Chapter 10: Unable to Control Myself

“Heh, so it’s that simple.” The youth smiled and flipped to the next page. “How do you solve this problem?”

“It’s simple, just remember the method...”

Su Xinyu taught him meticulously.

Once the problem was solved, the youth closed the arithmetic notebook and lowered his voice: “Last night, Fifth Young Master called for the imperial physician. This matter is serious. The elders have decided that if Fifth Young Master dies from the poison, you must be buried with him.”

Su Xinyu’s brows knitted tightly. “Didn't they say that if he didn't wake up on the wedding night, I would have to be buried with him? He has already woken up.”

“What you said is old news. The situation has escalated now. Fifth Young Master has a potent poison in his body; who knows when it will strike and kill him?” The youth sneered.

Su Xinyu thought to herself: with the poison being unsolvable by the Imperial Academy of Medicine, Lu Chengxu’s life is nearing its end.

She had to escape!

She had to escape as soon as possible!

Seeing her silence, the youth added: “Not many people know about this. Don't tell anyone I was the one who said it.”

Su Xinyu nodded and hurried back to Qingfeng Residence.

She quietly summoned Qinqi and whispered, “The Duke’s Manor is a man-eating pit; this 'joy-chasing' marriage is extremely perilous. Qinqi, I want to leave, and I want to leave today.”

“Wherever Miss goes, this servant goes.” Qinqi began organizing a bundle.

“A small bundle will do. A large one will arouse suspicion.”

“Understood.”

Before long, the mistress and servant, carrying only a small bundle, were actually intercepted as they were leaving the Duke’s Manor.

“Where is the Fifth Young Madam heading?”

Su Xinyu recognized the person blocking her; it was the very same old woman who had given her the marriage certificate on the wedding night, and a group of fierce maidservants followed behind her.

The old woman stared at the bundle on Qinqi’s shoulder and questioned, “Does the Fifth Young Madam intend to flee?”

“I am already the Fifth Young Madam, what is there to flee from?” Su Xinyu forced herself to remain calm. “Today is the third day after the wedding, the day to return to one's natal home. By all logic and sentiment, I should return to my uncle's house.”

The old woman raised a hand in invitation toward the interior: “Please, Fifth Young Madam, return to Qingfeng Residence to take good care of the Fifth Young Master.”

Qinqi grew anxious: “Is my Miss not even allowed to return home yet?”

The old woman’s attitude was forceful: “Once the Fifth Young Master has fully recovered, when she may return home will be decided by either the Old Madam or the Third Madam.”

Helpless, Su Xinyu had no choice but to return to Qingfeng Residence.

To fail at escaping the very first time, without even making it out of the manor gates, was truly depressing. The fact that the Lu family was guarding her so heavily against escape proved that what the youth had said was true.

No, she had to wait for an opportunity to escape again!

The Lu family estate was indeed vast. Qingfeng Residence was in a remote location, and the round trip to the main gate took a considerable amount of time.

By the time she returned to Qingfeng Residence, her legs felt weak from walking.

As she hung her head and tapped her legs, the voice of Han Feng suddenly came from not far in front of her: “Young Madam, the Old Madam brought several ladies to see the Young Master just now, but you weren't here. They sat for a while before leaving. Perhaps you should go to the Young Master's side and speak with him?”

Su Xinyu looked up and agreed.

She signaled Qinqi with her eyes to put down the bundle, while she herself went to the main room.

Without mentioning where she had just been, she went straight to the point: “It is best to change the wound dressings twice a day. I can help change the medicine and the gauze.”

Her voice was soft, sweet, and gentle.

Lu Chengxu was surprised. Yesterday, when he had ordered her to change the dressings, she had been reluctant.

Now, she was actually taking the initiative.

Seeing his cold, silent face, Su Xinyu suppressed the fear in her heart and smiled at him. “My Lord, is it required?”

The corners of the young girl's mouth curled up, her eyes curved, and her face radiated a bright, sun-like smile.

Though her eyes were clearly pure, he saw a flash of cunning within them. Looking at her now, he felt she smiled like a fox with ill intentions.

Lu Chengxu averted his gaze.

“No need. It was already changed just now.”

His voice was as cold as jade, distant and rejecting.

Su Xinyu was momentarily speechless and turned to leave.

