That night when they went to bed, Song Yuming still held her, gave her warmth, but he didn"t make a move on her. Actually, Xue Dongting had already prepared herself to take it. She lay quietly in his arms, looking at his face, somewhat disappointed, making it even harder to sleep.

After tossing and turning for a while, she heard the man"s voice low in her ear, “Stop fidgeting.”

Xue Dongting paused and looked up at him. Song Yuming was looking at her, his pitch-black eyes twinkling with an odd expression, his bushy black brows slightly knit.

Her heart was hammering. She mustered up her courage and asked, “Song Yuming, why did you marry me?” She felt it was a very serious question, so she called him Song Yuming directly.

He was caught off guard by the question. He thought about it for a moment. “I always wanted a woman by my side. I didn"t know it would be you.” His answer was very honest.

Xue Dongting frowned. “Didn"t know it would be me?”

Any ordinary village woman to accompany my remaining years would do, why would it have to be you?”

She didn"t quite understand. The man"s was breathing somewhat heavily.

Xue Dongting looked at him and said softly, “Are you thinking about…” Her voice was trembling.

Song Yuming turned over and got on top of her. “I want you,” he said brusquely. He kissed her on the lips, a kiss that was overbearing yet gentle.

When he finally released her she felt intoxicated, though she still held onto her last thread of reason. She held fast to his big hand that was trying to undo her waist sash and said, voice quavering, “Wait… Will… Will you treat me well forever?”

Song Yuming paused. “If I said I would right now, would you believe me?”

She didn"t know what to say to that. It was kind of a stupid question to ask at this moment.

The next thing he said completely broke through the last of her defenses. “How about I answer you every day for the rest of my life.”

Xue Dongting moaned gently and her lips were once again sealed by his.

Just as they were at the height of their pa.s.sion there was a sudden, urgent knock on the door, followed by a man"s voice shouting, “Brother Song—Brother Song—” His voice was choked with tears and the faint sounds of a child crying and coughing came with it.

Xue Dongting was stunned and Song Yuming was shaken as well. He threw on some clothes and got out of bed. She hastily tidied her clothes. Her hair was still a mess, but she paid it no mind as she hurried after Song Yuming to go see what was going on.

The courtyard doors opened to reveal a short man holding a boy of seven or eight who could not stop coughing. The man looked worried. “Brother Song, my boy, Guang"er, is sick, I need to trouble you to take me across the river… I have to hurry to town to see the doctor… I"m afraid Guang"er is not well.”

Xue Dongting could tell the kid had a chronic coughing and breathing problem. Previously, at the third prince"s manor, she had mastered the art of medicine to aid her in her wily schemes. She could tell the boy was having trouble breathing. She rubbed her hands to warm them and gently pressed the asthmstopping acupoint on the back of the boy"s neck. The boy"s breathing was soon much better. She lsaid to Song Yuming, “He still needs to go to the town to see the doctor.”

Song Yuming was surprised. He likely never imagined Xue Dongting was skilled in that sort of thing. He nodded at once. “There"s no time to lose, I"m off!”

“I"ll go with you,” she added quickly. “I can still look after the child along the way.”

Song Yuming thought it over briefly, then agreed. He was big and tall, so he made quick time carrying the child to the river along with the others. Song Yuming steered the boat from outside while Xue Dongting and the child"s father sat inside and looked after the boy.

The father"s name was He Xu. He was an honest farmer. His wife had died young, leaving him along with his only child. Xue Dongting chatted with him a bit and learned the boy had had this condition for some time.

I bitter gust of cold wind blew in. Xue Dongting was wearing thin clothes and her hair was a mess. She had not noticed before due to the anxious situation, but now this sudden gust of wind made her s.h.i.+ver suddenly and she felt chilled to the bone.