Zhao Chu then spoke in a low voice, "Enter after one incense stick's time."
Thus, Zhao Shaoyou obediently stood outside the door, watching the guesthouse maidservants carry water basins in and out.
Only after Rong Ci had finished washing did Zhao Shaoyou tread lightly inside.
Rong Ci was dressed in a white Ruqun with an outer robe added over it, sitting upright by the tea table.
Hearing someone enter, she revealed a gentle smile.
"Madam…" Zhao Shaoyou scratched his head, feeling guilty inside. It was all his fault—otherwise, she wouldn't have fallen into his father's hands and had her reputation ruined by him.
"Come here." Rong Ci extended her hand toward him warmly.
Zhao Shaoyou looked somewhat bewildered at the direction of her outstretched hand. Why was Madam reaching toward the wall?
Puzzled, he walked over. Rong Ci groped until she touched the hem of his clothes, then grasped it and gestured for him to sit down.
Only then did Zhao Shaoyou realize something. He stared in shock at Rong Ci's eyes—beautiful as autumn waters, still bright and clear, yet they failed to meet his gaze.
He waved his hand in front of her eyes. She didn't blink or show any reaction.
Zhao Shaoyou sprang up instantly, "M-M-Madam! Your eyes!"
Rong Ci quickly reassured him, "It's nothing serious, just temporary blindness."
How could this be nothing serious?! She couldn't see!
Zhao Shaoyou couldn't imagine how frightened she must be, unable to see, and still having to face his father—that merciless king of the underworld.
"I'll go find the medical community right now!"
Seeing him rush off in a hurry, Rong Ci smiled helplessly. Still, compared to all the misfortunes, there was at least one comforting thought.
With Shao You back by Zhao Chu's side, he was safe. Otherwise, she would have worried that Chu Xiao might harm him. After all, even if Chu Xiao agreed to her requests on the surface, he would still investigate Shao You's background thoroughly in private.
If Chu Xiao were to discover that Shao You was Zhao Chu's son, then Shao You would truly be in danger.
But now there was no need to worry. With Zhao Chu around, no one could harm Shao You.
As for herself, she needed to first figure out where she was. Since she couldn't see now, she couldn't act recklessly. Chu Xiao, knowing she was in trouble, would surely send troops to search for her.
Meanwhile, Zhao Shaoyou, who had rushed downstairs, shook the medical community's physician until he confirmed that Madam was indeed blind, with no telling when she might recover.
Zhao Shaoyou cast an accusing look at his father, who was having his meal, and finally couldn't hold back any longer. He ran over and said, "Father! How could you take advantage of her when she couldn't see?!"
Pu Xi's hand trembled. Oh, my little ancestor, could you not use such sharp words?
Zhao Chu raised an eyebrow coolly, "Take advantage?"
Which eye saw him taking advantage? Clearly, she was the one who threw herself into his arms and called him husband.
If he had remained unmoved, wouldn't he have been less than a man?
Zhao Shaoyou nodded emphatically, "Father stayed in Madam's room last night!"
Pu Xi lowered his head to stare at the ground, wishing he could bury himself in it.
Zhao Chu snorted coldly, "So what?"
"So what?" Zhao Shaoyou rebuked bitterly, "Father, she is the Consort of the King of Chu! She has a husband!"
And her husband was no pushover—he was the King of Chu!!
Even if his father was overwhelmingly powerful, he couldn't be so arrogant and unrestrained.
The hatred of having one's wife taken—if the King of Chu found out, he would probably wish to grind his father's bones to dust.
He had previously thought his father wouldn't act so recklessly, but now it seemed he had underestimated him.
But as those words—"She is the Consort of the King of Chu, she has a husband"—fell from his lips, Zhao Chu's expression visibly darkened. A cold gleam flickered in his eyes as he sharply fixed his gaze on the reckless Zhao Shaoyou.
He did not like hearing it.
Zhao Shaoyou immediately cowered, his voice softening. "Father, I beg you, at least do not harm her."
Zhao Chu lowered his gaze, withdrawing his attention and looking outside the guesthouse.
A subordinate from the Qin Kingdom came to report, "Lord, both the Wei State and the Chu Kingdom have dispatched troops to search the city for people."
The guesthouse where they were staying was located within the territory of the Wei State, making it unsafe.
Zhao Chu's expression remained indifferent. Once the Consort of the King of Chu fell into his hands, he had no intention of staying long.
Originally, Zhao Chu had no interest in the Consort of the King of Chu, merely considering what he could gain from the situation. But now, he no longer thought that way.
