Chapter 28

Xiao Changyuan met Yun Pianpian’s watery, dazed almond, shaped eyes.
His body stiffened abruptly.
The soup bowl slipped from his pale fingers, shattering on the ground and spilling a mess of yellow and white radish soup.
Her seductive, misty gaze turned into sparks capable of starting a wildfire, scattering onto him.
His icy body was instantly ignited by her watery gaze.
Xiao Changyuan’s heart raced wildly as he stared blankly at Yun Pianpian.
“Wife, what’s wrong with you?”
Suppressing his frantic heartbeat, he stepped toward Yun Pianpian.
Yun Pianpian lifted her flushed, burning face.
Her shimmering almond eyes were filled with a pure, innocent, yet alluring softness.
“I don’t know either…”
The girl’s voice, usually clear, sweet, and delicate, now carried a hint of fragmented hoarseness.
Xiao Changyuan felt his throat tighten slightly, his dark and profound gaze fixed intently on Yun Pianpian's face.
Yun Pianpian's originally delicate, fair, and tender cheeks were flushed with an unnatural redness.
Xiao Changyuan crouched down, raised his hand, and pressed his pale, slender fingers against Yun Pianpian's feverish, flushed cheek.
The heat against the back of his fingers sent a silent shock through him.
Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly, his voice hoarse.
“Wife, you're burning up.”
Just as Xiao Changyuan was about to withdraw his hand, Yun Pianpian suddenly grabbed it.
His pupils contracted slightly.
Yun Pianpian pressed his hand tightly against her scorching cheek.
Unconsciously, she nuzzled into his palm.
Xiao Changyuan's entire body tensed, a flicker of panic flashing in his dark eyes.
Yun Pianpian felt unbearably hot all over, her skin as if on fire, desperately craving the icy coolness of his hands against her body.
She closed her eyes in contentment, like a satisfied cat.
“Husband's hands are so cool.”
She furrowed her delicate brows, her moist eyes shimmering with a dazed glow.
“Why is the aftereffect of this wine so strong?”
Hearing Yun Pianpian's words, Xiao Changyuan snapped out of his daze and regained a sliver of clarity.
“What did you drink, wife?”
“The peach blossom wine on the table.”
Xiao Changyuan frowned slightly upon hearing this.
“That wine was sent over by that ugly creature.”
At the mention of “ugly creature,” Yun Pianpian suddenly became a little more alert.
Something was wrong with her body.
Normally, being drunk should only cause dizziness and weakness, but her current state was clearly abnormal.
Suddenly, Yun Pianpian realized something.
She lifted her gaze, staring blankly at Xiao Changyuan's cold, handsome face.
“Husband, you said that girl scratched you.”
Slowly, Yun Pianpian released Xiao Changyuan's large hand from her cheek.
Her trembling voice carried a hint of fear.
“How did she scratch you?”
Xiao Changyuan frowned, took Yun Pianpian's small hand, and gently scratched her delicate, fair palm with his index finger.
He looked up at Yun Pianpian, his voice low.
“Just like this.”
Yun Pianpian's fingertips trembled slightly.
Her body felt as if struck by lightning, her mind went completely blank.
Yun Pianpian’s delicate, pale fingers curled inward.
So the little beauty from this morning wasn’t trying to hit Xiao Changyuan, she was trying to seduce him!
Yun Pianpian felt she had been terribly mistaken.
Since that little beauty had ill intentions, there must have been something strange added to that jar of peach blossom wine.
Judging by Yun Pianpian’s current state, her body feverish and limp as mud,
It was highly likely she had been drugged with an aphrodisiac.
‘I'm done for.’ Yun Pianpian inwardly lamented, her almond, shaped eyes brimming with despair.
Why hasn’t the cliche of aphrodisiacs been eradicated from literature yet?!
Yun Pianpian grabbed Xiao Changyuan’s arm as if clutching her last lifeline, her dark, feathery lashes trembling uncontrollably.
“Husband, quickly find a pond and throw me in.”
Xiao Changyuan frowned. “Why should I throw my wife into a pond?”
Yun Pianpian cried out, “I’ve been poisoned! Only the water in the pond can cure me!”
Hearing that Yun Pianpian was poisoned, Xiao Changyuan’s handsome face instantly tensed, his brows deeply furrowed. Without questioning why she was poisoned or how the pond could cure her, he immediately scooped her up by the waist and dashed toward the pond deep in the forest.
The night was hazy, and the tranquil pond in the forest reflected the bright moonlight.
A sudden splash broke the silence of the woods.
Xiao Changyuan, holding Yun Pianpian, leaped into the icy pond.
