"Wait a minute..."
Su Zhenzhen exclaimed in astonishment.
The bamboo lamp in the room had already been extinguished.
Only the thin summer moonlight shone in through the screen window.
Su Zhenzhen let out only a slight rustling sound before stopping herself.
The window was not closed.
The green gauze was very thin.
The courtyard was very small.
The door panels were very light.
It was easy for Little Persimmon to hear.
Her summer dress was very thin, and the man was leaning over her, his hands gripping her knees.
Wet water droplets condensed on the man's long hair, falling onto her skin and causing the woman to involuntarily tremble.
Today's moonlight was not bright, but it was not dark either.
Su Zhenzhen's slender body arched up like a thin crescent moon, her narrow waist unable to bear it, only to be held down and fall back.
She panted in a low voice, her whole body turning red.
Su Zhenzhen was sweating profusely, making her white jade-like skin flushed.
She closed her eyes and opened them again, her face showing innocent helplessness and panic, as well as pleasure.
Su Zhenzhen's whole body was numb, as if she had been electrocuted.
The support at her knees dropped, and she finally regained control of her body.
The man tilted his head and lay beside her, one arm around her waist, his lips moist and crimson.
Su Zhenzhen closed her eyes and rested for a while. Turning her head, she could see Lu Hexu's flushed face.
He had fair skin, and even though this face had lost its youthful thinness, it was still so beautiful that one could not look away.
His fair skin contrasted with his perfectly contoured bones, gloomy yet stunning.
But actually, if it was your first time seeing him, your first reaction would not be to notice his perfect face; instead, you would first be frightened by his gloomy aura.
Before you could even appreciate his face, your soul would have already fled in terror.
So pretty.
Want to kiss.
After the man "heard" her words, he blinked slowly, bent his knees, propped himself on the bamboo bed, and leaned toward her.
Don't.
Su Zhenzhen dodged subconsciously.
Lu Hexu's hot and moist lips pressed against her lower jaw. He gently kissed Su Zhenzhen's thin jaw, lingering on the fair skin of her neck.
The tingling sensation unexpectedly spread across her skin again. Su Zhenzhen's shoulders tensed slightly, bearing a somewhat helpless softness.
She turned sideways to escape, but was held tightly in his arms. The man's wide robe fell down, the scarlet color covering her flushed cheeks.
Su Zhenzhen's breathing was covered by the robe. She felt even hotter, the heat hidden in her limbs and bones seeming to ignite her.
She reached out, her fingertips trembling to grab the wide sleeve.
With a clack, a sound came from Little Persimmon's room.
Su Zhenzhen shivered and immediately sobered up.
She raised her hand to close the window, but found the man pressing down on her; she could not move at all.
"Let go, let go of me first..."
Su Zhenzhen grew anxious and reached out to pull Lu Hexu's hair, only to hear the man's breathing become heavier.
Oh no.
Su Zhenzhen immediately let go, her fingertips brushing across the back of his neck, leaving three thin scratch marks.
Wait a minute, what is he rubbing against?
Su Zhenzhen vaguely remembered that bizarre and romantic dream from that summer.
She had gotten drunk and lay on a rocking chair.
She once thought it was just a dream.
Later, when she found out that Lu Hexu was not a eunuch, she realized that it was not a dream.
But at that time, she was indeed drunk.
Drunk to the point of blurry memory, leaving only a thin fragment of memory similar to a dream.
But now, she was very awake.
The man pressed against her skin through their clothing, his tall body enveloping her completely.
Su Zhenzhen opened her eyes and met Lu Hexu's gaze.
The man stared at her, seemingly unaware of what he was doing, acting purely on instinct.
A blush appeared on his cold white face, at first like a morning dew peach blossom, pale and hazy, and then the color gradually deepened, like a peach blossom in full bloom, rich and burning.
Little Persimmon's door opened. The toilet was in the courtyard, and Little Persimmon walked toward it.
A night light was left in the courtyard, usually hung at the courtyard gate.
Because the courtyard was very small, the light could illuminate more than half of it.
Little Persimmon tilted his head slightly to look at Su Zhenzhen's room.
The window was half open, and through a thin layer of green screen, a figure seemed to sway inside.
