"Come and have some soup."
The person on the bed clicked her tongue twice before scurrying over to the table with a grin. "You’ve been giving me nothing but soups and tonics all day. What kind of soup is it today?"
Nan Muxue didn't bother arguing with her and simply brought a spoonful of hot soup to her lips. Chu Ruo became even more smug. "Aiya, wife, your awareness is really improving! You’re even taking the initiative to feed me without me having to ask."
"I only do it to keep my ears at peace," Nan Muxue replied coolly.
"Look at you, always so tsundere. Mm, what is this soup? It smells quite fragrant."
"Szechuan lovage and angelica stewed with fish head."
Of all the things she could have said, Chu Ruo chose that moment to blurt out, "You stewed Zhier?"
*Clatter!* It was over. The fish soup instantly lost its fragrance. "What was that?" Nan Muxue’s voice was cold—familiar, terrifyingly cold. It was the tone she used right before she was about to blow a fuse. No, she had already blown it. "You really never stop thinking about her, do you?" She hooked her finger under Chu Ruo’s chin. This wasn't a flirtatious gesture; it felt like she was preparing to skin her alive. "Do you want to eat her that badly?"
...What scandalous phrasing! And she said it with such a straight face. *Little Scorpion, you’ve changed. You’re getting more and more suggestive, not proper at all!* "Uh, Xue’er, I... I meant..."
"Or do you truly want to eat her flesh?"
Chu Ruo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I don't..."
"I could carve off a piece for you. Or perhaps I should invite her over?"
Chu Ruo was on the verge of tears, her face falling into a miserable pout. "Xue’er..."
*Tsk, tsk, tsk.*
Duan Ning and the others approached, only to see Xiao Guo’er standing outside the room, clicking her tongue repeatedly. Curious, they asked, "What’s wrong?"
Before she could answer, a miserable shriek from inside the room gave them the answer. Xiao Guo’er burst into giggles. "I think we should come back later."
...
"Xue’er, don't be angry anymore..."
"Do you think that every time you act like this, I'll just let it go?" Nan Muxue was determined not to let her off easy this time.
Chu Ruo squatted on the floor, looking "pitiful" as she tugged on the other woman’s sleeve. "I was wrong, I was wrong, okay?"
"Then hurry up and go see if your Lady Zhier is missing a few pounds of flesh, or go check the kitchen..."
"Xue’er~" Chu Ruo played the rogue as usual, burying her head against her beloved’s waist. "It was just a slip of the tongue. You’re always getting jealous over things like this."
Nan Muxue narrowed her eyes. "Say that again?"
"I was saying... how come I never get to spend New Year’s at the Hundred Flowers Palace? This time I even dragged you out here with me."
Knowing full well she was deliberately changing the subject, the sentiment was nonetheless sincere. Nan Muxue cupped the face that haunted her dreams. "I will take you back later. If you like it there, we will go."
Chu Ruo would repeat it tirelessly: "I only like the places where you are, Xue’er..."
That last call, for some reason, sounded heartbreaking. Nan Muxue hurriedly responded, "What is it?"
Chu Ruo shook her head and stood up, pulling Nan Muxue—who was sitting on the edge of the bed—into her arms. This gesture felt like a reversal of their time at the Hundred Flowers Palace, in the study, where this beloved woman would hold her in the same way, always giving her an inexplicable sense of security. Now, she wanted to pass her own warmth to the person she loved most. "Mm, my Xue’er is the most comfortable to hold." She didn't mention a single word of that day’s conversation. Sometimes, not knowing is a form of happiness.
"Ruo’er," Nan Muxue started to speak, but ultimately swallowed her words. She cooperated, wrapping her arms around Chu Ruo’s waist. "Mm. Hold me tighter."
"Of course," Chu Ruo kissed her forehead. "I really wish I could hold you like this forever and never let go."
That night, Chu Ruo lay in bed. Though she found it hard to sleep, she didn't move an inch. She was afraid of waking the person beside her, and even more afraid that Nan Muxue would notice something was wrong. In any case, whether her eyes were open or closed, there was only darkness.
