“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” Duan Ning slapped Chu Ruo on the shoulder. “Was our Holy Envoy out thieving or trysting last night? Liuli, Yan’er, come quick and look at her eyes—they look like they’ve been smeared with a layer of soot. And look, she’s even got cloth stuffed up her nose. It’s not like the weather is particularly dry; is your internal fire really that flared up, old-timer?”
“Ha… ah~”
Chu Ruo was listless. Forget talking back, she didn't even have the energy to roll her eyes. She used both hands to prop up her head, desperately trying to keep it from slamming onto the table. Nan Gongyan gave a light chuckle. “What is it? Could Ning’er have actually hit the mark? Are you truly exhausted to this extent?”
“Don’t even mention it… ha~” She couldn't help but let out another yawn. “Last night, I was by Xue’er…”
*Swish, swish, swish—*
Several sharp gazes instantly locked onto her. Beyond the shock, there was a hint of ambiguity and playfulness in their eyes. Their expressions perfectly captured the sentiment of 'unexpected yet entirely logical.' Even with her toes, Chu Ruo knew these women had misunderstood again. Duan Ning put on a look of profound heartbreak. “Our dignified Young Palace Mistress of the Hundred Flowers Palace… sigh… to think she would fall for the tricks of a little pretty boy like you. To capsize in such a shallow ditch. Of all the people in the Hundred Flowers Palace, why did she choose to favor you?”
“Pah!” Favor her? From the sound of it, did they think she was the one being 'serviced'? If anyone was doing the pressing, it would be me! My Little Scorpion is the *shou*, a total *shou*! “I should have known your mind was in the gutter. You see others as a reflection of yourself. Where on earth are your thoughts wandering? I was punished by Xue’er! She sealed my acupoints and made me stand like a statue all night, alright? My back is aching, my legs are cramping, and I’m miserable!”
Chu Ruo felt she was in a truly pitiful state. She was already unlucky enough, so why did these women burst into laughter every time she was punished? Where was the sympathy? Where was the friendship and love between fellow disciples?
Yin Liuli didn't laugh as hard as the other two. She chuckled twice before checking her smile, asking Chu Ruo, “Since Xue’er has gone out, why don’t you go back to your room and rest? There’s no need to sit here like a log.”
“Didn’t I make her angry? I don’t even know what I did wrong, so I’m just waiting here for her.”
“Liuli, it’s one thing for that girl Yan’er to feel bad for her, but why are you starting to feel pity too?”
Nan Gongyan flushed with anger and pinched Duan Ning. “What nonsense are you spouting!”
“Do you never tire of using that to tease her?” Yin Liuli picked up her sword and turned to head out. “I have some minor business to attend to outside. Yan’er, help me give this fellow a hard time.”
“Liuli~ Hmph!”
“You got it!” Nan Gongyan made a show of rolling up her sleeves. “Haha, your protector is gone. Let’s see how I teach you a lesson!”
“I’m not afraid of you. Bring it on…”
Drowsiness washed over Chu Ruo, but the two women continued their noisy bickering beside her. Forget it, she’d go back to her room; at least it would be quiet. And so, dragging her exhausted body, she retreated.
“Ruo’er?” Bai Zhier looked at the person before her with utter disbelief. “What happened to you?”
“Zhier? Are you waiting at my door for something?”
“What could it be?” She smiled faintly. “It’s just that last night… anyway, I came to see you.”
Chu Ruo was too sleepy to pay much attention to the other woman’s words. She pushed the door open. “Come in and sit.”
Seeing her state, Bai Zhier instead pulled her inside and led her to the bedside. Like coaxing a child, she had her lie down and tucked her in. “How did you get this exhausted?” After a few seconds, the realization dawned on her. “It’s her again. She bullied you again.”
“No… no,” Chu Ruo muttered dizzily. “I made her angry again. Though, ha~ I don’t know why, she always has a reason for punishing me. I’ll go coax her when she gets back…”
“You…” Bai Zhier was caught between anger and heartache. She tucked the blanket tighter around her. “She treats you like this, torturing you to this state, yet you’re still thinking of her. You’re such a fool.”
“Mmm… zzz… zzz…”
Whenever Bai Zhier looked at this face, she would feel happy for no reason. She would smile involuntarily and couldn't help but watch her over and over again. Only after confirming the other was fast asleep did she cautiously reach out a hand to stroke her face. “I truly don’t know what you like about her. Her unreasonable temperament? The way she loves to hit you, scold you, and bully you? Setting all that aside, haven't you encountered enough danger by following her? So many people want your life because of her, yet you insist on cherishing her like a treasure. You dummy.” She let out a self-deprecating sigh. “But then, I’m not much better than you. You love her, and I love you. Knowing full well it’s impossible, I just can’t let go of a person like you. Ruo’er,” Bai Zhier couldn't help but call out softly and affectionately, “do you know how much my heart aches for you? So many times I’ve thought about taking you away, if only for your safety. You must be well; don’t make me regret my decision. And remember, no matter what, I will wait for you. My devotion is unswerving, a promise until death.”
