Miss, Please Respect Yourself - Chapter 13

By the time Wen Qian returned to the music workshop from the Tang Mansion, it was already past the fourth watch of the night. If she waited a bit longer, she might have even heard the rooster crowing.

Wen Qian had always been someone with a carefree attitude. She hastily treated her wounds and fell asleep almost immediately.

The wound made by gunpowder residue was uneven, and since neither she nor Yang Jin were skilled in medicine, their bandaging skill was lacking. It was no surprise when the wound festered, swelling to the size of a ham. This led to endless scolding from Lou Yan as he applied ointment, his lectures lasting a full two days before he finally quieted down.

Tang Shi was placed under house arrest, waiting for the imperial edict to decide his fate. The Tang family’s mansion was promptly sealed, surrounded by Embroidered Uniform Guard, with heavy guard both inside and outside. In just one night, everything had changed, the governor became a prisoner. No one could wrap their heads around it.

Under Physician Lou’s meticulous care and constant nagging, Wen Qian’s leg gradually began to heal. After a bout of fever, she had lost a bit of weight.

“If I had known the Tang Mansion was so dangerous, I wouldn’t have let you go,” Lou Yan grumbled as he carefully applied fresh medicine, carefully cutting clean strips of cloth and wrapping them around her leg.

The weather had cooled, and Wen Qian sat on the bed, eating green dates. She replied nonchalantly, “It’s autumn now. The crabs should be fat this month. Don’t forget to bring me a basket tomorrow and have Uncle Chen steam them for me.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Lou Yan tied a particularly tight knot, right over the wound, causing her to suck in a sharp breath from the sudden pain.

“Eat, eat, eat—eating is all you think about! Do you even care about your leg anymore? Do you plan on dancing again or not?”

Wen Qian barely registered his words, too focused on the pain. She pulled her leg back into the quilt and protested, “Mother Lou, could you be a little gentler? I’m a patient, after all, my body is weak!”

“Gentler? If I were any gentler, would you even learn your lesson?” Lou Yan flicked her on the forehead.

Unable to move quickly because of her injured leg, Wen Qian didn’t manage to dodge in time. The sharp sound of the flick echoing through the room. She buried her head in the quilt and muttered nonchalantly “I thought we were supposed to be on the same side. I can understand Yang Jin wrapping my wounds so roughly, but now you’re doing the same. You’ve all ganged up on me, taking advantage of my injury to bully me, right?…”

Lou Yan was in the middle of cleaning up the medicine bottles when his movements suddenly paused. His brows furrowed slightly. “You’re saying Yang Jin dressed your wound before?”

“Who else?” She replied, picking up another date and chewing it slowly. “He caused the injury, so it’s only right he tended to my wound. What, did you expect me to bandage it myself?”

Lou Yan sighed helplessly and shook his head. “You should be more mindful of propriety between men and women.”

Wen Qian immediately laughed. “Propriety between men and women? We used to sleep in the same bed when we were kids, so why haven’t you married me yet?”

“…” Here she goes again. “Can you stop bringing up the past?”

“Nope! The childhood tales of the esteemed and elegant Physician Lou are treasures. I’m going to remember them for the rest of my life.”

“…”

After finishing another date, Wen Qian stopped teasing him and suddenly pulled out a small box from beside her pillow, handing it to him.

“What is this?” Lou Yan took it suspiciously. This girl wasn’t one to give someone a gift so kindly out of the blue. Just as he was about to mutter a few words, he opened the box and froze.

Inside was a vine, black all over, with small white berries the size of peas hanging from each end.

“Yuli Hanxiang?” He quickly closed the box and frowned. “Didn’t they seal the Tang Mansion? When did you get this?”

Wen Qian casually brushed her hair back. “Of course, I took it when the Embroidered Uniform Guard weren’t paying attention.”

“You sneaked out?” He had already known she wasn’t as obedient as she seemed, but this was beyond his expectations. “No wonder your wound got worse instead of better. It turns out you sneaked back into the Tang Mansion behind my back?!”

He gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the table. “You broken-leg crab! With your mediocre skills, you dared to pull off such a stunt? Who do you think those Embroidered Uniform Guard are? If they caught you, they might have implicated you as Tang Shi’s accomplice! Do you even understand how serious it is for a vassal king to stage a rebellion? In the past, the current…”

As soon as Lou Yan’s temper flared and he began to ramble, Wen Qian hurriedly cut him off before his ears could suffer further.

“Alright, alright… But nothing happened, right? Your main concern right now is to get that medicine ready and quickly destroy the evidence. If we’re discovered any later, that’s when the real trouble begins.”

She shoved the medicine box back into his hands, her gaze was serious. “Lou Yan, I’m counting on you.”

