The Emperor’s Beloved Ugly Girl

83. The Nosebleed

Translator: Iris Guo

Zhong Mingwei also knew that he shouldn’t be anxious to achieve quick progress. He stood up weakly and tried to relax the hand clinging to A’Chou’s shoulder and transfer the strength to his waist. He took a few breaths and then held his breath, leaning on her body at his convenience. He was much taller, and in this position, his big chest was rubbing against her chin. Lately, he had recovered quite well, and his pectorals were much firmer, which was due to his constant training of arms.

A’Chou had seen every part of Zhong Mingwei’s body, when he was naked. She was already used to that and never felt shy. However, she suddenly blushed faced with his broad and strong chest, although he was wearing thermal underwear.

So why did she blush?

A’Chou really couldn’t figure it out. However, when she smelled the masculine scent of Zhong Mingwei’s chest close to her, she couldn’t slow her heartbeat and felt that her heart was going to pop. She really dared not look at his chest under the white cloth which was soaked through by his sweat and hastened to raise her head. The next moment, she swallowed hard.

A’Chou’s neck was full of sweat. Zhong Mingwei’s delicate face was dripping with sweat, and so was his neck where the blue veins stood out. His Adam’s apple was trembling…

A’Chou went blank and felt warm in her nose.

“You… you have a nosebleed?” Zhong Mingwei was startled and held A’Chou’s face with his hands subconsciously. Then, he lost his balance and slumped with her on the back.

Zhong Mingwei’s body was totally beneath A’Chou’s. She was so scared that she almost cried. She hastened to untie the rope and sobbed: “It’s all my fault! Zhong Mingwei, are you okay? Does it hurt?”

However, Zhong Mingwei was still holding A’Chou’s face and looking at the dripping blood, worried. After checking her condition carefully, he finally let out a sigh of relief: “Girl, do you have a heatiness [1]?”

[1] Note: A characteristic of certain foods or stimulants said to cause emotional or physical reactions associated with temper, fever, passion, excess, or true heat

“May…maybe. Who doesn’t? It’s been so hot lately.” A’Chou was dodging Zhong Mingwei’s eyes, afraid that he might find out why her nose bled.

A’Chou remembered when she listened to some imperial maids gossip about the lines of an opera. The story told that when a pedantic Xiucai saw a gorgeous girl from a respectable family for the first time, he kept staring at her like a lost soul until he had a nosebleed, and had become a shameless rogue. She didn’t believe the story then, but she did now and felt extremely embarrassed. She was anxious to leave, but she couldn’t while Zhong Mingwei was still holding her face, which she thought was almost burning.

“Go wash your face and make some sweet mung bean soup to cool it down.” said Zhong Mingwei in a low voice while wiping A’Chou’s nose with his sleeve. He stopped worrying since she didn’t bleed much. Then, he sensed the pain in his back, frowned, and groaned: “Ouch!”

A’Chou was startled and hastened to ask: “What’s wrong? Anywhere hurts?”

“My back hurts a little bit.” said Zhong Mingwei with a frown. When he saw A’Chou’s round eyes, he added hurriedly: “I’m fine. No fracture but some bruises.”

“That must hurt!” A’Chou was full of anger, but she didn’t know why. She hastened to turn over Zhong Mingwei’s body and take off his cloth. However, she became even madder seeing the red marks on his back. “So many bruises! Nobody could bear this!”

“Madame, do you mind scolding me after helping me up?” said Zhong Mingwei helplessly. His face almost touched the ground, and the earthy smell had filled his nose.