Zhou Jue threw the concealed weapon and fled with Bai Ruozhu, fearing to alert the enemy. He had arranged for his subordinates to be a few miles away, as long as they could escape, they could successfully take her away.
Just as he rushed out not far on horseback, he was suddenly surrounded. His eyes narrowed slightly to see clearly that it was the protector of women. He gritted his teeth in hatred, if it weren’t for the use of Bai Ruozhu, he would love to throw that man away.
Jiang Yichun from a distance saw Zhou Jue dressed as a woman carrying Bai Ruozhu, and their wet bodies were clung to each other. His eyes turned red, and a fierce fire blazed within him.
Zhou Jue, having regained his shape, his woman’s clothes were much shorter and tight on him, looking somewhat comical. But even so, Jiang Yichun would never forget that he was a man.
Daring to touch his woman, he would make that sissy end up with no return!
Soon, Zhou Jue was besieged, Jiang Yichun swooped in to snatch Bai Ruozhu. He was armed with the poison and antidote given by Bai Ruozhu. Zhou Jue used the poison and he also used the poison, and with the occasional cold arrows from aside, Jiang Yichun caught Zhou Jue off guard and slapped him right on the chest.
Zhou Jue spewed out a mouthful of blood, and Bai Ruozhu in his arms was also snatched back by Jiang Yichun. He snorted coldly: "Hmph, you can block me for a while, but not for a lifetime, let’s wait and see!"
After speaking, he threw another concealed weapon, sprinkled some poison powder, and fled desperately towards the mountains.
"Chase, capture him and there will be a heavy reward!" Jiang Yichun held Bai Ruozhu tight and dodged frantically. He escaped the hidden weapon, but to protect Bai Ruozhu from getting injured, his arms and back were wounded by hidden weapons. Luckily, it was not a deep wound, but he was also poisoned as a result.
His men went to chase, and he could only take Bai Ruozhu back. He pressed a few acupuncture points for Bai Ruozhu, and she woke up.
As soon as she woke up, Bai Ruozhu shivered violently. She was soaked through, and though it was early spring, it was still very cold. She opened her mouth but before she could spit out words, she sneezed twice.
Jiang Yichun hugged her tighter, and said solemnly:"I’ll take you inside to change clothes. Be careful not to catch a chill."
Bai Ruozhu sniffed, chattering her teeth, "Did Zhou Jue not hurt anyone in the manor?"
Jiang Yichun couldn’t help but laugh bitterly, "You have just escaped death, and the first thing you do when you wake up is worry about others."
She furrowed her brow and sniffed again, suddenly smelling blood. She asked urgently: "Are you injured? Is it serious?" As she said this, she began to check his pulse.
Jiang Yichun wanted to say he was fine, but he knew of her stubborn nature, so he let her be.
"It’s a minor injury, but you’ve been poisoned. I’ll make you some medicine later." Bai Ruozhu continued to chatter her teeth as she spoke.
Jiang Yichun had already rushed into the manor with her in his arms, carefully avoiding the guests, and headed to the hot spring room in the backyard. The spring water there was specially diverted by Bai Ruozhu for her family’s use.
Lin Ping’Er saw them coming back and anxiously asked, "Ruozhu, are you alright?"
"I’m fine." Bai Ruozhu hadn’t finished speaking when Jiang Yichun tossed her directly into the pool. She shrieked and glared at Jiang Yichun. Couldn’t he drop her gently?
"Mother, when she was captured earlier, the men had kept her concealed underwater. She’s completely soaked, and I’m afraid she might catch a cold." Jiang Yichun ignored her, and turned to Lin Ping’Er to say.
"Ah, I’ll get the kitchen to make ginger soup." Lin Ping’Er just entered the room, then turned back and hurried to the kitchen.
Jiang Yichun turned his head to face Bai Ruozhu, speaking softly, "Quickly take your clothes off!"
"What...what are you doing? My mother will be back soon!" Bai Ruozhu’s lips twitched, and she instinctively covered her chest.
His face turned even darker, he glared at her and said, "What are you thinking? I’m worried that you’ll get sick. Your wet clothes are too cold, do you have any clothes here? I’ll go find a maid to get you some."
Without waiting for Ruozhu to respond, he turned and stormed out of the room. He walked so fast that it stirred up a gust of wind.
Bai Ruozhu noticed his ill temper and felt unjustly accused. She had just been in such a dangerous situation, and here he was, taking his anger out on her for no apparent reason.
Thinking of this, she silently undressed in the pool and threw her soaking wet clothes to the side of the pool. Immersed in the hot spring, she instantly felt much better and stopped shivering from the cold. She leaned against the pool wall, feeling somewhat drowsy.
A while later, her mother came in with a set of clean clothes and placed it on a nearby rack.
"Chang Sheng is thoughtful, he found your clothes." Because Jiang Yichun had saved Bai Ruozhu, Lin Ping’er looked upon him with renewed approval.
Bai Ruozhu’s gaze dropped, the fog from the pool dampened her long eyelashes, hiding a flicker of disappointment underneath. Jiang Yichun had left to get her clothes without coming in, and had asked her mother to bring the clothes in instead. He must be really angry.
She remembered the words Jiang Yichun had spoken to her mother earlier. It was Zhou Jue who had kidnapped her and hidden her in the hot spring. No wonder her clothes were soaking wet. Wait... Wet... unconscious...
Did this mean Zhou Jue, too, had been soaking wet while holding her?
She twitched her lips; that image in her mind wasn’t particularly pleasant. But could she be blamed for this? Why was he angry with her?
In the next room, Jiang Yichun was also taking deep breaths. He had nearly lost control just now. Seeing Bai Ruozhu soaking wet and being held by another man, her alluring figure completely exposed, yet lying in the arms of another, was enough to make his blood boil with rage and jealousy.
He was indeed angry, yet it was at himself. He cursed himself for his carelessness that gave Zhou Jue the perfect opportunity. For some reason, there was a fire in his heart that was growing more intense. He had almost thrown Bai Ruozhu into the pool and jumped in after her.
Especially with the wary look she gave him, as if guarding against a pervert, only fueled his fire.
So, he had to restrain himself from going near her, fearing he wouldn’t resist the temptation to join her in the pool. After all, Bai Ruozhu in the pool could have easily undressed completely.
"Ruozhu, tell your mom honestly, who tried to kidnap you? Why? Is it because of Chang Sheng’s troubles?" asked Lin Ping’er, her face grave.
Bai Ruozhu quickly responded, "Mother, you’re overthinking. It has nothing to do with him."
"Then what is it? Why do you hide things from your mother now? You never used to do this." Her mother said, wiping her tear-laden eyes. It seemed her daughter’s secrecy hurt her deeply.
Bai Ruozhu didn’t want to cause any misunderstanding, so she explained, "Mother, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. After my second brother got into trouble last time, I offered a medical technique to court so as not to ruin his future. The imperial court made an order of secrecy, so I dared not mention it. It seems someone found out, and the people who came to kidnap me were from Chengshui Country."
Lin Ping’er’s eyes widened, "The time your second brother was imprisoned?"
Bai Ruozhu nodded, "Mother, please don’t let my second brother know. It would make him uneasy."
Lin Ping’er’s eyes welled up with tears and she choked out, "My dear girl, you’ve had such a hard time..."