The man's face was cold and aloof. The hand he had extended into the air paused, then slowly retracted, carrying with it an air of noble superiority. "You collapsed by the roadside. I saved you."
Xue Niang recalled the incident. She distinctly remembered the old coachman being by her side. She wondered why a stranger had saved her instead, and her wariness grew. She looked at him again.
His eyes, shimmering with a captivating light, lacked the shyness and reserve typically found in young ladies. The man's hand twitched slightly, and his usually rigid and self-possessed expression became subtly unnatural.
How could anyone stare like that? He felt a surge of annoyance, yet his heart quickened under the gaze of those clear, large eyes. He couldn't help but speak sternly, "Did your parents never teach you that a woman should lower her gaze?"
Xue Niang's expression turned cold. She lowered her eyes, but her inner vigilance towards this man intensified. It was because he bore a slight resemblance to the second son of the Lu family, whom she had killed in the past.
However, their temperaments were vastly different.
Judging by his noble attire, the jade coronet on his head, if she wasn't mistaken, was top-grade mutton-fat jade. The emerald thumb ring on his hand was exceptionally clear and engraved with beast patterns, a popular accessory among noble youths. She remembered her second brother wearing one just like it.
If he were Grand Tutor Lu's eldest son, then they would have a deep enmity.
"Thank you, young sir, for saving me. May I know your name so I can express my gratitude later?"
Xue Niang slowly sat up. Her head was still swimming. She had to stop and lean against the headboard, but she didn't look at the man again.
A strange feeling of irritation surfaced in her chest. The man frowned, remaining silent.
A knock sounded at the door, and a cheerful young voice called out, "Young Master, the doctor is here."
Xue Niang slightly raised her eyes. She had been conscious before she fainted and seemed to recall hearing this voice.
Had they truly saved her?
The man opened the door. A fair-faced and handsome youth entered, followed by a white-haired doctor carrying a medicine chest. The youth paused upon seeing the conscious Xue Niang, then blurted out, "You're awake? I knew we shouldn't have called a doctor for you, what a waste—"
"Zhusheng!" the man reprimanded.
Zhusheng sullenly shut his mouth, but his eyes cast a displeased glance at Xue Niang, his unspoken words conveyed entirely through his gaze. He seemed much more agreeable than his master.
The elderly doctor felt somewhat constrained in the presence of such nobility. Only when he heard the man's indifferent command, "See the patient!", did he put down his medicine chest and politely ask Xue Niang to extend her hand.
Xue Niang knew why she had fainted. It was nothing more than excessive mental exertion, which had weakened her body. She felt a bit better now, but having not eaten for a long time, she was still very weak.
She extended her hand. Her wrist, as white as snow, was like radiant jade. The rounded fingertips were slightly translucent. This was hardly the hand of a village woman; it was comparable to that of a pampered young lady from a prominent family.
The man's eyes narrowed.
Leaning against the headboard with a languid composure, she lowered her gaze to watch the doctor take her pulse. Her long eyelashes, like small fans, cast a shadow. Despite no overt disdain, there was an undeniable air of superiority about her.
He scoffed inwardly. How could this be a peasant girl? She was likely sent by someone to deliberately approach him!
"Miss, have you often been staying up all night? This has caused an imbalance in your qi and blood, leading to some yin deficiency!" the old doctor said after taking her pulse, then briefly examining her complexion.
Seeing her with her eyebrows lowered and a weary expression, he was even more convinced that she might be suffering from insomnia.
"Of course, she stays up all night, living it up every night!" Zhusheng said disdainfully.
Xue Niang glanced at him. This youngster was spouting nonsense. What qualifications did a mere commoner have to be by his young master's side?
Seeing that his young master remained silent, Zhusheng grew bolder.
"Doctor, please check if she has that kind of illness."
That kind of illness? Which kind?
Not only was Xue Niang bewildered, but the doctor was also confused. He glanced at the noble young master beside him, only to see him turn his cold face towards the window as if there were a beautiful view there.
"Uh, young sir, could you provide a hint?" the old doctor asked humbly.
"It's that illness! The illness men bring! Didn't you say she was yin deficient? Isn't that from having too much... you know... with men?"
Zhusheng's face turned completely red. In the end, he couldn't even utter the words. What a scandalous woman! If it weren't for the fact that his young master had been taking care of her closely these past few days, and he feared she might have some illness that could be transmitted to his master, he wouldn't have bothered about her health at all!
Xue Niang looked at him in disbelief. The old doctor coughed.
"This, this might be a misunderstanding, young sir. The deficiency I spoke of is not that kind of deficiency. It's that this young lady's spirit, uh, has been overextended, leading to a depletion of qi and blood, and a disorder of liver and kidney functions."
Zhusheng blinked. "Ah? Not that? But earlier—"
"How should she be treated?"
The man, who had been silent, turned his head and coldly interrupted Zhusheng. He cast a condescending glance at Xue Niang before his gaze settled on the doctor.
"No need for treatment. Thank you for saving me. I should leave."
Xue Niang suppressed her anger. Her pretty face was etched with frost. She pushed herself up using the bed frame, but her body swayed and she fell back onto the bed.
She was too hungry, her head spinning.
The man let out a faint chuckle. She had finished her act of playing hard to get. Was she now employing the coy beauty strategy on him?
However, she was rather cute.
"Miss, forgive my meddling, but if you continue like this, you may have difficulty conceiving, or worse, it could be fatal. It's best to get properly treated! I'll write a prescription now."
The old doctor took out paper and a brush and quickly wrote.
"So you're not the kind of woman I thought you were. Then how did you get yourself into this state?" Zhusheng's disdain lessened as he looked at Xue Niang's face, which was more beautiful than a flower, and his thoughts began to stir again.
Xue Niang gave Zhusheng a look of disgust and closed her eyes, refusing to speak further.
If Xiao Shan were here, she would definitely make him smash this annoying mouth to pieces.
She wondered how long she had been unconscious. Had Xiao Shan returned? If he returned and couldn't find her, would he think she had run away again?
He would surely be anxious and sad.
As soon as her body could move, she would leave quickly. She couldn't let this man see Xiao Shan.
"Miss, it's crucial to avoid anger with this condition!" the old doctor said earnestly, handing the prescription to Zhusheng. "Young sir, this is the prescription. Drink one dose every night before bed. This is a chronic condition that requires long-term care to see results."
"Ah? So troublesome?"
He wanted her to serve his young master, not to be served by someone. In that case, this woman couldn't be kept.
"Go and brew the medicine!"
"Ah? Young Master..."
Zhusheng let out a silent cry under the man's chilling gaze. Would his young master really still take her with him?
This woman was indeed beautiful, but she was a sickly person! Did he still need the noble young master to attend to her?
Once he got involved, he couldn't shake her off!
Xue Niang opened her eyes. "I'm hungry!"
A faint smile appeared on the man's face. He waved to Zhusheng, "Serve the meal."
She had finished playing the game of feigned resistance. Now she was starting to use the "傲娇美人计" (proud and aloof beauty trick) on him.
Still, she was quite cute.