"Sister A-Yue, what’s wrong with the Palace Master? She hasn't said a word since she entered the study, and her expression is terrifyingly dark. It’s been a long time since she personally oversaw the palace affairs like this."
"Shh," A-Yue whispered to Xiao Guo’er outside the door. "Who else could provoke the Palace Master to such a state besides our other Palace Master?"
"Hmph, it’s always her. There’s no one else it could be. What did she do this time?"
"I don't know the specifics, but I suspect it has something to do with her not returning all of last night."
"What!"
"Shh!"
Xiao Guo’er hurriedly covered her mouth and peeked cautiously into the room. Seeing no movement, she whispered, "I knew it. As soon as that Bai woman arrived, she started upsetting the Palace Master on purpose."
Inside the room, Nan Muxue appeared to be sitting at her desk handling business, but no one noticed that the same report had been lying there untouched for nearly an hour. The ink on her brush had long since dried.
*How hateful,* she thought, vexed with herself. Vexed because that person hadn't returned all night, choosing instead to talk until dawn with someone else. Yet, she would never admit it. Ultimately, she was frustrated that Chu Ruo hadn't come to coax her. Usually, whenever Chu Ruo caused trouble, she would come chasing after her in a frantic hurry. *Now that Bai Zhi’er is here to back you up, you’ve truly become lawless.* Her eyes flickered with disappointment, and she sighed at her own lack of resolve. Why did she still care so much? She let out a helpless, bitter smile. *Fine, Chu Ruo. Against you, I am truly and utterly defeated.*
For an entire day, Nan Muxue did not speak a single word to Chu Ruo.
In fact, they didn't even see each other. If Chu Ruo went to the bedroom, Nan Muxue went to the study. If Chu Ruo went to the study, Nan Muxue went to the Glacial Cavern. They avoided each other with perfect precision. In a place as vast as the Baihua Palace, it was easy to avoid someone if one truly wished to.
As dusk fell, Nan Muxue remained buried in paperwork in the study. In truth, if Chu Ruo had just been persistent enough to come and offer a few words of apology, her anger would have vanished. But when that woman was being dense, she was infuriatingly so. An entire day had passed without a word of concern. She had even overheard Xiao Guo’er mentioning that Chu Ruo intended to sleep in her old quarters tonight, claiming she didn't want to further annoy the Palace Master. Nan Muxue’s anger flared anew. *Since she wants to sleep apart, I won't bother returning to our room either.*
"Palace Master!" Mo Fei suddenly burst in, gasping for breath. "Palace Master... no, it’s Palace Master Chu..."
Nan Muxue didn't even look up, let alone ask what was wrong. Mo Fei took a few more breaths before saying, "The Glacial Cavern... it suddenly collapsed..."
"Then let it collapse completely," Nan Muxue replied coldly.
Mo Fei froze, blinking in confusion. "What?"
Nan Muxue finally spared a glance at the Fifth Protector. "You aren't suited for lying. Tell her that if she wants to play pretend—"
"Muxue, why are you still sitting here?" Duan Ning and Nangong Yan rushed in right behind her, their faces etched with anxiety. "Something happened at the Glacial Cavern. Hurry and look! Chu Ruo, she..."
"What now?" Nan Muxue sneered. "This trick again? Do you really take me for a fool? You even managed to recruit them to help you?"
Nangong Yan hurried over, grabbing Nan Muxue’s arm to pull her out. "What are you talking about? Just go! The entrance is blocked, and she’s injured..."
Nan Muxue swept her sleeve back, clasping her hands behind her. "I have no time for such tedious games. Get out."
"You!" Duan Ning was speechless. "Do you really think we’d joke about this at a time like this?"
Nangong Yan stamped her foot in frustration. "Chu Ruo said she wanted to prepare something there to apologize to you. she dragged Ning’er and me along to help, and then—"
"Enough. I don't want to hear another word. Out."
