Chapter 97 -
Wenzhe moved with lightning speed. The instant Yueqing lunged forward to farm her villain points, he sidestepped her like a seasoned warrior dodging an incoming arrow, striding deeper into the quiet guest chamber.
Yueqing’s hands caught empty air, her momentum almost sending her stumbling into the bedpost.
"Hey! Hold still, you oversized log!" she huffed, spinning around to glare at him.
Wenzhe completely ignored her outrage as he surveyed their quarters. The Governor’s guest pavilion was undeniably grand. Soft lantern light illuminated polished rosewood furniture, intricate silk tapestries along the walls, and a large wooden screen decorated with blooming lotus flowers. Near the corner sat their luggage, neatly delivered earlier by the estate’s servants their clothes, travel bags, and personal bundles all lined up side-by-side.
And, right in the center of the room, stood a single, massive wooden bed draped in rich crimson silk curtains.
Wenzhe stared at the solitary bed, his brow furrowing as the reality set in. He turned his head back toward her, his voice dropping into a low, serious rumble.
"We are going to have to sleep in the same room."
Yueqing rolled her eyes so hard it almost hurt. She huffed, dramatically tossing her silk sleeves back as she marched over to a carved rosewood chair near the tea table and plopped down, crossing her legs like a spoiled empress.
"Oh, please! Spare me the dramatic horror, General Xi," Yueqing scoffed, resting her chin in her hand as she shot him a dry, sarcastic look. "You are talking like you didn’t use me like a blanket just last night!"
Wenzhe froze where he stood, his cheeks flushing a sudden, furious shade of red.
[Yeah, act all noble and shocked now!] Yueqing’s inner thoughts immediately roared straight into his mind, loud and relentless. [You pulled me into your chest like a giant human hot-water bottle because you were cold, you stubborn. Now suddenly sleeping in the same room is a national emergency?! Hypocrite! Absolute hypocrite!]
Wenzhe cleared his throat loudly, forcing his expression back into an icy, stoic mask, though his burning red ears gave him away entirely.
"That was completely different," Wenzhe muttered defensively, crossing his arms and looking away from her sharp gaze. "It was freezing outside, and you were practically vibrating from the chill."
"Excuses, excuses!" Yueqing chimed in out loud, a sly grin returning to her face as she leaned forward in her chair. "Admit it, Block of Wood, you just loved having a warm, lovely wife in your arms—"
Knock, knock, knock.
A frantic tap at the heavy wooden door cut her off mid-sentence.
"G-General Xi! Young Madam!" the housemaid’s breathless voice called out from the hallway. "I have brought the... the special ginger tea you requested!"
The moment the word ginger left the maid’s mouth, both Wenzhe and Yueqing abandoned their argument in an instant. The ticking clock in their stomachs reasserted itself, sending a mutual wave of panic through the room.
"Bring it in! Quickly!" Yueqing practically shrieked, jumping out of her chair so fast it almost rattled the tea table.
The maid hurried inside, carefully balancing a wooden tray with two steaming cups. The moment she crossed the threshold, a pungent, sharp odor hit the room like a physical blow.
Yueqing immediately pinched her nose, taking two quick steps back. "Ugh! What is *this*?!"
The maid shrank back, bowing nervously. "Y-Young Madam, this is exactly what you asked for! Crushed raw ginger juice, boiling water, and coarse salt!"
The stench was horrific raw, spicy, and sharp enough to make anyone’s eyes water. Having a massive sweet tooth, Yueqing looked at the dark, murky liquid with absolute dread. Her face twisted as if the ginger tea was going to cause her far more psychological damage than any laxative ever could.
Wenzhe looked at the two cups, then glanced over at his wife, whose face was pale with pure disgust.
"You may leave," Wenzhe instructed the maid in a low, even tone.
"Thank you, General!" The maid bowed frantically and practically scrambled out of the room, shutting the heavy wooden doors tightly behind her.
Wenzhe walked over to the table, taking one of the warm cups from the tray. He brought it up to his nose and took a light sniff. His stoic brow twitched. It was indeed stench-heavy and violently potent. In all his years as a military commander, he had never taken ginger in such a thick, concentrated amount.
*Still,* Wenzhe thought, setting his jaw, I have survived bitter battlefield medicines and harsh winter rations. This is nothing.
Without a single second of hesitation, Wenzhe tipped his head back and swallowed the entire cup in one big gulp.
Yueqing’s jaw hit the floor in sheer disbelief. "You... you actually drank that?! Ew! Gross!"
Gagging at the smell lingering in the air, Yueqing quickly turned around, planning to flee to the far side of the room to catch her breath and mentally prepare herself for her own cup.
She didn’t get far.
Before she could take another step, Wenzhe’s large hand shot out, catching her firmly by the wrist. With his other hand, he grabbed the remaining cup off the tray and downed the second batch of thick ginger juice in one smooth motion.
"W-Wait, what are you—" Yueqing gasped, turning back to glare at him.
Wenzhe didn’t drop the liquid down his throat this time.
With his mouth full of the spicy, warm medicine, he yanked her forward into his chest and pressed his lips firmly against hers!
Yueqing’s green eyes widened to the size of saucers as the sharp, fiery heat of the ginger tea flooded her mouth, forcing her to swallow the neutralizing cure right along with him!
*DING!*
*DING!*
[System Announcement: +1 Villain Point!]
[System Announcement: +1 Villain Point!]
[*MMP!*] Yueqing screamed hysterically in her mind, her inner voice blaring straight into Wenzhe’s head as she was forced to drink the disgusting mixture. [*YOU STUBBORN BLOCK OF WOOD! YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE! IT TASTES LIKE BURNING GARBAGE!*]
Wenzhe held her tight against him, ignoring her chaotic mental roaring, his dark eyes sparkling with a rare, quiet victory. If he had to drink the foul ginger cure, his trouble-making wife certainly wasn’t getting off scot-free!