Chapter 60
Chapter 60
The bedchamber doors, shut all night, were opened at last.
A breath of fresh wind blew through the doorway, and Xing Shuwei immediately felt the sweat covering her body dry.
A cool sensation swept through her from head to toe.
The estate physician entered, sat on the stool beside the bed, and reached out to take Xing Shuwei’s pulse.
Pei Xianjing stood nearby with his hands clasped behind his back, his eyes fixed on the physician’s fingers.
After roughly eight minutes, a smile appeared on the estate physician’s face.
“Miss Xing’s high fever has broken. Thank heaven-Miss Xing did not contract the epidemic.”
This outbreak was extremely dangerous. Had she contracted it, whether she could be cured would have depended on fate.
At those words, the great weight pressing on Xing Shuwei’s heart finally lifted.
She propped herself up and said in relief, “That’s wonderful.”
Her limpid eyes turned toward Pei Xianjing. “Please examine the Eldest Young Master’s pulse as well, Physician Chu.”
At last, a faint smile touched Pei Xianjing’s lips. “There is no need. If you are fine, then I certainly will be too.”
Xing Shuwei patiently urged him, “You should still let the estate physician examine you.”
The physician agreed. “Yes, Eldest Young Master. Allow this humble one to examine you once more, so Miss Xing can be at ease.”
By now, everyone throughout the estate knew of her relationship with Pei Xianjing.
She had no idea what the Duke thought of it or how he would deal with her.
At those thoughts, Xing Shuwei could not help sighing softly.
Under their persuasion, Pei Xianjing extended his hand to the estate physician.
There was nothing wrong with his health. Although he had become a civil official, he had never neglected his martial arts.
Strong and robust, his constitution was far better than that of an ordinary frail scholar.
After completing the examination, the estate physician took his leave and went outside to prepare Xing Shuwei’s medicine.
Gao Li entered carrying two bowls of plain rice porridge and several refreshing side dishes, which she set on the small table beside the bed.
“Eldest Young Master, this servant will go prepare hot water for both of you,” Gao Li said, seeking permission.
Neither of them had bathed since returning from outside the city yesterday.
“Mm, prepare it.” As Pei Xianjing spoke, he picked up a bowl of porridge and began feeding Xing Shuwei with a spoon.
Xing Shuwei reached out to take it. “I can do it myself.”
“Open your mouth,” Pei Xianjing coaxed.
She had no choice but to part her red lips and swallow the porridge he brought to her mouth.
After drinking less than half a bowl, Xing Shuwei shook her head and refused to take any more.
When he persisted in bringing the spoon to her lips, Xing Shuwei complained coyly, “If I drink any more, my stomach truly won’t be able to hold it.”
“No one is more willful than you.” Pei Xianjing showed no distaste and drained the rest of her porridge in one gulp.
“I drank from that.” Xing Shuwei raised a hand to stop him, but she was too late.
Pei Xianjing lifted his dark lashes and stared at her as he enunciated each word. “When have I ever found anything about you distasteful?
“And this half bowl of porridge is hardly the only thing of yours I have tasted.”
As he spoke, his lips curved into a teasing smile.
Xing Shuwei instantly realized the implication in his words, and two patches of crimson swiftly bloomed across her cheeks. “You truly are…”
There was nothing he would not say aloud!
At the sight of Xing Shuwei’s flushed cheeks, the smile on his lips deepened.
His burning gaze remained fixed on her.
How had she never noticed before that he took such wicked pleasure in teasing her?
Xing Shuwei’s eyes darted away. She lifted the brocade quilt covering the lower half of her body. “Since I did not contract the epidemic, I should return to Qianchen Pavilion.”
“Why the hurry?”
As Pei Xianjing spoke, he wrapped an arm around her slender waist. “Everyone in the estate already knows you are in my courtyard. You no longer need to hide whenever you see someone.”
His arm was astonishingly strong, and he pulled Xing Shuwei into his embrace in one motion.
“Now that you’re full, it is time for your bath.”
Gao Li and the others filled the bathing tub, then tactfully withdrew, closing the bedchamber doors behind them.
Pei Xianjing deftly stripped Xing Shuwei of her clothes, carried her to the bathing tub, and lowered her lightly into the water.
Xing Shuwei gripped the rim of the tub and watched him loosen his robes and step into the water.
“In broad daylight? We cannot!” Xing Shuwei cried anxiously.
Her heart pounded wildly.
She tried to rise and leave, but his arm had already circled her waist.
He leaned over her ear from behind and breathed warm air against it. “Weiwei has only just recovered and is still weak. Let me take good care of you.”
Xing Shuwei did not dare move in his arms. His body had already told her in the most direct possible way what he was thinking.
Seeing her frown, Pei Xianjing raised a hand and touched the space between her brows. “Don’t frown. You have been frowning far too often lately. Soon, there will be a crease between your brows.”
A droplet of water slid down the bridge of her straight nose and came to rest at its tip.
Mist swirled around them, sheathing Xing Shuwei’s shoulders in a fine layer of moisture.
Pei Xianjing bent and pressed a kiss to her fragrant shoulder.
Xing Shuwei’s body tensed, and her shoulders instinctively hunched.
Pei Xianjing kissed her more deeply.
Countless kisses trailed from her shoulder to her neck.
“Do you know how much I have suffered while you were angry with me these past few days?” His words were blunt.
Xing Shuwei did not answer and only pleaded, “I’m still ill.”
“Physician Chu said you have recovered.”
His voice brooked no refusal.
Xing Shuwei’s entire back pressed against his chest, and for a moment, she could not tell which of them was burning hot.
“But I don’t feel well.” Every part of her resisted.
“You’ll feel better after working up a sweat. Is there any faster way to do that?” he coaxed softly.
“Everything you say is twisted logic.”
Only then did Xing Shuwei discover that the bathing tub she had previously used in his courtyard had somehow been replaced by a larger one.
His cool lips covered her crimson ones, swallowing everything she wanted to say.
Beneath his gentle yet forceful advances, Xing Shuwei’s reason remained, but her body surrendered first.
She felt like a willow branch brushing the water in a breeze, so soft that she seemed about to sink beneath the surface.
Pei Xianjing supported her and brought her floating back up again.
“Pei Xianjing, don’t…” Xing Shuwei cried in panic.
“Hmm?” Pei Xianjing deliberately feigned ignorance. “Don’t what?”
“Does Weiwei dislike it? Do you dislike only the way I am touching you, or do you dislike doing this at all?”
Driven into a haze by him, Xing Shuwei opened her mouth, but instead of complete words, only broken whimpers emerged.
As she lost control, she reached a hand behind her and clutched Pei Xianjing’s shoulder.
The sounds from the water mingled with the sound of servants sweeping outside and entered Xing Shuwei’s ears…
She was so nervous that even her breathing fell into disarray.
Pei Xianjing’s broad hand caressed her body. He caught her earlobe between his teeth and said, “Move into Qiansheng Pavilion from now on.”
“No.” Even now, Xing Shuwei had not completely lost her reason.
“Why not? What about like this? Or like this?” Pei Xianjing kept changing positions as he questioned her without pause.
“Yes… yes… Fine, yes! Please…”
Broken pleas spilled from Xing Shuwei’s lips.
She truly had lost her mind. Saying “no” to him at a time like this… Was she not simply asking to suffer?