Don't Take Pills at Random - Chapter 3

My arrival caused quite a stir in the Xiao residence.

The servants whispered that Lord Xiao had spent the night away, then brought a woman home with him.

He supposedly doted on her so much that he even demanded she attend him while he bathed. No one else was allowed near him now.

At this rate, the Xiao household would soon have its first mistress!

Whenever I heard those rumors, all I could do was stare at the sky.

Gossip was a fearsome thing.

Why did Xiao Ziqing refuse to let anyone near him?

Because of his chest.

Why did I have to attend him even while he bathed?

Because I had to bind that chest!

I had caused this disaster, so naturally I had to bear the consequences.

I claimed that the ingredients for the cure were difficult to find. Xiao Ziqing gave me three months.

Within those three months, I had to make some progress on my mission.

The system said, “The three great joys of life are success in the imperial examination, one’s wedding night, and meeting an old friend far from home. Xiao Ziqing has already achieved the first, and there’s no need to consider the third…”

I interrupted. “Why not?”

After several seconds of silence, it said, “…He is an orphan. He has neither family nor friends.”

God, I was awful.

The system continued, “Therefore, if you want to earn points within three months, your best option is to get Xiao Ziqing married.”

…

After asking around, I actually learned something useful.

Ye Wan’er, the only daughter of Minister Ye of the Court of Judicial Review, had admired Xiao Ziqing for years.

As Xiao Ziqing’s superior, Minister Ye also thought highly of him and wanted him as a son-in-law.

I nodded to myself.

It was a fine match between families of equal standing. Perfect.

So when an invitation to the Ye residence’s flower-viewing banquet arrived, I accepted it before Xiao Ziqing could.

“Rest assured. My lord will certainly attend.”

Once the messenger left, a warm hand closed around the back of my neck.

I stiffened.

“Have I been too indulgent with you?” Xiao Ziqing asked.

“My lord!” I hunched my shoulders. “Everything I do is for you!”

His voice was deep and magnetic—very pleasant, if not for the murderous chill in it. “Oh?”

I smiled ingratiatingly. “I heard Minister Ye owns a Purple Celestial Beauty. It’s an ingredient I need for your medicine.”

“My lord, this is a rare opportunity.”

Xiao Ziqing fell silent. The fingers resting on my neck began to rub it absently.

I shuddered.

“What?”

I answered honestly. “It tickles.”

He froze, then snatched his hand away as though burned.

After a dry cough, he said, “You will accompany me tomorrow. This will not happen again.”

He turned and left.

When I looked after him, all I saw were the reddened tips of his ears.

Oh-ho?

Had I just discovered something remarkable?

Before dawn the next day, Xiao Ziqing summoned me to his room.

“Bind it tighter today.”

That made sense. There would be many people at the banquet, and no one could be allowed to notice anything strange.

I took the binding cloth from him and expertly wound it from back to front.

“Bear with me.”

I pulled hard—

“Ngh…”

A muffled groan escaped him.

I hurriedly asked, “Does it hurt?”

He took several breaths. “It’s fine. Pull harder.”

“All right.”

It took an entire incense stick to finish. Sweat covered my forehead, and even my hair had come loose.

Xiao Ziqing turned his back to dress.

“I’m going to wash up.”

I opened the door and came face-to-face with the old steward waiting outside. He held a letter, presumably for Xiao Ziqing.

But his expression was dazed, and the way he looked at me was exceedingly strange.

“You… you two…”

I paid it no mind and waved. “It’s fine, it’s fine. We’re done. Lord Xiao is getting dressed, so you can go in soon.”

I hurried off, completely missing the way the old steward’s lips trembled.