Ming Shu used all her strength to try to push Lu Chang away, struggling constantly in his embrace, but Lu Chang’s arms were like thick vines, tightly wrapped around her, impossible to break free from.

“Lu Chang, please go, I don’t want your company, nor your help… Won’t you leave? Leave this place, stop interfering with my affairs… I don’t like you, since we parted at Jiangning, I haven’t liked you, don’t be presumptuous, don’t…”

She rambled incoherently, tears falling like unstrung pearls.

She only meant to reject Lu Chang, saying she didn’t need his unwavering companionship. He could have had a brilliant future; she couldn’t let him ruin himself for her.

Lu Chang didn’t respond further, just held her tightly in his embrace, letting her tears soak his clothes. Ming Shu struggled with all her might but couldn’t break free from his embrace. In desperation, she bit his neck. Lu Chang let out a muffled groan, but instead of loosening his hold, he embraced her even tighter. Ming Shu pressed against his chest, her eyes red as she clenched her teeth. Her vision blurred until she tasted the metallic flavor of blood, and her reason gradually returned.

Where she had bitten him was now marked with deep teeth marks, with beads of blood seeping through.

Lu Chang felt the person in his arms gradually losing strength, softly leaning against his chest. He lifted her up and slowly walked to the simple wooden bed, sitting down with Ming Shu on his lap.

After venting for so long, saying things both proper and improper, Ming Shu had nearly emptied the darkness in her heart and now felt only exhaustion.

It was an indescribable weariness as if her bones had been pulled out, her powerless body like dough unable to stand. Her temples throbbed, her eyes were probably swollen, and her nose was completely blocked. She didn’t want him to see her in this state, so she buried her face in the crook of his neck, obediently wrapping her arms around his neck, curling up in his embrace.

“Does it hurt?”

The muffled sound came from where she was nestled against his neck.

Lu Chang felt her lips brush against his bite wound, light as a dragonfly’s wings, bringing a slight sting. She then began to blow on it, her warm breath passing over the wound and slipping into his collar, traveling down his spine like something tangible and alive, instantly spreading across his entire back. Lu Chang’s hands tightened as his throat bobbed, and he said in a deep voice, “It hurts. Stop teasing.”

“Then why won’t you let go?” Ming Shu asked weakly, unaware of the effect her breath was having.

“If I let go, how will you bite me to your satisfaction?” Lu Chang said while removing the wooden hairpin from her bun, loosening her suddenly cascading hair.

Ming Shu huffed, seeming to become the Simple Ming Shu of old.

She sniffled, her voice still muffled: “Lu Chang, I’m tired.”

With the word “tired,” Lu Chang felt more warm liquid seeping into his collar.

She had never shed so many tears in her life, had never cried like this before—crying hysterically, crying silently, seemingly crying endlessly. Yet heaven knows, before he came, she hadn’t shed a single tear.

“If you’re tired, get some sleep. I’ll keep watch,” Lu Chang said, his arms around her waist.

Ming Shu rested quietly against his chest, and after a long while finally murmured an “mm.”

She was truly exhausted, having not properly slept for a month. Drowsiness and fatigue washed over her heavily, her eyes too sore to open, unconscious tears finally ceasing. She mumbled a couple of times, then fell silent.

The arms around his neck gradually loosened, her head sliding softly from his shoulder to rest against his chest as she slept.

Lu Chang didn’t move, looking down at her in the dim lamplight. Tear tracks still marked her face, her red nose was stuffed, her lips slightly parted to breathe, her cheeks somewhat sunken. During this time, unable to eat or sleep properly, she had grown far too thin—he felt her weightless in his arms.

He sat just like that as the lamp wick popped and the light dimmed further. The night was deep, the village outside quiet except for occasional sounds from cats and dogs. Seeing Ming Shu was sound asleep, Lu Chang finally stood up carried her, and carefully placed her on the bed.

As soon as Ming Shu’s back touched the bed, she sneezed and curled into a ball. Lu Chang quickly spread the blanket over her.

But Ming Shu’s chill wasn’t relieved—perhaps the contrast between Lu Chang’s warm embrace and the cold blanket was too stark—her brows furrowed in discomfort. Lu Chang felt the blanket and sighed—she probably hadn’t planned to stay here long, so it was only a thin summer blanket, but the season had changed, autumn’s chill was like water, and this blanket couldn’t ward off the cold.

He added his cloak on top of the blanket but saw she was still curled up shivering underneath.

After thinking for a moment, he lay down fully clothed.

As soon as Lu Chang got under the covers, Ming Shu automatically moved toward him like a moth to flame, curling up tightly against his side. The bed was very small, barely fitting two people. Lu Chang turned on his side, letting Ming Shu naturally roll into his embrace as they slept holding each other.

