“It’s rare that I get to enjoy such beautiful scenery. Isn’t it normal for me to want to stare a little longer?” asked Zu An with a smile. Even though he had admired her body just a few days ago, he had been too overwhelmed by pleasure to take a good look.

Chu Chuyan was less than amused by his remarks.

She couldn’t imagine just how shameless a person had to be in order to say such words out loud.

You have successfully trolled Chu Chuyan for 233 Rage points!

Seeing that she was really angry, Zu An quickly reined in his smile and said, “All right, I’ll begin right away. You mustn’t exert your ki to resist me, or it’ll just undermine everything we have done thus far.”

Chu Chuyan nodded in reply.

It was taboo for a cultivator to sit completely unguarded before another unless she was absolutely certain that she could trust them. Even though Zu An often spouted nonsense that left her with a headache, she still trusted him fully, especially when she recalled how he had fought hard to protect her back in the underground hall.

Seeing that her body had finally relaxed, Zu An began inserting the silver needles one by one onto the acupoints on her back.

His movements were slow but controlled. He was worried that he would accidentally exert too much force and injure her body, and he wanted to avoid leaving behind any scars on her body as well.

Chu Chuyan sat with her eyes closed as she felt the sensations on her back.

Every time a needle was inserted into her body, she could feel an additional tinge of warmth enter her body. The frost in her body would begin flowing out from the nearest silver needle.

She was still rather nervous at the start, but as more needles were inserted, her tense nerves began to relax.

As she felt the frost slowly being expelled from her body, a sudden problem arose in her mind. She immediately asked, “Will this lead to a steep fall in my cultivation?”

After all, she was relying on her ice ki in order to deal with her opponents. If all the frost in her body was fully expelled, wouldn’t her Snowflower Sword, a sword art which she had practiced for many years now, be completely crippled?

Hearing the quiver in her voice, Zu An assured her, “You won’t. My acupuncture only removes the frost that you’re unable to control. It won’t hinder the ice ki that you’re usually able to tap into.”

Chu Chuyan was astonished. It was already a miracle that someone in her condition could be treated, but she wasn’t so naive as to think that it wouldn’t leave behind any adverse side effects. She had been prepared to suffer a steep fall in her cultivation, or even be crippled once again. Yet, who could have thought that there would be none of those effects?

She thought about how pessimistic Bao Youlu had been earlier. He had been treating the members of the Chu clan for years now, so she was familiar with the level of his skills. In fact, he was only second to Ji Dengtu in Brightmoon City.

The only reason why she was getting out of this so easily was thanks to Zu An.

There was suddenly so much that she wanted to say to Zu An, but she couldn’t express any of her thoughts clearly. In the end, she whispered two words, “Thank you.”

Zu An smiled widely and said, “We’re a couple after all. It’s only natural for me to help you, so there’s no need to thank me.”

“A couple, huh?” murmured Chu Chuyan, slightly dazed.

A moment later, Zu An said, “All right, I’m done with your back. Turn around.”

Chu Chuyan turned her body over obediently, only to realize that something was amiss right away. She looked down at her bare body, and instinctively wanted to let out a scream, but she was afraid that she would alarm her younger sister.

Given Huanzhao’s character, this matter would surely spread throughout the manor within days!

Looking at Chu Chuyan’s reddened face, Zu An said with a smile, “There’s no need to be so anxious. Aren’t you already covering your body with a blanket? Besides, I can’t see your sensitive spots anyway…”

Didn’t you say that you’d already seen it all anyway? Chu Chuyan directed a resentful look toward Zu An, but she dared not to say those words aloud.

Zu An eyed her slender neck, beautiful collarbone, and snowy white skin, and the combination of these elements made him feel slightly warm.

“This woman is truly beautiful. She really is flawless,” remarked Mi Li.

Zu An was rendered speechless. Big sis, you’re a woman as well. Why do you sound like a perverted old man?

“It’s all your fault. If not for your intervention, I could have had such a perfect body for myself,” grumbled Mi Li through gritted teeth. “While it’s inferior to my original body, I could just about accept it given how beautiful it is.”

You have successfully trolled Mi Li for 256 Rage points!

Zu An was speechless.

Wow, you’re still holding a grudge over that?

“Can you stop staring at me…?” Chu Chuyan had never felt so meek before. Never in her life had she pleaded with anyone in such a tone.

Her words stirred Zu An’s heart, and he immediately snapped out of his daze. With a slightly reddened face, he said, “I’ll start right away.”

Chu Chuyan lowered her head and murmured under her breath before falling silent.

“Eesh, I can’t take it anymore! This stench of a budding romance is so hateful!” exclaimed Mi Li.

“Oh? Do people in your era use such slang as well?” Zu An replied, feeling rather surprised. “Heh, it’s only normal for someone like you, who was forced into a political marriage with Ying Zheng, to be jealous of us.”

Mi Li went dangerously silent for a moment.

“Speak another word about that, and I’ll wash my hands of this and let your wife die!”

You have successfully trolled Mi Li for 666 Rage points!

Zu An immediately surrendered. “Big sis empress, I was wrong. Calm down…”

He had to cajole her for a long while before her rage finally abated. He reminded himself to watch his mouth a little, lest he really angered Mi Li.

