Gu Ying leaned on her cheek and said, "That's right, the plague is still going on, which means someone is still poisoning people. Han Lin, it must be Han Lin, Jiang Yin's subordinate."
Zhao Changdu's lips curved up slightly. "Tomorrow I will send Huai Ying to escort Mr. Zhuge to investigate. Huai Ling will also look for Han Lin's whereabouts. Don't worry too much and overexert yourself."
"Changdu, I want to go too."
"No, you are tired."
Gu Ying's eyes blinked as she pleaded softly, "But I'm not tired."
Zhao Changdu grasped her slender waist and pulled her into his arms, kissing her red lips.
Gu Ying blushed slightly as she responded to his kiss. Their fiery breaths intertwined.
Unsatisfied, the man cradled her face and sucked hard on her lips. It was difficult for them to part as the wet sounds continued.
Gu Ying felt a chill, then a burning heat swept over her body.
She soon found herself on the couch, her face fiery red, dress hitched at her waist by his slender fingers.
His eyes were dark and intense, his voice hoarse.
"Are you tired now?"
Gu Ying moaned several times, breathing rapidly, "Just...just fine."
"Then I have not put in enough effort," he rasped.
"Changdu, be careful...of our baby..."
"Ying..."
"Mm..."
"Ying..."
He panted her name again and again, seemingly unable to say it enough. Gu Ying blushed to her ears, eyes glazed, finally losing to his passionate siege.
Fortunately, he was still sensible enough to not go too far since she was pregnant.
Otherwise, she really would not have escaped his clutches.
Afterwards, her body trembled weakly. She wanted to ask what exactly Jiang Yin had said to him in the dungeons.
But he only smiled softly and kissed her hair, soothing her, "He said nothing."
Gu Ying's heart clenched. His trust in her made her slowly smile again. "Changdu, please wait a little longer for me, okay? No matter what Jiang Yin says, don't believe him. I promise I will tell you everything myself. Just...give me some more time."
Outside, the rain grew heavier, tapping steadily on the eaves.
Cold wind slipped through the window cracks. Gu Ying shivered and curled deeper into his fiery embrace, as if holding her entire world.
The man held her tightly, eyes fathomless, murmuring softly, "Alright."
...
The next morning, Gu Ying got up early.
The rare lazy prince was still asleep on the couch. Not wanting to wake him, she lightly pecked his lips and left the study.
It was still raining outside, the space beyond murky gray mist. After looking around, she discovered a small kitchen in another courtyard and had Huai Ying start a fire. She personally kneaded dough and wrapped meat dumplings for the prince, then cooked porridge.
Huai Ying watched her busying competently around the kitchen, shocked that the prince's noble wife and former young miss of the Duke of Dongping's manor knew how to do such commoners' tasks. Moreover, her dumplings were exquisitely shaped, the meat juice fragrant and mouthwatering.
Gu Ying smiled and set aside a bowl for him. "Men need meat to build strength. Huai Ying, have some too."
"My lady, I couldn't possibly..."
"I'm going to the infirmary for a bit. If the prince asks, just say I went to see Mr. Zhuge."
"Oh..." Huai Ying lowered his gaze, embarrassed.
"Right, put out the fire and scoop the porridge into a bowl for the prince after another incense stick."
Huai Ying stood in the kitchen, baffled, as he accepted the steaming dumplings. In a blink, the lady had taken her umbrella and left.
...
At the infirmary, everyone she passed greeted her.
Gu Ying smiled and responded, first going to see Li Yang.
Now without an ounce of princely dignity, knowing he was infected and doomed to die, he cowered fearfully in a corner, hair disheveled and clothes askew as if he hadn't slept all night.
Since he hadn't been poisoned, no symptoms had appeared yet.
Gu Ying didn't tell him the truth. She simply held his jaw open and poured Jade River water down his throat.
Li Yang struggled madly until Gu Ying kicked him into submission. She would return in an hour to observe any changes.
Leaving Li Yang's room, her gaze immediately landed on Ye Qingchi chatting with Zhou Yan.
Her smile grew playful as she called out, "Cousin."
Ye Qingchi turned to leave.
Gu Ying grabbed and yanked him back. "Don't go. Let me see how your illness is progressing." She reached to unveil his face wrap.
