Chapter 21 He thought he wouldn't care
Inside the Daqing Hall, everything was resplendent in gold and solemn.
Golden pillars with coiled dragons support the high and wide dome, and on the throne platform, the dragon chair, symbolizing supreme imperial power, is empty.
On the lower left, there was a rosewood armchair, upon which sat Lu Yuan, the current prime minister.
He leaned back in his chair with a relaxed posture, the dark patterns on his purple official robe gleaming coldly in the candlelight of the hall.
The fingers with distinct knuckles tapped lightly on the golden nanmu wood armrest, one tap after another.
Tap, tap, tap...
The voice wasn't loud, yet it strangely drowned out the prince's clamor.
Those unfathomable black eyes swept indifferently over the officials below the steps, who were arguing heatedly over petty gains, their faces flushed and spittle flying.
Like looking down at ants fighting for food.
knock.
The movement of the fingertips stopped abruptly without warning.
Lu Yuan's brows furrowed suddenly, and a very fine crack appeared on his icy face.
Below the steps, the ministers who had just been on the verge of exchanging blows and were about to fight were instantly silenced, as if their throats had been choked.
They hurriedly returned to their positions, heads bowed and breathless, not daring to even glance around, their eyes fixed firmly on the spot just an inch in front of their boots.
A storm raged within me, and I was filled with unease.
Could it be that the argument just now went too far and offended the powerful Prime Minister Lu?
Although Lu Yuan is young, he has rarely lost his temper lately, and has even begun to cultivate his character.
But those in the court who experienced that palace coup still shudder at the memory.
The white marble steps in front of the Taiji Hall that day were stained with blood so much that their original color was no longer visible.
The image of Lu Yuan, barely twenty years old, standing in a pool of blood in a plain robe, his long sword dripping with blood, and the head of the late emperor's most beloved third prince under his feet, remains a nightmare for many veteran officials to this day.
Not only that, he also took drastic measures to depose the old emperor and install the emperor's youngest son, who is now His Majesty.
He himself held absolute power as regent.
Lu Yuan suddenly stood up.
The purple robe stirred up a chilling wind.
He walked with the speed of the wind, descending the nine-tiered steps and passing through the two rows of officials who stood in neat rows, not daring to breathe.
The vast hall was deathly silent.
Only his black official boots clattered heavily on the gleaming gold bricks, producing a series of deep, cold thuds.
Thump, thump, thump.
The sound, like drumsticks, struck the hearts of all the officials in the hall.
Only when that captivating purple figure completely disappeared outside the palace gates did the frozen air inside the palace seem to thaw suddenly.
The ministers looked at each other, still shaken, before daring to lower their voices and whisper among themselves.
Today, Prime Minister Lu's unprecedented and unusual actions are truly remarkable.
Outside the palace, the leaden-gray sky hung low, like tattered cotton soaked in dirty water, pressing heavily on the continuous glazed eaves of the imperial city, making people feel suffocated.
Xu Minghou, standing at the foot of the jade steps, saw Lu Yuan stride out of the main hall. A chill ran through him, and he instinctively glanced up at the sky.
It was only the last quarter of the morning hour, far from the time when the court session would end.
The Prime Minister has actually left court ahead of schedule? This is unprecedented!
Xu Ming dared not delay, and hurriedly ran forward, bowing respectfully: "Prime Minister, is it...?"
His throat tightened, and the guess of what had happened rolled on his tongue, but he ultimately didn't dare to ask.
The chilling aura emanating from Lu Yuan, so intense and almost tangible, made him swallow the rest of his words.
"Return to the residence."
Lu Yuan's voice was deep and cold.
Before the words were even finished, the person had already stepped onto the footstool that the stable boy had just placed, and in a flash, disappeared behind the hanging indigo blue carriage curtain.
For the Prime Minister to interrupt the court session and rush back in such a hurry... something must have happened at his residence.
Xu Ming's heart pounded. Without daring to delay for a moment, he gripped the reins tightly and leaped onto the carriage shaft. He flicked the long whip in the air, making a crisp "snap" sound.
"drive!"
The wheels rolled rapidly over the bluestone slabs of the palace road.
The carriage was dimly lit, and Lu Yuan leaned back on the seat.
Slowly, she gently lifted the cuff of her left sleeve, revealing a bright red dot, about the size of a mung bean, embedded in her pale wrist.
This is the mother Gu.
No one knew that he had planted the mother Gu on himself.
Just now in the court, this red dot suddenly sent a sharp burning pain through me, which disappeared in an instant.
But he could sense that it was coming from the Zi Gu.
Either something happened to her, or she... escaped.
