But there wasn't a soul in sight outside, only gusts of cold wind. In autumn, a few withered yellow leaves occasionally fell from the trees, swirling in the wind. When the wind stopped, they lay quietly on the ground. Nights like this made me feel uneasy.
She closed the door dejectedly, squatted down with her back to it, and muttered to herself, "I didn't mean it, no, I didn't." Was I wrong? I just wanted to protect myself, I just wanted not to cause trouble for Jue. Does he think I'm scheming, that's why he hates me? Why, why? It was such a small thing, why is Jue so angry? Didn't he not expose Wanpi at first? Why was everything fine just now, and now it's like this?
I slowly climbed into bed and buried myself under the covers, which made me feel a little better.
Xiao Wu opened the door and saw her mistress curled up on the bed. She also saw her master, who looked terrible, walk out of the room. What happened to them? Weren't they fine?
Xiao Wu went over and gently tugged at the blanket, afraid that her mistress might suffocate inside. But she couldn't pull it off no matter what she did. Just as she was about to lift it, a voice came from inside the blanket: "Xiao Wu, was I wrong?"
I know it was Xiaowu pulling my blanket. Here, Xiaowu is my friend, I trust her, and I want to find comfort from her. I'm so bad!
"Miss, what happened between you and the master?" A soft voice came from outside the blanket, as if afraid of startling me.
I vaguely explained the reason, and there was a long silence outside. I thought Xiao Wu had left in anger to see what was happening, but...
"Miss, you're wrong. You were wrong to bring it up again, wrong to gamble with your life. Master hates being lied to. From the moment I met him, his eyes were devoid of emotion, filled only with contempt for life. He didn't fully trust us, who have been by his side for so many years. You can imagine how much suffering he's endured to be like that. But after meeting you, he's different. He's become happy, he smiles. This is the first time I've seen emotion in his eyes. He cares about you. He didn't say anything at first because he trusted you; he didn't want to..." He knew that someone so naive would be easily manipulated in the palace, which is why he sent me to protect you. I remember the anxiety the master felt when he couldn't see you on the lake; he jumped in without hesitation to save you. But do you know? The master can't swim. He jumped in with the determination that if you died, he would die with you. Miss, you did the right thing by protecting yourself, but why haven't you explained it to him yet? The master is probably disappointed because he's waiting for you to persuade him. After all, the master was once deceived by his closest relatives. The fact that the master hasn't killed you is already a great kindness to you!
Xiao Wu's words left me in disbelief. What had I done? I had lied to him and hadn't even explained myself. No, no, I think I'm already in tears right now! When did I become so sentimental? When did I, so confused about love, so easily give my heart away? I never believed in love at first sight, yet I fell in love with him at first glance.
I pulled back the covers, and Xiao Wu was startled. She panicked even more when she saw my tears and reached out to wipe them away. I ignored her and ran out the door without even putting on my shoes. I had to explain to Jue; that was the only thought in my mind.
"Miss, what are you doing?" Xiao Wu grabbed me.
"I need to explain to Jue, Xiao Wu, let me go!" I tried to break free from Xiao Wu's grasp, but I failed.
"Oh, Miss, there's no need to be in such a hurry. You can explain to the master tomorrow."
"Yes, yes, I can get together with Jue tomorrow. I want to get a good night's sleep and then go see Jue looking beautiful." I stopped in my tracks, looked blank, and went back to bed, picking up the blanket to cover myself.
Seeing how childish the young lady was, Xiaowu helplessly pulled the blanket up for me, then closed the door and stood waiting outside.
I found myself in complete darkness, then gradually my vision brightened. I shielded my eyes from the light, and once my eyes adjusted, I found myself in my modern home. I saw my parents sitting on the sofa.
Dad sat on the sofa without saying a word, but I could see the deep sadness in his eyes. Mom was crying in his arms, saying, "What should we do? There's still no news. My Xiaoxue, how could we not find her? Xiaoxue, where are you? Please come back."
I walked over to my mother and said, amused, "Mom, I'm here. What's wrong?"
But they seem unaware of my existence, they just continue to grieve there. What's going on? I'm right here, so why can't they see me? Why?
Suddenly, I felt a burning heat in my body, like it was on fire. I looked down and saw that my body was on fire. The scene of my parents was getting further and further away from me. I desperately tried to grab them, but my hands always passed right through them. "Mom, Dad, Mom, Dad!"
"Ah, it's so hot, so hot! Dad, Mom, save me, please, save me!" I felt like I couldn't extinguish the fire on my body, and my heart was filled with fear.
