Liu Huang opened the medicine box and scooped out a fingerful of the pale green ointment, spreading it over the swollen area.
Liu Qiu could see Liu Huang’s slightly dark arm extended straight toward her, and when the cool ointment touched her tender skin, it brought a chill like mint seeping inside.
She could not stop her body from trembling, her eyes reddening as tears kept falling.
Liu Huang’s fingers were too rough, and the place was already overly sensitive; with her applying medicine there like this, even Liu Qiu’s legs went weak.
“Liu Huang, don’t touch,” Liu Qiu’s voice was hoarse and low, thick with a nasal tone, as if she were about to cry.
These two sisters were clearly toying with her; this posture was far too awful.
Liu Huang lowered her eyes, her long lashes covering her pupils so that no one could see the emotion within.
It was truly beautiful.
The redness and swelling only added a sense of temptation, especially knowing how it had become swollen.
Someone had kissed it fiercely.
The ointment seemed too stimulating, making her pause for a moment.
Liu Huang stared at her own dark hand as it traced along bit by bit, outlining the entire shape.
Even if she went further, this sickly one probably would not react in time.
The sickly one was too slow; in this aspect, she had no awareness at all.
It was as if whatever someone said, she would believe.
If they claimed they disliked her, she would truly think they disliked her, and no matter what they did, she would assume it was because of dislike.
But who would kiss someone out of dislike?
Suddenly, Liu Huang laughed softly.
“There’s water now, sickly one.”
Liu Qiu’s face and ears burned red, panic and embarrassment surging within her in equal measure.
Liu Feng also laughed.
“It seems Sister Qiu really likes being touched.”
As she spoke, Liu Feng’s fingers moved upward.
Liu Qiu stared at Liu Feng’s movement, her expression going completely blank.
What… what was Liu Feng doing?
Her lips trembled as she watched Liu Feng’s hand and felt Liu Huang’s touch applying the ointment.
Only very slowly did she realize this was not teasing.
These two sisters wanted to devour her.
Just like Su Li had devoured her.
Especially when she saw Liu Huang bend down, press her mouth close, and take a hard breath in.
Liu Qiu let out a loud cry and burst into tears, struggling with all her strength as she grabbed Liu Feng’s arm and tried to yank it down.
“No! Don’t! Don’t do this to me!”
The bitter scent of medicine mixed with the sticky moisture spread from the tip of the tongue.
Liu Huang had overestimated her own restraint, and Liu Qiu’s crying sounded pitiful to the extreme.
Liu Huang stuck out her tongue and licked lightly before straightening up, her lips and the tip of her nose damp.
Tears blurred Liu Qiu’s cheeks.
She sniffed softly, her long brows furrowed, looking utterly aggrieved.
“You can’t do this.”
“If… if you want to do this kind of thing, then marry someone you like.”
“You can’t do it to me.”
“This is very wrong.”
Liu Qiu tried to reason with the sisters, but her voice was small, nasal, and unclear, sounding more like coquettish pleading than argument.
Liu Feng smiled as she looked at her own hand.
She slowly spread her fingers, then closed them again.
The faint flush between them shifted shape, hardening slightly.
“Sister Qiu, not only are you cute, this place is cute too.”
Liu Huang squeezed Liu Qiu’s calf and said hoarsely, “Sickly one, we won’t go all the way. When you get better, how about the three of us together?”
“You’re our elder sister. You should be the one to teach us these things.”
Liu Qiu realized that these two sisters would not listen to her at all.
And they even wanted the three of them together.
Her cheeks flushed deeply.
She lifted her foot and kicked Liu Huang in the mouth, raising her voice.
“I don’t want that.”
Liu Huang opened her mouth and sucked Liu Qiu’s round, snow-white toes inside.
This sickly one was delicate and pretty everywhere, even her feet.
Seeing this, Liu Qiu grew both angry and anxious.
In her agitation, her chest tightened and her breathing became disordered.
Suddenly, a metallic sweetness surged up her throat.
Liu Qiu parted her lips and began coughing violently.
Drops of blood fell onto the back of Liu Feng’s hand.
Liu Feng’s smile faded slightly as she released her hold.
Liu Huang completely panicked.
She frowned, wrapped Liu Qiu in a blanket, and pulled her tightly into her arms.
“I was lying to you, sickly one. I don’t like your scrawny body.”
“I was just teasing you.”
This time, Liu Qiu did not believe her.
Coughing up blood felt terrible.
She leaned her head weakly against Liu Huang’s chest, the flush draining from her face and leaving it deathly pale.
“I… don’t believe you.”
She spoke slowly, word by word, sounding extremely weak.
