see you. Can you send me back to Qingtang Courtyard?"

  Zhao Zhu looked at her without saying a word.

  "Is it good or not?" She shook his arm again.

  He remained silent for a moment before speaking up, "Alright."

  ……

  ……

  On the way to Qingtang Temple, a silence prevails.

  Zhao Ziyue, who hadn't spent time with her brother in a long while, was extremely excited and almost forgot the purpose of this trip. Along the way, she chattered and laughed, telling stories about interesting things that happened in the palace, sharing embarrassing and mischievous things she did when she was little, speaking with such enthusiasm that she seemed like a child who had finally gotten her hands on some sweets. Zhao Zun just listened quietly, except for the occasional rustling of his robes in the night wind, he didn't make a sound.

  "Shi Jiu Ge, do you know that timid and fearful Seventh Miss from the Wei Guo Gong Fu?" Zhao Ziyue said with a hint of pride, "At that time, Father Emperor liked to invite his ministers' families to go hunting and traveling together. That Seventh Miss was even one year older than me, but her courage was smaller than a mouse's. Every time I asked her to accompany me to play, she would rather die than go. So I loved to bully her because she was too stupid, no matter how I bullied her, she wouldn't report it to anyone. Later..."

  Zhao Zun had no response, and Zhao Ziyue's words fell flat, so she shut her mouth.

  "What happened afterwards?"

  It didn't occur to her that Nineteenth Brother would be interested in this matter, so Zhao Ziyue was taken aback for a moment before she started laughing again. "There was once a hunting trip, I think it was when I was around ten years old? I still remember that night was very dark, and I tricked her into going out with me, leaving her alone on the mountain. I thought she would find her way back, but she was really too foolish, and didn't come back all night, scaring me so much that I couldn't sleep, and secretly sending people to search for her on the mountain, only to not see her anywhere. After daybreak, I guessed that she had been taken away by wolves, and tearfully ran to see Mother Empress, only to hear from Mother Empress that she was unwell and had been sent back to the capital."

  "What's next?"

  Zhao Ziyue was asked again and looked at Zhao Zu with a strange expression.

  "After that, I never saw her again. But I heard a lot about her jokes. Wasn't she originally arranged by the Emperor to marry Meng Ze's eldest nephew? But Meng probably also disliked her for being too foolish and refused to marry her, instead wanting to marry her third sister. It was said that she cried and made a scene for a long time, even going to the East Palace gate on a rainy day to kneel and beg to see Meng, but was chased away. The whole thing became public knowledge, losing face for everyone in the inner chambers, making the Duke of Wei lose face too. Later, they locked her up at home, forbidding her from coming out again. I also heard that she seemed to have gone mad, becoming even more foolish than before..."

  A long speech ended, but except for the howling of the night wind, Zhao Ziyue did not hear his brother's response.

  "Brother Nineteen..." She looked up at him, pouting, "I regretted it later too. I was so ignorant back then, but I didn't really do anything to her. I just tricked her into going out and wanted to scare her, make her beg for mercy, and play with me. But she's really stupid... doesn't even know how to beg for mercy. I actually sent people to look for her... don't know why, but every time I think back to that night, I have nightmares. The sky in my dreams is always so dark, I can't see anything. Brother Nineteen, I keep feeling like something happened that night, something I don't know about."

  "Do you understand now?"

  Low and deep, Zhao Zhu's voice sounded very cold.

  "Older brother nineteen..."

  Zhao Ziyue's heart felt like it had been hammered, and she suddenly realized what she had done tonight. She scratched her head, wanting to tell him, but saw that his expression was somewhat off, and finally swallowed it back down, "Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"

  Zhao Zhuang rubbed his forehead, "My head is a bit dizzy, probably from drinking too much of your wine."

  Sneaking a glance at his expression, Zhao Ziyue's hands were clenched into fists, looking extremely tense. Her face, still red from the slap, was filled with embarrassment, and even her breathing had become heavy. However, she gritted her teeth and refused to confess, instead steering the conversation in another direction.

  "When I came, the Empress Dowager said that you haven't gone to see her for a long time. She misses you very much in her heart, but there's no way for her to come out of the palace. Brother, if you have some free time, would you go visit her?"

  Zhao Zun hummed a response, neither confirming nor denying, and suddenly stumbled with his footsteps.

