Perfect Match – CH 038

Chapter 38 [Two Chapters Combined]

Teng Yue walked over.

Deng Ruyun felt that if she continued to conceal herself, stubbornly denying everything and waiting for him to expose her, she feared she would have a hard time that night…

She steeled her resolve; the most important thing was to be flexible. She simply called out to him first.

“General.”

Teng Yue stared at the person before him for a moment, then said, “Madam.”

His words startled all the constables in the hall.

General Teng wanted to arrest the ringleader, so why was it his wife who came to report the crime?

Not to mention the constables; even Tong Meng was a little dumbfounded. But given the situation, he quickly cleared everyone out of the hall, leaving himself behind.

The only flames in the brazier lingered in the hall, seemingly watching a spectacle as they licked their tongues between the two.

Deng Ruyun, however, felt her preemptive strike was not enough. She noticed the man’s uncertain gaze and slightly furrowed brows.

Feeling flustered by his gaze, she quickly said, “I did not know the General was looking for this thief. Otherwise, there would have been no need to bother coming all the way to the Patrol Office.”

She tried to explain, but the man only stared at her. “Even if it’s not the same thief, did Yunniang really come to catch them all by herself? I heard you even have leads on the thieves, but I have not heard of you dispatching any manpower.”

Deng Ruyun had originally intended to send men to the Louyu Lane, but those two petty thieves were too wary, so she switched to Physician Fu’s apprentice, Zhu Huang.

But now, the man immediately brought up that very topic.

Deng Ruyun’s eyes darted around involuntarily. “I only got the information by chance.”

However, before she could finish speaking, Teng Yue said, “You are not telling the truth.”

Instantly exposed, Deng Ruyun felt a surge of anger. She had come to the yamen to ask the constables to help her catch a thief, and now, instead of catching the thief, she was practically the thief herself.

Deng Ruyun’s face hardened, and she glared at Teng Yue with renewed boldness.

“General, are you here to catch a thief or to catch me? If you are here to catch me, then just arrest me!”

As she spoke, she defiantly thrust her hands together in front of his face.

If he had shackles, then he could handcuff her and take her away.

No need to ask!

Her words and the way she thrust her hands in intimidated Teng Yue for a moment.

But the man was almost laughing in exasperation. No wonder she was so busy every day, going out more often than he, who worked in the Government Office. It turned out she really did a lot of work; she even took care of his catching of thieves.

Teng Yue looked down and saw her still holding out her hand, seemingly ignoring him.

Since that was the case, Teng Yue simply took it.

He grabbed both of her slender wrists in one hand and pulled her forward directly into his arms.

Deng Ruyun stumbled as he pulled her, her forehead bumping directly into his chest. His other hand pressed down on her waist from behind, holding her firmly in his embrace.

Deng Ruyun was surprised; she had not expected him to actually grab her. He grabbed her outstretched hand in front and restrained her waist from behind. She looked up, and he looked down at her, asking a question.

“You did not even tell me you were catching such a dangerous thief? Do you have any right to complain?”

Deng Ruyun ignored him, but then she suddenly remembered the question he had asked her and the answer she had given him then.

She quickly said, “Of course I told you! Did I not tell you a few days ago that I was robbed? This is the thief!”

She was held tightly by him, unable to move, but after she said this, he paused slightly and loosened his grip.

“Was it not just a small amount of money?”

Teng Yue had assumed from her earlier tone that she had simply encountered a pickpocket on the street.

But Deng Ruyun scoffed, “One hundred taels of silver is naturally small change for a general, but for me, it’s not something I can just lose so easily.”

She glanced at him, quickly turning the tables.

“I thought the general would not catch such a petty thief, so I’d have to report it to the Patrol Office.”

She hummed softly as she spoke, her grip shifting slightly.

“I did not expect that instead of catching the thief, I, the one who reported it, would be inexplicably treated as the thief and subjected to severe interrogation.”

Every word she uttered was accusatory, every phrase filled with resentment.

