People in the Qin Dynasty sought good fortune and avoided misfortune.

Chapter 12, You don't want the King to know either, do you? (Please read on and vote!)
As they spoke, the two entered Consort Hu's bedchamber.

Hu Meiren remained lying on the bed, her alluring figure concealed by three layers of curtains.

"My lady, Physician Xu has arrived."

"Alright, let the imperial physician come in and take my pulse." Consort Hu's voice was still weak, but it was much better than yesterday.

"Yes."

Xu Qing walked through the two layers of curtains, and just like yesterday, he took Hu Meiren's pulse with a thin veil draped over his body.

"Ruotao, go to the side hall and bring back the gift prepared for Physician Xu," Hu Meiren's voice rang out again.

Ruotao glanced at Xu Qing, nodded, and left.

Xu Qing, who was concentrating on taking Hu Meiren's pulse, looked up and became wary.

After sending Ruotao away, only he and Hu Meiren remained in the boudoir. If anything happened, he would have no way to explain himself.

Xu Qing looked at Hu Meiren behind the curtain and met her eyes, which were full of amusement.

"My lady, your pulse is stable. You will recover with proper care. I will prepare the medicine for you now. Please wait a moment."

Xu Qing dared not linger. The divination indicated some minor turbulence, but it was best to avoid such matters if possible.

Hu Meiren's gaze frightened him, so he made up an excuse about brewing medicine and prepared to run away.

Just as Xu Qing was about to run away, Hu Meiren's slender, fair hand grabbed Xu Qing's wrist.

"Physician Xu, please don't be impatient. I have something else to tell you," said Consort Hu with a smile.

Xu Qing felt a headache coming on. After looking around to make sure no one was there, she braced herself and said...
"I wonder if the beauty has any further questions?"

"The story that Physician Xu told yesterday was so vivid and engaging, it made me feel like I was right there in the story," Hu Meiren said softly, but the smile on her face had vanished, replaced by amusement in her eyes.

Xu Qing was startled, a chill ran down his spine. Although he couldn't see Hu Meiren's true expression, he had a feeling that Hu Meiren had seen through the truth of the story he was telling.

Hu Meiren looked at Xu Qing, who was standing there dumbfounded, and changed the position of her pair of slender, straight, and beautiful legs. She leaned forward involuntarily and adopted an aggressive posture.

Just as Xu Qing had thought, Hu Meiren had already seen through yesterday's story.

While Xu Qing was telling the story, she didn't feel anything yet, only that her own experience was similar to the story.

But as night fell, Xu Qing's story kept replaying in her mind, and she suddenly realized that the sisters' experiences in the story were 80% similar to her and her missing sister.

Hu Meiren couldn't believe that a story told casually could be so similar to her own experience, as if it were told specifically for her.

She then made a bold guess: Xu Qing definitely knew about what happened at Huoyu Manor back then, and knew her true identity and background, and even knew the whereabouts of her sister.

"It was just a casual remark yesterday. You flatter me, my beauty. I am not good with words."

Xu Qing was nervous. He couldn't see through Hu Meiren's true thoughts and dared not rashly admit that he knew the whole story of the Fire Rain Manor tragedy.

"Heh~" Hu Meiren snorted softly, looked at Xu Qing who was still pretending to be stupid, grabbed Xu Qing's hand and pulled him forward slightly.

Xu Qing was already kneeling when he took Hu Meiren's pulse. Coupled with the aftereffects of yesterday's training, Hu Meiren suddenly pulled him, causing him to lose his balance and fall forward, his head passing through the curtain.

Xu Qing stared in astonishment at Hu Meiren on the bed. With the curtains gone, Xu Qing could finally see Hu Meiren's appearance clearly.

Exquisite without makeup, alluring yet with a hint of fragility, she unconsciously evokes a protective instinct in people; truly a vixen who brings ruin to the country.

Hu Meiren also looked at Xu Qing, who had entered the curtain with his head in surprise. The two stared at each other, and for a moment they were stunned.

Because of the hot weather and Hu Meiren's weak condition, she did not wear an outer robe, but a white and blue striped bodice nightgown with feather patterns embroidered on it.