  "Brother, what's wrong?" Zhao Ziyue came up to support him, her tone somewhat flustered.

  "Headache." Zhao You said lightly.

  After hearing this, Zhao Ziyue felt heartache, tension and excitement all at once. Her heart was racing like a deer running wildly. She didn't dare to look directly at Zhao Zu, her voice even trembled slightly as she spoke.

  "We've arrived at Qingtang Courtyard, Nineteenth Brother, let me help you in to rest for a bit?"

  When she said this, Zhao Ziyue was still a bit worried that he would disagree. Unexpectedly, he seemed to be getting more and more dizzy, his hand supporting his forehead was trembling slightly, his eyebrows were furrowed tighter and tighter, and he nodded in agreement without refusing.

  Zhao Ziyue's heart was delighted, and he beckoned with his hand, letting Zheng Erbao, who had been following far behind, come over. The two of them together supported him into the inner room of the Qingtangyuan side house, and he fell onto the bed.

  "Zheng Er Bao, you go out, I will take care of my brother."

  Zhao Ziyue suppressed her heart that was about to jump out of her throat and waved her hand at Zheng Erbao.

  "But..." Zheng Er Bao hesitated.

  Afraid he would make trouble here, Zhao Ziyue stood with her hands on her hips, her small face suddenly turning dark.

  "Haven't you left yet? Do you want to force this princess to get angry?"

  "Yes, Princess."

  Zheng Er Bao's body trembled slightly, and he lowered his eyes to glance at Master Zhao on the couch before sighing and leaving. Only after hearing the sound of the door closing did Zhao Ziyue finally let out a long-held breath.

  "Brother, Nineteen Brother..."

  She walked to the bed and pushed him, but he just squinted his eyes and called out in a low voice "A Qi", as if he didn't recognize her at all. Zhao Ziyue was both angry and resentful, gritting her teeth.

  "Brother Nineteen, I'm sorry. Ziyue is also doing this for your own good. When you wake up, don't hate me. I just wanted to help you correct your mistakes and didn't want to see you go further down this path..."

  Zhao Ziyue knew that she had no way out now, whether she did it or not, tomorrow when her nineteenth brother woke up, he would know that it was her who did it. In order to save her most important nineteenth brother, and not let him waste his feelings on a man, and do something that would make the Empress Dowager sad, she decided to continue doing it.

  She quietly opened the side door of the inner room and went to the next room, took a look at the woman standing quietly in front of the window waiting, felt somewhat unwilling and somewhat helpless, and softly called out.

  "You go."

  The woman fell silent for a moment, turned around and bowed to her.

  "Thank you, Princess Ziyue, for your help."

  "You don't have to thank me." Zhao Ziyue was somewhat annoyed, "Be good to my brother and serve him well. He may seem inhumane, but if you really become his woman, he won't treat you poorly. And as for me, my mother, the empress dowager, will also be grateful to you, my father, the emperor, will also thank you... your family will all be proud of you..."

  The woman's eyes flickered slightly, "Yes, Princess."

  In the boudoir, a hollow purple copper incense burner was burning with a faint scent of aloeswood.

  The woman was wearing a moon-white light silk nightdress, with a pale pink soft gauze jacket inside. On her head was a thin white gauze hat of the same color as the moon, covering more than half of her face, so that her features could not be seen. But from her slender and delicate figure, it could be seen that she was a gentle and elegant woman. Although she was not dressed in bright colors, she had a quiet and noble demeanor, with a subtle charm of a refined lady.

  She walked very slowly, her footsteps were light. Each step was extremely gentle, holding her breath and concentrating, every step seemed to have a faint fragrance emanating from her body that had just bathed. She was slow, but not hesitant. Step by step, she firmly walked towards the person on the couch, under the candlelight, her long skirt dragged out her slender figure...

  Zhao Zun didn't fall asleep, his complexion was slightly flushed, and he gazed at her with half-closed eyes. The collar of his robe was pulled open by himself, revealing a tight and firm muscle texture. His handsome face, which had always been cold and quiet, showed a bewildering charm under the candlelight due to the effect of the medicine.

  Even though she was well-prepared, her heart was still racing and her face was still burning hot.

