“Xue’er!!!”
“Oh, you’re awake?”
It was Xiao Guo’er’s voice. Ignoring her, Chu Ruo threw back the covers and tried to scramble out of bed, but her movements were sluggish, the lingering effects of the medicine still weighing on her limbs. “My eyes... Xue’er...”
“They weren’t swapped, they weren’t swapped!” Xiao Guo’er and A’yue rushed over to steady her. “Stop moving. The medicine hasn't worn off yet. Lie back down for a bit.”
“Not swapped... Good, that’s good,” she murmured. Though her world was still a void of darkness, she instinctively raised her hands to touch her eyes, repeating like a mantra, “As long as they weren't swapped. That’s all that matters.”
Seeing her state, A’yue spoke up. “You don’t need to be so nervous. The eyes weren't swapped, but you’ve certainly managed to infuriate the Young Palace Master.”
“Xue’er...” Chu Ruo propped herself up again. “Where did she go?”
Xiao Guo’er pushed her back down. “Ugh, she’s fine. You made her so angry that she just doesn’t want to see you right now.”
“I made her angry? How did *I* provoke her? You’re not lying to me, are you? Is Xue’er really okay? Did she secretly swap the eyes while I was out...”
*Slap!* Xiao Guo’er smacked the top of her head, startling A’yue into a sharp cry. A’yue pulled the girl aside and whispered urgently, “Why are you being so rough? Did you forget the Young Palace Master’s orders? We are to look after her carefully. How can you treat her like that?”
Xiao Guo’er stuck out her tongue. “I forgot for a second.” She turned back and patted Chu Ruo’s shoulder. “I’m telling you, stop overthinking. The Young Palace Master is perfectly fine; she’s just fuming because of you. You refused to accept the eyes—did you know that medicine was incredibly potent? And yet, you actually maintained a shred of consciousness. That woman said the procedure couldn't be done unless you were willing. You’ve truly riled her up this time. Still... I actually admire you a bit now. At least you have a conscience. This is the Chu Ruo I used to know.”
Because of this incident, Xiao Guo’er’s attitude toward Chu Ruo had softened significantly. Otherwise, she would have been drowning Chu Ruo in spit every time she brought up Bai Zhi’er.
“You make it sound like I’m usually terrible to her.”
“Aren’t you? You and that woman surnamed Bai...”
“Alright, alright, if we keep going, we’ll just start fighting again. Where exactly did Xue’er go?”
“Nowhere far. She was feeling stifled by her anger, so she went for a walk nearby. Oh, right,” Xiao Guo’er reached for something on the table and handed it over. “This is for you.”
“A meat pie?”
A’yue smiled. “Yes. The Young Palace Master went out specifically to buy it for you.”
Chu Ruo took it and let out a silly, blissful grin. “Hehe, I knew Xue’er was the best to me.”
Xiao Guo’er chimed in from the side, “You must have been craving it again. Honestly, the Young Palace Master truly holds you in the palm of her hand, yet all you know how to do is upset her.”
“If I don’t upset her, am I supposed to just let her give me her eyes? How could I do something so shameless?”
“Just eat. Once you’re done, the two of us have to apply your medicine.”
“Huh?”
“What, ‘huh’? You’re covered in injuries. Your screams last night... honestly, I’m impressed. Couldn't you have just begged for mercy? The Young Palace Master left the ointment and told us to apply it to you...”
“I can do it myself.”
“Can you even see? You think A’yue and I *want* to look at you? Please.”
A’yue suppressed a smile. “Alright, stop teasing her. Her hand injuries are the most severe, so the Young Palace Master specifically asked us to dress those. As for the rest, we’ll leave it to you.”
“See? Look how nice A’yue is compared to you, always picking on me. Thank you, A’yue.” Chu Ruo knew her Little Scorpion was a total vinegar jar—no, she was just intensely possessive. There was no way she’d allow anyone else to apply medicine to the rest of Chu Ruo's body.
“We’ve known each other for a long time now, and given your relationship with the Young Palace Master... there’s no need for thanks,” A’yue replied.