Su Zhenzhen bit her finger bone.
She wanted to speak, but did not dare to.
She only glanced at him with moist eyes.
We will be discovered.
Kiss me.
Lu Hexu leaned in, brushed her fingertips aside, and kissed her lips with low pants.
After Little Persimmon returned from the toilet, he glanced at the window again, then yawned and went back to his room.
Su Zhenzhen finally let out a low cry, carrying a sobbing tone that had been suppressed to the extreme.
The man pressed down on her. Both were fully clothed, but both were panting heavily.
Su Zhenzhen thought in a chaotic daze.
If Lu Hexu woke up and found that he had entangled with her like this, would he be so angry that he would collect another three pounds of silver needles for her to swallow?
Su Zhenzhen's hot sweat was instantly drenched in cold sweat.
She sobered up.
The two rested on the cooling bed for a while. Su Zhenzhen recovered some strength and got up first.
The spring water in the bathroom was running water.
She took a towel and clean clothes inside.
The weather was hot, so taking a cold bath was fine.
Su Zhenzhen took off her clothes to wipe her body. The pattering spring water flowed over her body. The flush on her skin had not yet faded, and when wiped with a wet and cold towel, the color actually deepened.
It could not be wiped clean.
Su Zhenzhen wiped many times before finally washing her body clean.
She had never had such an experience, and even now, she felt numb all over and lacked strength.
After changing into clean clothes, Su Zhenzhen let down her pinned-up long hair. Turning around, she saw the man standing at the bathroom door at some point, not knowing how long he had been standing there watching.
"You should wash up too."
Su Zhenzhen lowered her head and walked past Lu Hexu.
The man reacted for a moment before understanding what Su Zhenzhen said.
He walked into the bathroom and, following what he had just seen, began to wash himself.
"Um, your clothes are dirty, just drape this over yourself for now."
Su Zhenzhen took a bedsheet out of the closet and handed it to him through the bathroom door.
A hand reached out from inside, grasped the bedsheet, and held it. He slowly looked down at the peach-red color of the bedsheet, seeming somewhat confused.
Su Zhenzhen: ...
Su Zhenzhen slowly shuffled over and helped him drape the bedsheet.
After the two finished tidying up, Su Zhenzhen glanced at the bamboo bed.
She was too tired to move; she would tidy it up tomorrow.
She rolled into the bed canopy.
The man followed.
In the darkness, the man's facial contours were outlined exceptionally clearly.
Su Zhenzhen saw his perky nose tip and wet red lips, and she involuntarily blushed from head to toe again.
Stop thinking about it, stop thinking about it.
Su Zhenzhen tried hard to tell herself to stop thinking about it.
-
The bloodstains in front of the imperial study had already been cleaned up. Coupled with the rain yesterday, the bloody smell that had permeated the palace for the past few days was finally completely washed away by the rain, disappearing into the air.
Over the past few days, Han Shuo had led the Brocade Guards to handle no fewer than a hundred corpses. Holding the list, he entered the palace to report his completion of the task. Seeing Wei Heng at the door of the imperial study, he could not help but step forward to strike up a conversation. "Those stubborn old fools are finally dead." Han Shuo looked at the beautiful weather today and sighed happily.
After saying this, he realized that Wei Heng had always been soft-hearted and probably could not stand his careless attitude toward human life.
But in reality, as the Commander of the Brocade Guards, Han Shuo had dealt with countless lives in the imperial prison.
However, Han Shuo soon noticed that Wei Heng had not heard a word he said.
"What is wrong?" Han Shuo noticed Wei Heng's abnormal state.
Wei Heng furrowed his brows. "His Majesty is missing."
"His Majesty is often nowhere to be seen." Han Shuo did not think much of it.
Wei Heng shook his head instead. "Today is different. Today is the twenty-fifth of July."
Though Han Shuo did not understand, he still said, "I will have the Brocade Guards search together."
Wei Heng said, "We have searched the entire palace. He is not here."
As he spoke, Wei Heng turned and headed toward Lu Hexu's bedchamber.
Han Shuo followed him.
The two stood at the door of the bedchamber and saw the little eunuch guarding the entrance.
"Has His Majesty returned?"
The little eunuch shook his head.
