Chapter 33: Care

Liu Chuyan thought she was about to fall into the water, and before she could scream, Song Ling’s faint “ah” was cut off. Then she crashed into a wall of flesh—only her calf twisted into the stream, soaking her embroidered skirt. She steadied herself and looked closely at the man before her, whose beard was unkempt and face mottled black and white. Yet, with part of the grime washed away by the creek, she recognized him.

This man—this man was actually Xue Ao.

She bit her lip hard, as though burned by fire, and sprang to her feet, fleeing to the bank in two quick steps.

Xue Ao watched as she was merely startled at first, but after seeing his true face, she was so frightened she ran off. She simply fled, dragging her drenched skirt behind her, leaving him behind. Was she truly herself?

Liu Chuyan walked a few steps and then stopped, her movements stiff. She turned back to see him still lying in the water, eyes closed and motionless, lips pale, cheeks flushed as if fevered. His hand lifted weakly, then dropped.

“Miss...” Song Ling, shaken, wished to leave early, but since Liu Chuyan remained rooted, she dared not depart and urged her, “Miss, let’s hurry back.”

Liu Chuyan wished to leave, yet her steps slowly moved toward Xue Ao. She called tentatively, “Censor-in-Chief?”

He gave no answer.

“Second Master Xue?”

Still no response.

“Xue Ao!” Liu Chuyan raised her voice slightly.

No sound at all.

Could he have drowned in the stream? Was he so frail?

But perhaps he was ill.

“Xue Ao?” Her mind spun, worrying. She stepped into the water, walked to his side, called again, but there was still no reply. Anxious, she knelt to lift his head, wiping the creek water from his face with her damp handkerchief. “Xue Ao? How are you?”

Xue Ao merely groaned in pain, a faint acknowledgment. She was still herself—the kind, warm-hearted woman she’d always been, just more cautious now.

Liu Chuyan had been frightened by him many times and wished she could abandon him, but seeing his condition, she couldn’t let him fend for himself. “Second Master Xue, how are you?”

Xue Ao thought that if he claimed to be fine, she’d probably leave him behind. So he grunted softly and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. He’d embraced this slender waist before; one more time shouldn’t be considered shameless.

Liu Chuyan never expected Xue Ao, too weak to rise, would have the strength to hold her fast. No matter how she pried at his hands, he wouldn’t let go, so she turned to Song Ling for help.

But Song Ling was just as puzzled and helpless.

“Song Ling, come and help him ashore.” Liu Chuyan thought it best to get him out of the water and then call someone to help, lest his sorry state be seen and become the talk of the town.

Xue Ao had soaked in the water long enough to regain some clarity, though the dampness made him uncomfortable. Hearing her call for her maid to help, he summoned enough strength in his legs to stand, but half his weight still leaned on Liu Chuyan, with Song Ling supporting only one arm.

He was heavy, Liu Chuyan grumbled inwardly, but finally they managed to get him onto the bank, where he collapsed into her arms, clutching her sleeve so tightly she couldn’t free herself.

“Miss, what should we do now?” Song Ling wanted to fetch help, but if anyone saw, Liu Chuyan’s reputation would be ruined.

Liu Chuyan had no choice but to lower her head and urge him, “Second Master Xue, release me now. I’ll immediately find someone to carry you to the physician.”

“No, I can’t be seen,” he replied.

“Hm?” Liu Chuyan thought she’d misheard. Not seen?

Xue Ao lowered his voice to explain, “I was bound and brought to the mountain, but I’ve dealt with those men. If you tell anyone and word spreads, whoever is behind this will still try to harm me. No one must know I’m here.”

“Then…”

“Just find me a place to stay, anywhere will do.”

“That won’t do. I’ll have Song Ling notify the Duke’s residence.”

“No, even returning to the Duke’s residence isn’t safe now. I can’t explain all the details, but just find me a place to hide.”

Liu Chuyan knew the court’s intrigue had grown fiercer—calm on the surface, but dangerous currents beneath, ready to erupt at any moment. She understood Xue Ao’s fears and couldn’t act rashly, risking his life. After thinking a moment, she said, “There’s an unused pavilion in my courtyard. You can hide there for now, is that alright?”

Xue Ao had been waiting for this offer, though he feigned hesitation and finally nodded, “Very well, I’ll trouble Miss Liu.”

That attitude was about right. Liu Chuyan smiled faintly, instructed Song Ling to keep her mouth tightly shut, and helped him around the quiet villa, sending Song Ling to distract Qing He, and quietly led Xue Ao into the pavilion.

Lying there, Xue Ao could glimpse the blue sky outside the small window, and the faint fragrance unique to her lingered near—subtle, dreamy. But his head throbbed, and his body alternated between chills and fever. Unable to bear it, he slipped into unconsciousness.