Liu Huang tightened her arms around the light, fragile body in her embrace.
“Sister Qiu, Huang’er is telling the truth,” Liu Feng said.
Liu Qiu’s lashes trembled.
“You’re all liars.”
Liu Huang stared at Liu Qiu’s face and took a deep breath.
“Sickly one, stop talking. I’ll take you to the medical hall.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
The last time she had seen Liu Qiu cough blood, Liu Qiu had not lived long afterward.
They had only just found her again.
She truly did not want to experience Liu Qiu’s death a second time.
The night wind was cold, and outside, the sky had completely darkened.
Her breathing grew lighter and lighter.
Strange.
After spending so long with Su Li, nothing had happened to her.
But now she was merely frightened.
Liu Qiu’s consciousness grew muddled.
If she had to die once more, so be it.
Her weakened body could not sustain strong emotions for long, and soon she lost awareness.
“Physician Song, how is she?”
The elderly imperial physician shook his head.
“Deputy General Liu, I truly cannot see through your elder sister’s illness.”
Liu Huang clenched her fist but did not make things difficult for him.
They had arrived in the capital ten days earlier.
She had asked the Emperor for her reward, hoping that the imperial physicians in the palace could treat Liu Qiu’s body.
Physician Song left.
He had been the last one.
All the imperial physicians had given the same answer.
Liu Qiu could not be saved.
Liu Huang walked to the bedside and looked at the person whose cheeks had grown slightly hollow, letting out a deep sigh.
Ever since that night of coughing blood, Liu Qiu had grown thinner day by day.
It was as if a gust of wind could scatter her at any moment.
The person on the bed seemed to awaken from the sound of her sigh.
Her lashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
Liu Qiu was very tired.
Every time she fell asleep, she felt as though she might never wake again.
These days she had been groggy, spending most of her time sleeping, so time seemed to pass quickly.
Her vision shifted from blur to clarity.
Liu Qiu moistened her dry lips and softly called, “Liu Huang.”
Liu Huang said nothing.
She carefully helped Liu Qiu sit up and lean against her.
Liu Huang seemed to have lost some weight; she felt bonier now.
Liu Qiu thought about that and began coughing softly.
Liu Huang gently patted her back.
When she had calmed down, Liu Huang lifted a cup of warm water and held it to her lips.
Liu Qiu drank a little to soothe her throat.
“Liu Huang, I want to go out and have a look. Yesterday you promised to take me to the opera house.”
One of the reasons she had held on for so long was that she had not yet seen enough of ancient architecture.
Liu Huang and Liu Feng were far wealthier than she had imagined.
The residence she lived in now was nothing like the house in Liu Family Village.
It was a four-courtyard compound with ponds, gardens, and arched bridges—things she had only seen on television before.
“I also want to listen to music and see the courtesan.”
Liu Qiu made her request, knowing Liu Huang would agree.
Ever since she had coughed blood, the sisters did not dare do anything excessive and had become very obedient.
Liu Huang paused briefly before answering as Liu Qiu expected.
“Alright.”
“But you must eat first.”
Liu Qiu’s waking hours were growing fewer.
Liu Huang did not know what to do to make her better.
The imperial physicians had said that a good mood might improve her condition, so she did her best to fulfill Liu Qiu’s wishes.
After eating, Liu Huang carried Liu Qiu into the carriage.
Through the curtain, Liu Qiu looked at the bustling street scene outside and lifted her lips in a small smile.
It was beautiful.
[System, take lots of pictures.]
The System replied, [Hehe, Host, I’ve taken many photos and saved them. When you go back, I’ll send them to you.]
Liu Qiu hummed softly.
Since arriving in the capital, whenever she was conscious, she went out every day, partly to see the sights and partly to make it easier for Su Li and Bai Qingqing to find her.
Liu Huang held Liu Qiu’s hand and lifted it to her lips, kissing it lightly.
What would it take for you to get better?
Liu Qiu had grown used to Liu Huang’s affectionate gestures, so she did not stop her.
“Master, Liuxiang Garden has arrived,” the coachman’s voice came from outside.
Liu Huang stepped down first, then reached up and lifted Liu Qiu steadily from the carriage.
“Be careful. Don’t fall.”
Liu Qiu nodded.
“I won’t.”
She was truly being treated like fragile porcelain.
Her body was weak, but she could still walk; she just could not walk for too long.
Holding Liu Huang’s hand, Liu Qiu had just reached the entrance of Liuxiang Garden when a familiar voice sounded behind her.
“Liu Qiu, slow down.”
The tone was somewhat coquettish.
It was Su Li’s voice.
Liu Qiu slowly turned her head.
The first thing she saw was a face identical to her own.
