The Favorite of the Sick and Weak Lady - Chapter 41

Xiao Yu’s heart fluttered. She understood now; unless she could clear her name, she wouldn’t be able to survive in Baisheng. Her only option would be to live in seclusion in the mountains. But what about the young lady? How could she let the young lady live a life of constant flight?

Xiao Yu hesitated, her gaze unconsciously falling on Song Luoning. She then turned and lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling.

She herself didn’t mind, but the young lady was delicate and used to a pampered life; she couldn’t endure such a rough existence. At the same time, Xiao Yu couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from her. It would make her sad, and the young lady would be heartbroken, too.

What was she to do?

For a moment, Xiao Yu was at a loss.

Song Luoning’s mind was also in turmoil. No, no matter what, I must first stabilize this scoundrel. Song Luoning clenched her fists and said tentatively, “My husband, have you thought it through?”

Thought it through?

Xiao Yu froze. The thought of being separated from Song Luoning filled her with sadness. She pursed her lips, turned over, and hugged Song Luoning. She must have thought it through; she couldn’t bear to leave the young lady.

Song Luoning’s body stiffened. She reached out to push her away, but after a moment’s hesitation, she slowly rested her hand on Xiao Yu’s waist and closed her eyes, leaning her head against Xiao Yu’s chest, her emotions a complicated mess.

When Xiao Yu made no further moves, Song Luoning breathed a sigh of relief. The next second, she felt a coolness on her lips as two soft surfaces pressed against them.

Song Luoning froze, forgetting to breathe.

A moment later, Xiao Yu’s gentle voice broke the silence of the room: “Be good, relax, and open your mouth.”

This young lady didn’t even know how to kiss. Although Xiao Yu had no practical experience, her theoretical knowledge was extensive. She was afraid that if she didn’t remind the young lady, she would suffocate.

“Mmm…” Fireworks exploded in Song Luoning’s mind, followed by a total blankness.

This scoundrel!

She quickly came to her senses, no longer intent on keeping him calm. She shoved him away and turned her back to him, her cheeks burning, her heart inexplicably racing.

This scoundrel’s getting bolder and bolder!

“My lady.” Xiao Yu was stunned by the sudden push. Weren’t things just fine a moment ago? What’s wrong with her?

“Don’t talk to me!” Song Luoning’s voice trembled. In the quiet room, only their heavy breathing could be heard.

After a long while, Song Luoning’s eyes regained their composure. “My husband, rest early. I’m tired.”

She didn’t know how she felt about this scoundrel. There was a mix of anticipation and a strange fear. Song Luoning closed her eyes, her expression weary. After a while, a single tear slowly fell from the corner of her eye.

Hearing Song Luoning say she was tired, Xiao Yu also calmed down. She lay back in her spot, her gaze occasionally darting toward Song Luoning. After a pause, she straightened her lips, her fingers repeatedly rubbing the blanket underneath. On a whim, she rolled over and pulled Song Luoning into her arms. “Be good, sleep,” she said, her voice stiff.

Song Luoning’s body tensed slightly, her fingers slowly clenching. This scoundrel… She couldn’t muster the strength to push her away.

“My lady, can I…” Xiao Yu hesitated, her heart in a panic. She gritted her teeth. “Can I kiss you again?”

That soft feeling just now… if the young lady hadn’t pushed her away… Xiao Yu was left wanting more. If she could just…

Just as she was debating whether to just go for it or wait for the young lady’s permission, the young lady suddenly turned over. Before Xiao Yu could be happy, she felt a sharp pain in her leg, lost her balance, and fell to the floor.

“Don’t you dare get back on the bed,” Song Luoning said coldly.

“?!” Xiao Yu was dumbfounded. She stared at Song Luoning, trying to make out her expression in the moonlight.

Why did she kick me off the bed?

We were just fine a minute ago!

Song Luoning’s chest heaved with shame and frustration. That scoundrel! He kissed me, and then he had to ask about it!

He can just reflect on the ground.

When Song Luoning didn’t say anything more after a while, Xiao Yu felt a wave of injustice. She glanced at Song Luoning again, still not daring to speak. After a moment, she straightened her clothes and lay down on the floor.

Seeing that she had truly settled down, Song Luoning raised her hand to her chest, remaining motionless for a long time. She looked at the person curled up on the floor, then closed her eyes and sighed softly. “Come up.”

“Huh?” Xiao Yu instinctively sat up and looked toward the bed. After a moment’s hesitation, seeing that Song Luoning had said nothing more, she quickly jumped onto the bed, lay down, pulled the covers over herself, and closed her eyes in one swift motion.