Xiao Wu was on night watch outside when she heard her mistress calling from inside. She opened the door and went in to see what was wrong. She found that her mistress's face was very red and she was muttering something. Xiao Wu ran back and forth and shook her mistress, calling, "Miss, Miss." She touched her face and said, "It's so hot!" Oh no, her mistress had a fever.
Xiao Wu summoned a palace maid and said urgently, "Go, quickly find Young Master Jue and tell him that Madam has a fever." After saying that, she anxiously carried water to fetch it and wrung out a cloth to wipe Zi Xue's face.
Originally, Jue was heartbroken by Xiaoxue's deception. After calming down, he was about to go to bed when Leng Tian rushed in, shouting, "Master, something terrible has happened! Miss is in trouble!"
Jue reached out and grabbed Leng Tian, angrily asking, "What happened to her?"
Leng Tian was filled with anxiety: "Miss has a high fever!"
Jue abandoned Leng Tian and ran towards Zi Xue's palace.
Upon entering the hall, I saw Zixue lying there, her face pale, her lips moving slightly as if she were saying something.
Jue swept Xuanwu aside, snatched the cloth and wiped Zixue's face, then roared in fury, "Is this the result of your care?"
"Your subordinate deserves to die!" Xuanwu knelt down, her voice loud enough to be heard as her knees hit the ground.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
"Useless trash, go find Leng Mei!" Jue stopped looking at her and stared intently at Zi Xue. "Xue'er, Xue'er!" Seeing Xue'er's mouth moving, he bent down and heard Xue'er calling out something like "Dad, Mom," and then, "Jue, save me."
Jue grabbed Zixue's hand and whispered in her ear, "Xue'er, don't be afraid, I'm here."
A moment later, Leng Mei appeared, ran to Zi Xue's side, took her pulse, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Master, please calm down. Miss has caught a cold and has a fever. I will prescribe some medicine, and in a few days, Miss will be as energetic as ever. However, she may have to stay in the palace for a few days. After all, it is better to get the medicine locally so as not to delay Miss's treatment."
Jue waved his hand, telling him to get ready. Gently touching his face, which was flushed from the fever, Jue felt extremely frustrated by his own powerlessness.
Leng Mei prescribed several doses of medicine, and Xuan Wu, following the prescription, fetched the herbs, brewed them, and brought them to her mistress. "Mistress, the young lady's medicine."
"Let me take the medicine," he said, taking the medicine from my mouth. He swirled it in the liquid with a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and carefully placed it to my lips to feed me. But my mouth was tightly closed, and the medicine kept flowing out. He wiped it away and tried several more times, but it still didn't work.
Seeing my pale lips from the fever, Jue picked up the bowl, took a sip, but didn't swallow. Then he bent down, pressed his lips to mine, opened my mouth, and fed me the medicine. Seeing that I drank it, he did it several more times.
Xuanwu, who was standing nearby, saw this and blushed. After all, she was an unmarried girl, so she turned away from the scene, which was so ambiguous in ancient times.
I felt my body temperature gradually decrease, and the fever I had felt earlier subsided. I felt someone feeding me something soft and bitter—what was it? I couldn't guess. I felt drowsy, and soon I fell asleep. I don't know how long I slept; in my hazy state, I heard, "The Emperor has arrived."
"Young Master Jue, I heard that the Lady has caught a cold. Is she alright?"
"It's alright, I've taken my medicine," Jue said, her voice devoid of any warmth.
Jue is by my side? Wasn't he angry? Has he forgiven me? I don't want to think about any of that anymore. As long as Jue is by my side, nothing else matters to me.
I felt Jue stroking my face, and I could no longer hear their voices. I fell asleep again.
“It’s good that Young Master Jue loves his wife so much, but your health is a concern,” Xingyi said thoughtfully, as if she were concerned about Jue.
But the reason for this concern remains unknown.
"It's alright, Your Majesty, there's no need to worry. I will do what I promised." He didn't glance at Xingyi once during the journey, but silently watched the person on the bed who had regained her complexion thanks to Leng Mei's medicine.
"That's wonderful," he said calmly, unperturbed by the rude attitude, but one could hear the secret delight in his voice.
"Then I will not disturb your rest any longer, Madam," he said, placing his hands behind his back as he left.
"Your Majesty, is Young Master Jue trustworthy?" As they walked out of Zixue's palace, the eunuch beside him asked with concern. He had grown up with the Emperor and had even served the former Emperor Emeritus in his previous life. He held a certain position by the Emperor's side and had seen the intrigues and backstabbing in the palace. He had long since guessed people's thoughts. The Emperor and Young Master Jue were dragons among men, and it was not surprising that they could achieve something. However, he just couldn't figure them out.