Teng Yue chuckled inwardly. He’d managed to soften her stance, making her less adamant in her attempt to capture him. He loosened his grip slightly, and she pulled away, taking three steps back.

Teng Yue: “…”

He was not really there to arrest her.

Although that was what she said, and the story seemed plausible, there was still a hint of ambiguity about it.

Teng Yue was not stupid. Judging from her disguise as a man, she’d been doing this for a while. He called to her, “Then, Yunniang, tell me the whole story. What really happened?”

Seeing that he was not pressing for details and only wanted a general account, Deng Ruyun stopped arguing. She omitted everything about Physician Fu, only recounting how Aunt Juan had been cheated out of one hundred taels of silver when buying medicinal herbs.

Every word she spoke was true, and Teng Yue did not notice anything amiss in her expression. He simply asked, “Aunt Juan has brought in so many medicinal herbs; is Yunniang also helping to make and sell them?”

Teng Yue had initially thought that the Deng family’s medicine-making business was just a habitual activity. Now it seemed they not only did it habitually but also took it quite seriously, as if they were earnestly trying to make money from each pill.

Otherwise, why would Aunt Juan have been swindled out of a hundred taels of silver by a thief for trying to get a bargain on medicinal herbs? And a hundred taels was clearly a significant sum for them, forcing Yunniang to risk catching the thief.

He thought about it and saw her slowly nod.

She had not wanted him to know too much about Deng Ruyun’s plan to make medicine to support her family and leave the Teng family in a few years to maintain the family’s reputation, but now she had to say, “This is a family business passed down through generations. It does earn some money, and it’s convenient.”

She would not mention future plans; she simply explained it to him.

But upon hearing this, Teng Yue’s earlier anger vanished instantly, as if burned away by the flames in the charcoal brazier.

Seeing her standing three steps away, not even looking at him, he could not help but step forward.

But the moment he took a step forward, she looked at him warily.

“It’s my fault; I was careless. I did not realize this money was so important to you. Please do not be angry with me, alright?”

Deng Ruyun had only been selectively bluffing him; she had only said he was blaming her, not that she was truly angry. Hearing him say this now, knowing she had gotten him to back out of her difficult situation, she felt a little embarrassed.

She said it was nothing and shook her head.

As she shook her head, the men’s hat she had bought somewhere, the wrong size, swayed, the brim drooping down, making her small, darkly painted face appear even smaller and more pitiful.

Teng Yue’s heart suddenly softened.

She could not compare to the noble ladies of Xi’an. Her family’s wealth not only could not support her, but she herself had to support the entire household with her frail body.

Yet, she absolutely refused to rely on him for support, let alone have him support her family.

Supporting her few family members would be easy for him, but she would not ask him for money, nor did she want his interference. She had her own backbone and would not depend on him in the slightest.

Looking at her stubborn expression with pursed lips, Teng Yue softened his voice even more.

“One hundred taels is indeed not a small amount. It’s getting late. Tell me where that thief went. I will definitely help you find that one hundred taels today, alright?”

That’s more like it.

Deng Ruyun breathed a sigh of relief. She had not expected him to “torture” her after providing such crucial information.

Deng Ruyun nodded again and told him everything about the thief leader appearing at the flower market that afternoon.

… …

With this crucial information provided, Teng Yue immediately assigned tasks. Of everyone present, only Deng Ruyun had seen the thief’s face recently. Although Teng Yue did not want her to risk her life, she was clearly very keen on catching the thief leader and volunteered to go to the flower market with him.

Thinking that he would ensure her safety while he was there, Teng Yue took her along.

However, she was not very good at riding, especially not the tall horses used by the army. Teng Yue wanted to lift her onto his own horse and take her with him.

But she refused, saying that there was no precedent for a general riding alongside a victim reporting a crime. She borrowed a stubborn donkey from the Patrol Office and rode off on her own.

Teng Yue found it amusing but let her be.

The group quickly left the yamen’s patrol office.