“Xiao Guo-guo, why can’t you be more like her?”
Xiao Guo’er huffed. “Pfft.”
“By the way, what happened to Xue’er’s hand? I felt bandages on it earlier. How did she get hurt?”
Xiao Guo’er, who had been looking for a chance to get back at Chu Ruo, immediately jumped on the opportunity. “It’s a miracle you even noticed.”
“What’s that supposed to mean...”
“Save it, I’m not in the mood to bicker. The Young Palace Master’s hand... at the end of the day, it’s all because of a bastard like you.”
“Hey, watch your mouth. No cursing.”
“It’s the truth! After you ran away, she was so frantic that she punched a hole right through a table. Think about it—she doesn't have her martial arts right now. How much force must she have used? Her hand wouldn't stop bleeding, but she didn't even care. Her first words were to tell us to find you. You tell me—wasn't that a scoundrel move on your part?”
“Xue’er...” Chu Ruo’s eyes filled with heartache and self-reproach. “But if I hadn't done that, she would have swapped her eyes for mine. I’d rather she hate me, beat me, or curse me than take her eyes.”
“I don’t know if you’re brave or just stupid. Usually, you’re as cowardly as they come, but then you go and pull these life-threatening stunts and act as stubborn as a mule. This time, you and the Young Palace Master are exactly the same—neither of you will budge an inch. I’d like to see how you handle this.”
“I...”
Just then, Nan Muxue returned. Chu Ruo heard the footsteps first, but A’yue was the one to call out, “Young—Miss is back.”
Nan Muxue said nothing. Xiao Guo’er and A’yue shared a look and tactfully took their leave.
“Xue...” Chu Ruo’s first instinct was to go to her, but remembering the eye-swap conflict, she felt a surge of stubbornness. She sat back down and remained silent.
Watching her reaction, Nan Muxue felt a flicker of amusement despite the lingering fury she’d felt before entering. Suppressing a smile, she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. She picked up the ointment, her movements far from gentle. She roughly shoved up Chu Ruo’s sleeve and began rubbing the medicine into the bruises on her arm, all without saying a word.
“Hiss—!” Chu Ruo grimaced, her face contorting in pain. *You Little Scorpion, you’re doing this on purpose! Usually you’re so tender, but today you’ve got no restraint at all. You’re practically kneading me to death!* She tried to be brave and endure it through gritted teeth, but as the pressure intensified, she finally cried out, “Gentler, gentler! It hurts...”
“If it doesn't hurt, you won't learn your lesson.”
*Heartless. Cold-blooded, heartless Little Scorpion. So icy. You don't love me at all. You aren't coaxing me gently like you used to, saying ‘I’ll be careful’ or ‘Be a good girl, Ruo’er.’ You aren't even hugging me. This sucks. This totally sucks.*
“Ow, ow, ow!” Seeing the expressions shifting rapidly across Chu Ruo’s face, Nan Muxue knew exactly what she was thinking. She immediately increased the pressure tenfold, causing cold sweat to break out on Chu Ruo’s forehead. “Go ahead, use more strength! Why don't you just kill me with the pain? I’m telling you, I won't learn a thing! I—Ow! It hurts!”
“Since you’re so brave, stop screaming. Endure it.”
*...To hell with that.* Fine, if she wasn't supposed to scream, she wouldn't. Chu Ruo felt around the bedside for the white handkerchief she’d prepared, stuffed it into her mouth, and bit down. Despite the agonizing pain in her arm, she didn't make another sound.
The half-hour it took to apply the medicine was likely the most torturous experience of her life.
Finally, Nan Muxue pulled the handkerchief from her mouth. “So, you really are that stubborn?”
Chu Ruo didn't even have the strength to talk back. she collapsed back onto the bed, completely limp. She didn't want to move a muscle, not even her tongue. This Little Scorpion was definitely doing this on purpose—settling a private grudge under the guise of medical treatment. It felt like her bones were being dismantled. *Waaa, I’m so miserable.*
Perhaps seeing that she was truly in agony, Nan Muxue spoke up. “Your arms are covered in deep bruises. If I don't use force, how will the blood stasis clear?”
