TRT -Chapter 43 The Return of the King

In such a chaotic environment, just as I was lying under a big tree in the courtyard behind the clinic, sulking and seeking some inner peace, that reckless guy—like a giant monkey—suddenly scrambled up the tree, grabbed me, and dashed toward the West Wing!

“Mín Mín, I’m telling you! Today I met an absolute stunner! She’s perfect—smart, beautiful, elegant! You have to see her!” Eyes sparkling, he ran at full speed with me clutched in his arms.

“Let me go… my… neck…”

“Ah, sorry…”

Cough… cough cough… cough… what… what on earth is going on?

It turns out that today, while helping treat the epidemic in the western part of the city, he encountered a patient who had just succumbed to an old illness triggered by the epidemic. My family’s miraculous healer actually revived the person! Everyone was full of admiration, but a masked visitor outside the clinic said, “The patient may be alive, but the poison has accumulated. If not expelled promptly, they’ll die within three days.” After checking, it turned out exactly as he said. The two of them respected each other immensely and hit it off immediately, eventually inviting the man to stay at the clinic for a while.

Then, when she removed her veil… she was just… breathtaking. Completely enchanting… gentle, talented…

I said, “Hey, you’re not falling for her, are you?”

Yīng’s face immediately flushed red!

“Hahaha, no way… this guy looks like a street rascal but turns out to be so pure?!”

“I’m telling you, this guy has the height, the looks, the strength, the skills—a new-generation, all-around, sunshiny hunk! If you like her, go for it! Don’t come back if you can’t win her! Don’t embarrass us 21st-century people!” I nudged him with my elbow. His face was red enough to barbecue on!

“Stop… stop it, Mín Mín!”

The two of them laughed their way to the West Wing, where a clever little maid was pushing open the window. Spotting us from afar, she smiled and nodded delicately:

“Master Yīng, are you here to see our young lady?”

Yīng immediately transformed into the picture of a graceful young gentleman. In the fragrant courtyard, he smiled elegantly, radiating charm and confidence. The little maid instantly blushed and hurried to summon her mistress.

I said, “When did you learn that smile?”

“I may not have eaten pork, but I’ve seen pigs run. My friends in the modern era are all masters at wooing girls—I picked up a few tricks.”

I realized then the consequences of making friends carelessly…

“Master Yīng, is this Miss Zhào Mín Mín?” A soft, gentle voice. The tinkle of her skirt and hairpins filled the air. The first time I saw her, I understood why Yīng was so captivated! A beauty like this could enchant men effortlessly; even women would admire her ethereal elegance… white veil floating enticingly, subtle fragrance of plum blossoms, clear gaze, slender waist like willow branches… “otherworldly” seems custom-made for her.

She curtsied gracefully, smiling without flirtation or affectation:

“I am Yuèlò, pleased to meet you.”

A goddess…

My jaw practically dropped… I wiped my drool, and my two claws of excitement reached out instinctively: “Goddess, you’re so beautiful~”

“Goddess?” Yuèlò paused, giggling lightly, casting a calm glance at Yīng: “Miss Mín Mín truly is as amusing as Master Yīng said.”

Blushing, giggling foolishly… clearly embarrassed…

Following the principle of not letting a beauty go unappreciated, I shamelessly wrapped myself around her like an octopus…

Goddess Yuèlò truly lived up to her reputation: graceful, intelligent, well-mannered, clearly a lady of a noble family. Compared to my wild, rough-and-tumble style… it was another level entirely! She brewed tea perfectly, making me rush to the West Wing every day. Even Da Húlí and Guò’er, after a few secret investigations, stopped asking about Yuèlò’s stay at the clinic. Yīng seized every chance to deepen their bond.

By day, they rescued patients together in the city; in their free time, they wandered through herbal medicine and medical texts, chatting happily and making promises.

By night, he would serenade under the West Wing tree until dawn, until the whole clinic knew how to sing “I Love You for Ten Thousand Years” by heart…

Worse, Yīng fully exploited his male privilege, making me write love letters for him daily! Poems from the Tang dynasty on Mon/Wed/Fri, Song poems on Tue/Thu/Sat, and long compositions on Sunday—no less than 500 characters each…

Despite all this, they hadn’t even reached “Level B” romance yet! Just two days ago, he picked up a handkerchief for Goddess Yuèlò, holding her hand for a moment, and she couldn’t sleep all night from excitement!

What a hopeless guy!

In truth, Goddess Yuèlò, while reserved, wasn’t entirely uninterested. Don’t think I didn’t notice! Whenever I visited for tea, her cup had an extra tea leaf, and the sachets she embroidered for the two of us were slightly bigger! (Seriously…) Since I told Yuèlò that he liked long-haired beauties, she never put her hair up again. And that handkerchief from the other day—don’t tell me it fell by accident!

