Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Love of the Blade

His feverish kiss landed on her neck.

Sang Yan reflexively vomited, “Bleh–”

Qi Jiu: “…”

He was covered in the food she had thrown up.

An unpleasant stench instantly assaulted his sense of smell.

He hastily jumped back, covering his nose, glaring at her, “Sang Yan, you! You!”

Sang Yan was hunched over the bed’s edge, vomiting violently: “Bleh–”

She threw up the dinner she had eaten.

Qi Jiu hurriedly called people to clean up and sprinkle fragrant powder to cover up the odor.

Since he had also been splattered, he instructed the maid, “Watch her carefully. If anything happens to her, none of you will survive either. Also, summon a physician to examine her.”

Such sudden vomiting, could it be she’s pregnant?

If she is pregnant, it’s most likely Jiang Ke’s seed.

Remove the root of the problem!

This child cannot be allowed to stay!

His eyes brimmed with ferocity as he left Sang Yan’s room and returned to his own.

Hot water had already been prepared.

The commotion also woke Han Chen.

Han Chen got up and stood outside the washroom, asking, “Mr. Jiu, are you alright?”

Qi Jiu counter-asked, “What could possibly happen to me?”

Han Chen said, “Miss Sang is sly and vicious; what if she hurt Mr. Jiu?”

“She didn’t hurt me.”

“Then that’s good.”

“You go and keep an eye on her.”

“What is there to watch with her?”

“Go! Don’t make me tell you twice!”

“…Yes!”

Han Chen left, frowning.

Qi Jiu took a bath, then came out wearing a white bathrobe.

The maids came forward to dry his hair and dress him.

He inquired about Sang Yan’s condition.

The maid said, “She’s still vomiting. The physician says she has a weak stomach.”

Qi Jiu: “…”

Why did she have to vomit at that moment!

At that instant, he truly wanted her.

Just as Han Mo said, if you want it, take it.

With so many men around her, his willingness to take her should be counted as her fortune.

What a pity.

*

In fact, Sang Yan was vomiting more out of extreme mental tension.

After all, she didn’t want to give him something very important to a woman.

If he took her virginity, he would surely look down on He Ying and Jiang Ke even more, and she would become a trophy for him to flaunt.

Therefore, even if she felt better after vomiting for a while, she still exaggerated her condition, and while they were not paying attention, she deliberately made herself gag to feign serious illness.

When Qi Jiu arrived, Sang Yan was still vomiting.

There was a lot of fragrant powder scattered around the room, but a faint odor was still detectable.

He frowned and pointed at the disheveled Sang Yan, asking the maid, “Did you give her a bath?”

The maid responsible for serving her shook her head in panic, “No. The young lady won’t let us touch her.”

Indeed, Sang Yan did not let them touch her.

Bathing was too dangerous for her.

She would rather roll around in the vomit to make herself even dirtier, distancing Qi Jiu even further from her.

“Useless!”

Qi Jiu yelled, “There are so many of you, and you still can’t manage one woman?”

Sang Yan feigned weakness and pitied herself, “I feel absolutely terrible, I just don’t want to bathe. If you can’t bear to see it, just don’t look.”

“I hate it most when others defy my wishes!”

Qi Jiu was unmoved, his expression cold as he said, “Sang Yan, you must bathe today! You stink to high heaven! Are you even a woman?”

Sang Yan retorted angrily, “I truly don’t want to be a woman! What’s so good about being a woman? Being fought over and snatched away by you men, what’s the point?”

Qi Jiu: “…”

He was rendered speechless and paused for a while before saying, “You’re just afraid I’ll touch you. Rest assured, I’m not so desperate as to lay a hand on a sick person.”

Sang Yan wanted just that promise, but still expressed her concerns, “Forgive my bluntness, but you aren’t exactly trustworthy.”

Qi Jiu laughed in spite, “Don’t push your luck. Sang Yan, my patience is limited.”

Sang Yan, left with no choice, could only say, “Then leave.”

Qi Jiu really didn’t want to waste more words with her and left.

After she finished bathing, he came back in. Seeing her fragrant and appetizing appearance, his mood improved and he asked with a smile, “How do you feel now?”

Sang Yan lied, “I feel very bad. I still feel like vomiting.”

Hearing that she felt like vomiting, Qi Jiu stepped back a few paces, fearful she would vomit on him.

Seeing this, Sang Yan pretended to be about to vomit, “Ugh–”

In reality, her stomach was empty and nothing came out.

But this was enough to scare Qi Jiu considerably, “You… hold it in!”

He poured her a cup of water, “Drink this. Keep it down.”

Sang Yan had already rinsed her mouth and didn’t want to drink the water, wary he might have added something to it, so she said, “Thank you, no need.”

How could Qi Jiu not be aware of her cautiousness?

He took a sip and handed it to her, his volume raised, implying coercion, “Drink it!”

Sang Yan: “…”

She didn’t want to drink but did so with a face full of humiliation.

Observing this, he asked with a laugh, “Does it taste good?”

Sang Yan looked at him with loathing, “You’re ridiculous!”

Qi Jiu burst into hearty laughter, “Right. I am indeed bored. Did you not foresee this outcome when you begged for my help? Men of the world are much the same, your pitiful appearance when subjugated by them is indeed quite stirring.”

A helpless beauty, a beauty with tear-filled eyes looking at you, a beauty at your mercy…

“Remember the bad things Jiang Ke did to you; don’t always dwell on those insignificant kindnesses. He even used your hand to seal his own fate, wanting you to never forget him for the rest of your life. In this, I simply cannot compare.”

Mentioning Jiang Ke earlier had infuriated him for not recognizing the good before him; now, his words were filled with jealousy.

His heart seemed to split into two in an instant.

Disaster loomed, yet he was unaware.

She sensed something amiss, feeling both repulsed and eager–if he were to fall for her, she would use that love as a blade to slay him!

So, fall in love with her faster!

Before she met He Ying again…

*

The sun rose in the east.

A resplendent glow filled the sky.

He Ying rose from the bed, touched his throbbing head, and whispered, “Someone! Someone!”

Pei Muyang, holding a bowl of medicine, came over. Seeing that he was awake, he quickly said, “Emperor, you’ve finally woken. You developed a high fever in the middle of the night, which nearly scared your servant to death.”

He Ying’s wounds had been recurring and had not healed.

Even though Pei Muyang took great care in tending to him, but with the master not taking proper rest, the treatments were not very effective.

He Ying was in discomfort from the fever, but he didn’t address it; instead, he asked, “Where are we?”

He could ask this question three hundred times a day.

Pei Muyang had an answer prepared, “Your Majesty, we are nearing Puluo Country’s waters. Guard Captain Lu sent word to suggest that since Puluo has formidable maritime strength, our approach could lead to misunderstandings. As the saying goes, even a mighty dragon cannot suppress the local snake. He recommends sending a team first to negotiate.”

Lacking the energy, He Ying did not want any additional complications and nodded, “Mhm. Negotiate with them. Our journey is solely to find someone. If they can assist, rewards will be substantial.”

“Yes.”

After Pei Muyang acknowledged the instructions, he presented the bowl of medicine in his hand.

He Ying glanced at the dark concoction and, frowning, downed it in one gulp.

Pei Muyang offered him some candied fruits.

He waved his hand dismissively and ordered, “Dress me. I want to go out and have a look.”

During this long sea voyage, he had yet to encounter a pirate ship.

If the pirates had sent letters seeking ransom, they should be heading toward Quanzhou to trade with him, not toward Puluo Country.

He Ying had an inkling that something was amiss, but for the moment, he couldn’t pinpoint what it was.