CH 18

Translator: Lisha

Editor: Dom 

Seeing the discontented look on Gong Zhuoliang’s face, Han Shu was immediately frightened and hurriedly yet carefully made a distinct explanation about the case. After all, as maidservants who had been serving under their Young Master for several years already, they’re long accustomed to his constant sudden fever and cold caused by the wind and cold weather, and are already experienced as to what to do, ah.

“Answering the Young Madam, the physician once warned to eat less fish and meat if the illness was a cold, and then he suggested as well that a cocklebur egg is a must to dispel the cold and relieve the pain…”

“…. Oh, so that’s the case.”

Listening to Han Shu’s explanation of their medical knowledge, Gong Zhuoliang was thoroughly stunned and finally came to realize that this is indeed different from what he knows. He never fell ill that often so he never paid attention to this aspect. He only believed that once a person is ill that the right thing to do would be to eat and sleep a lot to get better, but it turns out, they’re all quick to believe that their opinions were right. 

Gong Zhuoliang finally understood the reason, and also remembered that back then when he was still a child and had fallen ill due to cold, he had been unwilling to eat anything until two days later did he begin to eat food once again. He then gave Han Shu an apologetic look. So this is what they called starvation treatment, ah.

Although it was not enough, the dinner prepared for Qiao Yingze had food that was good for the patient’s condition. This confirmed for him how much Han Shu and the rest were very devoted to their Master.

“This is the first time this servant has witnessed Young Madam lose her temper. This simply proves how the Young Madam deeply cared and loved the Young Master.”

Han Shu is a frank and magnanimous girl, so when she witnessed the concern and care Gong Zhuoliang was giving Qiao Yingze, her heart felt extremely happy; and since they treated her really kind, Han Shu also dared to tease them as she covered her mouth and giggled before she left them after the meal.

“This girl…”

Gong Zhuoliang was rather dumbfounded as he stared at the departing figure of Han Shu, before he turned his head around to the direction of Qiao Yingze who’s leaning on the couch and looking at him with a bashful smile on his slightly joyous face, and this thoroughly electrified Gong Zhuoliang.

“Ever since I was a child, I’ve always been in this state. I will fall ill whenever the weather changes, but fortunately, Han Shu had been practicing to cook a medicated food for me”

Qiao Yingze shook his head in a self-mocking manner before he sat up from the couch and drank the bowl of soup in one breath, causing him to slightly knit his eyebrows. Just as when he thought of resisting the unlikable bitter taste in his tongue for a few minutes, a tiny fair hand pressed a candy cube on his mouth that Qiao Yingze unconsciously accepted. Soon enough, a cool and refreshing sweet taste filled his mouth….. 

Originally, he had brought this mint candy for the third younger brother, Qiao Yingzi.

“Y-You don’t need to do this….”

Qiao Yingze said this with the sugar cube still in his mouth so he ended up muttering vague words.

He’s long used to taking bitter medicines…. but when he first tasted the sweetness of the candy on his tongue, the bitterness of the medicine tasted worse. 

“Huh?”

Gong Zhuoliang actually did not hear what Qiao Yingze said, so he only walked around the table to sit beside him. To tell the truth, the sluggish look that this person is making due to being ill ― without even the person itself knowing it ― turned out to be more seductive than his usual modest look, to the point that it itches him.

“What I’m saying is, it is fortunate that my grandmother allowed you to be dismissed from executing social etiquette today due to my condition. So now, you can take a good rest and can finally sleep longer if you want.”

Qiao Yingze softly scratched Gong Zhuoliang’s little nose and concealed his moodiness with a smile. Even if he didn’t want to feel remorse for himself, feeling the chilly temperature in his body and the swelling pain in his head, it was really hard for him to be cheerful. 

Listening to him say this made Gong Zhuoliang really upset. He flicked Qiao Yingze’s hands away from his nose, and huffed in anger.

“P’w cba ublcu ab jmmfqa sbeg xlcvcfrr. Po sbe’gf gfjiis olcf, atfc P’v gjatfg cba riffq lc.”

Ktf kfjxcfrr lc tlr rwlif lr nfgs wemt fnlvfca, rb tf rabqqfv wjxlcu tlw ajix jcs oegatfg jcv tegglfvis mjiifv atf wjlvrfgnjcar ab mbwf alvs eq atf ybkir jcv mtbqralmxr jcv qgfqjgf atf tba kjafg ab yjatf.