Ripples spread across the water, shattering the serene moonlight on its surface.
The cold pond water submerged Yun Pianpian up to her shoulders, her clothes soaked and clinging tightly to her body.
Her dark hair cascaded like spilled ink into the water, floating with the ripples.
Yun Pianpian’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, and she bit her red lips hard to keep herself from making any strange sounds.
She buried her head in Xiao Changyuan’s broad chest.
Her entire body trembled uncontrollably, a strange and feverish desire surging within her.
She tightly clutched the collar of his robe, her fingertips turning pale from the force.
Lifting her head, Yun Pianpian could see Xiao Changyuan’s pale, tense jawline.
His Adam’s apple looked so pale.
So tempting, it made her want to bite him with her teeth.
Yun Pianpian’s almond eyes grew dazed as she clung to him, her red lips slightly parted, unconsciously leaning closer.
But then, Xiao Changyuan’s low, husky voice came from above.
“Wife, are you trying to cultivate demonic arts?”
Struggling, Xiao Changyuan said, “You can’t do this. You’ll risk qi deviation.”
Hearing this, Yun Pianpian blinked.
Her moist, dazed almond eyes gradually cleared.
Remembering her earlier state of infatuation, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she grew somewhat furious.
“Who wants to cultivate demonic arts with you?! I would never do such a thing!
If you dare take advantage of me today, I’ll bite you to death with my teeth!
If you dare lay a finger on me, I’ll make sure you never have descendants!”
Xiao Changyuan, frightened, immediately let go. Yun Pianpian’s soft, weak body began to sink, and she hurriedly wrapped her arms around his neck, exclaiming in frustration, “You scoundrel! Why did you suddenly let go?! Are you trying to drown me?!”
Xiao Changyuan felt somewhat wronged, hadn’t she just told him not to touch her? Letting go wasn’t right, but not letting go wasn’t either. Resigned, he held her slender, soft waist to keep her from slipping to the bottom of the pond. Yun Pianpian lifted her head, suspicion dawning in her eyes.
“Why are you holding me so tight? Are you trying to take advantage of me?!”
Xiao Changyuan didn’t understand what she meant by “taking advantage,” but he could sense her fear.
He lowered his gaze to Yun Pianpian in his arms. Her eyes were red, rimmed, her face tense, and she trembled slightly, clearly terrified beyond measure.
Even so frightened, she still forced herself to appear invincible.
Fierce on the outside but fragile within, like a paper tiger that could be toppled by the slightest breeze.
Xiao Changyuan’s body had been somewhat tense, a strange heat rising in his chest, and he even felt tempted to lose control alongside her.
But now, it felt as though a blunt knife was slowly cutting into his heart, causing a dense, lingering ache.
He didn’t know how to ease her fear and could only comfort her in his clumsy way.
“Wife, don’t be afraid. I will protect you. If you wish to kill me, I will take my own life. I won’t dirty your teeth… Wife, please don’t cry”
Yun Pianpian felt a bit touched and relieved by the first two sentences.
But upon hearing the last one, she immediately grew angry.
“Which of your eyes saw me crying?”
Xiao Changyuan replied softly, “Both of my eyes saw it.”
His voice was like moonlight rippling on a lake, sincere and clear.
“Though you shed no tears, your heart is weeping.”
For some reason, Yun Pianpian’s nose tingled upon hearing this.
Tears unexpectedly welled up and rolled down her cheeks.
He saw her vulnerability but did not mock it. Instead, he tenderly guarded her fragility.
From beginning to end, he had never allowed her to suffer the slightest grievance.
Just as force is mutual, so are emotions.
When Xiao Changyuan treated her with such earnest sincerity, Yun Pianpian found it impossible to harden her heart against him.
This man had once nearly cut off his own hand because of a mischievous, offhand remark she made.
She began to worry that he truly might take his own life over a harsh word from her.
Yun Pianpian lifted her head, her tear, filled eyes gazing at Xiao Changyuan with a hint of regret in their depths.
“Husband, don't harm yourself, I was only trying to scare you.”
Xiao Changyuan looked down at her, a faint trace of confusion flickering in his dark, cold eyes.
“Why would you want to scare me, wife?”
Yun Pianpian sniffled, her nose tinged with red, and large teardrops once again rolled down her cheeks.
She sobbed, “I was afraid you would hurt me.”
Xiao Changyuan’s heart nearly shattered upon hearing her words.
How could he ever hurt his beloved wife?
He reached out, his knuckles slightly bent, and gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.
“I would never do anything to harm you, wife.”
Yun Pianpian’s eyelashes trembled, and tears spilled from her eyes.
