“Wifey, come here, quick. Try this bamboo fungus and pheasant soup I just stewed. It’s piping hot; let me ladle a bowl for you.”
“You snuck into the kitchen again...”
“Oh, it’s fine. I just went when no one was around, specifically timing it to avoid everyone. It’s the middle of the night; who’s going to notice?” As Nan Muxue approached, Chu Ruo pulled her into her lap. “Come, let me feed you.”
Nan Muxue didn’t refuse. On the contrary, she seemed to be growing more and more accustomed to this.
After feeding her, Chu Ruo began her usual nagging. “Just look at you. It was one thing to eat light normally, but now... look at the food they give you, it’s far too meager. Lately, you have to be good and listen to me. You need to nourish yourself, otherwise you’ll ruin your health...”
Once this girl started rambling, there was no stopping her. Nan Muxue listened until her eyes drifted shut, resting in the other’s arms as if napping. she gave a soft, seemingly perfunctory nod. “Mhm, I know~”
“You, you just don’t cherish yourself at all. Look at you—I’ve been feeding you for so many days, yet you seem to be getting even thinner. Tomorrow, I’ll make you a large braised pork hock...”
“Are you quite finished?”
“Not even close. I’m telling you, you little scorpion, you really are a—”
Chu Ruo’s voice was cut off instantly as the world suddenly returned to a peaceful silence. Nan Muxue felt a mix of amusement and helplessness; this was the only trick that worked on this chatterbox every time. She wondered if the girl spoke so much on purpose just for this, yet in the end, she too succumbed to the moment.
“Xue’er,” Chu Ruo breathed heavily, “Xue’er...”
“You rogue,” Nan Muxue whispered, pulling back slightly even though she wanted more. “Enough. With all this tossing and turning every night, you won’t get any rest. Go to sleep early.”
“I’m not really sleepy. I can’t go out during the day anyway, so I can only sneak out at night to get you something to eat. You sleep; your situation is different now. The most important thing is for you to rest well. Don’t worry about me.”
“When has your Master ever not worried about you?” She suddenly regained her domineering tone. “Rest with me. Tomorrow, Yan’er is coming.”
Since she put it that way, Chu Ruo had no choice but to lie down with her. She instinctively pulled the woman into her arms, stroking her back from top to bottom. “Did you notify Shen Shiyi as well?”
“Mhm. But given the current state of the Baihua Palace, and the fact that he has to constantly be on guard against others noticing him, whether he can actually make it is still unknown.”
“If he can’t come, we can just tell Nangong Yan. She doesn’t understand the situation, but that fellow Shen Shiyi...”
“Ruo’er.”
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing,” Nan Muxue said, her fingers tracing her lover’s cheek. “Let’s talk about something else.”
It was always this woman planning everything, arranging their future, while Chu Ruo felt utterly powerless, as if she could do nothing at all. She knew clearly that Nan Menghua had brought the woman in her arms to this state... yet aside from anger and frustration, what could she do? She loathed her own uselessness, even complaining to herself about why she hadn't worked harder in the past. She kissed Nan Muxue’s forehead and feigned a light tone. “Alright, what does my Xue’er want to talk about? How about I tell you a story?”
Nan Muxue laughed. “Do you take me for yourself?”
Chu Ruo asked indignantly, “What’s wrong with me?”
“Your temperament is like a child’s, always throwing tantrums.”
“You’re the one, alright? Scolding people, getting angry, and keeping a stiff face all day long. If you weren’t a little scorpion, then who is...”
“It seems you’ve spent too much time in the bed tonight. Would you like to try the floor?”
...“I,” Chu Ruo muttered under her breath, “I’ll endure you~”
At such close proximity, how could Nan Muxue not hear her? She simply gave her a soft, gentle pinch, then snuggled deeper into that embrace. “Sleep.”
“Oh...” A few seconds later: “Xue’er? Are you asleep?”
“What now?”
“Nothing, I just remembered that valley you bought and took me to see. I wonder what the scenery is like now, if it’s even more beautiful than before. Back then, we joked about eloping there to live,” Chu Ruo chuckled, burying her face in the crook of the other’s neck. “Xue’er, I want to be with you, forever. No matter where we go, we won’t be apart.”
“If you like it there, we will go there in the future,” Nan Muxue said, looking into those clear eyes that were filled entirely with her own reflection. “As long as my Ruo’er likes it.”
“I only like you.”
Nan Muxue kissed her. We will be together. We always will.
...
“Mhm, Xue’er, it’s dawn...”
Nan Muxue held her close. “It’s fine, keep sleeping.”
“I think I hear rain.”
“It’s been a bit stifling these past few days; it was bound to fall eventually.”
“Tell me, what does your mother actually plan to do with you? Just keep you under house arrest forever?”
Nan Muxue smiled. “Until the next successor appears, naturally, nothing will happen to me.”
