Chapter 32: Itch…

“What kind of thing are you, Shen Xiunian…”

Shen Xiunian’s self-mocking voice echoed in the empty room.

Liu Fuying’s words from the morning, saying she “didn’t think much of him,” were not wrong after all. His heart was so filthy and narrow-minded—no wonder she looked down on him.

How could he have thought that Liu Fuying must have come to meet a secret lover?

He clenched his fists, all his self-blame evident in his tightly furrowed brow.

He turned around and strode out of the courtyard, heading away from the Taoist temple.

“Did the layman find the jade pendant?” The Taoist priest who had led Shen Xiunian inside saw him leaving and kindly inquired.

“Found it. Thank you, Priest.”

Shen Xiunian was in a poor mood, not even turning his head as he spoke, his steps long and hurried.

Once outside the temple gate, his subordinate Zhang Ke, who had been waiting there, approached and asked if he had found Liu Fuying.

Shen Xiunian remained silent, only mounting his horse.

He tugged the reins and galloped down the mountain under the moonlight.

Halfway down, Shen Xiunian suddenly stopped.

Zhang Ke, following closely behind, abruptly tightened his reins, nearly crashing into him. “General, what’s wrong?”

Shen Xiunian still didn’t answer, but a face gradually surfaced in his mind.

Pei Zhouwu.

He didn’t know why he suddenly thought of Pei Zhouwu, nor did he understand why he was linking Liu Fuying’s disappearance to Pei Zhouwu.

Clearly… he had already figured it out this afternoon.

The “A Ying” Pei Zhouwu mentioned was not Liu Fuying’s “Ying.” Why bother thinking of him now?

Could it be that Liu Fuying was with Pei Zhouwu?

“General, are you alright?”

Zhang Ke’s repeated questioning failed to bring Shen Xiunian back to his senses. Instead, Shen Xiunian tightened the reins and spurred his horse forward, galloping even faster than before. When a fork appeared ahead and Shen Xiunian took a different path than the one leading down the mountain, Zhang Ke grew even more astonished.

That direction led to where Marquis Pei was being held.

“General, what exactly is wrong? You can’t go any further!”

“General, think twice!”

“General!”

Zhang Ke chased frantically, but he couldn’t keep up with Shen Xiunian’s galloping horse. He had no idea what had come over his general. The last time he had chased Shen Xiunian like this was years ago, when Shen Xiunian learned of the death of his beloved, Jiang Susu.

“General, ahead is where Marquis Pei is being held. Coming here at night without an imperial decree will surely lead to rumors that you and Marquis Pei are colluding. The incense stick we found this afternoon could also become fabricated evidence of your collusion with the marquis.”

“General, even if you don’t care for yourself, at least think of the Shen Family, your mother, and the two hundred thousand soldiers under our command!”

Shen Xiunian was finally persuaded and reined in his horse, stopping.

Zhang Ke followed suit, letting out a huge sigh of relief. Sweat beaded on his forehead from anxiety as he circled to Shen Xiunian’s side and added, “General, I don’t know what exactly happened, but whatever it is, we can discuss and handle it together. We must not act recklessly like this.”

Shen Xiunian slowly exhaled, beginning to consider the consequences.

“The guards at the detention area have already been replaced. If anything seems amiss, they will report directly to His Majesty. General, whatever you plan to do, you must think twice.”

Yes.

Shen Xiunian belatedly realized that he had truly lost his mind earlier.

The guards watching over Pei Zhouwu had been replaced with a new batch, undoubtedly stricter than before. How could they possibly let Liu Fuying in?

What was wrong with him?

Was his mother ill, and now he was ill too?!

“General?”

Shen Xiunian slowly turned around, looking apologetically at Zhang Ke as he said, “I was too reckless. Let’s go back, down the mountain.”

This time, Shen Xiunian descended the mountain at a leisurely pace.

He wanted the mountain breeze to blow over him properly, to calm himself down thoroughly. Tonight, he still had to continue searching for Liu Fuying; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to face his mother upon returning. His mother truly couldn’t do without her.

Inside the bamboo hut.

