After Rebirth, I Married my Archenemy - Chapter 37

The water was boiling in the kettle on the stove.

When Qun Qing entered, Xiao Song lifted his head, but Fang Xie interjected, 

“What are you looking at? Keep your eyes on the water.”

Fang Xie, draped in his outer robe, methodically added sorted medicinal herbs into the water, ignoring Qun Qing. However, the crisp sound when he closed the lid of the scalding pot betrayed his mood.

There was a low couch near the window in the inner room. Qun Qing seated herself, propping her face on her hand, watching Fang Xie.

Two years ago, after being rescued from the temple, Physician Li had done everything he could to feed her medicine. When Qun Qing woke up, she had seen a similar scene:

White mist drifted to the beams, and Fang Xie knelt beside the bed, dividing the herbs. His small face was cold, like a child made of snow: 

“Master, just leave her. She doesn’t even want to live, what’s the point of saving someone like that?”

Yet, when Physician Li was away, Fang Xie still came to feed her medicine. She deliberately vomit on his robe, wanting to die. Fang Xie had been so angry his face turned pale, but after calming himself, he continued to feed her spoon by spoon.

When she later learned that Princess Bao’an was still alive, Qun Qing wanted to escape and personally seek vengeance on her enemies. But the sword that had pierced her chest left a grave injury. She lay bedridden for half a month before finally being able to move. Disheveled, she had rushed outside, only to witness this scene beyond the inner room:

The Emperor Chenming had already seized the palace. Chang’an was stirring awake from the chaos of the night. The infirmary was filled with wounded civilians. Rows of spring benches were occupied by those missing limbs, their cloth garments soaked in blood. Couples sobbed together; mothers held their lifeless infants; elderly women knelt in wailing despair. Cries of grief, pain, and pleading intertwined, forming an overwhelming net of sorrow that seemed to envelop the entire sky.

Qun Qing stood pale amid the desolation, feeling insignificant. Compared to these people, her life and grudges seemed utterly trivial.

That day, upon returning, she had downed her medicine in one gulp, surprising Fang Xie. Three days later, she was able to get out of bed. Ten days after that, she returned home, offering the family’s money and all the medical texts her mother had left behind to Physician Li as repayment for saving her life. 

Another ten days passed, and she learned basic medicine preparation alongside Physician Li. Together with Fang Xie, she carried a medicine box, tending to the injured.

Fang Xie walked beside her, still pouting, but he would take her medicine box when it became heavy and stand protectively in front of her when she encountered difficult patients. The day she returned to the palace, Fang Xie, unable to accept it, refused to see her off.

It seemed he was still upset about her last sudden departure. But there was nothing to be done—after all, she had encountered Lu Huating.

Qun Qing hurriedly walked in, feeling somewhat thirsty, and poured herself a cup of water. Before she could drink it, Fang Xie snatched it away. 

“It’s cold water and you’re drinking this?”

His voice had already changed to that of a young man. Qun Qing looked at Fang Xie’s back and suddenly realized he had grown much taller.

Fang Xie added hot water and handed it to her, finally speaking. 

“Sister, you’ve come back from your busy schedule. Are you here to ask about your mother?”

As he spoke, he handed her a reply letter. 

“Master said he found your mother’s whereabouts in Jiangnan, but he was a step too late—she had already gone south. Don’t worry, Master has gone after her.”

Reading the letter, Qun Qing grew concerned. Further south lay the border with Kingdom Chu, a region of frequent conflict with Dachen. Yet with Physician Li already in pursuit, all she could do was ask Fang Xie to pass along her gratitude.

“Actually, I came today to request more frost and dew,” Qun Qing said.

Fang Xie glanced at her flushed face, his expression tinged with anger. The bone-setting technique, known for its excruciating pain, had evidently been used again. What other young lady would subject herself to such torment to ruin her own face?

Placing his hand on her wrist, Fang Xie took her pulse. Qun Qing stiffened but didn’t resist. Instead, she asked with concern, “How is it? Any problems?”

“Since when did Sister ever care about her own health?” Fang Xie looked up, startled.

Qun Qing hesitated, unable to explain her rebirth, and replied awkwardly, 

“I care now.”

“There’s nothing wrong,” Fang Xie said, his tone softening despite his confusion over her change. “I’ll prescribe some tonics for you. Be sure to take care of yourself.”

“I also need a Zimu Zhuanhun Pill,” Qun Qing added.

Fang Xie looked at her with alarm. The Zimu Zhuanhun Pill was both poison and antidote—without timely administration of the antidote, the poison would cause agonizing death. Clearly, she was still undertaking dangerous missions.