He absolutely would not allow either of them!
His knees turned white from the exertion, and Lu Yuan's eyes flashed with a cold light as his voice pierced through the carriage curtain: "Faster."
"yes."
Xu Ming raised the whip again, and the horse neighed and ran even faster.
Soon, the carriage entered the Prime Minister's residence. As it passed an intersection and headed towards the East Courtyard,
Lu Yuan's voice came again: "Go to the closed chamber."
Xu Ming paused, his hand holding the riding whip suddenly realizing something.
So the Prime Minister rushed back in such a hurry because of his wife.
He immediately tightened the reins, skillfully turned the horse around, and the wheels screeched on the bluestone slabs as it headed towards the most secluded courtyard in the southwest corner of the Prime Minister's residence.
-
The Bige Pavilion is located in the southwest corner of the Prime Minister's Residence.
This place has been abandoned for years. The paths are covered with rampant weeds and slippery moss. The branches of tall ancient trees are askew, casting a dense shade that makes it impossible for horse-drawn carriages to pass.
Lu Yuan and Xu Ming abandoned their car and walked.
Both of them were skilled in martial arts and moved nimbly, traversing the desolate path and soon arriving outside the closed pavilion.
What met the eye was a scene of ruin and decay.
The courtyard wall was mottled and covered with withered vines. The only remaining half of the door was rotten and creaked as it passed through the cold wind.
Like the sigh of a dying person.
Lu Yuan stopped in front of the courtyard gate, his gaze sweeping heavily over the desolate landscape, his brow furrowing almost imperceptibly.
This place is not unfamiliar to him.
In his childhood, he was gloomy and withdrawn, unlike his elder brother who was gentle and refined.
He thus became the most disliked person in the mansion.
Even the smallest thing could lead to trouble. Being punished by being confined to this secluded courtyard for reflection was commonplace. He lived in this desolate and quiet courtyard longer than in his own bedroom.
Those forgotten memories, smelling musty and chillingly cold, suddenly surged up as the scene before me became even more dilapidated.
only……
He is no longer the weak boy he once was, who was at the mercy of others and couldn't even control his own destiny.
He is the current prime minister who holds absolute power and can turn the tide of events!
The last trace of emotion in Lu Yuan's eyes was forcibly suppressed, and he reverted to his usual cold and indifferent demeanor.
He stepped forward and pushed open the creaking wooden door, which looked as if it might fall apart at any moment, without hesitation.
"Squeak."
The harsh scraping sound of the door hinges was particularly clear in the silence.
The house was empty.
Dim light filtered through the broken window frame, illuminating the tiny dust particles floating in the air.
The dilapidated table remained, the oil lamp long since extinguished, its wick charred and curled. Several sheets of Xuan paper, still damp with ink, lay scattered nearby. But no one was to be seen.
Xu Ming followed closely behind, peeked out, and subconsciously gasped.
"Huh? Where is Madam?"
Seeing Lu Yuan's bad expression, Xu Ming cursed himself for speaking too quickly and hurriedly tried to make amends.
"Perhaps the lady finished copying the family rules and went back to her courtyard to rest."
Lu Yuan glanced over indifferently.
Xu Ming felt a chill run down his spine from that gaze, and a cold sensation shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He hurriedly lowered his head.
"Your subordinate... Your subordinate will go find it right away."
A short while later, Xu Ming returned, his expression complex and grave.
"Prime Minister, the Madam has been taken to the Imperial Hospital. Physician Qin has also been summoned there." He paused, glanced discreetly at Lu Yuan, and added.
"It was the old lady who gave the order."
"Boom—"
A deafening rumble of thunder echoed across the sky, and a pale flash of lightning tore through the leaden-gray heavens, illuminating Lu Yuan's grim and terrifying face.
A moment later, he turned and strode away, the hem of his purple official robe tracing a sharp arc in the air.
Xu Ming followed closely behind, not understanding.
Planting the Gu poison in the lady and using her blood as a medicinal ingredient—wasn't this all planned long ago?
Why is the Prime Minister reacting so strongly all of a sudden?
-
In the main hall of the courtyard, the fragrance of aloeswood wafted silently from the gilded Boshan incense burner.
The old lady sat upright in the main seat, wearing a dark blue brocade robe, which made her already solemn face appear even more stern and cold.
Her hair was perfectly styled, adorned only with a single, subdued black jade hairpin; that faint glow was the only brilliance on her.
He twirled a string of ebony prayer beads between his fingers, turning them slowly. The beads clinked together, producing a soft, rhythmic sound.
The steady footsteps approached from afar, breaking the silence in the hall.
