Chapter 55: Finally, it’s here!

Fang Lian kept turning that matter over and over in her mind.

The moment she saw Liu Tieniu, she told him everything.

Liu Tieniu was shocked.

“Marriage is no trivial matter. How can you believe in such things?”

“This won’t do, it won’t do.”

Fang Lian burst into tears.

“Qiu girl coughed up blood today. Even Doctor Li said there’s no hope. As her mother, what else can I do?”

“Can’t I only try these unconventional methods?”

Liu Tieniu let out a long sigh and gently patted Fang Lian’s shoulder.

“A’Lian, you must at least ask Qiu girl whether she’s willing.”

He, too, felt powerless over what had happened to their eldest daughter.

Who could bear to see the child they had raised for so many years come to harm?

“I know you love her dearly, but when it comes to marriage, we should still listen to Qiu girl’s thoughts.”

Fang Lian took his words to heart.

She wiped her tears.

“Hurry up. Let’s finish up and go back inside.”

From Aunt Wang, she had already learned where the Daoist lived—not in town, but in the neighboring village.

She couldn’t wait a single moment.

She only wanted her Qiu girl to live.

Meanwhile, lying in bed, Liu Qiu had no idea that the marriage she had been waiting for was already approaching.

Liu Huang had gone to buy medicine.

At home, only she and Liu Feng remained.

Liu Feng sat on a stool in her room, flipping through a book, her posture straight and her temperament composed.

Liu Qiu lay on the bed watching her.

Liu Feng truly did not resemble the child of an ordinary peasant family.

Whether in bearing or in appearance.

Liu Huang was the same.

Both sisters were exceptionally gifted in looks and figure.

Fortunately, one pursued civil studies while the other trained in martial arts.

Otherwise, who could tell them apart?

Liu Feng was slender, her skin cool and pale, her whole person gentle and refined, like a noble young lady from a great household.

Liu Huang’s skin was darker, her body strong, her long hair always tied into a neat ponytail, valiant and dashing.

One named Feng, one named Huang—truly a phoenix pair.

Just as Liu Qiu was about to withdraw her gaze, Liu Feng closed her book and turned her head, a smile rippling at the corner of her eyes.

“Elder Sister Qiu, you’ve been looking at me for quite some time. Have you discovered anything?”

Liu Qiu’s lashes trembled.

Embarrassment flickered across her pale face at being caught staring.

After a moment’s thought, she asked, “Liu Feng, didn’t you place third in the imperial examination? Why aren’t you… working?”

Liu Feng replied patiently, “Elder Sister Qiu, the Hanlin Academy currently has no vacancies. I am merely on reserve, so I returned home, intending to take you all away.”

“Or could it be that you find me an eyesore here?”

There was a hint of teasing in her voice, yet it did not provoke anger.

Liu Qiu pressed her lips together and gently shook her head.

“No.”

Liu Feng let out a soft laugh.

“If Elder Sister Qiu doesn’t dislike Feng’er, then that is truly wonderful.”

Liu Feng always smiled gently, her eyes warm and mild, impossible to read.

Liu Qiu could not see through her, but instinctively she wanted to keep her distance.

The weather was still too hot.

She wanted to cover her face, wanted to lower the bed curtains and completely shut Liu Feng out, but either choice would only make the room more stifling.

She lay flat on the bed without a quilt, a thin inner robe draped over her, outlining her frail figure.

Her skin burned with heat, yet inside her body felt cold.

The strange sensation left her limp and weak.

It was not pain, only discomfort.

Seeing Liu Feng still staring at her, Liu Qiu quietly turned over, presenting her back.

The little fox had vanished after Liu Feng entered, likely off somewhere playing.

She was left alone on the bed.

Liu Qiu did not speak.

Liu Feng did not speak.

The atmosphere seemed to settle into silence.

Suddenly, a cool breeze brushed against her back.

Startled, Liu Qiu turned around again.

Her eyes met Liu Feng’s delicate face.

Liu Feng lowered her gaze with a faint smile.

“Elder Sister Qiu, is it cooler now?”

She had somehow produced a palm-leaf fan and was fanning her.

Liu Qiu parted her lips, unsure what to say.

Liu Feng’s actions, words, and expressions were all gentle, unlike Liu Huang’s domineering nature.

Yet Liu Qiu’s heart remained wary.

She sighed inwardly.

What use was vigilance?

She could not fathom what Liu Feng intended.

Liu Huang’s thoughts were simple enough—she only wished to punish the elder sister who had bullied her in childhood.

But though Liu Feng and Liu Huang might share similar grievances, at this moment it was only the two of them here, and Liu Feng was thoughtfully fanning her.

