Aunt Zhao’s face darkened. According to the Owner’s words, did her good intentions inadvertently lead to a bad outcome? "Yes, I don’t understand. I don’t understand, Owner, why even though you already have Mr. Gao, you are still so obsessively possessed by this person with Phoenix Blood? Could it be because of that cinnabar mole like Pei Yu’s on his forehead—that’s why you took a fancy to him? You have wealth and looks, what man can’t you have? The men in this world are all at your disposal, yet you specifically chose him. Why, for heaven’s sake!?"
He Su looked toward the man lying unconscious on the bed, whose cheeks had grown much thinner since he could only drink a liquid diet over these past days.
He Su forcefully closed her eyes.
"Remember, it’s not that he is like Pei Yu; it’s that Pei Yu is like him!"
If it weren’t for Pei Yu having once painted a cinnabar mole and impersonated him, would all that followed between them have ever happened?
He Su suddenly felt very tired.
"Enough, you can go."
Aunt Zhao glanced at the man on the bed, then walked out with furrowed brows. But just before she stepped out of the room, He Su called out to her again.
Aunt Zhao turned to look at He Su, and saw a piece of silver thrown to her,
"Go to the village and find a clean, capable man who knows how to serve others to come here."
She looked tenderly at Phoenix Blood. Since the day Aunt Zhao had brought this person before her, he had remained . She still recalled how his head had been injured that day, his face and hair covered in blood.
She sighed softly, "Have that man come and help him wash. He likes to be clean; this filth doesn’t suit him."
Aunt Zhao looked at her suspiciously, "Why don’t you do it yourself?"
He Su nearly laughed out of frustration. She truly regretted that when she had followed Phoenix Blood leaving Taihang Town, she had brought Aunt Zhao along. The woman was too dull-witted, and if not for Aunt Zhao, perhaps he wouldn’t have remained unconscious with his eyes closed .
Weary to the bone, He Su pressed at her brow. "Do it myself? I would like to..." she said with a bitter smile. But if Phoenix Blood were to wake up and find out she had seen his body, had helped him to wash and bathe, he would certainly hate her.
His hatred for her was already enough; she really didn’t want to add another item to the list.
Aunt Zhao, clutching the silver, looked at He Su as if she were a bizarre creature. She fixed her gaze on He Su for a moment, then turned and left, doing as instructed to hire an adept villager to assist Phoenix Blood with his washing and change of clothes.
Yixuan was woken up by a crushing weight. As he opened his eyes groggily, he saw Fifth Brother’s leg resting on his stomach. He was momentarily disoriented, then suddenly remembered: Baobao was back. Baobao, along with big brother and fourth brother, had all returned yesterday.
He pursed his lips, removed Fifth Brother’s leg, donned a piece of clothing, and hurried towards the east room.
During the days when Baobao was absent, he always behaved . Waking up each day, his first act was to check the east room where Baobao used to live.
But every time, he knew that while the house remained the same, the person who lived there was no longer present.
Yet this time was different.
Standing outside the door of the east room.
He knew that by pushing open this door, he would be able to see the person he yearned to meet.
Standing at the door, Yixuan raised his hand, hesitated for a moment, then gently knocked.
Afterwards, he pricked up his ears to listen to any sounds inside the room, but it was deathly quiet with no response.