Chapter 140

Jin Lu and Bai Lan were let out of the shed. When the two of them found out that Wei Luo had been found, they let out sighs in relief.

Later, they also heard that Wei Luo had never gone to the backside of the mountain. She had only been sleeping in a back room for four hours. Because she had been sleeping, she didn’t hear the loud movements. Moreover, the people in the courtyard had all thought she had gone to the backside of the mountain, so no one had carefully searched through the villa. This was why the huge, unexpected mistake had happened.

When Jin Lu and Bai Lan heard these words, they didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. If their miss had slept any longer, the rest of the people in the villa would have probably died. As soon as they thought of Zhao Jie’s oppressive presence, they continued to have lingering fears.

The two of them mustered up their spirits and energy. Then, they got hot water from the kitchen, fetched towels, and went to the bedroom to attend to Wei Luo.

“This servant’s service was unsatisfactory and almost caused Your Highness to suffer. Please punish this servant.”

There wasn’t a response. Jin Lu and Bai Lan carefully raised their heads and saw an unexpected scene.

The hairpins in Wei Luo’s hair had all been taken out and her glossy, black hair flowed downwards like a waterfall past her shoulders. It made her small face look as if it was the size of a palm. She was truly a beauty with her dark hair and a delicate face with snow-white skin.

Zhao Jie was covering her body and pressing her against the wall as he held her small face. He was kissing her like a thirsty person that had finally seen water and like a hungry beast that had met a lamb and was impatiently sampling its delicious taste.

As Zhao Jie was kissing her white jade-like throat, he murmured, “Dearest, don’t make trouble for me next time…”

Wei Luo’s back was pressed against the wall. She was completely trapped in this small corner and her body seemed as if it would soon melt. She caught a glimpse of Jin Lu and Bai Lan’s agitated faces behind the divider. She thumped Zhao Jie’s chest with her fist and complained with a red face, “Who caused trouble for you? Get up. Your body is so hot. You must be getting a fever. Go take a hot bath to warm up your body.”

When she had said, “Okay, you can hug me,” she had only meant a simple hug! How could she have known that he would rush over like a dog that had seen a meaty bone treat? Wei Luo almost stopped breathing because of his frantic kisses.

It seemed like this had really terrified him.

When she had come out of the back room, she had seen his expression from far away. It was so gloomy that it was frightening. This was the first time that Wei Luo saw this expression. No wonder everyone else called “King of Hell”. It wasn’t a false reputation. Fortunately, he was never like that towards her.

Zhao Jie didn’t move. His forehead was pressed against her neck and Wei Luo felt ticklish as she felt his warm exhaling breaths on her body. He had risked the dangers of snow and wind to look for her in the backside of the mountain and had also gotten himself completely soaked. He hadn’t rested all evening and it seemed as if his body couldn’t endure it anymore. When he had rushed over to hug her, Wei Luo had already noticed that something was wrong. However, Zhao Jie’s strength had been too much at the time and Wei Luo couldn’t break free, so she had partially retreated and partially went along with him. Now that her servant girls had come here, she couldn’t let him continue to mess around.

Zhao Jie tightened his hold around her waist and lowly said, “Take a bath with me.”

The bathing pool in the cleaning room was very spacious and had more than enough space to contain two people. Looking at his weak appearance, Wei Luo decided that he wouldn’t be able to bath by himself and her heart would be uneasy if servant girls attended to him.

After hesitating for a moment, Wei Luo said to Jin Lu and Bai Lan, “Bring my clothes and the prince’s clothes to the cleansing room. After taking out the towels and soap, you two can leave.” Remembering that the two of them had suffered, she added, “I don’t blame the two of you for what happened today. I was too willful and I won’t punish the two of you. After the two of you leave, go and let out Yun Gua and Yu Suo.”

Jin Lu and Bai Lan nodded. They had their heads properly lowered so that they didn’t see the scene on the bed. “This servant will go right away.”