As soon as the maidservants finished tidying up their room and spread two blankets on the bed, Qiao Yingze had also just finished soaking in the hot bath, and Gong Zhuoliang quickly came to assist him and led him back to the bed. He then made him drink a candied ginger beverage and then covered the naked and sweaty Qiao Yingze with another blanket. 

Taking a dry underwear, Gong Zhuoliang also had to personally put it on for Qiao Yingze, and after some few stroking and touching here and there until Qiao Yingze’s whole body turned red, Gong Zhuoliang happily removed his blanket once again and left the room after blowing off the candles.

As Gong Zhuoliang leaned on the couch while covering himself with the quilt, he skimmed through random books until he gradually got bored with it.

He’d been living at the Qiao Household for more than a month already. Every day, he always got to eat and drink a lot so that his body finally fattened up a bit. He was really happy with his physical appearance right now.

So since Gong Zhuoliang had an ample amount of his material needs, he only had to search for something that could satisfy his needs. But even though he had already turned Qiao Yingze’s study room upside down countless times already, he still couldn’t help but lament for the lack of entertainment in this era. 

This is a populous and affluent era where people sing and dance to extol peacefulness. Even if scholars were always extremely valued by the public, there are still a few commoners who’s knowledge in words is as profound as those scholars. Because of this, the genre of the books produced from this era varied with each other a lot, such as those well-known romance books, which have really similar contents to the modern stories nowadays.

But even if the authors of these popular stories were completely inferior to those elite and respectable scholars, their status just barely fell short that some famous ones were even given the ‘Great Master’ title.

Considering those stories he read that are somewhat pure and ornate, Gong Zhuoliang had to admit that there are those books that still impressed him so much. But in his perspective, the majority of them had such a melodramatic and monotonous plot, and the overall content of the story is an utter mess.

Who could blame him for being a bookworm and an avid reader of nonsensical books that were all written in China and in other countries, ne? As soon as he saw that it’s almost late, he had enough time to look through this book. 

Out of nowhere, something triggered within Gong Zhuoliang that he suddenly began to think about reviving his former profession.

Although he’s usually a writer of mystic-type of stories, a part of him is still attached to Wuxia. He admits that he’s quite bad at writing cultivation novels, and in this era that reveres the supernatural, it’ll certainly be difficult to make this genre popular. But still, he will have no problem writing ‘Wuxia’ at all. With his modern mindset, the world structure of his own Jianghu had already been decided. He only needed to make a few adjustments of his own Protagonist and imagine the world of Jianghu in this ancient time. This would certainly form an absolutely unique world.

As Gong Zhuoliang walked, he imagined himself selling many books using his own real name. He suddenly felt as though he had seen the light, and the irritation and depression he felt being always crowded with lots of women were instantly swept away. 

“I couldn’t become a Noble nor a Minister. I don’t know poetry, singing, nor do I know how to paint. So I could only rely on my former occupation to make a living for myself.”

As he muttered these self-mocking words to himself, Gong Zhuoliang had a bright and confident smile on his face. He may have to live as Gong Zhuoyan for now, but not for a long time. He will certainly fight for his real identity as his own Gong, who will also be capable of handling a household as the wife! The name Gong Zhuoliang will certainly be impressive and popular in the future, and will also be acknowledged by many!

Gong Zhuoliang’s good mood suddenly became hot-blooded, and he badly wanted to have someone to listen to his plan very soon. The first person that immediately came to his mind was Qiao Yingze, so without considering whether that person was already asleep or not, he still hurriedly put on his nightgown and ran to the outer room. Fortunately, he remembered that Qiao Yingze was still ill, so when he entered, he carefully tiptoed and made light movements before finally reaching the bedside.

Gong Zhuoliang giggled under his hand as he held the candlelight near Qiao Yingze to look at his sleeping face, but he found Qiao Yingze curled up under the blanket and slightly trembling. 

“Husband! What’s wrong?”

Gong Zhuoliang’s teasing instantly disappeared into thin air. He quickly kicked his slippers off and placed the candlesticks on the bedside table before crawling near Qiao Yingze to check on his condition. Seeing his frowning face and trembling body, Gong Zhuoliang immediately reached out on his forehead and felt it, but luckily, it wasn’t burning at all.

