Gan Qiongying seemed to have been suddenly rendered mute by the poison, and watched helplessly as Manyue led her people out.
Li Hua then released her and personally stepped forward to gently wipe her face with a damp cotton cloth.
"Hmm...I can do it myself!"
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Li Hua suddenly said. “Last night… you were asleep when I noticed you were bleeding, and I was quite frightened.”
If his face hadn't turned ridiculously red when he spoke, Gan Qiongying would have believed him too.
Li Hua still pretended to be calm: "It's just menstrual water. I've already put special underwear on you. Don't be afraid. What you just drank was to relieve your back pain."
“I went to the village early this morning and asked the doctor. You don’t need to worry about getting pregnant this time, and you don’t need to drink contraceptive soup.”
He seemed quite calm, though his expression betrayed him. In reality, he was so frightened that he immediately shut up when he was having a great time last night.
Later, seeing that Gan Qiongying was sleeping soundly and showed no signs of discomfort, he realized that it was because the two of them were not restrained, Gan Qiongying was careless, and there was no knowledgeable old nanny in the mansion who was in charge of matters between men and women.
That's how he ended up with the sunflower.
If other men encountered such a situation, they would certainly react on the spot. No matter how gentle and virtuous a husband is, he would still curse and say something unlucky.
But Li Hua didn't find it unlucky or dirty. He never disliked anything about Gan Qiongying, not even her menstrual blood.
He had naturally witnessed many of the shady dealings within the inner quarters of the household. Some women, in their quest for favor, would even drink medicinal soup to send away their menstrual blood, all in an effort to please their husbands.
Li Hua had seen all sorts of things. He himself was someone who was abandoned and killed as an omen of bad luck and a cursed star.
Therefore, Li Hua would never have any dissatisfaction with Gan Qiongying because of this. He personally held her and washed her, and then changed her underpants.
Gan Qiongying was in a daze last night and didn't remember many of these details.
Hearing Li Hua say that only made her more ashamed, and she wanted to burrow deeper into the blankets.
Li Hua cupped her face and kissed her. Gan Qiongying's shy appearance was so beautiful that Li Hua couldn't help but feel aroused.
This awkward and shameful feeling lasted until the two of them finished lunch, and Gan Qiongying finally felt completely relieved.
He started asking again, quite openly and shamelessly, "Did you laugh out loud for the last time last night... um."
Li Hua finally managed to stop her in time, and this time he didn't even blush. He just looked at Gan Qiongying with some helplessness.
Gan Qiongying smiled, her eyes crinkling, and ate some more fruit. Li Hua then asked Gan Qiongying to come with him to the manor where the doctor lived on the outskirts of the city.
"Didn't you want to know how human skin masks are made?" Li Hua said. "I'll take you to see the doctor make them."
He said, "You can also choose what kind of face you want to use in the future."
“Once we escape from here, we will have to wear human skin masks for a long time.”
“Once you’ve made your choice, I’ll have someone help you get your identity documented.” Li Hua paused for a moment, then decided to tell Gan Qiongying the truth.
“Some migrants who left their homes died on the road due to disasters or plagues. I have taken in these people and their identities can be replaced.”
As Li Hua spoke, her palms became damp with nervousness.
He did indeed use this method to place his own people in many places.
He was afraid that Gan Qiongying would think he was cruel, that his methods were too extreme, that he didn't even spare the dead.
Upon hearing this, Gan Qiongying stared wide-eyed, stunned for a moment, and exclaimed, "You are truly...so clever!"
She was actually always worried about her travel permit and identity. Although she was a princess, it wouldn't be difficult for her to create a fake identity.
However, these things can't be rushed; it's best to lay the groundwork long-term, such as five or ten years. That way, even if it's discovered, it won't attract too much attention.
In this ancient world, you can't just hide in some deep mountain forest and live a secluded life. Every town and village you pass through requires a pass, and you have to travel through undeveloped wilderness where wild beasts can cause them to suffer heavy losses.
Duanrong used to even keep several thousand private soldiers, but she never thought of running away, so she didn't prepare any blank identity.
The trick Li Hua mentioned was absolutely flawless!
Gan Qiongying didn't find Li Hua cruel at all, because the prerequisite for obtaining these people's identities was to save them.
In Gan Qiongying's heart, Li Hua was truly a man who was extremely gentle, extremely kind, and extremely intelligent.
When one person has a biased view of another, all their words and actions become reasonable.
Gan Qiongying showered Li Hua with praise, from head to toe, and even pressed her hand against his heart to listen to his heartbeat.
Li Hua asked her, "What are you doing?"
Gan Qiongying said, "I want to hear if you have a heartbeat. I suspect the man I've found is a living bodhisattva, a living god."
These words, coupled with Gan Qiongying's serious expression, actually had the opposite effect; Gan Qiongying's tone was mostly sarcastic.
However, Li Hua, who had never been praised and affirmed so openly and without reservation before, was deeply moved by Gan Qiongying's words.
"Do you really think... I'm good enough?" Li Hua asked with great trepidation.
Among the people he knew, those he did business with, Li Hua had heard many opinions about him.
He was incredibly intelligent, almost demonic; cunning; two-faced; a smiling devil... Only the refugees he helped occasionally called him a great philanthropist.
But none of those people's likes or dislikes matter as much as Gan Qiongying.
Li Hua grasped Gan Qiongying's hand, placed it on her face, and said, "I will always be like this."
I can be anything you like.
Gan Qiongying proudly said, "Of course! A person's fine qualities and ability to make money can never be taken away!"
She changed her clothes and prepared to go to the estate with Li Hua. Before leaving, Li Hua said, "That night in the palace, you said you wanted to go to the temple with me to offer incense."
What were you asking for back then?
"You still remember after all this time?" Gan Qiongying casually said to Li Hua, but she didn't expect him to remember it so well.
Gan Qiongying even felt a little ashamed. Li Hua remembered it so well; he must have been really looking forward to going with her.
Therefore, Gan Qiongying said almost without hesitation, "I'm asking for a marriage!"
Li Hua raised an eyebrow slightly, and Gan Qiongying smiled and threw herself into his arms, saying, "I beg you and me to be bound together for all eternity!"
Li Hua laughed and patted Gan Qiongying's head, saying, "Then let's go there today. There's a famous matchmaking temple in the city near the manor. It's very popular, and noble ladies and common women go there to burn incense at the beginning and end of each month."
"It's almost the end of the month now. Once your period is over, it will be the end of the month."
Although he didn't say it, the expectation in his eyes was palpable.
Li Hua never actually believed in any of these gods and Buddhas; he got to where he is today through his own efforts. But if there were to be countless lifetimes, then...
He was willing to kneel before the Buddha, build countless temples, and prostrate himself on the ground to fill tens of thousands of steps leading to heaven.
Gan Qiongying nodded, hugged Li Hua's waist, and said, "Mmm!"
She'll go and watch the process of making the human skin mask, and while she's at it, she'll offer incense and pray for a few lifetimes of marriage—perfect!
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