Chapter 48: The Winding Road of Love, Poisoned by Deep Affection (Part One)

Before the sun rose, the morning light was pale and hazy. When Chuxiu awoke, Yun Ci was no longer at her side. She recalled last night: his legs were frail and movement was difficult, yet she, swept up in passion… In the end, both were left languid, entwined and exhausted—a lingering pleasure she could not help but savor.

Even a brief recollection made Chuxiu’s cheeks burn with heat. She forced herself not to dwell on the events of the night; after all, she had resolved to follow him from this day forward, and such intimacy was inevitable. She had not expected, however, that after such a night, Yun Ci would awaken so early.

Understanding his intentions, Chuxiu quietly rose and went about her usual duties, preparing to serve in the Tranquil Heart Pavilion.

Just as she reached the pavilion’s entrance, she felt a sweetness rise in her throat, quickly covering her mouth as she coughed softly. She thought little of it, but when she looked down at her palm, there was a fresh stain of crimson blood.

Chuxiu was startled. Since the day she last coughed blood, more than twenty days had passed without incident. How could it happen again now?

In her daze, she seemed to grasp at some fleeting thought, but it vanished as swiftly as it appeared. Not wanting to delay Yun Ci’s affairs with her worries, she brushed aside her anxious thoughts, hurried back to her quarters to wash her hands, and changed her clothes.

After all this commotion, she entered the Tranquil Heart Pavilion nearly half an hour later than usual. Fortunately, Yun Ci thought nothing of it, assuming she was simply tired from the exertions of the previous night.

Despite their two encounters of intimate closeness, Chuxiu still felt shy in Yun Ci’s presence. Her eyes shimmered like water, her face flushed as if painted with sunrise, delicate and radiant.

Yun Ci watched her with deep affection.

“Why not rest a bit longer?” he teased, a gentle smile curling at his lips, bright as morning light.

Her blush deepened, repressing her fear and confusion about the blood, forcing a smile without replying.

Yun Ci knew she was easily embarrassed, sensitive to teasing, and always stopped before going too far. He recalled the stack of account books he had seen beside her last night and his tone shifted to gentle admonishment: “You mustn’t stay up late anymore. Those ledgers are not your responsibility.”

Chuxiu bit her lip. “I do not wish to be useless.”

“How could you be useless?” Yun Ci soothed with quiet warmth. “You play the zither, your calligraphy is exquisite. The woman I cherish could never be useless.”

Chuxiu finally raised her gaze, stealing a quick look at Yun Ci, her cheeks crimson as ripe fruit. “It’s all mere ornament, nothing of real help to you.”

Yun Ci simply took her hand, saying nothing.

Their fingers intertwined, his palm pressed warmly against the back of her hand—substantial and unforgettable. They say the heart connects through the ten fingers; Chuxiu mused that if that were truly so, then she and Yun Ci were now of one heart.

This feeling had come so suddenly, so unexpectedly, she was hardly prepared to embrace it. Yet she now followed Yun Ci’s lead, stepping onto the path he had laid for her.

From now on, whether the road ahead was bright with sunlight or battered by wind and rain, they would walk it together, hand in hand. She did not seek status, knowing well her humble origins meant she could never claim the rightful place of his wife. Her only wish was to accompany him for as long as fate allowed; that would be enough.

They felt the warmth of each other’s presence, a tenderness as if sharing breath and sustenance. Yet for reasons she could not name, Chuxiu’s mind suddenly recalled the origin of that phrase—

“When the spring dries, fish live together on land, moistening each other with their breath, sharing foam. Yet it is better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes.”

In an instant, the gentle affection was replaced by unease and dread. Her heart sank, and remembering her bloodstained palm that morning, she felt a premonition of not long for this world.

Lost in anxious thought, she felt Yun Ci tighten his grip. “What are you thinking?”

Chuxiu quickly gathered herself, smiling and shaking her head.

“When you lost your voice before, you often drifted off in thought. Now that you can speak, you still haven’t lost that habit,” Yun Ci said, releasing her hand with a gentle smile. “Your mind is too delicate. Overthinking is not good, and it wears on the body. If you have worries, you can always tell me.”

Chuxiu met his clear, candid gaze, hesitating for a moment, unsure whether to speak of her renewed coughing up blood. Just as she pondered, a voice came from outside, bamboo shadows shifting: “Master, Physician Qu has arrived!”

“Quickly, invite him in!” Yun Ci’s face lit up with delight. He had not expected Qu Fang to reach Fangzhou from the southern border in just over twenty days.

He turned to Chuxiu, smiling. “A month ago, when you were struck by the epidemic, I sent word to seek Physician Qu in every region, hoping he could treat you. But the illness has passed, and only now has he been found.”

“Then Physician Qu has made the trip in vain,” Chuxiu replied softly.

“Not at all,” Yun Ci said, unable to shake his concern as he looked at her rosy complexion. “He must still examine your throat, lest you be left with lasting ailments.” He deliberately avoided mentioning the blood, fearing it would worry her.

Chuxiu smiled and said no more.

A moment later, Bamboo Shadow ushered in Shen Yu’s master, the famed healer Qu Fang. “Lord Yun, Miss Chuxiu, it has been a long time,” Qu Fang said as he entered, bowing in greeting.

“Physician Qu, you are too courteous.” Yun Ci had lived in Qu Fang’s residence for several years, and their friendship was as close as family, so he spoke without formality, with a touch of apology: “We summoned you to Yanlan City for the epidemic. But heaven favored Fangzhou, the plague has passed, and now I must trouble you with a few smaller matters.”

“Since I am here, I will not refuse. Please speak freely, my lord,” Qu Fang replied, the weariness of travel evident in his smile.