  They say that the charm of a beautiful man lies in his eyes, and with just one glance from those half-closed eyes that seemed to have a thousand hooks to capture souls, she became even more flustered, her throat constricted as if someone was strangling her, wanting to escape yet also wanting to get closer. To think about it, this was actually the first time she had the chance to take a good look at this high-and-mighty man, the first time she had the chance to gaze at his powerful physique with such devout eyes.

  He is within arm's reach.

  Closer than ever before.

  He was accustomed to being distant and cold, with a stern and solemn demeanor deeply ingrained in his bones, never allowing any woman to get close to him. Only at this moment would the noble and untouchable Prince of Jin give someone an opportunity to approach him.

  She stood in front of the bed, looked at him and slowly knelt down.

  Kowtowing, his head stuck to the cold ground, he didn't lift it up for a long time.

  "Father, I am guilty."

  No one answered her, after a long time, she raised her head again.

  "I have no regrets."

  She said in a low, mocking tone, got up and walked to the bed, wanting to touch his eyebrows. But as soon as her hand reached out, unexpectedly, the man who was originally unconscious suddenly turned his head away, waved his hand, and tore off her veil.

  "What a big nerve."

  "Grandfather..." She was shocked and fell to the ground with a thud.

  Zhao Zhuo propped himself up with one hand on the bedside, and rubbed his sore temples with the other. He stared at her silently, his face flushed red, but his expression was cold and sinister. His eyes were like knives cutting through the air, like a wolf ready to pounce on its prey. The wind from his gaze swept across the room, filling it with an eerie chill.

  "Xie family, I underestimated you."

  Xie Qingzi's body trembled, and she looked up at the man in front of her with a raised eyebrow. She opened her mouth to say something, but was frozen by Zhao Zun's cold and detached gaze. Her whole body felt like it had turned to ice, and a layer of gloom enveloped her, locking away the words she wanted to speak.

  She knew that everything couldn't be explained clearly anymore.

  She also knew that, along with the previous incident of drugging Dongfang Wanyi, it would all be understood by him as her own fabrication.

  She let out a soft sigh, thought for a moment, and then smiled again.

  "The princess let me take a bath and prepare, I still had some doubts. According to your temperament, how could you easily let the princess give me medicine and play tricks on me? Thinking about it, why did you eat those wines and drink those soups, just to catch me and see who was behind the princess?"

  Zhao Zun slowly stood up, staring at her with a cold gaze, his deep and bottomless eyes were profound and indifferent, without any visible emotions.

  "Unfortunately, you found out too late."

  Xie Qingyi didn't move, nor did she struggle, she just looked at him.

  "If I told you it wasn't me who did it, would you believe me?"

  Zhao You felt a headache and was not in the mood to listen to her say more, didn't even give her another glance, and only said in a light tone to the two guards who rushed in, "Zhai Shi instigated the princess, lost her virtue as a woman, take her away, send her back to Zhai Fu tomorrow."

  "Yes, Your Highness!" The two guards walked over with expressionless faces.

  Xie's body went completely soft, half-kneeling on the ground, staring unblinkingly at the man under the candlelight who looked like a god, lightly lifting her hand as if to stroke his eyebrows through the air, and then seeming to regret not making that move earlier, missing an opportunity to touch him up close, with dense awkwardness between her eyebrows.

  "I'm so stupid! I should have known... With guards always by your side, how could you have fallen into the princess's trap unless you wanted to? It was me... being too greedy and blinded."

  "Yes, ma'am."

  A guard bent down, picked up Xie Qingci's arm, and she didn't struggle much. She stood up with a stumble, her face showing an inexplicable self-mockery, and then a faint cold smile appeared.

  "Thank you, sir, for sparing Qingzhao's life."

  She stared steadily at Zhao Zhuo's face, which was full of cold intent.

  Then, with a hint of a smile, he turned his head towards the guard and said, "I'll go myself."

  No matter what, she was still the mistress of the mansion. The guard loosened his grip on her arm as he looked down, but no one expected that she would suddenly throw herself at Zhao Zhu with a mournful smile, her open arms like a moth flying into flames, carrying a desperate despair...

  "Grandpa, hug me."

  It's hard to refuse a woman like her when she has changed to another man.

  Ke Xie Qing didn't understand him at all. Zhao Zun hated being coerced by others the most, no matter what kind of coercion it was.

