Chapter 342: Chapter 134 Medicine Man
The wind and snow outside the door continued unabated.
Having just regained her lost clarity, Lu Tong felt humiliated at her secret being exposed and, in a moment of anger and shame, turned to leave.
But she was pulled back.
Pei Yunmeng gripped her wrist, the smile and gentleness in his eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by suppressed rage that gradually chilled his expression.
"Why push me away?" he asked.
He had discovered everything— the hidden colorful ribbon and the piece of wood, the deliberately estranged distance. He was always intelligent, and she had revealed her hand during their recent scuffle.
She couldn’t deceive him.
A favored son of heaven, pushed away by her time and again. If he had not discovered the truth, she could still make excuses, but once he realized it was intentional, he was naturally angered.
He was entitled to his anger.
A sudden sense of guilt welled up in Lu Tong’s heart, followed by remorse, then panic, and finally, confusion that she herself didn’t know how to face.
"Marshal," Lu Tong steadied herself and looked up at him, "There is absolutely no possibility between you and me."
Pei Yunmeng calmly said, "Why is it not possible?"
"I don’t like..."
"Excuses."
Lu Tong hesitated.
He was shrewd and perceptive. Previously, her disguise had been effective, but now that it was seen through, his nature demanded that he pursue the truth to the end.
Struggling to stay calm, Lu Tong continued, "Our statuses are different, you are the noble Commander of the Palace Front Office, and I am but a lowly commoner and Medical Officer. No matter what..."
He scoffed, as if mocking the absurdity of her words, "Lies."
Lu Tong: "You..."
"Lu Tong," Pei Yunmeng interrupted her, staring into her eyes, "your ability to lie has deteriorated."
His gaze was so intense, Lu Tong couldn’t resist and could only retreat, trying to avoid it.
The next moment, however, her wrist was seized, and she was abruptly pulled close to him.
They were very close to each other, perhaps his rage reached its peak, as a dangerous glint flickered in his dark eyes. As their breaths mingled, Lu Tong caught a glimpse of his lowered lashes, ambiguous and vivid in the shadow of the light.
"What exactly are you hiding?"
The cold wind howled over the mountaintop outside the door, the flame on the table flickered, about to extinguish. The silver embroidery on the youth’s attire shimmered with a magnificent cold luster, but even more dazzling were his eyes, like the stars on Luomei Peak on a summer night, tender yet sharp, exposing her with nowhere to hide.
Lu Tong said nothing.
Pei Yunmeng stared at her intently, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.
He knew Lu Tong was always very good at hiding.
From their first encounter, he saw that Lu Tong was not as obedient as she seemed. Later, as they interacted more, and as Lu Tong held her position at the Renxin Medical Hall, he set his sights on her, and she skillfully dealt with him every time. Truth and lies were mixed, indistinguishable, allowing her to escape every time.
In the Hall of Judicial Review of the Palace Front Office, with its plethora of punishments, he was very skilled at interrogation and had seen countless criminals, yet he was at a loss with this most formidable one. He couldn’t beat or scold her; even when he pressed her to the utmost limit, it was he who yielded.
Time and again, she counted on his restraint.
The elongated shadows of the oil lamp danced on the wall, intertwining in agony.
With the snow and moon outside casting a desolate glow, the young man’s eyes hardened with anger, giving way to a deeper tide, the color murky and indistinct.
He stared at Lu Tong and suddenly leaned closer.
Lu Tong’s eyes widened slightly.
They were very close to each other.
In the absolute quiet, the other was within reach. The youth’s features were sharply defined, his bright eyes reflecting her figure, allowing her to feel his warm breath and the faint, crisp scent on him, cold yet warm, gentle as a moist cloud.
She froze in place.
Those red, beautiful, thin lips approached slowly, almost touching hers. The shadow of his lush lashes came down like butterfly wings, tilting towards her with only a whisper of distance left.
He stopped at the last moment.
Pei Yunmeng’s gaze lingered on Lu Tong.
She stared straight back at him, seemingly surprised, yet without resistance or retreat. In her usually calm and cool eyes, there were faint ripples, as if holding back.
It reminded him of the look she had given him on New Year’s night, under the fireworks in the courtyard, obstinate and valiant.
A flicker of reluctance crossed his heart. His gaze remained fixed on her, but he halted the motion to kiss her.
In the end, he couldn’t bear to pressure her.
Lu Tong was taken aback.
Suddenly, he released Lu Tong’s hand, stood up straight, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly.
The lamp cast a cold, green light, and between the mountain’s son and daughter, the intimate warmth gradually faded, leaving both somewhat awkward once the trance was broken.
Lu Tong looked at him, feeling relieved, yet a slight, barely noticeable sense of loss flitted through her.