The whole clinic was betting on when they’d become a couple. I schemed, placing a 300-tael bet that he would confess today.

While pacing anxiously in my room, debating whether to follow secretly or stir things up (don’t make it worse), a cold gust extinguished the candle.

Doors and windows flung open on their own!

Shadows shifted in the yard, whistling through the night!

Terrified, I grabbed a feather duster and leapt onto the bed, hugging the quilt like a rabbit… Yesterday I had just recounted “The Ring 2” to Yuèlò (what was I thinking?) and now my mind was full of horror scenes. “Guò’er, where are you? I’m scared…”

Shadows flickered outside the window. The wind ceased. Silence fell, the moon peeked through clouds, and the courtyard brightened.

Suddenly, petals swirled in the air! Four figures in green veils descended slowly, spinning, forming a rainbow-like staircase with flowing sleeves. Four more in white appeared, holding flutes and lanterns, descending elegantly. Finally, a figure in black stood tall, framed by this lavish scene…

Could it be the Yíhuā Palace?!

Huā Wúquē is handsome, but Xiǎo Yúr is more practical… And those petals—fresh flowers? Did they carry a pouch to sprinkle them? Wouldn’t they wilt?

Readers, this is one of Mín Mín’s skills: the more tense the situation, the more she thinks like a completely normal person wouldn’t…

The black-robed man walked straight to the house. I gripped my feather duster. No way—I need a proper dagger next time, maybe even poisoned! But with my skills… I’d probably kill myself first… Lost in panic, the black-robed man calmly sat at a table, poured tea, and said without looking my way:

“Come out, Mín Mín. Who do you think you’re trying to whack with that feather duster?”

Eh?! That voice… I scrambled over to see him clearly: finely shaped eyebrows, prominent nose, thin lips, jet-black hair, eyes as deep as the sea—a hardened version of Luo Cheng’s face…

“You… you… you’re the Lord of Luò?!”

“Hmm… Luò is just a title. My real name is Luò Chuān.”

“Your face… how… why are you here… and the assassin on the cliff… Qīngqīng?!” Too many questions, my tongue tied.

“Miss Qīngqīng is safe in Chánglè. The assassins ambushing us have mostly been dealt with. From now, Luo Cheng and I are temporarily swapping identities. Don’t call me Lord of Luò. I’ll explain later. First, tell me where the gold-eyed Yīng is.”

Qīngqīng is safe—thank goodness… I exhaled, then puzzled: “Why are you looking for Yīng?”

“He’s a Shénfèng.” Luò Chuān’s face calm.

“Oh… he’s a Shénfèng?!” I gaped.

“He’s in this clinic?” Luò Chuān stood, eyes sharp. I could feel his aura, though something blocked it… “Where exactly is he?”

“You… want to do what with him? Don’t tell me…” I took a step back…

“Of course, what needs to be done.” Luò Chuān’s mouth twisted, revealing white teeth. Wait… are you smiling?

Seduced by the aura of Lò Chuān, I betrayed Yīng: “He… should be in the West Wing… confessing to Goddess Yuèlò…”

Before I could finish, he had already leapt from the window.

A surge of unease and dread hit me… I had to follow!

I bolted toward the West Wing! No matter how fast I ran, I couldn’t match Luò Chuān’s martial arts mastery. When I finally stepped on a doorboard—kicked who knows by whom—the scene inside had reached a fever pitch!

Luò Chuān, in black, radiating killing intent, eyes glowing, staring at someone like a burglar breaking in.

Goddess Yuèlò paled, hiding behind Yīng.

My brave Yīng shielded Yuèlò with a fearless, “I’ll protect you to the death” glare at the intruder…

Yuèlò’s maid rushed forward with a tray:

“What are you doing, villain?! Stop right there! One step closer to my mistress and I’ll smash you!” Brave little girl…

Luò Chuān stepped forward, picking her up by the neck like an ant. Her throat creaked…

“No!” I shouted.

Luò Chuān glanced at me, expressionless, tossing the unconscious maid toward me. Then he advanced toward Yīng… who was still in “mother hen” mode, shielding Yuèlò. The fool probably thought this was his chance to heroically save the beauty. Seeing the maid’s bruised neck, I shivered. There was no helping him—ten of me couldn’t beat half a Luò Chuān… I had to let it be… tears…

“Come here.” Luò Chuān stood handsomely, extending a hand.

“What?!” Yīng paused, puzzled why this apparent thief would beckon him instead of ordering him away. Still, he resolutely stood his ground: “I won’t let you touch a hair on her head!”

Luò Chuān smiled, sending chills down my spine.

“I won’t touch her. I want you.”

He froze.

He was dumbfounded.

She was dumbfounded.

And I was drooling…