Plotting with You: The Forensic Scientist in Ancient Times!-Chapter 436 - 435: New Ally

Although the two of them were open and honest about their feelings, and no longer had the previous estrangement, nor did they intentionally sleep separately, after all, they were on the road, and even at Prince Shuo Mansion, it was full of ups and downs; there was not a moment of peace.

In such circumstances, if either of them had any romantic thoughts, it would be as if they were mares or boars.

So despite having firm beliefs about their future, upon realizing how Lu Qing daily changed her bandages, Zhu Yu still felt a wave of heat sweep over her from head to toe. Without needing a copper mirror, she could guess she looked as if she’d been scalded with hot water, all red.

Lu Qing saw her face change strangely and thought she was uncomfortable, with sudden heat onset. Quickly, he reached out to touch Zhu Yu’s forehead, only to find upon touching that her temperature wasn’t too high, but Zhu Yu’s face flushed even more.

He then realized what Zhu Yu’s reaction meant, and breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes brimming with laughter.

He gently touched Zhu Yu’s cheek, lightly sighed: "I’m a perfectly normal man, with all the thoughts a man should have.

But rest assured, I’m just a person with normal desires, not a beast. I know clearly when to do what.

I want you to recover quickly, to get well soon, and live healthily and for a long life.

That way, won’t there be countless days in the future where I can do as I wish?"

His words were half serious, half jest, mixing truth and teasing, making Zhu Yu feel both shy and warm inside, wanting to cry and laugh at the same time.

Fortunately, at this moment, there was a knock on the door from the rune, telling Lu Qing through the door that the porridge was cooked soft and mushy, already cooled and lukewarm, perfect to eat now. If the mistress was awake, he would bring it up immediately; if not, he’d keep it on a low flame.

Lu Qing found teasing Zhu Yu amusing, but Zhu Yu had relied solely on the Great Nourishing Pill for so long. What she needed most right now wasn’t his semi-serious jokes but hearty, easy-to-digest food.

Hence, he restrained his emotions, got up to the door, and instructed the rune to bring up the broth porridge.

In no time, the rune came upstairs with a large tray carrying a small crock and an empty bowl with a spoon.

Lu Qing took the tray, closed the door behind, and hadn’t even reached the bedside when Zhu Yu smelled the fresh, enticing aroma.

Zhu Yu, initially too weak after sleeping too long without waking up with a strong sense of hunger, was now enticed with appetite by the aroma.

Lu Qing placed the crock on the table, carefully served a bowl of porridge, cooked to perfection, with most of the rice grains dissolved, minced chicken finely mixed among them, sprinkled with a few bits of spring onion, enhancing the aroma.

The porridge was indeed at the perfect temperature. After Lu Qing tested it, he brought it over, sitting on the edge of the bed, holding the bowl in one hand while gently scooping a spoonful, scraping it along the bowl’s edge, bringing it to Zhu Yu’s mouth.

Zhu Yu pulled her hands out from under the blanket: "I can move my arms, I can eat by myself, it’s embarrassing to be fed like a big person."

"It’s alright, it’s just the two of us here; I naturally won’t laugh at you. Unless you want to laugh at yourself?" Lu Qing asked with a smile, and added, "Even though the wound on your arm is shallow and healing fast, right now, there’s no issue, but you haven’t had a grain of rice for so many days, relying on Yan Daoxin’s pills to stave off hunger isn’t the same as being full.

This time, make sure to eat well, and next time naturally you’ll regain your strength. Then I’ll keep you company, and the two of us will eat together."

Zhu Yu nodded slightly. She didn’t like feeling incapable, having to be fed even for meals, it felt like being a waste.

But merely pulling her arms out from the blanket and placing them outside, such a simple action, made her feel a wave of weakness—her arms didn’t feel any pain from the wounds, just light and soft, as if boneless.

In such a state, there’s truly no way to push too hard.

Though her appetite was whetted by the aroma, Lu Qing didn’t feed her the entire small bowl in one go; instead, he chatted with her, feeding her slowly, taking scattered moments to eat until she finished.

Despite only being a small bowl, on normal days it might just serve as an appetizer, but today she couldn’t eat more than one bite and put it down.

Zhu Yu’s energy was still lacking; after chatting for so long, she tired, leaned back, eyelids fluttering, and before she knew it, she drifted to sleep.

Lu Qing gently helped her lie flat, then took the remaining porridge out of the room, lightly closing the door.

So Zhu Yu went through two or three more days of intermittent consciousness, gradually regaining strength and spirit under Lu Qing’s careful nursing with small meals, until she could sit up on her own in bed. Despite the unhealed wounds limiting large movements, she could slowly move about and walk around the room.

With her spirits lifted, she finally had time to inquire with Lu Qing about matters previously unaddressed.

The reason Lu Chao could come to respond was ultimately because Lu Qing sent a letter via Shadow Guard to Lu Chao, confirming that Lu Yan had chosen their side, willing to stand with them and advance and retreat together.

Lu Yan’s firm choice this time undoubtedly gave Lu Jun, who had previously been cautious and hadn’t expressed any stance, a settling pill.

Lu Jun was always prudent, neither aligning with Lu Zhang to gain Duke Yan’s favor nor teaming with any brothers who were not influential enough, solely to maintain self-preservation.

However, recently, Lu Chao progressively made him realize that dark undercurrents were surging all around them, and they were all part of this; nobody could remain unscathed or detached.

So choosing to observe when the situation is unclear is wise, but once the beginnings of a scenario are evident, hesitating, looking back and forth becomes foolish.

Just as Lu Jun’s original position of cautious observation began to waver, Lu Yan’s decision came at a fitting moment.

Thus, Lu Jun finally resolved to ally with Lu Chao.

And coincidentally, at this time, Lu Qing’s plea for help arrived.