Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 170 Sharing the same bed
Tan Huaike stroked his flushed cheeks and teased, "Yes, I saw everything when I was wiping you down. What are you going to do about it?"

Shen Tu Zhuo opened his mouth, but the sweet words that the playboy could easily say stuck in his throat, turning into only one sentence: "What can I do? Sister-in-law, I feel terrible, my head hurts so much, please stay with me."

It was rare for him to show weakness, and Tan Huaike's heart softened. He became even gentler: "It's still very hot. If it continues like this, a person won't be able to bear it. Let me wipe your body again."

"No need." Shen Tu Zhuo grabbed her wrist, his face turning even redder. "Really, no need. I'll have Fu Feng take a look at it later. It's just a cold, after all."

"How did you catch a cold out of nowhere? Didn't Lord Tao say it was just a formality?" Tan Huai Ke asked. "Don't try to fool me. What exactly did those people do to you?"

Shen Tu Zhuo pursed his lips, not wanting to tell her, but unable to resist Tan Huai Ke's persistent questioning, he had no choice but to give her a rough answer.

The officials of the Prefect of the Capital City dared not lay a heavy hand on him, but they still wanted to get information out of him, to test whether he had found any clues about the old case, what his purpose was in moving back to his old house after so many years, and whether he had any means of revenge. This made them have no choice but to "teach him a lesson".

Physical wounds would be visible, giving rise to accusations of using torture against court officials. So they poured cold water on him and locked him in a pitch-black room. He could see nothing, do nothing, and no one paid any attention to his cries. It was as if he had been thrown into an abyss of no return, every moment an ordeal.

After an unknown amount of time, when he was cold, hungry, and mentally exhausted, someone finally came to interrogate him.

Then he came to an incredibly bright little room, surrounded by a dozen candlesticks, the light so bright he could barely open his eyes. And then those people asked him the same questions over and over again, like an endless cycle.

They wouldn't give him food, water, or sleep.

Whenever he was drowsy, someone would bring a candlestick close to him. The light and smoke kept him awake, and the wax dripped onto his skin, burning small red marks. The pain kept him awake.

This torment of alternating hot and cold, light and darkness, and the inability to eat, drink, or sleep began when he was taken to the prison of the Prefect of the Capital and continued until the Imperial Censor sent the Commandant of the Guards who casually said, "Oh dear, it's a misunderstanding, release him quickly."

Then he was forcibly dragged to wash and groom himself, and dressed in clean and luxurious clothes, as if he had only been invited to have two meals and asked a few casual questions.

They let him go so casually.

It was only a day and a night, but Shentu Zhuo thought he had been imprisoned for three days.

He walked out of the Jingzhao Yin in a daze, completely powerless to investigate their actions. He encountered the sedan chair led by Pei'er, and as soon as he sat down, he developed a high fever.

After listening to his account, Tan Huaike frowned and said, "You actually used such despicable means. No wonder there are no external injuries. You should take good care of yourself. We can't just suffer this in silence."

Just then, Fu Feng arrived and examined Shen Tu Zhuo.

Indeed, there is nothing seriously wrong. He has a good constitution, and a cold can be cured with a few doses of medicine and some conditioning. However, the real trouble is in the shadows, which is extremely insidious.

While writing the prescription, Fu Feng said, "They say that mental illness is hard to cure. I think that as long as you take revenge and make the other party suffer, it can heal your wounds and bring you some comfort."

At this moment, Shen Tu Zhuo had already fallen into a deep sleep. Knowing that he was alright, Tan Huai Ke couldn't help but laugh: "Everyone says that doctors are benevolent, but why do you, a doctor from a foreign land, keep using such unorthodox remedies?"

"Whether it's a folk remedy or not, as long as it works, that's fine."

"Let's wait until he recovers first," Tan Huaike said. "Since we've already paid the price, we need to know who the other party is before we can give them a real counterattack that threatens them."
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After Fufeng left, Tan Huaike remained by the bedside, decocting medicine while pondering matters.

A cold wind swept past the window, and Shentu Zhuo suddenly closed his eyes and murmured, "Grandpa, why won't you rest in peace... Grandpa, my brother and I will clear your name..."

Tan Huaike sighed and tucked him in. She had once truly felt that this house was unlucky, a place where the resentment of many people lingered. But now she could face it calmly. To others, it might just be a haunted house that had been abandoned for many years, but to Shen Tu Zhuo, this was ultimately a home he could never forget.

He felt both at ease and uneasy here.

He felt he would have no face to face his deceased grandfather until the knot in his heart was untied.

However, Tan Huaike was also slightly puzzled. His uncle kept talking about wanting to work with his elder brother to exonerate their deceased father. Had he forgotten that his elder brother had also died on the battlefield? Perhaps in his heart, Shen Tu Heng had never left and was still walking alongside him.

A moment later, Shentu Zhuo began to mutter again, "Brother, you're back... You... you mustn't blame me..."

Okay, so I'm dreaming about Shen Tu Heng's spirit again?

Seeing that the person on the bed had a furrowed brow even in their sleep, as if they were very uneasy, she thought for a moment, took out some calming incense pills she had made herself, lit them in a small incense burner, and placed them beside the bed.

Tan Huaike comforted him softly, "You've done your best, how could your husband blame you?"

Shen Tu Zhuo seemed to be under a spell, still muttering, "Don't blame me... for having impure thoughts about my sister-in-law..."

Tan Huaike: “…”

The calming incense pills took effect, gradually calming his mind and stopping his recurring nightmares. Perhaps this sleep replenished some of his energy, because he woke up not long afterward.

Tan Huaike served him some herbal medicine: "You still have a high fever, drink the medicine first."

Shen Tu Zhuo looked up at her, took the medicine and drank it, his face contorted with bitterness.

He shivered, pulled the blankets around himself, and said, "It's so cold."

Tan Huaike hurriedly said, "Then I'll add another blanket for you. You can take another dose of medicine tonight, and you'll feel better after sweating it out."

Shentu Zhuo suddenly grabbed her and said as if he was going to do anything, "Sister-in-law, I don't want bedding, I'm lying to you... Would you be willing to share a bed with me?"

Tan Huaike looked down at him: "Is this your 'evil thought'?"

"I thought I was just talking nonsense in my dream..." Shen Tu Zhuo said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Since that's the case, let me take advantage of this situation. Anyway, my brother... shouldn't be able to interfere." As he spoke, he looked around warily.

"What are you looking at?" Tan Huai Ke said. "Your brother is a true hero, not some vengeful ghost."

"Who knows if he's dispersed or not," Shen Tu Zhuo thought to himself.

"Even if I share a bed with you tonight..." Tan Huai Ke didn't push him away. Instead, he leaned in and embraced his hot body. His fingertips brushed across his Adam's apple, chest, and lower abdomen. He whispered in his ear, "With your weak and frail appearance, what can you do to me?"

"Don't look down on me...cough cough...I..."

Tan Huaike suddenly let go, turned around to grab the bedding and threw it on him, sneering, "I don't know what you're afraid of, Shen Tu Zhuo. Aren't you always unconventional and unrestrained by worldly etiquette? How come you're so timid, only daring to have impure thoughts about me when you're sick?"

Shentu Zhuo lay back and covered his face with the blanket: "Why is it so hard to win your affection?"
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Next chapter: Andu cannot be stayed in for long.