Upon hearing my words, his brows furrowed so deeply they could trap a fly; he was clearly very dissatisfied with my praise.
It's strange, though, that since coming here I've been getting sick all the time. Even though it's all my own doing, I wonder if this has given me a stronger immune system.
"Resistance? It won't happen again." Hearing my words, Jue felt a pang of guilt. He stroked my hair and said, "Xue'er always gets hurt after being with me. I'm sorry, Xue'er, it won't happen again."
"Ah, Jue, you've misunderstood." I was a little at a loss, but I wasn't blaming Jue.
Xiao Wu walked in from outside, breaking the awkward atmosphere between me and Jue. She carried a bowl of steaming porridge to my bedside. "Miss, please eat!"
"Oh, okay." I let go of Jue's arms and reached out to take the porridge, but Jue beat me to it. Jue took the porridge, blew on it, and scooped up a spoonful of porridge to my lips.
I savored this blissful treatment, recalling the past two days of my unconscious state. I kept feeling something soft feeding me. What was it? I looked down at the spoon, but it wasn't as soft as I'd imagined. Had something been added to it? Something kept flashing through my mind, but I couldn't quite grasp it. Had my fever made me delirious? Ah, did I have to bite it?
I bit the spoon in half, but all I saw was porcelain, nothing special. I finally realized something: I was an idiot for asking for a spoon for no reason.
They were startled by my actions and quickly removed the piece of food from my mouth, afraid I would cut my tongue.
"Miss, what are you doing?" Xiao Wu wiped my mouth, and because of my movements, some porridge accidentally dripped from my lips.
"It's nothing, I just felt something was off," I said earnestly after Kan Jue helped me take it off.
"What's so strange?" Jue looked at me with a questioning gaze, wondering what was going on that led her to ask for a spoon.
"Hmm... I felt like something soft was feeding me during the time I had a fever, so I wanted to see if it was this spoon. You also found it strange, right?" Pointing to the spoon in Jue's hand, she thought back to what she hadn't missed and, after concluding that it wasn't, she opened her big, bright eyes, hoping the two of them would give her an answer.
Jue's originally deep eyes swayed from side to side, unable to find a point, her face slightly red, and the spoon she was holding fell to the ground, which made her look a little awkward under my gaze.
Xiao Wu was even stranger; her normally expressionless face suddenly flushed with a girlish shyness, making her look so cute that you just wanted to take a bite.
"Miss, what are you saying?" She quickly squatted down to pick up the spoons and ran out as if fleeing.
"No, Xiao Wu, it's true." I thought she didn't believe me, so I tried to grab her and explain, but how could an ordinary girl compare to a girl with profound inner strength? In the end, I missed.
Seeing that the person who could explain had run away, I placed all my hopes on Jue, looking at him more earnestly, hoping he would explain things to me clearly.
Jue stood up and said, "Xue'er, I have something to do." He put the porridge on the table and walked out calmly, but I could tell that his steps were a little messy.
"Hey, hey, give me an explanation!" he shouted dejectedly at the door.
(Author's disdain: Do you really think they'd tell you that soft thing is Jue's lips? Zi Xue blushes: Ugh, why say it in front of so many people? The author drifts away)
After dinner, Jue came back and saw that I had already gotten up and was lying on the table deep in thought.
"Why are you up?" Jue scolded me and carried me to bed.
"It's okay, I'm not dizzy anymore. I was just thinking about the question I asked you this morning," I answered honestly.
"Uh, Xue'er, don't think about it, it'll make you dizzy," she said, trying to brush me off with something she didn't know, only managing to get me to forget about the problem.
"Hmm, forget it, I don't want to think about it anymore, it's too tiring." I rubbed my hair and decided to give up. I'm not the kind of person who dwells on things. In modern times, I believe in not thinking about things if I can avoid it, and I don't want to waste brain cells. It's too tiring.
"Hmm," Jue breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing my cooperation.
Suddenly remembering that Xue'er had been calling for "Mom and Dad" while she was unconscious, I asked, "Xue'er, what are 'Mom and Dad'?"
I didn't expect Jue to ask that question so suddenly. His question reminded me of the scene I saw when I was sleeping. Thinking of this, my nose started to sting and my vision blurred. The more I thought about it, the sadder I became, and tears started to fall. I looked up at Jue.
It seemed my tears startled Jue. He hurriedly wiped away my tears, and seeing that they didn't lessen because of his wiping, he hugged me tightly, patted my back gently, and comforted me, "Don't cry, it's okay, I'm here."
Leaning against Jue's chest, I couldn't hold back anymore and cried out loud, wanting to release the pain I had suffered in my dream.
Seeing the sobs in my arms subside, she slowly released me, wiping away my tears with her hand. Looking at the devastated woman before me, I felt I could no longer hide it.
He paused for a moment while wiping away tears, saying, "You don't know my identity, do you?" But then he resumed his previous action.
