Chapter 11: Recovery
He slowly withdrew her hand from his body, stepped over, and poured her a glass of water.
He returned leisurely and had just sat down when the young girl, delicate and supple, rose again, her clothes slightly disheveled, exuding a soft fragrance. Her dark hair was tousled as she moved closer, pressing against him once more. She wrapped her arms around his neck, melting into his embrace, her breath sweet as orchid, lips brushing awkwardly yet seductively against his own, tracing tender kisses inch by inch.
His Adam’s apple moved twice. Gently swirling the cup in his hand, as her soft lips slid down to his jaw and neck, he tilted his head and drank the tea. Then, with a sudden clatter, the cup fell to the floor. His large hand pushed firmly against her fragile shoulder, pinning her beneath him.
The young girl’s face was flushed crimson, her eyes pure and brimming with affection. The man’s gaze burned like fire, fixed intently on her as he raised his hand to tear open her clothing and coldly demanded, “What is my name?”
Her lips parted and closed, mouthing his name silently.
His hand gripped her waist...
The room immediately filled with noises utterly out of place under the bright midday winter sun.
And the sounds grew increasingly inappropriate...
It was only after a long while, nearing dusk, that the noises ceased.
Night fell swiftly. The bedroom curtains were drawn tight, and four glazed lamps were lined up by the bedside.
Sheer curtains swirled and overlapped, beneath which lay scattered clothes. Inside the drapes were two women.
One reclined, the other sat.
The young girl lying down had skin like white porcelain, her silky hair spread beside her, covering half of her pale shoulder. That shoulder rose and fell faintly as she sobbed quietly upon her back beneath the quilt.
“Miss...”
She wept, and next to her, Qing Lian wept as well.
“Miss...”
The maid said nothing to comfort her, only feeling a deep, heart-wrenching pain.
What would become of the miss now?
With the Duke of Ning on the verge of returning and the marriage with the Jiang family about to be sealed, how could such a thing happen?
What would become of the miss now?
“That wretched Wang Qing’an, he deserves a miserable death!!!”
Qing Lian, unable to bear it any longer, cried out suddenly.
Beyond the dark pearl curtains, amid swirling mist, a faint haze lingered.
Within that haze, one could see a low couch table set with fragrant tea.
Lu Zhi, his robe open and revealing a strong chest, sat alone, leisurely sipping his tea.
The crying lasted a long, long time before fading away, and the young girl in the room eventually fell asleep again.
Qing Lian kept vigil all night without rest, only closing her eyes briefly as dawn approached.
---
Night passed in the blink of an eye.
The next morning, when Qing Lian awoke, she saw that the miss was already up.
She lay on her back, no longer crying, but her face was mottled and expressionless, silent and listless, looking pitiful in every way.
Just the thought of it brought tears to Qing Lian’s eyes.
Before she could say anything to her mistress, someone entered the room.
Qing Lian turned to see a tall man accompanied by a maid carrying a bowl of porridge.
The man was none other than the heir, Lu Zhi.
He was fully dressed, appearing as usual—neither his demeanor nor his expression had changed.
Qing Lian felt a sharp pang in her heart.
It all seemed like a dream.
That man was no one else but the heir.
The miss was about to enter the ancestral hall, to pay respects to their forebears, and become an adopted daughter of the Lu family.
The heir was to be her brother!
What kind of situation was this?
The more she thought, the more it tore at her heartstrings. Then she heard the man speak.
“The household has made arrangements. Someone will protect you. If you are still unwell, you may stay here another night.”
The young girl on the bed, still facing away, heard his voice. Her previously vacant eyes shifted slightly, but she said nothing and did not turn around, remaining as before.
Qing Lian could no longer hold back. She drew aside the curtains and stepped out, looking toward Lu Zhi. Her eyes reddened, and tears began to fall.
“Your Highness, what will happen from now on? What will become of my lady?”
Lu Zhi stood tall, silent for a moment, then gave a glance to the maid holding the porridge.
The maid stepped forward and handed the bowl to Qing Lian.
Lu Zhi sat down, lowering his gaze to the jade ring on his hand, gently spinning it between his fingers.
“If she is willing, I can take her with me in two months.”
Qing Lian was startled and repeated, “In two months, you will take the miss away...”
She was about to ask where, then suddenly understood his meaning.
He had been promoted to Military Governor of Huainan.
His family had known for a month. After the new year, he would leave Chang’an to assume his post.
---
“Then...”
Qing Lian wanted to ask what this meant.
What about the marriage to the Jiang family?
What about the Duke’s plan to adopt the miss?
They would soon be siblings!
What did it mean to follow him to Yangzhou with no status or name?
What was the miss to him now?
Could paper really cover fire?
What good would it do to go to Yangzhou with him?
Would they never see each other again at the Lu household?
So many questions filled her heart, yet none escaped her lips.
At last, she stammered the most crucial one.
“Then, what exactly is the miss to the heir?”
Lu Zhi did not answer, only glanced at her.
The young girl on the bed slowly clenched her fists.
She still said nothing, naturally offering no reply to his “if she is willing.”
The room fell into a heavy silence. After a moment, the man laughed quietly and then spoke:
“If you are unwilling, and still wish to marry Jiang Zhiyan, that is fine.”
“On your wedding night, I will help you.”
Yan Xi clenched her fists again.
Qing Lian sobbed quietly, wiping her tears, and turned back with the porridge bowl.
“Miss, please eat something first...”
“Miss?”
She called twice more, but Yan Xi neither answered nor turned around.