Chapter Forty-Nine: Zhao Yu Awakens
Zhao Yu woke up in the middle of the night.
As soon as he opened his eyes, the room was dimly lit. He stared at the blue canopy above him, and it took him a while to realize that he had already opened his eyes.
"Sir, you're awake."
Guan Yan quickly went to fetch the prepared medicinal soup.
Zhao Yu drank it all in one gulp.
"Dr. Chen said that you must take good care of your health now and not overwork yourself."
Zhao Yu had been sick very few times since he was a child. He recalled that in his previous life, when he and Xu Chumian were still living in Wenju, he was ambushed and injured by the King of Qin.
Actually, that injury only affected the surface of the skin and flesh, and it wasn't considered serious.
However, Dr. Chen was worried about long-term effects, so he made Zhao Yu drink the herbal soup for three days in a row.
Xu Chumian listened very attentively, even more so than when she was blending perfumes herself, and she didn't ask anyone else to help her, but instead brewed the medicine herself.
At that time, Xu Chumian was only sixteen or seventeen years old. Which of her peers was not pampered at home?
Xu Chumian, who is still a child herself, raised Xu Muyang like an older sister and a mother, and now she is learning to take care of him.
For those three days, Zhao Yu inexplicably stayed in Wenjuli and did not go out.
Every day, Xu Chumian is like a busy little butterfly, flitting around the room, brewing medicine for him, watching him drink it, and applying ointment to his wounds...
Zhao Yu stared at the thin figure, and finally pulled the person onto the bed.
With the warm, soft, and fragrant body in his arms, Zhao Yu was extremely satisfied.
"If you lie down with me for a while, I'll recover faster."
Xu Chumian dared not move in his arms, worried about pressing on his wound, while the woman's fingers stroked Zhao Yu's handsome eyebrows and eyes.
Zhao Yu looked down at her.
Zhao Yu appeared aloof and indifferent, but when his eyes showed emotion, it made Xu Chumian blush more than any other action.
Xu Chumian curled up, her body wrapped around Zhao Yu's arms, feeling the burning heat of his chest. Long, raven-feathered hair blocked the tears welling in her eyes.
Her ears were red, and she didn't say anything more.
Warmth arose, and feelings deepened.
Zhao Yu stroked Xu Chumian's silky long hair with his large hand, his arm loosely encircling the woman's soft and slender waist. Even the hardest heart would melt into tenderness.
The initial home together holds too many memories for the two of them.
Xu Chumian is like a soft and resilient vine, everything happens naturally. At first, she wrapped around Zhao Yu's body, and now she tightly wraps around his heart.
Zhao Yu didn't want her to feel uneasy anymore, and he didn't want to see her wandering from place to place again.
So the idea of getting married came naturally.
"Chu Mian, let's get married once the situation stabilizes."
At that moment, Xu Chumian's watery eyes widened. They had only known each other for a few months, and she never imagined that the two of them would get married.
Xu Chumian had never thought about it, nor dared to think about it.
Her current status is no different from that of a mistress.
Zhao Yu is the heir of the Duke's mansion.
She was just an orphan, and if she were to be associated with anyone, she would only be a cousin of the Duke of Zhao's family with no blood relation to her.
"You stay here in Wenju and wait for me to come and marry you."
Later, the third prince, Prince Cheng, who was far away on the frontier, returned to the capital with the intention of seizing the throne. Prince Qin secretly built up his power, and Prince Ding in the north rebelled. By the time the situation stabilized, it was already the third year before the two of them got married.
A long silence fell over Songchi Courtyard. Around midnight, a light rain began to fall again outside. Zhao Yu sat on the edge of the bed, his brows furrowed and his eyes deep in thought.
They used to be so close.
Xu Chumian's "lack of love" was just her anger towards him.
It was only because he was busy with political affairs and neglected his family that Chu Mian developed resentment towards him and proposed a divorce.
Zhao Yu closed his eyes tightly; all he was doing now was to get everything back on track.
The thought of him having to watch Xu Chumian with another man would be worse than being slowly sliced to death.
Even if he dies, Xu Chumian's husband on her household registration can only be him.
Guan Yan looked at Zhao Yu: "Master, what about Heyun Courtyard and... the dowry..."