However, someone, though forced out through a side door, did not leave immediately but instead ate at a stall near the Patrol Office.

After finishing a bowl of mutton stew, that someone exhaled the rising steam and saw Master Liang riding a donkey, following behind a general on a tall horse, heading towards the flower market.

Bai Chunfu held the bottom of his bowl, still warm from the steam, watching them leave, his eyes lowered in thought for a moment.

*

Outside Xi’an city walls, at the flower and bird market.

At this time of year, the flower market was less vibrant with color, but various plum blossoms, chrysanthemums that withstand the cold, and some winter camellias still stood out, their beauty still captivating.

Besides flowers, the flower market also sold birds and insects, and naturally, there were stalls selling calligraphy, paintings, antiques, fortune telling, and divination. Distinguished guests were arriving in carriages to stroll around, and all sorts of people trying to make a living. It happened to be a large market day, bustling with people of all kinds, a lively and diverse scene.

Deng Ruyun and Teng Yue’s group had abandoned their horses early and walked, quietly entering the market from several different intersections.

Deng Ruyun was afraid that her disguise would alert thieves, so she quickly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe off the yellow powder on her face.

But her hasty wiping made her face smudged. Teng Yue, not wanting to see this, wet a handkerchief with his water bag and called her over.

“Close your eyes; I will wipe them for you.”

Deng Ruyun did not care anymore and closed her eyes, letting Teng Yue hold her head while he wiped away the yellow smudges and heavy eyebrows. The two men’s postures were undeniably awkward, so Tong Meng and his soldiers moved aside.

Deng Ruyun also felt somewhat uncomfortable, but as soon as she opened her eyes, she caught a glimpse of two people looking around suspiciously.

She had never seen the two petty thieves in the Louyu Lane before; Xiuniang had only described one as short, fat, and fair-skinned, and the other as tall, thin, and dark-skinned, always inseparable.

And the two people before her were exactly as Xiuniang had described.

She was about to say something to Teng Yue when Tong Meng quickly came over and spoke to him about something else.

Deng Ruyun was not entirely sure about the two men, so she followed them all the way to a shed built between two trees.

The people nearby said it was a shaman’s shed. This shaman was quite ethereal and rarely set up her stall, but her predictions about the mysterious were always accurate. She had recently appeared unexpectedly, attracting many important people who came by carriage to see her.

Deng Ruyun found it strange, but the two suspicious people were lingering near the sorceress’s shed.

Deng Ruyun suddenly wondered if the people who had inexplicably appeared today were not the sorceress herself but rather thieves who were supposed to meet her there.

Uneasy, she pretended to want to see the sorceress and took two steps towards the shed curtain.

Unexpectedly, the curtain was suddenly lifted, and someone emerged, dressed in fine brocade robes, holding two yellow talismans, clearly just bestowed by the sorceress.

Deng Ruyun looked over, and the person who had come out also looked at her.

“Deng woman, what are you doing here?”

It was Yang Youling’s mother, Second Madam Yang.

Deng Ruyun was surprised, but Second Madam Yang glared at her directly, “Are you following me?!”

She suddenly shouted, drawing the attention of everyone around Deng Ruyun.

Deng Ruyun idly followed her but then saw another person emerge from the shed. The newcomer was dressed as an old woman, but his build was that of a man.

This man narrowed his eyes upon seeing Deng Ruyun, then quickly scanned his surroundings. His face suddenly darkened, and in a flash, he fled.

With him running, Deng Ruyun had no time to hesitate.

“There’s a thief here!” she cried urgently to Teng Yue. “General, the thief is here!”

The once bustling flower market instantly descended into chaos.

Hearing her cry, Teng Yue immediately ordered his men to give chase, while he himself rushed to Deng Ruyun’s side.

He pulled her close. “Did the thief hurt you?!”

He scrutinized her closely, looking her up and down twice. Deng Ruyun was still worried about the thief leader who had been frightened away by Madam Yang, but unexpectedly, Madam Yang’s gaze also fell unfriendly upon her.