The old lady slightly raised her eyelids, her cloudy yet sharp gaze falling on Lu Yuan who strode in, a hint of barely perceptible surprise flashing in her eyes.
"Yuan'er? Why are you suddenly back at the manor at this hour, instead of attending to court affairs?"
Lu Yuan stopped in his tracks in the center of the hall.
He gave a perfunctory bow towards the old lady, but his gaze pierced straight towards the head of the table like a hawk.
Where is she?
"despair."
The old lady's fingers, which were fiddling with the prayer beads, suddenly stopped, the faint sound standing out starkly in the silence.
She did not answer immediately. Her eyelids drooped slightly, but her gaze slowly, with an almost cruel calm, shifted to her right rear.
That tightly closed wooden door.
The answer is self-evident without needing to be said.
Lu Yuan's jawline suddenly tightened, and he exuded a chilling aura, causing the temperature in the hall to drop to freezing point.
He took a step forward, about to pass the old lady and walk towards the door.
"Smack!"
The old lady slammed the ebony prayer beads in her hand heavily onto the table, making a dull thud.
"Have you forgotten?! This was arranged long ago, and you personally agreed to it."
"If it weren't for her special constitution, which made her suitable for being implanted with the Separation Gu, how could she, a lowly merchant's daughter, have risen to become the wife of the Prime Minister?"
"This is the responsibility she should bear, her destiny, and the value of her existence."
The old lady took a deep breath and softened her voice.
"Yuan'er, you are the hope for the prosperity of the Lu family, and the prime minister who will rule the world. With such a great cause at hand, how can you let a mere woman distract you?"
"This shouldn't be you!"
Lu Yuan pursed his lips and remained silent.
yes……
This was all part of the plan.
The moment the Gu seed was implanted into her body, everything was already destined.
From beginning to end, she was merely a vessel, a tool.
This day will come sooner or later; if not today, then tomorrow.
This was the path he had paved for her with his own hands.
The light streaming through the window fell on Lu Yuan's handsome face, drawing a sharp line along the bridge of his high nose.
One side of her face was illuminated, while the other half remained hidden in shadow.
It was vague and indistinct, and I couldn't see it clearly.
His eyes shifted several times before he finally suppressed all his emotions, reverting to his usual aloof, indifferent, and unfathomable demeanor as Prime Minister Lu.
It was as if the loss of composure just now was nothing but an illusion.
He was indeed attached to appearances.
Lu Yuan slowly turned around, preparing to leave.
However.
His feet felt as if they were bound tightly by invisible chains, or as if they were filled with heavy molten lead, and he couldn't lift them even an inch no matter what he did.
"I'll go inside and take a look." Just a look.
Lu Yuan pushed open the door and went in.
Inside, the light was dim.
A few candles flickered in the corner, stretching and distorting the shadows cast on the wall like ghostly figures.
Lu Yuan spotted Ming Wu, who was tied to the small couch, at a glance.
Her head was tilted limply to one side, her disheveled black hair clinging to her sweat-dampened temples. Her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes casting heavy shadows beneath her eyelids, and her lips were bloodless, dry, and chapped.
She resembled a jade doll, its soul emptied, on the verge of shattering. Only the extremely faint rise and fall of her chest proved she was still alive.
Lu Yuan's heart suddenly clenched.
Before she could even process the unfamiliar, dull pain, she saw a flash of cold light in Physician Qin's hand, the tip of which was about to slash at Ming Wu's wrist.
"stop."
Physician Qin's hand trembled violently, the tip of his knife nearly stopping in mid-air. He looked at Lu Yuan with surprise and uncertainty.
Lying on another couch, Qi Lan turned her head to look at him, a hint of guilt flashing across her eyes before she forced a gentle smile.
"Prime Minister, don't worry, I can still handle it..."
Lu Yuan's gaze remained fixed on Ming Wu.
Mingwu, who had been silent on the bed, suddenly let out a very faint, broken gasp, like the mournful cry of a young animal.
"……pain……"
The voice was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet it struck Lu Yuan's taut heartstrings like a thunderclap.
His outstretched hand suddenly froze in mid-air.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, Mingwu's dry, pale lips twitched very slightly, as if she were unconsciously and instinctively calling out for something.
“…Ah…Yuan…”
Lu Yuan's pupils dilated sharply, and something quietly sprouted in his heart.
He thought he wouldn't care.
But when he saw her pale as paper, bound to the bed, like a lamb to the slaughter;
I saw that the tears streaming down her face had disappeared into her hair.
Seeing this, she gave up struggling.
I saw that her almond-shaped eyes, which had once been filled with starlight and were full of him, were now lifeless and devoid of any light.