Perceiving the warmth of someone suddenly approaching him startled Qiao Yingze, but he still glanced at Gong Zhuoliang and smiled soothingly at him. He very much feared the cold weather, and during winter, his hands and feets would feel absolutely cold as ice. The south originally had a cold and damp temperature, and on ordinary days, his room would have high temperature to the point that one could suffer from excessive internal heat, so once winter arrived, it would be really difficult for him to endure the low temperature. Like right now, when he had gotten a cold once again….

Gong Zhuoliang had always been on the crook of his arms, so Qiao Yingze had grown accustomed to his body warming him. But only at this time did he realize that the ’furnace’ had already been removed from his room, hence he woke up feeling cold. 

He had been unwilling to disturb the good sleep of Gong Zhuoliang, and intended to get a hot porridge for himself, but Qiao Yingze was really surprised when Gong Zhuoliang suddenly entered the room. After all, Qiao Yingze knew that this person could still continuously sleep for a long time even if the thunder had striked their house.

“I’m fine. I only felt a little cold while I was sleeping. Have I disrupted you?”

“No, I’m not sleeping yet. Why didn’t you tell me beforehand that you were feeling cold?”

Gong Zhuoliang probed inside the blanket and quickly felt the cold hands and feet of Qiao Yingze. He immediately pulled the bell to summon the maidservants who’s on duty at night, and ordered them to put a furnace inside the blanket, and bring hot water as well. He then quickly wrapped Qiao Yingze tightly with the blanket, fed him, and soaked his feet in the hot water. 

“It’s not that serious…”

Qiao Yingze was about to grab the bowl of water to drink it on his own, but he was surprised by Gong Zhuoliang’s sudden angry glare and so he obediently stopped moving. Soon after that, Qiao Yingze was already lying on the bed and was wrapped like a tube with blankets.

“It feels very hot when we add more to the furnace, but it’s still better to add more layers of blanket so please just endure it, ba.”

Gong Zhuoliang asked for Qiao Yingze to lie on his side so he could lay beside him and embrace him in his arms together with the blanket. As he was speaking, his voice was quite muffled and his tone sounded like he’s in a bad mood. Gong Zhuoliang quite resented himself for always thinking about his happiness first, without even considering other’s situation as well. 

“There’s no need for you to accompany me. I don’t want you to fall ill as well, so please go back to the bedroom and get some sleep.”

Qiao Yingze wanted to get up and had a smile on his face as he tried to urge Gong Zhuoliang to just leave him in this room. Even if Qiao Yingze really liked the feeling of a warm body embracing him like this, he still didn’t want to trouble Gong Zhuoliang at all…. He didn’t want to be a nuisance to Gong Zhuoliang.

“Come on, stop moving around, or the furnace’s hot air will go to waste. Also, you’ve been calling me ‘wife here’ ‘wife that’ yet you’re still treating me more politely than your family does!”

Gong Zhuoliang felt really annoyed at Qiao Yingze’s alienation and immediately hugged him tightly on his waist, locking him in more closely in his bosom. Seeing the others embarrassed look, he felt even more depressed 

All Gong Zhuoliang thought they were already close to the extent that he’ll be the first person to approach if ever there’s something in his mind. But now when he thought about it, Gong Zhuoliang realized that unless took the initiative to ask him, the others would never open up to him.

Qiao Yingze never truthfully expressed what he wanted…… As though he’s only treating him well because he’s bound to do it as a Husband, and he will never mind it at all if the other party wouldn’t convey the same kindness to him in return.

Hearing the discontentment from Gong Zhuoliang’s tone of speaking, Qiao Yingze hurriedly wanted to apologize. He’s very much fond of his little wife so he feared that he might soon get tired of his miserable appearance.

“I’m so sorry Zhuo Zhuo.. I really don’t mean anything else. I just don’t want to become a nuisance to you.” 

Seeing the restlessness in Qiao Yingze and how his face showed an anxious look, Gong Zhuoliang’s state of mind finally calmed down a bit, and after thinking about the situation twice, he finally understood something a bit. Gong Zhuoliang couldn’t help the urge to massage his temple and sigh.

“……Indeed, and I’m a nuisance to you as well who’s also always inconsiderate. But I swear to you, in the future, I’ll definitely change for you”

He intentionally let out a disgruntled groan twice, then decided to wait for Qiao Yingze to recover so he could think of ways to torment him.

“But I don’t think you’re a nuisance at all so Zhuo Zhuo don’t need to change!… I-I really like Zhuo Zhuo….” 

