In a daze, Song Ruotang felt someone lift her chin. A soft object covered her lips, and immediately a bitter taste of medicinal soup rushed into her mouth.
She let out a soft moan and tried to push the person away with her hands. She also dodged her head to avoid it, but a big hand pressed on the back of her head, not allowing her to retreat.
Song Ruotang was thus forced to take the bitter medicine. She frowned tightly, propped her hands on Pei Zhiyan's chest and pounded hard, but it was all in vain. It was not until she finished the medicinal soup that she could catch her breath.
After Pei Zhiyan let go of Song Ruotang, she lay in his arms and coughed violently. Her cheeks turned bright red from coughing. Pei Zhiyan then raised his hand to smooth her back.
When Song Ruotang finally caught her breath, Pei Zhiyan said, "Sorry, the medicinal soup has to be taken while it's hot..."
Xiaoxi had already tested the temperature when she brought the medicine just now. If Song Ruotang didn't drink it in time, the soup would cool down quickly in the cold winter, which would be even worse for her body.
Song Ruotang leaned obediently in Pei Zhiyan's arms and shook her head. Her breath was still a bit unsteady. Pei Zhiyan picked up a preserved fruit from the side and held it to her lips. "Have one."
Song Ruotang lowered her eyes and glanced at the golden preserved fruit. She pursed her lips and obediently ate it. But it seemed that her lips accidentally touched Pei Zhiyan's fingertips, making his fingers twitch slightly. He quickly withdrew his hand.
The sweet taste in her mouth washed away the bitterness just now. Song Ruotang's eyebrows relaxed. Pei Zhiyan, who had been frowning slightly, finally relaxed his brows. "Have a good rest. You'll feel better after a sleep."
Song Ruotang nodded. Pei Zhiyan helped her lie down. Just as he was about to straighten up, Song Ruotang suddenly hooked her hands around his neck and gently kissed his lips.
Pei Zhiyan was stunned for a moment. Song Ruotang was a bit shy. Her cheeks were blushing, looking extremely charming. Her eyes seemed to contain spring water, sparkling and very alluring.
Pei Zhiyan stared at her plump red lips as if possessed and didn't move his eyes away. The fingers on the edge of the bed tightened slightly. The feeling of Song Ruotang accidentally holding his fingertips just now still lingered, giving rise to a strange feeling in his heart.
It was as if something was hitting his heart, making his heart itch.
Seeing him in a daze, Song Ruotang covered her mouth and laughed softly. Her almond - shaped eyes were like crescent moons, making Pei Zhiyan can't help but raise the corners of his mouth. He heard her say softly, "Thank you, my lord."
The delicate fragrance was captivating. Pei Zhiyan was a bit dazed and felt a bit flustered in his heart. He straightened up, turned his face to the side, and said calmly, "It's okay. You have a good rest. I'll go out for a while and come back soon."
Song Ruotang nodded. Pei Zhiyan pulled the quilt over her. She shrank into the quilt, only showing a pair of big eyes to look at him. Seeing that he was about to leave, she earnestly told him, "My lord, you must come back quickly..."
Pei Zhiyan paused for a moment and nodded slightly. "Okay."
Song Ruotang watched Pei Zhiyan go out and then relaxed. Waves of heat came over her body, and her head was dizzy. She raised her hand and pressed the back of it against her forehead. It was a bit hot.
She was extremely dizzy. Song Ruotang originally wanted to be gentle and caring when Pei Zhiyan came back, but before he returned, she fell asleep.
When Pei Zhiyan came back and saw that Song Ruotang was already asleep, he let out a sigh of relief. He was wearing loose inner clothes, and his strong chest muscles were faintly visible. Under the candlelight, water droplets dripped.
He walked to the couch and looked at Song Ruotang's sleeping face. Her long and curly eyelashes fluttered with her breathing. Pei Zhiyan slightly curved the corners of his mouth and raised his hand to pull the quilt back over her, which she had kicked off just now.
Then he carefully avoided Song Ruotang and gently lay down beside her.
At night, Song Ruotang was very restless. She always leaned towards Pei Zhiyan. Pei Zhiyan had nowhere to retreat and could only turn his back to sleep. But after a while, he felt a soft object sticking to his back.
Song Ruotang's voice was a bit soft, with a bit of grievance and hoarseness. "It's so cold..."
Pei Zhiyan turned his head to look at her. Song Ruotang still had her eyes closed, as if muttering in her dream. But she curled up into a ball, with her delicate eyebrows tightly knitted, looking a bit pitiful.
Pei Zhiyan sighed, turned around and hugged her into his arms. Song Ruotang arched in his arms, found a comfortable position, and then fell asleep quietly.
She originally thought that the place beside her would be empty again when she woke up, but unexpectedly, when Song Ruotang woke up again, she was in Pei Zhiyan's arms.
She was a bit surprised, and the other person seemed to have woken up long ago. Sensing her movement, he said gently, "You're awake?"
Song Ruotang grabbed his robe and nodded with a blushing face. Pei Zhiyan got up and poured her a cup of hot water. "Have a drink of water."
Song Ruotang drank the water from his hand. Pei Zhiyan sat back on the edge of the couch, raised his hand and placed it on her forehead. After feeling for a while, he frowned slightly. "The fever hasn't subsided yet."
He helped Song Ruotang lie down again and covered her tightly. "Have a good rest. I'll ask the doctor to come and take a look."
Song Ruotang grabbed his hand and smiled. "Actually, I feel much better than last night. My lord, you don't have to go to so much trouble. Go and take care of your important business first."
She knew that Pei Zhiyan was very busy, so she had to show that she was understanding.
Pei Zhiyan wanted to say something else, but Song Ruotang started to cough. He quickly helped her up and patted her back. Song Ruotang leaned in his arms and gasped slightly. "It's probably because I got some root diseases when I was in the village before, so it's not easy to get better. I've troubled you, my lord..."
Pei Zhiyan pursed his lips. "You're like this because you went to get the medicine for me. Don't say such things anymore."
He didn't know how he felt. Originally, he only felt a sense of responsibility and pity for Song Ruotang, but now when he heard her say this, his heart felt a bit sour.
"Then my lord must remember to take the medicine on time." Song Ruotang looked up at him. There were stars in her eyes. She said weakly, "It doesn't matter if I'm sick, but my lord is an official of the court, doing good for the common people. You mustn't get sick."
Pei Zhiyan looked down into Song Ruotang's eyes. Suddenly, he seemed to fall into a pool of spring water, and his heart warmed up. He nodded, raised his hand and gently stroked Song Ruotang's hair by her ear, and replied softly, "Okay."
In the end, Pei Zhiyan still invited a better doctor to diagnose Song Ruotang. Song Ruotang watched as Nanny Liu and the servants brought in precious things, and the emotions in her eyes changed.
It seemed that her efforts were not in vain. She could feel that Pei Zhiyan was obviously more concerned about her.
Although Pei Zhiyan's feelings for her might just be because she went to get the medicine for him, at least he was paying attention to her.
"Madam, my lord has instructed you to drink this bowl of ginseng soup." Xiaoxi walked in with a bowl of soup and said to her with a smile.
Song Ruotang was a bit confused. Xiaoxi explained further, "My lord instructed the kitchen before he went out today to make more tonics for you. He wants you to nourish your body well."
Song Ruotang nodded in understanding. She picked up the soup bowl and drank some soup. Then, as if thinking of something, she turned to Xiaoxi and asked, "I heard that there is a hot spring in the backyard of this mansion. Is it true?"