And that "A-Yuan".
...
An unprecedented surge of emotion welled up within me without warning.
"Take that thing apart."
A fierce shout, filled with thunderous rage and a panic he himself was unaware of, suddenly rang out.
"Prime Minister!"
Physician Qin couldn't believe it. He had planned for so long and was about to succeed, but the Prime Minister was going to give up at this crucial moment?
Lu Yuan strode towards Ming Wu.
Qi Lan's small couch was next to Ming Wu's. She saw the tall figure approaching. Thinking he was worried about her and had come to see her, a shy smile appeared on her face.
"Your Excellency, I..."
Before she could finish speaking, Lu Yuan had already walked past her without looking to the side and stopped beside Ming Wu's bed.
Qi Lan's smile froze on her face, hatred surged in her eyes, and her nails dug deeply into her palms.
He gestured for Physician Qin to take action.
She wanted to drain Mingwu of her blood and kill her!
Under Lu Yuan's intimidating gaze, how could Physician Qin dare to move again?
Lu Yuan squatted down and stared at Ming Wu.
She remained silent, her long, raven-feather-like eyelashes motionless, and dried bloodstains lingered at the corners of her lips, pale and translucent as if they were about to vanish at any moment.
That invisible hand gripped his heart once more.
He didn't know what kind of feeling it was, but he knew one thing: he didn't want to see her lying there lifeless, and he didn't want her to die.
He wanted to see her smile, to see her vibrant, to see her feign ferocity despite her obvious fear...
Lu Yuan raised his hand and pulled out the hollow silver needle stuck in Ming Wu's wrist without hesitation.
Physician Qin's expression changed drastically.
"Prime Minister! You mustn't! The Li Gu has been fully activated. If we forcibly stop it now, the Gu worms will turn on us, and Miss Qi Lan's life may be in danger..."
Qi Lan also screamed, "Prime Minister! No..."
"Shut up!"
Lu Yuan interrupted sharply, his gaze fixed on Ming Wu the entire time, watching her brow furrow slightly as he held her hand.
That subtle reaction, like a ray of light, pierced through the gloom in his heart.
She is still alive, and she is still conscious.
"Save her! I want her to live!"
His gaze swept over the transparent tube connecting Mingwu and Qilan, his eyes surging with malice, and he raised his hand without hesitation.
"Sizzle!"
The sturdy hose was torn apart!
"ah--!!!"
Qi Lan let out a shrill scream, as if the broken tube had ripped away her lifeline. Her whole body convulsed violently, and the wound on her forehead reopened, bleeding profusely.
Lu Yuan didn't even spare her a glance.
He leaned down, his movements almost clumsy and cautious, without even realizing it himself, wanting to touch Mingwu's slightly cool cheek.
But his fingertips stopped abruptly just as they were about to touch her.
What did he see?
Beneath her tightly closed eyelashes, the slight furrow in her brow had vanished, as if the pain she had just felt was merely his imagination. She had returned to that lifeless, utter silence.
A tremendous panic gripped him once again.
“Awu…”
He called out softly, his voice dry and hoarse, carrying a pleading tone that even he himself was unfamiliar with.
The person on the bed did not react.
Lu Yuan's heart sank completely.
He suddenly sat up straight and roared at the already terrified Imperial Physician Qin and the servants who rushed in upon hearing the noise.
"What are you standing there for?! Summon all the imperial physicians! If they can't save her, the Imperial Hospital doctors will come running with their heads!"
The imperial physicians quickly gathered around and did their utmost to treat him.
Lu Yuan stood not far away, watching the person on the small couch, barely breathing. A sharp, unfamiliar pain ripped through his internal organs.
He thought she was a vessel, a pawn.
He thought her heart had withered and died, and that it had nothing to do with him.
He thought he wouldn't care.
Until this moment...
He was startled to realize that something had already quietly taken root while he was completely unprepared.
-
Consciousness seemed to sink into a cold, viscous, pitch-black abyss.
Each struggle to rise to the surface was met with an invisible, immense force that crushed them back to their original position. Only boundless darkness remained, along with a despairing weakness seeping from the very depths of their bones.
He imprisoned her firmly.
After an unknown amount of time, a faint ray of light finally pierced through the thick, impenetrable ink.
Mingwu's eyelids felt incredibly heavy, and she trembled with extreme difficulty.
In my field of vision, there were only blurry, swaying lights and shadows, as if separated by a layer of murky water.
A constant buzzing sound filled my ears, like the chirping of countless tiny insects, interspersed with extremely low and indistinct conversations, coming and going intermittently.
"...How is the pulse?"
