The night was dense.

The water over the tub spilled all over the floor.

Someone was really angry.

The soft jade, smooth and white as frost, was marked, resembling red plums blooming in winter snow.

Yu Tingwan’s waist trembled softly.

She didn’t know how many times she’d cried, nor how many marks she left on his chest with her nails.

She only remembered the candle flames on the wall flickering violently, her toes tensed tightly, the sound of water unceasing.

In her blurred consciousness, she only knew she’d have to bathe again.

She didn’t know when he’d carried her to the bed.

Perhaps she drank wine, perhaps she was exhausted from the day; Yu Tingwan fell into a deep sleep.

Yet, the smell of wine in the air grew strong.

Pungent, unlike the wine one drinks by day.

And yet familiar.

It was that kind of strong wine you can buy for just ten coins a bottle.

Except during festivals, the men in the village would buy some to drink. In winter, women often boiled it, adding a few slices of ginger inside; drinking it, nothing warms the body more.

But Yu Tingwan never got to drink it.

As long as she didn’t freeze to death, Mrs. Wang would never allow her to waste such things.

Why was the smell of that wine so pervasive?

Amidst it, the scent of medicine was faintly mixed.

Feeling confused, Yu Tingwan thought.

Then she heard a crisp crack, the sound of porcelain shattering on the floor.

She raised her eyes to look, only to see a familiar small courtyard.

Xiao Huaian, wearing the County Magistrate’s robe, entered from outside, walking swiftly.

"I haven’t been around these days, how is he?"

Elder Ge placed the medicinal herbs into the grinding trough, stepping on the wheel, grinding it into powder.

"How could he be? Not interacting with people, not cooperating with taking medicine."

Xiao Huaian grew anxious hearing this.

"Wasn’t he fine before?"

"Fine with what? Before, it was all that girl forcing it down him. I don’t know where you found such a bold person. Ignoring the General’s cold demeanor and directly administering."

While pouring she also gently comforted him.

—"Young master is now paralyzed and can’t leave the bed. Weak and unable to care for himself, but once the medicine is taken, he will be fine,"

No, he didn’t want to be fine.

—"I know why you don’t want to take it,"

—"Drinking too much medicine makes you want to use the toilet, you fear it’s inconvenient. But I earn half a tael of silver monthly; it’s my duty to help you with such things, and I don’t see it as an offense."

No.

Wei Zhao felt that he was the one being offended.

Xiao Huaian asked, "And where is she?"

"Sick."

"Last night she developed a fever. She could endure it, stayed quiet, and was diligent, got out of bed this morning to brew medicine for the General. I saw her face was burning red, checked her forehead, it was scalding hot, like a stove."

Elder Ge: "Gave her a prescription, ordered her to rest, how dare I let her near the General."

Xiao Huaian worried about Wei Zhao, hearing this, he didn’t pay much mind to a maid servant.

"He can’t move anyway, just directly administer it."

Elder Ge: "Easy for you to say, but I don’t dare."

Just having Wei Zhao stare at him sent a chill down his spine.

"Only that girl dared do it so boldly, good thing she doesn’t know the General’s status, else she wouldn’t have dared."

"You go if you can!"

Xiao Huaian went.

Wei Zhao was sitting in a half-limp posture, his eyes drooping in dejection, showed no reaction as he entered.

Xiao Huaian carried the medicine bowl to the bedside.

"I’ve seen your wound, it’s from a Cloud-breaking Spear."

"I won’t ask what you went through. But your life is what I saved, I didn’t let you die, so you’re not allowed to have anything happen."

Wei Zhao didn’t even glance at him.

"Another half a year."

Xiao Huaian: "?"

"Shen Zhiyi will wed Chu Liulang."

Wei Zhao: "Why do you bother about me?"

Wei Zhao, listless: "It’s also quite good. You were always afraid to delay her, couldn’t bear to reveal your feelings, letting Chu Liulang slip in. Ze County is far away with its mountains, on the day of the Shen-Chu union, you don’t even need to rush back for a drink."

Wei Zhao: "Magnanimous."

