Pushing open the door, she found the girl exactly as expected—still fast asleep in bed. A faint smile touched her lips as she carried the bowl of medicine over, sat down carefully, and gave her a gentle shake. "Ruo’er? Ruo’er?"
"Mmm..." Chu Ruo murmured dizzily. Feeling someone nudging her, she shifted slightly, but that was the extent of her movement before she drifted off again.
Suppressing a chuckle, Nan Muxue said, "Wake up and take your medicine."
*Medicine.* The word acted like a cold splash of water. Chu Ruo snapped awake instantly. As luck would have it, the acrid scent of the herbal brew wafted into her nose, nearly making her gag. She immediately clapped her hands over her face, sealing her mouth shut. "Not drinking it. I won't drink it even if you kill me."
"How old are you, still throwing a tantrum like a child?" Nan Muxue coaxed her with remarkable patience. "Put your hands down."
Chu Ruo peeked through a tiny gap between her fingers, her dark eyes darting around. "No."
"You..." Nan Muxue reached through the gap anyway, pressing her palm against the girl’s burning forehead. "You’re burning up like this and you still won't take your medicine? How long do you intend to be difficult?"
"This Chinese medicine is too bitter. I can't get it down."
"If you drink it obediently, I’ll allow you to go out to the streets."
Chu Ruo shook her head. "I’m not going. The swelling on my face hasn't gone down anyway, and didn't you tell me to rest for the day? I’m staying in."
"Since when have you become so obedient to your Master’s words?"
"If I don't listen, you get angry. If I do, you find it strange." Seeing that the other woman had set the bowl on the bedside table, Chu Ruo finally felt safe enough to move her hands and cushion them behind her head. "Besides, didn't you send people to guard the inn? If I go out, they’ll probably just haul me back like a little chick."
Nan Muxue couldn't help but brush a stray hair from Chu Ruo’s brow, amused by her nonsensical metaphors. She scooped up a spoonful of medicine. "I’ll feed you."
Chu Ruo’s brow furrowed again. "No."
Then—well, Chu Ruo let out a silent wail of despair. How could she have forgotten that the woman before her was a "Little Scorpion"? Her chin was suddenly gripped in a firm hold, her mouth forced open, and a spoonful of exceptionally bitter medicine was poured in. The Little Scorpion had mentioned adding more ingredients last night; Chu Ruo didn't know about the efficacy, but the bitterness had certainly doubled. She struggled, choked, and began to cough violently. "Cough... cough!"
Nan Muxue immediately let go. Seeing her chance, Chu Ruo gave a sly grin and, with a wet *splat*, spat out the unswallowed medicine. She then continued to fake her fit. "Cough, cough, cough... cough!"
Nan Muxue rolled her eyes in exasperation. Knowing full well the girl was doing it on purpose, she picked up the entire bowl. "Keep drinking."
With a miserable face, Chu Ruo whined, "I won't."
"Will you drink it or not?"
Heaven knows where she found the courage, but Chu Ruo blurted out, "I... won't!"
The air around them began to chill. Sensing a bad omen, a shiver ran down Chu Ruo’s spine. She looked up tremulously, only to see Nan Muxue drain the bowl in a single gulp. Before she could process her confusion, the woman suddenly leaned down, her lips capturing Chu Ruo’s with unerring precision! No—to be exact, the Little Scorpion was holding the medicine in her mouth and passing it to her mouth-to-mouth!
*Oh god, I’m dying.* Chu Ruo found she couldn't spit it out this time. The medicine flowed in so fast she had no time to refuse. Moreover, it was now accompanied by a delicate fragrance and the soft, lingering sensation of lips against hers, which somehow added a hint of sweetness to the draught. All in all, it seemed she didn't actually mind being fed this way? In fact, she even enjoyed it a little. It turned out those tropes in historical dramas weren't lies after all; they really were quite wonderful.
...
The medicine had long since been swallowed, but neither of them pulled away. They remained pressed together, and Chu Ruo, emboldened, began to seek out the other’s tongue. They became entangled once more until they were both breathless and finally forced to part.
Gazing at the crimson clouds blooming on Nan Muxue’s cheeks, Chu Ruo instinctively reached out, her thumb tracing the woman’s lips. "You..."
She didn't know what to say next. Nan Muxue, unable to bear the ticklish sensation, tilted her head slightly, which only caused them to huddle closer. She let out a soft cough. "Will you remember to take your medicine properly from now on?"
*Take medicine properly?* Impossible. Not in this lifetime. Especially now that she had tasted the most exquisite way of being fed, how could she ever go back to swallowing that bitter sludge normally? She let out a flirtatious laugh. "I’m afraid not. I might have to trouble Shifu to continue using the method you just employed."