  He saw him turn black, although he had eaten Zhao Ziyue's medicine, his reaction was not slow. He swung his sleeve fiercely, and Xie Qingzhao collided with his arm, bouncing out, and fell heavily to the ground, knocking over a blue porcelain vase, which rolled around in circles, shattering into pieces. It also scared Zhao Ziyue, who had just rushed in after hearing the news, into letting out a shrill cry.

  "Older brother nineteen..."

  Zhao's eyes were bright red, but within that redness was a chill.

  He glanced at Zhao Ziyue and didn't say a word to her. He simply turned his sleeve, turned around and walked out of the house.

  Before returning to the palace, the princess is not allowed to leave Qingtang Institute.

  Wow, Zhao Ziyue was startled by his appearance and her voice choked up. She wanted to go up and pull him, but looking at his icy figure, she didn't dare.

  "Brother Nineteen, listen to me explaining..."

  She burst out crying loudly.

  Shi Jiu Ge is not particularly close to anyone, but he used to be very good to her. He has never lost his temper with her like this before, and the angry look he had in the past, she almost forgot, let alone thought it would be towards her.

  That kind of pride and coldness seemed to have chilled his heart.

  It's as if he would never be good to her again, this younger sister of his.

  "Brother Nineteen, Ziyue was wrong..."

  Crying with a sad face, but no matter how she cried, she couldn't cry back Zhao Zhu's comfort. Wiping away her tears, the grievances in her belly had nowhere to vent, looking at Xie Shi on the ground, sniffling and stomping her foot fiercely.

  "You're really useless, can't even seduce a man who's just entered the 'gate of joy'?"

  Xie's face turned pale, but he smiled again.

  "It is I who am useless."

  Her smile was complex, with self-mockery, sarcasm, and also a sense of relief...

  Three years ago, on the eve of her departure from the palace, her mother had told her that boys are made of iron and steel, while girls are made of water and mud. A boy's heart may be hard, but it can't compare to a girl's softness. As long as she is gentle and obedient, understanding and considerate, the Duke of Jin will treat her well.

  She also said that men wanting women has little to do with love, and in matters of the bedchamber, it is also unrelated to a man's upbringing and morals. How can a robust young man possibly abstain from women for long? Her mother hoped she could be the one in the heart of the King of Jin, fight for her dignity, and gain more face in front of her father.

  A woman's good and evil are always tied up with a man.

  Her mother was like this, and she is also like this.

  So she always listened to her mother's words and waited obediently, but after waiting for three years, did the King of Jin treat her poorly? No. To be honest, no matter which concubine in which prince's mansion, none had it as easy and free as those in the King of Jin's mansion. They didn't need to serve their masters, nor did they need to try to win over their mistresses' favor, and if they were willing, they didn't even need to engage in intrigue with anyone else... because no one was more favored than anyone else. And yet her mother's words had never been proven true on the King of Jin. But it was precisely this self-controlled and self-loving Zhao Zhu that deeply captivated her.

  She used to be full of confidence when she entered the King's palace, filled with curiosity and exploration, wanting to get closer and closer, until her confidence was worn away, clean and spotless. Suddenly, she saw Princess Ziyue handing over a straw, she wanted to grab it, crazily wanting to grab it, forgetting her mother's advice to be gentle...

  It was her restlessness that led to what she has today.

  She had caught a chill and knew she was done for.

  ……

  ……

  To avoid Zhao Ziyue, that little witch, Xia Chuzi had been sleeping at the doctor's place for several days. Normally, after a day of running around like today, she would fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. But today, after killing Xia Xun during the day, she couldn't sleep well at night.

  She has saved many people, but she has never killed anyone.

  This is the first time, although it wasn't her own hands that did it.

  Imagination and reality are actually different, after killing someone, one's heart is always a little uneasy.

  She admits that she is still too kind to herself. No, no, it's really not good.

  She tugged at her hair, lost in thought, and desperately tried to divert her mind from the gushing blood on Xia Xun's neck and his staring dead fish eyes. Ah, her penicillin. She had already collected a batch of mold that grew after food rotted, and injected it into the culture medium she made herself. In a few more days, she could start filtering and purifying it.

  In a daze, she didn't even know when she fell asleep...