Seeing his expression, Qun Qing reassured him, 

“Don’t worry. I’m not using it in the palace, and I know what I’m doing. I won’t kill anyone.”

“Fang Xie,” Qun Qing thought for a moment and then asked, 

“What you said before—if I leave the palace, this place is still my home. Is that true?”

Fang Xie’s eyes widened, his breathing quickened. 

“Sister, are you…” Hadn’t she resolved to stay in the palace? He had thought he would never see her outside its walls again.

“It was my fault for avoiding you and ignoring your letters,” Qun Qing admitted. “Come see me during the Lantern Festival. By then, I’ll tell you my plans.”

Her mother’s whereabouts unknown, Qun Qing had come to see Fang Xie as her only remaining family in the world.

“Frost and Dew, Zimu Zhuanhun Pill—anything else?” Fang Xie asked.

“I also want to ask for another medicine, though I’m unsure if you’ll prepare it,” Qun Qing said, sipping her tea and meeting his gaze. “Hanxiang Pills.”

From her mother’s notes, Hanxiang Pills were the only remedy to suppress the poison of Xiangsi Yin.

When Fang Xie returned with the medical texts, Xiao Song remarked, 

“Sister Qun Qing said she had urgent matters and borrowed the inner room.”

Clutching the book, Fang Xie stood at the doorway for a moment before suddenly pushing it open. The wooden windows were wide open, the night wind rushing in. The room was empty, save for a neatly folded palace dress by the screen, its gossamer fabric glinting in the moonlight like a cicada’s wings.

He rushed downstairs. Lights shone brightly in every direction, with the most dazzling at Pingkang Lane. Amid the crowd, a courtesan walked, her dark hair pinned high, revealing a pale neck. A giant glowing dragon lantern floated above her, and in the distance stood the towering, radiant Siye Tower.

“Qun Qing!” Fang Xie called out with a frown.

The courtesan turned slightly but did not look back, vanishing into the sea of lights.

On the first floor of Siye Tower, the diamond-shaped lanterns at all four corners were lit, signaling the arrival of patrons. Laughter and greetings filled the air.

Officials who recognized the young gentleman behind the railings would stop to greet him. Passing musicians, catching a glimpse of his profile, would steal a glance with sweet, lingering gazes.

Lu Huating leaned against the railing with one hand, smiling as he exchanged greetings, while his gaze frequently darted toward the staircase below. Yet, the person he was waiting for never appeared.

Of course, there was another possibility—that Qun Qing had taken the token he gave her and simply run away.

His fingers tightened around the railing, but his expression remained unchanged. A faint smile lingered on his lips as he continued to interact with others.

At around 5:45 PM, in Pingkang Lane, the bell tolled, signaling the official beginning of the night in Chang’an. For the last time, Lu Huating glanced coldly at the staircase below.

The resonating bell chime filled the air, and just as it reached the interior of the building, a tall, intricately styled hairdo appeared on the staircase, followed by a slender neck and a vivid red dress resembling a blooming flower.

Hearing the bell, the musicians accompanying Qun Qing, holding their lutes and lifting their skirts, hurried upstairs. Unused to wearing such a long dress, Qun Qing nearly tripped and had to gather up the hem.

“Why are you dressed like this?” Lu Huating asked when she reached him. His eyes betrayed a trace of surprise as he quickly looked away and removed his outer robe.

After all, this place is the red-light district. He clearly remembered that he asked Chi Su to prepare two sets of clothes, one of which was an ordinary cross-collar set. He thought Qun Qing would definitely choose that one.

Lowering her head, Qun Qing looked down at the emerald green open-neck gown she was wearing. This particular design revealed a significantly larger area below the collarbone compared to ordinary open-neck robes, exposing a wide expanse of milk-white skin that naturally drew the eye.

Qun Qing had always detested others meddling with her clothing choices. She replied coldly, 

“I think it looks good.”

She seldom had opportunities to wear such outfits and wanted to take this chance to try one. Although she slightly regretted it when the evening breeze hit her outside, there was no turning back.

Lu Huating fell silent.

Just then, a drunken patron staggered past, his unabashed gaze sliding over Qun Qing’s chest. Having never been to such establishments, Qun Qing experienced firsthand how intrusive and sticky a man’s stare could feel. Though he hadn’t physically touched her, she felt as though something had been taken from her.

After the man walked away, Qun Qing extended her hand again, and Lu Huating, with an expressionless face, handed her the outer robe.