Alas, expressing the words ‘I Like You’ to someone is indeed very difficult. Qiao Yingze anxiously looked at Gong Zhuoliang, fearing that he might get angry and start ignoring him.

“Then why not allow me to sleep here as well?….”

Gong Zhuoliang raised his chin and harrumphed while asking the question. Qiao Yingze only shook his head and bit his bottom lip.

“Do you want to say something?” 

Gong Zhuoliang proceeded to ask with his chin still raised high only a bit, then he received a nod from the other party who pursed his lips after that, looking as though he was still hesitating.

“What I wanted to say is…. You’re welcome to trouble me anytime?”

As Qiao Yingze parted his arms apart to invite Gong Zhuoliang for a hug, his cloudy face finally cleared up, and Qiao Yingze finally had a genuine smile on his face as well. He then leaned on Gong Zhuoliang and tightly hugged him into his arms.

Feeling the familiar body temperature in his arms, this was the first time Qiao Yingze had a peaceful and a good night sleep while he was ill. 

……

Dazed from a good sleep, Qiao Yingze woke up and instantly felt a warm touch on his palm and then began to probe it. After that, he realized that what he was touching was actually Gong Zhuoliang’s stomach all this time when he suddenly felt a vibrating rumble…

Jolting fully awake, Qiao Yingze’s face turned red and immediately pulled his hands back. Cautiously, he looked towards his side. When he saw that his little wife was still sound asleep, he secretly sighed in relief. For a while, he pursued his life and hesitated, before he finally leaned in slowly and kissed the corner of Gong Zhuoliang’s lips. After that he quietly put on his robes then left the bed.

Qiao Yingze was not sure whether this is due to his good sleep, but today, he felt so much better and his head didn’t ache anymore. Although he was still quite weak, other than a slight cough, he did not feel any discomfort. It seemed like he would have a speedy recovery.. 

Qiao Yingze wrapped himself with thicker robes and pulled the rope to ring the bell. After that, he carefully opened the door himself and shushed the maidservant to remind them of the sleeping Young Madam. After washing his face and rinsing his mouth, he went to his study room but not without telling his maidservants to immediately call him when the Young Madam was awake so they could eat together.

“Young Master has recovered from his illness really quick. This is certainly the Young Madam’s doing. This servant will go quickly to inform Old Madam Qiao.”

As Han Shu served Qiao Yingze, she felt really happy for the both of them. She recalled those days when their sickly Young Master took weeks to recover, and she thought it was already a miracle for him to get better after a week. But after the Young Madam married their Young Master, he was more lively and high-spirited than before, and when he fell ill, he immediately recovered after only a day. If Old Madam Qiao learned about this, she would surely be fond of the Young Madam even more.

“Hold on… Please don’t report to grandma about my recovery yet. I have a plan.” 

After calling Han Shu back who was just about to leave, Qiao Yingze grabbed a brush and a paper, and after finalizing an idea in his mind, the corners of his mouth raised into a shallow arch and then he began to smoothly draw something on the paper.

Han Shu blinked in confusion. She had always been a well-behaved and obedient girl, so she didn’t inquire about it any further. “This servant understands.”

After changing the hot water for Qiao Yingze, she immediately withdrew. Even if she was standing near Qiao Yingze, she resisted her curiosity and didn’t dare make a single glance at the painting on the table.

Qiao Yingze’s head was lowered and drawn tight with full concentration. When Wen Shu informed Qiao Yingze that the Young Madam was finally awake, she told him to go back so they could eat their meal together. 

Slowly losing his hold on the brush, Qiao Yingze lifted the paper and lovingly looked at the beautiful figure he drew on the paper, before he approached the furnace and burned it ’till there were no traces anymore…. Naturally, what he had drawn on the paper was an image of Gong Zhuoliang in men’s clothing.

TL/N:

Somehow, their relationship is slowly upgrading every chapter ♡(ӦｖӦ｡)

I’m so glad that GZL didn’t only want QYZ to be his temporary Husband, and that also goes the same with QYZ!~ Aaaah I can sense a relationship development from these two~ ♡(> ਊ <)♡

Hopefully you liked this chapter~ ♡(ӦｖӦ｡) 

Editor’s Note: Ahhhh!!! Our sweet baby QYZ!!! .+ᵒʰ(つ∀<●)ﾟᵐʸ♪｡ But now he is being as sneaky as his Wife. What is our little shou up to, hm?