Chapter 292: Damned, Ill-timed Humanization
She wasn’t the one who was squirming.
As Ji Qingwu rolled over, her body ached, and she whimpered uncomfortably.
Seeing her reaction, Zhao Mingyan feigned a serious tone and said, "I told you not to move around."
A moment later, a palm landed on Ji Qingwu’s bottom.
The sound was crisp, but it didn’t hurt.
Ji Qingwu brought her hands behind her back to cover her bottom, wincing as she tried to scoot further away.
’The man’s intentions were utterly devious; he was just looking for an excuse to smack her.’
Zhao Mingyan climbed onto the bed as well, using his legs to hold her still. "Don’t move. I just finished applying the medicine."
"What medicine?" Confusion filled Ji Qingwu’s eyes.
She had smelled a medicinal scent on herself but assumed it was because the thin blanket was one he had used, and the smell had simply rubbed off on her.
"Let me see if it’s gotten any better."
Zhao Mingyan pressed a hand on her slender legs, parting them to inspect the area.
Ji Qingwu finally understood that cool, drafty sensation. It wasn’t because she wasn’t wearing her silk trousers, but for an entirely different reason.
"You... you... you applied the medicine on me..."
Ji Qingwu wanted to cry but had no tears left; she had already cried herself dry.
She knew that the relationship between a man and a woman could be this intimate, just as it had been earlier.
But... but... not to this extent...
To be so familiar with each other that not even the last shred of modesty was left.
Ji Qingwu turned red as a boiled shrimp, from her face all the way down to her lustrous, jade-like toes, which flushed from pink to crimson.
The Emperor produced a porcelain jar of ointment from somewhere, holding it in his left palm as if to continue applying it for her.
Ji Qingwu used all her strength to push him away, ignoring the pain in her body.
This had completely breached her psychological limits.
Seeing her struggle so fiercely, Zhao Mingyan didn’t force her. "This ointment was made from a formula by Le Xi," he said in a low voice. "It’s quite effective. I saw that the area is no longer as red and swollen."
He instructed her carefully, "Apply it yourself. Make sure to rub it in after you put it on. Don’t be lazy."
Humiliated and indignant, Ji Qingwu buried her face in her pillow, wishing he would just finish talking and leave.
Zhao Mingyan didn’t move. He squeezed the nape of her neck and asked, "Did you hear me?"
Ji Qingwu could only manage a muffled grunt of affirmation.
Once the footsteps faded and silence fell, she lifted her head from the soft pillow.
She glanced at the water clock; it was already midnight. Looking around, she saw she was the only one left in the hall.
The Emperor had left the white porcelain jar by her pillow. When Ji Qingwu picked it up, she realized the container was still warm.
The ointment inside was clear and hydrating. The scent alone told her it was made with numerous precious herbs, and the formula was clearly masterful. Two or three days of use would be enough to heal her completely.
But Ji Qingwu had no desire to endure that ordeal again. She had a better solution. She summoned the system.
The childbirth system was specialized in treating injuries in... private areas. If not now, when?
After some haggling, the current treatment was thrown in as a free bonus for a new agreement.
A fine, golden light enveloped Ji Qingwu. The dazzling light scanned over her body once, and the pain and burning sensation vanished completely.
Ji Qingwu sat up. Her brow relaxed as she stretched her arms and legs. Although she still felt a little limp and weak, not yet fully recovered, she was in much better shape than before.
She thought for a moment, then asked, "Peanuts, you said before that intimate contact can increase the national fortune. What will it increase this time? Can it stop the conflict on the Northern Border?"
If she could stop the war on the Northern Border this way, it would be a major accomplishment on her part.
"Dear Host, the increase in national fortune is a random event. It cannot be specified."
Ji Qingwu’s hopes were dashed.
She asked doubtfully, "It can’t be specified? Then how do I know you’re not lying to me?"
"After the Host completes an intimacy mission, the national fortune will increase randomly. You will be given feedback."
Ji Qingwu said, "In other words, it’s like I paid a high price for something without knowing what I was buying? And I have to wait on top of that?"
The system added, "But you can be certain that what you bought is definitely a good thing."
Ji Qingwu pressed, "When will I get the feedback?"
"Based on the Host’s performance yesterday, the increase to Beili Country’s national fortune is quite minor. The fortune is currently building up, waiting for the right moment to be released."
’That was as good as saying nothing at all.’
She hadn’t asked many questions during her bath earlier because she’d been in a hurry. It seemed now that there were quite a few restrictions on smoothly increasing the national fortune.
Ji Qingwu frowned. "I barely managed to endure all that, and you’re telling me the increase in fortune is ’minor’?"
Her dissatisfaction reached its peak.
"I was tormented for hours and nearly died. This shouldn’t be the result I get."
The system’s mechanical voice was ice-cold.
"Host, during this intimate encounter, you were merely passive. There was no mutual interaction, and the highest level of physical and mental pleasure was not achieved. Therefore, the system automatically rated this encounter as F-rank. The corresponding national fortune bonus is, likewise, the lowest possible."
Ji Qingwu gritted her teeth so hard they ached.
’This system even cares whether I’m physically and mentally pleased?’
’This damned, ill-timed humanization!’
The system seemed to detect Ji Qingwu’s fury and offered a timely encouragement.
"Host, the power for this national fortune bonus has finished accumulating. It is merely awaiting the opportune moment for release. Please be patient."
Ji Qingwu let out a long sigh. ’Something is better than nothing,’ she told herself, ’even if it’s minuscule.’
*
The first half of the night had been long, but the second half felt short.
So short that no one noticed when Ji Qingwu, wrapped in a black cloak, slipped out of Zhaoyang Hall.
Just before dawn, Ji Qingwu appeared at the entrance of a medical clinic.
Someone was standing at the entrance. As she drew closer, she asked in surprise, "Mr. Duan?"
Duan Mingfeng stood before the door with his arms crossed, gazing at the pearly-white dawn sky, lost in thought.
He pulled his gaze back and turned. "Miss Ji."
"Why are you here?"
Duan Mingfeng bowed his head respectfully. "The Master ordered me to watch over the Little Master."
His use of "Little Master" for Jiu Jiu made Ji Qingwu’s expression shift subtly.
’Emperor Wu Su knows Jiu Jiu is here, and he even specifically sent Duan Mingfeng to protect her.’
’It seems Duan Mingfeng has been told that Jiu Jiu is the Emperor’s daughter. The situation is unstable right now; who knows if someone might try to harm Jiu Jiu soon.’
Ji Qingwu nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Duan."
"It is my duty." Duan Mingfeng’s attitude was much more cautious.
Ji Qingwu started to walk into the clinic. As he lifted his head, she noticed the red mark of a slap on his left cheek.
She asked hesitantly, "Is that..."
’Who would dare to slap him, and on the face no less?’ A guess formed in Ji Qingwu’s mind.
She suddenly began to worry if the hand that slapped him was still intact, or if it had been ripped from its socket.
Duan Mingfeng’s stern expression flushed red. He lowered his head and said nothing.
Just as Ji Qingwu stepped into the clinic, Mo Lingling heard the noise and came downstairs.
"Fifth Missy, you’re finally back!"
She had been bottling things up all night and had finally found someone to confide in.
"You have no idea! A flower thief showed up last night and fell right off the roof!"