Wei Luo supported Zhao Jie as they walked to the cleansing room. She put him down at the elmwood couch that was by the bathing pool and and started to untie his sash. Honestly, Wei Luo had never attended to a man like this since she was born. She hadn’t even attended to Chang Hong with taking a bath before. Although Wei Luo and Zhao Jie had been married for many days and had done everything there was to do, this was the first time she experienced something like this.

After she took off his clothes, Zhao Jie still fortunately had some consciousness. Wei Luo didn’t have to exert that much strength when she pushed him into the bathing pool. However, right after Zhao Jie sat down in the bathing pool, he stretched his arm out and pulled Wei Luo down into the water!

Wei Luo was caught off guard. She fell into the bathing pool while still wearing clothes. She had fortunately fallen on top of Zhao Jie’s body and didn’t suffer any injuries. She pulled herself up by pulling against his shoulders and angrily asked, “Why did you do that? My clothes are wet now.”

Zhao Jie leaned against the bathing pool’s wall. He lowered his eyes and chuckled, “You helped me take off my clothes. Courtesy demands reciprocity, so it was my turn to help you.”

Wei Luo felt exasperated. This person was already this feverish and he still wasn’t behaving properly.

There was nothing that could be done. Wei Luo could only comply with him.

Zhao Jie’s movements were very slow and wasn’t as quick as usual. Perhaps, it was because he was sick. Wei Luo closely looked at him and discovered that he was more obedient when he was sick. Perhaps, it was because he was tired. He leaned against the area between her clavicle and shoulders and his long eyelashes kept fluttering against her skin. It felt strange and itchy.

While Wei Luo was lost in her thoughts, he firmly sucked a spot on her neck. Surprised, she lowered her head to look at her reflection in the water. “What will I do if I see other people tomorrow?”

Zhao Jie’s brain wasn’t completely muddled. He readily gave her good advice, “Then don’t see anyone else. We’ll stay in our room for a day.”

Wei Luo glanced at him in rebuke. She knew that his words were impossible. “Isn’t the river channel still being fixed? If you don’t go, what if someone sends a memorial to the emperor accusing you of misconduct? What will you if His Majesty blames you?”

He didn’t say a word. But in his mind, he thought that even if Tong Zhou’s prefectural magistrate’s courage was increased to 100%, there would still be no one that would dare to accuse him of misconduct. Zhao Jie held Wei Luo’s hand. His face was pressed against her face and he slowly whispered, “Ah Luo, I’m not feeling well.”

Wei Luo’s small face had been steamed pink and tender by the hot spring. Hearing his words, she took her hand out from his and placed it against his forehead, “You’re sick. Of course, you’re not feeling well.”

When Zhao Jie was sick, he was exceptionally shameless. He was thick-skinned to begin with, now it was to the point of unmatchable. He said, “If you kiss me, I’ll feel better.”

Wei Luo paused and did her best to righteously say, “Properly take your bath!”

Zhao Jie, “…”

However, seeing his pitiful appearance, Wei Luo lowered her head, kissed him, and asked, “Satisfied?”

Zhao Jie originally had another intention. But after considering that he might pass on his cold to Wei Luo, he could only put this intention to rest for the sake of Wei Luo’s health.

Anyways, the bath couldn’t possibly be more emotional touching. After the two of them reconciled, they were so harmonious that it was as if they were one person. There were more affectionate with each other now than before their argument had happened. Of course, most of the time it was Zhao Jie that was unwilling to be apart from Wei Luo.

After the bath was done, Wei Luo helped Zhao Jie dry off. Zhao Jie’s moon white sleeping robe was fortunately not complicated. But, Zhao Jie was too tall. It was very tiring for Wei Luo to put the robe on him. She had to stand on her tiptoes to reach him and she couldn’t help clinging onto his chest as she did this. Wei Luo was only wearing a thin, gauzy robe that couldn’t block much. Only a short while later, she felt his change…

Flustered and exasperated, Wei Luo glared at him. “You!”

Zhao Jie smiled and nipped at her lips. He innocently said, “It’s not my fault. You tempted me.”