  While the good doctor was in the front hall of the Jin Wang Fu, it was very far from the Cheng De Yuan and the Qing Tang Yuan behind, so she had no idea what was happening over there. But just as she was about to meet with Duke Zhou, she suddenly felt the edge of the bed sink down, and then a heavy object pressed down on her, scaring away all her drowsiness, and she opened her eyes with a start.

  "Who!?"

  "Your grandfather..."

  The low voice with a familiar tone suddenly drove away her drowsiness.

  I told you, there are guards outside, how can others get in?

  She let out a sigh of relief and stretched out her hand in the darkness to stroke his face, giggling uncontrollably.

  "Miss me? Come see me?"

  She let out a soft "hmm", and the man's heavy breathing splashed onto her face, at the same time, the scorching sensation on her hand also startled her, and her head jerked up in an instant.

  "Hey, what's wrong with you? Why is your face so red?"

  "Chu Medical Officer..." Zhao Zun's dry fingers stroked her chin, a pair of scorching eyes stared at hers in the darkness, "Nothing, I'm just a bit hot."

  "Hot?"

  It was clear that he was extremely hot, and not just a little bit. He was practically on fire. She tried to get up to take his pulse to see what was going on, but as soon as she lifted her shoulder, he pressed it down again with great force.

  "Whoa, hold on! Zhao Zhu, how much wine have you had?"

  Her back was hit by him and it hurt, she gritted her teeth and muttered a sentence, sniffed, and smelled the wine smell in the air as well as the faint scent of bath gel. It can be seen that this guy not only drank but also took a bath before coming over. But what's the point of running over at midnight? Useless! She was full of doubts, but the room was dark, the light from the window was very dim, and she couldn't even see his expression, let alone know what he was thinking.

  "You get up, I'll go heat some wine, and help you sober up."

  She wanted to get up again, but this time she was grabbed by the collar and pressed back down. Her head hit the wooden board at the head of the bed with a "thud", hurting her so much that she let out a hiss, and she really wanted to kill him.

  "Hey, Zhao Wangye, Zhao Shijiu, Zhao Yanwang, I admit defeat, okay? You're simply my nemesis! I was sleeping peacefully, and you came here after drinking, what's wrong with you?"

  "Ah Qi." He called out softly to her, his warm breath spraying onto her neck.

  "Hah... what's wrong with you? I'm itching to death!"

  He chuckled twice, and in his hoarse breathing, Xia Chuyi couldn't understand what was going on with him. He usually didn't get so out of control after drinking. He just held her tightly like a big bear, constantly rubbing his nose and lips against her neck, but he didn't make any other moves, making her feel both annoyed and amused.

  Forget it, don't they all say men are big kids?

  It's rare for her to have such a "cute" side, if she doesn't coax him, wouldn't that be a missed opportunity.

  She rolled her eyes and coaxed him in a soft voice.

  "Grandpa, aren't you feeling uncomfortable somewhere? Your head hurts again?"

  "It's nothing." he said quietly.

  Is he all right? Fine, even if he's all right, what about her?

  His body was pressing down on her, his body was heavy, making it difficult for her to breathe. She really couldn't bear it anymore and reached out with her hand to feel his forehead, still feeling an astonishing heat, not like a normal state. But in the darkness, she couldn't see anything clearly, and with great difficulty, she grasped his wrist.

  "Don't move, let me take your pulse..."

  "Hmm..." His voice was low and husky, his breath hot.

  His pulse was racing in her hand, his heart close to hers, and this state made Xia Chuqi calm down with great difficulty. But as soon as she calmed down, that pulse of his shocked her greatly.

  "Zhao Zhu, have you been poisoned?"

  "Nothing wrong!"

  "Don't mind your head. Move aside, I'm going to light the lamp."

  "The king said it was nothing."

  He held her tightly again, his scorching body trembling slightly. In the darkness, he wouldn't let her leave. His mouth was pressed against her ear, and in a low voice, he said something indistinguishable, but his breathing grew heavier, and the warm breath that sprayed into her ear made her shudder.

  "Zhao Zhu!"

  She was getting out of breath and kept pushing her hand away.

  "A Qi..."

  Unexpectedly, this poisoned guy not only didn't let go but seemed to have a lustful heart, tightly pressing down on her originally slender body, and suddenly sucked onto her earlobe.

