Chapter 39

Chapter 39

Wearing her new light blue round-neck robe, Xiao Qingxue stood outside the Songhua Residence, listening to Zhou Yanzhi's screams for a while. Smiling contentedly, she was about to leave when she saw several leaves fall. Looking up, she saw the exotic young man sitting in the tree, watching them.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a golden hue on his pale yellow hair, which curled down his back. The knife at his waist resembled a crescent moon, its dark scabbard inlaid with turquoise stones. A fang-shaped pendant dangled from the hilt of the curved blade, gently swaying in the breeze.

Xiao Qingxue felt guilty, remembering she and Fangyun had come specifically to see Zhou Yanzhi's misfortune. She recalled this exotic young man following Zhou Yanzhi the other day; they must have been together.

Fangyun, noticing the exotic young man in the tree, suggested, “Young mistress, let’s go.” After all, Xiao Qingxue was still unmarried, and it was inappropriate for this strange foreign youth to stare at her.

Xiao Qingxue nodded, but after walking a few steps, she heard a noise behind her. Turning around, she saw the young man already standing under the tree.

Looking up at the tree, she wondered how he had descended so quickly.

The young man looked at her with his pale blue eyes. As the distance between them was not far, Xiao Qingxue realized she had been staring at his eyes and awkwardly shifted her gaze, then left with Fangyun.

The tall and slender young man stood there for a moment before entering the Songhua Residence. Inside, servants from the Dou residence were lined up, attending to Zhou Yanzhi. Two male servants were fanning him, and two female servants were feeding him grapes with their delicate hands. Zhou Yanzhi, injured on his back, lay prone on the bed. A deep red whip mark stretched from his shoulder to his waist, covered in ointment. Despite this, he occasionally shivered in pain, his forehead bulging with veins, dripping with cold sweat.

Tuoba Mu saw Zhou Yanzhi in such a sorry state for the first time. Ever since he joined the academy, Zhou Yanzhi had been arrogant and domineering. Now, after being whipped, he looked like a drowned rat.

"Where did you go?" Zhou Yanzhi, having just had his wounds treated, was irritable. Seeing Tuoba Mu, who had only knelt for a few hours without suffering much, he felt envious and snapped at him.

"I went to prepare the medicine," Tuoba Mu replied, standing to the side with his head habitually bowed.

Zhou Yanzhi hissed in pain, waving away the female servant’s hand, "All of you, get out."

The servants quickly exited the room.

Zhou Yanzhi turned to Tuoba Mu, "Where's the medicine?"

"I accidentally burnt it, so now the Dou family's servants are preparing a new batch," Tuoba Mu replied blankly.

"You're so useless," Zhou Yanzhi grimaced in pain, "Uncle's strength is too great; it felt like he whipped me with the intent to kill."

"What about the matter you were investigating?"

Tuoba Mu recalled the young mistress he had seen, her eyes bright as if glowing. When she looked at him, it felt like he was also in the light.

"I found out that they are surnamed Xiao, but their given names are unknown, and Lady Xiao and Miss Xiao haven't come out of the Eastern Garden," Tuoba Mu replied without changing his tone.

"Of course, they wouldn't dare to come out. After getting me injured so severely, how could they have the face to show themselves?" Zhou Yanzhi grumbled resentfully, "And who knows what background this Lady Xiao has, to bewitch Uncle so much..." He trailed off, still fearful of his uncle's harshness, even when alone in the room.

Hearing no response from Tuoba Mu, Zhou Yanzhi wasn't surprised, knowing his silent nature.

"Go check if the medicine is ready, and bring it to me if it is."

Tuoba Mu left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

Xiao Qingxue and Fangyun walked along the corridor towards the Eastern Garden. The summer heat made Xiao Qingxue sweat, and she rolled up her sleeves for relief.

"Young mistress," Fangyun said anxiously, seeing Xiao Qingxue's sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing her glowing white arms, "This is not proper. Even in men's clothing, a young mistress shouldn't do this."