Her fair collarbones and delicate shoulders were exposed to the air, and her long, beautiful legs were crossed at the end of the bed.

Because of the lying position, the plain gauze hem of the pajamas hung down at the front and back.

Xu Qing glanced at it out of the corner of his eye and was greatly alarmed.

Although I knew this era was abnormal, I could tolerate things like iron pots, stockings, and high heels, but I never expected...
Hu Meiren also noticed Xu Qing's gaze. Her face flushed with shame, she released Xu Qing's hand, placed her delicate hand on his forehead, and pushed his head away.

"Don't look!" Xu Qing also came to his senses and looked at Hu Meiren behind the curtain with an embarrassed expression.

"He must have done it on purpose. I only used a little force, how did he fall in like that?" Hu Meiren thought to herself.

Hu Meiren was overwhelmed with shame; her fair, swan-like neck and ears were flushed red, and her heart began to pound. She reached out and pressed her hand to her left chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

Although separated by a curtain, Xu Qing could still see a surging wave.

Damn, the scale is incredible!
Xu Qing turned his back, not daring to look anymore. For the sake of his own life, he could only give up being a beast and choose to be worse than a beast.

"My lady, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now." Xu Qing said, then looked up and headed outside.

"Wait!" Hu Meiren's voice was slightly urgent.

Xu Qing could only stop, turn around and lower his head, not daring to look at Hu Meiren again.

Hu Meiren adjusted her breathing, her beautiful eyes calm and deep. After much deliberation, she decided to confront Xu Qing.

"I think you should be able to understand what I'm telling you today. Don't play dumb with me. How do you know about the Fire Rain Manor massacre from back then?"

Hu Meiren spoke slowly and deliberately, and when she mentioned the words "Fire Rain Manor," a trace of sadness flashed across her face, her eyes reddened slightly, and she looked pitiful.

Indeed, it's impossible to gain a place in the Han royal palace with just good looks.

Xu Qing sighed inwardly, a conflicted look on his face. He was considering whether or not to tell Hu Meiren the truth.

Looking at the silent and conflicted Xu Qing, Hu Meiren felt a little anxious.

Her sister was her only remaining relative in the world, and she had been searching for her for many years without success.

Now, Xu Qing's place might be the only place where she can get clues, so naturally she won't let it go.

Worried about missing her chance, Hu Meiren disregarded everything else and tried to get out of bed. However, due to her weakness, she collapsed forward as soon as she stood up.

"Ouch!"

When Xu Qing saw that Hu Meiren was about to fall off the bed, he stepped forward without hesitation to try to catch her.

If Hu Meiren were to bump into something or get even the slightest injury, he would truly be going to become sworn brothers with Louis XVI.

Fortunately, Xu Qing was fast enough to catch Hu Meiren before she fell.

Hu Meiren blushed even more as she looked at Xu Qing who caught her.

Because Hu Meiren fell forward halfway down the bed, Xu Qing could only kneel down in front of the bed to catch her.

Hu Meiren leaned against Xu Qing's chest, their eyes meeting. They could both feel each other's hot breath. This was the first time she had seen Xu Qing's face up close.

Having spent most of her time in the inner palace, she only ever saw King Han An and his eunuchs. When had she ever been so close to a handsome young man like Xu Qing? Her heart began to beat faster.

"your hands!"

Hu Meiren said shyly.

Xu Qing quickly withdrew his hand and helped Hu Meiren back to the bed.

Once Consort Hu was settled in bed, Xu Qing quickly withdrew from behind the curtains, cupped his hands in greeting, and said...

"The incident happened suddenly, and for the safety of the beauty, I must not presume to help her."

"This humble official has been disrespectful; I beg Your Excellency to punish me."

Hu Meiren looked at Xu Qing outside the curtain, blushing so much she couldn't say a word. The thought of being caught by Xu Qing made her blush even more.

Seeing Xu Qing about to leave, Hu Meiren felt a little anxious and blurted out something without thinking.

"Imperial Physician Xu, you don't want the King to find out what just happened, do you?"

(End of this chapter)