The Darker the Night, The Brighter the Stars

Luo Qi continued to smile which made Zhao Yan feel vigilant.

"I wonder why Qi-gege came here to my home? Are you hurt anywhere? Sick or feeling faint? Would you like me to check your pulse?" This was only as a form of courtesy but she did not expect the other party to nod and move to sit beside her.

Zhao Yan's eyes widened.

"A..ah.. Of course. Chun Lan, please get me some clean cloth for the young master."

Chun Lan bowed and left. She returned after a short while and brought forth a clean yet thin piece of cloth. Zhao Yan placed it over Luo Qi's wrist. The latter's eyes were still pinned on her and his quiet persona really made things awkward between them.

They have only met two times before and they barely talked. They were not even close enough to be called acquaintances which was why Zhao Yan was curious why he seemed to act so familiarly towards her.

Was he planning something? But she did not do him any ill...

And what could possibly be the reason why a scholar of the esteemed Grand Tutor's mansion be staying here at a small town? She also did not think that he would know her real identity because their paths never crossed until a few months ago.

Zhao Yan patiently felt his pulse before taking her hand away as well as the cloth.

"En. Qi-gege is very healthy. You were able to recover well. However, Qi-gege 's body is a little cold so I recommend eating warm foods to dispel the coldness. Also, since its not good to eat oily foods during this season, please be more mindful of your meals. Other than that, everything else is fine." She said briefly.

Luo Qi smiled. "But I wonder why I still feel something wrong with my body. "

Zhao Yan was confused. "I will check one more time."

She placed the cloth back and felt for his pulse again. After a few seconds, Zhao Yan could not find anything else other than the things she mentioned.

Luo Qi chuckled at her confused state which he found charming and cute. He was already surprised of her level of medical skills and he did not doubt her capabilities after saving him.

But for some reason, he really could not and cannot forget about her. Even when he found out she was with child, her face kept appearing in his mind. He could not understand this curiosity he was feeling.

He told himself that it would surely pass after a few weeks and after that, he would forget about her and go back to the capital. He even invited her to a meal to express his thanks because he felt that it was only right and that it was the proper way to spend more time with her and judge her character for himself. It was also to thank her.

He was puzzled when she refused and told them she was pregnant, saying that her diet was being monitored closely but it did not seem sincere. Being a scholar, Luo Qi was aware that her words were half true and half false.

She said that as an excuse to get away and even disappeared. He ordered Luo Hanting to trail after her but he failed to follow her silhouette after she vanished inside a medicine shop.

Luo Qi wondered if he would see her again. He later told himself to wait and allow the feeling to pass.

Against his expectations, she remained imprinted in his mind. He did not know what this meant but he knew that he would not find the answer unless he saw her again.

It was only when he saw her in the market a few days ago did he realized why she seemed familiar to him.

She was from Prince Li's mansion and was the missing fourth miss. He had only seen her once before and it was when she stormed out of a restaurant with a gloomy expression after the pair of lovebirds, Li Dabao and Wei Gao Xi left together.

A few days later, he heard news that the second young master of Duke Ying's residence was attacked and rendered impotent. There was also news of the fourth young miss of Prince Li's mansion disappearing and eloping with a man. These two news became the hot topics in the capital so he was naturally aware about it despite not being a social butterfly, only mingling around with fellow scholars.

"It was that bitch! I'm sure of it!"

"Xi'er, calm down. Yan'er might know medicine but she's weak and does not have the guts to do something like attacking Tian Luo. Furthermore, he became a retard since that incident so we can't force him to confess that it was Yan'er who did it."

"Brother Li, we both know that Li Zhao Yan is skilled in medicine. Even if she's weak, a cornered animal like her would resort to many methods during desperate situations."

"That is true... But Yan'er is gone now. What do we do? "

"Brother Li, you don't have to worry. With all the nasty rumors surrounding her, would she even have the face to come back? Furthemore, Uncle Li and the rest of Prince Li's mansion was embarrassed by her shameless actions of eloping with a man. They won't cover for her and even if she tells the truth that Tian Luo tried to take advantage of her, who would believe her words? She's just an unfavored missy. Brother Li... Don't worry yourself over this matter anymore."

"Hehe, Xi'er. You're so smart. I really like you."

After overhearing this conversation, Luo Qi was able to conclude that the storming lady he saw from the restaurant was in fact the fourth miss of Prince Li's mansion and that she was the reason why the second young master of Duke Ying's residence turned into a retarded trash who could not conceive the next generation.

Maybe Luo Qi was bored or he felt like he needed something new in his life but his interest towards the fourth miss was growing increasingly burdensome. He came here today just so he could satisfy his curiosity.

How odd that he found himself feeling a little happier than normal.

Maybe because the fourth miss has a pure and innocent air around her that he felt very relaxed and at ease?

Though he did not truly understood what this foreign feeling felt, he followed his instincts and did what made him happy.

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