Wei Heng frowned, lifted his robes, and entered the hall.
The ice blocks inside the hall had not yet melted, and with the doors and windows sealed tight, the temperature was not high.
But the bedchamber was completely empty.
Wei Heng's gaze fell upon the hand-held glazed lantern.
"He did not take the glazed lantern. Where on earth did he go?"
This was something that had never happened before.
Wei Heng knew how severe Lu Hexu's emotional issues could get during these days.
Usually, he would go to the Qingliang Palace to escape the summer heat. The cool temperatures could shorten the duration of his illness.
Yet this time, he had insisted on disguising himself and following the Brocade Guards to Yangzhou.
The stifling heat in Yangzhou was no less than in Jinling.
He originally thought His Majesty would spend July in Yangzhou, but unexpectedly, he had returned to Jinling in the middle of the night.
Even after returning to Jinling, he did not stay put and disappeared again.
Han Shuo also followed Wei Heng around the bedchamber. "He really is not here. Where did he go?"
Wei Heng shook his head. "I do not know."
The hidden guards were also gone.
Fortunately, the hidden guards were gone, which meant they were at least following by Lu Hexu's side.
Wei Heng saw the warm pavilion blocked by a curtain, and his expression shifted.
He walked over and lifted it to take a look.
Lu Hexu naturally was not inside; the only thing in sight was that portrait.
Wei Heng instantly understood.
But he also felt that this was truly somewhat unbelievable.
Could it be that... after this Majesty's sleepwalking illness acted up, he went all the way from Jinling back to Yangzhou alone to find someone?
"What is this?" Before Han Shuo could clearly see what was inside the warm pavilion, his view was blocked by the curtain Wei Heng dropped down.
Han Shuo curiously stood on his tiptoes to peek, but was stopped by a cold glare from Wei Heng. "Do you no longer want that head on your neck?"
Han Shuo was speechless.
Han Shuo shrank the head on his neck back.
Wei Heng walked out of the bedchamber. "I am going to Yangzhou. You stay here and handle the aftermath."
"Alright." Han Shuo nodded.
Su Zhenzhen was awakened by the sound of knocking.
The sky was not yet bright, and the people in the courtyard had not gotten up, but the knocking was urgent and loud, directly waking her from her sleep.
After yesterday's rain, the weather was much cooler today.
The window was not closed. Seeing the morning light about to pierce through the clouds, Su Zhenzhen immediately remembered Lu Hexu's fear of light.
She hurriedly closed the window.
The gaps in the doors and windows were large, so the bright light would still shine in.
Su Zhenzhen walked barefoot to the wardrobe, carried out Sushan who was sleeping inside, then pulled out more than half of the clothes. Finally, she waved at the just-awakened Lu Hexu. "Come here quickly."
The man frowned. He sat on the couch and did not move.
Su Zhenzhen became anxious. She grabbed his wrist, pulled him up, dragged him to the wardrobe, and pushed him in.
"Hide here first. I will seal the room for you, then go find some ice blocks." After speaking, Su Zhenzhen closed the wardrobe.
The knocking at the courtyard gate grew even more urgent.
Su Zhenzhen did not even put on her socks; she just slipped on her embroidered shoes and went out.
She straightened her clothes and hair, then opened the courtyard gate.
Standing at the door was Wei Heng, holding a horse by his side. He looked travel-worn; even his usually neat clothes were somewhat disheveled, not to mention his hair, which had been messed up by the summer wind.
"Miss Su, is my master with you?"
Su Zhenzhen raised her eyes, stared at Wei Heng for a moment, and then slowly shook her head. "No. What is wrong? Is he missing?"
Wei Heng nodded, his gaze subconsciously sweeping around the courtyard.
The courtyard was narrow and could be taken in at a glance.
Aside from a few closed rooms, there was no one else.
Wei Heng did not suspect Su Zhenzhen of lying to him.
Facing an emperor who wanted to kill her, a normal person would naturally want to send him as far away as possible. It was impossible to hide him in the room.
Unless she was crazy.
Wei Heng lowered his head and met Su Zhenzhen's eyes.
They were clean and clear, without a trace of impurity.
"Alright. If my master comes, have someone tell me."