Xiao Qingxue, longing for air conditioning, ice cream, and other modern comforts, felt her cheeks flush with heat and regretted not bringing a fan. Hearing Fangyun's concern, she sighed internally, knowing Fangyun meant well as a person from ancient times, and pleaded, "Please Fangyun, there's no one else here, let me cool down a bit."

Fangyun blushed as she listened to Xiao Qingxue's coquettish plea, then suddenly saw the exotic young man crossing the garden and entering the corridor, quickly pulling down Xiao Qingxue's sleeves.

Xiao Qingxue saw him too and thought it best to avoid him.

The tall, slender young man walked briskly towards them. Xiao Qingxue stepped aside to let him pass, wondering if he was in a rush to report them to Zhou Yanzhi.

Suddenly, a white figure leaped from the fake mountain beside the corridor, aiming to jump onto its owner.

"Meow!" Tuoba Mu quickly grabbed the kitten by the back of its neck.

"Sorry, that's my cat. It's looking for me," Xiao Qingxue said hurriedly, reaching out for the meowing Snowball.

Tuoba Mu blinked and slowly handed the kitten to the young mistress.

"Thank you," Xiao Qingxue said, petting Snowball's fur. Although she was hot, the cat's affection made her tolerate it. After all, the cat was adorable.

Xiao Qingxue smiled and thanked him, hearing the exotic young man hum in response before he continued walking forward with his head bowed.

It seemed he wasn't there to catch them... perhaps he hadn't even reported them... Xiao Qingxue's mood improved further, kissing Snowball and stroking its fur.

Tuoba Mu, who had walked far away, slowed his pace upon hearing the young mistress's laughter. He stopped and looked back around the corner. Miss Xiao was laughing more radiantly than the sun, her waist cinched by a thin leather belt, slender and graceful like a delicate lotus.

After watching for a while, Tuoba Mu left.

Inside the small bamboo tower in the study.

Zhou Xu embraced Lady Xiao, allowing her to sit in his lap, and carefully collected the love poems she wrote. Then he took out the luminous pearls and gold beads from the box for Lady Xiao to play with.

Xiao Luolan's face was still flushed. She adjusted her clothes, trying to ignore the lingering sensation in her chest, her hands filled with the heavy pearls and gold beads.

Zhou Xu suggested, "When the weather cools, how about I take Lady Xiao hunting?"

Xiao Luolan, looking at the glittering gold beads, placed them back in the box. Hearing Zhou Xu now directly addressing her as 'Lady Xiao,' without her surname, made her feel uneasy. Her status with Zhou Xu was supposed to be that of a married woman, meaning she should have a husband in his eyes. But now, it seemed Zhou Xu had fully disregarded that, treating her as if she was his wife...

Xiao Luolan was unsure whether this was good or bad, feeling that things were moving beyond her control...

"I have a falcon named Wu Yi Lang, very swift and fierce."

Zhou Xu played with Lady Xiao's hand, his eyes slightly downcast, his voice tinged with a smile, seemingly in a good mood, "I also have leopards, goshawks, and lynxes. Whatever prey Lady Xiao desires, the leopard handlers will lead them to the hunting grounds."

Xiao Luolan responded upon hearing the term 'leopard handlers.'

"Why aren't you happy?" Zhou Xu lifted Lady Xiao's face, asking gently.

Xiao Luolan was startled at how attuned Zhou Xu was to her emotions. She had merely felt a bit sad upon hearing 'leopard handlers,' reminding her of her situation, and responded instinctively. Looking at Zhou Xu, she hid her slight fear.

Since arriving in ancient times, Xiao Luolan learned not to underestimate anyone’s intelligence, especially after her experience with Governor Li.

She wasn’t very smart and could only think of staying indoors as much as possible and using Zhou Xu's affection for her.

