Rong Zhi leaned against the window, her face alert, wishing she could embed herself into the wall.
The man before her sat on the bed, leisurely making it, and naturally invited her to sleep with him.
"Xiao Mo, I didn't know before. I thought you were forcing me into marriage. Turns out you saved my life. I will definitely compensate you with the rest of my life."
He spoke with utmost sincerity. His deep, magnetic voice, coupled with his handsome face, would have made any woman in the world dizzy with infatuation. Unfortunately, Rong Zhi was not moved at all.
She even regretted it greatly!
If she hadn't known Xia Yunting was faking amnesia, she would have truly been fooled by him.
Since Xia Yunting wasn't amnesiac, he naturally wouldn't believe the nonsense she spouted during dinner. Therefore, he had only one reason for doing this – revenge.
Rong Zhi had played a trick on him at dinner, and now he was playing one back. However, Rong Zhi never expected him to use such a method.
"Ah hahaha... What compensation... You're saying too much, aren't you? Since we're already husband and wife, it's only right that I help you. It's getting late, I'm going back to sleep..."
Rong Zhi naturally intended to sleep in the side room. She had to detoxify Xia Yunting every day for the past few days and couldn't stay up to guard him every night.
After leaving an awkward remark, she seized the opportunity while Xia Yunting was making the bed and darted towards the door. However, she was caught by the waist mid-way by Xia Yunting.
Losing her balance, she stumbled into his arms, immediately held by a pair of strong arms, and a handsome face loomed before her.
Rong Zhi was stunned, her heart starting to pound wildly, faster than when she was caught escaping on her wedding day.
"Xiao Mo, as newlyweds, do people sleep in separate rooms?"
A pair of phoenix eyes stared at her intently, and Rong Zhi could almost see her reflection in them, swaying with the candlelight.
"I... we..."
Rong Zhi suddenly lost her ability to articulate words. Her speech was stammering, and she felt her face burning, unsure of what to say.
When she came to her senses, she was furious. She had lived two lifetimes and met all sorts of people, yet she was being flustered by a mere youngster!
This dishevelled state gave Xia Yunting a sense of satisfaction, as if his great revenge had been achieved. With malicious intent, he put on a look of dejection.
"Could it be... because I was once with a few women... that you despise me?"
He added a sigh for effect.
His expression was self-deprecating and regretful, making one's heart ache with pity.
Rong Zhi just wanted to slap him.
Damn, his acting skills were quite good!
She managed to regain some semblance of reason.
"No... no! It's because your poison hasn't been cured yet. I'm afraid I might not sleep soundly and accidentally injure you. I'd better go sleep in the side room!"
She tried to push away those iron arms, but Xia Yunting remained as steady as a rock, unmoving.
"You despise me!"
His tone was full of accusation, his phoenix eyes brimming with grievance.
At that moment, Rong Zhi even had the illusion that if she said a single "yes," she would cruelly shatter a man's wounded heart.
"I don't, don't talk nonsense..."
Rong Zhi's eyes darted around as she began to ponder a solution in her mind.
It was commonly rumored in the marketplace that Xia Yunting and Princess Ning Hui had known each other since childhood and were deeply in love, but this relationship ended without consequence because Xia Yunting went to war.
When he married, there wasn't a trace of joy on his face. Could it be that he still harbored feelings for Princess Ning Hui?
Rumors were often half true, half false. Now, the person in question was right in front of her, a golden opportunity. Why not test him?
One must admit, once a person becomes curious, they embark on a path of self-destruction.
She stopped resisting and instead reached out, hooking her arms around Xia Yunting's neck, with a bright smile.
"You're overthinking it. How could I despise you? If I despised you, I wouldn't have married you. Since you want me to sleep here, I'll respectfully comply."
Xia Yunting's movements stiffened, his heart filled with surprise.
She... didn't mind?
Looking at the arms around his neck, Xia Yunting couldn't help but wonder if she was a master of romance.
Recalling her words and actions after their first meeting, she was clearly a martial artist. And martial artists were often unrestrained and unconventional, much more liberal in matters of love.
Was she... that kind of person?
He didn't know. Rong Zhi maintained her smile, but her heart was racing.
Though she had seen pigs run, she had never eaten pork.
Having dedicated her life to medicine for two lifetimes, she had never experienced romantic love. Her limited skills were learned from brothels.
To be blunt, if Xia Yunting dared to take her bait, she would be exposed within three rounds.
She was betting that Xia Yunting wouldn't dare to make any further advances!
However, a hand caressed her face.
"Xiao Mo..."
Xia Yunting looked at her with deep affection.
He was indeed piqued with curiosity. He didn't believe this little girl would actually dare to do anything with him!
He bet that she would definitely refuse.
"Yun Ting..."
Rong Zhi's smile was about to falter. Enduring goosebumps all over, she affectionately called back.
Their faces slowly drew closer.
Rong Zhi's hands had already clenched into fists.
If it were any other time, being teased like this by someone, she would have already given them a black eye. But now, for the sake of this damned curiosity, she endured it with all her might.
That handsome face drew nearer and nearer...
Rong Zhi's heart was filled with dread. He still wasn't stopping?
Could the marketplace rumors be false?
She decided to go all out!
Rong Zhi closed her eyes and leaned forward. Her lips met something soft.
Both of them froze.
Xia Yunting's entire body stiffened as if struck by lightning. His internal organs seemed to melt. For the first time in his life, he felt a sense of losing control. Driven by instinct, he embraced her neck and kissed her back fiercely.
This feeling... seemed not bad at all.
Rong Zhi's eyes widened in disbelief. She had completely lost control, and the man before her was now impossible to push away.