Su Zhenzhen nodded.
Wei Heng turned and left to search elsewhere.
Su Zhenzhen quickly closed the courtyard door. Behind her, Little Persimmon was opening the door to get up. Seeing Su Zhenzhen standing in the courtyard, she asked in sign language, "What is wrong?"
"Nothing. I am going back to sleep for a while." Su Zhenzhen's expression remained unchanged.
Little Persimmon nodded, suddenly remembered something, and continued to gesture to Su Zhenzhen, "I got up last night and heard noises in your room."
Su Zhenzhen showed an expression of sudden realization. "I was playing with the cat."
How could it not be considered playing with a "cat"?
Little Persimmon nodded and went to open the shop.
Su Zhenzhen hurried back to her room.
She first used strips of cloth to seal the places where light leaked through the doors and windows, and only then let Lu Hexu out of the wardrobe.
The man was curled up in a pile of clothes. Because he was so tall and the wardrobe was narrow, he looked very cramped.
He sat there holding Su Zhenzhen's clothes, his face buried in them. Smelling the familiar herbal scent, his emotions were unusually stable, showing no signs of an episode.
Half of the bedsheet on his body slipped down, and Su Zhenzhen saw the scratch marks she had left on his back.
She was glad she had just sent Wei Heng away.
Otherwise, if he knew she had hidden Lu Hexu in her room and done some strange things to him, she would really have to swallow six pounds of silver needles.
Su Zhenzhen squatted down and met the man's eyes.
"Alright, let's wash up first." After speaking, she reached out to pull Lu Hexu.
The man obediently stood up and followed her.
The room on the first floor already did not get much light.
Now that the doors and windows were sealed, it was even darker inside.
Su Zhenzhen lit the bamboo stand lamp and took Lu Hexu to wash up.
The weather was hot, and the clothes that had been rinsed in spring water last night were already dry.
After Su Zhenzhen had Lu Hexu put them on, she left the room to find ice blocks.
Nowadays, private ice cellars had increased. A fist-sized block of ice cost a few copper coins, equivalent to an ordinary commoner's pocket money for a day.
Su Zhenzhen gritted her teeth and bought a large block, having someone carry it into the courtyard.
"Alright, I will carry the rest myself."
Su Zhenzhen paid the silver and let the person leave.
The ice block was wrapped in a straw quilt and tied with a hemp rope on the outside.
Su Zhenzhen pulled the hemp rope, dragging the ice block into the room, and then tipped it into a basin.
The man was staring at the bamboo frame lamp, seemingly feeling that this lamp was somewhat different from the one in his memory.
"This is a bamboo frame lamp." Su Zhenzhen hung it up, making the room appear a bit brighter.
Lu Hexu's gaze followed the bamboo frame lamp, and he spoke with a slightly hoarse voice, "Bamboo frame lamp."
The man was speaking more fluently now.
Perhaps he would fully recover by tomorrow.
Meeting Lu Hexu's pitch-black eyes, Su Zhenzhen felt a little panicked in her heart.
"Are you sure you won't remember what happened these past two days?"
Especially what happened last night.
The man tilted his head, seemingly not quite understanding what Su Zhenzhen was saying.
"Alright, look at me now."
Su Zhenzhen took out a sachet, holding the string it hung from with her fingertips, and swung it back and forth in front of Lu Hexu.
"Now, you feel your mind growing heavy..."
The man frowned, his gaze bypassing the sachet to stare at Su Zhenzhen.
"Don't look at me, look at the sachet."
Lu Hexu withdrew his gaze to look at the sachet.
His eyes followed the sachet back and forth, always containing a touch of confusion.
"Alright, now, you will forget what happened last night."
After Su Zhenzhen finished speaking, she put away the sachet, then touched his face and asked him, "Do you still remember what happened last night?"
[Shake your head, hurry up and shake your head!]
The man slowly shook his head.
Su Zhenzhen nodded in satisfaction.
Her hand pinched his jaw, and her gaze involuntarily swept over Lu Hexu's lips. She then gave a light cough. "Go hug the ice block to cool down. I'll go make you something to eat."
Su Zhenzhen turned and went to the small kitchen, closing the door behind her.