“My lady…” Xiao Yu began.

“Shut up!” Song Luoning said icily.

Alright, Xiao Yu wisely closed her eyes. After all this turmoil, the person who had been wavering was now determined. For the sake of the young lady, she couldn’t carry the stigma of a murderer.

What’s so scary about the capital?

The next day, Xiao Yu woke up first as usual. The young lady in her arms was so obedient it made her want to kiss her. Of course, Xiao Yu didn’t pass up the opportunity. She secretly kissed her for a long while. It was the same soft, incredible feeling as last night. This time, she didn’t linger as she had the night before, just a brief taste to satisfy her craving.

Just as she was feeling smug, a commotion erupted outside. The beauty in her arms frowned slightly and snuggled deeper, leaving only one ear exposed. It was rare to see the young lady so soft. Xiao Yu’s heart melted completely.

“Search every room, don’t miss a single one!” A series of hurried footsteps could be heard outside.

Xiao Yu froze. Searching for someone?

She glanced at the young lady in her arms, not wanting to wake her. But thinking of the search, she steeled herself and whispered close to her ear, “My lady, wake up quickly.”

“Mmm… it tickles…” The young lady grumbled and turned over, her back to Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu smiled helplessly, then leaned in again, raising her voice slightly. “My lady, wake up. Something seems to be happening outside.”

The warm breath on her sensitive ear made Song Luoning’s body stiffen, and she instantly became fully awake.

This scoundrel actually took advantage of me while I was sleeping!

She was about to lash out, but Xiao Yu covered her mouth. “Shhh…”

A loud knock sounded at the door. “Open up, now!”

Song Luoning’s heart leaped. She stared wide-eyed at Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu nodded at her. After a moment, Song Luoning regained her senses, pushed Xiao Yu’s hand away, and took her clothes from the satchel. “Put these on.”

“…”

“Open the door! We’ll kick it down if you don’t!” The knocking grew more violent.

Song Luoning steadied her breath. “What’s the matter?” she asked calmly.

A voice from outside said, “The Prince of Chang’s Residence was robbed last night. We suspect the thief is still in the city. We have orders to apprehend the thief and need to check if you’re harboring them.”

Song Luoning pursed her lips. “Alright, please wait a moment, gentlemen. I’ll open the door right away.” She gestured for Xiao Yu to hurry and change.

What did Song Luoning mean? Why did she want her to wear her clothes? But seeing Song Luoning’s serious expression, Xiao Yu didn’t dare to dawdle. She quickly changed. However, Song Luoning’s clothes were a bit too small. The sleeves were too short, the top felt constricting, and it just looked awkward. The skirt was fine, but the upper half looked strange.

Song Luoning opened the door, and several men dressed as soldiers rushed in. One of them said impatiently, “What were you doing inside? It took you so long to open the door.”

Xiao Yu said, “We just woke up.”

The soldier impatiently scanned the room. Seeing only two women, he said to the others, “He’s not here. Keep searching.” Then they went to the next room.

Song Luoning breathed a sigh of relief, but her brows were tightly knit. From the current situation, the Prince of Chang’s Residence had likely learned that Xiao Yu was in Qingzhou, and the city gates were probably already sealed.

She glanced at Xiao Yu, the young woman’s features delicate and her eyes bright and spirited. Song Luoning tightened her fists, suppressing her complicated emotions.

“My husband, you should stay in this disguise for a while.”

“Huh?” Xiao Yu was stunned. Why is she suddenly telling me to wear women’s clothes?

Well, it’s not so bad. Song Luoning had been staring at her just now. Could she be captivated by my beauty?

Thinking this, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but grin foolishly.

“…”

“My husband…” Song Luoning opened her mouth to speak.

“Sister-in-law,” Chen Yu ran over. “Who were those people just now…” She saw Xiao Yu and froze, staring. “Who is this sister…”

“…”

Xiao Yu couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

Song Luoning chuckled and covered her mouth as she explained, “She’s your cousin.”

“Cousin?!” Chen Yu’s expression was one of disbelief. She then looked at Xiao Yu with distaste. “Why is my cousin dressed like this?”

Song Luoning gave Xiao Yu a look. Xiao Yu walked over and closed the door. “The people outside have a drawing that looks a lot like your cousin. To avoid unnecessary trouble, your cousin will be disguised as a woman for now. From now on, you’ll call her ‘cousin sister,’ got it?”

