Last time, Zhu Qisheng was really frightened by Sheng Mingzhu’s appearance.
Now, whenever he thinks of Sheng Mingzhu, he remembers that frog lying on its back with its four legs in the air, which makes him… feel disgusted.
But deep down, there’s another voice telling him to be good to Sheng Mingzhu.
It also says he is destined to marry Sheng Mingzhu in this life and be lovingly devoted to her forever.
This makes him feel, at one moment, like he truly loves Sheng Mingzhu deeply and wants to spoil her rotten.
And the next moment, he feels like… he just can’t bring himself to kiss that mouth of hers.
Zhu Qisheng feels like he’s going crazy, like he’s developing a split personality.
So he just wanted to get properly drunk. He never expected Xia Zhi to be so cunning and thick-skinned.
Princess Jing was also secretly supporting Xia Zhi in seducing Zhu Qisheng, which is how she succeeded…
Meanwhile, Sheng Mingzhu at the Sheng residence knew nothing about this.
Sheng Mingzhu was just then meeting the senior fellow disciple she’d been longing for, Lin Zhijing.
The way her senior brother looked at her was so gentle, so full of pity, with a hint of worry too.
“Senior Brother—”
Sheng Mingzhu’s eyes instantly turned red, and she wanted to throw herself at Lin Zhijing.
But just then, a woman with an expressionless face stepped out from behind Lin Zhijing.
When Sheng Mingzhu saw this woman, the tears in her eyes forgot to fall, and both her expression and her body froze.
She couldn’t help muttering under her breath, “Sister Yuluo…”
Her master has a few trusted confidants, and this Yuluo is one of them.
Yuluo, still expressionless, walked up to Sheng Mingzhu and said,
“The master is very angry.”
Just five words, but they hit Sheng Mingzhu like a thunderclap.
Terrified, Sheng Mingzhu immediately knelt on the ground.
“Mingzhu knows she was wrong! I wouldn’t dare do it again!
“From now on, I will definitely obey Master’s orders. If Master tells me to go east, I absolutely won’t go west!
“I wouldn’t dare throw another tantrum or act on my own again…”
Sheng Mingzhu’s voice trembled. After speaking, she didn’t dare look up. She could only feel the gaze on top of her head carrying an immense sense of pressure.
That pressure was even gradually increasing. A thin layer of cold sweat had already broken out on her back.
Gritting her teeth, Sheng Mingzhu raised her right hand and fiercely slapped her own right cheek, then used her left hand to slap her left cheek.
Smack—
Smack—
Smack—
Sheng Mingzhu gave herself three hard slaps, and then Lin Zhijing started pleading for her.
“Sister Yuluo… Junior Sister is still young…”
“The master says if the young gentleman pleads for her, the punishment will be doubled.”
Lin Zhijing fell silent too.
Smack—
Smack—
Smack…
Sheng Mingzhu didn’t dare stop the movements of her hands.
If Huang Yaning had seen this, she probably would have been amazed that Sheng Mingzhu could be this ruthless with herself!
After about ten more crisp slaps, leaving her cheeks red and swollen, she finally heard Yuluo’s indifferent voice.
“Enough. From now on, I’ll be staying by your side.”
“Yes.”
Sheng Mingzhu’s face was burning hot, and her hands were numb, but she felt a sense of happiness, like surviving a disaster.
She knew that having Yuluo by her side meant she would be living under her master’s surveillance all the time.
She would have to act according to her master’s wishes every moment.
She didn’t like this!
But she had no choice.
Helped to her feet by Lin Zhijing, Sheng Mingzhu suppressed the unwillingness deep in her heart.
Lin Zhijing took a small porcelain jar from his pocket and carefully applied medicine to Sheng Mingzhu’s face.
After that, he hurriedly took her pulse. But as soon as he did, his expression changed dramatically.
How could this be?
He’d only been away helping Master pray for rain, staying by Master’s side for half a month. How did Junior Sister’s body end up… afflicted with Cold Poison?
Her leg had only been saved using a Gu poison. Because of the Gu poison’s effects, her constitution was already relatively cold and unfavorable for bearing children.
And now she’d been hit with Cold Poison too?
He heard she fell into the water on the day of the Dong family wedding banquet. But that day was sweltering hot, and imperial physicians treated her afterward. Logically, there’s no way she could have been invaded by cold energy.
No, this is wrong!
This cold energy wasn’t caused by falling into the water. It seems more like she ingested an extremely cold medicine, one that destroys the ability to bear children.
“Senior Brother… what’s wrong with me…”
Because her face was so swollen, Sheng Mingzhu’s voice came out a bit muffled.
At that moment, many thoughts flashed through Lin Zhijing’s mind.
His intuition told him that if Master found out Junior Sister couldn’t have children, her situation would get much worse.
She might become Master’s sacrificial lamb. He didn’t want to see Junior Sister end up so tragically.
Lin Zhijing was afraid Yuluo might notice something, and he felt fortunate that she didn’t know medicine.
He quickly steadied himself and comforted Sheng Mingzhu.
“You’re just a bit weak, but with Senior Brother here, I will definitely cure you.”
“And… my hair…”
Sheng Mingzhu said anxiously.
Lin Zhijing carefully examined the injuries on Sheng Mingzhu’s scalp. The condition of her scalp was even more gruesome than her red, swollen face.
A murderous glint flashed in his eyes.
That person in Haitang Courtyard dared to hurt his Junior Sister like this!
If it weren’t for Master repeatedly warning him not to lay a hand on the others in the Sheng family, he would definitely tear that person limb from limb right now!
“Don’t be afraid, Senior Brother will heal you—”
Lin Zhijing soothed Sheng Mingzhu, his heart full of compassion.
He could heal the injuries on Junior Sister’s head this time, but if she got hurt again in the future, she might not be able to keep her beautiful hair.
He felt that Junior Sister was truly in danger at the Sheng residence. He really wanted to just take her and leave.
Lin Zhijing didn’t know what was wrong with him. He felt that after being apart for a while, he loved Junior Sister even more than before.
After finishing the tasks Master assigned this time, he was going to beg Master.
He was willing to risk his life for Master, as long as Master would allow Junior Sister to be with him…
Even if Junior Sister couldn’t have children, he was still willing to be with her and cherish her for life…
Lin Zhijing prescribed some medicine, spent a long time talking with Sheng Mingzhu, and then left somewhat reluctantly.
Sheng Mingzhu thought Yuluo was sent by her master to monitor and control her, but she hadn’t guessed the full picture.
Yuluo had also brought bath pills and a pleasantly scented ointment.
After bathing, she needed to apply that ointment all over her body.
“Sister Yuluo, what exactly is this stuff?”
Sheng Mingzhu asked nervously.
“The master says these things will make men completely unable to resist you.”
Sheng Mingzhu was stunned for a moment, then a flicker of delight appeared in her eyes.
In the place she couldn’t see, a trace of mockery flashed through Yuluo’s cold gaze.
