The falling beauty - Chapter 6

Mo Jin’er hadn’t expected to see him here. Her body tensed involuntarily, and she instinctively stepped back, wanting to leave. However, behind her stood a maid who was supposed to assist her with bathing, and she blocked her way.

The maid spoke respectfully but stiffly, “Miss Jin’er…”

Mo Jin’er’s face turned pale. She stood there, lips pursed slightly, eyes cast down nervously. Her fingers tightened with unease.

“Xiao Jin’er…” Ling’an Che’s voice came from inside, initially light-hearted but now tinged with a hint of seriousness.

She took a deep breath and finally stepped inside.

Ling’an Che grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the tub, soaking all her clothes. She even choked on some water, tears welling up in her eyes, fingers trembling.

He kissed her, noticing her trembling. With amusement, he said, “Feeling cold?”

Her lips were almost white. The water he had drawn was chilling, yet his body was warm.

But she wasn’t shivering from the cold.

She remembered visiting the pharmacy for a potent drug that could be applied to a needle, strong enough to quickly sedate someone. She had worn a veil at the time and had also asked about “charm.fragrance.”

The shopkeeper’s gaze had been surprisingly complex and astonished. Finally, she had smiled and explained that it was a rumored drug known to transform a decent girl into a woman unable to live without a man’s touch. Unlike typical aphrodisiacs, it could alter a woman’s constitution significantly.

She had been frightened to her core upon hearing this, feeling chills run down her spine. She had obtained the drug and asked the shopkeeper to apply it to the protruding spike on her ring, concealed by a gentle twist to retract it.

She hadn’t intended to kill Ling’an Che. Never mind being a delicate girl who had never killed before, she also knew that despite his harsh treatment towards her, he was a hero who had truly unified several countries.

But she had to resist. After all, he had tried to drug her first…

Her eyes glistened with tears as he held her wrist, holding her hand tightly while intertwining their fingers. The hand with the ring’s protruding spike rested lightly on his shoulder, attempting to push him away.

He appeared refined and handsome on the surface, more like a civil official than a military commander. However, beneath his clothes, his muscles were powerful and marked with various scars. Calluses thickened his fingertips, causing her to tremble with unease and anxiety every time they grazed her skin.

He was the one who had bullied her first…

She continually reassured herself mentally. It was her first time confronting him like this. Gripped by him around the waist with one hand and their fingers intertwined with the other, her hand wearing the ring hovered over his shoulder. She wanted to push him away.

Ling’an Che, seemingly able to say anything during intimate moments, asked in a seductive, low voice, “What are you thinking, my delicate one?” His voice was magnetic and provocative, with a hint of teasing, as he whispered in her ear.

Mo Jin’er made up her mind but also did something like this for the first time. She was held by him around the waist with one hand, their fingers intertwined. Meanwhile, the hand with the ring, lightly resting on his shoulder, wanted to push him away.

He gazed at her with deep eyes, smiling softly. “If you want to deal with me, you shouldn’t hesitate,” he said playfully.

There were many who wanted to kill him, countless assassins he had encountered. Mo Jin’er, however, he had already figured out. He could see through her at a glance. She couldn’t possibly want to kill him.

Too timid, she was even bold enough to bite him once he bullied her.

Now, the tiny spike on the ring was either a strong drug or something else, certainly not lethal.

He held her hand and lightly scratched the spike, which was hidden on his neck, causing her eyes to widen in disbelief. She tried to pull her hand back but was firmly held by him.

He leaned closer, his sturdy chest pressing against her, and said with a low laugh, “See that? If you really wanted to deal with me, you would have to kill me directly, pull out a hairpin, or hide a knife to slit my throat…”

Mo Jin’er’s nose turned red, her clothes stuck to her body, one hand still held by him. She was pressed against the door, unable to retreat.

But if he hurt himself, the drug…

She looked at him nervously, her big eyes clear and bright. Helooked particularly tall and imposing in front of her, his high and mighty appearance both evil and cold. A drop of blood seeped from his neck, making him seem extremely cruel.

“I didn’t intend to kill you…” Mo Jin’er finally couldn’t help but speak, her soft voice gentle and nasal, trembling uncontrollably.

Madman.

