Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 103

A dull ache spread through his jaw, and a sheen of moisture glossed over Yu Qizhe’s bright eyes, his slightly upturned lashes making his gaze all the more alluring. Feeling awkward, Yu Jiao stammered, “You… are you okay?”

Yu Qizhe shook his head and, gazing at the soft strands of her hair, his heart unexpectedly softened. He raised his hand and gently ruffled the top of her head. “Does it hurt?” he asked softly.

The intimacy of the gesture made Yu Jiao uncomfortable. Her cheeks warmed, and she didn’t dare meet his eyes. She shrank back slightly and stammered, “N-no, it doesn’t hurt.”

Lowering his eyes, Yu Qizhe noticed the blush blooming on her face. Compared to her usual sharp and clever demeanor, she looked clumsy and shy, unexpectedly adorable. His lips curled into a faint smile. “If it doesn’t hurt, then let’s get to bed. I’ll put out the light.”

Yu Jiao muttered a small “mm” and, bracing herself, walked to the bedside. In just a few steps, her thoughts spun, sharing a bed wasn’t that big of a deal, right? Yu Qizhe was sickly and probably couldn’t do anything to her anyway. Normally, she was the one teasing him, how had the roles reversed today?

A sudden realization hit her, it was because she’d shown weakness. He must’ve noticed and was now boldly teasing her back.

Standing by the bed, Yu Jiao turned to glance at him, her eyes gleaming mischievously. With a coy voice, she said, “Why bother with separate blankets? Since you’re here to keep me company, that should include sleeping with me too.”

Just then, Yu Qizhe happened to blow out the candlelight. Her flirtatious look was lost in the dark, unseen. But in the faint glow of moonlight seeping through the window, he walked to the bed. Though he couldn’t see her face clearly, his gaze was locked onto her.

“Alright,” he replied. His low, magnetic voice sounded especially rich in the dark.

Yu Jiao’s ears burned. She quickly climbed onto the bed and dove under the inner quilt.

A deep chuckle came from the darkness as Yu Qizhe leisurely lifted the blanket and lay down on the outer side.

The bed the He family had prepared for Yu Jiao wasn’t very large. Once both of them were lying down, only a pillow’s width separated them.

In the still darkness, their breathing was audible, and they could practically smell each other’s scent. Yu Jiao lay there tense, trying to clear her mind and empty her thoughts.

Half an hour passed, but sleep still eluded her. She turned over, hoping that facing away from him might help her relax.

“Sleep. Don’t overthink,” said the man who had been quiet since lying down.

Yu Jiao exhaled quietly. So she wasn’t the only one still awake. Not long after closing her eyes, she finally drifted off.

The next morning, when Yu Jiao awoke, he was already gone, leaving behind only the lingering warmth on the sheets. She looked up to find Yu Qizhe sitting by the window, reading at the table. She got dressed and climbed out of bed, her morning voice still husky. “Morning.”

He turned to her. Morning light filtered through the window, bathing his face in a soft glow, his features striking and dreamlike.

“Hungry?” Yu Qizhe asked.

Yu Jiao nodded. Just then, a maid entered with a wooden basin of water. “The kitchen has finished preparing breakfast. I’ll go fetch it for you now.”

“Thank you,” Yu Jiao replied. After washing up, she sat down at the table with Yu Qizhe for breakfast.

And so, the two of them ended up staying at the He family residence. Thanks to He Dongsheng’s orders, no one dared disturb them. For the next few days, they were treated with the utmost hospitality, good food and attentive service.

By the third day, all the sores on Old Master He’s head had scabbed over with no signs of spreading. He could already get out of bed and bask in the sun outside, his complexion much rosier than before. This made He Dongsheng treat Yu Jiao with even more favor.