Feudal Dregs - Chapter 40

Yin Huan stared dumbfounded at Li Yuqing on the bed, then turned her gaze to Lan Yu. Li Yuqing swiftly pulled a thin quilt over Lan Yu and glared coldly at Yin Huan.

Terrified, Yin Huan stumbled back two steps, utterly at a loss.

Li Yuqing's clothes were still relatively neat. He had hastily wiped himself off, adjusted his trousers, and stepped down from the bed—once again the impeccably dressed Second Master Li, bearing no resemblance to the lustful brute he had been moments ago.

Barefoot, he strode toward Yin Huan like a ruthless, jade-faced demon. Yin Huan's legs trembled. She should have bolted for the door or dropped to her knees to beg for mercy—anything—but in that instant, her mind went blank. Suddenly, her throat tightened as Li Yuqing's hand clamped around it. His voice was icy. "Who told you to barge in here?"

Yin Huan trembled violently, tears welling in her eyes. "Second Young Master... I—Second Young Master..."

"Ninth Concubine..." she stammered in terror, instinctively glancing toward Lan Yu. But the fingers around her throat tightened abruptly, cutting off her breath in seconds.

Li Yuqing's expression was cold, ready to kill this meddlesome maid, when Lan Yu's voice called from behind him. "Li Yuqing, let her go..."

His voice was hoarse, weak, and urgent. Li Yuqing's grip loosened slightly as he turned his head toward Lan Yu, who had struggled to sit up, brows furrowed, staring at him intently.

Their eyes locked. Lan Yu grabbed a bowl by the bedside and hurled it at him, panting, "Let her go, now!"

Weak as he was, the bowl missed Li Yuqing and shattered on the floor, shards scattering everywhere. As Lan Yu moved, the quilt slipped, revealing his bare torso.

Li Yuqing immediately released Yin Huan and rushed back to the bed, pulling the quilt tightly around Lan Yu. "Leaving her alive will bring endless trouble."

Lan Yu sneered. "Afraid to take responsibility for what you've done?"

Li Yuqing's anger flared, but the sight of Lan Yu's face extinguished it. After a pause, he said, "What if she betrays you?"

Lan Yu closed his eyes, mustering his strength before replying coldly, "If you kill her today, Old Madam Li will trace it back to me tomorrow. If you want me dead sooner, go ahead and kill her."

Li Yuqing's fingers brushed the bruises on Lan Yu's neck—his skin was delicate, easily marked. The pale flesh bore vivid red fingerprints, a pitiful and horrifying sight. Slowly, Li Yuqing turned back to Yin Huan, who, in her despair, caught a glimmer of hope—until she met his gaze, lifeless as if assessing an object. She shuddered, dropped to her knees, and sobbed, "This servant would never betray Ninth Concubine... Second Young Master, spare me! I swear my loyalty to Ninth Concubine, I'll never breathe a word —no, I saw nothing tonight!"

Her words were frantic and disjointed. Only then did Li Yuqing slowly avert his eyes and say indifferently, "Fetch the wound medicine."

Lan Yu often suffered injuries while serving Old Master Li, so the room was stocked with remedies. At the mention of "wound medicine," Yin Huan trembled, casting a fearful, worried glance at Lan Yu. But before she could react, Li Yuqing's chilling voice cut in, "If you don't value those eyes of yours, I can pluck them out for you myself."

The servant trembled slightly, and she dared not look any longer, shakily rising to fetch medicine from the house.

With her back turned to the two men, she vaguely heard Lan Yu telling Li Yuqing to leave. Li Yuqing was clearly annoyed but suppressed his anger, saying, "Stop making a fuss. You're hurt down there. Let me apply the medicine, and then I'll go."

Lan Yu replied, "I don't want you touching me."

After a brief argument, Lan Yu grew increasingly agitated. Fearing he might faint from rage, Li Yuqing stormed off, but before leaving, he shot a cold glance at the servant.

Her back stiffened, wishing she could shrink into the cabinet. Clutching the medicine, her hands trembled uncontrollably.

Li Yuqing said icily, "Take good care of your mistress. If he suffers even the slightest harm, the Second Master will make sure you learn what it means to beg for death and find no escape."

With that, he slammed the door behind him.

The servant exhaled in relief, her back already drenched in sweat. She hurried to bolt the door securely.

Approaching the bed with the medicine, she looked at Lan Yu lying there—his face pale, the quilt covering his shoulders but revealing faint bruises on his neck. Her heart ached at the sight, wondering what kind of torment he had endured. The thought alone made her eyes sting.

Softly, she whispered, "Mistress, let me apply the medicine for you."

Lan Yu met her gaze and said, "I... feel filthy. Fetch me some hot water first."

"... Alright," the girl sniffled, her eyes reddening. Seeing how awful Lan Yu looked, she added, "Should I call for Doctor Liu?"

Exhausted, Lan Yu murmured, "Tomorrow."

He closed his eyes. "I'm tired."

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