Therefore, she needed Zhou Xu to like her more. She was testing her importance in his heart. If he could punish his disrespectful nephew for her today, would he still protect them tomorrow, even knowing their identity was false…

"I'm not unhappy," Xiao Luolan fluttered her eyelashes, "I was just recalling yesterday at the pharmacy. I saw people queuing under a tent near there. Is there an illness in the city?"

Zhou Xu kissed Lady Xiao's face and smiled, "Oh, that matter. The summer heat can bring malaria, so I asked the city's medical experts and physicians to be vigilant. Pingkang Pharmacy dispatched doctors to prepare a malaria-preventing drink called Jiemian San and Dayuan Drink for distribution to those showing symptoms."

Zhou Xu recalled when he first ordered precautions against malaria. Dr. Zhang Nuo from Pingkang Pharmacy was the first to post the prescription on a stone tablet outside the city, and his act of distributing medicine at a minimal cost made him the most respected physician in Taiyang County, earning praise for his good deeds.

"He truly is a good person," Xiao Luolan remarked, recalling the old doctor who treated her daughter for menstrual pain.

Zhou Xu was delighted just listening to Lady Xiao speak, regardless of the content. She seldom used to talk so much to him.

"Lady Xiao is right," Zhou Xu said, smiling and gently kissing the tips of her fingers.

"Could I also help in some way?" Xiao Luolan, having mentioned the pharmacy earlier, now voiced her desire to contribute.

Without questioning her sudden urge to help, Zhou Xu simply asked, "What kind of help does Lady Xiao wish to offer?"

Xiao Luolan took out a thin booklet she had prepared from the desk. Despite being busy with her daughter making soap, she hadn’t forgotten her intention to do something useful. She handed it to Zhou Xu. The booklet contained some basic modern hygiene and first-aid knowledge she could recall.

Zhou Xu looked at the pale blue booklet in his hand. Knowing that Lady Xiao occasionally wrote in it, he had instructed the servants not to disturb her things and was aware of this particular booklet.

Despite knowing of its existence, Zhou Xu had never browsed through it.

Seeing Lady Xiao hand the booklet to him, Zhou Xu’s breath deepened. This gesture meant more to him than the simple acts of washing hands or cooking soup. He had often seen Lady Xiao sitting at the desk, deep in thought, struggling to write.

"It contains medical knowledge I know, told to me by a physician at home. I noted it down as it might not be available in local clinics. Maybe it could help some people," Xiao Luolan said nervously. Her words were half-true, half-false – false about her identity, but true about the booklet’s contents, which she hoped would be useful. She thought, since Taiyang County was Zhou Xu’s territory, helping people might earn his leniency if he later discovered their deception.

Zhou Xu opened the booklet, noticing the first page detailing the benefits of drinking hot water, followed by a page on what to do if something gets lodged in the airway, complete with a simple illustration and two step-by-step methods.

Seeing Zhou Xu reading intently, Xiao Luolan relaxed and pointed at the figures in the book, "When Qingxue was little and mischievous, she once choked on a pear. I used a method taught by our physician to dislodge it. There’s a method for children here, and another for adults below."

After her divorce, Xiao Luolan raised her daughter alone. Being a first-time mother, she was always worried about accidents and frequently reviewed common emergency procedures for infants and children shown on TV, like what to do if a baby chokes on milk, swallows a foreign object, or has an airway blockage. She memorized these steps, fearing she might not care for her daughter adequately.

"First, make a fist with one hand, then wrap the other hand around it..." Xiao Luolan demonstrated the technique.

Zhou Xu looked at Lady Xiao, his eyes brimming with amusement.

Xiao Luolan, feeling her face heat up under his gaze, turned to the next page. Zhou Xu saw the methods for rescuing someone from drowning, again with a simple illustration and detailed steps. Unlike the traditional methods of burying in sand, these involved breathing and compression techniques, new to Zhou Xu. He studied them intently, realizing that if Lady Xiao's provided methods were effective, they could indeed save many lives.

Zhou Xu turned the page, becoming increasingly serious as he continued to read, spending the duration of a cup of tea on the two thin sheets of paper.

