Chapter 55: Chapter Fifty-Five The Master Is Waiting for His Personal Explanation

Chapter 55: The Master Awaits His Personal Explanation

Wei San fumbled, sending the medicine bowl crashing to the floor, where it shattered into countless pieces. The hot medicinal brew splashed onto the back of his hand, stinging sharply, yet he seemed oblivious, his face pale as he asked, "What brings Master to Yangzhou?"

Had Master already discovered something? Otherwise, why would he appear here so suddenly?

He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms, leaving behind pale, crescent-shaped indentations.

"If I hadn't come, how would I know what you've been doing behind my back?"

Wei Zheng's anger flared, his tone growing sharper. Yet, seeing Wei San's fragile state, on the verge of collapse but feigning composure, he couldn't help but soften slightly.

He noticed the spreading redness on the back of Wei San's hand, scalded by the medicine. The color wasn't deep, but Wei San's skin was naturally fair, making the crimson patch particularly stark.

No matter how intense Wei Zheng's fury, he couldn't bring himself to unleash it on Wei San. With a cold expression, he strode forward, deliberately bumping the stunned Ruan Xingji aside as he passed. Grabbing Wei San's uninjured hand, he forcefully dragged him out of the house.

Ruan Xingji, stumbling from the push and nearly falling, pointed at their retreating figures, his mouth agape in shock.

"Concubine? My Lord? Is Wei San married?"

"No! If he's married, then why is Wei San so adamantly against having children?"

Ruan Xingji felt his mind reeling. Coupled with Wei Zheng's utterly hostile demeanor and Wei San's ashen, ghost-seeing expression, he instantly concocted a dramatic tale of forced abduction and ruthless conquest.

As Wei Zheng was about to whisk Wei San away, and it was clear Wei San was not going willingly, Ruan Xingji was about to give chase to clarify the situation when he suddenly remembered something.

"Wait! Stealing someone's partner? Who? Me?"

Wei San's husband seemed to have misunderstood his relationship with Wei San.

"So, the illicit lover is me?" Ruan Xingji's world shattered on the spot. His reputation, meticulously maintained for over sixty years, was tarnished in an instant!

Wei Zheng hadn't dragged Wei San away to forcibly remove him. Once outside, he scanned the surroundings but couldn't find what he was looking for. He frowned in distaste and, turning back, asked Wei San in a cold, hard voice, "Where's the water source in this dilapidated wooden hut?"

Wei San, guilt-ridden, curled his fingers, lowered his head, not daring to meet his gaze, and silently pointed towards the end of the corridor.

The corridor led to the kitchen. Wei Zheng led him inside and immediately spotted a water vat filled with water by the entrance. Without a word, he seized Wei San's scalded, red hand and plunged it into the water.

The water in the vat was mountain spring water, fetched by Ruan Xingji that morning. Its low temperature and icy chill soothed the discomfort on the back of Wei San's hand.

The burn, though it looked severe, wasn't actually very painful. Wei San thought his master was making a mountain out of a molehill. He tried to pull his hand back, but a displeased Wei Zheng immediately pressed it back down.

"Keep it submerged properly. If the skin breaks, you'll be in much more pain later."

Wei Zheng's face was grim, clearly still seething with anger, though he suppressed it well.

Afraid of further provoking him, Wei San obediently allowed his hand to be held in the water.

After about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Wei Zheng saw the redness on Wei San's hand had significantly faded and finally allowed him to withdraw it.

Once assured of Wei San's well-being, Wei Zheng began his interrogation.

"Wei San, oh Wei San, it's one thing that you've delayed returning to the capital, but you haven't even sent me a single letter. Is Yangzhou's scenery so captivating, or is there someone here you're so reluctant to leave?"

He advanced on Wei San, step by step, his words sharp and aggressive. He had made up his mind: if Wei San admitted to the affair, he would, out of past affection, merely punish the lover and not hold it against Wei San, as long as he...

"Someone I'm reluctant to leave?"

Wei San looked up, slightly bewildered, his eyes filled with confusion.

He had been prepared to confess everything, but upon hearing Wei Zheng's words, he suddenly realized there might be some misunderstanding.

He intended to clarify, but Wei Zheng, believing he was refusing to admit it, angrily accused, "Hmph! You still won't admit it! An Yi reported every sordid detail of your affair with that lover to me. Are you going to claim you're innocent with him?"

Wei San, suddenly understanding the crux of the matter: "..."

"Master, your subordinate is truly innocent with him."

Wei Zheng dismissed it as a stubborn excuse, flicked his sleeve, and coldly snorted, "You were cuddling and embracing, and even lived together for over ten days, and you tell me you're innocent?"

Could An Yi have possibly lied to him?

Wei San helplessly massaged his forehead and sighed, "Master, the 'lover' you speak of is Doctor Ruan Xingji, Senior Brother to Doctor Zhong. The old gentleman is sixty-seven this year. Even if your subordinate were to have a lover, it certainly wouldn't be him."

Wei Zheng, about to erupt in a fit of rage: "..."

"He's sixty-seven?"

Wei Zheng's expression turned extremely awkward, his jawline visibly stiffening.

Wei San nodded affirmatively, "Yes, sixty-seven, but he's well-preserved and looks young."

"Then why were you living together in this secluded wooden house?"

"Doctor Ruan is treating your subordinate's illness."

Wei Zheng: "..."

.

After a convoluted and colossal misunderstanding, the proud Wei Zheng refused to admit his foolishness. He blamed it all on An Yi for spreading false rumors, severely reprimanding him, docking two months' salary, and ordering him back to the manor for ten lashes, to teach him a lesson to verify facts before speaking in the future.

Wei San explained the situation to Ruan Xingji on Wei Zheng's behalf and apologized. Wei Zheng discontentedly squeezed Wei San's palm, thinking it was his own mistake, so why was Wei San so eager to apologize for him?

He wanted to stop Wei San from doing something unnecessary, but the latter looked at him with pleading eyes, as if not allowing him to apologize would be tantamount to killing him.

Wei Zheng could only frown tightly and say nothing more, letting Wei San do as he wished.

Ruan Xingji's scrutinizing gaze shifted between the two several times, finding it increasingly amusing.

This couple's relationship was truly peculiar—master and servant, husband and concubine. On the surface, it seemed the master held the dominant, controlling position, but in his opinion, Wei San was actually the one who had Wei Zheng firmly wrapped around his finger.

"Doctor Ruan, Master spoke impulsively and offensively. Please do not take it to heart."

Wei San poured a cup of hot tea as an apology. Ruan Xingji waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind, and glanced playfully at Wei Zheng before casually asking, "Since you value Wei San so much, do you know what illness he is suffering from?"

Wei San looked up sharply, his peach-blossom eyes wide open, staring at Ruan Xingji in disbelief. He clearly hadn't expected Ruan Xingji to suddenly betray him like this.

Wei Zheng couldn't answer. He glanced at the extremely nervous Wei San and said, "Wei San didn't wish to tell me, and I respect that."

Wei San's heart trembled. The master was so intelligent and perceptive; how could he not see that Wei San was hiding something? He understood the deeper meaning in the master's words: the master was waiting for him to explain personally. But he didn't dare meet the master's gaze, his lips moving for a long time without uttering a single word.

Ruan Xingji, as if feeling the betrayal wasn't severe enough, added fuel to the fire: "This illness concerns Wei San's life. If you don't even know that, it seems you don't have much sincerity toward him."

With these words, he pushed Wei San into a corner with no way out.