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The damp handkerchief slowly glided over his porcelain, velvet like skin, wiping away the sweat and cooling down the overheating temperature. Shadow Blade gradually quietened down as he regained a bit of his consciousness. Suddenly, he grabbed Meng Fuyao hand.
To avoid the awkwardness, the room was not lit up. Meng Fuyao was caught by surprise, thinking that he was going to bite her finger once more. But this time, An Mei gently placed her hand on his heart and mumbled something. Meng Fuyao inched closer, trying to make out what he was mumbling but the moment she leaned in, the rich, fresh scent of a man rushed up her nose. Her heart thumped as the smell engulfed her, and then she remembered that he was not properly clothed. She quickly stepped back.
She leaned over with her hand being pressed down on his heart. She could feel the heartbeat on her palm;hurried and shallow, like a raging river rushing through the quiet night, elicting a profound resonance with the vast with its undescribable serenity and restraint. Meng Fuyao's heart thumped, and for an instant, it was as though the heart rate had synced with the one beneath her palm — same feelings yet different troubles. In this cold winter night, the wind could not blow away the loneliness and fear carved deep down into one's heart.
Meng Fuyao pressed her lips together and reached to pry his hands away. But Shadow Blade suddenly let go of her hand, letting out a long sigh.
Meng Fuyao got a shock. She thought that he had woken up but seeing his eyelashes flutter and the beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, she realized that he was still unconscious. Meng Fuyao sat in the dark, holding the wet handkerchief in her hands as she watched him, thinking what kind of dream would he be in to cause such a helpless and sorrowful sigh.
Early in the morning, she decided to channel inner energy to help treat his wounds. At this dangerous place, wasting precious inner energy was an extremely risky thing to do. Meng Fuyao did not have second thoughts about her decision, however. No matter how precious or how dangerous, it is not as important as health. Once Shadow Blade gets better, wouldn't they be able to move around more freely? Furthermore, the conscientious Sir Meng couldn't stand watching him suffer.
When she placed her palm behind Shadow Blade and wanted to channel her inner energy over, he suddenly trembled and immediately rejected her energy after realizing what she was trying to do. Meng Fuyao tried to channel thrice but was rejected thrice. Seeing that he refused to accept, she could only give up — after all, them being in such a state will not allow him to rest properly.
That night, she did not once shut her eyes. In the dim room, she quietly watch Shadow Blade as he took his every breath, listening to his quick, shallow breath gradually turn into something more calm and peaceful. Knowing that the hardest obstacle has passed, she could not help but let out a sigh of relieve.
Three days later, Meng Fuyao version of ”Yu Wen Zi” is officially here.
On the third night, Xuanyuan Min had passed her the finished human mask. As Meng Fuyao changed into her new disguise, she looked at Xuanyuan Min with disdain. ”What kind of speed is this, taking three days to make a mask. My bones are all slept flatten because of you.”
Xuanyuan Min immediately reached out his hand: ”Let me touch, let me touch.” Meng Fuyao immediately trampled over that idea cruelly.
Shadow Blade slept in the little room beside Fragrant Jade House. Naturally, his identity was now the Chun Mei, the maid of Yu Wen Zi. ”Chun Mei's” height was too tall and hard to disguise. Hence, once ”Yu Wen Zi” was rested, ”Chun Mei” would fall sick as a result of being too tired out taking care of her lady. Meng Fuyao was worried that this would merely be a short term solution but Shadow Blade insisted that if he were to rest for a couple more days, he could somewhat manage to shrink his bones and maintain it around an hour or so. So if there was a need for ”Chun Mei” to make an appearance, he should be able to handle.
There was once when Xuanyuan Min had visited Shadow Blade and Meng Fuyao's dark eyecircles caught his eye. With plenty of jealousy, his hand formed an ”orchid finger[1.A hand gesture that orginated from Peking opera, where the hand resembles the petals of an orchid flower — considered a sign of grace and femininity.]” as he teased, ”You adulterous pair, have you been making love with one another all night? There was once I did all seven girls at once and I didn't seem half as exhausted as you are!”
”Yes, yes, yes. You're the invincible hero that never falls, dealing with seven wolves in one.” Meng Fuyao kicked him out of the room. ”Please, you have already 'showed your love'. With anymore love, I'll be drowning in it.”
”That's great, the perfect time for me to see your skills!” Xuanyuan Min swung his sleeves around excitedly. In a coquetry manner, he whispered, ”Since the very first time I met you, I felt that you are definitely gonna ace and shine at this game of imperial harem… My love, when would you punch me once more?”
”Right now!” Meng Fuyao stepped on him and it was followed by the sounds of her punches.
Finally, after throwing out the happy cross-dressing emperor, Meng Fuyao opened the door that has been tightly shut for the past three days. With her hands on her back as she walked out in a ”difficult yet proud” manner. With the aura of a well-loved lady that stood above the rest, she elegantly and pridefully strutted towards the sunlight, in the complicated gazes of those next door.
Sir Meng had finally taken her very first pretentious, confident step, pulling the curtains for her grandiose performance in the Xuanyuan's imperial harem.
”Isn't this Sister Zi? I've heard you haven't been feeling too well recently? Are you better now?” As expected, before Meng Fuyao even got out of her courtyard, another lady had ”coincidentally passed by” and decided to stand around to send her regards with a smile. But that smile, stopping short at her cheeks, was clearly fake from whichever angle.
This lady is impatient, not calm enough, third-rate acting — analysis completed.
”Aiya… thank you for asking. I am finally much better.” With a slight frown, Meng Fuyao held onto her back and sighed loudly. ”Ah… he seriously tired me out…”
The last sentence was lightly spoken but managed to turn that lady's face black. With a scoff, she side-glanced at Meng Fuyao and gave a word of ”friendly advice”. ”Sister Zi is certainly frivolous. One could only fear that though the flower may bloom beautifully yet there is no one to admire, only there to deflower. If you are unfortunately not chosen, with this body that is no longer pure, I wonder who you could marry?”