An indescribable fear swept over Qu Yue's heart and seeped into every limb of her body.
She rushed towards the courtyard. Faint candlelight flickered unsteadily inside, casting an eerie glow.
She kicked open the courtyard gate and saw Liu Xu lying unconscious on the ground.
The plain white mourning dress on her was completely soaked in blood. Fresh blood was still oozing from the whip - lashed wounds, looking horribly gory.
Qu Yue's heart skipped a beat. Her legs went weak, and she lunged towards Liu Xu.
The flower cakes she had intended to share between them dropped to the ground, rolled away dejectedly, got covered in dust, and scattered into the corners.
Qu Yue's outstretched hand was trembling. The blood on her fingertips was cold. With great effort, she placed her hand on Liu Xu's shoulder and gently shook her.
Her lips quivered, and her snow - white eyes were bloodshot. "Liu Xu..."
The strong smell of blood filled the air. Qu Yue turned Liu Xu over. Her face was swollen badly, clearly having been beaten severely.
There wasn't a single unblemished part on her body. There were countless bruises. She was barely holding on.
Tears of heartache welled up in Qu Yue's eyes. They had only been separated for an hour or two. How could she have been tortured so brutally...
The movement roused Liu Xu from her coma.
She coughed weakly. Her blood - stained eyelids fluttered twice, and with all her remaining strength, she opened her eyes. "M - Miss. You're back..."
Her voice was barely a whisper. She forced a smile. "I... I didn't betray you this time."
Qu Yue held Liu Xu in her arms and nodded against her. "I know! I'm back. Don't fall asleep!"
She stood up and hoisted Liu Xu onto her shoulder. "I'll take you to the medical clinic right away!"
Mu Wang, who had followed closely behind, reached out to stop Qu Yue. "Qu Yue, you can't leave the mansion now."
Qu Yue's porcelain - white face was smeared with Liu Xu's blood. Her face was full of desperation, and her tears were streaked. "But Liu Xu is dying!"
"Is a human life less important than rules!"
Qu Yue cried and roared. "Get out of my way!"
Looking at her stubborn back, Mu Wang's face darkened like ink. "Qu Yue, I'm trying to save your life!"
"After living in the Mu Mansion for so many years, don't you know what will happen if you go out?"
Qu Yue raised her head. Her pitch - black eyes were full of determination. "I can't just watch Liu Xu die!"
Mu Wang said in a deep voice, warning her, "If you leave the mansion tonight, Father will never let you see the sun tomorrow."
You might even die sooner.
The two were at a stalemate. Wen Wuyou, standing on the other side, said softly, "Yue'er, why don't you plead with me?"
Qu Yue's eyes trembled. As if seeing a savior, she walked towards him with Liu Xu on her back. "I... I beg you. Save Liu Xu!"
Wen Wuyou glanced at Mu Wang from the corner of his eye. The latter glared at him with wide - open almond eyes, wishing he could stare a hole through him.
He twirled his folding fan. "Don't worry, Young Master Mu. We won't leave the Mu Mansion."
"Go to my courtyard."
Right!
Qu Yue's peach - blossom eyes sparkled. She remembered that the last time she sprained her ankle, it was Wen Wuyou who gave her the wound medicine.
He had been on the battlefield for years. With swords and arrows flying everywhere, injuries were common.
So he always kept wound medicine on hand.
Having found a solution, Qu Yue finally let out a sigh of relief. "I'll take Liu Xu there!"
She said coldly, "Young Master Mu, please get out of the way!"
Mu Wang still wouldn't let her pass. "Going into a strange man's courtyard late at night, Qu Yue, are you afraid you won't die fast enough?"
Liu Xu's breathing on her shoulder became weaker and weaker. Qu Yue was so anxious that she cursed and wished she could just kick Mu Wang away.
Her eyes were bloodshot with anger. "Mu Wang, if anything happens to Liu Xu, I'll fight you!"
Mu Wang's jaw tightened, but he still didn't let her pass.
It was just a servant girl who died. He could arrange another one for her.