“And whose fault... is it that I’m bruised?” Chu Ruo replied weakly.
“I think I went too light on you.”
“You!”
“If you dare do it again, I’ll beat you to death.”
Chu Ruo, apparently having no fear of death, retorted, “I don’t believe you. You said you were going to beat me to death last night, too.”
“Are you truly not afraid?”
“If it’s about the eye-swap, even if you really did beat me to death, I wouldn't be afraid.”
The atmosphere had just begun to soften, but Chu Ruo’s words reignited Nan Muxue’s temper. “Chu Ruo!”
“Nan Muxue!” Chu Ruo mimicked her tone. “If you keep pushing me, I’ll go find Zhi’er. Zhi’er wouldn't treat me like this. She would respect my decisions, and she certainly wouldn't beat me.”
Normally, such a comment would earn her a scolding at most. But today, when Nan Muxue stood up and returned, she was holding that familiar wooden stick.
***
Half a month later...
“Ow, ow! Sister Guo’er, please, have mercy. I’m literally falling apart.”
“Serves you right for having such a loose tongue. Your old wounds haven't even healed before you add new ones. Tell me, has there been a single day in the last half-month that you’ve escaped a thrashing? How can you be so incapable of learning? You’re even dumber than Wangcai, the village dog who only remembers the food and forgets the beatings.”
“Do you have any sympathy at all? Hiss... rub more gently!”
“Big brother, I’m already being as gentle as I can! Your arms are so battered I don't even know where to start. Why do you have to provoke the Young Palace Master every single day? You keep mentioning that woman surnamed Bai—of course you’re going to get beaten. You’re lucky she hasn't flayed you alive.”
“Is it all my fault?” Chu Ruo winced repeatedly. “I only mention her occasionally. Meanwhile, she’s been meeting with that Qian Tong every day, flaunting him right in front of me! She’s the one taking actual action, alright? Who’s really upsetting whom? And then she comes back and gives me a beating on top of it. I’m the one who’s miserable here, exhausted in body and soul!”
Xiao Guo’er sighed. “Actually, you only bring up that Bai woman to make the Young Palace Master angry, don't you? If she’s angry, she won't try to give you her eyes.”
Chu Ruo smiled. “Even you can see it. How could Xue’er not know?”
“Then why keep doing it? Why suffer all this physical pain?”
“I want her to know that I’m upsetting her on purpose. I want her to understand that I will never agree to the eye-swap.”
A’yue shook her head. “But once the Young Palace Master decides on something, how could she change her mind? I’ve served her since we were children; I know her temperament. Once she’s made a choice, she never wavers.”
“Neither do I. As long as she doesn't give up on that idea, I’ll keep provoking her. It’s better if she gets so angry that she loses interest in giving me her eyes altogether.”
Xiao Guo’er gave a mischievous grin. “It seems to me like you’re the one who’s angrier. Every time Qian Tong shows up, you puff up like a disgruntled toad.”
*That damn Little Scorpion. If you want to throw a tantrum, fine, but why do you have to find someone else? As if I’m not annoyed enough!* “Curse her! Sooner or later, I’m going to find Zhi’er and spend romantic nights under the stars and the moon with her. I’ll make that Little Scorpion die of jealousy!”
“Miss~”
It was the panicked voices of Xiao Guo’er and A’yue, followed by the sound of brisk, wind-swept footsteps. Chu Ruo knew that today’s thrashing was unavoidable. *Heavens, just kill me. Having a wife who resorts to domestic violence is truly a bitter life. Save me, I’m suffering...*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
钱通 | Qian Tong | A man Nan Muxue spends time with to make Chu Ruo jealous.
肉饼 | Roubing | Meat pie; a flatbread filled with meat.
旺财 | Wangcai | A common dog name (lit. "Prosperous Wealth").
家暴 | Jiabao | Domestic violence.
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 157 | A Daily Thrashing | Novela.app | Novela.app