There weren't many vegetables in the small kitchen. Su Zhenzhen took out a little rice, cooked a pot of porridge, scooped out a bowl, and added a spoonful of white sugar on top.
Carrying the sugar-mixed porridge back into the room, she saw the man doing exactly as she had told him, sitting there hugging the ice block and waiting for her.
So obedient.
The man looked up at her, his pitch-black eyes reflecting her face.
Because of the angle, his pupils looked very round, with the corners of his eyes turned up, just like a cat.
Cute.
So cute.
"Come and eat the porridge."
Su Zhenzhen placed the porridge in her hands on the table.
The man stood up, his clothes half-soaked by the water dripping from the ice block.
He did not mind it, sitting down beside Su Zhenzhen. He stared at the white porridge in front of him and frowned.
"Try it."
Su Zhenzhen rested her chin on one hand and watched him.
Frowning, Lu Hexu picked up the spoon and took a bite.
It was sweet.
When Su Zhenzhen was a child, she loved eating white porridge mixed with sugar.
But that was her childhood taste; after growing up, she was no longer so obsessed with sweetness.
After the bowl of white porridge was finished, Su Zhenzhen took the bowl out, instructing Lu Hexu not to run around.
The man hugged the ice block, tilting his head and leaning there. Under the lamplight, his appearance was so outstanding it was almost demonic. His deep gaze settled on Su Zhenzhen's face, condensing an indescribable tenderness and burning heat.
Su Zhenzhen's breath caught.
She hurriedly went out holding the bowl.
Calm down, Su Zhenzhen.
That is not someone you can desire.
She had to send him back.
And she couldn't let anyone know she was the one who brought him back, otherwise, the marks on his body could not be hidden.
-
Today was Lu Hexu's third day in Su Zhenzhen's courtyard.
Su Zhenzhen made him a bowl of black sesame paste stewed with milk.
For some unknown reason, after he became able to speak, aside from answering Su Zhenzhen's questions, the man would inexplicably mention this black sesame paste stewed with milk.
Su Zhenzhen had no choice but to make him a bowl.
After he finished eating the black sesame paste stewed with milk and took today's medicine, Su Zhenzhen took advantage of the dark and windy night to bring him to the entrance of his residence.
"Alright, you stay here. I'm leaving first."
After saying that, Su Zhenzhen turned and walked away.
After taking three steps, she saw the man still following behind her.
"Go back, go back..." Afraid of being heard, Su Zhenzhen dared not speak loudly.
The man stared at her, his gaze burning.
Su Zhenzhen tentatively took a few more steps, and the man continued to follow behind her.
Should she just knock him out?
Thinking this, Su Zhenzhen raised her hand and tried to approach him.
At this moment, however, the man was unusually alert, completely denying her the chance to get close.
Su Zhenzhen: ...
Su Zhenzhen glanced at the tightly closed side door, then at Lu Hexu.
She thought for a moment, then followed the alley around to a small doorway.
This was the small door she had seen in Lu Hexu's residence last time.
Su Zhenzhen observed it for a moment; the lock on the small door was not very sturdy.
"Can you break this open?" Su Zhenzhen turned her head and asked Lu Hexu behind her.
The man was wearing the clothes he came in, and Su Zhenzhen had draped a black cloak over him.
Although the bottom of the cloak had been slightly snagged and unthreaded by Sushan, it still did not affect the man's temperament and beauty.
The black hood fell back, revealing a sharp and clear jawline. The lines were neat and smooth, tapering from behind the ear all the way to the tip of his chin, pulling taut into a cold, hard, yet beautiful curve.
The man walked over and, using only one hand, yanked the lock off.
The small door opened in response.
Su Zhenzhen poked her head in first to take a look; there was no one.
She led Lu Hexu inside and turned around, wanting to slip back out and close the door herself, but found that the lock was broken, and the man was still following her.
Forget it, might as well see it through to the end.
Su Zhenzhen still remembered the path Wei Heng had taken her on last time to go to Lu Hexu's main house.
Su Zhenzhen moved a rock to block the small door, then led Lu Hexu toward the main house.
Probably because the master was away, there were not many people in the residence. Without the contrast of human presence, it was terrifyingly quiet, like a deserted mansion.
