On a lazy summer day, the chirping of insects never stops.
Walking along the road, listening to the chirping of insects and birds, Luo Zhiwan had a relaxed expression on her face.
Today marks the twentieth day of treating Madam Chu's illness.
During this time, she forbade Yiming from going out, and the brat was quite well-behaved and didn't cause her any more trouble.
In the past few days, Madam Chu's mental state has improved a lot.
As Zhiwan took her pulse, she squinted at her and asked in a hoarse, deep voice:
"Young lady, is my illness truly curable?"
She nodded with a smile on her lips.
"Haven't you noticed that the swelling has lessened when you swallow these past few days?"
Madam Chu swallowed hard, then nodded.
"That seems to be true!"
Hearing her say that, Leng Chuchen happily agreed.
"Grandmother has been able to drink some thin porridge these past few days, Dr. Luo, thank you."
Seeing how gentle he was when speaking to Zhiwan, Yue Xiaoyue immediately pouted and said softly:
"It's just some trivial skill, nothing to brag about."
Old Madam Chu hurriedly waved her hand.
"Xiaoyue, this is no trivial skill. My throat really feels much better, and swallowing is not as difficult as before. If it weren't for Miss Luo, I would have starved to death."
"Great-aunt, you are blessed with good fortune and a long life. It's only a matter of time before you recover your health."
In any case, she just didn't want to attribute the Empress Dowager's improved condition to Zhiwan.
She could roughly guess that Yue Xiaoyue's hostility towards her was because she was afraid that Yue Xiaoyue would steal her Chen-gege (brother Chen).
Therefore, during this period, she kept a close watch on Yiming and tried to meet with Leng Chuchen as little as possible. She did not want Leng Chuchen to discover Yiming's identity, nor did she want to have any connection with him.
All she wanted was to live peacefully in Phoenix City, cure Old Mrs. Chu's illness as soon as possible, and everything would be fine once they left.
As she was preparing to leave the Chu family, Empress Qi called her back.
"Miss Luo..."
She frowned slightly and turned around.
"Madam Chu, is there anything else?"
"I heard you have a lovely child. Bring him over so I can see him tomorrow."
She wants to see Yiming? Has she discovered something?
She blinked nervously a few times.
"What does Madam Chu mean by this?"
"What do you mean? Don't think I don't know that the whole city is talking about you having a child before you were married. Now that the child is grown up, you're eager to find a father for the child and get married. Let me remind you, Chen'er and Xiaoyue are already engaged. Don't think that just because you cured my mother's illness, Chen'er will marry you."
Leng Chuchen, who had just come out of the house, was so angry upon hearing these words that she almost fainted.
"Mother, what are you saying?"
Luo Zhiwan took a deep breath, nodded secretly, and then smiled mockingly.
“Madam Chu, I think you’re overthinking it. I’ve never thought about marrying your son. In fact, I don’t even want to look at him. In my eyes, he’s just a patient and his family member.”
Upon hearing this, Leng Chuchen's face suddenly turned as cold as if water could be squeezed out of it.
Empress Qi, however, did not believe her words and even reminded her,
"That's for the best. If I find out that you dare to have any other thoughts about Chen'er, don't blame me for being ruthless. If I let you stay in Phoenix City, you can stay here peacefully. If I don't let you stay, you won't be able to stay for even a day."
Her words carried a threat, which made Luo Zhiwan even angrier.
She raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes filled with disdain.
“Madam Chu, if it weren’t for Old Madam Chu’s illness, I would never have set foot in your home in my entire life. If you are afraid that I might have any improper thoughts about your son, then please find someone else to contact me. Once Old Madam Chu has recovered, I, Luo Zhiwan, promise that I will never look at the Chu family’s gate again, nor will I say another word to Young Master Chu.”
After leaving those words, she didn't even glance at Leng Chuchen again before turning and leaving.
Watching her stubborn back, Leng Chuchen gave Empress Qi a soft snort.
“I told you long ago, don’t bring your power from the palace to Phoenix City. If you make things difficult for Miss Luo again, I will have to ask my father for permission to send you back.”
"Chen'er..."
Just as Leng Chuchen was about to leave, she called out to him, reminding him:
"Don't forget your identity. The only person you can marry in the future is Xiaoyue. Your family can help you stabilize the court and ensure your smooth ascension to the throne. Don't ruin your future for an unrelated woman."
Leng Chuchen's chest heaved, his anger rising to the top of his head.
He disliked being threatened, not even by his own mother.
He looked up without hesitation and replied, word by word:
"Let me make this clear to you today: I don't need anyone to solidify my position, I can decide my own future, and I don't need anyone else to interfere in my life..."
Leaving those words behind, he angrily flung his sleeves and strode outside.
Yue Xiaoyue immediately blushed with anger.
"Aunt, what's wrong with Brother Chen? He even dared to talk back to you. He must be bewitched by that woman?"
Empress Qi, her face grim, breathed heavily and groaned softly, rubbing her forehead.
"Me, the Empress of a nation, unable to even control a woman? What a joke..."
Yue Xiaoyue's eyebrows twitched slightly, and her teeth clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.
...
Leng Chuchen left home and chased after Luo Zhiwan.
Before she could even enter the house, he stepped forward and grabbed her arm.
“Luo Zhiwan…”
This was the first time he had called her by her full name. For some reason, he didn't like calling her Doctor Luo.
She forcefully shook off his hand and raised her voice to remind him.
"Chu Chen, first of all, please call me Doctor Luo. Secondly, you don't need to come after me. I made it very clear to your mother just now that to me, you are just a doctor and patient. If you hadn't begged me to treat your grandmother, I, Luo Zhiwan, would never have said a word to you. But your family has slandered me like this, which is really... really unexpected. You don't need to be afraid that I'll be angry. In any case, since I've taken on the job for your grandmother, I will cure her. When that happens, you pay me the consultation fee, and our relationship will be even. Have I made myself clear enough?"
Seeing her face turn red with anger, and her chest heaving with it, his brows furrowed slightly.
Just as she finished speaking and was about to turn and leave, he pulled her back. She lost her balance, slipped, and fell directly into his arms.
She hurriedly got up, but he took the opportunity to pin her against the wall, trapping her in his arms.
She placed her hands on his chest, trying to push him away.
But the harder she tried, the closer he got to her.
Suddenly, he raised one hand to cup the back of her head, and with the other hand he gripped her waist tightly, pulling her close to him. Then he pressed his lips to her red lips and kissed her domineeringly…
The sudden, forceful kiss left her momentarily at a loss.
She opened her eyes wide and stared at him in horror.
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