Ye Qingchi swiftly caught her wrist then released it with a sigh. "You're no doctor. There's nothing to see. Mr. Zhuge's already examined me. I advise you not to touch me these days unless you want to get infected too. The disease will make you hideously ugly. Don't come crying to me then."
"I'm not a child anymore. I won't cry."
"You'll always be a child to me. Be good now, Ying."
Exasperated, Gu Ying conceded as her cousin had inherited her uncle's stubbornness. Once Ye Qingchi decided something, he would not be persuaded otherwise. She turned to Zhou Yan, "Lord Zhou, would you kindly tie my dear cousin up for me? Afterwards, I promise to sing your praises before Lady Ji."
Zhou Yan raised his brows at Ye Qingchi.
Sensing danger, Ye Qingchi bristled warily. "Don't you dare, Zhou Yan—"
"Forgive me, Lord Ye." In a few moves, Zhou Yan trussed the weakly struggling Ye Qingchi and shoved him into the sickroom.
"Gu Ying! Have you no shame? I'm your elder brother!" Ye Qingchi yelled furiously.
"But I'm being good to you, Brother. Otherwise, you would be in the same plight as Prince Shu."
"You wretched girl! Untie me! I'm doing this for your sake!"
Mr. Zhuge laughed uproariously while the other doctors crowded around to watch gleefully.
Zhou Yan stood aside, smiling mysteriously, quiet as jade. His rare laughter was particularly mesmerizing. Blushing maidens waiting at the door stole longing glances at the two handsome young lords, Ye Qingchi and Zhou Yan. But Zhou Yan ignored them as he asked Gu Ying about Ji Ji.
Gu Ying smiled reassuringly, "Lord Zhou, don't worry. She was doing fine when I left. I'm just afraid she's snuck out by now against orders."
Relieved, Zhou Yan returned her smile. "My lady, no need to worry, she cannot get out."
Realizing his attendant Jiang Bao was absent, Gu Ying surmised Zhou Yan's precaution and approved silently.
Beet red, Ye Qingchi fumed at the humiliation. How dare they do this to a scion of the esteemed Ye family!
Gu Ying pressed him down into a chair and boldly yanked off his black face cover, revealing ruddy spots marring his fair, flawless complexion underneath.
Gu Ying leaned on her cheek and said, "That's right, the plague is still going on, which means someone is still poisoning people. Han Lin, it must be Han Lin, Jiang Yin's subordinate."
Zhao Changdu's lips curved up slightly. "Tomorrow I will send Huai Ying to escort Mr. Zhuge to investigate. Huai Ling will also look for Han Lin's whereabouts. Don't worry too much and overexert yourself."
"Changdu, I want to go too."
"No, you are tired."
Gu Ying's eyes blinked as she pleaded softly, "But I'm not tired."
Zhao Changdu grasped her slender waist and pulled her into his arms, kissing her red lips.
Gu Ying blushed slightly as she responded to his kiss. Their fiery breaths intertwined.
Unsatisfied, the man cradled her face and sucked hard on her lips. It was difficult for them to part as the wet sounds continued.
Gu Ying felt a chill, then a burning heat swept over her body.
She soon found herself on the couch, her face fiery red, dress hitched at her waist by his slender fingers.
His eyes were dark and intense, his voice hoarse.
"Are you tired now?"
Gu Ying moaned several times, breathing rapidly, "Just...just fine."
"Then I have not put in enough effort," he rasped.
"Changdu, be careful...of our baby..."
"Ying..."
"Mm..."
"Ying..."
He panted her name again and again, seemingly unable to say it enough. Gu Ying blushed to her ears, eyes glazed, finally losing to his passionate siege.
Fortunately, he was still sensible enough to not go too far since she was pregnant.
Otherwise, she really would not have escaped his clutches.
Afterwards, her body trembled weakly. She wanted to ask what exactly Jiang Yin had said to him in the dungeons.
But he only smiled softly and kissed her hair, soothing her, "He said nothing."
Gu Ying's heart clenched. His trust in her made her slowly smile again. "Changdu, please wait a little longer for me, okay? No matter what Jiang Yin says, don't believe him. I promise I will tell you everything myself. Just...give me some more time."
Outside, the rain grew heavier, tapping steadily on the eaves.
Cold wind slipped through the window cracks. Gu Ying shivered and curled deeper into his fiery embrace, as if holding her entire world.