Zu An quickly reined in his thoughts and began applying the silver needles to the front of Chu Chuyan's body.

Because she was holding onto a thin blanket in front of her, many parts of her body were veiled. Often, he had to raise the blanket a little in order to find the right acupoints to insert the needles.

Chu Chuyan’s body trembled a little during the process, but she didn’t utter a single word.

The entire process was hard for both Chu Chuyan and Zu An to bear. After all, Zu An had to hold himself back despite having such a great temptation sitting right in front of him.

Noticing that his breathing was growing heavier and that sweat droplets were forming on his forehead, Chu Chuyan couldn’t help but ask, “Is it very exhausting to treat me?”

Zu An was momentarily taken aback, before realizing that she had misinterpreted what was going on. Of course, there was no reason for him to clarify such a beautiful misunderstanding, so he replied vaguely, “I’m fine. I can still hold on.”

Chu Chuyan bit her lips and looked at him hesitantly, her gaze both tender and grateful.

“You’re really more shameless than I thought. It looks like I need to tread carefully around you in the future, lest I get duped by you,” sneered Mi Li.

Zu An was momentarily speechless. “You can’t twist the facts just because you’re beautiful. If anything, you’re the one who has been fooling me thus far.”

“Hmph! It doesn’t change the fact that you’re a horrible human being,” sneered Mi Li coldly.

“Big sis empress, you aren’t a good person either. Oh? Doesn’t that make us a perfect pair?” Zu An was almost done applying the acupuncture on Chu Chuyan, so there was no need to worry about offending her a little.

“Are you teasing me?” replied Mi Li, her voice taking on a dangerous edge.

You have successfully trolled Mi Li for 511 Rage points!

“I’m just joking with you. There’s no need to get so mad,” replied Zu An.

“Had you dared to speak to me in such a manner while I reigned as empress, I would have had your tongue yanked out by now!” sneered Mi Li before falling silent. 

Zu An chuckled softly. It was kind of fun to bicker with her from time to time.

A moment later, he began taking out the silver needles from Chu Chuyan’s body one by one before asking, “How do you feel now?”

“I feel like… I’m resting in a hot spring.” Chu Chuyan was astonished. Her body had always been cold to the touch, and she had always felt like there was an ice cube sitting in her stomach. While that sensation hadn’t completely vanished yet, she did feel much better than before.

Even with her lack of knowledge regarding medicine, she could tell that the treatment method was effective. 

“As long as we continue this treatment for another three months, we’ll be able to cure you of your affliction,” said Zu An as he continued retrieving the needles, not forgetting to admire her body along the way.

By this point, Chu Chuyan had already gotten used to his bold stare. She figured that, since he had already seen everything that was to be seen, it didn’t matter whether he took an additional look or not.

“Does it really take that long?” asked Chu Chuyan with a frown. 

With all the adversaries that the Chu clan were facing at the moment, she couldn’t afford to let anyone else know of her condition.

“That’s why you should consider allowing me to move in with you. It’ll be much easier for me to treat you when we’re staying in the same room,” proposed Zu An gleefully.

“Give me some time, all right? I… really am not prepared yet,” pleaded Chu Chuyan.

Zu An relented a little. “But still, it would incur suspicion if I drop by your room every day.”

Chu Chuyan pressed her lips tightly together before saying, “You can come by in the middle of the night. Just make sure that no one sees you. I’ll keep the door open for you.”

“Really?” Zu An’s eyes lit up.

His delighted reaction shocked Chu Chuyan. She quickly clarified, “You’re just coming over to treat me… Don’t think too much into it!”

“Of course,” replied Zu An with a chuckle. Well, when a guy and a girl meet together in the middle of the night every night, it’s only a matter of time before they get close to one another.

There was a sudden groan as Qin Wanru, who had been lying on the wooden bed all this while, started moving a little. It seemed like the effect of the chloroform was running out.

Chu Chuyan’s face paled with horror upon seeing that her mother was waking up. The thought of her mother stumbling upon her barely-dressed while together with Zu An made her heart thump in fright. She immediately pushed Zu An and said, “Why are you still standing there in a daze? Hurry up and leave! Don’t let my mother see you!”

Zu An’s dazed expression made her subconsciously look down, and she suddenly noticed that, in her act of pushing him away, she had caused the blanket covering her front to slip down, baring her body.

Both Chu Chuyan and Zu An remained silent, but with very different thoughts going through their minds.

… 

Even after slipping out of Chu Chuyan’s room through the window, Zu An couldn’t help but smile foolishly as he thought about everything that had happened earlier.

Just then, someone suddenly flipped across the wall and just happened to fall onto him, causing them to crash into one another.

“What the hell!” Zu An had been immersed in his fond memories when someone forcefully snapped him out of his thoughts, and so it was only normal for him to be enraged.

In the midst of his anger, though, he noticed that something was odd—or to be more exact, it was the soft sensation in his arms. This intruder had a soft and slender body, and she gave off a familiar fragrance.

Clearly, the other party also hadn’t expected there to be someone on this side of the wall. Being suddenly fondled in such a manner caused her to fly into a rage, and she attacked him immediately.

Fortunately, Zu An was no longer the same person he used to be. He quickly grabbed her arms and took a good look at her appearance, only to suddenly freeze. “It’s you?”