Kind-hearted, but not very clever.
Zhao Chu responded with a noncommittal "Hmm."
Chu Xiao was usually a man of few words, and today he spoke even less. Rong Ci couldn't quite figure out what was going on, but aside from being unable to see, her leg also hurt.
The delayed pain from her wounds gradually sharpened, and she frowned, enduring it.
Only then did Zhao Chu's gaze fall on her blood-stained skirt. He was not a man who cherished beauty or showed tenderness, which was why he hadn't been in a hurry to tend to her injuries earlier.
But she was so obedient, and she even called him husband.
Zhao Chu lowered his eyes, a flicker of pleasure stirring within them.
Just then, Pu Xi's voice came from outside the door: "My lord, the physician from the medical community has been summoned."
Zhao Chu acknowledged with a sound, and the door was gently pushed open. The physician entered cautiously with his medicine chest to examine the noble lady.
Pu Xi was shocked by what he saw.
Their lord, who was usually indifferent and harsh toward women, was now holding the woman in his arms with such relaxed tenderness, his movements brimming with possessiveness.
Zhao Chu gave him a cool glance, and Pu Xi promptly retreated with understanding.
Rong Ci's injury was on her leg, which made the physician somewhat hesitant. Zhao Chu simply drew the bed curtains to shield her figure, then, without changing expression, removed her dress and undergarments, revealing her slender, pale leg.
But the leg was covered with red scratches from branches and stones, along with swollen, bleeding cuts—a truly distressing sight.
Zhao Chu hadn't expected her injuries to be so severe. His hand paused.
Rong Ci lay obediently in his arms.
The physician took out medicine from his chest, looking troubled as he considered whether to ask a maid from the guesthouse to help clean and apply the ointment.
To his surprise, the nobleman on the bed expressionlessly extended a hand toward him. The physician, intimidated, broke into a cold sweat and hurriedly presented the medicine with both hands.
Zhao Chu lightened his touch, carefully cleaning away the blood and grime from the wounds before applying the medicine unhurriedly.
Yet even with such gentleness, she still hissed softly in pain.
Zhao Chu could only soften his touch further. By the time he finished applying the medicine, a thin layer of sweat had formed on his palms.
Outside, Zhao Shaoyou paced anxiously in the corridor. His father was inside the room, and he feared angering him by entering, but he was also worried about the kind and beautiful lady.
Fortunately, after a while, Zhao Chu finally stepped out of the room, his face expressionless.
Shao You scratched his ear and followed, wanting to say something but unsure how to begin. Zhao Chu didn't even glance at him, heading straight downstairs.
Shao You could only turn back to ask the physician about Rong Ci's condition. Learning that her leg injuries were severe but had been properly treated and would heal with some rest, he felt slightly relieved.
He followed downstairs and saw his father seated at the tea table, with Qin Kingdom subordinates standing respectfully nearby. Mr. Pu Xi gave him a meaningful look.
Shao You trudged over dejectedly, his voice listless: "Father, I know I was wrong."
It was a long while before Zhao Chu looked up, his tone as calm and unrippled as deep pond water.
"Wrong about what?"
"I was wrong to run away from home and go to Wei State, and wrong to nearly ruin your plans."
Though impulsive, Shao You was not foolish. Since his father had appeared in Wei State, he surely hadn't come looking for him. It could only mean his father's ambitions for expanding the kingdom's territory had already extended to Wei State's lands.
If his presence in Wei State were discovered, it would be extremely disadvantageous for Qin Kingdom.
But!
Even if given another chance, he wouldn't regret it—at least he had met someone in Wei State who reminded him so much of his own mother.
Shao You stiffened his neck defiantly. Pu Xi couldn't help but sigh. This father and son—one lacking paternal kindness, the other lacking filial obedience.
He simply changed the subject, "My lord, news has just arrived that the King of Chu has sent troops to surround Yu Mountain. Since you rescued the Consort of the King of Chu, why not take this opportunity to negotiate a favorable deal when returning her to the King of Chu?"
