The carriage continued rolling forward, the rumbling of its wheels drowning out the woman’s soft murmurs inside.
After that fleeting, dragonfly-like kiss, Ruan Qingli continued exploring.
She placed her hand on Han Sheng’s chest. Finding it firm and solid, she started moving it lower. Han Sheng finally seized the opportunity to catch her little hand.
With the drug affecting Ruan Qingli, he didn’t dare knock her unconscious, fearing it would make it harder for the physician to assess her condition later. Nor did he dare restrain her too forcefully, worried it would only make her suffer more. He could only coax her little by little.
“Ali, wake up. Get off me first, okay? Be good.”
His voice was slightly hoarse as he spoke, revealing that he, too, had been stirred.
But with Ruan Qingli straddling his lap, he didn’t dare move an inch.
She couldn’t understand what he was saying.
Instead, she remained completely absorbed in teasing him.
For some reason, she slowly leaned closer and gently nibbled at Han Sheng’s Adam’s apple.
His throat immediately bobbed.
He saw her long lashes fluttering. Her eyes held both innocent confusion and hazy desire, like a flower in full bloom waiting to be picked.
Her cheeks were flushed crimson, carrying the intoxicating color of drunkenness.
Han Sheng had to exercise every ounce of self-control to stop himself from claiming her rosy lips.
Yet Ruan Qingli showed no sign of stopping.
She continued moving restlessly against him.
Under the influence of the drug, she had completely lost her reason.
All she wanted was to follow her instincts.
So she kissed Han Sheng again.
Although she was still clumsy and inexperienced, this time, after their lips met, she didn’t pull away immediately.
At last, Han Sheng’s restraint reached its limit.
Lowering his head, he chose an angle that was comfortable for both of them and gently deepened the kiss.
When Ruan Qingli woke up, she found herself back at Han Sheng’s house.
She remembered nothing that had happened afterward.
The last thing she recalled was being dragged onto a carriage.
So…
How had she gotten back?
Just as she was puzzling over it, she heard Su Mingyuan and Han Sheng talking outside the door.
“Ah Sheng, looks like I misjudged you before. You two really haven’t done anything, have you? She was in that condition, yet you still took her straight to the medical clinic. I have to give you credit.”
Han Sheng’s voice came next.
“Lord Su seems to have plenty of free time today. Nothing to do at the yamen?”
“I’m handling a case, aren’t I? A scoundrel actually dared drug a woman in broad daylight within my jurisdiction. Naturally, the victim deserves to know what happened afterward.”
“What’s the sentence?”
“According to the law, execution.”
“Get lost.”
Seeing Han Sheng lose his patience, Su Mingyuan finally became serious.
“Relax. Even though the law won’t punish that bastard too severely, I guarantee he’ll remember this lesson for the rest of his life. You know how I handle these things.”
Han Sheng still wasn’t satisfied.
“Find a way to break one of his legs.”
“Already done.”
“How?”
“The bastard accidentally fell into a pit on his way to prison.”
Han Sheng couldn’t help but laugh.
“That certainly was… quite an unfortunate accident.”
The door creaked open, and Ruan Qingli walked out from the inner room.
She first gave Su Mingyuan a respectful curtsy before doing the same to Han Sheng.
“Thank you both for saving me.”
Su Mingyuan waved his hand dismissively.
“It was simply my duty, Miss Ruan. There’s no need to thank me.”
Ruan Qingli then looked toward Han Sheng.
She noticed him avert his gaze awkwardly.
His face even seemed a little red.
Su Mingyuan had genuinely come to investigate the matter.
“Miss Ruan, could you tell me what happened between you and Master Li? Why were the two of you together at that teahouse?”
“We… were meeting for a marriage interview.”
Su Mingyuan glanced at Han Sheng.
Han Sheng remained silent, only tightening the fingers hidden inside his sleeve.
“So, Miss Ruan, you’re planning to remarry?”
“Yes… I am.”
Su Mingyuan nodded.
“That’s only natural. You’re still young. Such wonderful years shouldn’t be wasted. But in the future, you should be more cautious. Don’t agree to meet just anyone.”
“I will.”
After gathering the necessary information, Su Mingyuan stood.
“Coming with me?”
Because of what had happened in the carriage, Han Sheng didn’t quite know how to face Ruan Qingli.
So he rose and left with Su Mingyuan.
He didn’t return home for dinner that evening.
By the time he came back, Ruan Qingli had already gone to bed.
Hearing movement outside, she got dressed and came out to take a look.
Han Sheng hadn’t lit a lamp because he didn’t want to wake her.
But Ruan Qingli emerged carrying a candle.
Neither of them had expected to run into the other while Han Sheng was changing clothes.
The moment their eyes met, an awkward silence settled between them.
“You’re still awake?”
“I was just about to sleep… Why did you come back so late today?”
“I had some matters to deal with. They took longer than expected.”
“Have you eaten? I saved some dinner for you. If you’d like, I’ll warm it up.”
“I’ve already eaten. Ali, if I come home late in the future, you don’t need to save food for me. I won’t go hungry.”
“But… you shouldn’t have any money left. You gave it all to me that day.”
“It’s fine. I can always eat at Su Mingyuan’s place. He’s rich.”
After thinking for a moment, Ruan Qingli asked,
“Young Master Han… have I caused you a lot of trouble?”
“So that’s why you’re thinking of getting married? So you won’t trouble me anymore?”
“Yes.”
Hearing her answer, Han Sheng’s hand paused as he was making the bed.
He stood and turned to face her.
“Can you explain what you did in the carriage today?”
Ruan Qingli looked puzzled.
“Did I do something in the carriage? I’m sorry… I really can’t remember.”
“Then let me help refresh your memory.”
“All right.”
Before he could begin, Han Sheng’s own face turned red first.
He coughed awkwardly before saying,
“Well… actually, I’ve forgotten too. You didn’t really do much. You were just a little restless. It’s late. You should go back to sleep.”
But Ruan Qingli didn’t leave.
Instead, she stared at Han Sheng’s bed.
“Young Master Han, it’s so cold tonight. This room is drafty everywhere, and you don’t even have a proper quilt. How about…”
Hearing those words, Han Sheng’s heart skipped a beat.
Was she… inviting him to sleep together?
Then he heard her continue,
“How about we switch rooms? My family was poor when I was little. The house I grew up in was even draftier than this. I’m probably better at enduring the cold than you.”
The heart that had leapt into his throat slowly settled back down.
So that was what she meant.
Still…
Perhaps it was for the best that she couldn’t remember what had happened in the carriage.
The Di tribes were eyeing all of Youzhou like hungry wolves.
War could break out at any moment.
A man like him would almost certainly have to go to the battlefield.
And once he did…
There was no guarantee he would ever return.
He and Ruan Qingli had met only by chance.
All she wanted was to live a peaceful and happy life.
Why should he drag her into the chaos of his own uncertain future?
Perhaps…
Helping her find a good man to marry was the right choice after all.