"Heh, I know what I'm doing," Xingyi said, narrowing her eyes and glancing at the eunuch.
When the Emperor looked at her like that, "Huo" broke out in a cold sweat and quickly retreated behind him. The Emperor's eyes were too amazing. Having served the Emperor Emeritus, I know how to read people's expressions, but this Emperor is even smarter than the Emperor Emeritus. He is unfathomable.
As he watched the departing emperor, a dark glint flashed in Jue's eyes.
Xuanwu stared at her with eyes as sharp as swords.
"Your subordinate is here."
"Go do what I told you to do."
"Your subordinate obeys, but, Miss..." Xuanwu seemed a little worried.
"I'm here, go!" Jue rubbed his temples wearily, but his voice remained indifferent.
After Xuanwu left, Jue turned back to look at Zixue, his gaze tender and passionate, as if he were looking at a lover from three lifetimes.
I opened my eyes, feeling a heavy head, as if I had slept for a long time. Right, I think I heard Jue's voice while I was sleeping. I looked to my side, but there was no one there, making me feel that the voice I heard while I was sleeping was all a hallucination. I stared blankly at that spot, as if if I stared for a little longer, Jue would appear out of thin air.
Has Jue still not forgiven me? Does Jue no longer want to talk to me? No, that can't be.
I immediately threw off the covers and got out of bed. As soon as my feet touched the ground and I tried to stand up, I felt dizzy and wanted to fall back onto the bed. I supported my weak body and staggered toward the door.
"Miss, what are you doing?" As soon as Xuanwu entered the room, she saw the young lady struggling to get out. She immediately put down the medicine and strode over to help her.
"Wow, Xiao Wu, what's so amazing about it?" I gripped Xiao Wu's shoulders tightly.
"Master, he..."
Before Xiaowu could finish speaking, I blurted out, "He won't forgive me? He's ignoring me?"
After saying that, he pushed Xiao Wu away forcefully and barely managed to run out.
But after only a few steps, I was lifted into the air and picked up by someone.
I was startled. I looked up and saw Jue. I stared at him blankly, without saying a word.
Jue put me on the bed, pulled the blanket over me, and angrily said, "What are you doing?"
"I..." I couldn't say a word, and I felt tears welling up in my eyes. But when I saw Jue, my anxious heart calmed down. Jue didn't ignore me.
"Miss, really! I haven't even finished speaking and you've already rushed off. Your master has been taking care of you for two days and two nights. You're just going to change your clothes." Xiao Wu rambled on like an old woman. These were the most she had ever said to me, and her words were full of concern for me.
"I just want to find Jue," he said, glancing at Jue furtively, his words stammering.
I refused to let Xiao Wu go down and silently looked at me.
"Please don't be angry with me, I just..." I desperately wanted to explain.
Jue hugged me and whispered in my ear, "It's okay, I'm not angry, I'm just worried."
“Jue” I hugged Jue back. In Jue’s arms, I can always feel at peace.
"What's wrong with me?" I asked, still puzzled.
Jue sat down on the edge of my bed, making me more comfortable, and said, "I have a fever."
"So that's how it is. You took care of me for two days," I said, tilting my head.
"En" grabbed my hair and started playing with it.
(Dear readers, the crucial moment has arrived! Jue's identity is about to be revealed. You must be very curious, right? Actually, I don't know if this identity will attract you, but please continue to support me. I will strive to write better articles for you.)
Chapter Twenty-Nine
A series of gurgling sounds rang out between us, exceptionally clear. I felt my stomach contract, and the frequent gurgling seemed to be telling me, its owner, that it was hungry. Clutching its belly, it lowered its head in shame. "Hehe, wow, I'm hungry."
"Heh," looking at the adorable Xue'er, all the gloom of the past two days vanished.
"Mysterious Dance," Jue Chaomen whispered.
The door opened with a 'chirp,' and Xiao Wu stepped in front of us. 'Master!'
"Bring me some porridge."
"yes"
While I was bored out of my mind, I stared intently at Jue. Jue had changed into a black robe embroidered with gold, and her loose hair was casually tied with a purple ribbon. Her cold face and sharp eyes showed signs of exhaustion. It seemed that Jue hadn't slept at all!
Seeing me staring at him, he asked, "What's wrong?"
She pressed herself closer to Jue, feeling the warmth from his body, and nuzzled against his chest. "It's nothing, I just think you're so beautiful."