She lifted her hands, buried her face in his chest, and clung tightly to Xiao Changyuan.
From that moment on, the tyrant in her eyes no longer seemed like a dangerous and fearsome ruler.
He was a knight who could protect her.
The autumn wind rustled, and the icy pond water quickly cooled the raging heat within Yun Pianpian’s body.
She shivered from the cold.
Xiao Changyuan asked, “Wife, do you still need to detoxify?”
Yun Pianpian extended her delicate, pale hand and touched her no, longer, burning cheek.
“I think the poison has been neutralized.”
Xiao Changyuan said, “I’ll take you away from here.”
He scooped her up by the waist, rose from the pond, and strode toward the shore.
The weather was chilly, and Yun Pianpian, sensitive to the cold, curled up in Xiao Changyuan’s embrace.
Using his inner strength, Xiao Changyuan dried Yun Pianpian’s soaked clothes.
Just as they were about to leave, a faint sound suddenly reached them from behind.
Though the noise was very slight, it did not escape his sharp hearing.
Xiao Changyuan turned and looked toward the dark, shadowy corner.
In his cold, deep eyes, a cruel and bloodthirsty killing intent instantly solidified.
Holding Yun Pianpian, he stepped toward that pitch, black, hidden corner.
A small fish suddenly leaped from the bottom of the pond to the surface, shattering the moonlight reflected on the water.
After jumping out, the fish flicked its tail and plunged back into the pond, disappearing without a trace.
Yun Pianpian felt as if the temperature had dropped several degrees in an instant.
She shrank her neck, looked up at Xiao Changyuan with pitiful eyes, and said, “Husband, I’m so cold.”
Hearing this, the murderous intent in Xiao Changyuan’s eyes vanished instantly.
He lowered his gaze to Yun Pianpian, his fierce and ruthless expression softening into a calm, gentle demeanor.
“I’ll take you home, wife.”
With Yun Pianpian in his arms, Xiao Changyuan lightly tapped his toes and soared over the dark, silent forest, heading back to their residence.
After the two had left, a young man in blue robes emerged from behind a large rock.
Under the moonlight, his refined features appeared even more gentle and elegant, like polished jade.
“What a loving couple. it’s enough to make one jealous.”
Jiang Sheyu slowly curved his red lips into a faint smile, though no warmth reached his gentle eyes.
“So perfect that it makes me want to destroy you with my own hands.”
Xiao Changyuan carried Yun Pianpian into the room and gently laid her on the bed.
Yun Pianpian burrowed into the warm blankets, then turned to see Xiao Changyuan retrieving a bow and arrows from the wall.
Curious, she asked, “Husband, what are you doing with those arrows?”
Xiao Changyuan paused, his expression darkening. “That wretched woman dared to poison you. I’m going to kill her.”
Hearing this, Yun Pianpian quickly protested, “No! You mustn’t kill her!”
Xiao Changyuan turned around, frowning as he asked, “Why can't we kill her?”
Yun Pianpian replied, “She didn't intentionally poison me. She was just…”
That little beauty clearly only wanted to offer herself and seduce Xiao Changyuan.
Her crime didn't warrant death.
Yun Pianpian didn't continue, worried that Xiao Changyuan might discover the truth about the demonic technique.
Xiao Changyuan frowned and asked, “Wife, why can't we kill her?”
Yun Pianpian looked up at Xiao Changyuan and declared firmly, “Because I have an even more wicked way to punish her!”
Xiao Changyuan was taken aback. “What more wicked way?”
Zhao Rouyin went to Doctor Zhou's house to have her broken arm set.
As Doctor Zhou put the bandages back into his medicine chest, he casually asked, “Miss Yinyin, your arm is quite badly injured. Did you get into a conflict with someone?”
Zhao Rouyin's face was pale, but her tone remained calm. “No, I just twisted it by accident.”
She didn't want anyone else to know about Xiao Changyuan.
Seeing that she didn't wish to elaborate, Doctor Zhou didn't press further. He simply prescribed some medicine and advised her to rest for a month to recover fully.
After Zhao Rouyin left, Chen Fashan emerged from the inner room. He gazed in the direction she had gone, slightly furrowing his brow.
“This Jiang Yinyin seems a bit unusual. Investigate her background.”
Doctor Zhou bowed his head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Returning home, Zhao Rouyin couldn't stop thinking about the jar of peach blossom wine she had left in Xiao Changyuan's room.
She wondered if he would come for revenge.
Seeing the bandage on Zhao Rouyin's arm, Zhao Mao grew fearful and said with a pained expression, “Sister, maybe we should run away quickly.”