Chapter 49: “What is Elder Sister thinking about? Smiling so radiantly?” Chu Xingchen’s voice was hoarse.

“What is Elder Sister thinking about? Smiling so radiantly?” Chu Xingchen’s voice was hoarse, his gaze profound as if concealing unfathomable entanglements, deeply fixed upon the woman reclining on the daybed before him.

Su Yingxue truly lived up to her reputation of possessing devastating beauty. Even now, plagued by illness, her face pale with faint dark circles under her eyes and a weary look between her brows,

that supremely radiant smile she had just flashed was like the first rising sun of winter, yet also carried a touch of the innate delicacy of Lin Daiyu. Even Chu Xingchen, whose heart was as cold as darksteel, couldn’t help but be momentarily stunned when he glimpsed her brilliantly beautiful smile.

Chu Xingchen suddenly recalled that day in the icy lake depths. When he swam toward her, she had already lost consciousness from struggling in the water, no longer resisting as she slowly sank with closed eyes, like a docile rabbit falling asleep.

As he swam to her and wrapped his arms around her slender waist that seemed too delicate to withstand a grasp, Su Yingxue’s instinctive will to survive made her unconsciously clutch at anything approaching her. Her hands suddenly seized his clothing like grasping floating driftwood in water, pulling him into an embrace.

This was the first time Chu Xingchen had seen Su Yingxue unconscious in the water – her ink-black hair flowing loosely, skin pale and lips red, quiet like a jade rabbit. She appeared docile and radiant, like a water lily waiting to bloom, silently unfurling before his eyes.

The lake water was cold, having long soaked through her brocade garments. The waterlogged robes clung tightly to her body, revealing her graceful figure in exquisite detail.

At that time, Su Yingxue was two years his senior – more mature than him, with an elegant figure and exquisite features. Her delicate facial features appeared even more pronounced in the water, with paler skin and redder lips.

Later, when Chu Xingchen finally managed with tremendous effort to carry her in his arms and rescue her to shore, he checked her breathing. She lay drenched on the ground like a lifeless fish, yet possessed the captivating beauty of an enchantress.

His eyes darkening, after a brief internal struggle, he finally laid her flat and breathed air into her crimson lips adorned with bright red lip rouge.

After several attempts, Su Yingxue – who had shown no signs of breathing – suddenly coughed up large amounts of water. After coughing, she remained unconscious.

Seeing this and confirming her restored breathing, Chu Xingchen used his sleeve to wipe the lip rouge from his mouth that had transferred from her.

Su Yingxue remained unconscious, lying soaked and disheveled on the grass, deep in unconsciousness without awareness, fragile like an ailing beauty.

For some reason, looking at her like this, Chu Xingchen suddenly recalled holding her slender waist at the lake bottom – how extremely soft it had been. Equally soft were those crimson, delicate lips adorned with lip rouge.

Recalling that scene, Chu Xingchen’s cheeks reddened. He gazed at her with profound eyes, noticing the smudged lip rouge at the corners of her mouth that seemed to silently speak of the intimacy they had just shared.

Just now, watching her smiling face, Chu Xingchen found himself inexplicably drawn to those red lips. Today, having just awakened from serious illness, she wore no makeup or lip rouge. Yet despite this, her lips retained that natural light pink hue, beautiful like the first glow of sunrise.

His gaze deepened as he stared at her flushed cheeks, inexplicably recalling the delicate softness he had felt that day. Chu Xingchen’s eyes were profound, and a faint, almost imperceptible blush quietly spread across his fair skin.

Chu Xingchen, have you been bewitched by this enchantress? Have you gone mad? Chu Xingchen coldly questioned himself in his heart.

Do you remember how she once led the torment against you?

Do you remember how your miserable childhood was partly her doing?

After repeating these thoughts several times, the clarity in his eyes returned. He lifted his head, masking his emotions, and replaced them with a gentle smile, feigning concern as he softly asked.

Su Yingxue was abruptly pulled from her reverie by Chu Xingchen’s voice, feeling slightly embarrassed at having been caught daydreaming. She instinctively smiled and silently scratched her head, thinking to herself, How could I possibly tell him that I was thinking about how to set him up with his official match, Su Liyue?

After all, the former Su Yingxue had wronged him. Now that she had become Su Yingxue, perhaps arranging for him and Su Liyue to be together and giving them a happy ending this time might be a good thing.

Su Yingxue said softly, “Not at all, Elder Sister. I just heard from Qiushuang that Younger Brother has been diligently practicing his skills these past few days and received praise from Mr. Liu. I am genuinely happy for you from the bottom of my heart.”

Upon hearing this, Qiushuang, who was standing nearby, immediately glanced in her mistress’s direction, giving her a deep look. In her heart, she grumbled, Your Highness the Eldest Princess, are you serious? When did I ever tell you today that Mr. Liu praised Chu Huangzi?

But as a first-class maid serving by the Eldest Princess’s side all these years, she had developed some skill in reading her mistress’s intentions.

Qiushuang quickly turned to the silent Chu Huangzi and said with a charming and gentle smile, “Chu Huangzi, it is indeed true. Her Highness the Eldest Princess cares deeply for you.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Xingchen’s expression remained cold, but since he was always like this, Su Yingxue and Qiushuang were already accustomed to it.

Cares deeply? What kind of care? The kind that wants him as a male consort? Chu Xingchen mocked inwardly.

For some reason, when Chu Xingchen heard these words, the slight hesitation he had felt earlier was instantly overwhelmed by disgust. Since he had seen that she was fine, he hastily found an excuse to leave.

As long as Su Yingxue didn’t die, that was all that mattered. As for anything else, he didn’t care.

After Chu Xingchen left, Qiushuang cleared away the bowls for Su Yingxue and then carefully brought her the herbal decoction. The imperial physician had instructed her to take the medicine after meals.

Su Yingxue detested the extremely bitter herbal decoction, but good medicine is often bitter. Moreover, Qiushuang always thoughtfully handed her a cup of osmanthus honey-infused golden thread dates, personally made by Xiahe, after she finished the medicine. The intense bitterness followed by the melting sweetness truly made her feel as if her tongue was enveloped in a lingering sweetness, saving it from the bitterness.

Su Yingxue loved sweet foods, and since most of the medicinal soups she had been drinking lately were unbearably bitter, this sweet treat had become indispensable. Fortunately, her four first-class maids each had their own strengths. Xiahe was an excellent cook, not only skilled at making honeyed dates but also, under the guidance of the imperial physician, preparing medicinal cuisine for her to help regulate her health.

After serving her the medicine, Qiushuang personally massaged her shoulders, pressing on her acupoints to relax her muscles and promote blood circulation. As she did so, she said softly, “Your Highness, I’ve noticed that Chu Huangzi seems to be warming up to you lately.”

“What makes you say that?” Su Yingxue asked gently.

“In the past, if you didn’t visit him, he would never take the initiative to seek you out.” Qiushuang smiled while massaging her stiffened body from prolonged bed rest, explaining cheerfully, “But ever since you were injured, poisoned, and fell into a coma, Chu Huangzi has consistently made time every week to visit you at the Princess’s Palace, without fail.”