Xiao Yu: “…”

She hadn’t expected the young lady to be such a good liar. What’s this about a drawing that looks like me and not wanting to cause trouble? She watched Chen Yu nod in a daze.

She felt a moment of speechlessness.

Song Luoning glanced at Xiao Yu, then said to Chen Yu, “Could I trouble you to go to the tailor and get a proper dress for your cousin sister?”

Hmm? Putting aside everything else, the young lady is quite considerate.

Xiao Yu was very pleased with Song Luoning’s arrangement.

Song Luoning took out some money and handed it to Chen Yu, who took it and left Mingpin Tower.

The soldiers were still searching but had moved to the other side. Song Luoning and Xiao Yu’s room was on the right side of the stairwell, and from the doorway, they could see the lobby downstairs. However, because of the angle, the people below couldn’t see them.

Downstairs in the lobby, the leader was a young man in fine clothes. He was tall and handsome, and two rows of soldiers stood behind him.

The soldiers who had been searching upstairs hurried down the other stairwell. They saw the man and bowed. “My lord, we haven’t found any suspicious individuals.”

The man’s expression was sullen. He flicked his sleeve. “Let’s go, keep searching.”

At this moment, a stunning woman walked out from behind the counter. “Sir Xiao, what do you take my Mingpin Tower for? You come and go as you please? Not only have you disturbed my guests, but what about the compensation for any damaged items?”

Ming Zhiqing didn’t tolerate anyone’s nonsense. If she liked you, everything was fine. If she didn’t, it was best not to provoke her, or she’d make your life difficult. The man in front of her happened to be in the latter category.

“You…” The man was about to lash out, but he saw her face, clenched his fists, and held back. His handsome face twisted with restrained anger.

The person who had come out was none other than the owner of Mingpin Tower, the eldest daughter of the Ming family. Not only was she as wealthy as a nation and held the status of a royal merchant, but she had also caused a sensation in the capital by marrying the former prime minister’s daughter as a woman herself. The news had shocked the entire capital. It was worth mentioning that her wife was the capital’s number one beauty, whose talent and wit were a match for any man.

Moreover, the former prime minister was very protective of his son-in-law. After all these years, he had shielded her. Now, the eldest daughter of the Ming family was a person no one in Baisheng dared to offend. Even his own father, the Prince of Chang, had to show her deference. The reason was simple: all the civil and military officials were the former prime minister’s proteges.

As a mere lord, he had some influence in Qingzhou, but outside of it, he was nothing. And his useless younger brother, who was now the emperor, had forgotten all about him and their father, yet he still had to scheme for him here. If only I had become emperor…

A flicker of jealousy crossed Xiao Chengze’s eyes. A great man doesn’t concern himself with trivial matters. He immediately changed his expression and smiled. “Eldest Miss Ming is right. The Prince of Chang’s Residence will certainly compensate for any losses at Mingpin Tower.”

Ming Zhiqing didn’t stand on ceremony. She called the manager. “Go and tally the losses. Then take two people to the Prince of Chang’s Residence to settle the bill.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The manager, holding an abacus, and a shop assistant followed, tallying the damage in unison.

Xiao Chengze’s face grew dark, and he once again adopted a look of suppressed rage.

“My lady, who is that person?” Xiao Yu turned to Song Luoning.

Song Luoning’s eyes flickered. “That man is likely the son of the Prince of Chang, Xiao Chengze. That woman is the owner of Mingpin Tower, Eldest Miss Ming. I was fortunate enough to see her once in the capital…”

What? Xiao Chengze?!

The male lead of the book?

Xiao Yu’s heart skipped a beat, and a strange panic surged within her. She was so flustered that she didn’t hear what Song Luoning said next. “I… no… Song Luoning…”

Will Song Luoning react the way she does in the book when she sees the male lead?

She had guessed that their relationship was based on mutual benefit, but that was just a guess. What if it wasn’t? What if Song Luoning genuinely liked him? What if she was truly willing to be the woman behind the male lead?

Xiao Yu felt light-headed and a sense of indescribable dread. She instinctively grabbed Song Luoning’s hand. “My lady, that young lord is quite handsome, isn’t he?” she asked tentatively.

Song Luoning frowned, pulled her hand away, and her voice grew colder. “Does my husband like men like that?”

What does she mean, ‘I like men like that’?

I’m afraid that she likes men like that!

Xiao Yu gave a bitter laugh. “My lady, don’t you think he’s great?”

“My husband, do you think he’s great?” Song Luoning’s voice turned completely cold. She gave Xiao Yu a chilling look, then turned and went back into the room.

Xiao Yu hesitated and followed her.