Then she saw Su Li.
Beside her, Liu Huang silently tightened her grip on Liu Qiu’s fingers.
Liu Qiu stopped walking, her eyes widening slightly as she instinctively called out, “Su Li.”
Su Li immediately halted.
Her gaze was sharp, but she did not greet her at once.
Instead, she tugged at the person beside her and said with a bright smile, “Liu Qiu, look, there’s someone over there who looks exactly like you.”
The woman who had taken Liu Qiu’s place beside Su Li smiled shyly and walked forward to greet her.
“Wow, how amazing. We look exactly the same.”
Liu Qiu blinked as she looked at the other “Liu Qiu.”
“Not exactly the same. You look… healthy and beautiful.”
Even the tear mole at the corner of her eye was identical.
It was uncanny.
Su Li’s gaze fell on the frail, sickly face before her, and her heart clenched painfully.
Frowning, she asked, “What’s your name? Why do you know my name? Do you know me?”
The questions came one after another, as if she desperately needed answers.
Liu Qiu smiled gently and cleanly.
“Sorry, miss, you must have misheard.”
Su Li suddenly clenched her hand tightly.
An anxious feeling spread from her heart throughout her body.
No.
Something was wrong.
At that moment, the other “Liu Qiu” spoke up.
“May I ask, is the person beside you your wife?”
Liu Qiu froze briefly and looked down at the hands she and Liu Huang were holding.
Before she could respond, Liu Huang answered immediately.
“Yes. I am her wife.”
The other “Liu Qiu” let out a small exclamation and tugged at Su Li’s sleeve happily.
“Xiao Li, look, they’re just like us.”
Then she looked at Liu Qiu and Liu Huang apologetically.
“Sorry, I was too forward. The world doesn’t really accept women being with women, so when I saw you, I got a little excited.”
“No! I’m not—” Su Li interrupted anxiously, though she did not even know what she wanted to say.
But when she saw the clear eyes of the frail person before her, she did not want any connection with the other “Liu Qiu.”
Unable to stop herself, Su Li stepped forward and reached out, as if wanting to touch Liu Qiu.
But Liu Qiu took a step back, hiding behind the person beside her.
Liu Huang easily shielded her, her smile stretching but not reaching her eyes.
“This young lady, what are you doing? Just because my wife looks like your companion doesn’t mean you can approach her casually.”
From behind Liu Huang’s shoulder, Liu Qiu peeked out and tugged lightly at the back of her clothing.
“Let’s go. I want to watch the opera.”
Hearing that, Liu Huang immediately turned and led Liu Qiu inside.
Liu Qiu glanced back once at Su Li and saw her lowering her head to speak to the person who looked like her.
[Host, are you upset? That stupid fox got the wrong person.]
The System sounded indignant.
Liu Qiu, however, felt relieved.
[I’m not upset. I think this is good. Su Li has a new life now. She won’t go mad like Bai Qingqing.]
A person with the same name and appearance as her—perhaps created by the world’s will to give Su Li happiness.
Liu Qiu was open-minded about it.
She hoped Su Li would be happy, though it seemed a little unfair to that other girl.
But since that girl could say such things, perhaps she was willing too.
Liu Qiu did not look back again, so she did not see Su Li’s movement as if wanting to chase after her.
Su Li did not want that person to leave just like that.
She had not even told her her name.
Why was she so thin, her cheeks hollowed?
“Xiao Li, why are you crying?” the other “Liu Qiu” asked worriedly.
Su Li touched her cheek.
Her fingertips came away wet.
So she had been crying.
Turning her head, she looked at the other “Liu Qiu” and asked hoarsely, “Are you really my wife, Liu Qiu?”
At Su Li’s questioning, the other “Liu Qiu” immediately reddened her eyes.
“Are you doubting that I lied to you? If you don’t believe me, you can take me back to Liu Family Village and ask the villagers whether I am Liu Qiu.”
Su Li suddenly covered her face.
When she lowered her hand, her beautiful, charming face had already regained its smile.
She gently stroked the top of the other girl’s head.
“Sorry, Liu Qiu. I was just shocked. That person looked too much like you.”
“I spoke without thinking. Let’s go in and watch the opera.”
The other “Liu Qiu” reached out to hold Su Li’s hand, but Su Li placed her hands behind her back.
The other girl lifted her head as if to ask why, but when she met Su Li’s smiling eyes, she swallowed her question.
“Liu Qiu, don’t hold hands. I’m afraid others will look at me strangely.”
The other girl pressed her lips together and could only nod, her brows furrowing in grievance.
Su Li pretended not to see.
It seemed that even if she was her wife, as long as she was human, she did not like touching her—or being touched.
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