It had to be said, having a breeze was far more comfortable than none.

Still, Liu Qiu closed her eyes and whispered, “Liu Feng, you don’t need to fan me.”

Liu Feng’s smile deepened.

“Why? Elder Sister Qiu doesn’t want my help?”

“Just like last night, when I helped you wipe your body and apply the medicine.”

“Elder Sister Qiu, I saw it. That place of yours was opening and closing. Were you nervous, or… expecting something?”

As she spoke, Liu Feng bent down slowly, drawing closer, her narrow eyes fixed on Liu Qiu.

Those eyes were too dark, too deep.

When they stared at her, it felt as though a hand had closed around her throat.

In an instant, Liu Qiu tensed, her fingers curling, nails digging into her palm.

“Liu Feng, you—”

Her lashes trembled exaggeratedly.

Anyone could see her discomfort.

A faint fragrance from Liu Feng drifted to her nose.

Suddenly, Liu Qiu pushed against Liu Feng’s shoulder.

Perhaps Liu Feng had not been standing steadily.

With that shove, she fell to the ground.

Liu Qiu panicked and hurriedly sat up to look.

Liu Feng smiled and raised her hand.

In her pale palm lay a tuft of snow-white fox fur.

But it was not only fur.

Bright red blood stained her palm.

The wound on her finger, previously cut by a broken bowl, had reopened.

Though the injury was on her fingertip, blood had smeared into her palm, forming a stark contrast against the white fur.

“I’m sorry for frightening you, Sister. I merely wished to remove this white hair.”

There was no anger in her expression.

She slowly stood and tossed the bloodstained fox fur out the window.

Liu Qiu gripped the edge of the bed tightly, lowering her long lashes to conceal the guilt in her eyes.

She had not expected her push to be strong enough to reopen Liu Feng’s wound.

The cool breeze came again, brushing against her ears and cheeks.

Suddenly, Liu Qiu lifted her gaze and saw the bright red staining the handle of the fan.

Liu Feng held the fan, the corners of her lips curved in a soothing smile.

“Elder Sister Qiu, does this feel familiar?”

“When I was fourteen, in weather like this, I cut my hand, and you made me fan you.”

“That breeze tinged with the scent of blood drifted to you in strands just like this.”

“You said it stank so badly you felt like vomiting.”

Her tone was calm, devoid of emotion, as though discussing trivial family matters.

But Liu Qiu’s heart pounded violently.

“I said I was wrong before. I won’t do it again.”

Liu Feng’s voice was neither harsh nor loud.

It was soft and pleasant.

Yet to Liu Qiu, it carried a chilling undertone.

Memories surfaced unbidden.

A thin, small Liu Feng, hands covered in blood, blood sliding down the fan handle.

The original host lying on the bed, eyes bloodshot, cheeks hollow, snarling viciously, “It reeks. I feel like throwing up.”

“Why bring that up now? It’s been so long!”

Original host, could you at least compensate me mentally?

Liu Feng released the fan.

The pale yellow fan fell before Liu Qiu’s eyes.

Liu Feng lifted her hand and pressed her bleeding fingertip against Liu Qiu’s lips.

Then she withdrew her hand and licked the remaining blood from her own finger.

Liu Qiu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Her voice trembled.

“You—you, what are you doing?”

Liu Feng lowered her gaze, gently cupping Liu Qiu’s cheeks, her smile tender and lingering.

“Elder Sister Qiu, taste it. See if it still smells foul.”

Liu Qiu’s lips parted.

The sticky trace of blood on them was unmistakable.

Her body began to tremble.

“Liu Feng, I don’t want to!”

“I already said I was wrong. Can you stop tormenting me?”

As her emotions surged, tears flooded her eyes.

She looked like a drenched puppy.

Liu Feng studied her carefully, a shadow flickering in her gaze.

Twenty-three-year-old Liu Qiu resembled a caged songbird kept by noble ladies in their inner courtyards.

Confined all day in a cage, timid and fragile, startled by the slightest disturbance.

Displayed for admiration, living a dull existence, yet unable to survive once separated from her keeper.

But the sight of the little bird trembling in fear was curiously delightful.

Liu Feng smiled.

“What I’m doing now doesn’t count as torment.”

“Do you want to know how people in the capital ‘torment’ others?”

Her fingers slid downward to Liu Qiu’s shoulder.

Liu Qiu grabbed her wrist and shook her head desperately.

“I don’t want to.”

Liu Feng gazed at her long, pale neck and lowered her head.

“Elder Sister Qiu, I want to try.”

“As an elder sister, you should take care of your younger sister, shouldn’t you?”

