Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Favored Again

Qi Shu Xian’s gaze shifted. If someone else could treat him, then of course Qi Shu Xian did not want to beg Sheng Zhi Wan. Huan Zhu had once been Sheng Zhi Wan’s person, so it was normal for Huan Zhu to know these things.

After thinking for a moment, Qi Shu Xian strode back. “Fine. If you dare lie to me, you know the consequences.”

“Yes!” Huan Zhu lowered her head timidly. “Then… can Heir Apparent allow this concubine to clean up… a bit?”

Only then did Qi Shu Xian notice that Huan Zhu’s dress was soaked through. Once the thin fabric got wet, it clung to her body like wrapping cloth. In the slanting light, the pale skin that water rolled across looked white as jade, and Qi Shu Xian could not help thinking of another person whose skin was just as jade-like.

“Heir Apparent?” Huan Zhu shivered a few times.

The outfit Sheng Zhi Wan had sent was beautiful, but once it was soaked and the wind blew, it was truly cold.

Huan Zhu’s voice pulled Qi Shu Xian back to himself. Qi Shu Xian looked away. “Go.”

“Yes.” Huan Zhu quickly changed into another dress.

It was still something Sheng Zhi Wan had sent. It was thin but not see-through. The light pink outer layer was matched with an apricot inner lining, a color that looked almost like bare skin. In the dim room, it carried a tempting charm that stirred the imagination.

Huan Zhu had Qi Shu Xian sit in a chair. “Heir Apparent, please remove the clothing on your left arm.”

Qi Shu Xian impatiently tugged open his robe and bared his left arm. The wound from the hairpin had already begun to scab. Qi Shu Xian pointed. “It’s here.”

Huan Zhu nodded. Following Sheng Zhi Wan’s instructions step by step, Huan Zhu began to press.

Qi Shu Xian had been doubtful, but after one round, Qi Shu Xian truly felt warmth spreading through his arm.

“Heir Apparent, this must continue for dozens of days. Each day, it must be done at least three times.” As Huan Zhu spoke from the side, the angle showed her most beautiful profile.

Qi Shu Xian answered carelessly, “Mm.”

The room fell quiet. Neither of them spoke.

Qi Shu Xian’s gaze drifted to Huan Zhu’s face, and only then did Qi Shu Xian realize that the maid he had never cared about before actually had a lovely face. A unique fragrance from her body grew more noticeable as she sweated slightly while pressing.

Qi Shu Xian closed his eyes and forced down the rising heat inside.

By the time the final round ended, Qi Shu Xian was almost unable to endure it. Qi Shu Xian was just about to stand and leave when Huan Zhu suddenly let out a soft cry, and her body seemed to topple forward from holding the same posture for too long.

Qi Shu Xian, who had been about to rise, was pressed back down into the chair.

That fragrance rushed up at him, and the softness of her skin felt like fine porcelain jade, waiting to be picked.

When Qi Shu Xian came back to his senses, Qi Shu Xian had already flipped Huan Zhu over and pinned her down on the table.

“Slut! Did you drug me again?” Furious, Qi Shu Xian slapped Huan Zhu across the face.

Huan Zhu had been lost in the joy of success, and the slap jolted her awake. Huan Zhu stared blankly for a moment. “N-No… not this concubine… this concubine didn’t drug you!”

“Still denying it?” Qi Shu Xian raged and slapped her again. “You must have tried every way to seduce me again! Fine, then I will satisfy you!”

With Huan Zhu’s startled cry, the courtyard soon filled with sounds that were not fit to hear.

*

Night was approaching when Meng Yang finally returned to the residence after a full day of busy work, belly heavy. Meng Yang was exhausted, and Meng Yang also worried about Qi Shu Xian’s arm. She did not know if those physicians truly had no skill or what, but they had not even been able to treat the wound from Sheng Zhi Wan’s hairpin.

Today, Meng Yang had deliberately asked people to look for healers from Eastern Wa. It was said their medical arts were very different from Sheng Kingdom’s, and perhaps they could cure the Heir Apparent’s injury.

Thinking of this, Meng Yang was about to tell Qing Liu to invite Qi Shu Xian over to Xiao Lan Courtyard, but then Meng Yang remembered that Qing Liu was still lying in bed, so Meng Yang could only order Qing Xing to go instead.

After Qing Xing left, Meng Yang had people prepare hot water to wipe herself down and then dressed up again.

A woman always wanted to meet her lover in her best state. Even while pregnant, Meng Yang carefully patted on a layer of powder until the faint stretch marks could no longer be seen, and only then did Meng Yang smile.

Still, the makeup of this ancient time was far too troublesome, and it was hard to carry when going out. If she could recreate modern cosmetics in the ancient world…

Meng Yang’s eyes lit up, and Meng Yang began to plan while waiting.

Yet even after the Main Kitchen sent the evening meal, Qing Xing still had not returned.

Meng Yang could not sit still anymore. Usually, the Heir Apparent did not even need to be invited. At this hour, Qi Shu Xian should have already arrived at Wei Yang Courtyard, but today he still had not come.

Could it be that his arm had gotten worse?

With that thought, Meng Yang stood and walked out. As soon as Meng Yang stepped outside Wei Yang Courtyard, Meng Yang saw Qing Xing hurrying back with her head down. Qing Xing came alone, with no sign of Qi Shu Xian behind her.

Meng Yang demanded, “Where is Heir Apparent? Did something happen to Heir Apparent’s arm?”

“N-No…” Qing Xing lowered her eyes and avoided Meng Yang’s gaze. “Concubine, you should go back and wait. Heir Apparent might come over in a while.”

Meng Yang pressed, “What exactly happened? Did you not even go to see Heir Apparent?”

“It’s not that!” Qing Xing was so frightened that Qing Xing dropped to her knees. “Heir Apparent… Heir Apparent is at Ning Xiang Garden!”