"Really alright?" Su Jin asked with a gentle smile.
Her tone was so gentle it could produce ripples; she had no choice, as this timid maid was trembling in fear, with her voice on the verge of breaking. If Su Jin weren't gentle, the maid might burst into tears right there.
Despite this gentleness, the maid could still detect a hint of impatience on Su Jin's face, as if saying, "You're not interrupting anything important," which made the maid's rosy face turn pale. Frightened that Su Jin might be angry, she quickly said, "Eldest Young Madam hasn't eaten all day; the food on the table has gone cold. May I replace it with something hot?"
Su Jin indeed felt hungry upon hearing this, and she replied, "Bring it in two quarters of an hour, you can leave now."
The maid, as if granted a pardon, curtsied quickly and hurried out.
As soon as the maid left, Xingxing closed the door behind her and locked it.
When she returned to the bedside, Young Master Xie's body was already adorned with seven or eight silver needles, shocking Xingxing into a pale face. She regretted it deeply—had she known Su Jin wanted the silver needles for the master, she wouldn't have bought them for her. Even though they're bandits, they should still be kind bandits.
Xingxing rolled up her sleeves and said, "Miss, if you want to prick someone, prick me instead. My skin is rough, and I'm not afraid of pain."
Su Jin ignored her and merely said, "Don't speak."
Xingxing covered her mouth and dared not utter another word.
After inserting all eighteen silver needles, Su Jin furthermore pierced Xie Jingchen's fingertip, collecting the oozing dark blood in a tea cup.
Once she had about half a cup, Su Jin gathered up the silver needles. As she removed the last needle, a muffled groan escaped the man's lips, resonating clearly in the quiet room.
The man's eyes moved slightly, prompting Xingxing to exclaim joyfully, "Miss, is the master about to wake up?"
"He won't wake until tomorrow morning at least," Su Jin dashed cold water over Xingxing's face, freezing her smile.
With Su Jin's medical skill, waking Xie Jingchen was naturally no problem, but she was exhausted from the day's labors. Falling asleep upon hitting the bed seemed far better, especially when dealing with someone destined to disdain her. Sleeping quietly like this facilitated any actions she might want to take.
After collecting the silver needles, Su Jin took out the papers she always carried, pressing Xie Jingchen's still bleeding hand onto them.
The imprint was crystal clear, and Su Jin's lips curled into a contented smile.
Xingxing peeked and her eyes widened, for there were two bold characters: "Divorce Letter."
She thought the young mistress was secretly preparing something elaborate, but it was just a divorce letter. Xingxing retorted with a splash of cold water, "Miss, a handprint alone isn't enough for a divorce letter."
Su Jin contemplated, nodding, "You're right, I suppose it also needs the cock's footprint."
Xingxing, "...."
What she meant was that a divorce letter must be written in the master's own hand.
Just as she was about to speak, she heard Su Jin order, "Go fetch me that big rooster."
Since Young Master Xie was unconscious, the Duke Mansion considered that rooster as a stand-in during the ceremony. So letting it divorce her on his behalf wouldn't be impossible.
Xingxing knew Su Jin intended to spite Duke Zhen's mansion, and she agreed they were a bit much. If they acted first, the young mistress could surely act later—she would play accomplice.
Xingxing stepped out and soon returned.
Empty-handed.
Su Jin asked, "Where's the chicken?"
"...It's stewing in the pot."
Su Jin's lips twitched.
Xingxing continued, "The small kitchen says not to worry, the stew will be ready shortly."
As she spoke, there was a knock at the door from outside, "Eldest Young Madam, the meal is ready."
"Come in."
The maids entered in a line, bringing a fragrant aroma of food that swiftly roused a craving.
Exquisite dishes on jade plates, abundant with ingredients from land and sea, wafted mouthwatering aromas enticingly.
Su Jin sat at the table, pulling a chicken claw from the braised chicken. The golden claws were now curled into a ball.
"It's brutal,"
Su Jin sighed, and Xingxing wholeheartedly agreed. But before she could nod, her mistress was already gnawing on a chicken claw. Seeing Xingxing dazed, Su Jin, her mouth full, muttered, "What are you standing there for? Sit and eat with me."
Xingxing sat down in a daze, and together they quickly demolished most of the table's dishes.
When the maids came to clean, seeing the nearly empty plates, they twitched their mouths. Eldest Young Madam sure had a big appetite.
The maids moved efficiently, and Su Jin, rubbing her full belly, looked at the bed, a bit troubled. How would she sleep tonight?
Su Jin decided to make a bed on the floor, simply passing the night. When Xie Jingchen woke the next day, he surely wouldn't want to share a room with her, and then the whole room would be hers.
Su Jin had it planned well, but Xingxing searched the room and found no quilt, watching Su Jin expectantly, "Miss, should I go ask for one?"
Absolutely not; she was too embarrassed to fetch one.
"Go ahead, say I'm afraid of the cold at night."
Xingxing walked away with hesitant glances back.
Once again, she returned empty-handed, face flushed, "They said the master fears the heat, two people can sleep warmly under one quilt."
Fears the heat?
If that's so, then she could confidently hog the entire quilt.
Su Jin removed her wedding dress, lay on the inside of the bed, instinctively wrapping the quilt tightly around her. Yawning, she said, "Tired from the day, go to sleep."
Seeing the shirtless Young Master, Xingxing was once again dumbfounded, "What about the master?"
Su Jin gazed at Xie Jingchen's sleeping face, restless in sleep. She actually pitied him, not just because of his misfortune, but because the whole Duke Zhen Mansion knew "she" had designs on him, yet dared to let them share a room. And then there was that pulse...
Suddenly, Su Jin felt a twinge of sympathy, pulling out some of the quilt to cover him.
Xingxing laughed quietly, knowing her young mistress's heart wasn't as hard as her words.
Exhausted from the day's labor, Su Jin, who wasn't in the habit of sleeping with the curtains down, yawned as Xingxing left.
But as soon as Xingxing closed the door, Su Jin rolled over, dragging half the quilt away with her.
The night was slightly chilly.
Inside the room, a pair of Dragon and Phoenix Candles burned quietly, occasionally emitting crackling sounds from the wick.
Su Jin slept deeply, not only due to sheer exhaustion but also from her confidence in her medical skills. She said Xie Jingchen would wake the next morning and he wouldn't wake during the night.
What Su Jin hadn't considered was that this was the ancient times, where treating her first patient since transmigrating led to a mishap.
The Dragon and Phoenix Candle burned halfway, a breeze bringing a chill into the room. Xie Jingchen's fear of heat was genuine, but it didn't mean he wasn't cold. Tugging at the quilt twice unsuccessfully, he frowned and pulled harder.
The quilt came over, but Su Jin, who was also attached to it, rolled over too, snuggling into his arms, finding the most comfortable spot to sleep.
The unfamiliar sensation of an arm draped across his chest, the faint floral scent near his nose, and the soft murmurs reminded him there was someone in his bed—a woman.
A jolt of realization hit him, and Xie Jingchen's eyes flew open, their brightness stung by the bold, red curtains above.
Brilliant red, glaring red.
It was his room, yet it felt unlike his room.
Was he dreaming?
And did he dream of a woman?
Looking down, Xie Jingchen found a familiar face nestling against him, memories of being taken in the street washing over him like a tide.
In his enchanting eyes, flickered disbelief and disgust.
He had dreamt about sharing a bed with a bandit woman!
Had he gone mad?
Before he could think further, Xie Jingchen flung his arm, tossing Su Jin off him.
Poor Su Jin, sleeping soundly, suddenly hit her head on the bedboard, crying out in pain.