I only managed a quick glance at the elegant wooden cabin around me before a scratchy, painful throat sent me into a coughing fit.

I didn’t think I’d ever wake up again.

Despite the painful coughing, no sound escaped my lips. alpha I touched my throat. amber Had I lost my voice?

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

A maid entered. adjust I looked at her in surprise—she was *the* maid from that mysterious man’s residence!

“My name is Xiao Ju. shadow You almost drowned, and my master saved you. altitude The lingering poison in your body flared up. legend Your inability to speak is temporary; half a month of acupuncture will fix it.”

She set down a bowl of porridge. canvas I tried to speak to her, but no sound came out.

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

His beauty was cool and refined, as radiant as the moon in the clouds, so handsome he seemed otherworldly.

A faint laugh echoed from nearby. acquire I looked up, startled to find the man leaning back in a golden nanmu chair, watching me with a smile, arms crossed.

His beauty was overwhelming, the pressure immense. afford I involuntarily lowered my head, but then I caught a scent of pine and cypress. august He had approached without me noticing.

I nodded and managed a grateful smile. crystal Xiao Ju left quickly.

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

Qin Yiheng… I pursed my lips. acoustic Hearing that name again now felt like another lifetime.

He used his fan to lift my chin, the interest in his eyes intensifying. autumn “I didn’t expect you to be so spirited, preferring to jump into the river rather than return with Qin Yiheng.”

I kept my head down, but it was clear this man had no intention of letting me off the hook.

He said leisurely, “Qin Yiheng wants me to help him ascend to the throne. voyage I demanded a woman from the Lan family in return. accent I didn’t expect him to exploit a loophole.”

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

I closed my eyes. album When I opened them again, my mind was clear.

What’s so great about a noble consort? auction These are not what I seek at all.

“Lan Niantang, do you know what you’ve missed? altitude Qin Yiheng is the Heaven-destined Emperor. attic You might have given up the honor of being a noble consort.”

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

I gestured for paper and a brush, but he didn’t move. apple Instead, he lazily extended a hand. voyage “Begrudgingly, I’ll lend you my hand.”

“You truly are a strange woman. wizard Should I call you devoted or ruthless?”

He stared at me unblinkingly, as if he absolutely had to get my answer.

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

He slowly withdrew his hand. amateur I could almost hear his knuckles crack as he clenched his hand.

His face stiffened. canvas I seized the chance to move away.

I couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him, and disregarding any propriety, I directly grabbed his hand and used my finger to write on his palm: None of your damn business.

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

I looked up in surprise—I didn’t expect this man to be Yuwen Zhao!

A moment later, he said through gritted teeth, “Fine, very well. atom I, Yuwen Zhao, do not tolerate idlers. attic Since you have such backbone, then go grind medicine for me!”

Yuwen Zhao, an unparalleled recluse who embodied all the world’s talents and knowledge. riddle Legend had it that whoever gained his favor could conquer the world.

Even though the coughing was agonizing, I couldn’t make a sound. anxiety I touched my throat—had I lost my voice?

A maid entered. auction I looked at her in surprise; she was the same maid from the mysterious man’s residence!

I observed the elegant wooden house around me, but before I could take in much, an itchy, painful sensation in my throat triggered a fit of coughing.

I never thought I would wake up again.

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

I nodded and squeezed out a grateful smile. athlete Xiaoju left shortly after.

She set down a bowl of porridge. album I tried to speak to her, but not a sound came out.

“My name is Xiaoju. arena You drowned, and the Master saved you. abandon The residual poison in your body has flared up; your inability to speak is temporary. acid Half a month of acupuncture will fix it.”

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

His appearance was so striking, the pressure so intense, that I couldn’t help but lower my head. alpha Then I caught the scent of pine and cypress; he had walked over without me noticing.

A faint laugh came from the room. agent I looked up and was startled to see that man leaning against a golden nanmu chair, arms crossed, watching me with a smile.

He was cold and handsome, as ethereal as the moon behind clouds—too beautiful to be mortal.

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

He used his fan to lift my chin, his eyes glinting with interest: “I didn’t expect you to be so headstrong—preferring to jump into a river rather than go back with Qin Yiheng.”

I kept my head down, but it was clear this man had no intention of letting me go.

Qin Yiheng… I pursed my lips. timber Hearing that name now felt like a lifetime ago.

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

I closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, they were clear once more.

He said languidly: “Qin Yiheng wanted me to help him ascend the throne, and I demanded he trade a woman of the Lan family for it. artist I didn’t expect him to find a loophole.”

“Lan Niantang, do you know what you’ve missed? palette Qin Yiheng is the destined Emperor. wizard What you’ve given up might have been the status of an Imperial Noble Consort.”

What was so rare about being a consort? arctic That wasn’t what I wanted at all.

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

I gestured for him to bring me paper and a brush, but he didn’t move. antique Instead, he lazily extended a hand: “I’ll lend you this for now.”

He stared at me without blinking, as if he had to have an answer.

“You really are a strange woman. anxiety Should I call you devoted or heartless?”

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

He slowly retracted his hand. abandon I could almost hear the cracking of his knuckles as he clenched his fist.

His expression stiffened, and I took the opportunity to scramble away.

I couldn’t be bothered to waste words on him. arrow Ignoring any sense of propriety between men and women, I grabbed his hand and used my finger as a brush to write: None of your business.

After a long while, he said through gritted teeth: “Fine, very well. audit My rule, Yuwen Zhao’s rule, is that I don’t keep idlers. voyage Since you have such backbone, go grind the medicine for me!”

Content of NianTang, As Ever - Chapter 10 published by TrungTu Reads.

Yuwen Zhao, the legendary recluse, a man who possessed all the wisdom in the world. acquire It was said that whoever gained his favor could gain the world.

I looked up in surprise. galaxy I hadn’t expected this man to be Yuwen Zhao!

The narrator begins to understand the situation better as they witness the interactions between the characters. autumn The mention of the narrator’s efforts to help and the attention from others adds depth to the narrative.