The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 30

“A little, but it won’t hurt anymore once my wife rubs it.” Xiao Yu grabbed Song Luoning’s other hand and placed it on her own shoulder, a look of pleasure on her face.

Compared to the soft, warm touch of her other palm, this one felt a little bony through her clothes. Song Luoning’s body stiffened, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to react, letting Xiao Yu guide her hand.

After a while, she pursed her lips. This scoundrel was getting bolder again.

But… she was really faking the pain, wasn’t she?

Seeing her hesitate, Xiao Yu took Song Luoning’s hand and began rubbing her own shoulder with it, her eyes slightly narrowed, as if she were enjoying it immensely.

This person was truly…

Song Luoning pursed her lips, lowering her eyes to hide the ripple of emotion within. Under Xiao Yu’s guidance, her hand gently rubbed the shoulder. After a moment, Xiao Yu took her hand away and held it in her palm.

Song Luoning looked up, confused. “Not rubbing anymore?”

She didn’t understand what this scoundrel was up to now. Didn’t she say it hurt? Why wasn’t she asking for a rub anymore?

Did it really not hurt?

A thought flickered in Song Luoning’s mind, and she was secretly startled. How could she even think such a thing? She turned her face away, suppressing the strange emotion in her heart.

Her eyes were clouded with an unreadable expression.

“Mhm, it doesn’t hurt anymore. As soon as my wife rubbed it, the pain went away immediately.” Xiao Yu looked very content, slowly opening her slightly narrowed eyes. She lifted Song Luoning’s hand and rubbed it against her nose.

The young mistress’s face was turned away, her bright red earlobe exposed to Xiao Yu’s gaze. It looked incredibly shy, making Xiao Yu want to take it in her mouth and savor it.

A mischievous thought instantly came to her.

Song Luoning pursed her lips, not wanting to be swayed by this strange feeling. She felt a bit irritable, so she gently pulled her hand back. Her voice returned to its usual clear, slightly cold and distant tone. “Since my husband is not in pain, let’s go back quickly. Luoning is a little tired after being out for so long.”

Hearing her say she was tired, Xiao Yu put her mischievous thoughts aside. Although she was a bit reluctant, she didn’t dare to delay when she thought of the young mistress’s health. She helped Song Luoning out of Mingpin House and into the carriage.

Xiao Yu opened the blankets, allowing the young mistress to lie down and rest, perhaps even take a nap.

Song Luoning didn’t say anything. She paused for a moment before lying down in the blankets. She hadn’t lied; she really was a little tired.

It was good that this scoundrel wasn’t completely lecherous.

The carriage moved slowly, more steadily than in the morning. Song Luoning felt sleepy inside the carriage and eventually dozed off.

When she woke up again, the carriage had already reached Chenjia Village. The evening sunset streamed through the window, and as the carriage swayed, fast-moving patches of orange light danced inside.

Xiao Yu drove the carriage directly through the main gate into the courtyard. She quickly went into the kitchen and took out the tools she had prepared for making traps. She had seen some villagers hunting on the mountain while harvesting rice a few days ago, which sparked the idea of making traps. She hadn’t had the time until now. This was the perfect time to go to the mountains to set up the traps; she could check them the next morning.

Song Luoning heard the noise and got out of the carriage. Seeing what she was holding, she asked, “Husband, are you…?”

Xiao Yu smiled and explained, “I’m going to the mountains to set some traps. Maybe I can catch some wild game. You rest a little longer; I’ll be back soon.”

Song Luoning watched her for a long time, the irritation in her heart refusing to go away. After a moment, she slowly nodded. “Husband, be careful on the road.”

This scoundrel seemed to have endless energy. She had been very busy these days, but there was no sign of fatigue on her face. On the contrary, her skin was fairer than before, and her eyes seemed more vibrant than when they first met.

It was as if she had become a different person.

