Those two words carried an order that brooked no argument.
Tian Yao's heart skipped a beat. Her legs felt as if they were filled with lead and she couldn't move a step.
[Could it be that the poison has taken effect and he's lost his mind, and is going to tear me to pieces and eat me as a snack?]
[No way! I'm just a poor little girl. I didn't want to come to this wretched place to suffer either...]
Alarm bells were ringing loudly in Tian Yao's head, but her body obediently shuffled step by step towards him.
There was nothing she could do. Since she had transmigrated into this world and become a servant, she wouldn't be able to survive if she didn't obey.
He Ci Yuan was reclined against the head of the bed. His black hair, damp with sweat, stuck to his pale forehead. The whole person exuded a sense of fragility on the verge of death, but his deep, unfathomable eyes were still intimidating.
As soon as she stood still by the bed, her wrist was suddenly grabbed by a big hand.
That hand was still cold, but it carried an irresistible force. With a gentle tug, Tian Yao fell forward and plunged straight into an embrace that carried a chill and a faint smell of blood.
How could there be blood? Was he injured?
However, Tian Yao didn't have time to think about it.
"Ah!"
She let out a frightened gasp and her body stiffened like a block of wood. She didn't dare to move a muscle.
He Ci Yuan encircled her in his arms. His chin rested on the top of her soft hair. He closed his eyes and greedily absorbed the milky fragrance on her body that could soothe his soul.
"I'm a bit tired and uncomfortable," he said honestly.
However, the chill in his body that was rampaging and threatening to tear him apart had been greatly soothed because of Tian Yao.
"Why are you trembling?" His hoarse voice sounded above her head.
"This servant... this servant is scared," Tian Yao replied honestly, her voice tinged with sobs.
[How can I not be scared? This is the ruthless villain! What if he takes a bite and my life is over!]
He Ci Yuan let out a soft snort, as if he was smiling. The vibration of his chest was transmitted through their close bodies: "You're scared but you still came?"
"The young master told this servant to come, so this servant didn't dare not to obey," she buried her head deeper, her voice muffled. "Moreover... moreover, seeing the young master in so much pain, this servant also feels heartache."
[Heartache my ass! I'm afraid that if you kick the bucket, my indenture will really become a dead contract!]
He Ci Yuan didn't say anything else.
He just held her, as if holding a huge, living warm stove.
At first, Tian Yao was extremely tense all over. Later, when she found that he really just held her to keep warm and didn't make any further moves, she gradually relaxed a little.
Moreover, holding him also gave her a sense of security. (QAQ)
However, Tian Yao also thought that his condition was much more serious than what was written in the book. It couldn't go on like this.
I don't know how much time had passed. The chill in He Ci Yuan's body gradually subsided and his breathing became steady and long.
Tian Yao thought he was asleep. Just as she was about to quietly move, she heard his deep voice ring out again.
"Do you know about my illness?"
Every time he had an attack, she could force her way in and say she wanted to treat him, but she never mentioned anything else.
She didn't answer any questions.
Tian Yao's heart skipped a beat.
[He's trying to trick me!]
She definitely couldn't say anything. With this kind of person's suspicious nature, the problem would only become more serious.
She quickly shook her head and pretended to be completely ignorant: "This servant doesn't know. This servant just feels that the young master's fear of cold is probably caused by the old injury on his leg. Because everyone's constitution is different, this servant is extremely worried and a bit desperate in seeking a cure."
She carefully brought up his leg injury, not daring to say too much. Anyway, she just had to talk nonsense and not arouse his suspicion.
He Ci Yuan was silent for a moment, then let go of her. "Go down."
Tian Yao didn't stay and quickly left.
After this night, Tian Yao was even more determined to "treat" He Ci Yuan's illness.
Of course, it was mainly for her own stable future.
She specifically paid attention to the days when Doctor Zhang from the mansion came to check on He Ci Yuan's health. She calculated the time accurately and "accidentally ran into" him on the way back.
"Doctor Zhang, please stop for a moment."
When Doctor Zhang saw Tian Yao, he politely nodded his head. After all, this girl was the only personal maid serving the young master now.
"Miss Tian Yao, do you have something to ask?"
Tian Yao curtsied and looked worried. "This servant wants to consult you on something. Why has the young master's leg injury not improved for a long time and why does he always feel cold? Is there any way to solve this?"
Having served He Ci Yuan for so long, he must know about this matter.
Doctor Zhang stroked his beard and looked embarrassed. "The young master's leg injury is an old one and there's also cold poison in it. Ordinary medicine is useless. Only warming medicine can nourish him. These medicines only treat the symptoms but not the root cause. If you want to relieve it, you still have to massage and knead to activate the blood and qi."
Tian Yao's eyes lit up. Isn't this exactly the answer she wanted!
Yes, the main thing was to activate the blood and qi so that the blood and the qi in the meridians throughout the body could circulate, and the body would improve a lot compared to before.
Doctor Zhang sighed again. "The young master has a bad temper. If it's someone else doing the massage, it definitely won't work."
He did know how to do it, but his skills were not good. He was afraid that if he couldn't cure the young master, he would also get himself into trouble.
[He doesn't allow others, but he didn't say he didn't allow me!]
Tian Yao had an idea in mind, but her face remained calm. She asked a few more questions about warming and nourishing recipes before respectfully seeing Doctor Zhang off.
She was carrying this "imperial edict" and was just about to find an opportunity to talk to He Ci Yuan when she first heard a lot of idle gossip.
The reason was that on this day, when she was going to collect her monthly allowance and passed by a rockery, she heard two little maids whispering to each other.
"Hey, have you heard? There are always strange noises coming from the young master's place. It's just like a wild beast. It's so scary!"
"Yes, that young master is a living hell king. He beats and kills people at every turn. None of the maids who serve him end up well."
"That's right. I heard that the one sent by the marquis's wife the other day had her face beaten to a pulp and still can't get out of bed now!"
Tian Yao stopped in her tracks.
These days, although He Ci Yuan was moody, he had indeed been quite nice to her. At least he hadn't beaten or scolded her, and had allowed her to live a stable life as a senior maid.
She couldn't stand others speaking ill of him like this.
[A bunch of gossips. They know nothing! He Ci Yuan is a hundred times better than that pervert in bed, He Cheng Yu!]
Tian Yao walked out from behind the rockery with a cold face. "You two, do you not want your tongues anymore?"
The two little maids were startled. When they saw it was Tian Yao, their faces turned pale instantly.
Now everyone in the mansion knew that Tian Yao was the young master's favorite and the only one who could serve him personally.
"Sister Tian... Tian Yao."
"I know what kind of person the young master is. It's not up to you to gossip about him behind his back!" Tian Yao showed the authority of a senior maid and scolded them. "If I hear another word like this, I'll report you to the old madam."