The moment Deng Ruyun noticed her gaze, she immediately pulled her hand away from Teng Yue’s grasp and stepped aside, creating half a step’s distance between them.

“I am fine,” she whispered.

The man raised an eyebrow, only then noticing his aunt standing to the side.

“Why are you here too?”

It was indeed somewhat awkward and strange for a noblewoman like Madam Yang to suddenly appear at the sorceress’s stall in the flower market.

She quickly explained that her youngest daughter, Yang Youling, was unwell. “I heard this sorceress has connections to the upper realm, so I came to have her take a look.”

Who knew that consulting a sorceress would lead to this unexpected situation? She immediately asked, “How could she be a thief? I just gave that person fifty taels of silver for these two talismans.”

Deng Ruyun immediately understood, and her heart, which had lost a hundred taels, was somewhat comforted.

Teng Yue briefly recounted the events to Madam Yang. Seeing that Deng Ruyun was unharmed and that some of the men who had gone to chase after the thief had returned, he decided not to speak further with his aunt and went aside to ask questions.

Deng Ruyun naturally had nothing to say to Madam Yang either. However, just as she was about to turn away, Madam Yang called her back.

“I do not care if you were following me or helping Second Master Teng Yue catch a thief; this is not something you should be doing,” Madam Yang said.

Madam Yang had initially intended to pin the blame for her youngest daughter’s affair on Deng Ruyun, but unexpectedly, the blame fell on her own daughter.

She was naturally resentful but thought that Madam Deng was merely a betrothed wife and not worth her attention.

However, she had just witnessed her nephew, Teng Yue, having already arrived before the thief, grabbing her hand and scrutinizing her repeatedly, while he had only sent soldiers to chase after the thief.

Teng Yue should not treat his contract wife like this, and Madam Deng should not have followed Teng Yue to catch a thief.

She could not help but let out a low snort. “Could it be that Second Master Teng Yue’s mother is not here, and you are trying to take advantage of the situation to intrude? Have you forgotten who you are?”

She glared at Deng Ruyun, directly challenging her, but Deng Ruyun completely ignored her.

She did not even want to say another word to her and turned to walk away.

But this behavior, in the eyes of Madam Yang, only made her feel that this lowly country girl no longer took her seriously.

“What? You think that just because Second Master Teng Yue has taken a liking to you, you are worthy of being his wife? I advise you to calm down. Someone of your status is not even qualified to be his concubine. Do not worry, the Teng family already has other noble ladies they’ve chosen and are ready to marry into their family.”

She even gave a mocking laugh as she spoke, “Second Master Teng Yue has always been good-tempered, treating everyone the same, not just you. Someone of your status—how could he possibly like you? It’s just a delusion.”

Deng Ruyun had not turned around the entire time, but after Madam Yang’s words, she suddenly became somewhat angry and glanced back at her.

“I think Madam should worry about her own affairs. I am just a poor, uneducated woman; you do not need to worry about me. You spent fifty taels to buy talismans from a swindler; no matter which daughter you give them to, they probably will not solve your current troubles.”

She immediately hit Madam Yang’s sore spot.

Madam Yang glared at her sharply.

“You!”

But Deng Ruyun did not want to say another word and left directly.

Madam Yang, of course, muttered a few more angry words behind Deng Ruyun’s back, but Deng Ruyun did not even bother to listen.

However, the flower market was in turmoil because of the thief’s arrest. Madam Yang, after all, was a noble lady of Xi’an, and it was not appropriate for her to linger there. As for being cheated out of her money, she could only leave a servant behind and leave first.

With her gone, Deng Ruyun finally had some peace and quiet.

Madam Yang did not need to remind her at all.

Admittedly, during the days that Old Madam Lin was away, Teng Yue had spent more time with her, but she had not forgotten about the contract, and she was no longer the young girl who had once been single-mindedly in love with him.

She no longer thought about winning his heart; in fact, she thought it would be better if things were still like they were when they first got married.

