Stunned for a moment, Leng Qingtang's dark eyes shone with amusement.

"To seduce one in my condition... You are mischievous indeed."

There was a hint of fatigue in his voice existed.

"I'm serious!"

Thinking that the Master did not believe her, Gu Yunxi anxiously grasped the big hand on the edge of the bathtub. The back of his hand was as fair as jade, but it was utterly cold. Even if it was soaked in hot water for a long time, there was no warmth at all.

Her heart instantly sank to the depths, desperate and bleak.

Bursting into tears, she could not disguise herself anymore. She plunged her smooth forehead on that cold hand, wailing.

Leng Qingtang calmly looked at her crying as his other palm slowly fell on her head, petting smilingly,

"There, there, don't be sad. I will be fine, and I will marry you."

The water in the tub was getting colder. He took a soft, thin blanket and brought her out of water.

Gu Yunxi stood in the tub, uncovering her wet body before the Master's eyes.

Her black hair was like long silky velvet, attaching to the sides of her body. Under which, a pair of delicate shoulders and exquisite curves were insouciantly hidden.

The gleam in his eyes flickered without a hint of lust. Smiling, he wrapped her in the thin blanket and carried her onto the bed. Fortunately, she was not heavy and had lost weight in jail. Otherwise, he would have worried if he had had to stop in the middle of the way.

Beside the pillows was a brand-new crimson gown with lotuses embroidered on its satin train.

Gu Yunxi stared at it blankly, her eyes stung by its fiery splendor.

"You will be dazzling in it..."

Leng Qingtang sat on the edge of the bed with a happy and faint smile on his lips. Looking at her, he asked softly,

"Put it on and show me, will you?"

"Yes!"

With a pang through her heart, she sobbed.

She let go of the blanket, and it slid down from her shoulders, revealing her perfect and pure body.

Neither shy nor restrained, she started dressing in front of the Master.

Beauteous was the lady in her vermilion dress, as her black hair cascaded down her slender flesh.

The Master gave her a satisfied smile.

"Gorgeous, only short of a bridal veil... Girl, wear women's clothing from now on. I love it! Also, be careful when you walk. Don't act like a tomboy and trip over your dress all the time."

Shock flashed across Yunxi's face, but then her eyebrows arched in smiles and her eyes narrowed in tears.

"Girl, no matter what lies ahead, will you trust me in the future?"

Suddenly, he gazed at her and asked.

"Yes! I'll trust you with no doubt!"

She met his eyes, vowing resolutely.

His dark eyes instantly rippled with gratitude, pain, and regrets. The mixed emotions were too complicated to comprehend.

"Master?"

She called him affectionately with a pious and admiring expression. Holding his arm, she leaned on her beloved on tiptoe, and their lips were closer and closer...

Quietly, he pushed her away, not wanting to afflict her with the poison in his body. He blinked hard and said,

"Girl, I want to comb your hair again..."

Gazing at her, he spoke.

"Sure, let's go to the dressing table."

Gu Yunxi turned her face abruptly and removed her sad face from the Master's sight.

She once mentioned that she liked the best the flower parted bun the Master had styled for her the first time at the Eastern Depot.

Hence, he started before the mirror earnestly.

Destiny had brought them together, and he demonstrated his deep affection by combing her hair.

Brushing the length of her hair, his every move was extremely gentle and delicate.

Gu Yunxi wept and stared at the man's face reflected in the bronze mirror. He was still handsome and eye-catching.

Wearing her hair up, the Master chose a flower hairpin and inserted it diagonally in her bun. At the end of the silver pin, tassels of pedals glittered attractively.

At noon.

Gu Yunxi asked the Master if he had an appetite.

And he suggested the chicken noodle soup she had cooked for him on her first night in the Master's Mansion.

She immediately lifted the train of her dress and dashed towards the kitchen.

In the mansion, Kang Hai and other eunuchs were dazzled by Gu Yunxi in women's clothing.

Gu Yunxi kneaded dough alone in the kitchen as teardrops fell into the bowl.

Then the noodle soup was set on the table as before. The white noodles were immersed in smooth chicken soup, decorated with leafy greens and sesame oil. On the top was a poached egg as the finishing touch.

She picked the noodles with chopsticks and blew them cool before feeding the Master. He ate slowly under her affectionate watch. Their gaze tangled together in infinite love that was springing as their eyes met.

After the lunch, Leng Qingtang felt tired, so he took Gu Yunxi and lay on the bed to rest.

Looking at the embroidered canopy, they snuggled head to head, chatting about last year's Double Ninth Festival, New Year's Eve, the relief trip to Jiangan, and the Guo family in Fengyuan.

Gu Yunxi talked with her eyes fixed on the Master. She could feel his voice getting weaker and weaker as if he was about to fall asleep.

"Master, you will be fine! Huer invited us to his home, and you must accompany me to Guo's Mansion again!"

There was no reply.

Her heart flustered as never before.

Getting up quickly, she looked at the Master.

He was lying calmly with his eyes closed.

Near the point of breakdown, Gu Yunxi shook him violently and shouted,

"Master, get better soon! I'm going to visit Mrs. Yin Guo and Feiyi. I need you to come with me to Fengyuan."