"Fine! I can't be bothered with you. Yan’er, let’s go. If she won't believe Mo Fei, she should at least believe us!"
"It is precisely because it is you two that I don't believe it."
The two were about to storm out in a huff when Nan Yunshuang and Yin Liuli arrived. "Are you two alright?"
"We’re fine, we were outside. It’s Chu Ruo," Nangong Yan replied, glancing at Nan Muxue. "She was hit by a falling ice pillar. We don't know what her condition is."
Yin Liuli asked, "Then why aren't we over there? Why are you all standing here like statues?"
"We were just going! Someone refuses to believe us. She thinks we’ve all conspired to deceive her."
Watching their exchange, Nan Muxue felt a flicker of doubt. "You... all of you?"
"Muxue," the usually taciturn Nan Yunshuang spoke, her gaze steady and sincere. "It’s true. Chu—"
"Ruo’er!"
By the time the others looked back, Nan Muxue was already gone. Of course, she didn't see them high-fiving each other with triumphant grins the moment she vanished.
*It can't be. It’s impossible. How could it be such a coincidence?* Nan Muxue pushed her speed to a limit she had never reached before. *Ruo’er, you must be alright!*
"Ruo’er!"
She flew toward the Silent Lake and the Glacial Cavern. How could her Ruo’er be in danger? Before she could even see clearly, she screamed, "Ruo’er!"
"Yeah?" a voice called out from behind her. "I knew my Muxue cared about me."
Nan Muxue turned around. If anyone else had seen the sight, they would have burst into laughter. Chu Ruo stood there with her hands tied behind her back, carrying a bundle of thorny branches that were much taller than she was. The weight was so heavy she could barely stand straight, and she wobbled toward Nan Muxue. "Muxue, I..."
Before she could finish, Nan Muxue turned around coldly to leave, just as she had done that morning.
Chu Ruo panicked and tried to give chase regardless of the weight. "Wait for me! Muxue, wait for me!"
*Again!*
Nan Muxue, recovering from her initial shock, felt the moisture at the corners of her eyes betraying her. It was infuriating!
"Muxue, Muxue! These ropes are tied so tight, they really hurt... don't ignore me..."
Nan Muxue stopped and turned back, her eyes blazing with fury. Chu Ruo still had that cheeky grin on her face. "Go ahead, hit me. I did this so you could vent your anger. I’m mentally prepared for a beating—Ow! Ow!"
Before she could finish, Nan Muxue actually pulled a thorned branch from the bundle and whipped her. It really hurt; the thorns were sharp and hooked, making Chu Ruo yelp in pain. The "Little Scorpion" was truly being ruthless. However, Chu Ruo realized the anger wasn't just about her staying out all night—if it were, the beating would have happened sooner. Nan Muxue was furious because she had used her own safety as a lie to trick her again. Realizing this, Nan Muxue showed no mercy. "I’ll beat you to death!" Of all things to play with, she chose this. Since she wanted a beating so badly, Nan Muxue would oblige!
Only Chu Ruo knew how severe that thrashing was. When one branch broke, Nan Muxue grabbed another. Chu Ruo began to regret bringing so many. It seemed the Little Scorpion wouldn't stop until every single branch was broken. Fortunately, she didn't go that far, but it wasn't much better. By the end, only two or three scattered branches remained on Chu Ruo's back. Having had her fill of venting, Nan Muxue turned elegantly and walked away.
"Muxue!" Chu Ruo hopped after her. Her whole body was aching, her hands were genuinely tied tight, and the thorny debris on the ground made every step a struggle. She finally managed to stumble out of the mess, but in her haste to catch up, her foot slipped. With a loud "Ah!", she slammed face-first into the ground.
Angry as she was, Nan Muxue cursed herself inwardly but couldn't help turning back. She saw Chu Ruo sprawled in the dirt—a "dog eating mud" fall that was definitely not faked. The thorns on her back shifted, causing her to wince in pain, and she struggled to even roll over. Chu Ruo couldn't get up and was nearly in tears. "Ow... where did this stupid rock come from? It hit my mouth..."
