Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Yu Youyao rambled on, âAfter washing your hair, loosen and tighten it a hundred times like this to prevent a headache. Look at Grandmother. Sheâs already so old, but she doesnât have any head disease at all. I learned my technique from Nanny Liu. Grandmother is an old woman, so I have to use a little more strength. If Cousin feels uncomfortable, tell me and Iâll be gentler.â
âThe strength is just right.â Zhou Linghuai leaned against the wheelchair and felt a sense of relief. His brows relaxed, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He enjoyed this peace of mind and body.
About the time it took to burn an incense stick, most of his hair had already dried and could be tied up loosely.
Yu Youyao called Chang An over. âBring me the comb and Cousinâs hairpin.â Chang An flew down from the roof and rushed into the house.
Yu Youyao turned to look at her cousin. âCousin, can I help you tie your hair
Zhou Linghuai tilted his head. The little girlâs bright face was so close that his breathing slowed down. He had done all of this for his mother in the past. He had thought that this was just for fun.
But now he knew that this was not just fun, but a deep relationship.
He did not expect such a romantic gesture. He had never done it for Yu Youyao before, but the little girl had already done it for him first. Zhou Linghuaiâs voice was slightly hoarse. âOkay!â
There was still a long way to go!
There was nothing he could do for her now. In the future, he still had a lifetime to slowly do it for her one by one.
The rest of his life was long. He had to do everything that his father had done for his mother. He had to do everything that his father had never done for his mother.
Chang An quickly brought over a cow horn comb and a wooden hairpin and handed them to Yu Youyao.
Yu Youyao took a comb and helped her cousin comb his long hair. She tied more than half of it at the top of his head and fixed it with a wooden hairpin. Considering that his hair was not completely dry, she tied it loosely.
Yu Youyao felt that it was very novel. There was a very secret joy in the depths of her heart, but she couldnât express it.
She ran up to her cousin and sized up the bun on his head. She smiled until her eyes curved and her lips curled up slightly. âThis is the first time Iâve tied someoneâs hair. Itâs not crooked at all!â
Zhou Linghuai had the urge to return to his room and look in the mirror. He also wanted to reach out and touch the bun that Yu Youyao had personally tied up. However, his fingers that were holding the wheelchair had only just moved when he was worried that he would mess up the bun that she had personally tied up, so he could only give up. However, it was like a catâs claw was gently scratching his heart.â
He kept wanting to do something to calm down. Zhou Linghuai felt very uneasy. âAs a form of courtesy, Iâll help you tie your hair in the future, okay?â
Yu Youyao was stunned.
tHer cousin looked at her intently. There were no stars in his eyes, but there was a panic-inducing deepness. It was as if he was about to be sucked in. Yu Youyaoâs mind was in a mess. For a moment, she couldnât think of what it meant for a woman to tie a manâs hair and a man to tie a womanâs hair.
It was as if a demonâs voice was constantly bewitching herâ
Promise him, quickly promise him. You and Cousin have a good relationship, and youâve done many close things in the past. One more is nothing.
When you were wiping your cousinâs sweat, twisting his hair, and bunning his hair just now, why didnât you think of guarding against men and women? Isnât this appropriate? Could it be that youâre really willing to distance yourself from him for the sake of guarding against men and women?
Your cousin will be returning to the North soon, and you wonât see him much in the future. Are you really going to give up this short opportunity to get close to him for the sake of these so-called etiquette, dogma, and rules?
If you really care about your reputation, you should keep a distance from your cousin and not stick to him all day.
If you donât say it, Cousin wonât say it either. No matter how close you are, no one will know.
As if possessed, Yu Youyao met her cousinâs deep eyes and nodded slightly.
âOkay!â
She didnât want to think about what all this meant.
In this world, her cousin was the only one who truly treated her well without weighing the pros, and cons. Such a good cousin was worthy of her following and getting close to.
Zhou Linghuaiâs expression relaxed, and his lips curled up slightly, revealing joy and satisfaction.
He held Yu Youyaoâs hand. Her small hand seemed to be boneless. When he held it in his hand, it was as smooth as cream, as if he could knead it as he pleased.
Zhou Linghuai pulled her closer and reached out to brush the messy hair on her cheek behind her ear.
This time, his actions were no longer cautious. His fingers gently scraped across her cheek, revealing a shuddering ambiguity. âDonât be afraid. You said that you would treat me well for the rest of your life, and I promised to protect you for the rest of my life.â
Yu Youyaoâs body stiffened, not because she was afraid.
The tip of her cousinâs hand was a little rough as it gently scraped across her cheek, causing her heart to beat faster. Not only did she not resist or dodge, but she even straightened her body out of nervousness.
Her throat was dry, and she said softly, âYes.â Her voice was also dry. âIâll be good.â
Her voice was sweet, obedient, and soft. Zhou Linghuai seemed to have been hit by something and pulled her into his arms. He smiled gently. âGood girl!â It wasnât until April that the candidates who had been implicated because of the cheating in the examination were released.
When Yu Zongzheng returned to the residence, he told her about Song Mingzhaoâs situation. âHe was whipped and was covered in blood. He looked really scary. The Zhenguo Marquis Residence invited Imperial Physician Shi to treat Mingzhao. The imperial physician only said that he had suffered physical pain and didnât have any terminal illness. He was just sick in prison for a long time and wasnât treated in time. His vitality was injured and he had to recuperate carefully while he was still young.â
This was more serious than Yu Youyao had thought.
In the end, he was still sick. Old Madam Yu was dispirited and could only say,
âItâs good that he came out. At least he survived. Itâs a blessing in disguise.â
Song Mingzhao was only 18 years old this year. He only hoped that the root of this illness was not too serious and could recover at a young age.
However, Matriarch still felt uncomfortable.
Old Madam Yu asked Nanny Liu to prepare good medicinal herbs and supplements. âSend them to the Zhenguo Marquis Residence later. Tell them that Iâll go over to visit Mingzhao another day.
No matter what, Song Mingzhao had been her âfilial grandsonâ for two years. Now that Song Mingzhao had suffered and his body was injured, she should go over and take a look.
However, because Song Mingzhao had just come out of prison, it would take a few days for him to settle down.
Yu Zongzheng mentioned again, âThe President of the examination is Lord
Tang, and the examiner who leaked the question is also a scholar from the Hanlin Academy. Lord Tang has been suspended because of his incompetence in the Imperial Examination and is temporarily involved in the compilation of the Teng libraryâs âCollection of Documentsâ. This is also the best outcome for the Tang family. Lord Tangâs Yue family has helped a lot.â
Old Madam Yu was not surprised. âAs soon as Ning Yuanbo was caught for being involved in the cheating in the examination, Lord Tangâs concubine, whose surname was Ye, was found in the sick room. A doctor was found to take a look at her. He said that her illness could be contagious, so Matriarch Tang sent Concubine Ye to the manor..â