What a fallacious argument. Wei Luo ignored him, turned around, and started walking out. “You can dress yourself.”

Jin Lu and Bai Lan had gone to pass on Wei Luo’s order, so there was no one in the inner room right now.

The other servants were tactfully staying outside just in case they needed to be sent on an errand. They clearly understood that the prince and princess consort had reconciled and wouldn’t want anyone inside to get in their way.

Zhao Jie tied a sapphire blue sash that was embroidered with persimmon stems around his waist, then he stepped forward, unwarrantedly pick up Wei Luo, and placed her down on the bed. He was hugging her from the back. Still feeling worried, he said with a voice that held a rarely heard grievance, “Ah Luo, let’s not argue in the future.”

Wei Luo turned around to look at him. She pursed her small lips and said, “You were the one that made me angry first.”

Zhao Jie immediately followed her words by saying, “Everything was my fault. I shouldn’t have said such disgraceful words. Haven’t the heavens already punished me by not letting me find you and suffering the windy chill?”

Wei Luo grumbled, “Smooth talker.” However, her appearance showed that she really wasn’t angry anymore.

She suddenly thought of something after hearing Zhao Jie’s words. She touched his forehead, then she touched her own forehead. “Do you feel better? Does this villa have a doctor, or cold medicine that was prepared in advance? I’ll have people bring it over here.”

Zhao Jie grasped her small hand and intertwined their fingers. He said with a smile, “It’s only a small cold. I’m not as delicate as you. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

Wei Luo skeptically asked, “Really?”

“Why would I lie to you?” So that she would believe him, Zhao Jie opened up the quilt and wrapped it around the two of them. His chin was pressed her forehead and he softly said, “It’s late. Let’s go to sleep.”

Seeing that his complexion had improved after the bath and that his temperature wasn’t as hot as before, Wei Luo believed his words. Lying in his embrace, she closed her eyes and soon fell asleep.

However, the truth proved that men were the type that boasted too much.

On the next morning, not only did Zhao Jie’s temperature not decrease, it burned worse than yesterday. Hugging him was like hugging a furnace. When she felt his forehead again, it was burning hot!

Wei Luo felt anxious and regretful. She shouldn’t have listened to his words last night. How could he get better from a cold without seeing a doctor or eating medicine? She hurriedly had Jin Lu inform the steward to send someone to descend the mountain and bring back a doctor. Then, she dampened a handkerchief with cold water and placed it against his forehead several times.

Zhao Jie slowly opened his eyes and grinned. “It was worth getting sick.”

Wei Luo pinched his waist. “Stop speaking, be good and stay lied down.” She didn’t feel comfortable after saying these words, so she threatened, “If you don’t take care of your body better in the future, I won’t care about you.”

Zhao Jie grabbed the hand that had pinched him and said with a smile, “If you don’t care about me, then who will look after me?”

There were plenty of people that wanted to look after him. Even thought she knew that his words were false, Wei Luo still enjoyed hearing these words.

An hour later, a doctor had rushed over here. He checked Zhao Jie’s pulse and his temperature, wrote out a prescription, took out medicine, and said, “The prince has a healthy body. Most people would be muddle-headed when their temperature is this high. Your Highness, please have people prepare the medicine by following this prescription. The prince will be fine after drinking four to five doses of the medicine. Also, don’t let the prince be exposed to chilly weather during the next two days.”

Wei Luo nodded. She had Jin Lu pay the doctor three times the normal medical fee and sent Bai Lan off to prepare the medicine. Once the medicine was done, she personally fed Zhao Jie.

Now that Zhao Jie was sick, the construction for the river channel would be delayed by two days. In addition, yesterday’s snowfall had been too heavy and it would delay future progress. The young couple had to stay in Tong Zhou for an additional half month. By the time the river channel was repaired and they started traveling back to the capital, it was already near the end of the year.

On the day that Wei Luo and Zhao Jie arrived at the capital, it was New Year’s Eve. Emperor Chong Zhen had especially set up a family banquet and they had been invited.