"...Reporting to the Prime Minister...there was a mother Gu...the lady has passed the critical stage...but..."
"medicine?"
"...It's done...that's it..."
These sounds penetrated her confused mind, carrying a distant and unreal sense of illusion, as if they came from another world.
Suddenly, something warm and wet pressed against her, forcefully prying open her tightly closed lips and teeth.
Immediately afterwards, a strong bitter taste filled her mouth.
She subconsciously furrowed her brow, her tongue instinctively pushing upwards, trying to expel the bitter taste.
However, the moment her tongue moved, it was tightly bound by an even more powerful "giant python." The bitter medicine was forcibly forced deep into her throat.
She was forced to swallow, and the extreme bitterness instantly rushed into her nasal cavity, causing tears to uncontrollably well up in her eyes.
"Well……"
She struggled to turn her head away.
A large hand with calloused skin had firmly gripped the back of her neck.
His knuckles dug deep into her disheveled, damp hair, the force not heavy, yet rendering her immobile.
The scorching heat pressed down on us once more.
This time, the sweetness that filled my mouth was truly unique.
Mingwu was in a daze of distress when she saw this, and almost instinctively, she went forward to grab more.
In the hazy, confused state, I seemed to hear a suppressed, low, hoarse groan.
The scorching breaths that were so close to his suddenly stopped, then became heavy.
Immediately afterwards, it was as if countless slippery snakes silently surged in from all directions.
They strangled her limbs, wrapped their arms around her neck, and dragged her into an even deeper abyss... The air in her lungs was slowly sucked away...
Just when she thought she was about to suffocate, the force binding her loosened.
Mingwu felt a sense of relief, and her remaining consciousness, like a kite with a broken string, drifted and fell into the deeper darkness.
“Awu…”
-
When Mingwu woke up, she found herself lying in a completely unfamiliar room.
Through the low-hanging crimson gauze curtains, one can see the sunlight seeping in from outside, shimmering on the curtains like a layer of light, scattered gold.
Chunnan rolled up the gauze curtains, and sunlight poured in, spilling onto the small couch under the bed.
Her eyes were red-rimmed, and tears were welling up in them.
Seeing that Mingwu was truly awake, she raised her hand and roughly wiped away the tears on her face with the back of her hand, turning her sobs into laughter.
"Madam, you're awake?"
Mingwu asked, "How long have I been asleep?" Her voice was hoarse, as if it had been rubbed against the rough wood shavings.
"The lady has been unconscious for a day and a night. The Prime Minister has been watching over her the whole time. He left this morning because there was an urgent military matter to attend to."
Mingwu pretended not to hear and looked around. The room was exquisitely decorated, and the furniture was made of the finest Phoebe zhennan wood.
On the table in the center of the room was a glass vase with several freshly picked crabapple blossoms in it.
Where is this place?
"This is the East Courtyard, which the Prime Minister specially arranged for his wife," Chun Nan said with a smug look.
"What?"
Mingwu was shocked. Was this the East Courtyard? She didn't want to stay here.
"Chunnan, help me up, let's go back to the ward."
She struggled to sit up, but her limbs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead. She couldn't muster any strength, and as soon as she lifted her upper body, she slumped back into the quilt.
Chunnan hurriedly said, "Madam, please don't move. The imperial physician said that you are too weak and need to rest."
"I know that you are feeling distressed."
“But Madam, it was the old lady who ordered your arrest. They did it while the Prime Minister was in court, and he was unaware of it.”
"The Prime Minister was so worried about his wife that he rushed back without even ending the court session, which shows that he cares about her."
"Do you have me in your heart?"
Mingwu scoffed.
Her gaze was blank as she stared at the intricate auspicious cloud patterns atop the crimson gauze curtain. Those patterns now seemed like a vast, invisible net, completely enveloping her.
"If he had no such intention, how could Physician Qin dare to do so?"
He planted the Gu himself; it was part of his plan.
She was merely a vessel he had chosen to nurture the Gu worms.
Chunnan opened her mouth, wanting to refute, wanting to recount the terrifying expression on the Prime Minister's face when he rushed back, and the resolute way he tore off the hose without regard for anything.
But seeing the stagnant despair in the lady's eyes, all the words stuck in his throat, and only silent tears rolled down his face.
As for Qi Lan...
Mingwu twitched the corner of her mouth.
I wanted to laugh, but only a bitter smile appeared on my face.
Ever since Qi Lan entered the manor, when has he ever not sided with her? He doesn't believe a word she says. He lacks even the most basic trust; how can he claim to care about her?
Only a naive girl like Chunnan would think that way.
Just then, a commotion arose outside.