"Jue, I'll tell you my identity. It may seem unbelievable, but it's absolutely true." He pulled Jue's hand down and looked at him earnestly.
Seeing that Jue didn't say anything, I began to recount something that even I found unbelievable: "I come from the 21st century, which is about a thousand years from here, no, perhaps more. Where I'm from, we call you ancient people. I originally had a happy family, with a taciturn but very loving father, who is your 'dad' here, and a kind and considerate mother who always thought of me, who is your 'mom'. It's strange why I came into this world; I don't even know myself. I only remember being vaguely brought here on the street, and the first person I saw was you. I feel very fortunate. Maybe you had Xiao Wu and the others investigate my background, but they couldn't find anything. That's because I'm not from here at all, so of course you couldn't find anything."
Chapter Thirty
After I finished speaking, I looked at Jue, but Jue's face did not show the surprise I had imagined; it was as if he already knew.
I asked in surprise, "Why aren't you surprised?"
"Surprised? Why?" He looked at me with an expression that said, "Why should I be surprised?"
I'm speechless. How come it's different from what's described in the novel? Shouldn't this guy be shocked? Why is he acting like my identity is a given?
"I've always felt you were different, but I never expected you to come a thousand years later. No matter who you are, I will protect you. So, will you go back?" Jue asked me softly, afraid of touching my sore spot again.
"I don't know," I stared blankly out the window. I didn't even know how to get back. Maybe one day I would suddenly go back like that day. When I read novels before, I used to laugh at the female protagonists who traveled to the past and never dared to confess to the male protagonist. Now, I am just like them. I am afraid of leaving, and I am also afraid that suddenly going back will cause me and Jue a lot of pain. It turns out that I also have this kind of anxiety.
"Can you stay and be with me forever?" Jue felt a pain in her heart, as if countless insects were biting her. If Xue'er went back that day, where would she go to find him? Thinking of this, she hugged Xue'er even tighter.
I remained silent. I dared not make such a vague promise. If I were to leave that day, how could I face this promise? I truly loved Jue to the core, but I couldn't forget the sorrowful expressions on my parents' faces. I had lived with them for so many years; how could I simply leave him behind? I admit I was selfish, so selfish that I had considered leaving Jue behind to go back and be with my parents. They only had me as their daughter—no, I should say they also had a son, a child they had accidentally lost ten years ago, my younger brother. The world is so big, and the chances are so slim. Since my brother disappeared, my parents have never given up the opportunity to search for him, but now they are in their twilight years and no longer have the energy. How could I abandon them and let them live out their lives alone? Yet, I couldn't let go of Jue. I knew that Jue had suffered deep hurt in his life. I didn't know what it was, but I knew that I had given him a glimmer of warmth. How could I abandon him and go home?
Not getting the answer he wanted left me with an indescribable bitter taste in my mouth. Yes, I shouldn't have pressured Xue'er. How could I ask her to abandon her parents for me? Wouldn't that put Xue'er in a position of being unfilial? Xue'er, I don't want too much. I just want to protect you well while you're still away.
Looking out the window, the sky was overcast, dark clouds pressing down low as if about to collapse. A cold wind howled, mercilessly scattering withered leaves across the sky. The night was deep and oppressive, making it hard to breathe.
Autumn is indeed a season of sadness.
"Xue'er, don't you want to know my identity?" Jue broke the silence with a faint, languid tone.
I shook my head, looking at Jue with trusting eyes. "No, it doesn't matter. Just tell me when you want to."
"Xue'er" rested her chin on my hair, inhaling its fragrance. "I am a royal merchant."
"Imperial Merchant?" I've heard of merchants before, but what does "Imperial Merchant" mean?
"Huang Jia can be considered a merchant!"
What does this merchant mean? It's impossible. If he were just a merchant, why would the Emperor treat him with such respect, and why would the Empress Dowager punish me for my rudeness? It must be because of Jue's influence. What? I've never heard of a merchant being so respectful to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager. Could it be that Jue has something on them, or that Jue has something that can threaten them? But that doesn't make sense either. Since I entered the palace, I feel like Jue's identity is a weapon, a weapon that can kill.
Before I could ask anything else, Jue pulled me down to lie down, nestled me against his chest, and patted my back, saying, "Don't think about it anymore, go to sleep."
"But absolutely..." I'm not satisfied with this answer. It's too agonizing. Why did you stop halfway through whetting my appetite? Don't you know that's making me itchy?
"Alright, go to sleep. We'll ask Xuanwu tomorrow." Saying something like that really made me both laugh and cry.
Hearing the faint breathing sounds coming from above, I knew Jue had fallen asleep.
Stroking Jue Lengjun's face, Jue must be exhausted. He hasn't slept for days, and his face looks very haggard. Now that I think about it, I really feel sorry for him. How could I have thought of that method? I shouldn't have been so reckless.
Perhaps this will teach me a lesson!
The next day, sunlight streamed onto the bed, where an exceptionally handsome man, his hair disheveled, held a beautiful woman with flushed cheeks tightly in his arms. It was clear that she was the love of his life, adding warmth to this tender scene.
