Shen Lingzhen’s entire focus was on Huo Liuxing’s knee. She was so intent on massaging it that she didn’t notice anything unusual until a broad hand gently covered the back of hers.
At the same time, Huo Liuxing’s voice sounded above her, calm and amused. “I’m fine. Didn’t I tell you? My legs haven’t felt pain in years.” As he spoke, he lightly pinched her index finger.
Shen Lingzhen froze, suddenly realizing the meaning behind that gesture. Only then did she become aware of how overly emotional she’d been.
Zhao Xun had lingered in the residence for days without making a move, clearly observing something. In broad daylight, in front of others, her panic might seem like a momentary lapse, forgetting that Huo Liuxing’s legs were numb. But to someone watching closely, it could mean something else entirely.
She quickly recovered and withdrew her hand. “I forgot again.” Then, realizing that sounded wrong, she shook her head and pressed her hand back onto his knee, saying seriously, “But not feeling pain is even worse. If your bones were broken, you wouldn’t even know!”
Huo Liuxing gave a helpless smile. “If they really were broken, your rubbing would only make it worse.”
“Ah.” She stopped immediately. “Then I won’t touch it anymore. Husband, have Kongqing take a look. Let’s go back to the room.”
Huo Liuxing nodded. Just then, the two attendants arrived in a rush, having heard the commotion. They wheeled the pair back to the courtyard.
Once inside the bedroom, with no one else around, Shen Lingzhen finally felt a bit calmer. She recalled the moment when Huo Liuxing had pinched her finger and stole a glance at him.
Judging by his expression, it seemed he knew she had figured it out.
Huo Liuxing noticed the look in her eyes and, without a word, glanced back at her.
Kongqing and Jingmo exchanged a silent look: What’s going on?
Jian Jia and Bailu both furrowed their brows: What happened?
Six people in one room, each with their own thoughts. The atmosphere was so tense that when Kongqing examined Huo Liuxing’s knee, he didn’t dare breathe too loudly. Only after confirming there was no serious injury did he put on a cheerful face, trying to ease the strange mood in the room. “No damage to the tendons or bones. Young Madam’s massage worked well, it dispersed the blood clot, so there won’t be any bruising.”
On any other day, Shen Lingzhen would’ve been proud of herself. But now, she only gave a dry laugh. “It was nothing. As long as my husband is fine.”
“That’s enough,” Huo Liuxing said, glancing at Kongqing, who was adjusting his socks and boots. “You may all leave.”
Kongqing and Jingmo responded and exited. Jian Jia and Bailu looked to Shen Lingzhen, as if seeking permission.
She nodded at them, signaling they should follow Huo Liuxing’s orders.
Only then did the two women leave.
Shen Lingzhen wondered if Huo Liuxing had something to say to her in private. But then she saw him suddenly bend down, lift the hem of his robe, and raise his foot slightly to adjust the boot Kongqing hadn’t properly fixed.
It was the first time she’d seen his leg move. Watching him act so naturally, as if no one else were present, she was stunned. “Husband… I’m still in the room…”
Huo Liuxing looked up at her and said calmly, “I have eyes.”
If everything before had merely made him suspect that Shen Lingzhen had uncovered the truth, then at that moment when he pinched her finger had confirmed it, without a doubt.
She could have jumped into the river out of desperation. She could have asked him, in a panic, “Does it hurt?” But she could not, in a moment of panic, understand the meaning behind his subtle gesture.
If he kept up this act of being “unable to walk,” he feared he’d soon become a spectacle for this little silly little girl to gawk at like a monkey in a cage.
Shen Lingzhen stared at him, watching as he calmly finished putting on his boots and braced his knee to stand.
Panicked, she quickly glanced around to see if anyone was watching, only to realize the doors and windows had long been shut tight. Huo Liuxing must have known.
As he walked toward her, step by step, she suddenly grew nervous and swallowed hard. Scrambling for something to say, she blurted out, “Husband… you’re so tall…”
Because of her sprained ankle, she was confined to the wheelchair. Sitting while he stood, the contrast made his presence feel even more towering and dominant.
He stopped in front of her, one hand behind his back, the other gripping the armrest of her wheelchair as he leaned down.
With their faces now so close and their breaths mingled, Shen Lingzhen felt a chill run down her spine. Her shoulders shrank back, and she wished she could melt into the chair. Her voice trembled: “Husband… what are you doing?”
“What are you afraid of?” He lowered his gaze to her flushed ears. “You’ve hidden things for me, thought of me in everything. Do you really think I’d repay your kindness with harm?”
Shen Lingzhen couldn’t meet his eyes, those eyes that seemed to smile and yet not. His quiet authority pressed down on her like a weight, making it hard to breathe. She turned her head away. “Of course I believe you wouldn’t hurt me.”