Xiao Luolan watched Zhou Xu anxiously.

Zhou Xu looked up at Lady Xiao. The last page of the book was about preventing smallpox. Smallpox, a disease feared by all, was highly contagious and often fatal, with no cure. In Youzhou, prevention was key, primarily through variolation, but this method had a high mortality rate and was not entirely effective. If Lady Xiao's suggestion of using cowpox for inoculation proved successful, it would be a lifesaving breakthrough.

"Lady Xiao is truly kind-hearted," Zhou Xu said softly, caressing her face. Regardless of the outcome, her intention was genuine.

Xiao Luolan blushed at the praise, feeling undeserving. The idea of using cowpox came from her research when her daughter had chickenpox. She wasn't the originator of the idea and felt somewhat guilty for receiving such commendation.

"As long as it helps people," she said, recalling that the cowpox method was still theoretical and hadn't been practically tested, and added, "But it's better to experiment with cowpox first."

"Of course. I will convene the medical experts and Dr. Zhang Nuo to study it. If it's effective, we'll replace variolation with cowpox for smallpox prevention," Zhou Xu reassured her as he noticed her sweating from nervousness, pulling her onto his lap, "It's okay if it doesn't work. Relax, don't worry."

Xiao Luolan looked up at Zhou Xu, "Did I help?"

Zhou Xu was momentarily taken aback, then smiled, pressing his forehead against hers, "Of course, you did."

Xiao Luolan sighed in relief, feeling a bit happy inside.

Zhou Xu couldn't resist kissing Lady Xiao again, finding her irresistibly adorable.

In the afternoon, Xiao Luolan noticed Zhou Xu leaving early. After a morning of close interactions, she realized that Zhou Xu behaved completely differently in private than in public. He clung to her persistently, always wanting to hold her in his arms or on his lap. Although he didn't make any inappropriate advances, it still made Xiao Luolan somewhat uncomfortable.

Finally, he had left.

Xiao Luolan then went back to the Eastern Pavilion to find her daughter.

Holding Snowball, Xiao Qingxue joyfully called out upon seeing her mother, “Mother, come here!”

Approaching, Xiao Luolan found herself handed a cup filled with a milky white drink, its aroma a blend of tea and milk.

“Mother, have some milk tea,” Xiao Qingxue cheerfully clinked cups with her mother, her eyes shining brightly. “I made it with Fangyun in the small kitchen. We first fried the tea leaves, then boiled them, and added milk, red beans, and honey. Try it and see if it’s good.”

Xiao Luolan took a sip, finding the tea leaves perfectly balanced the creaminess of the milk, sweet but not overly so: “It’s delicious.”

“If only we had ice cubes,” Xiao Qingxue remarked after sipping her homemade milk tea, then suggested to her mother, “What if we sell this milk tea recipe to Luo Langjun?”

“Perhaps we could,” Xiao Luolan, after finishing half her cup, shared her recent activities with her daughter. They always consulted each other on anything that happened here, and after listening, Xiao Qingxue leaned on the table.

“What’s wrong?” Xiao Luolan gently stroked her daughter’s hair, asking softly.

Xiao Qingxue looked up, “Mom, am I a burden to you?” Only now she realized how much her mother had done for her as a child. Did she really trouble her mother so much with her restless sleep? She had no memory of it.

“Why would you think that?” Xiao Luolan was rarely stern but glanced sharply at her daughter, pinching her cheek playfully, “Don’t ever say that again. You are always my precious baby.”

Xiao Qingxue leaned against her mother, feeling very secure.

“Now that we’ve helped Head Zhou, maybe he won’t be harsh to us in the future.”

Xiao Luolan reassured herself and tried to ease her daughter's concerns.

In the afternoon, Xiao Luolan carefully stored away the embroidered sachets, feeling that the information she provided might have actually been helpful, which was a great relief.

Night fell.

Zhou Xu sat in his study, removing a copper tube from the leg of his falcon and extracting a paper scroll. He spent a long time reading it.

