Chapter 91 -

Chapter 91: Chapter

As Liu Feng stopped the wheelchair near the entrance of Zhengyu’s bedchamber, Zhengyu held up his hand to halt the guard. He didn’t turn around right away.

"Yimei."

Yimei, who was walking a few paces behind him, stopped her soft footsteps. She tilted her head, looking at his broad back in the dim lantern light. "Yes, husband?"

Zhengyu slowly turned his head, his sharp jawline catching the amber glow of the hanging lanterns. His dark eyes locked onto hers with a quiet, intense weight.

"Do not forget the promise you made to me last night," Zhengyu said slowly, his tone firm and unyielding. "You owe me for agreeing to attend that banquet today."

Yimei’s lips curled into a gentle, knowing smile. She remembered every word of their midnight bargain. "I haven’t forgotten, Zhengyu. A deal is a deal."

Zhengyu watched her face for a quiet second, searching for any sign of hesitation. Finding none, he gave a faint, single nod. "Good. Get ready for the night."

Without another word, Liu Feng pushed the wheelchair into the room, and the heavy wooden doors clicked shut behind them.

Yimei stood in the quiet courtyard for a moment, letting out a soft sigh as the tension of the day finally washed off her shoulders. She turned to her maid , Qinqin, who was holding a small paper lantern nearby.

"Qinqin, let’s go change," Yimei said softly. "These heavy silk banquet robes are far too stiff."

They walked into Yimei’s side chamber. With Qinqin’s help, Yimei quickly unpinned her elaborate golden hair accessories, letting her long, silky black hair fall naturally over her shoulders. She slipped out of the thick formal gown and changed into a light, loose, and comfortable cotton dress.

Yimei walked over to the small window, pushing the wooden shutter open just an inch. A bitter, icy gust of wind slipped inside, rustling the fabric of her sleeves.

Snow hadn’t fallen today, but the air felt heavy and thin. The sky outside was a deep, starless black. Her instincts from her past life told her that the temperature was going to drop violently before dawn.

"It didn’t snow today, but tomorrow is going to be freezing," Yimei murmured, pulling the shutter closed again. She turned to Qinqin. "Go to the storeroom and fetch the extra thick cotton blankets. Prepare enough heavy covers for Zhengyu’s room tonight. His legs cannot take the deep cold."

"Yes, Young Madame! I will bring the thickest quilts right away," Qinqin replied obediently, bowing before rushing out to gather the bedding.

Left alone in her room, Yimei rolled up her sleeves and walked toward the small kitchen corner.

As usual, it was time to prepare Zhengyu’s dinner and brew his night medicine. She selected fresh herbs, carefully measuring out the exact amounts needed to warm his blood and ease the lingering weakness in his body. Setting the clay pot over the small stone stove, she watched the warm steam rise.

Yimei placed the hot chicken porridge and dark herbal medicine onto a wooden tray. She pushed open the kitchen door and carried the tray across the cold courtyard toward Zhengyu’s room.

Liu Feng was no longer outside. Yimei pushed open the thick wooden doors and stepped into the warm, dimly lit room.

Zhengyu wore a dark blue silk sleeping robe, sitting in his wheelchair by his desk. A small lamp lit his face as he wrote on a paper scroll with an ink brush.

Yimei walked over and set the tray down on his desk. "I brought your late-night food and medicine."

Zhengyu set his brush down neatly. "I am not hungry."

Yimei picked up the spoon and pushed the bowl closer to him. "Eat. I stood over a hot stove for half an hour making this. You need your strength."

Zhengyu looked at the steaming food and took the spoon. "You fuss too much."

"And you complain too much," Yimei replied, sitting on a stool across from him. "Drink all your medicine after eating."

Zhengyu set his spoon down and crossed his arms, looking at her with dark eyes. "Madame Liu and Madame Chen will complain about you even more tomorrow."

"Let them talk," Yimei said, her eyes shining with cool confidence. "Without their allowance and locked inside their rooms, their words are useless."

She leaned forward slightly, a playful smirk touching her lips. "Besides, I have a strong husband on my side now. Or did you forget our twenty-four-hour deal?"

Zhengyu leaned back, a dark, clever smile spreading across his face. "I forgot nothing. And since today’s banquet is over, my twenty-four hours start tomorrow. You are not going anywhere, you will spend the entire day with me as part of our deal."

Yimei blinked, caught slightly off guard, but she chuckled softly. "A deal is a deal, Young Master Bai."

Zhengyu picked up the bitter medicine and drank it down in one smooth gulp.

A cold wind slammed against the wooden shutters outside.

Yimei looked at the window. "The air is freezing tonight. I told Qinqin to bring extra thick blankets for your bed. Keep warm."

She stood up, smoothing her cotton dress, and picked up the empty dishes.

"Goodnight, Zhengyu," she said, turning toward the door.

"Yimei," Zhengyu called out quietly.

She turned back to look at him. "Yes?"

"Rest well tonight," Zhengyu said softly. "You will need your energy tomorrow."

Yimei rolled her eyes, "What on earth are you planning on making me do for you tomorrow.. I’m not your maid don’t tell me to do stupid task."

Zhengyu let out a smooth chuckle, his dark eyes sparkling as he looked at her fiery face.

"Stupid tasks?" Zhengyu asked softly, resting his chin on his hand as he leaned forward in his wheelchair. "You agreed to my terms, wife. No complaining, no bad attitude, and no sharp mouth. Are you breaking your promise already?"

Yimei narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. "I haven’t broken anything yet. But if you ask me to peel grapes or wipe your shoes all day, I will make your medicine twice as bitter tomorrow night!"

Zhengyu’s smile widened, a genuine, handsome smile that softened his cold face. It made Yimei’s heart skip a beat.

"Do not worry," Zhengyu said, his voice smooth as velvet. "I have much better things planned than peeling grapes. Get some sleep, wife. Dawn comes early."

Yimei huffed, though a small smile betrayed her annoyed act. "Fine. But if you try to boss me around like a tyrant tomorrow, we will see who wins."