She only wanted to fulfill the contract properly; as for their recent close interactions, it was just playful banter between them…

The commotion had thinned the flower market considerably, and a cool breeze carried away the faint fragrance of flowers, bringing a chill to the air.

Tong Meng returned and shook his head at Teng Yue. Deng Ruyun quickly realized that the ringleader was incredibly fast and had vanished without a trace.

But Tong Meng had shot him in the arm with an arrow, causing him to bleed profusely. Teng Yue’s men had also tied up the two accomplices who had made contact.

Teng Yue turned around and saw that his wife seemed downcast. He assumed she was disappointed that the thieves had escaped, so he came over to comfort her.

“Do not worry, he’s injured and cannot have gone far. Someone has gone after him; they might catch him soon.”

As he spoke, he noticed two strands of her hair had fallen onto her lips, which she tucked into the corner of her mouth without realizing it.

He reached out and gently brushed a stray hair from her lips.

But as his warm fingertips touched her lips, a sudden tingling sensation shot through them.

She paused slightly, and his fingers, which had touched her soft lips, also faltered.

The wind was chilly, but her lips were warm and soft. For a fleeting moment, Teng Yue wanted to lower his head and gently peck at her lips.

But they were still in the bustling flower market, and he quickly withdrew his hand.

But then he reached for her hand, which was hanging by her side. “Are you not cold? You’ve been out and about for a while. Do you want to find somewhere to eat something to warm up?”

He had just reached out his hand when she turned away.

She moved her hand away from his, turning her head to look at the dim sun in the sky.

“It’s getting late. If the general still wants to catch the thief, I will head back now.”

Since the soldiers had all seen the thief’s leader, there was no need for her to stay any longer.

But Teng Yue paused. “What’s wrong? Did my aunt from the Yang family say something?”

His keen observation made Deng Ruyun unsure how to respond.

She said no, “I just think General will definitely catch the thief. There’s no need for me to stay here.”

She said this, but Teng Yue said,

“The thief cannot escape. Let’s wait here for a while. Today is a big market day, and there are fewer people now. We can stroll around and buy some flowers for Liumingxuan.”

He had never strolled through the streets with her before, and naturally, he had almost never leisurely strolled through the streets with anyone else.

Thinking this way, Teng Yue became even more determined. Taking advantage of her inattention, he took her hand in his warm palm.

He grasped her hand, and she tried to pull away, but he would not let go, staring intently into her eyes. “We will just stroll around a bit, can we?”

He insisted on dragging her shopping. Deng Ruyun really was not in the mood, but his hand felt like shackles, binding her tightly.

Deng Ruyun suddenly felt a surge of amusement. If Madam Yang saw this, she’d probably beat her with a large stick.

But since Teng Yue treated everyone the same, why was Madam Yang so anxious?

This thought also reassured Deng Ruyun. Anyway, Teng Yue was only kind to those around him, so she did not feel the need to avoid him.

Being stared at and questioned by him, she could only agree.

“It’s getting a bit windy. Let’s have a cup of flower tea by the roadside first.”

She nodded in agreement and stayed, no longer arguing with him.

Teng Yue’s heart, like a flower bud quietly blooming by the roadside, curved into a smile.

He agreed, took her hand, and walked towards the nearby flower tea shop.

The white plum blossoms by the roadside were in full bloom. Teng Yue asked her if she liked them. “You can put them under your window at home, so you can see them when you open the window.”

The white plum blossoms clustered around the branches, resembling snowflakes covering the branches at first glance, prompting Deng Ruyun to nod in agreement.

The man immediately had Tang Zuo pay for the large pot of white plum blossoms.

He then led her to a flower tea shop. She asked the stall owner to brew her a cup of chrysanthemum tea, and he ordered the same.

After drinking half a cup of tea, Deng Ruyun felt warmer. She recalled the ringleader of the thieves, who had managed to disguise himself as a sorceress. If the two petty thieves had not been lurking nearby, she would not have been sure.