Since her attempt to leave through the main gate today had failed, the old woman would surely be more vigilant. She would try the back gate tomorrow.

Such unpleasant matters were not her wish.

But she had to keep him stable so that she could leave smoothly.

***

Night fell.

Nanny Zhang arrived at Qingfeng Residence and entered the east wing: “Please follow this old servant to the bridal chamber, Young Madam. The Old Madam has commanded me to deliver this message.”

Unaware of the situation, Su Xinyu followed her to the main room.

Seeing the visitor, Lu Chengxu frowned: “What is it?”

Nanny Zhang performed a formal bow: “According to the Old Madam's wishes, the fact that the Fifth Young Master could wake up is due to the Fifth Young Madam's success in the joy-chasing ritual. The Young Master's injuries worsened last night entirely because the two of you slept in separate rooms. The Old Madam has ordered that you two sleep together in the bridal chamber tonight, and this old servant will keep watch outside.”

Having said that, she exited the room and closed the door.

Leaving only Su Xinyu and Lu Chengxu on the bed to stare at each other.

Su Xinyu was speechless, her beautiful eyes filled with annoyance.

What kind of logic was this? It was clearly because he had taken a bath himself.

And also...

“How did the Old Madam know we slept in separate rooms?” She approached him and asked in a very low voice.

“The imperial physician was summoned last night.”

His voice was very flat, clearly displeased that she was to stay in the bridal chamber.

Su Xinyu realized that when the physician arrived last night, it was likely already midnight, by which time she had long been fast asleep in the east wing. Once the physician reported Lu Chengxu's condition, it wouldn't be hard for the Old Madam to know if they had slept separately.

“A family elder helped me marry you; it wasn't my choice to marry you.” After a brief pause, the man added coldly, “Don't think about sleeping in my bed.”

“I don't want to be near you either, let alone sleep in your bed.”

Su Xinyu walked toward the door.

Seeing that there was no sign of the nanny outside the door and window, she thought to herself that perhaps the nanny had left temporarily, giving her a chance to slip back to the east wing.

To her surprise, when the door opened, she saw the nanny sitting on a small stool. Judging by her posture, her ear had just been pressed against the door.

The door of the bridal chamber was half-window lattice and half-solid carved wood.

Since the nanny was sitting on a small stool, it was no wonder her figure wasn't visible.

“What is the Young Madam doing?” Nanny Zhang spoke up.

“I was checking to see if Nanny had a stool to sit on. Since you do, then that's fine.”

Su Xinyu spoke with a pleasant smile, then closed the door again. Once the door was shut, she let out a sigh.

She didn't know if Nanny Zhang had heard anything; she likely hadn't.

After all, they were speaking very softly.

Lu Chengxu's expression tightened slightly. He pointed his chin toward the book-rest couch against the wall by the window, indicating she should sleep on the couch. He then glanced toward the wardrobe, signaling her to get a quilt herself.

He knew well that his grandmother was a woman of absolute authority, and those around her were the same.

If it weren't for his grandmother's demand, he would never have allowed her to stay in his room.

The book-rest couch was narrow, and Su Xinyu instinctively did not want to sleep on it.

With no other place to sleep, she had no choice. She pulled a thick autumn quilt from the wardrobe, using half as a cushion and half as a cover, and lay down on the couch without even taking off her clothes.

The couch was not like a bed; it was very hard and didn't allow her to lie completely flat, making her sleep very uncomfortably.

In the middle of the night, she tossed and turned in a daze.

*Thud—*

In the dead of night, the sound was quite loud.

Su Xinyu's forehead had struck the wall, and the pain made her cry out instinctively.

Lu Chengxu had been lying in bed all day and had not yet fallen asleep.

“Why are you crying?”

“It hurts.”

Her voice was delicate and filled with a sob.

Hearing this, Lu Chengxu frowned in distaste; such a voice made his ears feel extremely uncomfortable.

Suddenly, the nanny's reminder came from outside the door: “The Young Master's current physical condition is not suitable for consummation.”

The two people in the room froze instantly.

To make matters worse, Nanny Zhang continued to persuade: “The Young Master is a man in the prime of his youth; he might not be able to control himself. The Young Madam should be considerate of the Young Master's current physical condition and refuse.”

***

(End of Chapter)