After Pu Xi finished speaking, Zhao Shaoyou opened his mouth, wanting to object but then feeling it was inappropriate. Even if he was reluctant, the consort would surely want to return home.
Unexpectedly, only Zhao Chu remained completely indifferent, giving Pu Xi a cold glance. "Who said Gu was going to return her to the King of Chu?"
Pu Xi was stunned, and Zhao Shaoyou reacted most dramatically, exclaiming in shock, "Father, you wouldn’t think of taking another man’s wife, would you?!"
The words darkened Zhao Chu’s expression.
Taking another man’s wife.
He really was…
Thinking exactly that.
From that night on the rooftop, listening to her tearful sobs, to today when she fell into his hands, the dark thoughts that had grown in his heart truly were: since he had taken a liking to her at first sight, why not just take her for himself?
Pu Xi glanced up at his lord, noticing the profound expression on his face. He clicked his tongue in surprise—was his lord… smitten?
But that consort was the Consort of the King of Chu, and the King of Chu was no easy opponent either.
Seeing his father’s silent confirmation, Zhao Shaoyou grew agitated and protested indignantly, "Father, even if she looks like my mother, you can’t just seize her by force…"
"You said she looks like whom?" Before Zhao Shaoyou could finish, he saw his father staring coldly at him, his gaze terrifying.
He shuddered, his lips trembling slightly. "Like… Mother?"
A sudden pang of pain struck Zhao Chu’s heart. He pursed his lips, his aura growing even colder and more oppressive. "How much does she resemble her?"
Zhao Shaoyou recalled the portrait of his birth mother he had once seen in his father’s bedchamber and hesitated, "Nine parts alike, except Mother didn’t have a red mole between her eyebrows."
"But Father, Mother has been gone for fifteen years. That consort is only in her twenties—she can’t possibly be related to Mother. You can’t just force her to be a substitute because she resembles Mother. That would be unfair to both Mother and her!"
What nonsense was this? Zhao Chu rubbed his temples in frustration.
He couldn’t explain to his son that, eroded by time, he had already forgotten his mother, even her appearance blurred in his memory.
And seeing her today wasn’t about finding a substitute—he simply felt she suited his heart’s desire, just like in his dreams.
He naturally wouldn’t refuse heaven’s gift.
But now, with Zhao Shaoyou saying she resembled his late wife by nine parts, a faint suspicion arose again in Zhao Chu’s heart.
Why would the Consort of the King of Chu bear such a striking resemblance to his deceased wife?
He turned to Pu Xi. "Did Former Madam have any sisters?"
Pu Xi thought for a moment. Fifteen years ago, he hadn’t yet followed his lord and naturally hadn’t met Former Madam, but he still knew something about her. After all, it wasn’t exactly a secret, though no one in the Qin Kingdom dared mention Former Madam.
"Replying to my lord, as far as I know, Former Madam had no family behind her, let alone any sisters."
Zhao Chu grunted in acknowledgment. Zhao Shaoyou cautiously looked at his father, hoping to see if he had abandoned that shocking idea.
Instead, Zhao Chu glared coldly at him. "Go and receive your punishment."
Zhao Shaoyou instantly deflated, hanging his head dejectedly. "Yes."
Suddenly, Zhao Chu spoke again. "Zhao Shaoyou."
Hearing his name, Zhao Shaoyou turned back in confusion. Zhao Chu narrowed his eyes. Whether it was his imagination or not, he suddenly felt that Zhao Shaoyou bore a faint resemblance in spirit to that Consort of the King of Chu.
How interesting.
A consort of the King of Chu who resembled his deceased wife—whether she suited his intentions or not, he now had to thoroughly investigate her background.
Since she had mistaken his identity and called him husband, why not let the error continue?
Zhao Chu curled his lips, his dark eyes flashing with an air of inevitable conquest.