Qun Qing said nothing more, shaking the robe open and draping it over herself to conceal the exposed skin. Lu Huating walked beside her and remarked, 

“Go through this corridor and go up to the third floor. It’s my private room.”

The outer robe’s cool fabric brushed against her hands as Lu Huating’s voice resonated softly beside her. The proximity made her intricate hairpiece tremble slightly, and Qun Qing felt an odd sensation in her heart. The closeness made her feel peculiar; if she extended her hand, she could touch the person next to her.

In the past, walking side by side with someone was something she only did with companions like Yang Fu and Fang Xie. Having a sworn enemy in that place felt unfamiliar.

The outer robe was slightly oversized for Qun Qing, its stiff sleeves repeatedly brushing against Lu Huating’s arm like a blade scraping his skin.

Accustomed to being on opposing sides, the idea of walking side by side felt strange. Lu Huating subtly widened the distance between them, his eyelashes fluttering as he moved without drawing attention to himself.

Yet the next moment, the stiff sleeve abruptly invaded the space between them, filling all gaps.

She had taken his arm.

Lu Huating looked at Qun Qing, who had a slight curve to her lips. Her gaze, though directed forward, carried an indescribable allure, and her eyes revealed a mischievous intent.

She gazed straight ahead, while Lu Huating’s stiff arm relaxed and dropped to hold hers in return—people were coming toward them.

The man, seemingly around thirty, was dressed in a round-collar robe with a sachet and a folding fan, carrying a wine pouch in his hand. His drooping, smiling eyes immediately fixed on Qun Qing’s face before moving to Lu Huating. With a faint smile, he said, 

“Yunming is here.”

Lu Huating looked at him for a moment. 

“Brother Cui.”

Behind this man followed the brother owner, confirming Qun Qing’s guess: this man was Cui Zhu. As they walked further, the group met the owner of Siye Tower. Fearing the owner might notice something suspicious, Lu Huating and Qun Qing feigned intimacy.

“Where is this lady from?” Cui Zhu asked, scrutinizing Qun Qing.

Without changing his expression, Lu Huating replied, “Brother Cui, have you forgotten the ladies from your own establishment?”

Cui Zhu hesitated, glancing at the madam behind him. Madam Liu trembled under Lu Huating’s sharp gaze and lowered her head. 

“This lady is from the underground training quarters. When Lord Lu took a liking to her, he brought her out.”

The underground chamber was a secluded space beneath the surface, housing young women—refugees and commoners—who were subjected to punishment and rigorous training before they could be brought upstairs. Given the constant arrival of new faces, many of whom Cui Zhu himself had never seen, it was not a topic to be shared with outsiders.

Cui Zhu nodded in understanding. 

“There are over a hundred women in this building; it’s no surprise I wouldn’t recognize a newcomer.”

Lu Huating said, “If Brother Cui has no urgent matters, we’ll take our leave?”

“I do have one thing to discuss,” Cui Zhu remarked after a sip of wine. “Could the advisor ask the princess to inquire with Xiao Shaoqing? When will my troublesome younger half-brother Cui Shi finally be released?”

“That’s difficult to say…” Lu Huating hesitated. “The princess has always been at odds with her stepmother, and Xiao Jingxing happens to be her stepmother’s son. Their sibling bond is weak. Just recently, the princess visited the Xiao family and had a major argument with Xiao Jingxing. As for Xiao Shaoqing, being newly appointed and a stickler for justice, who could possibly persuade him?”

“Well, forget it then. Let’s drink and enjoy ourselves tonight,” Cui Zhu said casually, not pressing further and letting them leave. However, once they were out of sight, the smile on Cui Zhu’s face disappeared.

Cui Zhu’s other half-brother, Cui Shengbin, remarked, 

“Brother, do you really believe him? I think he and Xiao Jingxing are in cahoots. We should throw him out!”

Cui Zhu stopped him. “A guest is still a guest. Do you know how much silver he’s spent here?”

Cui Zhu didn’t believe that a mere Shaoqing from the Court of Judicial Review and an advisor could bring down such a vast and prosperous establishment like Siye Tower. Taking another sip of wine, he turned to Madam Liu, the brothel owner. 

“What’s the name of the woman Lu Huating brought with him?”

“Well… she’s from the underground chamber. This old servant doesn’t remember her name,” Madam Liu stammered.

“Brother, have you taken a liking to that girl?” Cui Shengbin frowned. “I didn’t find her particularly stunning.”

“There’s a warrior’s spirit in her eyes,” Cui Zhu replied calmly, though his expression seemed to savor the memory. “Truly heroic, not inferior to Lady Chun. Such a pity… Lady Chun didn’t know her place.”