But Huo Liuxing wasn’t about to let her off so easily. He gently turned her face back toward him, insisting she look at him. “Then tell me, after all you’ve done for me, with such deep loyalty and affection, what kind of repayment do you hope for?”
Shen Lingzhen was utterly confused. “I don’t want anything from you…”
Huo Liuxing chuckled softly. “You risked your life for me, and you say you want nothing in return? Everyone in this world acts for gain. If you’re not after profit…” He leaned in even closer, his voice dropping to a whisper, lips nearly brushing hers. “Then is it love you seek?”
Shen Lingzhen, startled, shoved him away with force.
Huo Liuxing straightened up, brushing the wrinkles from his robe where she’d pushed him, and gave a faint smile.
Shen Lingzhen was breathing heavily, her forehead damp with nervous sweat, her gaze flickering. “Husband… why are you acting so strangely all of a sudden?”
“What’s strange about it?”
“…You never used to be like this.”
“How was I before? And how am I now?”
Before, he had always been gentle and proper. Even when angry or stern, he was like a deep, still pool, calm and composed. But now…
Shen Lingzhen struggled to find the right words. Suddenly, two words popped into her head: sly and sneaky.
But when she looked up and saw him standing there with hands behind his back, gazing down at her with amused interest, she swallowed the phrase and shook her head. “It’s nothing.”
She cleared her throat. “Husband, you’ve misunderstood me. I don’t seek… I don’t seek your affection.”
“Oh?”
Shen Lingzhen steadied herself and nodded. “You don’t believe I’d risk my life for you without wanting something in return. Then let me ask you, when you risked your life for me, had you already decided what kind of repayment you wanted from me?”
Huo Liuxing’s confident smile faltered slightly. “That time?”
“You’ve always refused to admit the truth about your legs, fearing the secret would be exposed. But now, isn’t it time to be honest with me?” Her voice rose with indignation. “When I was kidnapped in Peach Blossom Valley, if you hadn’t fought to save me, I’d have died at the edge of that cliff. Just now you spoke of gain, so tell me, how do you expect me to repay that debt?”
The hand Huo Liuxing had clasped behind his back tightened slightly. He blinked slowly, uncertain. “So it was because of that… that you discovered the truth about my legs?”
Shen Lingzhen nodded. “You were careless. I saw your sword and your scar. That’s when I realized that you’re the same person.”
Huo Liuxing’s smile stiffened slightly. “So it’s because of that incident… that you’ve been helping me like this?”
She nodded, subdued. “I told you, I’m someone who repays kindness.”
Huo Liuxing let out a long “Oh,” then fell silent. For a while, he said nothing.
Seeing the change in his expression, Shen Lingzhen asked, puzzled, “Husband?”
Huo Liuxing turned his back to her and slowly walked back to the wheelchair. As he sat down, the hand gripping the armrest trembled ever so slightly.
He resumed his usual calm smile. “Seeking gain, seeking affection… I was only teasing. I don’t need your repayment. I saved your life, you helped me once, let’s call it even. There are no debts between us.”
Shen Lingzhen sniffled, aggrieved. “That’s a hurtful thing to say. We’re husband and wife now, how can we speak of settling scores and owing nothing?”
Huo Liuxing coughed awkwardly. “You’ve seen my situation. Staying with me will only drag you down.”
“If I were afraid of being dragged down, I would’ve exposed your secret long ago!”
Her eyes reddened, whether from anger or heartbreak, it was hard to tell. Tears threatened to fall.
Huo Liuxing wheeled himself closer, sighed, and gently brushed the corner of her eye with his hand. “Alright. I misspoke. From now on, we face everything together as husband and wife. No more talk of such distance between us.”
Shen Lingzhen nodded. “That’s more like it…”
Having finally calmed her down, Huo Liuxing reached out and lightly touched her hair bun in comfort. “I still have things to attend to. Rest here for a while, alright?”
“What does husband need to attend to?”
Naturally, he needed time to cool off.
Suppressing the storm raging in his chest, Huo Liuxing smiled and replied, “I’m going to check on the latest reports from the border and see how the drought in Western Qiang is progressing.”
Hearing it was official business, Shen Lingzhen naturally let him go.
Huo Liuxing returned to the study with a dark expression. Just as he reached the door, he overheard Jingmo say, “She really doesn’t seem to be faking it…”
Then came Kongqing’s voice: “I told you! After what just happened, if that doesn’t prove Young Madam is smitten with our Young Master, I’ll eat the inkstone!”
With a loud bang, Huo Liuxing shoved the door open and barked, “Eat it. Right now.”
Author’s Note: Girl, you nailed it! Just look at how flustered that scoundrel is!
TLs note: LOOOLLL