"You!" Nan Muxue’s almond eyes widened slightly, but she couldn't bring herself to scold her harshly. She changed the subject. "Are you hungry? I’ll have someone bring up some food."
Chu Ruo looked at her with a half-smile and a look of utter disbelief. Confused, Nan Muxue asked, "What is it?"
The girl burst into laughter. "My lady, you really are something. Can you not see this entire table of food?"
Nan Muxue turned toward the table and realized it was indeed covered in dishes, though each was tightly concealed by a bowl or plate. Earlier, she had walked straight in with the medicine, her heart set on feeding Chu Ruo, so she hadn't spared a single glance for anything else. Seeing it now, combined with the way the girl on the bed was clutching her stomach in laughter, she felt a rare pang of embarrassment. "When did you have the waiter prepare this?"
"What waiter? This meal was prepared by yours truly—your darling disciple," Chu Ruo said, hopping out of bed. "I just gave them some money to use their kitchen and ingredients, but I did everything myself. I even washed every single leaf of those vegetables. Don't worry, it’s absolutely clean and delicious. Hehe."
Nan Muxue’s eyes were full of smiles, yet she remained stubborn. "Boasting of your own wares."
"Hey, you don't believe me? Come, come." Chu Ruo grabbed her hand and pulled her to the table, beginning to uncover the dishes. "They’re starting to get lukewarm. I thought you’d be back sooner, so I rushed to finish them, but you took forever."
"I was delayed by some business." Meeting Yunshuang on the way had been unexpected. She had returned with a heart full of gloom because of those warnings, but the moment she stepped into this room and saw this person, she had relaxed without even realizing it.
"Oh," Chu Ruo didn't mind. "They aren't as hot as when they were fresh, but they’re still fine. It’s a hassle when they’re too hot anyway. Eat up. Before, I only had local ingredients to make you grilled fish, but today you can properly taste my skills."
"You made so much. Can we finish it all?"
"If we can't, just try a bit of everything," Chu Ruo said, pointing her chopsticks at each dish as she introduced them. "Look, let me tell you what these are. This is Pineapple Spare Ribs."
A look of pure "is this even edible" crossed Nan Muxue’s face. "Using fruit in a savory dish?"
"Of course, it tastes great." She placed a piece of pineapple and a rib into the other’s bowl. "Don't knock it until you try it. It’s sweet, salty, and sour with a rich fruity aroma. Very appetizing. I wanted to make Sweet and Sour Pork, but I figured you’d find pork belly too greasy, so I chose these ribs and even removed the bones. Try it, it’s really good."
How could she refuse a face so full of anticipation? Moreover, this entire table of food had been made specifically for her. She took a bite. She had expected it to be difficult to swallow, but given the girl’s effort, she hadn't wanted to discourage her. To her surprise, it was exceptionally delicious. A look of wonder appeared on her face. "It is... quite palatable."
*This woman is so tsundere,* Chu Ruo thought. *She can't even give a compliment properly.* She continued pointing out the other dishes. "And these are Sweet and Sour Fish, Stir-fried Beef with Silky Eggs, Roasted Quail, Longjing Shrimp, Szechuan Boiled Pork Slices, Stir-fried Bitter Melon, Sautéed Lily Bulbs, and a Clear Vermicelli Soup. Oh, wait!" She clapped her hands, pointing to a food box that remained closed. With a mysterious smile, she said, "Dessert: Chilled Douhua. We’ll eat it after the meal. On a hot day like this, a bowl of that is amazing. So, what do you think? Color, aroma, taste—it’s got everything. Praise me. Come on, praise me. Don't be stingy with your compliments." This was the first time she had cooked so many dishes at once; her back and waist were aching, but seeing the other woman eat happily made it all feel worth it.
Though she could see it with her own eyes, hearing Chu Ruo rattle off such a long list of names made Nan Muxue realize just how much food there was. The large round table—a replacement for the one she had smashed with a single palm yesterday—was nearly overflowing. A strange sweetness, like honey, filled her heart. "There are only two of us. There was no need to make so much." She finally reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Chu Ruo’s ear. "You must be exhausted."
"I noticed you usually only eat a few bites before stopping. Since your appetite is so small, I thought I’d make some appetizing things. I didn't know what you liked, and though you prefer light flavors, you won't get enough nutrition that way. Look, I made meat and vegetables today—sweet, sour, bitter, spicy—every flavor is here. Just try a bit of everything, and if there’s something you like, tell me. I’ll make it for you in the future."
"You’ll cook for me?" Nan Muxue took the initiative to pick up some food herself. "Every day?"