I opened my eyes and felt someone holding me. Jue's eyes were closed, his nose was high and his lips were thin and sexy. I had heard people say that men with thin lips are fickle, but I didn't feel that at all with Jue. As the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and perhaps that is true.
I sensed that Jue was about to wake up, so I immediately closed my eyes, afraid that Jue would notice that I was looking at him.
I felt someone gently stroking my hair. The early riser's voice was deep and magnetic: "What's wrong? Why aren't you opening your eyes?"
I opened one eye and peeked at him furtively. He knew I was watching him and seemed to enjoy the feeling of me secretly looking at him.
"You're bullying me!" I pouted.
Hehe, he gave me a golden, glittering smile.
"Miss, Master, it's time to get up and wash up," Xiao Wu's voice came from outside.
"Come in," Jue got out of bed and dressed leisurely, completely ignoring the fact that I was there to watch him.
Xiao Wu entered carrying a basin of water, followed by a group of palace maids carrying cloths, clothes, cups, and other items.
"May Lady Jue be blessed." As soon as the palace maids entered, they all knelt down to pay their respects to me.
I felt extremely uncomfortable when they knelt down, and quickly said, "Get up."
"Yes, ma'am!" Looking at these palace maids deeply entrenched in feudal ideology, I just wanted to shout, "It's all the fault of feudalism!"
After dressing up, Xiao Wu looked in the mirror.
The beautiful woman is charming and leisurely, her sleeves revealing her fair hands, a golden hairpin on her head, and a jade pendant at her waist.
In the morning, due to my health, I was forbidden from stepping out of the temple. I was puzzled!
Bored, I struck up a casual conversation with Xiao Wu. Remembering that Jue had told me I could ask Xiao Wu, I said, "Xiao Wu, let me ask you something. Jue said he's a royal merchant, what kind of status is that?"
Chapter Thirty-One
"Imperial merchants are just merchants, that's the surface term. A deeper meaning is that they are both imperial merchants and businessmen," Xiaowu explained to me carefully.
"How can this be explained?" I tilted my head and looked at Xiaowu, still not understanding.
"Our master is the wealthiest person in these four kingdoms, the most powerful merchant in all of them."
"Four countries? Really? That's impressive!"
"Yes, Master controls the finances of these four countries. Although he is a merchant, Master not only manages the buying and selling of royal goods, but also, to put it simply, the royal family needs to buy things from Master." Xiao Wu described this astonishing truth in a casual manner.
My goodness, this is even more exciting than winning the lottery! I actually picked a man who controls the economic lifeline of four countries! Wow, my judgment is amazing! But wait a minute!
"Although Xiao Wu is undoubtedly someone who controls the finances, it's impossible for her to exempt me from kneeling in the palace. Moreover, I've noticed that the emperor doesn't show any respect to her. Why is that?" I couldn't wait to ask the question that had been puzzling me all night.
"It's enough for our master to control the financial lifeline. If our master were to impose a blockade on one of the four countries, that country would be doomed! Every country needs one indispensable thing to wage war: silver."
After hearing what Xiao Wu said, I understood why I could walk on equal footing with the Empress Dowager and why the Empress Dowager didn't dare to do anything to me. It turns out I have such a cool man. I can't believe it. But I always feel like something is missing. I always feel like Xiao Wu is hiding something from me. Is it just my imagination?
I'm not a greedy person (author's note: who would believe me if I said that), but who wouldn't be excited to hear that the person they love is so amazing? So, I jumped around happily all day.
The day after I learned of Jue's true identity, I wasn't as excited anymore. I accepted this identity as a matter of course. In the days that followed, the women in the palace, under the guise of caring for me, came to my palace to gossip. What, you don't believe me? Just watch!
This woman named Consort Guo, whom Xiao Wu says is one of the five most powerful consorts, held my hand so affectionately, "Little sister, are you alright? I brought some ginseng for you to help you recover."
I said to that Guo Fei, we're not that close, could you please not call me "little sister"? It's giving me goosebumps. Calling me that makes me sound like the emperor's concubine.
I chuckled awkwardly and hastily pulled my hand away from his, saying, "It's nothing, thank you."
"Why are you being so polite, sister! What are you standing there for? Present it to Lady Jue!" She turned her expression and scolded the palace maid beside her. Her face changed so quickly! In modern times, a real concubine could be a star.
"Yes, ma'am," the palace maid said slowly as she walked to the table, put down the beautifully decorated gift box, opened it, and then stepped behind the concubine.
Good heavens, how much would such a large ginseng be worth in modern times! This woman is so generous, she can afford to show this off; it seems she invested a lot! If I'm not mistaken, such a large ginseng was actually quite rare in ancient times.
"Uh, how can I (Xiao Wu taught me) accept something so valuable?" There's no such thing as an unsolicited favor; I dare not accept it casually. What would I do if something went wrong?