  "Eh, I'm telling you..." She couldn't say anything else, as that fleeting touch slid over her tailbone like a snake, followed by his string of kisses, soft and dense, making her body go limp, where was the strength to struggle?

  That can't be...

  Does he want her now?

  "Hey, Zhao Zhu! What's wrong with you?"

  "Ah Qi, don't make a fuss." He said in a low voice, and then pressed his lips against hers, kissing her wildly, unlike the usual tenderness, his scorching lips stuck to hers, tightly merged with hers, the frantic rhythm, like a wild wolf that had been starving for several years.

  "Who is making trouble?"

  She was both shy and angry, yet powerless, almost driven mad by him.

  "Don't move, let me enjoy this for a moment."

  He grasped her stubborn chin, kissed her, and his hard body pressed against hers, making her face flush and heart pound, yet she had no strength to resist. She closed her eyes, letting him do as he pleased. She felt the suppressed longing in him, thinking he would make some excessive move, but he didn't. He just used his scorching hot body to press against hers, separated only by their thin nightclothes, exerting an unimaginable force of restraint amidst the chaotic heartbeat and rustling fabric. After a while, a low, muffled hum of pleasure escaped from his throat as he stiffened for a moment before letting out a long sigh and tightly embracing her.

  "Zhao Zhu, have you been given that kind of medicine by someone?"

  "Is Grandpa such a foolish person?" His voice was somewhat hoarse, but it was a pleasant and refreshing hoarseness.

  Still unwilling to admit it? Xia Qi heard his words and wanted to laugh even more. But the two people's ambiguous posture, like a pile of Han, made her powerless to mock, and she could only cough awkwardly and push him away with her hand.

  "Get up, I can help you with your injection..."

  Before she could finish speaking, a sudden warmth and wetness touched her hand, startling her.

  "You..."

  She hadn't experienced that kind of thing before, but it didn't mean she didn't understand anything. Suddenly, she realized what he had done to her while pressing down on her body. No wonder he didn't let her turn on the light, no wonder he wouldn't admit it. For a moment, her face hidden in the darkness was hotter than ever before. Thinking about it, she felt like she couldn't catch her breath.

  "You're such a scoundrel."

  "If you were really a rascal, your bones would have been gone." He took a deep breath, and his head leaned against her ear, his voice still panting in the darkness, especially low and husky, yet sounding very serious. But that seriousness also carried a warm and stirring excitement, as if someone was accelerating her blood flow, making her heart beat faster uncontrollably, her face burning with heat again and again.

  "Yuck! It's on me!"

  She was a big girl, and at the same time she felt embarrassed, wanted to laugh, but more so suddenly thought that this guy was actually quite silly. He had been drugged by someone and didn't want to admit it, came to her for comfort, but didn't really take advantage of her... Thinking carefully, this guy was actually a very cunning person.

  Would it be like this if it were someone else?

  She couldn't help but smile and tease him playfully.

  "If you had told me earlier, I might have been able to help you, why make it so difficult?"

  "No need, with just these two pieces of meat, I'm afraid it won't be digested."

  "You scoundrel! You've bullied someone and still have the nerve to despise them?" Xia Chuqi gave him a forceful push.

  He seemed to chuckle and his hot lips moved closer, "Alright, I'm afraid of sleeping with you, can't afford the bill! My Ah Qi's body is precious!"

  "This is just about right!"

  At the beginning of summer, he hummed satisfactorily for a while, but then heard that old man say again.

  "Go and fetch some water for grandfather."

  "How much silver?"

  A couple.

  "Are you kidding me?! Go back and wash yourself, there are plenty of servants waiting on you."

  He, who was used to being served as a master, naturally didn't have the habit of doing things himself. However, it was clear that he also didn't intend to leave. He turned over and lay down on his side, making room for her, and even patted her back in the process.

  "Go ahead, I'd be delighted if you serve me."

  Her skin, which had been touched by him, was warm and hot, and her face on the seventh day was like being stained with rouge.

  "…Scoundrel."

  Although she cursed in her heart, she still got up eventually.