Xie Deyong had written hundreds of tiny characters, listing in detail all the aristocratic Xiao families of Chang'an – the Xiao family of Murong, Qinghe, Dahu, and Qinhe. Every notable person with the surname Xiao was included, but there was no mention of a Xiao Luolan or Xiao Qingxue among Chang'an's nobility. The letter tactfully implied that the military governor might have been deceived.

Only at dawn did Zhou Xu finally move. He burned the letter over a candle, watching as it turned to ash. His expression was calm as he left the study after washing up.

Xiao Luolan was puzzled to see the delivered silks, satins, and jewelry.

"Lei Langjun, are you sure these were meant for me?"

Lei Shan replied, "Yes, Lady Xiao. These were sent by the Head Zhou, and there are similar gifts for Miss Qingxue as well."

Looking at the luxurious items filling her room, Xiao Luolan couldn't understand why Zhou Xu would suddenly send such extravagant gifts.

“Could it be a thank-you gift for the medical prescriptions?” Xiao Qingxue wondered.

“I'll ask Head Zhou. Qingxue, leave these things as they are for now,” said Xiao Luolan, uneasy about accepting such valuable gifts.

Following Lei Shan, Xiao Luolan found that Zhou Xu wasn't in his study.

“The Head is in his quarters,” Lei Shan informed her, “Lady Xiao, please come this way.”

Xiao Luolan noted the sun was already high. Zhou Xu didn't seem like someone who would sleep in.

She opened the door and, not seeing Zhou Xu, hesitated before entering the inner chamber.

The chamber was sparsely decorated. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the black whip hanging on the wall. The bed curtains were drawn, with only a glimpse of the bedding visible.

To her surprise, Head Zhou was indeed asleep, prompting Xiao Luolan to wonder if he was ill.

"Head Zhou," she called out, approaching the bed, only to be suddenly pulled under the covers.

Zhou Xu, holding Xiao Luolan's waist, made her sit on the bed, leaning against the pillows, leisurely observing her.

Xiao Luolan felt a bit miffed at being playfully caught off guard.

The bed curtains fluttered, concealing the two from view.

Just as Xiao Luolan was about to ask why such lavish gifts were sent early in the morning, she found herself holding a small, exquisite golden dagger, with a gold handle and red gemstones.

Holding the delicate weapon, she was at a loss.

Zhou Xu, grasping her hand, said, "Qingshan once told me that your mysterious appearance, Lady Xiao, might be a part of a seductive trap, like in the stories. When the time comes, you might either steal military secrets or seek to assassinate me."

Xiao Luolan was startled by his words, quickly shaking her head, "Head Zhou, I never intended to harm you."

She tried to drop the dagger, but Zhou Xu’s firm grip made it impossible, causing her face to flush with anxiety.

Zhou Xu, reclining on the bed with a stubble that seemed to have grown a bit, looked at Xiao Luolan, who knelt beside him. His eyes and brows had a carefree and unrestrained expression as he said with a playful smile, “I used to disbelieve.”

“Now, I believe.”

Hearing this, Xiao Luolan felt an inexplicable surge of sorrow and injustice, her eyes involuntarily brimming with tears.

She bowed her head, longing to leave the place.

Zhou Xu tenderly lifted her face, seeing her teary eyes and tightly bitten lip. He gently kissed away the tears at the corner of her eyes.

“Don’t cry, my lady. What I mean is…”

“You are the sharpest sword in the world.”

Xiao Luolan looked up in confusion, not understanding Head Zhou's meaning.

Zhou Xu chuckled deeply, "You have the power to hurt me."

Xiao Luolan, overwhelmed by Zhou Xu's kisses, was left in a daze, unable to grasp the meaning of his words.

Her hand fell limp, dropping the golden dagger to the floor with a crisp sound.

Zhou Xu watched Xiao Luolan, breathing heavily and lost in his embrace, and gently smoothed her disheveled hair with his rough hand.

"Even if it's a facade, it's real if Lady Xiao wishes it to be."