Xiao Yu acknowledged her, stuffed all the tools for the traps into the basket, gave Song Luoning a few words of instruction, and left with the bamboo basket on her back. She decided to go to the area where they had previously picked mushrooms. Areas closer to the village would have already been scouted by other villagers. It would be better to go farther away.

Soon she reached her destination. Xiao Yu put down the basket and began making traps. With limited resources, the traps were simple. They couldn’t catch large prey, but they would be fine for rabbits and pheasants. Xiao Yu set up nearly ten traps in the vicinity before heading back to the village.

When Xiao Yu got home, she heard clattering and banging from the kitchen, along with a burnt smell. Her heart jumped. Ignoring everything else, she dropped the basket and rushed into the kitchen.

She saw the young mistress holding a spatula in one hand and pouring water into the pot with the other. A thick cloud of smoke instantly billowed from the hot pot. The young mistress was so startled that she dropped the spatula.

“…”

Realizing what had happened, Xiao Yu quickly pulled the young mistress out of the kitchen. “Stay there, don’t move. I’ll go in and check.”

Xiao Yu entered the kitchen. The thick smoke had mostly dissipated. The pot contained a black blob mixed with water; it was impossible to tell what it was. She picked up the fallen spatula and ladle and placed them on the stove. She checked the fire under the stove, which had almost burned out. It seemed only the pot was burned. Xiao Yu breathed a sigh of relief and left the kitchen.

She took the young mistress’s hand and inspected it repeatedly. The back of her hand was a large red patch. Xiao Yu’s heart ached with distress, and she felt both remorse and self-blame.

“We need to wash it with cool water,” Xiao Yu said softly.

“I’m fine. You go make dinner. I’ll wash it myself,” Song Luoning said, trying to pull her hand away.

“Ouch~” It hurt.

A layer of mist instantly clouded her eyes.

“Did I hurt you?” Xiao Yu led her to the washstand, her face serious, and soaked a cloth in water, dabbing the red area little by little.

The cool sensation on the burning skin instantly soothed the pain. Song Luoning pursed her lips. “Is my husband angry? Luoning just wanted to help, but it’s all my fault for being so useless…” Her voice trailed off, sounding incredibly wronged.

Song Luoning didn’t even know what was wrong with her. Seeing that Xiao Yu was taking a long time to return, she had, for some strange reason, gone into the kitchen. Once there, she realized that cooking was completely different from watching Xiao Yu do it. After finally getting the fire started, she put the vegetables in the pot and then realized she had forgotten to add oil. After adding the oil, she remembered that she hadn’t washed the vegetables.

Well, she decided to just stir-fry them anyway. Who knew that managing the heat would be so difficult?

Xiao Yu’s heart tightened. She used the cloth to dry the water on her hand. “I’m not angry. I’ll do all this from now on. Does it still hurt?”

Song Luoning frowned slightly and gave a low hum.

“It will feel better in water.”

That wouldn’t do. Xiao Yu wrung out the wet cloth and folded it into a square, pressing it against the young mistress’s hand. “Hold this for now. I’m going to get some medicine for you.”

With that, she turned to go to the horse.

“Husband,” Song Luoning called out to her. “Luoning is fine. There’s no need for you to go to so much trouble.”

Xiao Yu sighed. “It will hurt tonight. I’ll be back soon. You wait for me in the carriage.” She thought for a moment and then added, “If anyone knocks on the door, don’t open it. Wait for me to get back.”

Without waiting for Song Luoning to say anything else, Xiao Yu mounted the horse and left. The only doctor she knew nearby was Jiang Ziqin, but she didn’t know where he lived. So she decided to find Jiang Xiaolin first.

Jiang Xiaolin’s family was one of the richer ones in the village, not far from her place. She quickly arrived at Jiang Xiaolin’s house and explained the situation.

Jiang Xiaolin led out a horse. “You’re so much trouble. It’s late, and you probably won’t find it on your own. I’ll take you.”

Xiao Yu: “…”

She had only intended to ask for directions. She didn’t say she wanted her to come along. This Jiang Xiaolin clearly wanted to go herself.

