Chapter 149: The Pitiful Woman

“Let go of me. I’m not going anywhere. Everyone, search for the most complete and fastest updates! Besides, did you forget I agreed to come with you willingly?” Feeling his long hair loosely entwined around her neck, she shivered. Zuo Qiu Li Ye certainly had his own ways to annoy her. “Zuo Qiu Li Ye, have you ever felt what it’s like to have a snake wrapped around your neck? I’d imagine it’s just like your hair wrapped around mine.” And not just any snake, but a cold, venomous one!

“A snake?” He raised an eyebrow, his voice already carrying a bewitching charm, now laced with a hint of danger. “You sure have a bold tongue. Have you forgotten that before you stands not Ji Wu Qing, who treats you gently in every way, but me?”

His fingertips lightly brushed her lips, his polished nails touching the soft petals of her mouth. The contact was intimate, almost weaving a subtle, ambiguous tension between them.

“Could you not be so rude, Lord Wu?” She tilted her head to avoid him, troubled by Zuo Qiu Li Ye’s unpredictable nature.

He was different now. Staying close to him could be perilous.

“That’s quite good,” he murmured. “If you act out of line, I’d sense it immediately.” He ceased his teasing and quietly lay beside her, noticing her neck ensnared by his dark locks. “Though, it does seem I’m not exactly treating you with tender care.”

His eyes narrowed, then he reached out to free her neck from his hair.

Blood Xue exhaled silently, but his hand settled on her waist. She immediately understood his intention.

Well, at least that was better than having his hair wrapped around her neck.

His hair was truly long, easily circling her waist twice or more.

“Your waist is so slender,” he said, propping his head up to look at her, as delicate as a willow branch ready to snap. “Are all women’s waists this slender?”

Blood Xue was speechless. Could it be that Zi Qing had messed up Zuo Qiu Li Ye’s mind?

She ignored him, feigning sleep.

Just as she thought he would give up and lie down, she felt some weight on her waist.

“You…”

Startled, she opened her eyes, but her vision was obscured by a white silk blindfold.

“Don’t move. Let me rest a moment.” His arms encircled her waist, his head resting on her abdomen, his cheek pressed softly against her skin as he closed his eyes, quiet as a child.

He seemed exhausted; upon closer look, his complexion was poor.

After a while, Blood Xue realized he had fallen asleep, though she herself couldn’t find rest.

By dawn, she vaguely awoke, having spent the night like that.

Her body felt stiff, especially around the waist, numb as if devoid of sensation.

Zuo Qiu Li Ye still rested his head on her abdomen, eyes half-open, just waking. He shifted slightly, rubbing his cheek against her waist as if embracing a precious quilt.

“Surprisingly, I slept well last night,” he murmured. Lately, sleep had eluded him, and such a restful night was rare indeed.

“That’s somewhat regrettable,” she replied quietly, “though your methods of torment are quite unique.”

“Heh, seems little Xue didn’t sleep very well,” he said, lifting his head and untangling his long hair from around her waist. Blood Xue felt the numbness intensify.

“Thanks to you,” she said faintly, then sat up.

The numbness made her want to give Zuo Qiu Li Ye a good beating!

---

As for Zuo Qiu Li Ye, his robe was wrinkled, his dark hair tousled, and his crimson lips bit lightly as he looked at himself in the mirror, unsure where to begin.

Having lived a life of indulgence, he was unaccustomed to such trivial tasks.

He turned his head to see Blood Xue sitting on the edge of the bed, already tidied up with her hair neatly pinned.

His gaze flickered.

Blood Xue stood and made her way to the window, which overlooked a tranquil scene, as if they were nestled deep within a forest rather than a bustling town. Had Zuo Qiu Li Ye taken a hidden path instead of the official road?

She pushed the half-open window wide, breathing in the distinct scent of the woods.

Around them stretched dense foliage, enclosing the modest inn. Few guests came here, so the inn was remarkably quiet.

Yet the young waiter was diligent, lazily resting on a table but promptly approaching when they descended.

“Have you rested well, honored guests? We’ve prepared breakfast; please wait a moment.” Though small, his legs were swift as he dashed into the kitchen and soon returned with the meal. “We lack exotic delicacies here, but you can enjoy some fresh wild flavors from the forest.”