Liu Chuyan had just changed her clothes and came to check on him, only to find him asleep. She reached out and touched his forehead—hot enough to frighten her; he had a fever. “Song Ling, isn’t your cousin working here? Go ask him to bring some clothes for Second Master Xue to change into.”

“I’m afraid that won’t work. Didn’t Second Master Xue say no outsiders could know?” Song Ling was troubled.

“Do you expect me to change him, or you?” In truth, Liu Chuyan worried about Xue Ao being discovered, vexed. “Never mind, just bring the brazier, and take off his outer garments to warm them by the fire.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Liu Chuyan settled on a compromise—warm Xue Ao’s body by the fire, then use a wet cloth to wipe his forehead, and have Song Ling fetch some cold medicine for him to swallow.

By late afternoon, Xue Ao still hadn’t awakened, and Liu Chuyan had to join the old lady for dinner, so she left Song Ling to care for him and took Qing He with her.

Everyone dined on freshly harvested rice, new fruits and vegetables from the fields, and loaches dug up that afternoon. Though the dishes were simpler than those at the main estate, the meal was deeply satisfying. Old Lady Han even drank a cup of wine and, in high spirits, sang a bit of opera.

But just as everyone was clapping and cheering, someone arrived from the Marquis of Wukang’s residence, accompanied by a steward from the Xue household.

Lady Han sat upright, her expression solemn as she listened to the report. It turned out that the previous noon, Xue Ao had said he wanted to deliver something to the Marquis’s residence, but after leaving alone, he hadn’t been seen since. Questioning Han Ruoyu and the others yielded no clues. Xue Huaiqin remembered Liu Chuyan and Han Shuwei had just returned, and that Xue Ao had mentioned wanting to give Liu Chuyan a bookmark, so they sent someone to the villa to inquire.

Hearing the Xue household was searching, Liu Chuyan’s heart pounded. How could she explain? Xue Ao had insisted she couldn’t notify his family or the Duke’s residence, nor let anyone know he was here.

But the steward was desperate, bearing a letter from Madam Xue—she couldn’t simply brush him off.

In the end, Lady Han spoke up, “Steward Luo, my niece is most proper and would never meet your Second Master in secret. Your words have left her speechless, and if she says the wrong thing, it could affect her reputation. Go back and report that she has been with me the whole time and hasn’t seen your Second Master.”

Steward Luo, rebuffed, realized his words had been tactless. The household was anxious and prone to mistakes, so he bowed and said, “Old Lady, I’ve been foolish, and my careless words have troubled Miss Liu. My lady is worried, otherwise she wouldn’t have written so urgently to the Marquis’s household. Please forgive us.”

“I understand. Go back and reassure Madam Xue. Second Master Xue is a formidable man, unlikely to come to harm. Perhaps he’s simply gone out on business and will return in a few days.”

“Yes, then I’ll take my leave.”

“Very well.”

“Old He, accompany Steward Luo.” Second Madam Han quickly sent someone to escort him, while signaling to gather more information.

Liu Chuyan watched as the table was cleared, suddenly remembering Xue Ao hadn’t eaten yet. She wondered if he’d awakened, but with the Duke’s residence nearly frantic, her anxiety deepened.

“Chuyan, Madam Xue from the Duke’s residence has always cherished you. She would never deliberately ruin your reputation today. Don’t worry,” Lady Han comforted her gently, seeing her embarrassment.

“Yes, Aunt.” Liu Chuyan, thinking of Xue Ao still in the pavilion, felt restless. She excused herself and returned to her courtyard, claiming she was still hungry and sent Qing He to fetch more food from the kitchen.

When Qing He brought the meal, she sent her away again and quietly ascended to the pavilion, instructing Song Ling to keep watch below.

“Second Master Xue?” Liu Chuyan lit a candle near him. His face was still red, brows furrowed, but after an afternoon of cold water and medicine, his fever had broken. Yet he continued to sleep, and she couldn’t wake him. Afraid he might awaken confused and spoil everything if she left, she sat and waited.

Waiting idly was terribly boring, so she gazed at his face by candlelight. She must remember this infuriating face, so next time she saw him from afar, she could avoid him.

Though they had the same father, Xue Ao and Xue Tan seemed cast from different molds. One dazzlingly beautiful, his words and actions like a spring breeze, more lovely than any woman—a flower beyond compare. The other, stern and forbidding, his face set in lines colder than a snowbound plain.

Oh, right, they weren’t born of the same mother.

Liu Chuyan was truly bored, thinking all sorts of nonsense. She shook her hand in exasperation, accidentally brushing against his arm.

Immediately, Xue Ao’s wrist twisted, catching her and flipping her onto the couch beneath him.

Author’s note: ~(≧▽≦)/~ La la la~