"You’re quite well-behaved tonight," a gentle voice whispered in her ear. In an instant, she was pulled over to lie on top of the other woman. Nan Muxue smoothed back her hair and let out a soft laugh. "Hmm?"
"Xue’er, you... you aren't asleep? Or did I wake—"
"My Ruo’er hasn't slept yet; how could I, your Master, sleep soundly? I’m not heartless like a certain someone."
"You..."
Nan Muxue stroked her eyes. "What is on your mind?"
"Nothing. You’re overthinking it. There’s nothing."
A jade-like finger pressed against her lips. "Didn't I say? I don't like it when you lie to me. You always forget. Besides, you might be able to deceive the whole world, but you can never deceive me."
"No, really, there’s nothing."
"You haven't slept for nights. What exactly are you thinking about?"
"I haven't... I’ve been sleeping perfectly well."
Nan Muxue laughed. "You were afraid of disturbing me, afraid I’d find out you have something on your heart, so you didn't dare move. But you forgot, my Ruo’er," she looked up, her eyes full of deep affection, "when have you ever been well-behaved?"
Chu Ruo finally forced a smile. "How come it sounds like there’s a problem if I move, and a problem if I don't?"
"Correct. You can't hide anything from me, Chu Ruo." Nan Muxue suddenly became serious. "You are mine. Your person, your heart, and even your thoughts. So, tell me, what are you thinking about?"
Chu Ruo chuckled. "You, little scorpion... you’re just so overbearing."
Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow. "Will you speak or not?"
"No."
"You—"
"Xue’er, don't ask, okay?"
Hearing the pleading tone, Nan Muxue froze. In her memory, when had this disobedient girl ever been so serious, so helplessly begging her? It had never happened. This only made her more uneasy. She didn't get angry; instead, she spoke with increasing tenderness. "Why won't you tell me? Didn't you say that honesty is the most important thing between two people?"
"I..."
"Didn't we agree that from now on, we wouldn't hide anything from each other? Ruo’er, actually, no matter what it is, I don't care. I only care about your feelings, about everything that concerns you. Do you understand?"
*If you feel this way, how could I feel any different?* Chu Ruo buried her face and kissed the sweet lips she had possessed countless times. "I know, of course I know. We are each other’s everything..."
"Ruo’er."
A kiss was always worth savoring, but Chu Ruo remained draped over her. She seemed sluggish, pressing her head desperately into the crook of Nan Muxue’s neck as if trying to draw out every bit of warmth. She didn't answer the call, only tightened her embrace.
"You simply refuse to say it, don't you?"
The words were light, devoid of accusation or anger. Instead, they sounded like a resigned, amused sigh. Finally, Nan Muxue reached up to pinch Chu Ruo’s burning ear before leaning in to kiss it. "It seems I’ve truly spoiled you."
This finally got a reaction from Chu Ruo. She laughed and asked, "Have you?"
"What do you think?"
"I am your precious disciple and your future husband. Spoiling me is only right and proper, isn't it?"
"You really are shameless."
"That’s one of my virtues. Otherwise, how would I have chased you down back then?"
Nan Muxue’s lips moved to Chu Ruo’s eyes. "It’s related to my parentage, isn't it?"
"No."
"Ruo’er," Nan Muxue said calmly, showing no emotion. "Even if your face remains calm, your breath, your pulse, and your heartbeat have all betrayed you. That day, you used the excuse of taking Bai Zhier back to her room, but in reality, you went back to find Tu Ao’zhi, didn't you?"
Seeing that Chu Ruo didn't answer, Nan Muxue continued on her own. "Do you know? Every time you act like this toward me, you’re very clumsy."
"It’s clearly because you’re too smart."
"What did he say to you?" It wasn't a question. She quickly continued, "What he told us wasn't the whole truth. My mother loved Bai Xue, didn't she?"
Chu Ruo spoke with a hint of suspicion, "Did you also sneak back to eavesdrop on our conversation?"
If this were any other time, she would have received a flick or at least a roll of the eyes. But this was Nan Muxue; if she couldn't guess this much, she wouldn't be herself. "It wasn't hard to guess. I imagine the reason she gave me this name was simply for the sake of one person." (Note: Muxue means 'Admiring Xue')
"How did you guess that? Just from the name? Sometimes it’s just a coincidence. This is too mystical."