The next successor. Even though the other woman smiled easily, Chu Ruo felt her heart bleeding with pain. She knew her Xue’er was only comforting her to make her feel better. “This... this child, you...” She couldn’t bring herself to ask. She wanted to ask how she planned to handle this so-called "child," but this child was a step-by-step threat to the person she loved. Between a disobedient Young Palace Mistress and a fragile infant in swaddling clothes, it was obvious who made a better pawn and who shouldn't exist.
“That isn’t important right now. Enough, you needn’t worry...”
“How could I not worry about you, Xue’er? But all I can do is worry.”
“Rather than wasting effort trying to guess my mother’s thoughts and reacting to her moves, it is better to strike directly and capture her in one go.”
“You mean... take her down directly? But that’s easier said than done. Does your mother have any weaknesses?”
“Everyone has a weakness; it just depends on what it is.” Nan Muxue suddenly lowered her head, taking the initiative to kiss the girl who was frowning so deeply. “And my weakness is you...”
Chu Ruo was a bit dazed, not expecting such a passionate morning kiss. By the time she regained her senses, both of them were nearly breathless. Her face was flushed as she gasped for air. “But we don’t know hers. How can we defeat her?”
“Who said anything about defeating her?”
Confused, Chu Ruo asked, “Then you...”
Nan Muxue answered her tenderly, “Remember one thing: the most powerful move isn't a defeat, but a backlash.”
*Knock, knock, knock...*
The knocking was ill-timed, though it couldn't exactly be called an interruption. Aside from Bai Zhier, not a single disciple of the Baihua Palace—including the four Great Protectors—knew that Chu Ruo had returned, let alone that she was hidden in the Young Palace Mistress’s room.
“Young Palace Mistress, the Palace Mistress has ordered your presence.”
“Understood.” “A-Yue takes her leave.”
Chu Ruo’s expression shifted. “Xue’er...”
“It’s alright, it’s fine,” Nan Muxue gave her a reassuring smile. “Don’t be so afraid. For the time being, nothing will happen.”
“Every time she sends for you, nothing good comes of it. You always come back covered in injuries, not to mention your current—” Chu Ruo had been deliberately avoiding mentioning the pregnancy, fearing her Xue’er would recall that pain and sorrow. “Maybe, maybe we really should just elope. We’ll never come back, never see anyone again. Xue’er, I just want you to be safe...”
“I must go this time. She was bound to see me sooner or later. Don’t be nervous; I’m only grounded, my martial arts haven't been stripped. Nothing will happen.”
But no matter how she comforted her, the girl held her tight and refused to let go. “If you don’t let go and I’m late, she might punish me even if she hadn't intended to...”
Chu Ruo let go immediately and pulled her out of bed. “Then let’s get up quickly. I’ll help you wash and dress. Go quickly so she doesn't find an excuse to pick on you. You always tell me not to worry, but your mother... forget it, let’s not talk about it for now. Anyway, at this critical juncture, just endure a bit and don't go against her wishes.”
“So much chatter. Why haven't you brought your Master’s clothes yet?”
Chu Ruo hurriedly fetched them and helped her dress, offering a bitter smile. “Look how thin you are. I bet in a few months, these clothes will still fit you just the same...”
“Stay in the room. Don’t go wandering off.”
“I know. You...”
“Tonight, brew some lotus seed tea.”
“You want to drink that? Leave it to me. I’ll add an egg—lotus seed and egg tea is quite nourishing.”
“I’m leaving.” “Mhm, come back early. I’ll be here waiting for you.”
...
“Does Miss Bai truly not know where the Holy Envoy has gone?”
Inside the Great Hall, Bai Zhier stood with her hands behind her back. In this vast space, there was only her and the high-and-mighty figure above. “I do not.”
“The two of you left together, yet only one has returned. By all rights and reason, Miss Bai, shouldn't you...”
“Palace Mistress Nan, while it is true I invited the Holy Envoy to accompany me down the mountain for some business, she has her own legs. If she chose to leave on her own, surely I cannot be blamed?”
Nan Menghua smiled thinly. “Indeed, Miss Bai cannot be blamed. However, the Holy Envoy has vanished. As her confidante, why would Miss Bai return at a time like this instead of searching for her?”
“The Holy Envoy belongs to the Baihua Palace. If anything happens to her, it is not for an outsider to interfere. Isn't that how the Palace rules have always been?”
“Daughter greets Mother.”
“Rise,” Nan Menghua said, seating herself upon the Palace Mistress’s throne. “Do you know why I called for you today?”
“Your daughter is dull-witted and does not know.”
Nan Menghua stared at her daughter. Bai Zhier felt that gaze was colder than when it fell upon anyone else. She felt an inexplicable discomfort; in short, Nan Menghua was heartless to everyone, but to her own daughter, she was even worse.
“Then listen well. I have decided to betroth you to the young master of the Sea Dragon Gang, Xiong Feng.”