Chunnan wiped away her tears, walked quickly to the door, and scolded in a low voice.
"What's going on? Don't you know Madam is resting? Why are you making such a racket?"
The maid replied, "It's Lan Ying from Lan Courtyard. She says she's begging Madam for some blood to save Miss Qi Lan."
"What?"
Chunnan was so angry she almost jumped up, and she growled in a low voice, barely suppressing her rage.
Realizing he had spoken a bit too loudly, he cautiously glanced into the room and, seeing no movement, assumed the lady hadn't heard him.
He then lowered his voice and said.
"I've never seen such shameless people in my entire life. They almost killed Madam, and they still have the nerve to come and beg Madam for help?"
"Throw her out! If she dares to disturb Madam's rest again, you'll be sorry!"
"yes."
The young maid lowered her head and hurried outside.
Soon, the noise outside disappeared.
Mingwu naturally heard what happened at the door. However, she didn't ask any questions and acted as if nothing had happened.
She's not a saint; how could she possibly help someone who wants her dead?
Because of her weakness and lack of energy, she soon fell into a deep sleep again. When she woke up again, the lights in the room were already on.
The night outside the window was deep, as thick as an unyielding blob of ink. The lanterns hanging under the eaves in the courtyard emitted a faint glow, swaying in the cold wind.
It looked like it would go out in an instant.
Someone was speaking in hushed tones outside, and the words "child gu...mother gu..." could be faintly heard.
One of them was Lu Yuan's voice.
She had just had a nightmare, dreaming that she was back in that gloomy and terrifying room.
She was like a lamb to the slaughter, tied to a small couch. She struggled and screamed, but could only watch helplessly as the sharp, long needle pierced her flesh.
Warm blood was slowly drawn away...
She saw Lu Yuan, with Qi Lan in his arms, standing in front of her corpse, laughing wildly after she died...
"Thump!"
Mingwu slammed her fist on the bed in anger, but because she was still weak, she didn't have much strength and it only made a very faint sound.
The conversation outside abruptly stopped.
Immediately following were steady footsteps, each step feeling like it was treading on her nerves, approaching from afar and heading straight for the bed.
He reached out and grasped the edge of the scarlet gauze curtain.
However, as it was being lifted, the hand suddenly stopped.
It seemed as if he was hesitating, or as if he was trying his best to suppress some surging emotions.
The candlelight filtering in behind him outlined his tall and imposing figure, giving him a golden edge.
He was so tall, especially now that she was lying on the bed looking up at him. Backlit, he looked like a towering god.
What is he doing here? Is it because she's not dead, and he wants to draw her blood again?
I have a dull ache on the inside of my right forearm.
Mingwu instinctively pressed down there.
At that moment, she felt a strange, inexplicable connection in her mind. It was as if an invisible thread was forcibly binding her to the unknown.
Mingwu didn't see it.
As she pressed her hand on the five-petaled flower mark, the tall, aloof figure outside the gauze curtain stiffened for a fleeting, almost imperceptible, moment.
"Whoosh!"
The scarlet gauze curtains were suddenly lifted.
His incomparably handsome face was revealed.
The light and shadow flowed behind him, making his backlit face appear even more profound and unfathomable.
Those usually cool and aloof black eyes were now unfathomable. Like the deep sea churning in the dark night, the surface was calm, but deep within lurked whirlpools capable of swallowing everything.
His gaze slowly and aggressively swept over her face, inch by inch.
From her tense jawline; to her slightly trembling lips; and finally, to her pupils, which were constricted in shock…
"Awake?" His voice was low and slightly hoarse.
Lu Yuan slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, the soft bedding denting deeply under his weight.
His unique, cool, agarwood scent aggressively invaded every inch of her senses.
She could even clearly feel the airflow generated by the rise and fall of his chest, brushing against the delicate, exposed skin on the side of her neck, stirring up a small, uncontrollable shiver.
Mingwu shrank back in fear, but there was a hard bed behind her, leaving her nowhere to retreat.
Lu Yuan's eyes darkened slightly, but returned to normal after a moment.
He slowly raised his hand, as if to stroke Mingwu's cheek.
Mingwu turned her head away almost instinctively, avoiding the movement.
"Don't touch me!"
Lu Yuan's outstretched hand suddenly froze in mid-air.
His dark eyes were deep and unfathomable, and the corners of his mouth were taut into a straight line. His exquisite features were covered with a thick layer of frost.
The temperature inside the bed curtains plummeted to freezing.
A sparrow flew down from the treetop and landed on the half-open window frame. As if startled by the solemn atmosphere in the room, it immediately fluttered its wings and flew away in a hurry.