When she finally managed to lift her head, her face, nose, and mouth were covered in blood. It was a nasty fall. Nan Muxue’s heart softened immediately, and she rushed over. "Ruo’er!"
"Muxue, Muxue..."
"Don't move," she said, pulling out her silk handkerchief to wipe the blood from Chu Ruo's face. "Let me see."
To her surprise, Chu Ruo started giggling. "Hehe... hehe..."
Nan Muxue snapped irritably, "You can still laugh? It seems you’re fine."
"Muxue is talking to me again."
At the mention of that, Nan Muxue’s temper flared up again, and she made to stand up and leave. "Go find your—"
"Muxue! If you don't look after me, no one will. Look at my hands, the ropes are really hurting. Don't ignore me, okay?"
...
"Alright, stop touching it."
Though the wounds had been tended to, Chu Ruo still hissed in pain. "I was just worried I’d be disfigured and you’d find me repulsive."
She had returned to her usual self in a heartbeat. Nan Muxue hated her own weakness, forgiving her so easily. When had she become like this? She was less and less like her old self, her very nature changing for this woman.
"Get lost," she said softly.
The words were light and airy, so Chu Ruo just smiled. "I can roll away, but I’ll always roll right back to your side."
Nan Muxue looked at her, meeting her eyes, and then glanced at the remaining unbroken thorns. She frowned. "This madness... what was the point?"
"It wasn't madness. I just wanted to make you happy. I thought I’d try the 'bearing thorns to plead for guilt' approach."
"And you recruited the five Protectors to act with you?"
*Cough...*
"Speak. Weren't you quite the talker just now?"
"Well, look at the scenery. Isn't it beautiful?" They were sitting by the Silent Lake. Chu Ruo tried to put an arm around Nan Muxue’s shoulder, only to have it ruthlessly slapped away. "Muxue..."
"What?" Nan Muxue smirked. "Haven't you been beaten enough?"
Chu Ruo reached up and brushed a stray hair from Nan Muxue’s face. "You’ve changed."
"How so?"
Chu Ruo smiled gently. "If this were the past, you would have beaten me to death today, or at least flayed a layer of skin off."
Nan Muxue arched an eyebrow, her beauty intoxicating. "Would you prefer that?"
"I’m saying that the current Muxue treasures me."
"Did I not treasure you before?"
Chu Ruo shook her head and then lay down, resting her head on Nan Muxue’s lap and hugging her tightly. She spoke with a touch of sentimentality. "My Little Scorpion has grown foolish. How could such a clumsy trick lure you here? Yet you fall for it time and again, all for me."
Nan Muxue smiled, lightly flicking Chu Ruo's ear. "And what about you? I beat you like this, and you still say I treasure you?"
"I know. It wasn't because of Zhi’er. It was because of me. I shouldn't have scared you by faking an accident. I deserved that beating. Besides, I was a scoundrel last night. If I didn't give you a reason to vent your anger, who knows how long you would have given me the cold shoulder."
"Then you are even more hateful. If you knew all that, why did you provoke me?"
"I couldn't help it. After all, I am your husband."
Nan Muxue immediately opened her mouth to retort. "I—"
"Muxue," Chu Ruo looked up. "You said it yourself. I am your weakness."
Nan Muxue’s gaze softened into a pool of tenderness. "Yes. I have no weaknesses." *Only you. You are my only one.*
The atmosphere was so perfect that not leaning in for a kiss would have been a crime. Chu Ruo puckered her lips and went for it, only to have her cheek pinched again. she grumbled and complained, "Muxue!"
Nan Muxue blinked. "I don't know what kind of spell you cast to get all of them to help you."
Chu Ruo grabbed her hand and held it. "It’s my personal charisma..."