He wasn’t afraid that something might happen to him if she was also crazy…

He lifted her out of the water, the spike on the ring turned by him, and the spike retracted. She leaned against the door and kissed him.

He was very energetic, and the drug had no effect. When the shopkeeper told her that the drug was very powerful, she only needed to stick it slightly to sleep immediately.

But Ling’an Che had nothing to do with it, was the drug a fake… Her eyes shed tears, gently choking, weak shoulders.

And he smiled softly, “Why cry, if you don’t feel bad, I won’t move…”

Her small face was red, and he continued, “Are you curious why I’m okay? You kiss me and I’ll tell you.”

“No…” She shook her head, her beautiful eyes filled with tears.

He smiled and said no more. She was wrapped in a blanket by him, and the sky was already dark outside. The night was deep blue, with stars twinkling in the sky.

She felt her throat sore and dry. She felt dizzy, but she didn’t faint today.

She felt drowsy, regretting not going to that pharmacy anymore…

Ling’an Che brought her back to the room, changed her clean clothes in the bath, gently put her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket. He looked at her small, sleepy face, unable to resist bending down and gently kissing her forehead.

Idiot.

Mo Jin’er did feel very tired at the moment, barely opening her eyes to look at him, wondering if he was making fun of her, but she was too tired…

She fell asleep quickly.

What she didn’t know was that the shopkeeper saw that she had some difficulty speaking, so the medicines given to her were all real, but unfortunately, Ling’an Che was immune to all poisons.

There was a teacher who had the immortality of Medicine King Valley, and he had lived in Medicine King Valley for a long time, and his body was already different from that of ordinary people.

Ling’an Che had something else later and left the room to leave the house. On the way, he met his mother, who was born with grace and calmness.

“Mother.” He greeted with a cheerful smile, then tried to leave on some excuse, but was stopped by her. “Since you like that girl from the Duke’s mansion, just take her in. She’s been nameless and without status all this time staying here. Where do you intend to place her?”

She furrowed her brows lightly. She had observed her son’s recent frivolous behavior.

“I have my own considerations, Mother.” He replied casually, exchanging a few more words before departing.

Watching her son’s departing figure, Ling’s mother sighed softly. A senior servant behind her offered some comfort. “Madam, young master is probably just experiencing something novel…”

“I’ve seen that young lady before. In terms of beauty, there’s hardly any girl in the capital who can match her. Over these years, I find it increasingly difficult to understand Che’er’s thoughts…” Ling’s mother expressed with emotion, her concern evident. 

“He’s unwilling to take a wife or concubine, and doesn’t even want children… Now that there’s someone he fancies, what does he plan to do?”

“Madam, that young lady is from the Duke’s mansion. It seems the Duke’s mansion won’t last much longer. Young master must have his own plans…” The old servant continued to advise.

“I just feel sorry for that child…” Ling’s mother sighed softly, “Have someone fetch items from my treasury… Send them all to her.”

“Understood.” The old servant bowed respectfully.

During the night, Mo Jin’er developed a fever again. She had soaked in cold water with Ling’an Che, caught a chill, and now lay in bed feeling alternately hot and cold, with a sore throat. 

In the morning, she woke feeling groggy, her cheeks flushed unnaturally, and her footsteps weak and unsteady.

“Miss Jin’er, let the doctor take a look at you…” Her maid noticed something was wrong and suggested softly.

But she shook her head. “It’s okay, it’s just discomfort after all…”

Baozhu came to play with her. The two of them flew kites in the courtyard, which eventually got tangled in a tree. Baozhu volunteered to climb up to retrieve it, despite the maids trying to stop her. With a few nimble moves, she climbed the tree and laughed happily.

Mo Jin’er watched anxiously from below. “Baozhu, be careful…”

However, an accident occurred at that moment. She slipped and fell. Mo Jin’er instinctively reached out to catch her, and Baozhu landed on her, though fortunately not with full force.

When Ling’an Che returned and saw this scene, he found Baozhu with a broken leg, being comforted by others, crying loudly.

Mo Jin’er felt a deep ache in her chest. Everyone crowded around Baozhu, deeply worried.

Ling’an Che walked past her directly to Baozhu’s side.