A breath later.
Lu Yuan's hand slowly changed direction, reaching towards her delicate and slender neck.
Mingwu's pupils dilated with extreme fear, her breath stopped, and her blood seemed to freeze.
However, the hand did not choke her. Instead, it very naturally picked up a stray lock of hair from near her lips.
She slowly tucked that strand of hair behind her delicate ear.
His fingertips lightly brushed against her sensitive earlobe skin, leaving a slight tingling sensation.
Then, he withdrew his hand and methodically straightened his meticulously folded black cuffs.
He slightly lifted his eyelids, his gaze pressing down on her as if it were a physical force.
"Hate me?"
Do I hate it? Of course I hate it!
But what can we do?
He was the powerful prime minister, a ruler with the power of life and death. Her hatred for him was probably nothing more than a superficial scratch.
A subordinate expressing hatred towards a superior? That's such a ridiculous word.
She's not smart, but she's not stupid either.
As for those stories about divorce mentioned in folk tales...
She had considered it, but would Lu Yuan agree? And what about the old lady? She was such a person who valued her reputation; if she brought up divorce today...
Tonight, the old lady will let her die silently.
Moreover, since women do not have independent household registration, once they leave their husband's family, they can only return to their parents' home.
Given her mother's tendency to climb the social ladder.
She would either be sent back to the Prime Minister's residence in a sedan chair, and from then on become someone even less than a concubine.
Or, like her sister, she would be forced to marry an alcoholic widower who beats women.
Therefore, she couldn't afford to break ties with Lu Yuan before she got her hands on the woman.
Mingwu lowered her eyes, her thick eyelashes casting two fragile shadows on her pale face.
Her hands, hidden under the covers, were clenched tightly, her nails digging deep into the tender flesh of her palms, but she was completely unaware of it.
"The Prime Minister is my husband, how could I hate him?" Of course not!
Lu Yuan frowned slightly.
This was what he wanted to hear.
But for some reason, these words were like a tiny thorn, unexpectedly piercing a hidden corner of his heart.
He didn't like seeing her like this; he wanted to see her vibrant and alive.
She smiled at him as before, her eyes sparkling; she tugged at his sleeve and acted coquettishly, her voice soft and sweet; even when she was annoyed, she would glare at him with wide almond-shaped eyes and puff out her cheeks in a little tantrum...
Both are better than what we have now.
It resembled a puppet, devoid of soul and merely a pale, lifeless shell.
A profound sense of loss, unlike anything he had ever felt before, welled up within him. It was even more irritating to him than his most formidable political enemies in the court.
once.
He thought he wanted a "perfect" wife who came from a prestigious family, was well-educated and reasonable, adhered to traditional virtues, and regarded her husband as her heaven.
The two treated each other with utmost respect, living in perfect harmony, without any emotional entanglements.
He once thought that what he wanted was a wife from a prestigious family, who followed the rules, obeyed the three obediences and four virtues, and regarded her husband as heaven.
But now, looking at Ming Wu in front of me...
He found it absurdly to believe.
The version of her that wasn't "perfect" or "well-behaved" was the better one...
Although she came from a poor family and was not a lady from a prominent family, she was completely ignorant of even the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, which were common among noble ladies.
So what?
He had already reached the pinnacle of his official career and no longer needed his wife's family's influence to consolidate his power in the court.
So you're afraid of me?
Lu Yuan suddenly bent down.
His long, slender fingers gripped her chin, forcing her to lift her face.
His thumb, which had somehow gotten a little bit of cool tea on it, slowly and gently caressed her chapped lower lip.
Mingwu's eyelashes trembled violently, and her throat tightened.
She should hate him!
He should be cursed with the most vicious words! He should be pushed away with all your might, and you should escape from this demon!
But at that moment, her body betrayed her will.
The moment his fingers touched her skin, an irresistible, tingling current, originating from the depths of his bones, instantly coursed through his entire body.
She was as if she were tightly bound by invisible vines, unable to move.
Even more terrifying, a surge of heat originating from her lower abdomen was frantically clamoring and driving her.
Stick it on!
She climbed her arms onto his broad shoulders, hugged him, and kissed him…
How... is this possible?!
Lu Yuan calmly observed the hatred surging in Ming Wu's eyes and the subtle trembling in her body.
A strange, dark light flashed quickly in the depths of his dark eyes.
His fingertips lingered on her lips, the rough calluses scraping against her delicate skin, causing a slight stinging sensation, yet also inexplicably sending a shiver down her spine.
She bit her lower lip hard, using all her strength to resist the deadly urge to please him.