But Qu Yue couldn't be in danger.
He emphasized in what he thought was a conciliatory tone, "I'll arrange a new servant for you. Didn't you dislike her before?"
"It's different!" Qu Yue roared at him. The veins on her slender neck stood out. "I hated her, but I don't want anything to happen to her!"
Qu Yue couldn't wait any longer. She kicked Mu Wang!
"Yue'er, there's no need for this." Wen Wuyou stepped forward as a peacemaker. There was a hint of mockery in his tone. "I'll just go and fetch the medicine."
He sneered. "However, I'm afraid I can't carry it all by myself."
Mu Wang would never let Qu Yue go with him. He took the initiative to find a way out. "Do you want me to stay here and change her clothes?"
At that moment, Qu Yue only resented him.
She turned around angrily with Liu Xu on her back and went back to the bedroom.
As soon as she entered the room, Mu Wang rushed up to Wen Wuyou in one stride. Being young and hot - tempered, he grabbed the other's collar and questioned him rudely.
His angry, heavy breathing sprayed on Wen Wuyou's face. "You did it on purpose!"
The latter leaned back lazily with his neck stretched. He chuckled softly. "Young Master Mu, don't you think you care too much about your sister - in - law?"
"Don't... think... so." He gritted his teeth with hatred, wishing he could throw this scheming fox out of the Marquis Mansion!
They both could see that Liu Xu's injuries were only skin - deep.
But this guy had won Qu Yue's favor!
While he had received dozens of dirty looks!
Why!
Wen Wuyou's eyes slanted upwards. When he smiled, his eyes narrowed into a charming line.
He didn't need to guess to know what Mu Wang was thinking at this moment.
There was a scar on his slender neck, adding a touch of wildness. He lowered his voice and provoked, "Because you're stupid."
Like a drop of water splashing into a hot oil pan, it instantly ignited all of Mu Wang's anger. "Wen! Wu! You!"
The suppressed growl of the young man exploded in Wen Wuyou's ear.
The person being roared at looked tired. With a gentle push of his hand, which was used to years of martial arts training, he pushed Mu Wang away. There was a meaningful smile in his eyes. "Let's go, Young Master."
Mu Wang staggered back. "You've been letting me all this time?"
"What else?" Wen Wuyou resumed his nonchalant look. "You're Mu Wang's younger brother."
He wouldn't fight with him.
Mu Wang held back his anger and kicked the cobblestones all the way. "Why were you on Qu Yue's roof last night?"
Wen Wuyou waved his folding fan. The hair fluttering in the wind covered the depth in his eyes. "What about you?"
Mu Wang choked. "My parents will deal with her."
"That's a good excuse." Wen Wuyou paused in waving his fan. "What if I think so too?"
Mu Wang said irritably, "Do you take me for a fool?"
"What else?"
Wen Wuyou said softly, "I'll go and fetch the medicine. Wait here."
Mu Wang stared at the unrestrained back. He squinted his eyes. "Wen Wuyou, what on earth are you up to?"
For the time being, he couldn't figure it out.
When the two returned to the house, Qu Yue had already changed Liu Xu into a loose - fitting dress and simply wiped her body. She was waiting for the wound medicine.
Qu Yue carried a basin out. The blood in the basin was thick, and the towel hanging on the basin wall was completely soaked in blood.
When Qu Yue saw Wen Wuyou, she put the basin on the ground and rushed forward. "What kind of medicine should I use?"
Wen Wuyou took out six porcelain bottles and carefully explained how to use them and the dosage. Qu Yue kept a straight face and nodded constantly to remember.
"Remember?"
"Remembered!"
Qu Yue reached out her hand expectantly.
The porcelain bottles were held tightly in Wen Wuyou's hand, making a tinkling sound. "Yue'er, soldiers on the battlefield never give their medicine away easily."
Because you never know if it will be you who falls to the ground the next second.
Qu Yue's pupils trembled. She met his shrewd eyes and felt unsure. "What... what do you want?"