Volume 2: The County Princess of Mountain Cloud
Chapter 36 - Don't Mess with a Doctor Wife
The night was hazy, and the surrounding fields were shrouded in darkness.
Dark grey clouds churned across the sky, occasionally dispersed by the night wind, revealing patches of the deep night sky.
Li Nan Ke sat quietly by the pond, his figure like a silhouette in an ink painting.
Grandpa Turtle, by the shore, remained motionless with his head retracted.
Like a rock.
Sister Goose, who usually kept the man company, was sound asleep, exhausted.
She nestled in his arms, sleeping soundly.
The autumn wind, blowing from south to north, caressed Sister Goose's meticulously groomed white feathers like a lover's hand, giving her an ethereal aura.
The small house was still lit with warm lamplight.
Wisps of steam escaped through the cracks in the window, carrying a faint, sweet fragrance.
The reason Li Nan Ke was outside enjoying the cool breeze was that inside, a beautiful woman, almost completely unclothed, was lying on Luo Qian Qiu's special steaming bed, receiving a massage to heal her internal injuries.
Although he couldn't see the process, just imagining it was enough to unlock a paid extra chapter in his mind.
After a while, the door slowly opened.
Luo Qian Qiu poured a basin of water infused with medicinal herbs into the flowerbed and turned to Li Nan Ke.
"Husband, could you please come in and move the charcoal basin?"
"Oh, alright."
Li Nan Ke tossed the sleeping Sister Goose into the pond and went inside to help.
As soon as he entered, a wave of hot steam mixed with the fragrance of medicinal herbs enveloped him, clinging to his skin and giving him the illusion of entering a luxurious sauna.
The extinguished charcoal basin was placed beside the curtain.
On the other side of the curtain, a graceful figure sat quietly in the candlelight.
"Be careful not to burn yourself," Luo Qian Qiu said, pulling back the curtain slightly and handing Li Nan Ke two cold, damp cloths.
"Use these to hold the handles."
Li Nan Ke took the cloths and glanced at the partially revealed space behind the curtain.
Leng Xinnan, wrapped in a loose robe, sat on a stool with her eyes closed, several silver needles sticking out of her head. Wisps of white mist curled upwards from the needles.
Her small, delicate feet rested on a round stool.
Looking closer, her feet were as delicate as jade carvings, with glistening water droplets clinging to her shapely insteps.
At this moment, Leng Xinnan looked as if she had just emerged from a bath. Strands of damp hair clung to her cheeks, adding a touch of allure to her usually aloof appearance.
Her slender legs, exposed beneath the white robe, were as fair and smooth as lotus roots, looking incredibly tempting in the dim light.
After dealing with the charcoal basin, Li Nan Ke followed Luo Qian Qiu's instructions and carried the hot water inside before tactfully leaving the room. He originally planned to find Sister Goose to keep him company, but she was nowhere to be found. He had no choice but to sit on Grandpa Turtle's back and enjoy the breeze.
Time passed like rain, and the night watchman's third-watch drum had long since faded.
Inside the house, Leng Xinnan, having washed away the sweat from the steam treatment, put on her clothes. Feeling refreshed and comfortable, she couldn't help but sigh.
"Doctor Luo, your medical skills are truly remarkable. If I may ask, which renowned physician did you study under?"
"If there's a chance in the future, I'll tell you, Lord Leng," Luo Qian Qiu said softly.
The underlying message was clear: We're not close enough yet, so please don't pry into my background.
Sensing her refusal, Leng Xinnan wisely didn't press further.
After a moment of silence, Luo Qian Qiu said with a smile.
"It's strange. Although Lord Leng appears cold, you're actually warm-hearted. But you must be used to treating others with indifference. Yet, after spending just a short time with my husband, you've become quite close. It seems you have a good rapport."
These words seemed ordinary, but the underlying meaning made Leng Xinnan tense up.
What did she mean?
Was she warning her about getting too close to Li Nan Ke?
Probably not.
Leng Xinnan frowned and thought carefully. She realized that she had indeed been quite friendly towards Li Nan Ke.
But this friendliness didn't equate to romantic interest.
Leng Xinnan was a straightforward person. To avoid misunderstanding, she spoke her mind.
"Doctor Luo, don't misunderstand. I just think your husband is very capable.
Also, I'm not afraid to admit that after spending time with him, I do feel a sense of closeness, as if I've known him before. Of course, this is just a feeling of friendship.
If you find it inappropriate, I'll keep my distance from your husband in the future. Or he can join another department in the Night Patrol, and I'll have someone look after him."
Faced with Leng Xinnan's honesty, Luo Qian Qiu was a bit surprised and then said with a smile.
"Lord Leng still doesn't understand what I meant."
"Then what do you mean?"
"It's getting late. Lord Leng, you should go back and rest early," Luo Qian Qiu said with a gentle smile.
Seeing that she wouldn't explain further, Leng Xinnan could only give up helplessly and nodded.
"Alright, then I won't disturb you and your husband any longer."
"Lord Leng, have you suffered any injuries before?" Luo Qian Qiu suddenly asked as Leng Xinnan was about to leave, pointing to her own head.