The village roosters crowed at the third watch. Ming Shu usually lay awake until late at night before managing to fall asleep, only to be woken by the roosters less than half an hour later, staying awake until dawn, but today was different.

The rooster’s crow didn’t wake her.

She slept peacefully through the night until broad daylight.

The bed was wonderfully warm, and she had slept very comfortably. Her energy seemed to have fully returned with this one sleep. She burrowed toward the warmest spot again before slowly opening her eyes—

What met her sight was a man’s half-open collar, the beautiful long lines of his neck and collarbone, clear teeth marks visible on his neck, and a chiseled jaw with stubble that tickled her forehead where it touched.

She became fully alert at once but remained frozen for a long while before realizing this wasn’t a dream.

The person lying face-to-face with her was Lu Chang.

Their clothes were still properly in place, but her arm lay across his waist, her leg hooked over his body, while one of his arms served as her pillow, his other arm wrapped around her waist. They were like two intertwined vines, inseparable in their pose.

She suddenly withdrew her limbs and sat up straight, staring blankly at Lu Chang. Lu Chang was awakened by her movement and opened his eyes slightly, looking at her as he lay on his side.

“Won’t you sleep a bit more?” he spoke, his voice like silk brushing past.

In the morning light, Lu Chang’s eyes were still clouded with sleep, barely open to slits, his long hair messily spread on the pillow, his chin showing emerging stubble—there was an indescribable masculine allure about him. He had always been handsome, but his usual coolness gave him an untouchable propriety. Unlike now, when his gaze made one’s blood secretly boil.

Ming Shu bit her lip, clutching the blanket, realizing she couldn’t remember what had happened last night. She vaguely recalled falling asleep in his embrace, but what about after that?

“Why are you in my bed?” she demanded.

“My apologies, you only have this one bed, not even an extra rattan chair, and no spare bedding,” Lu Chang propped up his head, his half-open eyes seeming to shine with moisture.

Ming Shu’s heart fluttered under his gaze. She took two deep breaths before saying: “Who told you to come up here?! You… look at yourself, all travel-worn and scruffy, haven’t even bathed, you’re filthy, you’re not allowed in my bed!”

“…” Lu Chang had prepared himself for a scolding but hadn’t expected this kind of accusation.

He sat up, pulling his long hair back to reveal his forehead’s beautiful widow’s peak, suddenly laughing. As he laughed, he said: “You’re right, I should have cleaned up before getting into your bed.”

“…” Ming Shu was suddenly at a loss for words, her face crimson.

She didn’t know what she was saying anymore.

On this crisp autumn day, Ming Shu practically fled from the small village house.

Before leaving, she didn’t forget to instruct Lu Chang: “Stay put inside the house, don’t come out, don’t let anyone see you!”

If people saw him, her reputation was one thing, but if the watchers discovered him and made Jiao Chunlu suspicious, not only would her revenge plan be ruined, but it could bring deadly consequences.

Lu Chang nodded happily, settling into life as her hidden lover in the cottage. Ming Shu didn’t stay away long, just going to the village to buy some food. With Lu Chang here, her stored food wasn’t enough. Because of Old Lady Cao, the villagers were quite warm to her, giving her vegetables here and meat there. In just a short while, her basket was full.

When she pushed open the door, Ming Shu saw Lu Chang sitting by the window carving wood, his lowered gaze and quiet demeanor making one forget the outside world. Seeing Ming Shu return, he put down what he was working on and rose to take the heavy basket. Ming Shu quickly turned to look left and right outside the door before closing it tightly.

Lu Chang had already started taking out the food from the basket.

The village might lack other things, but vegetables were plentiful and fresh. Chinese cabbage, celery, and white radish, all crisp and tender, plus a piece of lamb breast, some eggs and yams, and a bag of steamed buns.

“What would you like to eat?” Lu Chang asked as he carried things to the kitchen.

Ming Shu followed behind him, rolling up her sleeves as she had in Bianjing, ready to assist him.

The stove fire blazed up, and Lu Chang first steamed the eggs and yams. Ming Shu sat on a small stool by the stove, peeling the eggs and yams for an early meal. She ate a little herself, then got up to feed Lu Chang some yam. Lu Chang was cutting meat and couldn’t free his hands, so he ate the yam from her hand, but before he could swallow, she stuffed an egg as well.

Only when Lu Chang’s cheeks were completely stuffed did Ming Shu stop, then leaned against the stove and teased him: “Lu Chang, I should get a basin of water for you to see how you look right now. Guess what you resemble?”

Lu Chang’s mouth was full and couldn’t speak, but watched as she puffed out her cheeks and started calling “Gu Gua Gu Gua” like a bullfrog.

