Song Zhiyao didn’t know that Lu Yanzhi was still outside the door.
Even if she did, she couldn’t stop herself from crying out in pain.
It really hurt.
Although Lan Xin had been instructed by Lu Yanzhi, she had never done this before. Her movements were clumsy, unsure of how much pressure to apply.
Tears welled in Song Zhiyao’s eyes, her voice involuntarily trembling with grievance.
She had always been sensitive to pain.
Lan Xin, realizing the pressure was too much, hesitated. “Young Madam…”
Creak—
The sound of the door opening interrupted her.
Lan Xin instinctively stepped in front of Song Zhiyao and glanced toward the door. Seeing who it was, she quickly lowered her head. “General.”
“Lu Yanzhi?!” Song Zhiyao’s face immediately flushed crimson. Instinctively, she tried to shield herself with the blanket, but her waist hurt terribly, leaving her movement awkward and slow.
“Leave.” With a single command, Lu Yanzhi sent Lan Xin hurrying out of the room.
Now, only the two of them remained.
Song Zhiyao tugged at the blanket for a long time before she managed to pull it up to her shoulders.
A pale pink cloud-patterned quilt rested over her shoulders. Her long black hair cascaded down, snow-white, smooth skin peeking out from beneath, creating an intense visual impact.
Her small face burned red, eyelashes trembling, eyes flickering nervously. She avoided looking at him directly, her gaze following the line of her hair downward… stirring thoughts that were difficult to suppress.
Even a single glance was enough for Lu Yanzhi to see everything.
“You… you should leave too!” Song Zhiyao knew they were husband and wife, of course, but she still felt flustered and shy.
Though the children had been born, they were far from familiar with each other.
Hearing her words, Lu Yanzhi’s step faltered slightly, a glint of cold flashing in his eyes.
But in the next moment, he was at the bedside, voice icy and detached: “If you don’t want to be crippled, let me see.”
Was it really that bad?
Song Zhiyao had her doubts, but the constant pain in her waist left her no choice but to silently agree.
She felt the warm blanket being lifted from her.
Lu Yanzhi’s gaze made her tense up immediately, her body instinctively stiffening.
“Don’t move.”
“Ah!”
The moment his voice fell, Song Zhiyao cried out in pain.
Lu Yanzhi’s hand pressed suddenly against her waist. Yet almost immediately, she felt the sharp pain ease slightly.
His hands were large, able to cover her entire waist with one palm.
As a martial artist, his palms were calloused and rough, while her skin was soft and delicate. Wherever his palm moved, it left a faint flush.
But his hands were warm.
That warmth seemed to flow through their contact, seeping into her injury and soothing it.
As the pain eased, her senses sharpened further.
Song Zhiyao couldn’t see him clearly, but she could feel the warmth of his hand, which unconsciously reminded her of their wedding night.
For her, that had only been “a year ago.”
His palm had gripped her waist tightly that night, no matter how she tried to squirm, there was no escape.
Thinking of this made her fidget, subconsciously twisting her waist, attempting to pull away.
Lu Yanzhi was much faster.
His large hand gripped her waist firmly.
Through that grip, he could feel just how slender and soft her waist was.
The room was completely silent.
The quiet was tinged with a hint of awkwardness.
“Lu… Lu Yanzhi.” Song Zhiyao steadied herself and spoke first. “Is it… done?”
Lu Yanzhi loosened his grip slightly, lifting the blanket to cover her. “Mm.”
“You need to stay in bed for two more days. No moving.”
With that, he got up and left.
Song Zhiyao panicked. “My clothes—”
Lu Yanzhi paused, glancing back at her, the message clear: did she want him to help?
Realizing this, she shrank further under the blanket. “Call Lan Xin in.”
Only then did Lu Yanzhi turn and leave.
Lan Xin had not gone far, waiting in Gui Pu Courtyard.
With a slight nod from Lu Yanzhi, she immediately came in to help Song Zhiyao dress.
“Lan Xin,” Song Zhiyao said, “I want to see Suxin.”
Suxin, like Lan Xin, was her personal maid, but since waking, she had yet to see her.
It wasn’t the right moment to ask about Suxin’s whereabouts, so she simply requested her presence.
“Your wisdom is clear, Young Madam.” Lan Xin knelt at the bedside. “Suxin would never behave improperly. The punishment you administered was enough; please be merciful.”
Song Zhiyao’s heart ached. She knew very well the character of both Suxin and Lan Xin—they were incapable of wrongdoing.
It must have been the person who had possessed her body. Not wanting those close to her to notice, they had invented excuses to send Suxin and Lan Xin away.
“I understand there was a misunderstanding back then. I’ll investigate thoroughly and clear Suxin’s name,” Song Zhiyao said.
Lan Xin’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“I want to see her,” Song Zhiyao insisted.
Lowering her gaze, Lan Xin could only respond, “Yes.”
Lu Yanzhi left Gui Pu Courtyard.
The hand hidden under his sleeve clenched unconsciously, as if it still retained the touch and warmth of Song Zhiyao.
“Cang Feng,” Lu Yanzhi asked his attendant, “how is the investigation going?”
Cang Feng replied immediately: “General, the most skilled master in the capital is Master Juewu of Huangjue Temple. It’s said he is a reincarnated relic bearer, profound in Buddhist teachings.”
“However, Master Juewu left to travel six months ago. His whereabouts are unknown, with no return date.”
Lu Yanzhi frowned, pressing a hand to his temple. “Continue searching. Notify me immediately if there’s any news.”
He paused, then asked, “How was she injured?”
No names needed—Cang Feng knew “she” referred to the Young Madam.
He reported the incident in full.
Upon hearing that Song Zhiyao had been injured while saving Lu Jian Shen, Lu Yanzhi’s frown deepened. Coldly, he ordered, “Keep an eye on her. See what her intentions are.”
No matter what schemes she had, he would not be fooled again.
Then Lu Yanzhi headed toward Zhi Mo Courtyard.
When he arrived, Lu Jian Shen had just finished his medicine, and beside his bed was a chubby little girl in pink, resembling him.
The plump, adorable little girl was Lu Jian Shen’s sister, Lu Jianwei.
Although tired, the clever little boy chatted nonstop with his sister.
But only he spoke—his sister remained quiet.
Lu Jianwei looked up at him with bright, trusting eyes. When Lu Jian Shen returned her gaze, she beamed a wide smile.
Lu Yanzhi lowered his eyes.
Lu Jianwei… could not speak. All other emotions faded, leaving only hatred for the culprit.
Though he had been back for three months, both Lu Jian Shen and Lu Jianwei were still slightly wary of him.
So Lu Yanzhi merely observed from the doorway for a while before turning away.
In a cold voice, he instructed Cang Feng, “I’ve heard there’s a famous doctor in Jiangnan. Bring them to the capital at any cost.”
In recent days, doctors throughout the city, even imperial physicians, had examined Lu Jianwei.
The results had been minimal.
Thinking this over, he realized he had been too soft today.
Song Zhiyao deserved a proper lesson.