Volume One, Chapter 13: Going to Bed

Xiao Yuanyi felt utterly uncomfortable under his gaze, lowering her eyes and walking forward silently. Yet with their current situation, she had no idea when she would be able to return to Qingyuan. The last shred of dignity she possessed left her unable to beg him, especially since they were bitter enemies; even if she pleaded, he would not help her.

Suddenly, a large hand gripped her arm.

Long Yu, who had been lighting the way, found it much easier now but still regarded Lou Hejing warily. Xiao Yuanyi, however, looked completely bewildered.

“Who taught you that trick?” Lou Hejing doubted she had figured it out on her own—she was too clumsy even to pretend to faint convincingly.

The moment Xiao Yuanyi came into contact with him, she was reminded of the few days ago when he had held her, her face pressed against his armor—cold, hard, and dangerous.

“It was my teacher,” she said casually, eager to end the conversation.

“Teacher?”

“A scholar my parents hired.”

“Hah, isn’t that your younger sister?”

Last year, the southern Xiao region was plagued with disasters, and many literati came up with relief plans. Lou Hejing first met the sisters at one such banquet.

Xiao Baopan had devised a method similar to stuffing cotton clothes with padding, earning widespread applause. But not long after, Xiao Yuanyi pulled her aside and scolded her harshly, right before Lou Hejing’s eyes.

They said the Sixth Miss of the Prince of Nan’an’s mansion envied her own sister—indeed, it was true.

Xiao Yuanyi’s expression instantly darkened, as if a storm of anger raged inside her with no outlet, building up until her throat burned and her mind went blank.

She wanted to scream, to shout, but doing so would only confirm the rumors that she was driven mad by jealousy of her sister.

So she calmed herself, indifferent, using all her strength to pull Lou Hejing’s hand away.

“Believe what you want,” she said.

Refusing Long Yu’s assistance, she strode ahead. Compared to that humiliation, the pain was nothing.

The mockery on Lou Hejing’s face slowly faded as he frowned, standing there for a long while.

After she returned, her ankle was swollen. Long Yu dared not speak, only silently brought over some medicinal wine.

Lou Hejing’s gaze inadvertently swept over her dazzlingly pale foot, as if pricked by something, and he immediately entered the purification room.

Several maidservants of the Lou household came and went, fetching water and clothes. When Lou Hejing was absent, they rarely entered the room and mostly could not find him.

Yunjin brought medicine today, constantly glancing inside.

“Miss, I quietly inquired, and there are no concubines by the general’s side, but I’m not sure about these few maids…”

“Don’t pry. Next time I won’t be able to save you.”

Yunjin hastily agreed, not daring to say more.

After washing up, Xiao Yuanyi was about to rest when she suddenly remembered something and had Long Yu place her bedding on the soft couch.

Long Yu had already guessed and, though concerned, had no choice but to comply.

The soft couch was narrow, so Long Yu made it as comfortable as possible.

Xiao Yuanyi, drowsy from the medicine, was covered with a thick brocade quilt carefully tucked in by Long Yu.

“Miss, I’ll stay here and watch over you,” Long Yu offered.

Xiao Yuanyi refused firmly, urging her to rest.

When Lou Hejing came out, Xiao Yuanyi was already asleep.

Her face was small and pale, her features delicate and refined—truly a stunning visage at first glance.

Especially nestled in the soft brocade quilt, her black hair contrasting, lending her an even more fragile, breakable air.

Lou Hejing paused while drying his hair, a surge of indescribable feelings rising—anger mingled with a hint of amusement.

Since she was so sensible, what was there to be polite about?

He got into bed to rest, but the warm bed made him feel restless; he’d rather sleep on the floor.

He closed his eyes in silent frustration.

Tonight, Xiao Yuanyi was much quieter, likely because the soft couch was too narrow—otherwise, with her usual restlessness, she might have fallen off.

Suddenly, a thump sounded, like something soft dropping to the floor.

Lou Hejing snapped open his eyes.

Xiao Yuanyi had a nightmare, imagining herself trapped by vines and falling into an abyss. She flailed, tearing off the quilt until the cold gave her goosebumps and she regained her senses.

She sniffled, the couch being low meant she hadn’t hurt herself.

Her face was icy cold; she wiped away the sweat and tears.

A shadow appeared before her. She stared blankly and looked up.

The room was lit by a faint candle; Lou Hejing’s back to the light made his sharp face even more formidable.

“You…”

“Go to bed.” He held his quilt, eyes full of silent exasperation.

Xiao Yuanyi’s mind was sluggish; she sat on the floor for a long while before slowly getting up.

Sleeping in the bed was naturally better and warmer. Though she had sweated so much, it was from fright.

She forgot her ankle was swollen and freezing; she not only failed to get up smoothly but nearly fell again.

Lou Hejing’s patience reached its limit. He roughly pulled the quilt around Xiao Yuanyi and lifted her up as if carrying a load.

But mindful there was a person inside, he didn’t throw her onto the bed but bent down instead.

Strands of his hair fell onto her face. Blushing, she turned her head away uncomfortably.

Yet this exposed her slender neck and delicate collarbone fully to Lou Hejing’s gaze.

A faint, pure feminine scent mixed with a subtle milk fragrance wafted over. Lou Hejing’s expression stiffened momentarily before he quickly let go.

The sudden sense of weightlessness made Xiao Yuanyi instinctively try to grasp something but ended up clutching Lou Hejing’s arm.

The cold touch eased some of the heat within him. He glanced at her.

“If you don’t have the ability, don’t push yourself. Be careful you don’t freeze to death.”

Back in the warm bed, Xiao Yuanyi curled into the quilt silently, a bit defeated yet unwilling to admit it—clearly resentful but not wanting to continue the fight.

Lou Hejing felt an inexplicable urge to smile but quickly masked it with his usual cold demeanor.

He didn’t sleep on the couch; given his size, the floor was more comfortable.

The room fell silent again. Xiao Yuanyi peeked out from under the quilt, saw him truly sleeping on the floor, and couldn’t quite figure out what kind of person he really was.

The next morning, when she awoke, Lou Hejing was gone.

“I heard there’s a band of Northern Di deserters raiding villages to the east. The general immediately took his men there. It’s quite a ruckus, no one knows when he’ll return.”

Long Yu, seeing Xiao Yuanyi lying in bed and noticing her changed impression of Lou Hejing, recalled how he had not mistreated her and had even helped them a few times.

She worried about what trouble the Second Madam and Ninth Young Master might stir up in his absence.

Xiao Yuanyi sighed. Putting aside everything else, just the day the cotton clothes were distributed made it hard for her to avoid trouble.