She spoke briefly with Teng Yue, who also remarked on the man’s cunning. “He’s quite familiar with this flower market; he disappeared in a flash.”

They had a good chance of catching him, but Madam Yang’s commotion had startled the thief away.

But hearing his words, an idea suddenly popped into Deng Ruyun’s head.

She turned to Teng Yue. “Do you think it’s possible that this bandit leader, after circling around, thought the flower market was a safe haven and sneaked back here to evade capture?”

After all, he was so familiar with this flower market; people always like to hide in familiar places.

At Deng Ruyun’s words, Teng Yue also turned around, his gaze meeting hers.

“To be honest, that’s exactly what I was thinking.”

It was easy for him to think that way; after all, he’d fought many battles and caught many thieves. But how could she react so quickly?

Teng Yue could not help but tilt his head and examine her closely for a few moments. His eyes seemed to have been brightened by the chrysanthemum tea, and Deng Ruyun felt as if his eyes were sunlight, making it impossible for her to hide.

“Why is the general looking at me like that? Could it be that I am the bandit leader in disguise?”

Teng Yue thought for a moment. “That’s hard to say. After all, you are someone who likes to lie easily.”

Deng Ruyun: ?

The man laughed.

Unexpectedly, his smile froze on his face, his eyes revealing a keen interest.

“We’ve probably guessed right.”

Deng Ruyun’s heart skipped a beat. She followed his gaze and saw a robust, burly woman standing at a small intersection in the flower market. She kept clutching her arm, as if it had just been injured.

Deng Ruyun took a deep breath.

… …

Yuan Youmu had not had an easy time these past few days.

After the bandits of Baifeng Mountain were wiped out, he hid in Xi’an Prefecture for several days, but Teng Yue’s soldiers were ruthless; they practically turned Xi’an Prefecture upside down. In desperation, he left the city and wandered the countryside for two months, only to find his money nearly gone. His money held in the bank was also being watched by Teng Yue’s men, preventing him from withdrawing it. He had no choice but to return to Xi’an Prefecture.

He had intended to make a little money first, then contact his underlings to find him shelter. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, but today, Teng Yue’s men suddenly came looking for him.

Luckily, he was very alert. He first heard the commotion and went to investigate. Then he saw a man dressed similarly to the one who had chased him in the street appear in front of the stall. Looking around the flower market, he noticed that there seemed to be many skilled martial artists there.

A sudden alarm bell rang in his mind. He immediately ran out, and sure enough, the pursuers were hot on his heels. If he had not known the area well, he probably would have been captured.

However, his arm was still injured. Yuan Youmu feared that if he fled further, his injury would worsen. He figured the flower market was probably mostly cleared out by now, so he might as well sneak back under the cover of darkness.

When he returned, he found that there were indeed fewer hidden guards in the market. He slipped along the edge, disguised as a woman, and went inside. He had a hiding place; once he hid inside, no one would be able to find him. He cautiously crept forward, and as he neared the destination, a slight sense of relief washed over him.

But just then, he felt a gust of wind rush past his ear.

Yuan Youmu did not have time to look left or right; he darted forward hastily.

The people who rushed out from either side missed their target.

Yuan Youmu was terrified; he had not expected to be targeted while in the dark.

He wanted to run, but someone slowly emerged from the road in front of him.

The man was tall and imposing, standing there completely blocking his path.

“Where do you think you are going?”

Yuan Youmu looked up and recognized him. “General Teng…”

He was quite sensible; addressing him as Teng Yue was rather impolite.

Seeing his directness, Teng Yue said, “I do not want to fight. Surrender.”

Upon hearing this, the bandit leader raised his hands as instructed.

But Deng Ruyun, watching from the side, suddenly felt a jolt in her eye.

In a flash, just as she was about to warn Teng Yue, three silver needles shot out, heading straight for him.

The man reacted extremely quickly, dodging two of the needles, but the bandit’s technique was incredibly cunning.

The third silver needle grazed the back of Teng Yue’s hand.