Zhao Yu's voice was extremely cold: "Continue."
Guan Yan: "Yes."
After a pause, Guan Yan asked again, "What about Zhao Nai?"
These past few days, Zhao Nai has remained outside the Xu family's courtyard, not daring to leave without Zhao Yu's instructions.
In this life, Zhao Yu's intervention changed the death of the Prince Ding's heir, but who knows whether Xiao Qingyan, who is in the capital, will become the target?
Zhao Yu's face darkened. "Protect them secretly."
Guan Yan: "Yes!"
After leaving the Duke's mansion, Xiao Qingyan did not return home, but instead went to a tavern.
He was slumped over the table, surrounded by empty wine bottles.
One glass of strong liquor after another went down his throat.
His best friend of many years was secretly eyeing his sweetheart.
How ironic.
Xiao Qingyan stared intently at the night sky, his handsome face unable to conceal his resentment and disappointment.
The scantily clad wine girl slumped to the table.
"Young Master..."
Xiao Qingyan drew his sword. "Get lost!"
The wine-drinking girl was so frightened that she immediately ran away.
"Qingyan, what are you doing here?"
Turning around, I saw it was Chen Feng.
Xiao Qingyan calmly withdrew his gaze, and Chen Feng frowned, "Did you have a fight with Miss Xu?"
When Xu Chumian was mentioned, the anger between Xiao Qingyan's brows lessened.
"No."
Chen Feng's eyes flickered slightly, and he tentatively said, "By the way, Prince Chen, you'd better not go too far, lest you drive him to desperation—"
Xiao Qingyan asked in a deep voice, "What's wrong with Prince Chen?"
Chen Feng's eyes widened. "You still don't know?"
"Today, the Imperial Censor impeached Prince Chen in court for exploiting the people and embezzling their wealth. His Majesty was furious and Prince Chen was demoted to Prince of Chen County! The news has spread throughout the streets and alleys!"
Xiao Qingyan paused for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly.
The collection of evidence against Chen Wang was not something that could be done overnight.
This matter can only be attributed to Zhao Yu.
Perhaps Zhao Yu had already begun preparations long before Chu Mian was imprisoned.
When did Zhao Yu begin to harbor wicked thoughts?
Xiao Qingyan's face was grim, his fists clenched, and his eyes were filled with suppressed anger.
Chen Feng realized something was wrong and thought to himself that he had said the wrong thing.
He frowned. If it wasn't Manager Xu, then could it be because of the spy incident?
Chen Feng knew Xiao Qingyan's identity.
He said, "The Western Di spies have all confessed, and it has nothing to do with Prince Ding, so don't overthink it."
Xiao Qingyan was already annoyed. The matter of being a spy was just a last-minute change of heart; the person in question was originally arranged by Prince Ding to come to the capital.
Zhao Yu's words still affected him.
As if an invisible mountain were pressing down, Xiao Qingyan's handsome face darkened.
Chen Feng shut up and patted Xiao Qingyan on the shoulder: "Let's go, I'll take you back."
Xiao Qingyan glanced at him sideways, "What are you doing here?"
Chen Feng had a look on his face that said, "Is it a bit late for you to ask me now?"
"I originally came out to buy some alcohol."
Xiao Qingyan stood up: "No need."
Xiao Qingyan swayed as he mounted his horse and disappeared into the night.
When Xiao Qingyan returned to the manor, the steward immediately said, "Second Young Master, the Princess of Xingyang came this afternoon, saying she had something urgent to discuss with you. Since you were not here, this old servant had her leave first."
When Prince Chen was demoted to a county prince, Xingyang was similarly demoted.
Xiao Qingyan hummed in agreement, "Don't let anyone into the manor again."
"yes."
Xiao Qingyan stepped into the study, picked up the unfinished carving of the Ghost Craft Ball, and continued carving.
These past few days, whenever Xiao Qingyan's mind wandered, he would pick up his carving knife.
Xiao Qingyan was carving very slowly when suddenly the carving knife cut his palm.
Blood dripped onto the Ghost Craft Ball, aggravating the sword wound on his back. Xiao Qingyan leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes heavily.
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