"Mhm, eve—" Chu Ruo nodded, the promise almost slipping out before she caught herself. *Doing this occasionally is fine, but every day? You want to kill me?* "Hehe, let’s eat, let’s eat."
Nan Muxue didn't call her out, though her expression was playful. "Then... what about Yan’er? Will you cook for her often in the future too?"
"Yan’er..." The light in Chu Ruo’s eyes dimmed instantly. "Yan’er..." *What am I doing? If Yan’er knew I did all this for the Little Scorpion, would she be angry? She knows I give the Little Scorpion gifts and sleep in her arms, yet she’s never been angry with me. Oh, Yan’er, you’re so good... am I going to end up hurting you?*
"What’s wrong?" Nan Muxue set down her chopsticks and placed her hand over Chu Ruo’s in concern.
"It’s nothing. You eat first, I’m going to sit over there for a bit." Her voice was thick with dejection. she walked over to the bed alone and sat down, her gaze vacant.
Nan Muxue had only intended to tease her slightly; she hadn't expected the girl to react this way. Seeing her so distressed over "Yan’er" sparked a strange sense of joy in her heart, but mostly, she felt a pang of sympathy. She walked over and sat beside her. "Are you thinking about Yan’er?"
"I... actually, I’m a terrible person, aren't I? I’m good to you, and I’m good to Yan’er. I keep doing the same things for both of you. I don't want to, I just... I don't know why..."
"Enough." Seeing Chu Ruo’s tortured expression, Nan Muxue pulled her into an embrace, letting the girl’s head rest on her shoulder. "Don't think about it. At least, don't think about it while we are down the mountain. After we eat, I’ll take you out to play. Be happy. Don't think anymore."
"Mhm." Chu Ruo felt her mind was a mess of tangled silk, so she decided to stop trying to unravel it. She would do as the Little Scorpion said and wait until they returned to Baihua Palace to make a final decision. For these few days, she would treat it as a vacation. "But didn't you say my face was too swollen to go out?"
Nan Muxue looked at her. She hadn't realized her strike that day had been so heavy; the girl’s face looked quite comical now. "It’s better today. Besides," she pulled out a box she had prepared earlier and handed it over, "I’ve already prepared something for you."
"For me? What is it?" Chu Ruo opened it, and—*yikes*, the glare was blinding. It was bright, shimmering gold. She pulled it out: a golden half-mask. The craftsmanship was exquisite, and she could feel its weight in her hand—it was definitely solid gold. She put it on with a flourish. "Do I look like the dashing Condor Hero?"
"The Condor Hero? Who is that? I’ve never heard of such a figure in the martial world."
"Ah... haha." Chu Ruo rubbed her nose awkwardly. "Someone from my hometown, you wouldn't know him. You didn't buy this mask just because you slapped me, did you? It’s a bit heavy." Looking at the Little Scorpion’s own plain, unadorned silver mask, she couldn't help but marvel at how wealthy this woman was.
"I had it custom-made for you long ago. The members of Baihua Palace are all women; when traveling, we always wear masks or veils. Firstly, so our faces aren't easily seen, and secondly, to better hide our identities. Although you travel as a man, wearing this will be convenient for concealing your movements. Furthermore, you are the disciple of Nan Muxue. This mask is one of a kind—it is the mark of your status." In truth, she had her own selfish reasons. With a face like this girl’s, if she were seen, she would surely attract far too many unwanted admirers.
"That may be so, but this thing... it doesn't look cheap. Is it pure gold?"
"Shallow," Nan Muxue huffed, then continued, "If there ever comes a day when I am not by your side and you find yourself penniless, this mask is worth quite a bit. It would be enough for you to live the rest of your life in comfort." She didn't want her to leave, nor would she let her, but whether it was Chu Ruo’s previous attempts to flee or the influence of Yunshuang and the others, she felt a lingering unease. She felt as though something was going to happen. Perhaps she couldn't keep her by her side forever, or perhaps she herself might die suddenly one day. This was her way of ensuring the girl was provided for.
Chu Ruo set the mask down. "Why are you talking like that? Is something wrong at Baihua Palace? It’s okay, don't be afraid. I’m here with you. Nothing will happen."
Nan Muxue gazed at that serious face. She didn't know what they were to each other—it was an entanglement that defied explanation. Suddenly, those eyes made her cast aside all her restraint and dignity. She shed her pride and threw her arms around the girl, holding her with desperate strength. Her voice was no longer cold or superior. Closing her eyes, she whispered, "Ruo’er, don't leave me."
Chu Ruo was stunned for a moment, then recovered. She patted the woman’s back soothingly and said a single word: "Okay." Feeling that wasn't enough, she added her promise: "Ruo’er won't leave Shifu."
***
