Chapter 137: I Am Not Ill

Outside, the sky grew increasingly overcast as evening approached. Inside the hall, charcoal fires burned, keeping the space warm and cozy.

They had slept for about half an hour.

Lan Wu woke first, feeling uncomfortably hot. In her drowsy state, she felt as if a ball of fire were embracing her. As she came to her senses, she realized it wasn’t a ball of fire—it was Chu Mingheng.

Even in sleep, Chu Mingheng’s expression remained tense and stern, but now a faint flush colored his closed eyes.

Lan Wu immediately reached out to touch his face, but before her fingers could make contact, her wrist was seized.

He seemed exceptionally alert, waking in an instant, his grip on Lan Wu’s hand unusually tight, as if he had forgotten she was sleeping in his arms.

“Ah…” Lan Wu cried out in surprise, wincing in pain. Her soft body slumped weakly against him, pressing fully into his embrace.

At the sound, Chu Mingheng’s hand abruptly loosened, as if he had only just regained his senses. He looked down blankly at the person in his arms, then, as if in disbelief, hurriedly tilted Lan Wu’s face up to examine it closely.

Only when he saw that familiar, beautiful face did Chu Mingheng let out a deep sigh of relief.

Lan Wu slapped him lightly on the cheek, her tone fierce as she demanded, “What are you doing?”

After the slap, her palm lingered on his face, testing his temperature.

It was hot—clearly abnormal.

“You have a fever. I’ll go call for the Imperial Physician,” she said, hastily trying to rise from the bed and head outside.

Her arm was pulled back effortlessly, her body once again enveloped in his embrace, as if encased in an impenetrable fortress.

Lan Wu struggled to lift her head slightly, only to meet Chu Mingheng’s bloodshot eyes. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hesitated to speak.

“Where are you going—” Though she remained silent, Chu Mingheng spoke, his voice low and imposing.

Lan Wu’s mind was on edge. In response, she leaned forward slightly and kissed the corner of Chu Mingheng’s lips, whispering softly, “I’m not leaving. I just want to call the Imperial Physician for you.”

“You’re ill, Your Majesty.”

Chu Mingheng raised his voice slightly, as if puzzled. “Ill?”

But soon, he shook his head. “I am not ill.”

Wasn’t this nonsense?

Lan Wu frowned deeply, not daring to delay any longer. She shifted her feet, trying to break free. “Let go of me first.”

“Mmm—”

In the next moment, Lan Wu was flipped onto her back on the bed, her lips sealed by his.

Chu Mingheng kissed her so thoroughly that she couldn’t utter a single coherent sentence. When Lan Wu finally pushed him away, she succeeded, but her wrist was seized again. He kissed her palm, the heat of his lips sending a tingling numbness through her.

Chu Mingheng was not himself.

This thought raced through Lan Wu’s mind, sharp and clear. She turned her gaze to him, meeting his bloodshot, obsessive, yet unnervingly calm eyes.

She stared blankly as Chu Mingheng took her hand, lifted it, and kissed her wrist.

The spot where he had gripped her earlier was already marked with a red circle, looking painful.

“…Your Majesty?” Lan Wu called out to him, her hand trembling as he licked the spot.

Summoning her composure, she spoke earnestly, “Your Majesty is ill. Let’s call for the Imperial Physician.”

Chu Mingheng’s expression remained unchanged, his eyes fixed solely on Lan Wu.

He shook his head and whispered to her, “I am not ill.”

Lan Wu could do nothing with him. Estimating the distance to the palace door, she opened her mouth to call out loudly for help. However, Chu Mingheng seemed to anticipate her intention. As soon as she parted her lips, he covered her mouth with his hand, muffling her voice completely. Leaning in close, he lowered his body over hers and whispered gently, “Be good, Ah Wu. Don’t make a sound.”

After speaking, his eyes scanned the surroundings, as if somewhat dissatisfied, but he soon found a spot that pleased him.

He carried Lan Wu to the low table behind the screen. This was a secluded space, separated from the rest, and with the underfloor heating system burning, it was exceptionally warm.

No matter how warm it was, Lan Wu couldn’t let him act recklessly.

She thought Chu Mingheng must have lost his mind. What kind of time was this, and he still had the nerve to bring her here to grope and fondle her?

“If you keep this up, I’ll get angry!” Lan Wu’s clothes were nearly stripped off, and her anger flared uncontrollably. She could only threaten him fiercely.

Chu Mingheng’s entire body was burning with heat, yet his mind seemed remarkably clear. He understood Lan Wu’s words, but his reaction was not what she expected—to stop. Instead, he nipped her earlobe, kissing down her neck, then caught a patch of flesh between his teeth, gently grinding before releasing it. He chuckled softly, “Your temper has grown quite fierce.”

Lan Wu’s lips trembled, feeling his tone was all too familiar.

“Ah Wu, I’ve missed you so much. Don’t you miss me?” As if confirming her suspicion, Chu Mingheng murmured softly by her ear before caressing her hips and lifting her onto him.

Lan Wu let out a muffled groan, her fingers involuntarily digging into his arm, her nails nearly sinking into his flesh. Her eyes filled with confusion and grievance, mingled with disbelief and horror. She turned to look at him and said, “…Your Majesty…?”

Chu Mingheng, however, was overjoyed. He reached out to pinch Lan Wu’s cheek, wanting to kiss her. “Ah Wu, you recognized me… I’m so happy. I’ve missed you so much.”

Lan Wu swallowed hard, thinking to herself that she couldn’t handle this situation.

The Chu Mingheng before her was clearly the one from her previous life. But what about the Chu Mingheng of this life?

Chu Mingheng made it abundantly clear just how happy he was. Those crimson eyes never showed a hint of exhaustion, as if he intended to expend all the energy of this lifetime on Lan Wu, turning her over and over until the sky darkened.

Lan Wu dared not let herself faint, thinking that if she passed out, there was no telling what outrageous things this Chu Mingheng might do.

But time was truly running out.

Seeing Chu Mingheng still holding her, refusing to let her leave the water, Lan Wu was on the verge of tears. Her voice hoarse, she said, “There’s a palace banquet tonight. You said it yourself—what would people think if word got out…”

“I never said that.” That was what “he” said.

Chu Mingheng paid no heed, trying to kiss her and silence her.

Lan Wu turned away, a tear falling, unwilling to look at him. “You only know how to bully me. You’ve always bullied me. Clearly, you don’t even like me. You never listen to anything I say…”

These words were grave indeed. Chu Mingheng dared not let her continue, quickly speaking softly to soothe her. He carried her out of the bathtub, meticulously drying every inch of her body. Seeing her still upset, he grew even more distressed than she was, his face anxious, brows furrowed. Yet his hands remained gentle as he wiped away her tears and replied, “I like Ah Wu. I like Ah Wu. I won’t bully you anymore, alright? I’ll listen to everything you say.”

Lan Wu listened, then cupped his face, feeling his still-warm skin, and said, “Then let’s quickly change clothes and go out. We must call the Imperial Physician to examine you. The evening palace banquet cannot be delayed—today is New Year’s Eve.”