Chapter 39 Jade Hook: "How did you know I was here?"...
Xie Qinghe did not look up, and Ning Lu dared not lower her head.
She was still wearing the same men's clothing she wore at the restaurant, and her appearance there would definitely give her away.
As long as she doesn't make a sound, just assume he's talking in his sleep.
Ning Lu pursed her lips, gritted her teeth, and pretended to be dead.
Candle tears dripped down.
A wolf-hair brush, as thick as an index finger, fell and rolled down the desk.
Xie Qinghe leaned on the edge of the table the whole time, breathing slowly and laboriously. From an observer's perspective, everything seemed normal.
If she weren't so familiar with his pained movements and expressions, she would have thought he was probably alright.
pity……
She shared a bed with him for three months.
Ning Lu sighed, leaped down from the roof beam, and skillfully supported his swaying body.
How did you know I was here?
She glanced down at his face, knowing now was not the time to ask that question, and reached out to touch the bowl of cold medicine on the table.
"The medicine's all cold. Where's the porcelain bottle you always carried with you?"
Let me help you sit down first.
Upon hearing this, Xie Qinghe braced himself even more forcefully on the edge of the table.
He tilted his head and stubbornly looked at her.
"What? Aren't you going to sit down?"
"Help me back to my room."
"Can you do it?" She was skeptical of the man's physical strength and, abandoning her cautiousness from the afternoon, began to scrutinize him without any politeness.
"Are you insecure about your strength?"
"What a joke! Have you forgotten who used to deliver goods over mountains and valleys to support you? I'm strong enough to carry two of you without any problem."
Upon hearing this, Xie Qinghe lowered his eyes and casually placed the fabric on her arm.
The touch of fingertips warms the skin, making one unconsciously tighten their grip on each other's fingertips.
"how?"
Ning Lu thought he was exhausted, so she slowed her pace and looked up at him.
He just shook his head.
Seeing that he had changed from his stern demeanor of the past few days to being obedient and sensible, Ning Lu assumed that he was in great pain and moved even more gently.
She breathed a sigh of relief after helping the person sit up on the edge of the bed.
If something were to happen to such a person who bears the heavy responsibility of the nation, she would probably face far more serious consequences than just imprisonment.
"How about I bring that bowl of medicine over? After I leave, you can ask the person on night duty at the door to heat it up for you."
Ning Lu still remembered that she was dressed strangely at the moment, and only wanted to slip away before Xie Qinghe could recover.
Where to?
"It's late, so I won't disturb Lord Xie's rest any longer."
She turned around, forced a smile, and offered her high-sounding reasons with both hands.
Xie Qinghe seemed unmoved by her fawning and obsequious behavior.
As she watched the X-ray-like eyes begin to scan her body, Ning Lu rubbed her hands behind her back a couple of times.
"If I said I was worried about Lord Xie's health and wanted to come see you, but I changed into men's clothing because I was afraid of the difference between men and women, would you believe me?"
She instinctively made up a story, cautiously peeking out half her face to peek at Xie Qinghe's reaction.
That's obviously because they don't believe it.
Ning Lu sighed and took two steps back, ready to make a quick getaway at any moment.
"I heard you've been looking for someone lately."
Xie Qinghe shifted to a more comfortable position and leaned against the edge of the bed.
Although her voice was soft, it was a far cry from her previous weak and powerless appearance.
The entire inn was staffed by his people, so whatever she asked or said couldn't escape his notice.
Ning Lu was not surprised.
She couldn't discern the truth or falsehood in this person, so she simply remained silent and stopped moving.
“Pan Xingxue may seem absurd, but he is still a high-ranking official in charge of a region. He is not as muddle-headed as he appears.”
She had already heard Qingzhi and Qinghuai analyze this matter.
This is one of the reasons why she didn't dare to barge into the governor's mansion tonight.
“People like us… cough cough…” Xie Qinghe glanced at her and said slowly, “We do a lot of bad things, so we have to be careful, either by guarding against people or ghosts.”
That sounds familiar.
Ning Lu shifted her feet uneasily, remembering the noticeably lax security in the west courtyard tonight.
Was she set up?
That's how he knew he had just been on the roof beam?
That's not right either.
She only decided to come over and check on him because she saw the lights on in his room when she came back.
No one can know her better than she knows herself.
She stole a glance at the composed man and said, "It's getting late. If Lord Xie has nothing else, I'll head back to rest now."