While Chu Ruo was sleeping soundly, Nan Muxue returned. Upon entering, she saw Bai Zhier sitting by the bed, gazing tenderly at the sleeping figure. The close proximity caused the flames of her temper to flare up instantly. “Get out.”
“This is Ruo’er’s room, not yours.”
“Everything that is hers belongs to me.”
“You don’t love her at all.” Bai Zhier stood up, her expression just as cold. “Look at what you’ve tortured her into. Ruo’er has sacrificed so much for you; how can you treat her like this?”
Nan Muxue’s gaze was provocative. “I punished her precisely because of you. Every time, you deliberately sow discord between Ruo’er and me. The person truly causing her suffering is you. How can you have the gall to say you love her?”
“Don’t think I won’t take her away. If you dare act like this again, even if Ruo’er is unwilling, I will take her to a place where you will never find her for the rest of your life.”
“Our business is not for you to interfere in.” Nan Muxue’s eyes were filled with chilling intent. “If I kill you, you won’t have that chance.”
“Is that so? Let’s see you try.”
The atmosphere was thick with tension, swords practically drawn, when Chu Ruo chose that moment to restlessly kick off her blanket. She rolled onto her side, curling her legs up as if hugging something, and murmured in her sleep, “Xue’er~”
With just that one call, Nan Muxue’s anger instantly turned to joy. Her eyes filled with a smile—though, of course, that was only for the person on the bed. Facing Bai Zhier, her expression remained unchanged. “Ruo’er doesn’t need anyone else. She has me, and that is enough.”
While one woman’s eyes held joy and happiness, Bai Zhier’s held the exact opposite. She felt envy, jealousy, and a rising tide of bitterness. “You are her Master. Even if you don’t care about yourself, have you considered her reputation? Have you considered what others think? Because of you, so many people outside are speaking ill of Ruo’er. It’s foul, unbearable to hear. They say she seduced her own Master; they call her a shameless little pretty boy. You have never truly cared for her. You are nothing but a thorough egoist.”
Nan Muxue’s gaze turned frigid, her words carrying an overbearing authority. “How can those others even be compared to Ruo’er? What right do they have to discuss my Ruo’er? No one shall even dream of taking Ruo’er away from me. Including you.”
“Is that so?” Bai Zhier gave a mocking laugh. “Then what about your mother?”
“I will not let Ruo’er leave me, nor will I let anything happen to her.” Nan Muxue simply turned her back. “You may leave now. When Ruo’er wakes up, the only person she needs to see is me.”
Bai Zhier said no more, leaving with a look of disdain. *Ruo’er, no matter what, I will not let anything happen to you.*
Chu Ruo had a wonderful sleep, naturally unaware of what had transpired in the room. When she woke and felt someone beside her, she didn't even look before squeezing over to hug them. “When did you get back?”
“Oh? You don’t even look? Without confirming, did you think the person beside your pillow was your tender and lovely Bai Zhier? Now that you’ve found it’s your Master, aren't you scared out of your wits?”
Chu Ruo clung to her, uncharacteristically shrinking into the other’s embrace with great contentment. “I can tell by the scent. My Xue’er has a very special fragrance.”
Nan Muxue didn't push her away. Instead, she played along, her face eventually softening into a look of doting affection. “Dog nose.”
“That’s Wotou.” Chu Ruo finally opened her eyes. “Speaking of which, where is Wotou? Wotou? *Chuo, chuo, chuo…*”
She made clicking sounds to find the puppy named Wotou, but Nan Muxue pinched her mouth shut. “He’s just as much of a sleeper as you. Stop calling him, lest he comes over to cling to you again.”
“I think you just can’t bear to let go of me. Are you jealous of Wotou?”
“Fine.” Nan Muxue didn't argue, simply making a move to get up. “Then your Master shall get up now, so as not to disturb the two of you—no, the one person and one dog…”
“Wait, wait, I was joking!” Chu Ruo quickly pulled her back and clung to her again. “You’re getting more and more mischievous.”
Nan Muxue poked her back. “Who’s mischievous?”
Chu Ruo quickly buried her head in the other’s chest. “Xue’er, I’m sleepy…”
“You have the nerve to sleep? Do you know what time it is?”
“I don’t care.” She continued to lounge on the other woman, sniffing the air twice. “Did you buy me Osmanthus Duck?”