Before Liu Qiu could respond, pain flared at her neck.

Tears spilled instantly from the corners of her eyes.

So this was revenge.

No wonder she had instinctively avoided Liu Feng.

Who bites people like this?

Liu Qiu began sobbing, her grip on Liu Feng’s wrist loosening as her hand slid into clutching Liu Feng’s long hair.

“Liu Feng, don’t bite. It hurts.”

The pain itself was slight, but the sensation of being bitten at the neck was terrifying.

Liu Feng ignored her and pressed her down onto the bed.

Liu Qiu clutched her hair but dared not pull hard, fearing she might bite harder.

“Liu Feng, don’t… don’t torment me.”

Her thin, hoarse voice, tinged with tears, seemed to strike directly at the depths of one’s heart, stirring something dark.

The body beneath her was slender and trembling, frightened by her gnawing.

Liu Feng loosened her teeth.

Rather than biting, it felt more like pressing her lips there.

Liu Qiu’s skin was delicate, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance.

Weak and pitiful.

From this appearance alone, no one would guess she had once been willful and domineering.

She continued to sob softly.

The intermittent sound drifted into Liu Feng’s ears.

In truth, compared to biting, the word “kiss” better described the moment.

Liu Feng propped herself up, gazing at Liu Qiu’s tears with a gentle smile.

“Elder Sister Qiu, this is what torment means.”

She had seen far more absurd scenes in the capital.

If she truly did such things, Liu Qiu would likely faint outright.

Liu Qiu cried until the corners of her eyes reddened, the tear mole beneath them gleaming.

“Liu Feng, I—I truly won’t bully you again.”

“And don’t bully me either. I don’t have long to live anyway.”

Liu Feng wiped her tears, smiling faintly.

“Elder Sister Qiu, what nonsense are you saying? You’ll live for a long time.”

Liu Qiu grew agitated.

Her chest itched, and she suddenly pushed Liu Feng away, leaning over the bed’s edge as she began coughing.

Liu Feng rose and gently patted her back.

When she saw the blood splattered on the floor, she took out a clean handkerchief and slowly wiped Liu Qiu’s lips.

“Elder Sister Qiu, do you think there is such a thing as retribution in this world?”

Liu Qiu’s face was flushed red from coughing.

Her limp body was gathered in Liu Feng’s arms.

She had no strength left to struggle and simply closed her eyes.

“I… I don’t know.”

Her voice was so hoarse it was barely more than a whisper.

Liu Feng smiled soundlessly.

“I think there isn’t.”

Outside in the courtyard, Su Li paced irritably.

Why hadn’t that human carrying Buddhist items left yet?

And what was there to laugh about in broad daylight like that?

If she hadn’t been so severely injured, she wouldn’t need to avoid that person.

She was muttering to herself when voices approached.

“You—! If Qiu girl gets angry, her health will worsen!”

“Wasn’t I just trying to be quicker? If Qiu girl agrees, we can have Daoist Zhang cast a divination immediately. It’s cheap too!”

“With Qiu girl’s temperament, how could she agree to a marriage to ward off misfortune?”

“And who would be willing anyway?”

“Liu Tieniu! Are you saying you don’t want Qiu girl to recover?”

The argument drew nearer.

Su Li bounded to the courtyard entrance and peered out.

Three people were hurrying toward the house.

Her gaze landed on the one at the back dressed in Daoist robes.

Her heart jolted.

Not good. A Daoist!

She looked around and quickly dove into a small wooden bucket.

Her heart pounded anxiously.

If she were caught by a Daoist again, she would truly lose her life.

As their footsteps passed by, she narrowed her fox eyes.

Something was off.

This Daoist’s steps were unsteady, less firm than the other two.

Moreover, she had been here for several days; there should have been some demonic aura lingering.

Yet the Daoist showed no reaction at all.

Could he be a fake?

Her thoughts churned.

Cautiously, she poked her head out.

Seeing the three enter Liu Qiu’s room, Su Li leapt from the bucket and hurried to the window to listen.

She wanted to know what this so-called “marriage to ward off misfortune” meant.

Inside, seeing Liu Feng present, Fang Lian did not bother hiding anything.

She walked to Liu Qiu and asked as calmly as she could, “Qiu girl, would you be willing to find a good husband?”

“Your father and I want to arrange a marriage for you.”

Her voice trembled at the end.

She truly feared Liu Qiu would refuse.

Liu Qiu, leaning in Liu Feng’s arms, froze.

She stared at Fang Lian, then slowly smiled.

“Mother, alright.”

She had finally waited for this.

How wonderful.