Zhao Nuanyue couldn’t bear being suspected by the man she liked.
"I don’t know what they’re called, and I didn’t bring them today." Zhao Nuanyue shook her head. "I’ll bring them tomorrow morning when I deliver your als. Doctor Sun is a renowned physician. You can examine them then."
"Excellent, excellent! Be sure to bring them over." Sun Haoran rubbed his hands together, his expression filled with the thrill of a new discovery.
Once the elders had finished their al, Zhao Nuanyue packed everything up, then walked out carrying the earthenware pot.
Hua Yusen followed close behind her without a word, a broom in his hand to sweep away their footprints in the snow.
When they reached the Dragon King Temple, Zhao Nuanyue ignored Hua Yusen and tried to go straight inside.
"Aren’t you going to explain yourself?" Hua Yusen grabbed Zhao Nuanyue’s hand and yanked her backward, pulling her almost into his arms. "Speak. Now!"
Zhao Nuanyue tried to wrench her hand free, but Hua Yusen was too strong. She couldn’t break his grip.
"Let go! You’re hurting !" Zhao Nuanyue scowled, glaring at Hua Yusen. "If you don’t stop, I’m going to get really angry!"
Hua Yusen, of course, had no intention of letting her go. His sharp gaze swept over her. "You owe an explanation!"
"You doubt ?" It felt as if a sharp knife had pierced Zhao Nuanyue’s heart. Instead of answering him, she just looked at him with disappointnt.
The sorrow and pain in her gaze stung Hua Yusen’s hardened heart.
But at that mont, Hua Yusen was too displeased with her actions. When it ca to the elders, everything had to be discussed with him.
But Zhao Nuanyue hadn’t. That was the real reason for his anger.
"I’m not doubting you, I just think you acted recklessly." Hua Yusen looked at Zhao Nuanyue. "Don’t you understand? If sothing happened to the people in there, you wouldn’t just miss out on any credit—you’d face utter ruin. When that happens, not even God Himself could protect you."
"Ah?" Zhao Nuanyue shuddered at his words. Anyone that Hua Yusen, a man from such a distinguished family, would go to such lengths to protect had to be soone incredibly important.
’Elder Gu?’
The na suddenly flashed through her mind.
In her past life, Hua Yusen had been ntored by that legendary figure, Elder Gu, and rose quickly through the ranks. Hua Yusen had told her about him, but she never had the chance to et that mysterious and powerful man.
’Could this Elder Gu be Gu Qingyu?’
’It’s very likely!’
At this thought, a fire ignited in Zhao Nuanyue’s once-cold heart. ’If I help rescue Elder Gu, then this one ritorious act alone would be enough to escape my stepfather’s control and threats. I’m not asking for wealth and fa, just a peaceful life.’
"I... I was worried the elders wouldn’t make it, so in my desperation, I..." Zhao Nuanyue lowered her head, calming herself and suppressing the excitent in her eyes. "Please believe . I may have had so selfish motives, but I truly never ant to harm the elders!"
By the ti she finished speaking, she was sobbing uncontrollably. She needed Hua Yusen to believe her, not doubt her.
A golden opportunity was right in front of her; she couldn’t ss this up. If she did, she would regret it for the rest of her life.
Seeing her crying so sorrowfully, Hua Yusen’s heart clenched, and he instinctively reached out to wipe the tears from her face.
"Don’t cry. I believe you," Hua Yusen said softly. "You acted out of kindness. I just hope that next ti, you’ll tell before doing sothing like this. Let handle it. I’m not trying to take your credit, but to make sure nothing goes wrong."
"Okay, I’ll rember. I won’t dare to again," Zhao Nuanyue nodded obediently. "From now on, I’ll discuss everything with you!"
"Good." Seeing how compliant she was and that she understood her mistake, Hua Yusen didn’t want to lecture her further. After all, she was smart enough to understand his difficult position and his good intentions.
Zhao Nuanyue felt a blush creep up her cheeks when she realized he was still wiping away her tears. Her heart felt at ease. As long as he didn’t doubt her, everything was fine.
She wanted to complete this mission with Hua Yusen, to seize this incredible opportunity together and change her own fate.
"Wait, I’ll go get sothing." Zhao Nuanyue turned, went into the house, and took out the Dragon Beard Grass and Dragon Tail Grass from a cabinet.
Hua Yusen stared in surprise at the two ordinary-looking plants in Zhao Nuanyue’s hands.
"Which one induces the sickness, and which one is the cure?" Hua Yusen asked curiously. He was eager to test their effects for himself.
Zhao Nuanyue handed them to Hua Yusen and explained, "This red one I call Dragon Tail Grass. Eating it makes a person appear ill, but they don’t actually feel bad—it can even have so healing properties. This green one I call Dragon Beard Grass. It can eliminate the symptoms of severe illness."
Hua Yusen stared in astonishnt at the red and green plants in his hand. Then, without hesitation, he popped the red Dragon Tail Grass into his mouth and waited for the effects to kick in.
"Why did you eat that?" Zhao Nuanyue asked, her expression falling. "You still don’t trust ?"
Hua Yusen shook his head with a wry smile. "It’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m just curious about its properties. I find it hard to believe a dicine could have such incredible effects. They didn’t know what you were giving them before. But now that you’ve co forward with this, I naturally have to verify its effects. It’s for your own good, and for mine. Don’t you see?"
’Even though she understood the logic, being doubted by soone she cared about still stung.’
"Alright, I believe you," Zhao Nuanyue nodded. "I know you’re in a difficult position. I was being too sensitive."
If it had been anyone else, Zhao Nuanyue might not have reacted so sensitively. But because it was Hua Yusen, she couldn’t help but hold higher expectations for him, so much so that she’d forgotten she was now back in this tumultuous new era, not in her past life.
’But even in our past life, did he truly trust then?’
’Not necessarily.’
Zhao Nuanyue fell into a contemplative silence, a wave of lancholy washing over her.
「About half an hour later」
Hua Yusen felt his face grow warm. He looked in the mirror and saw that it was flushed and his breathing was slightly rapid. He looked exactly as if he had a bad cold, but he felt no significant discomfort.
"Feeling the effects now?" Zhao Nuanyue asked, tilting her head. "Do you believe now?"
"Yes, I believe you now," Hua Yusen nodded. "No wonder the elders could have what looked like a continuous cold for so long without their fevers causing any harm. It was all because of your Dragon Tail Grass! This makes things much easier to manage. Alright, it’s getting late. You should get to bed. We still need to get up early tomorrow to make them breakfast."
Hearing Hua Yusen’s validation, Zhao Nuanyue could finally rest easy.
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