Breakfast consisted of two bowls of mushroom porridge, pickled vegetables, and a type of steamed bread.

“Thank you,” Blood Xue nodded. Though the inn was humble, its interior was well-appointed, not shabby but rather cozy.

“Madam, where are you from? You look like you’ve come from the Qin River area. I heard there’s fighting over there,” the waiter said kindly, struck by her gentle demeanor.

“That’s right,” Blood Xue replied.

“Why would they start fighting over nothing? Such wasteful conflicts…”

“Brother, Father called you,” a small, chubby hand tugged the waiter’s sleeve, the child’s voice soft and sweet.

“Oh, take your time eating. Call me if you need anything,” he said before dashing off, disappearing into the back kitchen. “Father, you called me?”

“Twin, don’t blame your father, but that young master and his lady don’t seem ordinary. Didn’t you see the young master’s grim expression? And he kept talking with the lady. Be careful not to speak carelessly.”

“What’s wrong, Father? I think the lady is very kind.”

“You silly boy, you don’t understand. It’s nothing serious, but you should rest.”

“Oh.”

The waiter was called away, leaving the small child curious, watching them. “My brother’s gone. If you need anything, just ask me.” She looked about three or four years old, speaking with surprising poise. Her rosy cheeks carried an innocent charm.

Blood Xue smiled, reaching out to stroke her. “Who are you? Such a little mouth with a big attitude.”

“My name’s Shuang Shuang. I’m not little—I’ll be four soon,” she pouted, correcting her with a small finger raised. Her round face was irresistibly cute. “Sister, why are you blindfolded? Are you playing a game?”

“No,” Blood Xue shook her head gently, stroking the child’s soft hair.

“Oh… this brother has such long hair,” the child suddenly exclaimed, fascinated by something new, grabbing Zuo Qiu Li Ye’s long locks. “Longer than my mother’s…”

She continued fondling his hair, murmuring to herself.

Zuo Qiu Li Ye turned to look at her, his expression chilling.

Though a mere toddler, children had their sensitivities. “But this brother looks scary…”

She instinctively released the smooth hair and nestled closer to Blood Xue.

“You wouldn’t really be mad at a child, would you?” Blood Xue gently shielded the child in her arms, her face softening as she asked, “Tell me, if you pulled your mother’s hair, would she be angry or scold you?”

“No, she’s the best mother,” the child said firmly, then hesitated. “But if it hurts, she’d be angry…”

“That’s right. This brother isn’t your mother, so no matter if it hurts or not, he’d get angry.” Blood Xue hugged her tightly and spoke softly. “So, you mustn’t pull people’s hair, understand?”

“Ah…” The child nodded, not fully grasping, then asked in a childish voice, “If I pulled your hair, Sister, would you be angry?”

“No, because I like you very much…” The child was so adorable it made her think of Xiaoxi and Xiaoli, whom she hadn’t seen in a long time.

“I like you too, Sister,” the child was delighted by Blood Xue’s words, her earlier fright from Zuo Qiu Li Ye vanishing. She leaned close to whisper mischievously.

“Little Xue, you really like children,” Zuo Qiu Li Ye observed quietly, seeing this gentle side of her that he hadn’t known before. Unlike the obedient and gentle demeanor she showed around Ji Wu Qing, here was a tender warmth born of motherhood.

He was reminded of a certain woman, a pitiable woman—

“My poor child, how can I save you…”

“As long as Your Majesty is willing to save my child, I’m willing to do anything…”

“It’s nothing, I’m here. You just had a nightmare.”

...

“Aren’t they soft and adorable?”

“Are they?”

“Sister, that brother’s expression was strange just now. He must have thought of something bad…” The clever child whispered in Blood Xue’s ear, recounting what she had seen.

Unsurprisingly, Blood Xue received a strange smile from Zuo Qiu Li Ye.

The child quickly shrank into Blood Xue’s embrace, pouting but still watching him.

“Bad things, huh? He must want to spank your bottom,” she teased the child in her arms.

“Why? I’m very good. Shuang Shuang is very good. Why would he spank my bottom?” The child hurriedly covered her bottom, her face a mixture of surprise and doubt, utterly endearing.