  Who made him the master? Of course, most importantly, who let him be drugged and didn't just find a random woman to solve it, but instead ran to the good doctor's place to take advantage of her? Her little mind was filled with sweetness, making her have to admit that she was actually happy. A kind of vulgar happiness, so vulgar that it would make people resentful.

  "This must not be spoken of outside."

  Before he could even find a match, his voice came from behind him.

  She turned back, rolled her eyes in the dark and said, "Nonsense, would I go around advertising this kind of thing with a big drum? I'd tell everyone I meet, hey, my husband was drugged and ran into my room by himself..."

  Before he could finish speaking, a low, muffled shout came from the darkness.

  "One more word and I'll cut out your tongue."

  "Hey, you're finally up? Xia Chuiqi lit the lamp and glared at him with her dark eyes, then went to fetch a basin, filled it with hot water from the stove, and placed it on the washstand. She smiled mischievously and said, "Don't need my help this time? This one's free!"

  "Waiting outside."

  Looking at the red flush on his handsome face, Xia Chui thought about smiling but felt embarrassed to smile out loud, so she coughed twice and smiled slyly before leaving the room. If it were in the past, she could have teased him a bit more, but today's atmosphere wasn't right; if she teased him a few more times, what if something really happened and he lost control?

  After a while, when she returned to the house with his permission, the man sitting on her bed had already regained his composure. He looked at her and his dark eyes were filled with calmness.

  "A Qi, you've cheated me again! How much silver should I pay?"

  "What did you say? Did I offend you?"

  On the seventh day of summer vacation, her eyes were fixed on him and she was speechless.

  Unexpectedly, he raised an eyebrow and looked at her with a face full of disgust. It seemed like he considered it for a moment before sighing, "Forget it, looking at how poor you are, I won't pursue this further. Go to sleep!"

  After finishing speaking, he lay down without any hesitation, pulled over her quilt and covered himself, closing his eyes. Xia Chuqi was stunned, she really wanted to strangle him to death.

  "I've done what I needed to do, now I'm going back to sleep."

  He grumbled and seemed a bit tired, rubbing his forehead.

  "My grandfather is sleeping here."

  Xia Chuqi rubbed her nose a few times, feeling somewhat tearfully amused.

  "This bed is too small and too hard, it's not suitable for you to sleep."

  He ignored her nagging, his eyes were already completely closed, his tall body occupied more than half of the originally narrow bed, making Xia Chuqi so angry that she stomped her feet, and went over to push him hard several times. Seeing that he still didn't move or open his eyes, she couldn't help but feel defeated.

  "Alright, alright, I'll let you have the bed to sleep in, I'll go back to Chende Hall to sleep instead. That settles it then! Don't think you're getting off that easily! Tomorrow, don't forget to pay me for renting the bed, one hundred and two pieces of silver will do."

  At the beginning of summer, she hummed and took a step forward, but her wrist was pulled back by him. The next moment, she couldn't stand still, and she fell onto his hard body, her head just touching his chest.

  "Hey, what are you doing?"

  He let out a low growl, listening to her strong and rhythmic heartbeat, his face slightly red, wanting to struggle but being held tightly in his arms, when she glared at him, he opened his eyes, calmly looked at her, and pecked on her lips.

  "Sleep quickly."

  "What's with the sleeping? How can I sleep like this?"

  "Dad will make you a quilt for free."

  Wow! This guy is too shameless!

  On the seventh day of summer, she was squeezed into the remaining space by him, wanting to struggle but unable to open up, wanting to scold him but too embarrassed to let the guards outside hear. As she thought about it, listening to his even and warm breathing, as if he had fallen asleep, she sighed and slowly closed her eyes.

  She thought she had gone crazy!

  But Zhao Zun was afraid of going crazy even more than her.

  Her heart was racing, she had never slept with a man before, and yet here she was, tightly embracing him, her head buried in his chest, every breath filling her senses with the faint scent of his skin and masculine aroma. The sensation was like having a fierce little beast invading her heart, making her body tense up and then relax, only to tense up again, unable to calm down.

  The long night is endless, and the watch in the night is even deeper.

  The candle on the candlestick went out at some unknown time.

  She didn't know when she fell asleep either, until a hurried footsteps came from outside.

  Then, Zheng Er Bao's sharp and fine voice called out softly from outside.

  "Father, it's all over. Mrs. Xie... has hanged herself."