The Female Regent’s Daily Guide to Spoiling Her Wife - Chapter 17

Lady Yang had already heard everything that happened in the rear courtyard and rushed to find Xu Xin, weeping and crying out, “Master! How could you bear to watch Xiangxiang be taken away? A young maiden like her, dragged into a filthy place like the Dali Temple how many people will mock her!”

Xu Xin slammed the table and roared, “Nonsense! Tell me yourself, where exactly did Xiangxiang offend that living King of Hell? Last time, she caused a scene at Zhencui Pavilion, and now she’s being disciplined like this even within our own residence?”

Lady Yang glanced at Xu Xin and stammered, “Last time at Zhencui Pavilion, Xiangxiang offended Niannian, the regent’s new favorite. That Niannian is Zheng Rong’s goddaughter.”

As if struck by a sudden thought, Lady Yang grabbed Xu Xin’s arm tightly. “Master, I’ve been wondering why the regent would send someone to treat Yunxia’s illness and why he’s targeting Xiangxiang like this. It must be Zheng Rong stirring up trouble behind the scenes! And Yunxia and Yunqiu they’ve latched onto the regent, that lofty branch!”

Xu Xin hummed thoughtfully; Lady Yang’s reasoning wasn’t without merit. He paced back and forth in the room. “Send someone to investigate Zheng Rong immediately. If it really is like this, do not provoke those two girls for now. Once Yunxia recovers, I’ll take them to the regent’s residence personally to express our gratitude.”

He added urgently, “Also, keep Xiangxiang’s matter quiet. The Prince of Qing values face above all. If he finds out, I’m afraid Xiangxiang won’t even qualify as a secondary consort—it’s uncertain whether she’ll even be allowed into his residence!”

Lady Yang nodded, her voice filled with resentment. “Master, if the position of secondary consort is lost, the only one who can enter the Prince of Qing’s residence as a concubine will be that girl from the rear courtyard!”

Xu Xin rubbed the bridge of his nose and mused, “Yunxia is clever and beautiful she could be sent over. But that child has always had a mind of her own since she was young. I fear she won’t submit to control.”

Lady Yang sneered, “No matter how strong-willed she is, we still have Yunqiu in our hands. Do you really think she can defy the heavens then?”

Xu Xin slumped wearily into his chair. “We’ll deal with that when the time comes. The top priority now is securing the position of Minister of Revenue.”

No matter which daughter had to be sacrificed, as long as it helped him climb higher, he was willing to give up anything. Just as back then, when that person took a fancy to his most beloved concubine, Zheng Yin, for the sake of his position as Vice Minister of Revenue, he had sent Zheng Yin to that person’s bed without a second thought.

Outside the Xu residence.

“Wait here,” Lu Zhao said coldly, then agilely and quietly scaled the wall into the rear courtyard of the Xu residence.

Xi Gui’s temple throbbed as he silently watched Lu Zhao’s retreating figure and shook his head. An old iron tree blooming was truly something to behold. They had agreed to send a female physician to check on the Third Young Lady, yet he ended up sending Mr. Liu. Returning to his residence, Lu Zhao had paced restlessly before finally giving in and scaling the wall in the dead of night. Ah, it was all because his master had never been entangled in matters of the heart in his first twenty-some years otherwise, how could he have fallen so easily for the charms of a mere minor daughter of the Xu family? But then again, it was also because the Third Young Lady of the Xu family was exceptionally beautiful her figure and her eyes were far too captivating!

Under the moonlight, Lu Zhao felt his way to the door and whispered, “Mr. Liu, it’s me. How is she?”

Liu Xiangru stroked his beard and slowly opened the door, looking at Lu Zhao. “Your Highness, the Second Young Lady has been sedated by me. You may proceed as you wish. As for the Third Young Lady’s condition, it’s due to excessive melancholy. She will recover naturally once her spirits lift.”

Lu Zhao nodded and said in a low voice, “Thank you for your trouble.”