Lou Yan, having only vented a fraction of his frustration, sighed deeply. After listening, he could only put the box away, and he was a little hesitant.

“I understand… I’ll do my best.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke. They sat there in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Finally, they were interrupted by soft whispers from the doorway. Wen Qian snapped back to reality and replaced her serious expression with a mischievous smile.

“Alright, Physician Lou. This little injury of mine doesn’t need any more of your time. You’ve got other matters to attend to, and if you stay any longer, some people might start getting anxious.” She glanced meaningfully toward the door.

Recently, Lou Yan had been coming every day to check on Wen Qian’s pulse,  so the little junior sisters knew exactly when to expect him. They waited eagerly by the entrance, peering anxiously at anyone who approached.

Noticing his gaze shift toward the door, they immediately began nudging each other and teasing.

“He’s looking at you. Aren’t you going to go in?”

“Stop it! Don’t pull my hair!”

Though Physician Lou’s medicine might not have been particularly reliable, his good looks made up for any shortcomings. With his handsome face and gentle demeanor, he naturally attracted countless young girls who had yet to experience love.

Lou Yan could only shake his head helplessly with a wry smile. Slinging his medicine box over his shoulder, he said, “Then I’ll be taking my leave now. Take care and rest well. I’ll check on you again tomorrow.”

Wen Qian leaned back against the bed as if watching a good show.  “Take your time!”

As soon as he stepped out the door, two eager young girls hopped over to his side.

“Physician Lou, is your medicine box heavy? Let me carry it for you!”

“No need, no need…”

“Physician Lou, it must be hard treating patients all day. Are you hungry? Would you like to eat something first?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine…”

“Physician Lou, is my senior sister’s illness serious? Will you come again tomorrow?”

“Yes, yes…”

A group of giggling girls surrounded him as he slowly descended the stairs.

Inside the room, Wen Qian teased gleefully, “Mind the propriety between men and women, Physician Lou.”

Whether or not Lou Yan actually heard her was hard to say, as only his anxious cautions echoed through the air.

“Miss, watch your step.”

“The stairs are steep, don’t get too close to the edge. Ah, be careful on the steps…”

The bustling crowd of girls fawning over him like they were “staring Wei Jie to death”[1] gradually moved further away. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Lingge and Youyue took the opportunity to slip into the room, calling her “Senior Sister” as they made themselves comfortable by her bedside.

“What’s the matter?” Wen Qian lazily propped her chin on her hand, squinting as she grinned. “Are you here to inquire about Lou Yan? One piece of information costs a string of coins, no bargaining.”

“You think everyone is swooning over Physician Lou like he’s some prized pastry? We’re here to ask about Lord Tang and Lord Yang,” Youyue said, pulling a chair over to sit across from Wen Qian. Lingge, who was younger and clearly coerced into coming, obediently sat beside her.

“These past few days, everyone’s been wondering why the Embroidered Uniform Guard suddenly stopped investigating the music workshop. But now we hear Lord Tang’s been arrested by Lord Yang. Senior Sister, is that true?”

Wen Qian’s marriage was the most important matter in all of the entire Tingyu Tower. Ever since she was brought back in the middle of the night by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the gossip had spread like wildfire among the performers.

Seeing Wen Qian give a nonchalant “Mm” in response, Youyue’s gossip-loving spirit ignited with fervor.

“I remember Lord Tang always coming to see your performances, right? Could it be… Lord Yang has feelings for you? So now he’s abusing his position for personal matters?”

Lingge chimed in, “Borrowing a knife to kill someone.”

“Taking away something by force!”

“Using any means necessary…”

Before they could finish, each of their heads was lightly knocked. Wen Qian chuckled lazily at them, “You two really have wild imaginations. Do you think an official of the court can just arrest someone on a whim? You’ve been reading too many storybooks.”

Youyue rubbed her forehead, asking curiously, “So, Lord Tang…”

“He was arrested because he committed a crime, of course. Do you think the Embroidered Uniform Guard comes out to play around?”

Upon hearing this, the two girls looked somewhat disappointed. “So that’s how it is. We thought Lord Yang and Lord Tang were fighting over you, Senior Sister.”

Lingge added, “I had high hopes for Lord Tang.”

“No way! I think Lord Yang is much better. He’s highly skilled in martial arts,” Youyue retorted.

“Come on now, is that the kind of person Yang Jin is?” Wen Qian shook her head. She lifted the quilt and pouted at them. “Look at my injury. I probably won’t be able to dance until the scar heals.”

When they saw her injury, the two young girls immediately sobered up, their expressions filled with concern.

“Senior Sister, you must take care of yourself.”

Youyue clung to her arm. “Without you, none of us have the spirit to perform.”

