Chapter 3

Chapter 3

The next few days passed peacefully.

On the seventh day, I went out again.

To the same small courtyard.

Lu Ying’an still wore his official robes, so he had likely just left court. His cheeks were unnaturally flushed. The instant he saw me, he understood and dragged me into the inner room.

His brows drew together in disbelief. “Didn’t we cure it last time? Why has it returned?”

I pursed my lips and answered honestly, “I never said doing that would cure it. We still need an antidote. Until then, the poison will flare every seven days.”

His lips trembled. “You mean…”

Afraid he might faint from anger, I rushed to reassure him. “Don’t worry! I’ve already sent a letter home. The antidote can arrive in two or three months at the earliest.”

The night after our first encounter, I had sent a carrier pigeon to Mother and begged her to send one at all costs.

“…”

Lu Ying’an seemed to breathe again. Through clenched teeth, he said, “Once this gu is removed, we will become strangers.”

That sounded wonderful!

I nodded eagerly.

For some reason, my ready agreement darkened his expression. He swept me into his arms and carried me toward the bed.

I did not struggle.

Whatever else one might say about him, it wasn’t only his heart that was hard…

The following three months treated me rather well. Sometimes, when I was in a good mood, I arrived early and cooked dinner for him.

Lu Ying’an had no parents and ordinarily lived alone. He never admitted it aloud, but his manner toward me softened. He even coaxed me into staying for several extra rounds, claiming it would make his next attack easier to bear.

I felt guilty, so I seldom refused.

After all, he truly had suffered because of me. As the top scholar, he could have chosen from countless women, yet one careless mistake had bound him to my love gu.

If only I had not gone to watch the parade that day, none of this would have happened.

Fortunately, Mother came through. She sent the antidote.

I calculated the date and was preparing to leave when a commotion sounded outside. My mother-in-law emerged with a servant supporting her. When she saw me dressed to go out, she fell silent for a moment.

For months, I had invented excuses whenever I left: one day, a close friend’s birthday; the next, a meal at Cloud Pavilion. Mother feared I would grow bored in the residence, so she never stopped me.

I was the guilty one, racking my brain for every excuse and sweating each time I lied.

Today, she suspected nothing. Instead, she took my hand with delight.

“Hanchuan is home. Come meet him with me.”

I froze.

Zhou Hanchuan had returned?