Ning Lu hastily curtsied, mimicking the manners of the maids, then turned and walked towards the window.
Xie Qinghe closed his eyes and remained silent, letting her go.
The window was quietly opened, and a cold wind rushed into the room, making the red light in the charcoal brazier shine even brighter.
Squeak—
The window was closed, and the bed curtains swayed at the foot of the bed.
"If that governor's mansion is so dangerous... can you help me?"
Ning Lu returned, but in a different guise.
Xie Qinghe's description matched what she saw; the governor's mansion was heavily guarded.
There are undercurrents around the governor's mansion, and it seems there are quite a few shadow guards around there.
If she recklessly goes back into the dungeon, she'll likely only face death.
With such a strong connection, it doesn't cost any money to ask around.
Upon hearing the sound, the man's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile as he turned his head to look at her.
“I have a friend who has been arrested by Governor Pan. I want to see her.”
Having spent so much time together, Ning Lu may not understand Xie Qinghe, but she can say that she understands Ji A'ming.
Whenever Ji Amin makes this gesture, it usually means something is up.
“She didn’t do anything wrong. It was Pan Xingxue who tried to assault her, but she resolutely resisted.” She raised her hand and swore, “Besides, she is very important to me.”
Because it was so important, I missed our appointment to drink, have tea, and tell stories.
Xie Qinghe glanced at her but did not respond.
Ning Lu took a step forward and said in a gentle voice, "That day, I just wanted to see her, ask her something, and then leave. Who knew that Governor Pan would suddenly barge in and try to take advantage of Su Yun? I was so angry that I smashed him."
“You know, I’m fast. I had already escaped, but then Zhao Yue caught me. Zhao Yue originally wanted to kill me, but Pan Xingxue said he had a grudge against me, so he took me to the dungeon.”
Seeing Xie Qinghe's expression change, she thought to herself that she had a chance, and immediately brought up the friendship between the two of them: "I originally wanted to buy two jugs of wine to take back to the master that day, but who knew I would be arrested and tortured in the dungeon."
Before she finished speaking, she rolled up her sleeve halfway, revealing layers of wounds and holding them up in front of Xie Qinghe.
The wound is already healing, and the newly grown pink flesh is still shocking to behold.
He'll be swayed by a combination of emotional appeals and self-inflicted suffering; if he had any conscience at all, he'd be tempted.
Ning Lu tried her best to appear innocent and pure, and to express her deep longing for that bygone era.
The man's gaze swept lightly over her feigned affection, then settled on her wound, his expression becoming composed.
Startled by the sight, she thought she had said something wrong, and awkwardly tugged at her sleeve, putting her hands behind her back.
"If it's too difficult, then forget it."
She figured out a solution herself.
"It's just meeting one person, what's so difficult about that?"
Xie Qinghe chuckled and agreed, and Ning Lu's eyes immediately lit up as she rushed forward.
Immediately afterwards, the man frowned, coughed softly while clutching his chest, and adopted a posture of being physically exhausted and unable to help.
Here we go again.
She immediately understood: "I'll go heat up the medicine for the adults."
The figure darted into the study in a flash.
The tonics sent to the east wing during this period finally paid off.
Ning Lu's once flat face has become much rounder, and even the muscles in her arms are more noticeable.
Xie Qinghe relaxed his body and leaned against the bedside, glancing sideways leisurely.
As he watched her carry the white porcelain bowl to the doorway, looking troubled, his gaze gradually softened.
It's as if they're still in their simple house, free from the distractions of daily life.
Ning Lu had no idea of the complex thoughts swirling in his mind; she only felt caught in a dilemma.
She came in through the window. By opening the door like that, wasn't she just announcing to the world that she had sneaked into the bedroom of Censor-in-Chief Xie at night?
It's a bit ambiguous...
Turning to meet Xie Qinghe's innocent eyes, Ning Lu swallowed hard, opened the door, and handed over the medicine bowl.
"The medicine for the master has gone cold. Please reheat it before bringing it up."
Upon hearing the sound, Wei Zhan turned around, staring intently at Ning Lu, his anger rising.
"Why is it you?"
And how did she sneak in when he wasn't looking?
He had just heard some noise inside the room, but his master hadn't called for anyone. He had assumed it was a secret report from the capital, but it turned out to be her again.
Wei Zhan gripped his sword silently, then heard Xie Qinghe's voice.
Ning Lu.
"I understand your request, sir."
Ning Lu responded obsequiously, shoved the porcelain bowl into Wei Zhan's arms, and trotted back to Xie Qinghe's side.