Anyone else would have spat at that. "Shameless," Nan Muxue said, though she finally laughed. "I’m not surprised by Mo Fei, Yan’er, or Ning’er. Even Liuli doesn't shock me. But Yunshuang..." It was because of Nan Yunshuang that she had truly believed something was wrong. Nan Muxue was curious. "She never jokes and never lies. How on earth did you convince her to help you?"
"That? I taught her how to win a girl’s heart."
Nan Muxue interrupted her with a look of disdain. "It’s a miracle you don't infuriate me every day."
"You really look down on me. I told her that to make the person you love happy, you need a sweet tongue and clever hands. For example, making little gifts. And of course, you have to create surprises. Like right now..."
"You call this a surprise?"
"Well..." Seeing the warning look in Nan Muxue’s eyes, Chu Ruo wisely dropped the subject. "Actually, there’s one more thing. I asked Zhi’er to help her with her hand."
This truly surprised Nan Muxue. "You did?"
"Zhi’er and I talked a lot. Her medical skills are amazing now; she’s improved so much. She can actually reattach severed limbs now. It’s not successful every time, but I thought Nan Yunshuang would want to try. There’s nothing to lose if it fails. What did you think I was doing all night? We talked about many things, and about the people outside."
Nan Muxue scoffed. "Is that so? You weren't just talking about how beautiful and kind she is?"
"You vinegar jar," Chu Ruo teased, but then remembered something. "You have the Heart-Linking Gu inside you. When you hit me just now, you must have felt the pain too. Muxue, let me see..."
"It’s fine." In the heat of the moment, she hadn't cared. Now that it was mentioned, Nan Muxue did feel the lingering aches, but compared to the punishments and injuries she had endured over the years, this was nothing. "So you finally remember to care about me?"
Chu Ruo was full of guilt. "Muxue, I shouldn't have... this stupid idea made you suffer along with me..."
"Don't think that just because of the Heart-Linking Gu, I won't dare to hit you. Will you dare to do it again?"
Chu Ruo shook her head. "I wouldn't dare."
Nan Muxue caught a glimpse of the marks on Chu Ruo's wrists. They were deep red, almost purple. No wonder she had been complaining about the pain. Her anger flared again. "Who tied you up?"
"What?" Chu Ruo blinked, then realized she meant her hands. "It was Duan Ning. She said it had to look real, or you wouldn't stop being mad. Muxue? I’m fine now."
"Don't worry about it."
"Three years ago, I proposed to you right here," Chu Ruo said suddenly.
Nan Muxue looked at her. "And?"
"Nothing much. I just feel like time has flown. Three years, and now we have Nan’er with us. That girl really respects you. The other day when Bai Su called you a 'Little Scorpion,' she was so angry she drew her sword."
"Mhm."
Chu Ruo dropped to one knee again. "Three years ago, I stood here to ask for your hand. Today, I stand here to ask for your forgiveness."
Knowing full well this woman would likely mess up again, and knowing she would still be driven half to death with anger, Nan Muxue still spoke those four words: "Let this be the last time."
On the way back, they ran into the Protectors. Before anyone could speak, Nan Muxue said calmly, "Bind the Third Protector."
"What for? Your precious disciple was the one who asked for help! Besides, why only bind me?" Duan Ning protested.
"Did you not hear my command?"
The others were baffled. As Duan Ning said, if it was about the trick, it didn't make sense to only punish her, especially since the couple had clearly reconciled. But the Palace Master’s word was law. In the end, Yin Liuli was the one who tied her up.
"Let me go! Muxue, this is unfair! I don't accept this!"
Nan Muxue glanced at her and said coolly, "Not enough. Tie it tighter."
Oh, now Chu Ruo understood. The Little Scorpion was getting revenge on her behalf. The others didn't get it, but Duan Ning finally realized. "She was the one who asked me to tie her! Chu Ruo, you ungrateful wretch!"
Chu Ruo opened her mouth to defend herself. "I—"
"She asked you to tie her, but she didn't ask you to take the opportunity to bully her. You’ve bullied her quite enough in the past."