Like a toad.

Lu Chang pretended to be angry, making as if to smear her face with his lamb-greasy hands, but she ran away in a flash.

With tacit understanding, neither mentioned that matter again, and it was almost as if they were back in Bianjing. In life, the greatest happiness is worrying about three meals a day. Surrounded by the atmosphere of cooking smoke and fire, even the bitterness in their hearts seemed somewhat soothed.

Fragrant aromas spread as the pot bubbled away. A chopstick poked through showed the lamb was thoroughly tender, the white radish saturated with soup had become translucent and tempting, and the milky-white broth was sprinkled with chopped celery—Lu Chang’s stewed lamb had layers of subtle flavors.

This was lunch: a pot of stewed lamb with steamed buns. The buns soaked in meat broth were deliciously savory.

Ming Shu ate until she was full.

In the afternoon, she took a short nap. When she woke, she saw Lu Chang had already tidied the room, washed all the pots and bowls, and was now sitting in the kitchen splitting firewood, using those hands that had written brilliant essays to hold a half-dull cleaver, chopping the wood.

He hadn’t combed his hair into the neat bun of before, his loose hair only tied back with a strip of cloth. The young Top Scholar who had once amazed Bianjing and received the Emperor’s praise in the Golden Hall now peacefully chopped wood as if planning to spend the rest of his life here, his expression serene as he merged with the flow of time in this place.

Ming Shu watched quietly for a moment, her eyes and nose stinging, until Lu Chang called out: “Young Lady, you’re awake?”

When he turned his face, his eyes still held that same spirit.

Ming Shu rubbed her eyes and asked him: “Why are you chopping so much firewood?”

“Don’t know how long we’ll stay, preparing some extra, to cook a few meals for you,” he answered casually.

Night slowly fell. Dinner was the leftover lamb soup from lunch, thoroughly stewed with Chinese cabbage, accompanied by steamed buns and yams, plus two bites of salty pickled vegetables—another meal.

“Uncle Zhao from the east village said he’d save some river shrimp for me tomorrow, so we’ll have shrimp to eat tomorrow,” Ming Shu said happily, already thinking about the next day’s meal.

Lu Chang quietly watched her bright eyes—good, they seemed to be filled with starlight again.

Ming Shu felt uncomfortable under his gaze and huffed, about to leave the table, but was caught by him.

“This… let me borrow it,” he pulled a wooden hairpin from her hair, casually using it to tie up his long hair messily.

Ming Shu touched her hair bun: “What are you doing?”

“This morning someone said… I need to be clean before sleeping in bed,” Lu Chang stood up, heading to the kitchen before Ming Shu could react.

“…” Ming Shu suddenly realized night had fallen again.

The water on the stove had been heated by Lu Chang earlier. The small village house had no dedicated washroom; bathing was done in the kitchen, filling a wooden tub with water and using a ladle to pour it over oneself.

As the sound of splashing water filled the house—the house was so small Ming Shu had nowhere to escape to—she could only crouch against the wall outside the kitchen, trying to empty her mind of all thoughts. After a while, the water sounds lessened, and Lu Chang’s voice came out: “Ming Shu, lend me your dagger.”

“Why do you need a dagger to take a bath?” Ming Shu stood up, her back against the wall, not understanding Lu Chang’s request.

“To shave!” His wet hand reached out from the doorway that had no curtain.

“…” Ming Shu silently took a breath and handed over her dagger.

He took the dagger, and as she withdrew her hand, her fingertips were wet from his hand. She rubbed them together, then crouched back against the wall.

“Lu Chang, are you not leaving?”

“Not leaving, unless you’re willing to return with me,” Lu Chang said while shaving, his voice steady.

“Your career, your ambitions, and Aunt Zeng, Uncle Lu, your parents—you’ll abandon them all?”

“Mm.” His answer was simple.

“Stay with me and you’ll die, your hands will be stained with blood and you’ll never know peace—what do you gain from this?”

“I gain nothing. I won’t try to dissuade you, so don’t try to dissuade me,” he said calmly.

Ming Shu buried her head between her knees—from the moment they met, she knew she couldn’t drive him away.

“Done, here’s your dagger back.” The wet hand reached out from the door again.

Ming Shu stood up, took back the dagger, and spoke.

“Lu Chang, I’ve changed my mind.”

Lu Chang didn’t respond. There was only the rustle of dressing in the kitchen as he put on his inner clothes and walked out barefoot, his chin now smooth and clean-shaven.

“What did you say?” he asked, looking down at her.

“I said, I’ve changed my mind.”

“You’re willing to risk your life to accompany me, but I don’t want to drag you down to hell with me.”

The most difficult compromise of her life was because of him.