Her pearly teeth were deeply embedded, almost drawing blood from her lips, yet she stubbornly refused to utter a single groan.
Lu Yuan's eyes suddenly darkened.
The next second, his towering figure approached suddenly with an overwhelming sense of pressure.
His high, straight nose almost touched hers, his hot breath brushing forcefully across her trembling lips.
"Awu, don't be afraid of me. I won't hurt you."
Mingwu was so angry she almost laughed.
It won't hurt?
Who was it that, on their wedding night, didn't even bother to lift the veil, only coldly uttering the words, "Behave yourself and don't have any wild thoughts"?
Who was it that, when making love to her, treated it as a chore, never kissing her? He would even withdraw the moment it was over, never lingering in her bed for a single moment.
And he never... gave her even a comforting hug afterward.
And who was it that, on the second day after the overnight stay, had Granny Qin bring her a bowl of contraceptive soup? Even though she had a stomach ailment and turned pale with pain after drinking the soup.
He even married her.
It was only because of her unique constitution that she was suitable for cultivating the Separation Gu. Once the Separation Gu matured, her blood would be used to exchange for that of her beloved Qi Lan.
In the end, it was he who saved her.
Then, I thought of the time when the daytime bluebird came and made a ruckus.
So it turns out he was doing this for Qi Lan again. No wonder he was so patient and so... "gentle".
"Is the Prime Minister here to collect blood?"
As she spoke, she slowly pulled up her sleeve, revealing her alabaster forearm inch by inch. The hideous scab on her snow-white skin resembled a red serpent spitting its tongue.
Although the best wound ointment was used, only a day and a night later, the edges of the scab were still showing a tender red color that had not yet healed.
Because of her movements just now, several drops of blood seeped out again, sliding down her wrist bones and staining the brocade quilt with dark little flowers.
Lu Yuan's gaze suddenly fixed on that wound.
His pupils contracted sharply, and his knuckles made a soft "click" sound.
He took a white porcelain jar from his sleeve, opened the lid, and scooped some ointment with his index finger. He gently and slowly applied it to the scar.
His expression was focused, and his handsome face held a tenderness and affection she had never seen before.
Mingwu was stunned.
She must have seen wrong. How could he possibly pity her?
"Why are you crying? Is it in too much pain?"
It wasn't until her cool fingertips touched the corner of her eye that Mingwu realized she was crying.
She raised her eyes and looked at Lu Yuan, who was so close to her, through the hazy light of the water.
Suddenly, the words my mother once said came to mind.
She has a beautiful appearance; if she cries and acts coy, men will pity her.
At that time, she always scoffed at it, feeling that such methods were a desecration of love, and she disdained to use them.
If she loves him, she should treat him with her truest heart, without the slightest falsehood or scheming.
Looking back now, I realize I was incredibly wrong.
However, if her tears are effective, she doesn't mind using them as a weapon.
This was the first time Lu Yuan had ever wiped someone's tears. His movements were somewhat clumsy, and he hadn't quite controlled the force; it was a little too heavy. His calloused fingertips left a glaring red mark on her delicate skin.
It was just like the marks he had left on her fair skin over countless nights.
Lu Yuan's eyes darkened, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his voice was hoarse.
"Awu, it won't happen again. No one will draw your blood again."
Really? But she didn't believe it.
She trusted him so much, and what happened? He poisoned her with a curse, sent her to the Lan Clan, and wanted to use her blood to replace Qi Lan's...
Once trust is destroyed, it is very difficult to rebuild.
Lu Yuan's lips were inches away, his hot breath brushing against hers. If he moved just an inch closer, his thin lips would be pressed against hers completely.
"What are you thinking about?"
His voice was soft and gentle, just what Mingwu had always wanted, but now she only felt it was hypocritical.
Seeing that Mingwu did not answer, Lu Yuan knew that the matter had hurt her.
After a moment of silence, he made his first promise.
"Awu, let's live well together from now on."
Mingwu stared wide-eyed in astonishment, hardly believing her ears.
How could he?!
How could someone say such things so calmly and so matter-of-factly after personally pushing her into the abyss and crushing all her hopes and dignity?
It's as if those heart-wrenching injuries and the deep-seated despair are nothing more than light, fleeting dust that can be easily wiped away.
Mingwu glared at him with all her might, her eyes surging with hatred.
However, sadly...
Under the influence of his presence, her body went limp uncontrollably, and a secret desire arose within her, making it almost impossible for her to hold on.
Lu Yuan called out softly, his voice low and hoarse, like a seductive devil, with a bewitching quality.
“Awu.”
Mingwu's eyes gradually became hazy, and she reached out to touch his chest...
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