The man held her tightly, eyes fathomless, murmuring softly, "Alright."
...
The next morning, Gu Ying got up early.
The rare lazy prince was still asleep on the couch. Not wanting to wake him, she lightly pecked his lips and left the study.
It was still raining outside, the space beyond murky gray mist. After looking around, she discovered a small kitchen in another courtyard and had Huai Ying start a fire. She personally kneaded dough and wrapped meat dumplings for the prince, then cooked porridge.
Huai Ying watched her busying competently around the kitchen, shocked that the prince's noble wife and former young miss of the Duke of Dongping's manor knew how to do such commoners' tasks. Moreover, her dumplings were exquisitely shaped, the meat juice fragrant and mouthwatering.
Gu Ying smiled and set aside a bowl for him. "Men need meat to build strength. Huai Ying, have some too."
"My lady, I couldn't possibly..."
"I'm going to the infirmary for a bit. If the prince asks, just say I went to see Mr. Zhuge."
"Oh..." Huai Ying lowered his gaze, embarrassed.
"Right, put out the fire and scoop the porridge into a bowl for the prince after another incense stick."
Huai Ying stood in the kitchen, baffled, as he accepted the steaming dumplings. In a blink, the lady had taken her umbrella and left.
...
At the infirmary, everyone she passed greeted her.
Gu Ying smiled and responded, first going to see Li Yang.
Now without an ounce of princely dignity, knowing he was infected and doomed to die, he cowered fearfully in a corner, hair disheveled and clothes askew as if he hadn't slept all night.
Since he hadn't been poisoned, no symptoms had appeared yet.
Gu Ying didn't tell him the truth. She simply held his jaw open and poured Jade River water down his throat.
Li Yang struggled madly until Gu Ying kicked him into submission. She would return in an hour to observe any changes.
Leaving Li Yang's room, her gaze immediately landed on Ye Qingchi chatting with Zhou Yan.
Her smile grew playful as she called out, "Cousin."
Ye Qingchi turned to leave.
Gu Ying grabbed and yanked him back. "Don't go. Let me see how your illness is progressing." She reached to unveil his face wrap.
Ye Qingchi swiftly caught her wrist then released it with a sigh. "You're no doctor. There's nothing to see. Mr. Zhuge's already examined me. I advise you not to touch me these days unless you want to get infected too. The disease will make you hideously ugly. Don't come crying to me then."
"I'm not a child anymore. I won't cry."
"You'll always be a child to me. Be good now, Ying."
Exasperated, Gu Ying conceded as her cousin had inherited her uncle's stubbornness. Once Ye Qingchi decided something, he would not be persuaded otherwise. She turned to Zhou Yan, "Lord Zhou, would you kindly tie my dear cousin up for me? Afterwards, I promise to sing your praises before Lady Ji."
Zhou Yan raised his brows at Ye Qingchi.
Sensing danger, Ye Qingchi bristled warily. "Don't you dare, Zhou Yan—"
"Forgive me, Lord Ye." In a few moves, Zhou Yan trussed the weakly struggling Ye Qingchi and shoved him into the sickroom.
"Gu Ying! Have you no shame? I'm your elder brother!" Ye Qingchi yelled furiously.
"But I'm being good to you, Brother. Otherwise, you would be in the same plight as Prince Shu."
"You wretched girl! Untie me! I'm doing this for your sake!"
Mr. Zhuge laughed uproariously while the other doctors crowded around to watch gleefully.
Zhou Yan stood aside, smiling mysteriously, quiet as jade. His rare laughter was particularly mesmerizing. Blushing maidens waiting at the door stole longing glances at the two handsome young lords, Ye Qingchi and Zhou Yan. But Zhou Yan ignored them as he asked Gu Ying about Ji Ji.
Gu Ying smiled reassuringly, "Lord Zhou, don't worry. She was doing fine when I left. I'm just afraid she's snuck out by now against orders."
Relieved, Zhou Yan returned her smile. "My lady, no need to worry, she cannot get out."
Realizing his attendant Jiang Bao was absent, Gu Ying surmised Zhou Yan's precaution and approved silently.
Beet red, Ye Qingchi fumed at the humiliation. How dare they do this to a scion of the esteemed Ye family!
Gu Ying pressed him down into a chair and boldly yanked off his black face cover, revealing ruddy spots marring his fair, flawless complexion underneath.