"And that phrase—that I am just as rebellious in my bones as my mother. I didn't think much of it before, but now it fits. What else would be called 'rebellious'? From the moment he said the four of them were sworn siblings, I had an idea."
Chu Ruo sighed from the bottom of her heart. "My god. Just based on one unintentional comment he made back then, you could analyze all this?"
"Blame your own stupidity."
"You—"
But Nan Muxue’s next words made Chu Ruo’s eyes widen even further. "If it were just that, it wouldn't make you act so abnormally. So, the key lies with the fourth person: Bai Ji."
"Xue’er, let’s rest..."
"What is it that makes you avoid the subject so much? I guessed just now that it was related to my birth. Tu Ao’zhi has always shown great guilt toward my mother. Since he mentioned aphrodisiacs, it means such a thing existed back then, and something happened. From his words and expression, he certainly wasn't the one who administered the drug. Since he wasn't the one, yet he feels guilty, then something happened between him and my mother. But that still isn't enough to make you keep silent. He crippled Bai Ji’s martial arts, which means he was also furious. He is very protective of children, even his foster daughters Bai Zhier and Bai Shan. Seeing his attitude toward me, I know I have no blood relation to him. Therefore, more than one person was involved that night. There was also Bai Ji. Bai Ji is most likely my father."
...Chu Ruo really didn't know how to stop her, how to make this Little Scorpion stop thinking about it. She couldn't block her thoughts at all. This woman was simply too terrifying; with just a few tiny clues, without Chu Ruo revealing a single syllable, she had guessed almost everything. But this was exactly the situation Chu Ruo hadn't wanted to see. If she had known it would end like this, why had she bothered to dig for the truth that day? Thinking of this, Chu Ruo wanted to slap herself. "Xue’er, let’s not talk about it anymore, okay? I want to rest."
Whenever Nan Muxue talked this much, it was never a good sign. "Even if Bai Ji is my father, why would that make you hesitate? Your Zhier and I would simply become sisters, which would be a perfect opportunity to resolve our so-called grudge. You must have thought of something else. That’s why after you came back from Tu Ao’zhi, you ran to your Zhier to ask her some things to confirm your suspicions."
Every single point was a direct hit! *Can't this woman be just a little bit stupider?* "Nan Muxue, why are you always so smart?"
"Why didn't you ask Tu Ao’zhi? Because you wanted to confirm what the truth really was. Because Bai Zhier wouldn't lie to you. Are you still refusing to speak, my dear Ruo’er?"
But Chu Ruo had always been stubborn, just as she was back at the Hundred Flowers Palace. "What is there to say? You already know everything. It’s fine now. Let’s sleep."
Nan Muxue didn't get angry at all tonight. She seemed to sigh. Chu Ruo very, very rarely heard her Xue’er sigh. She grew anxious. "Xue’er, I... I..."
"It’s nothing," Nan Muxue comforted the restless girl. "Tu Ao’zhi lied partly out of guilt, and partly, I suspect, because he wanted to resolve our hatred. Bai Zhier and Bai Shan are sworn to eliminate us, so if I killed..."
"Don't say it!" Chu Ruo covered the other woman’s lips, her expression one of pain and struggle. "Xue’er, let’s not talk about it anymore, okay? No more... no more..."
Licking away the moisture at the corner of Chu Ruo’s eye, Nan Muxue looked at her with heartache. "Ruo’er, why are you so silly? It has nothing to do with you."
"No, Xue’er..."
"I told you, the only thing I care about is you. You are my only weakness, my only love."
Chu Ruo buried her head even deeper in shame. "I..."
"You are not allowed to cry, and especially not for me. The lover of Nan Muxue is only allowed to smile for me."
"Okay." Chu Ruo braced herself, squeezed out a smile, and took the initiative to kiss her. "Xue’er, I promise you. I will only smile for you."
Nan Muxue kissed her back passionately, even urgently. She smiled inwardly. *You dummy, do you really think I’m the only one who can guess the truth?*
***
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 188 | The Sharpness of Truth | Novela.app | Novela.app
