Zheng Lin was meticulously preparing the medicinal bath in the Apothecary Hall, glancing at the hour. It was already the second watch of the night; time was running short.
"Ze Cao, prepare the hot water quickly!" Zheng Lin instructed, his head still bent over his task, not even looking up at the yawning young apprentice.
"Yes!" Ze Cao muttered, still half asleep, grumbling under his breath. It was the dead of night, and here they were, disturbing their rest for some unknown purpose. Though he harbored complaints, Ze Cao knew that lives were at stake. He quickly set to work—fetching water and building a fire with the efficiency born of habit.
...
"Master, the water is ready."
"Good. Now, take the water to the Young Master's room." Zheng Lin suddenly remembered that the Young Master seemed to be particularly concerned about the young lady. He kindly offered a reminder, "Once inside, don't look around, just focus on your task."
"Understood, Master."
...
"Young Master, it's time for the medicinal bath. Our Eternal Night Order lacks female servants, so I must trouble you to carry the young lady into the bath yourself." Zheng Lin, ever the cautious one, would never dream of handling the young woman himself. It was far more appropriate for the Young Master to take care of such matters.
Gu Han nodded, carefully lifting Yue Lan and gently placing her into the bath.
Seeing her pale face as she sat in the tub, her brows furrowed and cold sweat beading on her forehead, Gu Han could not help but feel a pang of sympathy.
"Notification… Target's affection +5. Current affection value: 35."
"Everything is fine here. You may go back now," Gu Han suddenly recalled that the Eternal Night Order was composed entirely of men, and there were no female attendants. He hadn't thought much of it before, but with the young lady here, it seemed less than ideal. He stopped Zheng Lin, who was about to leave the room, and added, "By the way, tomorrow, find a clean and capable maid for her."
"Yes, Master," Zheng Lin replied, understanding at once what was needed. "I will take care of it promptly."
"Go ahead." Gu Han remained by Yue Lan's side for a while before heading to his study, where he would remain occupied until the early hours of the morning.
...
Elora opened her eyes, finding herself in an unfamiliar environment. Where was this?
"Elora, are you alright?" Vixen's anxious voice echoed in her mind.
"What happened to me?" Elora's mind was foggy. The last thing she remembered was leaving Skycrest Sect, wandering into the woods, being poisoned, and then losing consciousness...
"I'm sorry, you were poisoned by mandrake. This is all my fault," Vixen's voice trembled with regret. If only her medical skills could have been used in this world, Elora wouldn't have suffered so.
"It's alright. Such is fate," Elora reassured her. She didn't blame Vixen. In truth, Vixen's extraordinary skills were only necessary when someone was on the brink of death. In this world, if she had used them, it might have caused the entire realm to collapse.
"What happened to you?" Gu Han's voice broke through her thoughts as he entered the room, his eyes lighting up in relief as he saw that the woman who had been unconscious for three days had finally awakened.
"I'm fine, cough... cough... Thank you... for saving me!" Elora's voice was filled with deep gratitude towards the man who had saved her life.
"Be careful, you haven't fully recovered yet!" Gu Han said, noticing her cough. He hurriedly poured a glass of water and placed it before her.
Elora raised her gaze and met his eyes. She hadn't noticed before, but now, she could see that he was exceptionally handsome—his sharp jawline, well-defined features, and slender lips gave him an elegant, almost ethereal charm.
"Drink this. Your throat has been injured." Gu Han gently helped Elora sit up, placing soft cushions behind her to make her more comfortable.
Elora obediently took a few sips from the cup, the soothing liquid easing the discomfort in her throat.
As she sat there, fragile yet endearing, Gu Han's heart swelled with tenderness. Without her usual charm, she was even more captivating—fragile, yet strikingly beautiful.
"Notification… Target's affection +5. Current affection value: 40."
Elora unconsciously glanced at him from the corner of her eye, meeting his concerned gaze. She quickly turned her head, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. Her heart fluttered with an unfamiliar sensation—a feeling of attraction.
"By the way, how did you end up in the woods? And poisoned, no less?" Gu Han, noticing her embarrassment, skillfully steered the conversation away from the awkward moment, allowing her to regain her composure.