The lamp in the room was extinguished, and rustling sounds came from within, filling the room with an intimate atmosphere.
Half an hour later, the rustling sounds abruptly stopped, replaced by a gurgling noise. The door was yanked open, and Xia Yunting rushed out like a gust of wind, heading straight for the privy.
From inside the privy, Xia Yunting's gritted teeth roared, "Lin Mo! What did you put in the food?"
Rong Zhi sat on the bed, somewhat dazed. After a long while, she pulled up her clothes and subconsciously touched her lips.
Hmm... The marketplace rumors should be false.
The next day, Rong Zhi woke up before dawn and plunged into the kitchen.
She had given Xia Yunting quite a scare yesterday. Logically, she should be in a very good mood, but Rong Zhi couldn't smile at all.
She had dreamed all night, dreaming of embracing Xia Yunting, their lips intertwined, it was so ambiguous, so shameful. Waking up, Rong Zhi just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
The thought of having to face Xia Yunting every day from now on made her even more awkward.
She was lost in thought, and as soon as she opened the box, a three-inch long poisonous centipede inside nimbly escaped.
Perhaps sensing its imminent demise, the centipede scurried with all its might, its many legs moving rapidly. By the time Rong Zhi came to her senses, it had already crawled onto the floor.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Her expression turned stern, and a silver needle shot out, accurately piercing the centipede's back.
The centipede struggled violently for a moment, then lay still.
A pair of long legs appeared in front of the centipede.
Xia Yunting looked at the person who had acted so swiftly, but another face suddenly flashed in his mind. The same appearance, but with a face flushed red, and eyes like those of a startled fawn.
Realizing what he was thinking, Xia Yunting shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel these inappropriate images.
Rong Zhi also noticed Xia Yunting. Her face instantly turned red, but it was from anger.
"You... why are you up so early? Shouldn't you be sleeping in?"
Xia Yunting picked up the centipede. Under the guise of returning it, he moved closer to Rong Zhi, his gaze cool.
"I ran to the privy seven times last night."
"Cough cough! This... this is for expelling poison. Yes, expelling poison!"
She said it with a serious expression, but Xia Yunting's mouth twitched.
He had never heard of detoxifying in such a way.
However, after yesterday's events, Xia Yunting understood that this girl named Lin Mo was not easy to deal with; she had a prickly demeanor.
Logically, he should retreat, but thinking of her flustered appearance last night, Xia Yunting was very curious. If she hadn't put a laxative in his dinner, what would have been the outcome?
Xia Yunting suddenly felt as if he had found something amusing and his interest grew.
He deliberately or inadvertently leaned closer to Rong Zhi, his voice low.
"I'll cook. What do you want to eat?"
Rong Zhi instantly got goosebumps again, her hand shaking, almost crushing the centipede.
"...Anything."
Xia Yunting curved his lips: "Okay."
His voice was very gentle, making Rong Zhi even more uneasy.
"Hurry up and start the fire!"
Only then did Xia Yunting turn and go to the stove. He stooped his tall frame onto a cramped little stool and began to diligently tend the fire.
Rong Zhi finally breathed a sigh of relief. That feeling of being enveloped by something disappeared.
This Xia Yunting had become addicted to playing games!
She took a moment to glare at Xia Yunting, but their eyes met, so she quickly looked away.
Caught red-handed, Rong Zhi felt awkward. Xia Yunting, in a cheerful mood, shook his head and added more wood to the stove, making the fire burn even hotter.
It was becoming more and more interesting.
During breakfast, Rong Zhi kept stealing glances at Xia Yunting, afraid he would make any more ambiguous moves, appearing as jumpy as a startled bird. This made Xia Yunting chuckle inwardly.
What master of romance? She was clearly a young girl just beginning to experience love, pretending to be experienced.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Was I laughing?"
Rong Zhi looked at him strangely: "Your mouth is almost split to the back of your ears."
Xia Yunting subconsciously touched his lips. It was true...
Rong Zhi resentfully poked her porridge with her chopsticks. Playing tricks on her? It seemed the dosage last night wasn't enough. Today, she'd let him taste the power of fighting poison with poison; he wouldn't die from the pain!
"Drink this."
After Xia Yunting entered the bathtub, Rong Zhi handed him a bowl of dark medicinal soup.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, she spilled a little as she handed it over. The medicinal soup fell onto the ground, causing a sizzling white foam.
Xia Yunting's face turned ashen.
This was clearly poison!
"After drinking this, the two poisons will fight each other inside you. This process will be extremely painful and will last for seven days. You'll have to endure it yourself; I can't help you."
Rong Zhi explained sternly. When it came to treating illness, the flustered expression was gone from her face.
Yesterday, after drawing out the poison, it would spread faster and faster, making the treatment process extremely perilous.
"Okay."
Xia Yunting hesitated for a moment, then gulped it down in one go.
Trust is paramount. If you don't trust, don't use.
As Rong Zhi said, he could clearly feel two forces churning within his meridians, almost tearing him apart.
"Ugh... Ah!"
His face turned pale instantly, and beads of sweat dripped from his forehead, quickly turning into a downpour.
He gripped the edge of the bathtub tightly, gritting out a few words through his teeth.
"How... long..."
"An hour."
"...Good!"
An hour was nothing.
However, Xia Yunting soon discovered he was too naive.
Not only did he have to endure this pain, but he also had to circulate his internal energy under such agony to speed up blood circulation, which undoubtedly intensified the suffering.
He bit his lower lip tightly, tasting blood in his mouth, yet only a quarter of an hour had passed.
Rong Zhi stood by his side, watching Xia Yunting intently, not daring to leave for a moment.
Suddenly, a voice came from outside.
"Is anyone in there?"