“Chuxiu survived the epidemic and can now speak. Yet some days ago, she coughed up blood, though her pulse showed no clear signs. I ask you to examine her once more,” Yun Ci said.

“She can speak?” Qu Fang was surprised, stroking his beard. “Congratulations, Miss.”

“Thank you for your concern,” Chuxiu replied, bowing deeply.

Qu Fang gestured for her to offer her hand, unbothered by propriety, and felt her pulse, then examined her throat in the light. He said nothing for some time.

As the moments passed, Yun Ci felt his heart grow increasingly anxious, fearing Qu Fang might diagnose something serious in Chuxiu. It seemed an eternity before Qu Fang finally smiled, “Congratulations, Miss. There is no cause for concern.”

Chuxiu exhaled in relief, recalling her two bouts of coughing blood, likely caused by long-term loss of voice and resulting congestion in her throat. She put her worries aside.

But Qu Fang then said, “My lord, since I am here, let me also examine your pulse for peace of mind.”

Chuxiu thought nothing of this, but Yun Ci’s heart sank. Still, his expression remained unchanged as he offered his wrist. “Thank you.”

Qu Fang felt Yun Ci’s pulse, pondered for a moment, then said, “All is well.” He withdrew his hand and calmly continued, “When I last visited Yanlan City for Prince Mu, I was in a rush and did not have the chance to meet the Fourth Lady. Might I see her now?”

The Fourth Lady? Chuxiu was puzzled. The women of the Yun household should not easily receive visitors; even so, should not Qu Fang first meet the Lady Dowager? Why request to meet the Fourth Lady instead?

Chuxiu had only heard of Luan Qing, the Fourth Lady, by name, never seen her in person. All her impressions came from others’ vague remarks: she was young and beautiful, in her prime; she lived secluded in her own courtyard, rarely venturing out; unlike the other two concubines who joined the Lady Dowager for breakfast each morning, she never appeared.

These rumors painted the Fourth Lady as a mysterious figure, tempting curiosity, but Chuxiu knew her place.

In the two months since arriving at Yun Manor, the most tangible information she had was that the Fourth Lady resided at “Cold Wave Courtyard” at the far west end of the inner residence.

Lost in thoughts about this enigmatic woman, Chuxiu heard Yun Ci say with a gentle smile, “Fourth Lady never steps outside her courtyard, but since Physician Qu is here, I’m sure she will be glad to meet him.”

He then turned to Bamboo Shadow. “Go to Cold Wave Courtyard and say Physician Qu invites her to Tranquil Heart Pavilion.”

Bamboo Shadow departed on his errand.

Only then did Chuxiu realize she had forgotten to serve tea for Qu Fang. She hurried to prepare hot tea, and just as she finished, Yun Ci smiled at her, “It has been a long time since I last saw Physician Qu. We will chat for a while—why don’t you return to your chambers?”

Chuxiu felt disappointed; she had hoped to meet the Fourth Lady on this occasion, but now… she could not go against Yun Ci’s wishes and so departed with a smile.

Yun Ci watched her graceful silhouette fade into the distance, then slowly let his smile fall away, turning to Qu Fang with a serious expression. “Please speak frankly, Physician. Is there something amiss with Chuxiu?”

Qu Fang hesitated, then asked, “Forgive my boldness, but have you and Miss Chuxiu been physically intimate?”

Yun Ci answered candidly.

Qu Fang sighed softly. “I dare not diagnose definitively. Only the Fourth Lady can confirm.”

So it required the Fourth Lady’s judgment… Yun Ci’s heart sank. “Is it poison?”

Qu Fang did not reply immediately, then said, “The Fourth Lady comes from the Jiang tribe, renowned for their mastery of poisons. Whether it is or not, only she can tell.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Ci lowered his gaze, brows furrowing, his expression grave. The room fell into a tense, uneasy silence, until Bamboo Shadow’s voice broke the spell: “Master, the Fourth Lady has arrived.”

As his words faded, a woman entered, clad in a deep blue, nearly black, fitted silk robe, the hem skimming the floor with no hint of excess. Her hair was styled in an unusual chignon, long gilded earrings dangling from her ears, and a wide golden belt at her waist adorned with a twisting serpent motif—wild and striking in its elegance.

Her appearance was unlike any typical woman of noble houses, almost strange in its foreignness.

This was Luan Qing, the Fourth Lady: with refined brows and a straight nose, her skin was startlingly pale—far whiter than Chuxiu’s rosy fairness, like sheer silk; her nose high, her eyes a faint amber, reminiscent of cat’s eyes.

Truly of Jiang heritage, Luan Qing possessed an exotic beauty.

She entered Yun Ci’s study, ignoring formal courtesies, only nodding slightly. “My lord.” Her manner was cold, without a trace of a smile, her presence as icy as the name “Cold Wave Courtyard.”

Bamboo Shadow had already informed her of Qu Fang’s presence on the way, so Luan Qing asked directly, “Why have you and Physician Qu summoned me?”

Before Yun Ci could respond, Qu Fang explained the symptoms experienced by Chuxiu and Yun Ci.

Luan Qing listened without hesitation, extending a pale, dazzling hand. “My lord, allow me to examine your neck.” She stepped forward, slightly parting Yun Ci’s collar to inspect him.

“Have you and Miss Chuxiu been physically intimate?” Luan Qing’s question mirrored Qu Fang’s exactly.

Yun Ci replied with a candid “yes,” his brows tightly knit with concern. “Should we call Chuxiu back in?”

“No need.” Luan Qing folded her hands at her waist, her voice icy and decisive. “Having examined you, I can confirm that you and she have both been poisoned by Love’s Venom.”

She paused briefly, then added, “It is identical to the poison suffered by the late Lord and Lady years ago.”