She really has the potential to be a lackey.
Xie Qinghe got up and sat down at the table at some point, and poured himself a cup of tea to drink.
"You came to Changzhou to see her?"
Realizing that the person he was referring to was Su Yun, Ning Lu nodded, then quickly responded when she realized he wasn't looking at her.
"yes."
"I heard that she and Liu Yunying are also friends."
Ning Lu feigned composure and pretended not to know: "Really? I haven't heard her mention it much."
Hearing his cold, mocking laugh, she forced herself to ask the question that puzzled her most: "That Liu Yunying hurt you so badly, you really don't know what she looks like?"
Xie Qinghe's fingertips trembled slightly as he rested on the rim of the cup. He remained composed and said, "As you can see, she comes and goes without a trace. I am too weak and sick to catch up with her."
That means we don't know what they look like.
Sensing a glimmer of hope, Ning Lu slowly exhaled.
Fortunately, I have a better memory.
The smile on her face froze instantly. She tugged at her clothes and asked through gritted teeth, "What do you mean? You can recognize her just by looking at her back?"
"Maybe."
The man raised an eyebrow and spread his hands, revealing a cunning that was different from his usual demeanor.
"Lord Xie will surely punish her severely once he catches her, won't he?"
Xie Qinghe narrowed his phoenix eyes slightly, then looked at the teacup on the table.
Ning Lu understood immediately and resisted the urge to pinch his philtrum to refill his cup of hot tea.
"If, I mean if...you caught her, what do you plan to do with her?"
She leaned half her body on the table, getting close to him.
"I am vengeful and ruthless."
He turned his head to look at Ning Lu's slightly flushed cheeks and said softly, "Of course... we should keep her by our side and settle the score properly."
Upon hearing this, the latter forced a harmless smile, his legs trembling, and instinctively backed away.
A treacherous villain.
"I'll go check if the medicine is ready."
She turned to run, but then she heard a sudden increase in the volume of voices behind her.
Ning Lu.
"If someone who wants to kill you and someone who wants to save you are standing in front of you at the same time, can you tell who is who?"
He walked slowly behind her, his breath brushing against her hair.
"You flatter me, Lord Xie. Of course I can."
Her neck went numb, and she didn't dare turn around, but that didn't stop her from giving a resounding answer.
Xie Qinghe chuckled in response, seemingly quite satisfied with the answer.
The next moment, a jade pendant gently swayed in front of her.
The jade pendant was about the size of a palm, resembling a waist tag, with a large character for "thank you" engraved in auspicious cloud patterns.
At first glance, it is a fine piece that is clear and exquisite.
If you were to pawn this piece of goods, the pawnshop owner wouldn't even have a chance to lie.
Seeing through her thoughts, Xie Qinghe said coolly, "This item is priceless, don't even think about taking it."
"Take this to the dungeon. There's someone you want to see there."
Ning Lu nodded hurriedly, then belatedly asked, "The dungeon?"
But the people in the restaurant said that she was taken away by Pan Xingxue.
"I'm going to see Su Yun."
"Um."
Xie Qinghe lowered his eyes: "For her, the governor's mansion is not as safe as the dungeon."
"you?"
Ning Lu turned around abruptly, her eyes filled with surprise.
Unexpectedly, the man leaned close to her ear, turned around abruptly, and they bumped into each other.
Her lips brushed against his profile and landed on his earlobe.
The fog in her mind suddenly dissipated, and she retreated repeatedly.
Xie Qinghe seemed to have succeeded, his eyebrows relaxed, and he gently shook the waist token in his hand, waiting for her to take the bait again.
Ning Lu indeed took two steps forward, snatched the jade pendant, and stuffed it into her bosom.
"Thank you, sir. It's getting late. Please take your medicine and get some rest. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
She frantically rushed out the door, completely disregarding everything else.
Wei Zhan sidestepped her reckless escape and, seeing that Xie Qinghe was in a good mood, respectfully presented her with the medicine bowl.
"master."
Following Xie Qinghe's gaze, the woman had long since vanished.
Our master is usually very efficient. This time, he set up such a big scheme and used a series of tricks just to send out a waist token.
He couldn't understand it.
Seeing Xie Qinghe drink the medicine, Wei Zhan finally spoke up: "Isn't it too risky to just let her go see Su Yun like this?"
"It's alright."
“Ning Lu is Ning Lu, and Liu Yunying is Liu Yunying.”
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