Chapter 1: Aruo, I want to pledge myself to each other

In the summer of the twenty-ninth year of Daliang, at the residence of the Duke of Wenguoguo, peonies were in full bloom.

As the summer solstice approached, amidst the scorching heat, news of a major defeat at the border reached the Duke's residence. Weiping Marquis was killed in battle at Yiling Pass, and the mourning report had just arrived at the Duke's residence. Upon hearing this, Miss Jingxi, the seventh daughter, was overwhelmed with grief and fell into a deep unconsciousness.

In the deep of night, the dimly flickering candlelight swayed gently. The half-open wooden window allowed a light breeze to carry the faint scent of lilac.

In the fragrant old wooden bed, a woman lay with closed eyes, tormented by nightmares, unable to find peace. She lay on her side, hugging her knees, her eyelashes damp with sweat.

In her dream, a figure appeared faintly.

It was just the beginning of spring, with willow catkins flying in the west of the city, disturbing the blooming lotus flowers in a pond.

The woman raised her head and fixed her gaze on the figure at the bridge. "Who are you?" she frowned, seemingly displeased at being blocked.

He replied, "I am Chu Yu."

His tone was slightly restrained, somewhat cautious, and his voice was extremely pleasant.

Stepping back slightly, she showed a clear sense of aloofness. "Why are you blocking my way?"

He seemed a bit anxious, raising his eyes and speaking incoherently, yet with conviction. "I came to find you."

Only after a moment of hesitation did he say, "Five years ago, by the river in the west of the city, you saved my life, and I am duty-bound to repay you."

His words were as resolute as broken jade and torn silk.

He said, "I am duty-bound to repay you."

It didn't sound like a joke, and his seriousness left her no room for complacency. She replied coldly, "I am already betrothed. I hope Prince Changshan will speak with restraint."

Prince Changshan, Chu Yu, she had heard of him, but apart from his extraordinary appearance, she only knew him as a pampered prince, noble and inscrutable.

However, she distanced herself. At that time, she had already entered the Eastern Palace camp and was plotting with the Crown Prince. Becoming the Crown Princess was only a matter of time.

After her words, there was a long silence, until the dazzling light in his eyes dimmed. He said, "Arao, have I come too late?"

His voice trembled unexpectedly.

"Have I come too late?"

She shook her head, walking past him, frowning. She didn't remember saving anyone by the river in the west of the city, but she did remember encountering a cat that only knew how to scratch and lick people.

At that time, she was only a teenager, not yet as tall as the willow trees by the river in the west of the city.

"Where did this cat come from?"

The cat that fell from the tree landed in her arms.

"Meow."

The dirty cat, weakly meowing, squirmed restlessly in her arms, its front paws oozing blood, staining her skirt in moments.

She patted its head and took out a clean handkerchief, clumsily wrapping it around the wound. The handkerchief was embroidered with two characters, "Arao."

"Meow."

"Does it hurt?" She softened her voice involuntarily. "Be good, don't move."

The little thing really did stop moving.

She laughed, "In consideration of the blood you shed, I'll give you this apricot cake at a discount."

She picked up a steaming piece of apricot cake and fed it to the cat.

"Meow."

"Don't lick my hand." In the middle of the night, there were few people passing by the river, only the cheerful voice of the girl could be heard. "Be good, let me see if you're a male or female."

She lifted one of the cat's legs...

The girl laughed even louder, "No more licking, males and females should keep their distance."

"Meow~"

A very shy meow.

The scenes unfolded like a dream, like an ancient drama being sung in the distance.

In her dream, she remembered the man she met, Chu Yu.

In her dream, the cat's eyes were a faint blue.

"Miss Seven."

"Miss Seven."

Who was calling her? She couldn't open her eyes, entangled in old memories.

In front of the bed, a maid with a hair bun approached and gently shook the dreaming woman. "Miss Seven, wake up."

She murmured in her sleep, her voice intermittent and indistinct.

The maid waiting by the bed hurriedly ran out, "Quick, go inform the madam, Miss Seven is critically ill."

With the news of the Marquis of Weiping's death, Miss Jingxi fell seriously ill, with a fever that wouldn't subside.

It was already the middle of the night, and there was commotion outside the main courtyard.

"Who is making a fuss outside?"

A woman in her thirties, delicate as a willow, stepped out, looking very beautiful.

This was the wife of Duke Wen of Wenguoguo, Liu Yueru, the daughter of the Hanlin Academy's Liu family.

Outside the door, an older maid approached. "Madam, it's a maid from the Jinghe Courtyard."

Liu Yueru raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

The maid continued, "She said that the mistress of the Jinghe Courtyard has fallen seriously ill, with a fever that has not improved for many days, and has come to ask the Duke to send someone to the palace to fetch a physician to see her."

The mistress of the Jinghe Courtyard was the legitimate daughter of the Duke's residence, and although she was delicate, she no longer had the support of the Marquis of Weiping and was not treated with respect by the servants.

"The Duke has retired for the night, so send someone to the palace." Liu Yueru adjusted her sable fur cloak.

"Madam," the maid was puzzled, as the mistress had never gotten along with the mistress of the Jinghe Courtyard, and with the Marquis of Weiping gone, there was no need to be polite to the lonely girl.

Liu Yueru brought a tea cup from the maid and knocked on it leisurely. "Yesterday, I heard the Duke say that the Prince of Qinnan's residence is seriously ill, and it's likely that the palace physicians are all at the Prince of Qinnan's residence for consultation."

The end.

To go or not to go, it all depends on the demeanor of the Duchess of Guo. Whether to invite the imperial physician or not, it will depend on the abilities of Jinghe and the courtyard.

An Mama naturally understood: "Madam's words are reasonable."

In this way, even if the Duke of Guo were to inquire, he could only blame the misfortune of the young master, as his fate was not enough.

Liu Yueru took a sip of tea and said, "The Duke rarely takes a break, so we must not let idle people disturb his peace."

An Mama understood: "I will make sure that the girl behaves herself."

That night, apart from the young master in the Jinghe courtyard of the Duke of Guo's mansion, there was also a precious child who had fallen seriously ill.

This caused great anxiety among the masters and servants of the Qinnan Prince's mansion.

The Qinnan Prince, with a flushed face, roared, "How is my son?"

Inside the room, the imperial physician, kneeling on the ground, was sweating profusely and trembling in all limbs. He really couldn't handle this prince from a different surname.

The chief of the Imperial Physician's Office, Master Jiang, wiped the sweat the size of a soybean from his sleeve and said, "Your Highness, rest assured. As long as the prince takes the Fire Lingzhi, the fever will subside."

The Qinnan Prince's furrowed his brow and said, "That's for the best." His sharp eyes lifted slightly, "Otherwise, I will cook you and the Fire Lingzhi in the same pot."

The imperial physicians were silent, trembling in fear, prostrating themselves on the ground. This prince was truly unpredictable and violent.

At that moment,

"A'rao."

The Qinnan Prince's son, who had been unconscious for a long time, murmured intermittently, his eyes tightly closed, lacking his usual charm but instead displaying a sickly softness.