He had a feeling she would bring him a great surprise.
"Prepare to leave the city."
"Yes, Lord."
Rong Ci could not see. A servant woman from the guesthouse handed her a bowl and chopsticks. Seizing the opportunity, Rong Ci tried to probe for information, striking up a conversation. "Auntie, could you tell me where we are?"
She needed to understand her location to plan her next move.
Just as the servant woman was about to speak, a calm and cold voice came from outside the door.
"Leave."
The servant woman hurriedly bowed and retreated, not forgetting to close the door behind her.
Rong Ci: …
Zhao Chu slowly walked in, his eyes falling on the bowl she had set aside, which appeared almost untouched.
"Madam, eat more so you have the strength to leave the city with your husband."
Shameless.
Rong Ci felt stifled with anger, but she caught the key word: leaving the city.
This meant they were still within the territory of the Wei State. Chu Xiao must have ordered a city-wide search, forcing Zhao Chu and his group to retreat.
She lowered her gaze. He intended to take her with him.
"Madam, what are you thinking?"
Zhao Chu watched her with great patience. He made no effort to disguise his voice, as if he were not at all afraid she might recognize it.
Rong Ci thought he might have already realized she was pretending. He was simply waiting for her to drop the act, like toying with a pet in the palm of his hand.
She pursed her lips and shook her head. The more she spoke, the more mistakes she might make. She decided to simply stand up and leave.
But the moment she rose, a sharp pain shot through her legs, and darkness clouded her vision. She quickly steadied herself by gripping the edge of the table.
Zhao Chu watched the frail woman, delicate as a lotus flower that could snap with a single touch, and couldn't help but curl his lips into a faint smile.
Outside the door, a subordinate called through it, "Lord, the carriage and horses are ready."
Zhao Chu acknowledged with a hum. Rong Ci grew increasingly uneasy. Her world was pitch black, and she couldn't discern Zhao Chu's intentions from his expression.
The loss of light and the sense of security it brought made her feel even more distressed.
Zhao Chu took out a soft white cloth strip from his sleeve. When he stood up, she only reached his shoulder. Even though she was graceful and elegant, his tall and robust frame made her appear exceptionally slender and delicate.
"What are you trying to do?"
Sensing his approach, she nervously swallowed.
Zhao Chu's hand circled the back of her head, his index and middle fingers pressing gently against her skull as he effortlessly drew her toward him.
Caught off guard, Rong Ci collided with his firm chest. She looked up, panic flashing in her eyes.
She feared Zhao Chu might do something reckless again.
But instead, she felt a strip of cloth slowly being tied around her eyes and secured at the back of her head.
Her world was already shrouded in darkness, so the cloth made no difference. What changed was the way his presence enveloped her—cold and suffocating.
Even after tying the cloth, he did not release her. Instead, his brow furrowed slightly as he stared at the vermilion-like red mole between her eyebrows.
Zhao Shaoyou said that only this spot was different.
Zhao Chu simply raised his other hand, roughly and forcefully rubbing back and forth on the center of her forehead for a long while.
Rong Ci felt the sandpaper-like roughness almost scraping her skin raw. She inhaled sharply, enduring his crude behavior.
Zhao Chu frowned—it wasn’t fake.
Truly father and son, she thought. This mole had been applied by the System as a precaution against discovery—how could it possibly be fake?
Though Zhao Chu had forgotten her, he still harbored doubts, likely because Shao You had told him she resembled his deceased wife.
But Rong Ci believed that even if he doubted, it would be useless—Zhao Chu would never uncover the truth.
He was probably overthinking it now, she surmised. After a moment of contemplation, she reminded him, “Are you done?”
Zhao Chu gave a faint “mm” in response, withdrawing his slightly tingling fingertips. He pulled the cloth strip up a bit higher, covering the reddened mole on her forehead that he had rubbed raw.
Then, with a long arm, he wrapped it around her, two fingers gripping her waist as he lifted her slightly with a bit of force. Rong Ci was pulled into his embrace.
“Hold on tight, my lady.”
His voice was calm as he supported her bottom with one hand. Rong Ci suddenly found herself airborne and could only frantically wrap her arms around his neck.
Instinctively, she lifted her gaze to search for the direction of his face. Though she couldn’t see, it was as if she suddenly recalled Zhao Chu’s face, which had faded from her memory over the years. Even though she couldn’t quite remember his appearance clearly, at this moment, she realized it didn’t feel entirely unfamiliar.
What would Zhao Chu from fifteen years ago look like?
If she hadn’t lost her sight, she could have seen it clearly.