“I told you that you have a dog’s nose.” Nan Muxue pinched and pulled at her face. “It’s true I bought Osmanthus Duck, but it was for the dog.”
“You…”
“You were the one who said your Master treats your precious Wotou poorly. Now that I’m being nice to him today, why are you unhappy? Or does my disciple wish to compete with a dog for food? If you don’t mind, your Master has nothing to say.”
*Pah!* You’re the only one who can lie through your teeth like this, you Little Scorpion. How old is Wotou? Can he even eat bones and meat? Besides, you clearly know Osmanthus Duck is my favorite; you obviously bought it for me, yet you still have to tease me with that sharp tongue. She rolled over to pin the other woman down. “Why are you so stubborn? Hmm, I’ll have to kiss that mouth so it stops targeting me…”
For the Nth time, her face was ruthlessly pinched. “Have you reflected on your mistake from last night?”
Reflected? Reflected on what? She had completely forgotten. But even if she was a thousand times wrong, she shouldn't have asked with such a bewildered face. Sure enough, Nan Muxue’s expression became very playful. “Last night, your Master told you to reflect on where you went wrong. My disciple has such a great capacity for forgetting; it seems you don’t think you were wrong at all…”
“I was wrong, I was wrong!” She quickly tried to curry favor. “But, but you have to at least tell me what I did wrong.”
Well, the consequence was…
“Xue’er~” That night, Chu Ruo called out pitifully, “Let me up to sleep…”
On the bed, Nan Muxue simply turned her back to her. “Talk to me when you know what mistake you made.”
“But, but what if I can’t remember?”
“Then you don’t need to sleep on the bed.”
“Then I’ll go back to my own room…”
“No.”
…What kind of person are you? Punishing me to sleep on the floor and not letting me go back to my room, making me watch you sleep. And you’re deliberately wearing such thin gauze robes, with the candlelight not even dimmed. No one would believe you aren't doing this on purpose. Being able to look but not touch is a heinous crime, alright? *Wooo, Little Scorpion, you’re so cruel! This is psychological torture!*
“If you dare curse me one more time, you won’t even need the bedding.”
*She’s toxic! She can read my mind the moment I curse her. You aren't usually this capable! Blehh…*
“Chu Ruo.”
“I’m sleeping, sleeping right now.”
Why does Wotou get to sleep on the table and even use my clothes as a blanket? A dog lives better than I do. What kind of world is this…
Despite her internal grumbling, she fell asleep after a while. Only then did Nan Muxue silently turn back around, staring fixedly at the girl. She murmured to herself, “I tell you to sleep and you actually listen. If I don’t punish you for a month, how can I quell the resentment in my heart…”
The floor was indeed not very comfortable. Even with two layers of quilts as padding, Chu Ruo didn't sleep well. When she woke in the middle of the night, she found the person on the bed watching her. She sat up, and Nan Muxue thought she had finally reached her limit and wanted to sleep on the bed. Instead, Chu Ruo moved her 'bed' right next to the other woman and lay down honestly. Nan Muxue asked her, “Aren't you afraid your Master will step on you when I get up?”
Chu Ruo reached up onto the bed to find the other’s hand. Now the two were very close, literally 'one above and one below.' The Little Scorpion was on the bed, and she was on the floor. “Mmm, I’ve come over here at the risk of being stepped on. You have to be nice to me.”
Nan Muxue reached down to touch her face, stroking it gently. “Are you not angry? Bai Zhier was right. I am a person of fickle moods, and I am not good enough to you.”
“Zhier said that about you?” Chu Ruo pulled her hand down and kissed it. “She doesn't know about us. We can’t change what others think. As long as we are sincere with each other, that’s enough. Besides, even if you punish me, I’m willing to take it. Like I said, as long as it’s my Xue’er, anything is fine. There’s no need to care about what others think.”
“She was right. I can give you nothing, yet because of me, you are plunged into danger and the scorn of others.”
“Others can go to hell. Why care what they say? They aren't the ones living with us. Besides, if we’re talking about danger, more often than not, I’m the one dragging you down. Without me, you’d still be that Little Scorpion who makes everyone tremble with fear.”
Nan Muxue laughed. “I still am.” She brushed a strand of hair from Chu Ruo’s face. “My weakness. My only soft spot.” And the only piece of tenderness in her heart.
Chu Ruo was confused. “What?”
“Nothing. Sleep. We have to return to the Hundred Flowers Palace tomorrow.”
“If I can’t kiss or hug, at least let me hold your hand.” The person below the bed clutched her hand with a face full of happiness as she drifted off to sleep. Nan Muxue, for her part, loved this person to the extreme. *You are my only weakness, yet I have never once regretted it.*
***