He said, lifting his eyes to glance at Xiao Huaian.

"Free-spirited."

"Able to pick up and let go, I respect you for being a man."

Xiao Huaian: ... 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

So you stabbed yourself, yet wouldn’t forget to dig into his heart?

He was so furious his mouth nearly twisted.

Wei Zhao seemed to think of something: "What have you been saying outside?"

Xiao Huaian: ???

Wei Zhao: "I know it’s to mislead the public, people outside think this New County Magistrate is keeping a mistress here. Therefore, he often comes by to visit and stay."

"But eventually it harms a young girl’s reputation."

Xiao Huaian: ???

"If she doesn’t mind, why do you care?"

Wei Zhao’s face turned cold: "She doesn’t mind, it’s merely that she’s at the mercy of others, and you’ve given her shelter here!"

"You’ll eventually return to the Capital, later she will marry."

Xiao Huaian squinted his eyes.

He set the medicine down, crossing his arms to look down at Wei Zhao.

"Why are you agitated?"

"What do you care so much?"

"I understand now, Elder Ge’s efforts are useless, I present the medicine right before your eyes, yet you wouldn’t move a hand. Apparently, you just want her to feed you, isn’t that it?"

"No wonder you’re so obedient to her."

Wei Zhao looked displeased: "She is a woman, how could I haggle? You can even speak such absurd nonsense."

"Forget it, when all those women pounced on you before, you never showed any mercy."

Then.

Xiao Huaian came out of the house.

Constantly watching, Elder Ge quickly approached: "What happened?"

Xiao Huaian: "He told me to get out."

Xiao Huaian: "So I got out."

Elder Ge: ...

Useless!

Who knows how much time passed.

Then there was a creaking sound.

The door was opened by the person inside.

Not long ago, the man half-sitting on the bed walked out the door.

After not seeing daylight for so long, the light was blinding.

Wei Zhao shielded his eyes, unaccustomed.

Elder Ge watched him walk, tearing his wound, staining the white silk clothes red with blood.

"Why are you up!"

Wei Zhao didn’t respond to him.

This was his first time stepping out of the room, and naturally, he wasn’t familiar with the place.

But the courtyard was only so big.

He lifted his feet to walk.

Passed by the kitchen.

Passed by the storeroom for firewood.

Passed in front of Elder Ge’s dwelling without a glance, continuing on.

Finally stopping at Yu Tingwan’s door.

He raised a hand to knock.

No response for a long time, only the sound of porcelain pieces hitting the ground, with a grim look he pushed the door open and entered.

Xiao Huaian: ...

Shameless, this dog.

Yu Tingwan curled her body, sitting on the floor leaning against the wall.

Several wine bottles scattered around her feet, some accidentally dropped and shattered.

Her face was flushed bright red, her mind unclear.

"Sick and still dare to drink?"

Wei Zhao walked over, kicking the hindering bottles aside, looking down upon her.

Yu Tingwan mumbled dreamily: "Watered down ones are cheaper, each originally seven coins a bottle, but after some persuasion, I got them to six."

Wei Zhao: "Didn’t you say you earn half a tael of silver each month? Why not buy something pricier."

She wouldn’t bother.

Someone as lowly as her, how could she be worthy of fine things?

This wine shouldn’t have even been bought.

It’s just that...

Today is her parent’s death anniversary. But they didn’t even have a grave.

Tears streamed down her face: "So hot."

Wei Zhao furrowed his brows.

"Where?"

Yu Tingwan handed her hand over.

Her hand was rough and cracked, with calluses, clearly used to manual labor.

Wei Zhao: "Burnt your hand?"

She nodded, then quickly shook her head.

Wei Zhao knelt down to her level: "Then where?"

Yu Tingwan touched her head, then her face, then her waist.

She choked up.

"It’s burning."

"Yaoyao is so hot, so hot."

Wei Zhao couldn’t tell what exactly was hot.

Strings of teardrops pattered down, splashing onto his hand.

His hand began to feel hot.

Yu Tingwan sobbed, helpless and pitiful.

Her tearful eyes looked at him and said.

"Young master, I hurt so much."