Chapter 40: Then When Will It Be Possible?

Chuntao grew even more puzzled upon hearing this.

"My lady, this servant never told your husband that you were poisoned."

"You didn't?"

Muttering inwardly, Chen Xingmiao wondered if Chuntao was telling the truth, which would mean the little villain had lied.

Then again, why would the little villain lie to her? Yet, given how well Chuntao treated her, it was impossible for the maid to lie either.

Perplexed, she pressed her temples, trying to calm herself down.

"My lady, what is wrong? Did something happen?" Chuntao looked her up and down with worry. "Is the poison still not fully cleared? Are you still feeling unwell anywhere?"

Seeing Chuntao's anxious expression, Chen Xingmiao hurriedly waved her hand.

Only then did Chuntao let out a sigh of relief. While the two were speaking, Xiao Ziyu had already returned with his books.

"Wife, I've re—" He pushed open the door, a flash of panic crossing his eyes the moment he saw Chuntao.

"Chuntao, you may step outside first." Chen Xingmiao glanced at him and spoke to the maid.

Though filled with questions, Chuntao's gaze darting back and forth between the two, she dared not ask too much. She curtsied and quietly backed out of the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

Xiao Ziyu looked at the closed door, then slowly made his way over to the bedside.

"Why aren't you lying down a bit longer?"

Chen Xingmiao gave him a skeptical look, but remembering that he was the villain, she didn't dare act too harshly and managed only a slight smile.

"Husband, just where did you find out that I was poisoned?"

Seeing her ask this, Xiao Ziyu guessed roughly what had happened. Without concealing it, he set his books aside.

"Actually, I was worried about you, my wife. So the moment you left, I followed right behind. But I was afraid you would overthink things, which is why I lied and said Chuntao told me."

Hearing this explanation, Chen Xingmiao's doubts were not entirely put to rest. She narrowed her eyes slightly and scrutinized the man before her.

According to the little villain's character setting, he shouldn't be lying to her, and besides, he had no reason to.

"Alright, but you are not allowed to secretly follow me next time, nor are you allowed to lie to me."

Xiao Ziyu breathed a silent sigh of relief, his tense nerves instantly relaxing. He sat heavily on the edge of the bed and nodded vigorously.

"Oh right, I ran into Lin Yu just now. He said if preparations are mostly done, I can head to the academy tomorrow."

Changing the subject, he spoke with a relaxed expression.

"Really!?" Chen Xingmiao's previously calm eyes instantly lit up like the stars, brimming with surprise and anticipation.

As long as she could endure until the imperial examinations next year, her good days would truly begin.

Xiao Ziyu nodded with a smile once more, steadying her as she bounced with excitement. "Slow down, my wife. You've only just recovered."

"I know, husband. We'll go home in a little while. You should get a good rest tonight, and tomorrow I'll make you breakfast, then pick you up when school lets out in the evening."

Xiao Ziyu's gaze wandered over her, finally resting on her face.

Slowly raising his hand, he gently pinched her cheek.

"Very well, everything shall be as my wife wishes."

The smile on Chen Xingmiao's face stiffened, and she lowered her gaze elsewhere.

Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt the little villain was getting smoother by the day, and she was starting to find it hard to handle.

Feeling her heartbeat quicken, she gave two soft coughs and shifted backward.

"Then without further ado, let's go tell Father, and then we'll head home."

Xiao Ziyu crouched down and gently took her foot in one hand.

Panic washed over Chen Xingmiao, and her instinctive reaction was to scramble toward the inner side of the bed.

"Husband, what, what are you doing? This is no time for—"

Xiao Ziyu raised an eyebrow slightly, picking up one of her shoes with his other hand and giving it a light shake.

"No time for what?" A smile lingered at the corner of his lips as he looked at her playfully.

Chen Xingmiao buried her face in her robes once again. How humiliating, simply too humiliating—what on earth was her brain thinking about all day long?

Seeing her distressed appearance, Xiao Ziyu felt a growing amusement, but he chose not to tease her further and gently slipped her shoes back on.

"Alright, get up now. Let's not keep Father waiting too long."

Chen Xingmiao wrapped her cloak tightly around herself and followed Xiao Ziyu to the doorway of Chen Shuwan's room.

Chen Jinzhou sat tiredly by the bedside, only snapping back to reality when he saw the two of them, and quietly walked outside.

"Ziyu, when did you arrive? I didn't even hear a servant announce you."

Just as Chen Jinzhou finished speaking, Xiao Ziyu let out an awkward, dry laugh.

Chen Xingmiao stared at him with an expression of utter bewilderment.

Father didn't even know he had come? Could this little villain have climbed over the wall to get in?

"Father, I knew you were busy running around because of Wife and Elder Sister, so I didn't want anyone to disturb you," Xiao Ziyu explained hastily.

Only then did Chen Xingmiao dispel her doubts and look at Chen Jinzhou. "Father, how is Elder Sister?"

"Rest assured, your sister is fine now. She ate a little and has fallen asleep. With your father here, everything is under control."

She looked up at Chen Shuwan inside the room, and the heavy stone in her heart slowly dropped.

"Then we'll head back first, Father. Please don't overwork yourself."

Chen Jinzhou nodded. "Alright, I'll have Chuntao prepare the carriage for you."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chuntao brought the carriage to the front gates.

Chen Xingmiao and Xiao Ziyu walked up to the carriage and bid farewell to Chen Jinzhou once more.

Cast one last lingering, reluctant look at her family home, she climbed into the carriage with Xiao Ziyu's assistance.

Upon returning home, Xiao Ziyu mysteriously pulled a hairpin from his sleeve and handed it to her.

"This is..." Chen Xingmiao instinctively took the hairpin.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, she brought the hairpin before her to examine it closely.

The hairpin was exquisitely carved, featuring a lifelike flower at its center. Its petals had a unique shape, resembling flames dancing in the wind, yet she had never seen such a flower before.

"It's a gloriosa lily," Xiao Ziyu explained, taking the hairpin back and carefully pinning it into her hair.

"My lady, this hairpin is so pretty." Chuntao stood to the side, her eyes wide with a glittering trace of envy.

Chen Xingmiao hurried over to the bronze mirror, tilting her head from side to side.

In the reflection, the gloriosa lily hairpin shone brilliantly in the candlelight, making her features appear even more enchanting.

"As long as my wife likes it." A comfortable smile curled at the corners of Xiao Ziyu's mouth as he leaned lazily against the side.

Chen Xingmiao caressed the hairpin with fond affection, her eyes filled with delight, but a trace of doubt instantly crept onto her brow.

Lifting her gaze to look at Xiao Ziyu, her eyes held a probing inquiry. "I like it, but husband, where did you get the money?"

Xiao Ziyu paused slightly, a flicker of imperceptible panic crossing his face before he quickly composed himself. Pulling a casual smile onto his lips, he said lightly, "Oh, it wasn't expensive."

As he spoke, he turned his head away, his fingers unconsciously and gently rubbing the corner of his sleeve.

"Really?" She looked up at Xiao Ziyu, skepticism filling her eyes.

Xiao Ziyu nodded, but as if recalling something, he stood up and walked over to her.

"However, I do want to ask my wife—since it couldn't be done back then, when can it be?"

Ah? Could what he was talking about...

Chen Xingmiao reacted quickly, her face instantly turning burning red. She grabbed the pillow from the bed and hurled it right at him.

"Xiao Ziyu, you scoundrel!"