The silence remained.

Covered with tears, Gu Yunxi jumped out of bed and yelled to the outside,

"Help! Help!"

...

Deep in the night, Gu Yunxi's room was full of people.

Upon hearing the news, Imperial Doctor Jiang rushed over with a white-haired elder man in plain robes. He was the medical sage, Doctor Jiang’s mentor.

The elder studied Leng Qingtang's appearance and saw foul black blood oozing out of every orifice he had. He took the pulse for a moment and then shook his head as he signed to Chiliarch Cheng.

"Even if I had Qiangwu fern now, I wouldn't be able to save his life. It will take time to prepare the antidote, but the poison has infested the Master's whole body. It is too late!"

Then he stepped out of the room.

"Master, master..."

Imperial Doctor Jiang panicked and chased after the elder man with a somber expression.

Cheng Wanli put his hands on his hips, completely at a loss like the other captains.

Suddenly, the night sky was fraught with dark clouds as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. It seemed that an imminent storm was mourning this tragedy.

The mansion was lit up by lanterns.

Gu Yunxi sat on the bed blankly with a pale face. Her empty eyes lingered on the Master's slumbering face without moving.

She sat there like a dying woman, hunching in the chair from noon to evening and then to night.

The candlelight flickered against her fragile figure, casting a trembling black shadow on the white wall. The contrasting colors set off her depressed and lonely silhouette.

The Master was just sleeping!

His delicate eyes were shut naturally, and his long eyelashes were thick like crow feathers. Even in sleep, he was divine with inherent extraordinariness and nobleness.

Gu Yunxi reached out and touched his chiseled cheek with quivering fingertips. At that instant, she felt inexperienced pain.

It must be what it felt like to be heartbroken.

Qinger was sad to look her like this. She leaned close to Gu Yunxi's ear and whispered in chokes,

"Lady, I'll guard the Master. You should rest in the wing-room for a while."

Gu Yunxi shook her head numbly, and the fringe on the hairpin clinked on her bun.

Gu Yunxi did not want to leave the bed for half a second. She was afraid that as soon as she left, the Master's soul would drift away and never return.

Taking a deep breath, she straightened her back and looked around, speaking to everyone present,

"It's too late, people. Have some food and go rest! Chiliarch Cheng, captains, the Eastern Depot will rely on you later. Now dismiss yourselves. I'll be with the Master. We'll wait here for Captain Jiang!"

Tears began to hang from Cheng Wanli's eyes. He spoke with a shivering voice,

"As you said."

There was no need to explain. He and these experienced captains knew that Jiang Xiong and his people would never come back.

He just did not want to destroy Gu Yunxi's hope.

Turning around and waving to the crowd, he left with them silently.

When Gu Yunxi was left alone with the Master, she smiled at him at the bedside.

She thought this should be the most beautiful smile in her life. It was a pity that the Master slept so soundly that he could not see with his eyes closed.

Her light body encumbered by the numerous heartaches, she felt tired and heavy.

Gu Yunxi slowly got up and wiped the Master's cheeks and palms with a warm wet handkerchief.

Rotten blood seeped from the corners of his dry and pale mouth. Gu Yunxi's remaining tenacity and self-deception collapsed into countless fragments like a sandcastle at this very sight.

She fell beside the bed, covering her face in despair and tears.

The bead curtain jingled, halting Gu Yunxi's grief. She cast her limpid eyes there, sharp as blades.

"Come out!"

She squinted her eyes in vigilance and clenched her fists.

A man in a broad red robe emerged from behind the bead curtain.

In astonishment, Gu Yunxi stared at Yu Xuanji standing before her.

"Your Eminence?"

She raised her head at him, whispering in surprise.

Yu Xuanji's handsome young face was touched by a faint smile. He glanced coldly at Gu Yunxi, not at all bewildered by her female garments.

Turning to look at Leng Qingtang on the bed, he said indifferently,

"Your refusal of my advice had led you here!"

"Your Eminence... Your Eminence, please save him! Save the Master!"

Gu Yunxi immediately dropped at Yu Xuanji’s feet and grabbed his Taoist robe with both hands, begging anxiously and humbly.

"Save the Master! Please."

"Ridiculous! Why are you so sure that I can save him?"

Raising his brows, Yu Xuanji retorted with acid sarcasm and stared at the stubborn girl condescendingly.

She insisted,

"Aren't you the High Priest? You must have a way!"

Yu Xuanji's face sank as he yanked back his robe from Gu Yunxi's hands with a sudden wrench.

The violent pull dragged her frail body down to the ground.

Climbing back up, Gu Yunxi bit her lower lip sorrowfully and fixed her tearful eyes on Yu Xuanji.

Yu Xuanji suddenly bent over and lifted her exquisite chin with his finger.

Her innocent beauty was like a lotus flower, charming but not coquettish. She had no need for makeup for a natural belle was the best.

He stroked her tearful cheek with two fingers and then put them in his mouth for a taste.

Sneering, Yu Xuanji looked down at her as if she was a pathetic puppy. Then he uttered a callous question,

"Now you should understand what Liyu is."