"I'm talking about here."
Leng Xinnan's eyes widened in surprise.
“You can tell?"
Luo Qian Qiu smiled gently.
"There's an old scar on the back of your head."
"Oh," Leng Xinnan nodded.
"When I was nine, I was playing and climbed onto the roof. I accidentally fell and hit my head, and I was unconscious for several days before waking up."
"Are there any aftereffects?" Luo Qian Qiu asked.
"No aftereffects, but my memories from before the age of nine are a bit blurry. It doesn't matter, though. I didn't remember much from my childhood anyway. Doctor Luo, is there something wrong?"
The woman suddenly became nervous.
Luo Qian Qiu comforted her softly, "There's no problem. I was just curious."
"That's good."
Leng Xinnan was relieved.
Outside the house, Li Nan Ke was yawning when a sweet fragrance wafted into his nostrils. He looked up and saw Leng Xinnan standing before him.
Her black dress fluttered in the night wind, revealing her alluring figure, like the most beautiful moonlight in the dark night.
"Are you done?" Li Nan Ke asked, standing up.
Leng Xinnan nodded slightly and said apologetically.
“I'm really sorry to trouble you with the case and then ask your wife to treat me."
Li Nan Ke smiled.
"It's fine, it's my duty."
They fell silent.
Remembering what Luo Qian Qiu had said earlier, Leng Xinnan instinctively took a step back, putting some distance between them, and said softly.
"Although I've written to the higher-ups recommending you for the Night Patrol, it's uncertain whether it will be approved. They need to review your application. But don't worry, I'll ensure your safety. Once you join the Night Patrol, with your abilities, you might even be able to join the Azure Dragon Division."
"No, I'll just follow you," Li Nan Ke refused firmly.
"I was being impulsive by showing off this time. I still prefer to keep a low profile and develop my skills steadily. Besides—"
The man's mind flashed with the image of Meng Xiao Tu, and he said seriously.
"I want to play basketball."
"What?" Leng Xinnan didn't understand.
Li Nan Ke didn't explain further and changed the subject.
"We still need to keep an eye on Landlord Lin."
"Is there really something wrong with him?"
"I don't know, it's just a guess."
Li Nan Ke hesitated for a moment but then revealed his deduction.
"Remember the first question I asked him?"
The woman recalled, "You asked him when he learned that he was infertile. Landlord Lin said it was in the fourth month."
Li Nan Ke's eyes darkened.
"He learned that he was raising another man's child in the fourth month, but he didn't start planning his revenge until the eighth month. Why wait so long?"
"Because he had feelings for Madam Lin and was conflicted," Leng Xinnan pointed out the key point.
"That's right. He had feelings for Madam Lin, so he was conflicted," Li Nan Ke said, a hint of mockery in his smile.
"But he chose to act in the eighth month, after the Little Prince Bai Bu Ai expressed his love for Lin Jiao Yue. This timing is a bit too coincidental."
Leng Xinnan's eyebrows rose slightly.
"Was he afraid that it would be difficult to take revenge after Lin Jiao Yue became a princess?"
Li Nan Ke shook his head.
"If she really became a princess, it would be even more satisfying to take revenge. After all, Landlord Lin would be the victim, and the Prince's residence wouldn't direct their anger at him. And Lin Jiao Yue would fall from heaven to hell. The blow would be enough to drive her mad."
"Then why?"
Leng Xinnan's intelligence couldn't keep up with the man's pace.
Li Nan Ke said calmly, "It's simple. He didn't want to get involved with the Prince's residence!"
The woman was stunned.
With Prince Anping's power, many people tried to curry favor with him, befriend him, and build connections. Why would anyone actively avoid him?
There was only one reason: Prince Anping was too dazzling.
Being too dazzling meant countless pairs of eyes watching him, both openly and covertly.
And if Landlord Lin became related to the Prince's residence by marriage, countless eyes would also be on him, even digging into his family background.
Then, all of Landlord Lin's secrets would be exposed.
"It seems that Landlord Lin has secrets he doesn't want the world to know, so he chose to act at this time," Leng Xinnan murmured.
"And there are many ways to refuse a marriage proposal, but this method is undoubtedly the safest. No one would suspect his motives."
Li Nan Ke sighed.
"In any case, Landlord Lin definitely had a plan for revenge out of love and hate. It's just that the incident with the Prince's residence strengthened his resolve. Of course, I might be overthinking it. In any case, I don't want to get too involved."
"I understand," Leng Xinnan said, looking at the man with a complex expression.
"Li Nan Ke, you're incredibly intelligent. You'll definitely achieve great things in the future. Gold will always shine."
Li Nan Ke said with a serious face.
"I think so too."
Leng Xinnan smiled faintly. Then, as if remembering something, she looked at him with a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Li Nan Ke, why do I feel like you're a bit afraid of your wife? Are you a henpecked husband?"
"Of course, I'm afraid," Li Nan Ke confessed helplessly.
"There are three hundred torture methods in the imperial prison, but doctors have eight hundred.
So, never mess with a doctor wife."