Although the needle hit the ground, the blood on the back of Teng Yue’s hand was stained black.

Tang Zuo exclaimed, “The silver needles are poisoned! The general has been poisoned!”

The bandit leader was immediately restrained by the soldiers behind him, but he threw his head back and laughed loudly.

“General Teng, please release me! This poison is extremely potent. Only by releasing me can I reveal the antidote. Otherwise, I will not survive, and you will die too!”

Deputy General Tong Meng stepped forward and broke his leg.

But the villain only laughed more arrogantly.

“Only I have the antidote. General Teng’s life or death rests on this decision!”

Teng Yue squeezed out the poisoned blood, but the poison instantly turned the back of his hand blue.

Tang Zuo took out all the medicines he always carried, but none were effective.

Teng Yue narrowed his eyes. Just then, he suddenly saw his wife rush forward.

“Who said only he can cure this poison?”

She opened a bottle of powder and poured it directly onto the back of Teng Yue’s hand.

There was a slight burning pain on the back of his hand, but the blue color returned to normal shortly afterward.

Teng Yue looked at his wife in astonishment.

Everyone else was equally astonished, their gazes towards the lady changing.

The bandit leader, his eyes wide with disbelief, exclaimed, “How is this possible?!”

Deng Ruyun chuckled.

She had almost been pricked by this poisoned needle last time; how could she not prepare an antidote before catching the thief?

Did they really think she caught the thief solely out of courage?

… …

The thief’s other leg had been broken by Tong Meng, and the hidden weapon in his sleeve had been removed. He was bound hand and foot and taken away to be tortured.

Deng Ruyun carefully examined Teng Yue’s hand again; the antidote she had prepared had indeed completely neutralized the poison.

She breathed a sigh of relief.

There was no one around; only she and he stood under a half-broken tree by the roadside.

The slanting sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the broken wall, like bare branches painted on a canvas.

Deng Ruyun looked up at Teng Yue and asked, “Are you alright?”

Teng Yue shook his head, only looking down at her.

Deng Ruyun asked again, “This medicine is a bit potent; do you not feel any pain?”

He shook his head again, still only looking down at her.

Deng Ruyun did not know why he was staring at her like that. Did she have “Bian Que reborn, a miracle worker” written all over her face?

She chuckled inwardly and asked him again.

“General, have you perhaps been poisoned by something else?”

His gaze towards her was different now.

She would not dare claim to be Bian Que reborn; she was just preparing in advance.

But if he wanted to praise her, she would accept it.

She raised her chin, waiting for him to compliment her medical skills.

Suddenly, the man reached out and lifted her, placing her against the broken wall.

Deng Ruyun sat on the wall, her gaze level with his.

She did not know what he was going to do. Did he expect her to be given a high place to sit before he could praise her?

As soon as she settled down, he spoke softly.

“Yunniang…is so good.”

He began to praise her, but was the praise not too broad?

Deng Ruyun was waiting for him to say more, so she could not help but ask.

“That’s all?”

He lowered his eyes and smiled.

He did not say yes or no, nor did he continue to praise her according to her wishes. His voice was as gentle as the flickering light on the wall.

“Yunniang is my lucky star, my treasure, the girl I almost missed, who landed on my heart.”

She was the most beautiful and lively little dragonfly, landing unexpectedly on his heart.

He lifted his eyelids, taking her fully into his gaze.

His words drifted down slowly. There was no one else around; only the swaying light and shadow danced with his words, carrying the unspoken words he uttered to the ears of the person before him.

And at that moment, his kiss landed.

He lifted her and sat her on the high wall, encircling her in his arms. He slightly raised his head, gently brushing her soft lips against the corner of his mouth, and kissed her soft, warm lips.

In that instant, Deng Ruyun froze, while a feather, dipped in hot spring water, carefully and gently brushed her lips, slipping between them.

Her body stiffened completely, yet she felt the burning heartbeat within the chest against her.

Her heart, amidst his heavy, rapid heartbeat, suddenly panicked.