“Exactly, and with those malicious people out there trying to seize the moment to build their own grand buildings…” Lingge glanced out the window as she spoke.

Wen Qian followed her gaze and glanced at it lightly. The window offered a view of the bustling street below, where several craftsmen were working on an unfinished building.

Tingyu Tower wasn’t the only prominent music workshop in Guangling City. Over the years, the music workshop had suffered losses, and it was only natural that some would seize the opportunity to rise when the time is right.

Seeing Wen Qian’s expression grow distant, Youyue quickly exchanged a glance with Lingge, not wanting her to overthink while recovering. She immediately changed the subject.

“Ah, who cares about that little building! Come, come, Senior Sister, look at this new nail polish I got!”

“And this box of dew flower oil!”

As expected, they knew their senior sister well. Before long, Wen Qian’s attention was completely diverted by the cosmetics.

After a lively commotion in the morning passed, she took a short nap following lunch. Knowing that she needed to rest and recuperate, the group of girls refrained from disturbing her again.

From the front courtyard, the sound of a melodious guqin drifted in, making Wen Qian restless. With no one to keep her company, she leaned against her pillow, bored, flipping through a book. Just as she felt utterly idle, one of her junior sisters knocked upon her door with a suppressed smile.

“Senior Sister, Lord Yang has come to see you.” With those words, she turned and slipped downstairs.

The news hit Wen Qian like the shock of stepping outside with no makeup on, completely unexpected. She quickly regained her composure, her peach blossom eyes narrowing slightly in amusement as she glanced toward the door.

Perhaps to avoid attracting unwanted attention, Yang Jin was not dressed in his official robes. He wore a deep black arrow-sleeved robe, his fine black hair tied back with a hair-gathering crown, though a few strands hung loosely over his shoulders.

At that moment, Yang Jin stood there, looking hesitant and somewhat bewildered.

He hadn’t seen Boss Cao when he arrived, so he’d simply asked passing girls about Wen Qian’s condition. However, the girl had acted evasively and eventually led him straight to her room.

Realizing the girl’s intentions, Yang Jin felt rather helpless. When he finally raised his eyes to see Wen Qian, she was resting her cheek on her hand, wearing a mischievous smile. For some reason, he suddenly felt an urge to show no weakness, so he lowered his gaze and stepped inside.

“Lord Yang,” Wen Qian greeted him with a smile.

It was clear she still bore traces of illness on her face, but since she had the energy to apply makeup, it seemed her condition was not too serious.

Yang Jin approached her bedside, his tone still polite. “Miss Wen, is your injury healing well?”

She didn’t answer him directly, opting instead for her usual playful banter. “Lord Yang, despite your busy schedule, you still found time to visit me. It seems like you truly care about me.”

“Your leg injury was caused by me, after all.” Ignoring Wen Qian’s teasing, he took out a small green medicine bottle from his sleeve and placed it on her bedside table. “This will prevent scarring. Remember to apply it three times a day.”

Wen Qian hadn’t expected him to bring medicine. She stared at the porcelain bottle for a moment before lifting her gaze, a smile forming on her lips. “You know, Lord Yang, this lacks a bit of sincerity.”

Yang Jin glanced over. “What do you mean by sincerity?”

“I’m a patient. Aren’t you going to help me apply the medicine?”

Her expression showed a teasing intention, it was clear that she wanted to provoke him. Yang Jin lowered his eyes and remained silent for a moment, then suddenly nodded indifferently. “Sure.” He lifted his robe to sit on the edge of the bed.

She had expected him to refuse, planning to tease him further. She even had a whole script ready in her head. But Yang Jin’s willingness to play along completely threw her off. As she held her foot, Wen Qian hesitated.

Yang Jin caught her reaction and smiled. “What, are you afraid?”

“Who’s afraid!” Facts have proved that people really can’t stand being provoked. She immediately tossed back the quilt and propped her injured leg on the edge of the bed.

The ankle wrapped in cloth strips had turned slightly pale due to the tight binding. Yang Jin lowered his head, carefully unraveling the bandage layer by layer.

The wound had healed well, but the medicine she had used couldn’t compare to the ones found in the palace. The skin around the injury showed a faint redness. Seeing this, he shook his head. “Who bandaged you? It’s too tight.”

Lou Yan was her family member after all, so Wen Qian couldn’t help but defend him. “This physician is actually quite skilled. People come from far away and wait in long lines to see him.” It wasn’t exactly untrue, though she conveniently left out that most of those patients were young girls…

Upon hearing this, Yang Jin merely chuckled, choosing not to argue further.

The ointment, made from unknown ingredients, stung at first, but soon a cool sensation washed over the area. When she came to her senses, Wen Qian worried he might have maliciously used something to worsen her injury. After a moment, she dismissed those wild thoughts and rested her cheek on her hand to watch him wrap the bandages.