"Oh, so now you’re heart-sore for her? I saw you hitting her plenty just now! And she begged me to tie her, okay? Now you’re settling scores with me?"
Nan Muxue ignored her. "You aren't to be untied until tomorrow morning. In the future, no one is allowed to bully Ruo’er."
Back in their room, Chu Ruo clicked her tongue. "Doing that will only make her resent me more."
"Are you worried for her?"
"You really... can't you just talk normally?"
"It’s good for her to learn a lesson. It also lets the others know that no one is allowed to bully you."
"Well, you bully me quite a bit."
Nan Muxue simply looked at her. "I can. Others cannot."
Chu Ruo leaned in for a kiss, but she was blocked again. "Don't touch me. This is your punishment."
"Wait, isn't this enough? Muxue, Muxue, please don't..."
"No."
Chu Ruo looked at her resentfully. "Then how long is the punishment?"
"Hmm," Nan Muxue smiled. "However long your Sister Zhi’er stays, that is how long your punishment lasts."
*How can this be?!* She leaned in coaxingly. "What 'Sister'? You’re the only one, Muxue. Sister Muxue, please don't... punish me with something else instead."
"Something else?"
Chu Ruo nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes! Anything else is fine!"
"Anything..." *Wait, it’s a trap.* Chu Ruo realized too late and shut her mouth, but it was already over.
Nan Muxue tugged at Chu Ruo's belt, an ambiguous smile playing on her lips. "Fine."
"Wait, I... no..."
But she had no chance to escape. *Why did it turn out like this? Why is this the punishment? The Little Scorpion isn't cute at all. Not one bit.*
Another night passed. When Chu Ruo saw Shen Ruoxuan and Lin Jianghong the next morning, she was stunned. "You called them here?"
"Didn't you say it was too quiet? I called some people to liven things up."
Given how fast they had arrived, Nan Muxue must have sent word the moment Zhi’er arrived. Truly a vinegar-pickled Little Scorpion. "You just wanted them here because they both like Zhi’er, so they’d keep her busy, right?"
Even though she had been found out, Nan Muxue remained expressionless. "Are you upset that you won't get to spend time alone with your Zhi’er?"
"You... you Little Scorpion!"
*Awoo!*
On one side, Nan Muxue was "disciplining" Chu Ruo. On the other, Nan Chu and Bai Su were fighting fiercely. Lin Jianghong was clamoring for a duel with Bai Zhi’er, while Shen Ruoxuan followed her around trying to curry favor. The five Protectors, A-Yue, and Xiao Guo’er were all chattering away. Even the pets, Wotou and Wowotou, had started a scuffle—apparently, Wowotou had taken a liking to Wotou’s "wife."
Chu Ruo dodged a playful swipe and looked at everything around her. The Baihua Palace had indeed become lively once again.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 负荆请罪 | Bearing thorns to plead for guilt | A historical idiom (Fujiing Qingzui) where one carries thorny branches on their back to show sincere apology. |
| 连心蛊 | Heart-Linking Gu | A parasitic poison/technique that links the physical sensations (usually pain) of two people. |
| 窝头 | Wotou | Name of a pet (literally means "steamed corn bun"). |
| 窝窝头 | Wowotou | Name of a pet (a variation of the above). |
| 沈若轩 | Shen Ruoxuan | A male character, friend/acquaintance of the protagonists. |
| 林绛红 | Lin Jianghong | A female character, friend/acquaintance of the protagonists. |
| 白苏 | Bai Su | A child/younger character in the palace. |
| 猛1 | Fierce Top | Internet slang for a dominant partner in a same-sex relationship (Seme). |
| 振振夫纲 | Asserting husbandly authority | A traditional phrase about a husband setting the rules for his wife. |
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Master, Spare My Life: A Disciple's Sweet Rebellion | Chapter 247 | Thorns and Forgiveness | Novela.app | Novela.app
