Chapter 30: Zilin, Stop Peeking While I’m Looking at Clothes!

When Feng Xiaoli heard Muxinmi’s words, her face turned frighteningly cold. Muxinmi, what do you mean by that? Are you implying that I, Feng Xiaoli, truly pushed you into the lake, intending for you to drown, and only jumped in to rescue you at the last moment when I saw the guards coming? Is that what you’re trying to suggest?

Feng Xiaoli recalled Zilin’s words before he left, and couldn’t help but admire his uncanny foresight—how did he know that this would be exactly what Muxinmi would say upon awakening? He was truly more prescient than Zhuge Liang. Feng Xiaoli was left in awe.

Empress Yuanmin hurriedly ordered people to carry Muxinmi to the nearby Western Warm Pavilion and summoned one of the best imperial physicians to examine her. For a time, Emperor Qianqing, Empress Yuanmin, Yuwen Hao, Yuwen Che, Muxinqi, as well as members of the Duke Chun’s household and Feng Xiaoli herself, were all waiting anxiously in the Western Warm Pavilion.

Emperor Qianqing first instructed Feng Xiaoli to change into dry clothes, insisting that she must not become ill and bedridden. Feng Xiaoli thought this reasonable and went to the side chamber of the Western Warm Pavilion to change, while the others remained waiting for news of Muxinmi.

Jinning stood at the door of the side chamber. Feng Xiaoli did not like Jinning tending to her inside. Although they were both women and there was no need for modesty, she still found it awkward and uncomfortable. At that time, Jinning had only said, “My lady is just as she always was!” Feng Xiaoli had been surprised—so her true mistress had always been like this as well. Thus, Jinning did not insist on serving her inside.

It was then that Zilin appeared.

He entered with a gentle smile, his expression clearly saying, “See, you didn’t listen and now look at the consequences.” Feng Xiaoli glared at him fiercely—so what if she hadn’t listened? She simply refused to heed him, and that was that.

“Li’er, your clothes are soaked. Hurry and change into something dry. If you fall ill and have to lie in bed, what am I supposed to do?” Zilin stepped forward, intending to help her undress, but Feng Xiaoli smacked his hand away.

“What does it matter to you if I fall sick? As long as you stay out of my sight, everything will be perfect. Since you can hear me, why aren’t you leaving at once? Or do you really want me to get sick?” Feng Xiaoli hugged herself tightly, wary of exposing herself. This man was truly perverse—there was nothing he wouldn’t dare do!

Zilin shushed her, signaling with a finger toward the door—Jinning was standing just outside, so if she didn’t want Jinning to overhear, she’d better lower her voice. Feng Xiaoli’s anger was immediately quelled by half; why did it seem she could never vent her temper in front of Zilin?

Zilin propped his head up, pretending to ponder deeply, then, as if having thought of something delightful, said, “Li’er, you’d better hurry up and fall ill. If you’re sick, I can visit you all the time, and you won’t be able to drive me away. I can hold you and kiss you as much as I like, without fear of you hitting or kicking me. So really, you should get sick as soon as possible!”

“Get lost!” Feng Xiaoli shouted furiously. “There’s no way I’d ever let you have your way. I swear I’ll never fall ill and let a depraved beast like you do as you please!”

Her outburst was so loud that Jinning nearly opened the door to ask what was wrong, but Feng Xiaoli quickly blocked her, stammering that it was just a dead rat that had startled her.

She then overheard Jinning muttering to herself in surprise that even the Western Warm Pavilion had rats.

Zilin watched Feng Xiaoli, amusement in his eyes as he saw her flustered and hesitant to undress. At last, he decided to let her change in peace, turning his back to her with his hands clasped behind him. “Go ahead and change, Li’er. I won’t look.”

“Get out!”

“If you want, I can help you change, you know.”

“I absolutely don’t!” Feng Xiaoli hissed, keeping her voice low. Let him help? As if this man could keep his hands to himself!

“Then hurry up and change!” Zilin’s words were, predictably, delivered with a smile.

Feng Xiaoli had no other options—she couldn’t exactly change outside. She warned Zilin not to turn around, then hurried to strip off her damp clothes, which clung to her skin and took some effort to remove. She kept glancing over to make sure Zilin wasn’t peeking, but he kept his word and continued facing away. Soon, Feng Xiaoli donned a violet Ruanyan gauze dress.

She noted that Zilin, too, was dressed in purple brocade, and her face darkened. She wondered what nonsense he would say about their matching attire this time.

She announced she was done, and Zilin turned around. When he saw her in a dress matching his own, his eyes seemed to light up. “Li’er, you look beautiful in this color. Why not wear purple instead of red from now on? Then everyone on the street will know you’re my wife, and no one will dare covet you!”

“Nonsense! Get out of my way!”

“Li’er, can you really bear to scold me like that?”

“If I didn’t, I’d be doing myself a disservice. You were born to be scolded; I feel uncomfortable if I don’t. Don’t expect to hear any sweet words from my mouth—there’s no chance of that. Now move, I’m leaving!”

To her irritation, Zilin only laughed. “Whether you scold or praise me, I’m happy to hear whatever you say, so scold me all you like. If you didn’t, I’d feel uncomfortable.”

“Unbelievable!” Feng Xiaoli sneered. “Have you actually become addicted to being scolded?”

“Only by you!”

Feng Xiaoli shoved him aside and walked out. Jinning, standing by the door, immediately approached. Seeing Feng Xiaoli’s new attire and the subtle change in her bearing, Jinning was momentarily stunned. In red, Feng Xiaoli had seemed lively and spirited, but in violet Ruanyan gauze, she was stately and elegant.

Noting that Feng Xiaoli had been inside for quite some time, Jinning quickly followed after her.

Soon, Feng Xiaoli entered the main chamber of the Western Warm Pavilion. Those present were all momentarily struck, just as Jinning had been, by the transformation the new attire brought. Feng Xiaoli wanted to ask about Muxinmi’s condition, but the imperial physician had not yet emerged. The Duke of Liao was glaring at her as fiercely as before, but Feng Xiaoli ignored him completely.

At last, the imperial physician appeared, his expression grave—Feng Xiaoli knew at once that the news was not good.

The physician spoke but one sentence: “Your Majesty, it appears that Miss Xinmi has been poisoned.”

—End of Chapter—

This chapter comes after Chapter Thirty! I missed an update—my apologies!