He Xun finished his duty and returned to Tingfeng Courtyard. He lifted his foot and headed straight for the main courtyard, but stopped just as he was about to step into the courtyard gate. Then, looking rather dejected, he turned towards the study.
Feiyu, who was following behind, seemed to sense the invisible aura of resentment around He Xun and quietly stopped in his tracks.
Should he go back to his own small courtyard? It was a bit dangerous to stay by his master's side at the moment.
Without hesitation, Feiyu turned around and was about to leave. But just as he lifted his foot, he heard He Xun say:
"Go and tell Mother that I've been promoted by His Majesty and am now the Censor-in-Chief. It's something to celebrate."
Feiyu helplessly looked up at the sky. Oh, my master! You're the General Who Guards the North, yet you're celebrating the promotion to a mere fifth - rank official. Does that make any sense?
Moreover, the mistress must have already known about this. There was no need for him to go and tell her.
Feiyu rolled his eyes. Something to celebrate? Maybe his master was hoping someone would celebrate it with him.
So, Feiyu turned around and headed towards the bedroom in the main courtyard.
He couldn't let his master sleep in this study filled with resentment anymore. Otherwise, some high - ranking Taoist master might show up:
"I, a humble Taoist, happened to pass by this noble place and found that your mansion is filled with an aura of resentment. There might be some evil spirits at work..."
Feiyu suddenly shivered and quickened his pace.
...
In the bedroom, Su Nansheng was carefully reading the romance novels that Bitao had collected for her.
Although she wasn't quite sure if Bitao was right, she had nothing else to do, so it wouldn't hurt to take a look.
"What's up? Does Linchuan have any instructions?"
Hearing that Feiyu was asking to see her, Su Nansheng quickly and somewhat guiltily hid the romance novel behind her.
He Xun hadn't returned to the bedroom for three or four days. Was Feiyu here to deliver a message from him?
But wasn't He Xun being a bit petty? It was just that she didn't rush to greet him. Was it really worth getting angry about for so long?
"No. I'm here just to tell you that our master has rendered great service in protecting His Majesty's carriage and has been promoted."
Feiyu smiled, trying to convey his joy to Su Nansheng.
Su Nansheng nodded. "I know."
Chen Wanrong had already expected this, and she was also preparing for the celebration banquet. Was Feiyu here to remind her because he was afraid she didn't take it seriously enough?
Feiyu's expression turned a bit solemn. You know, and that's... it?
"Actually, this credit didn't come easily..."
Next, Feiyu vividly and elaborately described the thrilling events of that day to Su Nansheng. At the end, he said:
"Our master was more seriously injured because he didn't see you that day."
Su Nansheng twitched the corner of her mouth. So it was really because she didn't rush to greet him.
But what did this have to do with his injury? Could she have healed his wound if she had rushed to him?
Feiyu continued:
"These days, sleeping in the study has given him a sore back. His injury hasn't improved at all. Now, he even has trouble bending over. But our master refuses to call the mansion's doctor to take a good look at him. If this goes on, I'm afraid..."
Feiyu secretly glanced at Su Nansheng and saw that her expression finally changed. So he concluded:
"He might develop some chronic problems and won't be able to hold a sword in the future."
After saying that, Feiyu quickly turned around and left, afraid that Su Nansheng would see through his nervousness.
Deceiving the master would lead to no good end. But luckily, his master used a sword, so he didn't really lie.
Su Nansheng didn't have the time to notice Feiyu. Her mind was occupied by the familiar words "sore back".
He Xun seemed to have said this before. Thinking of the scene Feiyu had just described,
Su Nansheng's little bit of anger suddenly disappeared.
Given He Xun's great military achievements in her previous life, she had automatically assumed that he was brave, determined, and invulnerable.
In fact, he was just a mortal. He could be hit by a brick wall and scratched by stones.
He also had to protect that suspicious and pampered emperor. It was unimaginable how difficult it was for him to escape at that time.
Su Nansheng gently tapped the red - wooden table with her index finger. Thinking about it this way, it seemed that she was indeed a bit negligent for not rushing out to greet He Xun?
But she was just accompanying Chen Wanrong and trying to comfort her.
With this explanation, He Xun should understand her, right?
"Bitao."
Bitao seemed to know everything. She should ask her.
"Auntie, Sister Bitao isn't here. If you have any orders, just tell me."
It was Ruyi who answered.
Su Nansheng was puzzled. Where had Bitao gone?
...
In the study, He Xun coldly looked at Bitao. He almost asked why it was her.
"Sir, this is the tonic soup that my mistress specifically ordered the small kitchen to make for you."
Ignoring He Xun's cold stare, Bitao directly placed the stewing pot on his table and lifted the lid.
He Xun immediately saw the large pieces of deer antler inside and couldn't help but raise his eyebrows.
Great. He was sleeping in the study, yet he received this highly tonic soup.
Seeing that the killing intent on He Xun was almost tangible, Bitao quickly said:
"Actually, on the day you returned from the palace, my mistress had already asked the small kitchen to make ginseng soup for you. She said that you had fallen into the water and needed something to dispel the cold and induce sweating. It's just that I was late."
I let you get away.
He Xun was stunned for a moment and remembered the stewing pot in Bitao's hand that day.
It was actually prepared for him.
"My mistress knelt in the ancestral hall for more than an hour just to pray for you. Then she accompanied the mistress to comfort her, afraid that she would be too worried and her health would suffer. But when you came back, you quarreled with my mistress!"
Somehow, as Bitao was talking, her temper flared up.
Fortunately, she quickly realized her mistake. While He Xun was still in a daze, she rushed out of the door.
He Xun came back to his senses at the hasty sound of Bitao's footsteps. He looked at the stewing pot in front of him, then picked up the spoon, scooped up a mouthful, and put it into his mouth.
It was soft, fresh, and delicious in the mouth, without any fishy smell. It must have taken a lot of effort, effort for him.
He Xun slowly drank the soup. He felt a warm current flowing down his throat, spreading through his blood to every part of his body, making him feel comfortable and smooth.
Even his previously stuffy chest now felt full and at ease.
When the ginseng soup in the pot was finally finished, He Xun finally realized a problem.
Had he wronged Su Nansheng?
He Xun rubbed his eyebrows, recalling what he had said that day. Had he been too harsh?
She did care about him. She had even ordered the kitchen to make soup for him.
Then He Xun stopped his actions. She just didn't care enough about him, at least not enough to make him go back on his own initiative.
Thinking about it, He Xun sighed. He was really fed up with sleeping in this study.
But this time, if no one came to pick him up, he just wouldn't go back.
...
In the outer courtyard, Bitao walked quickly while regretting.
What's going on? How could she raise her voice at the master?
Had she forgotten her duty? She was supposed to arrange a secret meeting under the moon. She was really derelict in her duty!
So, the scared Bitao and the nervous Feiyu were walking separately and finally met at a crossroads.
Their eyes met, and there was caution in each other's eyes.
"Is he here to catch me?"
"Is she here to catch me?"
The two passed by each other while looking at each other. Then they both breathed a sigh of relief and decided not to go back to serve their masters for the time being.
It was too dangerous. They might get caught.