But in fact, the residence was very beautiful, with black tiles and white walls complementing vermilion corridor pillars, and mottled bamboo shadows falling on the tiled pavilion eaves. It was only because there was no one around that it appeared extremely empty and silent.
Everywhere was pitch black and gloomy.
Su Zhenzhen couldn't help but glance behind her.
Lu Hexu was still following her, at a distance of about two meters behind her.
Su Zhenzhen inexplicably felt her heart soften, along with a bit of reluctance to part.
Perhaps, this would be their last time being close.
"Can I hold your hand?" Su Zhenzhen reached out to him.
The man thought for a moment, walked over, and held her hand.
[So warm.]
Su Zhenzhen's heart felt soft, yet tinged with an inexplicable sense of loss and melancholy. She held Lu Hexu's hand and continued walking forward.
The path was very short and was finished in no time.
They had already arrived at the door of Lu Hexu's main house.
After standing quietly for a while, Su Zhenzhen led Lu Hexu inside. What met their eyes was a vast expanse of rockery.
Scattered and stacked, extending in zigzags, they were connected by a corridor, and among them was a two-story pavilion.
This pavilion looked very much like the one she could see from her own courtyard.
"Will you go up? I want to go up and take a look."
Su Zhenzhen spoke subconsciously.
Lu Hexu looked down at her, not understanding what she was saying.
She wanted to see if she could see her courtyard from up there.
Furthermore, they were about to separate soon.
She was somewhat reluctant to let him go.
She wanted to stay a little longer.
Su Zhenzhen rubbed the man's fingertips.
Lu Hexu held her hand and led her up the rockery.
The artificial rockery was not low, with dozens of hand-carved stone steps that were very narrow, just barely wide enough for one person to pass.
Lu Hexu walked in front, with Su Zhenzhen following behind him. The two stepped on the jagged stone steps, walking step by step up the exquisitely stacked Taihu stone rockery.
After entering the corridor on the rockery, the summer breeze blew through from all sides, and Su Zhenzhen followed Lu Hexu into the pavilion.
The pavilion was not large and had no furniture inside. The windows on all four sides were polished and decorated with shells, and in the middle of each window, there was a plum blossom-shaped hollow, which was then sealed with green window screens.
The two stepped on the wooden stairs to the second floor.
The man acted as if he had been here countless times, leading Su Zhenzhen straight to a window.
Lu Hexu raised his hand and pushed open the window.
Su Zhenzhen followed his gaze and saw her own courtyard.
It was so clear.
She could even see Little Persimmon playing with Sushan in the courtyard.
[Would Lu Hexu secretly stand here and look at her?]
After Su Zhenzhen finished thinking, she laughed out loud at her own thought.
How could that be possible.
He wished he would never see her again.
Su Zhenzhen subconsciously tightened her grip on the man's hand, and the two stood quietly here for a while.
"Alright, I'll walk you inside."
Su Zhenzhen held his hand and they went down the artificial rockery.
The two came into the room. It wasn't Su Zhenzhen's first time here. She lifted the teapot on the table, took off the lid, and took a look.
There was still some water.
She poured Lu Hexu a cup of tea and added a little soothing powder to it.
"Come over and drink some water."
Lu Hexu was standing by his bed looking at the box by his pillow. Hearing Su Zhenzhen's words, he turned around.
Su Zhenzhen handed him the teacup in her hand.
The man took it, lowered his head to take a few sips, and then put it down, obviously not to his taste.
Although he drank little, the effect should be about the same.
Wait a moment, and you will have a good sleep, and then be discovered by Wei Heng.
Su Zhenzhen greedily reached out her hand and stroked the man's eyebrows.
Her fingertips were stained with water.
The man's eyelashes were stained with wet water, making them thinner and darker. As they brushed past the woman's fingertips, he tilted his head, letting Su Zhenzhen's hand land on his cheek.
The man's eyelids began to droop, as if he was about to fall asleep.
Su Zhenzhen helped him to the couch, stood up, and prepared to leave.
She walked to the door, wanting to take one last look, when she suddenly heard a gloomy voice from behind.
"Why are you here?"
Su Zhenzhen: ...
No, did he really have to wake up at this moment?