When Yang Jin was doing things, his expression was always serious, almost never diverting his gaze. When he lowered his eyes, his eyelashes fluttered with every blink…

Wen Qian couldn’t help but think: This man’s temper really was rather good sometimes.

As she thought about it, a mischievous idea slowly formed in her mind.

While Yang Jin was still busy wrapping the bandages, he suddenly felt a gust of wind. Before he could withdraw his hands, both his wrists were swiftly bound by her silk ribbon. She tugged hard, binding him tightly.

He struggled briefly, frowning slightly in annoyance. “What are you trying to do now?”

With one hand wrapped around the silk ribbon, Wen Qian leaned in closer with a sweet smile. “I started practicing dancing when I was ten. The first thing I mastered was the water sleeves. Back then, the sleeves were long and I was short, so I’d often trip over them. Eventually, I figured out this trick. Today, I’ll let you have a taste of it.”

As she finished speaking, she reached out with her free hand and gently lifted Yang Jin’s chin with her fingertips, moving closer to him. “Lord Yang, you’ve caught the person, solved the case, and claimed all the credit. Don’t you think you should compensate me for something?”

Yang Jin turned his head away, avoiding her hand. “Wasn’t the previous agreement enough compensation?”

“That was for helping you investigate the case. Now that my leg is injured, we need to settle this separately.”

Wen Qian tilted her head in thought. “That day in the dungeon, you said you could pay any amount of compensation. Hmm, I need to think about what I should ask for…”

As her gaze shifted away, Yang Jin suddenly yanked her hand forward. Before she could react, she found herself spinning in the air and falling back onto the bed. When Wen Qian came to her senses, her hands were bound by the same silk ribbon, and somehow, Yang Jin had freed himself completely.

“Miss Wen.” Yang Jin leaned down to look at her, his tone light, “In the imperial prison, there’s a torture device called the ‘Immortal Binding Rope’. I’m not talented but I’ve used it a few times; I’m quite skilled with it.”

Wen Qian glared at him, baring her teeth. “Despicable!”

“Likewise.”

Unwilling to give in, and even more unwilling to admit defeat, she simply lifted her leg and hooked it around his waist, pulling him closer.

“…”

Yang Jin frowned at her. “Let go.”

Wen Qian raised an eyebrow. “You first.”

The two stared each other down, teeth clenched, both refusing to back down. Meanwhile, downstairs, the young Embroidered Uniform Guard officer who had accompanied Yang Jin to come was still chatting idly with the musicians. Having waited for some time and seeing no one came down, one of the girls led him upstairs.

Yang Jin, wanting to avoid suspicion, had left the door slightly ajar when he entered the room. As a result, the scene inside was perfectly visible when the two arrived at the door.

It was even more compromising than the last time. This time, Wen Qian was currently pinned beneath him…

The young girl froze for a moment before letting out a soft “Ah!” and quickly turned away in embarrassment.

Yang Jin hurriedly tried to disentangle himself from Wen Qian but found himself stuck due to her leg still wrapped around his waist. Fortunately, the young Embroidered Uniform Guard officer, though inexperienced, was quite sensible. Having heard a few rumors earlier, he immediately grabbed the girl and led her away, apologizing profusely as he went.

“Apologies, sorry for disturbing you… Please continue, please continue…”

Before leaving, he kindly shut the door.

“Little Tang! This is a misunderstanding!” Yang Jin called out in a panic. “Listen to my explanation!”

However, the louder he shouted, the faster the two seemed to walk, their footsteps swift as if they were flying.

There is no such thing as a third time. This time, it was truly impossible to wash away the stain, no matter how deep he waded into the Yellow River. Unable to help himself, Yang Jin bitterly regretted getting into this petty argument with Wen Qian in the first place.

After hurriedly tidying up his clothes, Yang Jin slammed the medicine bottle onto the table, muttering angrily, “No good deed goes unpunished!”

Wen Qian hugged the quilt, shrugged innocently. “Who told you to leave the door open?”

“Is that really the issue here!?”

Seeing how upset he was, she laughed happily. “Are you really angry?” After saying that, she comforted him kindly, “In fact, I was caught in an embarrassing situation by my junior sister too. I’m not much better off than you.”

Yang Jin turned his face away, ignoring her. He stormed out and slammed the door behind him.

Inside the room, Wen Qian was still holding the small porcelain bottle, fiddling with it, looking quite amused and clearly in a good mood.

Footnotes:

[1] Wei Jie, a famously frail youth who lived in 3rd Century AD China, was considered to be so beautiful that hordes of admirers mobbed him/his home all day, which caused him to die of stress.