The door slammed shut. “Get out!”

“?!”

Get out? Why did Song Luoning tell her to get out? Was her change of heart so drastic just because she saw the male lead?

Xiao Yu stared at the closed door, her head bowed, her eyes welling up with tears of grievance. She pouted. After a while, she came to her senses, her mind still in a daze, her eyes fixed on the door.

The door suddenly opened, and Song Luoning’s face appeared, looking cold. “Come in!”

Xiao Yu bit her lip, her eyes red, as if she had suffered a great injustice, and the culprit was right in front of her.

Seeing her tears, Song Luoning’s heart ached. She tightened her fists, which were hidden in her wide sleeves.

“My lady…” Xiao Yu looked at her.

“Come in first.” Song Luoning loosened her fists, sighed slightly, turned, and sat down at the round table. Her voice held a hint of persuasion. “If you have feelings for him, I advise you to give up now. He’s not the right person for you.”

Not right for me, but right for you?

Xiao Yu felt even more wronged. Did Song Luoning fall for the male lead after just one meeting? What about their relationship?

Thinking this, Xiao Yu’s tears began to fall uncontrollably. Seeing her tears, Song Luoning’s heart tightened. She stood up and took out a handkerchief to wipe them away. But that only made it worse. The more she wiped, the more tears fell. She felt helpless.

Does she really like him that much?

“I’m not saying you can’t like him, but the court is in turmoil. He is the son of the Prince of Chang, and the Prince of Chang is ruthless in eliminating rivals. He is truly not a good man,” Song Luoning sighed, her voice gentle. “Why are you crying so much?”

Not a good man?

Xiao Yu stopped her tears and blinked. Could it be that I misunderstood her, and Song Luoning doesn’t like the male lead at all?

Xiao Yu suppressed the excitement in her heart. “Song Luoning, you don’t like him, do you?”

Hearing this, Song Luoning’s brows furrowed. She stopped what she was doing, looked up at her, her expression cool. “I don’t like him.”

She doesn’t like him.

She had really misunderstood Song Luoning. She knew that they loved each other, so how could Song Luoning possibly like someone else?

Xiao Yu cried with relief, hugging Song Luoning tightly. “I thought you liked him and didn’t want me anymore, boo hoo…”

Tears flowed again. “Boo hoo…”

This scoundrel.

Song Luoning sighed softly, slowly wrapped her arms around Xiao Yu’s waist, and said gently, “I don’t like him. Stop crying.”

“I know, I know now, boo hoo… I just can’t help it!” The quiet room was filled with Xiao Yu’s sobs and occasional sniffs.

Song Luoning rubbed her forehead. Why does she cry harder the more I try to comfort her? She clenched her fingers, hesitated, then gently patted Xiao Yu’s back and said softly, “Chen Yu will be back soon. What will she think if she sees you crying…”

Xiao Yu froze, wiped her tears with her sleeve. “M-My lady is right. I can’t let her see me.”

Xiao Yu hiccupped.

Song Luoning’s lips curved into a faint smile. Then she said seriously, “I don’t like him. The Prince of Chang sees my father as a thorn in his side. I’m worried that if he learns our identities, it will be dangerous for us. So, I’m sorry you have to wear women’s clothes for a while. Once we return to the capital, we’ll be safe.”

We need to leave Qingzhou first.

“I understand, my lady. I’m a woman anyway, so it’s nothing to change back into women’s clothes. If what you say is true, we should leave here as soon as possible. When Chen Yu returns, let’s pack up and go,” Xiao Yu said.

Song Luoning smiled, pushed her away, and sat back down on the chair. “The Prince of Chang’s Residence is looking for someone. I’m worried the city gates are already sealed.”

What?

The city gates are sealed? Xiao Yu’s heart sank. What would they do if they were?

“My lady, let’s go check it out first. Maybe it’s not so serious,” Xiao Yu said, her voice uncertain.

“Alright, let’s do as my husband says,” Song Luoning said with a curved smile.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“…” Xiao Yu froze. She and Song Luoning looked at the door at the same time, the atmosphere growing tense.

“Sister-in-law, it’s me,” Chen Yu’s voice came from outside.

Xiao Yu let out a sigh of relief. “My lady.”

Song Luoning nodded. Xiao Yu went to the door and opened it. Chen Yu stood there, covered in sweat. “Something’s wrong. I don’t know what’s happening, but there are soldiers everywhere…”

Xiao Yu moved aside to let her in, then glanced at Song Luoning, pursing her lips. “My lady, what do you think?”

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