Liu Fuying didn’t know when she had fallen asleep, leaning over the bedside with one hand outstretched, gently grasping the chain on Pei Zhouwu’s wrist.

The bamboo leaves outside the window rustled in the wind, a soft sound that startled Pei Zhouwu awake.

He opened his eyes abruptly, drenched in sweat.

His gaze shifted, catching sight of Liu Fuying leaning over the bedside. The fear and alarm that had woken him softened in an instant.

The candle on the table was nearly burnt out, indicating how deep into the night it was.

He moved carefully, slowly pushing himself up to sit.

The hand she held onto the chain also dared not move too much, afraid of waking her. It couldn’t have been easy for her to keep watch here for so long.

He watched her quietly for a while, the tenderness in his eyes almost melting.

Though he was overjoyed to have her by his side, his heart remained tangled with hesitation. After all, she was from the Qi Prince’s Mansion. Staying away from the mansion for too long would be hard to explain upon her return. He couldn’t let his own selfishness drag her down.

Thinking this, he gently pried her hand off the iron chain, wanting to check the wound on her palm.

At the time, he had only been concerned about himself and hadn’t even asked how she had injured her hand.

Unexpectedly, this small movement directly startled her awake.

Liu Fuying jolted upright. The summer night was stifling, and leaning over the bed had made her sweat profusely.

Tiny beads of sweat dotted her forehead and the tip of her nose.

“You…” Seeing that Pei Zhouwu was also awake and sitting up, she immediately cast a worried glance his way. “Is your wound hurting again? Let me change the dressing for you. The weather is hot; your wound needs to be cleaned and tended to regularly.”

She stood up and headed straight for the bamboo cabinet. Pei Zhouwu lowered his head, staring blankly at his empty palm for a moment.

When she turned back, she was carrying a basin of clean water.

“Miss Su, I can do it myself.”

Pei Zhouwu made as if to get out of bed, but as soon as he stood, he stumbled, then raised a hand to clutch his chest—clearly, the movement had tugged painfully at his wound.

In this state, and still trying to act tough.

Besides, after kissing, why still call her “Miss Su”!

“Look at you. If you keep moving around, your wound will reopen. It just barely stopped bleeding.”

“Don’t move!” She put on a stern face, pretending to be angry.

This tactic actually worked quite well on Pei Zhouwu. He indeed stood still, not moving a muscle, his gaze fixed on Liu Fuying’s face, worried that she was genuinely upset.

Liu Fuying stepped in front of him and began preparing to remove his clothes.

“Miss Su…”

“I know you don’t think much of me, but I’m not some clingy, shameless pest. Once your wound heals, I’ll stay far away and won’t bother you anymore.”

“…”

Pei Zhouwu was startled. When had he ever said he didn’t think much of her?

“Why would Miss Su say such a thing?”

As she spoke, Liu Fuying’s hands didn’t stop moving. In a few motions, she had pulled open his robe, revealing the blood-stained bandage inside.

“Calling me ‘Miss Su’ over and over, so distant. I understand you want to draw a clear line between us.”

“I don’t, I… ah…”

Perhaps Liu Fuying had accidentally pressed directly on the center of his wound while unwrapping the bandage, causing him pain.

Hearing his pained gasp, Liu Fuying looked up at him, her feigned sulkiness tinged with genuine concern performed flawlessly, softening Pei Zhouwu’s heart.

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

After a moment’s hesitation, he finally offered the intimacy she desired.

“Yueying.”

Only her late mother had ever called her by that name before. Now, hearing it from Pei Zhouwu’s lips carried a different kind of charm.

“I just don’t want you to overexert yourself for my sake,” he explained earnestly.

By then, Liu Fuying had already removed the bandages wrapped around him. The wound on his chest was still faintly seeping blood. Suddenly, she leaned close and gently blew a soft breath onto the injury.

It was very, very gentle—not painful at all, but warm and soothing.

And also… ticklish.

The tickle settled in Pei Zhouwu’s heart.

Her lips were a deep crimson, and the shimmering light that gathered when she slightly pouted seemed to carry a faint fragrance.

Enticing… tempting one to take a taste.