Liu Xiangru shook his head, standing outside the door gazing at the moonlight. Ah, the trials of love are the hardest to overcome!

Bathed in the moonlight, Lu Zhao stood silently by Yunxia’s bedside, watching her quietly. Her dark, profound eyes swirled with unidentifiable emotions. She dared not imagine how Xiaxia had endured those years without her.

Yunxia did not wake, her brows slightly furrowed, tears at the corners of her eyes slowly trickling down and disappearing into her ink-black hair. Soft sobs escaped her small, pale lips.

Lu Zhao bent down, staring intently at Yunxia’s profile. This small face had grown much thinner, completely devoid of its usual boldness and charm. Lu Zhao’s heart felt as if pricked by fine needles, aching intensely.

Her gaze gentle, Lu Zhao pressed her thumb against Yunxia’s tear-stained corner. The dampness on her fingertip seemed to seep into her heart, her voice low and hoarse. “Have you suffered so much? Weren’t you always so fierce in front of me? How did you end up like this?”

“It’s alright. From now on, I won’t let you get hurt again.”

“So your name is Xiaxia, Yunxia. It’s a beautiful name”

Lu Zhao sat by the bed, carefully tracing the contours of the face that had occupied her thoughts day and night, the face she both longed for and resented. Her eyes were tender and affectionate, completely devoid of the cold anger she had exhibited during the day.

“Water” Yunxia’s throat ached terribly, her eyelids too heavy to open, as she murmured unconsciously.

Lu Zhao leaned closer to hear her clearly, but their proximity caused her soft lips to brush against Yunxia’s ear, sending a tremor through her heart.

Poking Yunxia’s delicate cheek, Lu Zhao smiled bitterly. “Even when you’re sick, you’re still so enticing. Wait until you recover I’ll make sure to teach you a lesson!”

Holding Yunxia halfway in her embrace, Lu Zhao brought warm water to her lips, carefully helping her drink sip by sip.

Yunxia felt dizzy and heavy-headed, unable to open her eyes. The familiar scent of sandalwood at her nose brought her comfort. In her daze, she felt that person was by her side, tending to her with such care and gentleness. If this was a dream, she wished she would never wake up.

Unconsciously, Yunxia nestled deeper into Lu Zhao’s embrace, her small face rubbing against the softness of Lu Zhao’s chest. She greedily inhaled, her tiny tongue lightly licking the moisture from her lips, her hands gently encircling Lu Zhao’s slender waist.

This alluring yet innocent scene shattered Lu Zhao’s rationality in an instant. She slowly drew closer to that quiet, pitiful face. Their breaths mingled, their high nose bridges almost touching. Her lips gently landed on Yunxia’s forehead, then her eyelashes, finally hovering above her moist, pale lips.

Lu Zhao paused, staring blankly for a moment, her eyes burning with intensity and madness. In that instant, she involuntarily recalled the erotic illustrations Gao Wenyuan had once shown her those images flooding her mind. Since childhood, she had possessed an extraordinary memory, never forgetting anything she had seen.

Somehow, faced with Yunxia in this state, she felt a fire burning in her chest, with no outlet, yearning to ignite both the person before her and herself.

Her dark eyes tinged with desire, a faint blush spread behind her ears. She took a deep breath, restraining her restless heart. Yunxia was still ill now was not the time. Heaven knew how she managed to hold back.

Yunxia only felt as though she had fallen into water in her dream, struggling to breathe.

Lu Zhao reluctantly released her, his heated breath shifting to Yunxia’s neck and behind her ears. He let out a helpless, soft sigh, “What am I to do with you?”

Yunxia remained with her eyes closed, offering no response.

“Master, it’s late. You should return now,” Liu Xiangru’s voice untimely sounded from outside.

Lu Zhao leaned down to peck Yunxia’s lips, then gently adjusted her slightly open collar. Softly, he said, “Xiaxia, we’ll meet again soon.”