Aunt Wu rushed home and saw Wu Tiancheng cooking.
Wu Tiancheng used to never finish work and go home before dark, but now that people are visiting, he goes home early to cook.
Aunt Wu knew exactly what was going on. Seeing that Gu Chaoxi wasn't around, she leaned over and whispered, "My son, let me ask you, do you like the girl inside, Gu? Do you want to marry her?"
Wu Tiancheng frowned. "Mother, what are you saying?!"
Aunt Wu scoffed, "Do you think I can't tell what you're thinking? I know what you're up to the moment you bend over. Don't think I didn't notice the way you looked at people."
"So what if I like her? She looks like she comes from a wealthy family, how could she possibly be interested in me?"
Aunt Wu slapped him on the shoulder and said, "Why not? There's a saying that goes, 'A life-saving grace should be repaid with one's body.' We saved her brother, so she'll stay and be your wife. That's fair! If it weren't for you, her brother would have burned his brains by the river."
"Besides, the brother and sister encountered bandits on their way and came here penniless, with only a few pieces of jewelry on them. Where else could they go if they left Wu Family Village?"
Wu Tiancheng thought of Gu Chaoxi's stunning face and graceful figure, and was somewhat tempted by what Aunt Wu had said. However, the thought that she might not be willing made him a little discouraged.
What if they disagree?
After thinking for a moment, Aunt Wu said, "Here's what we'll do. Tomorrow I'll go to the barefoot doctor and buy some sleeping potion. You can mix it into water for the brother and sister to drink. After that, send her brother away, and then you can marry Miss Gu that very night and make it a fait accompli. When her brother is gone, she'll be all alone and helpless, and she'll have no choice but to stay here and be your wife."
"Even if her brother comes back and sees that his sister has already married you and is all yours, can he object? Although he is taller than you, he is not as big as you, and he can't beat you."
These words greatly appealed to Wu Tiancheng, but he still hesitated.
"Mother, let me think about it. It's really asking too much of us to do this."
When Wu Tiancheng brought in dinner that evening, Lu Zhao stopped him.
“Brother Wu, we’ve troubled you these past few days. We plan to leave tomorrow. Please accept this silver ingot with your wife as our way of repaying you.”
His money bag wasn't washed away; he took a silver ingot and placed it on the table.
"Leaving tomorrow?" Wu Tiancheng didn't look at the silver; he was only concerned that they were leaving so soon.
On his way back to his room, he secretly resolved to keep Gu Chaoxi with him.
After Wu Tiancheng left, Gu Chaoxi spread her bedding on the floor. She had slept by the bedside last night to take care of Lu Zhao, but she couldn't do that again tonight. Lu Zhao was a patient, and a prince at that, so Gu Chaoxi conscientiously made a bed on the floor.
Lu Zhao rested one hand on his knee, quietly watching Gu Chaoxi's movements. Ever since he had impulsively kissed her during the day, Gu Chaoxi had not spoken to him again.
Knowing he was in the wrong, and seeing Gu Chaoxi spread out the bedding on the floor and lie down, Lu Zhao couldn't help but say, "You go sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the floor."
Gu Chaoxi ignored him, lay down, and closed her eyes.
This was the first time in Lu Zhao's life that someone dared to ignore him and even slap him. He wanted to get angry, but ultimately it was his own fault, and he couldn't bear to lose his temper with a young girl like her.
With a sigh, Lu Zhao got up and picked her up. Gu Chaoxi glared at him and struggled to get down.
That look, as if he were looking at some thug or hooligan, stung Lu Zhao's heart; he had acted too hastily.
"Don't move, or my wound will reopen if you struggle any longer."
Upon hearing this, Gu Chaoxi stopped struggling and let Lu Zhao place her on the bed.
“The ground is cold. It’s not good for a woman to sleep on the ground. We’re leaving tomorrow. Tonight you can sleep on the bed, and I’ll sleep on the ground.”
Lu Zhao lay down on the mattress on the ground. It was already autumn, and the night temperature was low. The mattress at Aunt Wu's house had been used for several years and was hard and cold when laid on the ground.
Lu Zhao's muffled cough came from the darkness, as if he was deliberately suppressing his voice so as not to disturb the person in bed.
Gu Chaoxi found it irritating and tossed and turned the pages.
"Did I disturb you?" Lu Zhao's voice came from the darkness, cautious and a little aggrieved.
"Come up and sleep here," Gu Chaoxi said, her heart softening.
"No need, you go to sleep. I'm going out for a walk, I won't disturb you." Lu Zhao covered his wound and got up to leave.
"You sleep outside, we'll each have half the bed." Gu Chaoxi was speechless; how could she not see through Lu Zhao's self-inflicted injury ploy?
But what she wanted was for Lu Zhao to get closer to her step by step.
Lu Zhao paused, as if he had been waiting for these words, then took two steps forward, lay down on the bed, and lifted the blanket, taking up half of the outer side.
The warmth of Gu Chaoxi in the quilt enveloped Lu Zhao's entire body, seemingly carrying her unique fragrance, which filled him with contentment.
Gu Chaoxi warned him, "You can only sleep outside. Don't touch me. If you do what you did today again, I'll kick you out."
Lu Zhao repeatedly assured him, "Don't worry, I will never cross the line."
Having received the assurance, Gu Chaoxi turned to lie down on her side and went to sleep. Lu Zhao's intense gaze fell on her back and stared at her for a long time.
She's such a soft-hearted girl. He pretended to be pitiful and got her to lower her guard. Little did she know what a ferocious beast she was.
Until he heard steady breathing, Lu Zhao reached out and gently pulled the person in front of him, embracing the warm and soft body as he fell into a deep sleep.
When Gu Chaoxi woke up the next day, she found herself nestled in Lu Zhao's arms, her hands still restlessly wrapped around his waist, and her face turned completely red.
She pushed Lu Zhao away, her face fierce but her heart weak, "Lu Zhao, you're messing around again!"
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