Whatever. It didn’t matter what her motive was. At least having someone lead the way was better than searching blindly on her own.

The two rode on horseback and soon arrived at Mu Family Village.

Jiang Ziqin was startled to see them. He glanced at Jiang Xiaolin and asked in a cold voice, “What do you need at this late hour?”

Xiao Yu explained the situation to Jiang Ziqin again. Jiang Ziqin nodded and went back inside. A moment later, he returned with a small porcelain bottle. “Three times a day, and it will be completely healed in three days.”

Xiao Yu looked at the bottle in her hand. “Thank you.”

Jiang Ziqin nodded.

Xiao Yu got on her horse and turned around to see Jiang Xiaolin standing still, her eyes fixed on Jiang Ziqin.

What did she say?

She wasn’t worried about her not knowing the way at all.

Xiao Yu cleared her throat.

Jiang Xiaolin snapped back to reality and gave Xiao Yu an annoyed glare. She then looked longingly at Jiang Ziqin for a moment before getting on her horse and leaving with Xiao Yu.

“It seems Doctor Jiang isn’t interested in you?” Xiao Yu couldn’t help but say.

Jiang Xiaolin bristled. “What do you know? I think your wife isn’t interested in you!”

She was not to be spoken to about this. If Doctor Jiang were interested in her, would he be so cold all the time?

Xiao Yu exhaled. She could be criticized, but not her wife’s affection for her. “You’re the one who doesn’t understand. My wife loves me to the bone; she’s just not good at expressing it. She even burned herself today trying to make a meal for me.” She said it with a righteous confidence.

Jiang Xiaolin was a little swayed by her words and felt a little bitter. A wastrel had a wife, but Jiang Ziqin still treated her with indifference.

As they neared her house, Xiao Yu looked at Jiang Xiaolin. “Thank you for today. My wife is waiting for me at home, so I’ll go on ahead.”

Jiang Xiaolin felt a knot in her chest.

Xiao Yu sped up and returned home. She tied up the horse and went back to the carriage. Song Luoning was propped up against the carriage wall, her brows tightly furrowed, looking somewhat pitiful.

Seeing her open her eyes, she looked listless. “You’re back.”

She tried to get up, but Xiao Yu pressed her back down. She took her hand; the red area was now a little swollen. Xiao Yu’s heart ached, and she lifted the hand to her lips and blew on it.

Song Luoning’s heart skipped a beat, and her breathing became a little ragged. She turned her face away, and the tips of her ears quietly turned red.

“My wife, I’m going to put medicine on you now. Don’t worry, you’ll be well soon. Tell me if it hurts, alright?” Xiao Yu leaned in and said softly. She was so distressed that she blew on it again.

This scoundrel.

Song Luoning bit her lip, closed her eyes, and didn’t respond, letting Xiao Yu do as she pleased.

She truly hadn’t expected her to go out and buy medicine for her late at night.

Song Luoning felt a part of her heart give way, for a reason she couldn’t explain. She should have been angry at how Xiao Yu was treating her, wanting to kill her, or at the very least, pounce on her and bite her, to let her know she couldn’t take advantage of her so easily.

But why did she do nothing, instead indulging her behavior?

Xiao Yu took out the porcelain bottle, scooped out a small amount, and gently rubbed it onto the scalded area of Song Luoning’s hand with her fingertips, slowly spreading the medicine.

Her movements were gentle, as if she were handling a rare treasure.

The ointment felt cool on her hand, and the burning pain was instantly relieved. Song Luoning bit her lip, her eyes lowered. “Thank you for your trouble, husband.”

Xiao Yu put down her hand, put the porcelain bottle away in a compartment in the carriage, and asked softly, “Does it still hurt?”

Song Luoning shook her head. “It doesn’t hurt after the medicine was applied. Thank you for your hard work in finding the medicine for Luoning.”

Seeing her brows relax, and not sounding like she was lying, Xiao Yu’s tense heart finally relaxed.

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