In the end, Mu Wanwan scrubbed both the fluffball and the dragon together.
She had no idea what breed of mountain tit Mengmeng was, but it seemed to love water. It chirped happily while flapping its tiny wings and paddling around the wooden tub.
Because she had to keep an eye on it, Mu Wanwan did not scrub Mr. Dragon’s scales. After giving him a basic wash, she left him soaking in the tub while she first dried the fluffball with a cloth and tucked it into its personal little bed.
To stop Mengmeng from running around, Mu Wanwan tied its little feet again this time.
“Chirp~!”
Mengmeng cried out excitedly and lay comfortably on its little cushion.
It had become a clean, fragrant little bird once more.
A cause for celebration.
Mu Wanwan rubbed her aching shoulders, sighed, and walked back to the wooden tub, preparing to get the dragon out as well.
She took a large cloth and dried Mr. Dragon’s hair first. By the time it was half dry, the water in the tub had begun to cool.
Mu Wanwan removed the mattress from the bed and spread out a large towel she had prepared earlier.
Getting the vegetative dragon out of the tub was even more difficult than putting him inside.
With the help of the “unconscious” Mr. Dragon, however, Mu Wanwan still managed to lift him out successfully.
She held him around the waist and struggled towards the bed. Because of their difference in height, his tail inevitably dragged across the floor.
Mr. Dragon did not mind in the slightest.
At the moment, he felt as though the only parts of his body that still possessed any sensation were the places pressed against Madam’s back and the waist she was holding.
It was a tingling, numbing sensation.
Far too seductive for a dragon.
“You’re so heavy…”
Mu Wanwan held the dragon, feeling as though her waist was about to snap.
She shuffled towards the bed in tiny steps, her clothing becoming soaked by the water dripping from him.
Mr. Dragon listened to her faint panting beside his ear and felt as though his entire dragon body could no longer endure it.
But he really did seem too heavy.
Madam looked exhausted.
Mr. Dragon felt reluctant to make her suffer, so he secretly cast a spell on himself.
Mu Wanwan had no idea that the dragon in her arms would suddenly become much lighter.
She was still using the same amount of strength as before, and there was water all over the floor.
Unable to control herself, she fell onto the bed with the dragon still in her arms.
Mr. Dragon’s back struck the jade bed with a loud thud.
But his skin was thick, and his body was sturdy. He felt no pain.
All he noticed was her body temperature pressing softly against him through her half-damp clothes.
Mu Wanwan had landed directly on Mr. Dragon’s chest, her cheek touching his bare skin.
Since she had been holding his waist, her entire body was pressed tightly against his.
Mr. Dragon felt everything he should have felt—
And everything he should not have felt.
His face instantly turned scarlet.
He did not dare move a single muscle, terrified that he might do something inappropriate.
Mr. Dragon was nearly cooked from embarrassment, but Mu Wanwan was not feeling particularly comfortable either.
Her hand had been struck painfully. Her thigh was pressed against his tail, and his scales were extremely hard.
The sudden fall made it feel as though the skin on her leg had been scraped completely numb.
She hurriedly climbed off Mr. Dragon.
Bracing one hand against his abdominal muscles, she no longer cared about the propriety between an unmarried man and woman as she crawled aside and hissed in pain.
Hearing her pained breaths, Mr. Dragon finally recovered from those indescribable sensations.
He released his spiritual consciousness and saw her lowering her head. Her reddened hand trembled as she touched the torn fabric covering her scraped leg.
Guilt instantly overwhelmed him.
Although he had not done it deliberately, he had still caused her pain.
Mr. Dragon’s eyelashes trembled with intense self-reproach.
He should have been more careful.
Mu Wanwan did not think deeply about it.
After the pain subsided, she began feeling somewhat better. She dried the dragon thoroughly, then started cleaning and tidying everything.
She remained busy for a long time before finally finishing all her tasks.
…
The weather remained fairly pleasant over the next two days.
Although the temperature had fallen, at least it did not snow.
After calculating the date, Mu Wanwan gathered the spiritual plants and embroidery she had accumulated over the past dozen days and left the residence.
She departed very early.
The sky was still grey and dim, and no one was guarding the outside of the palace.
Mu Wanwan followed the path to the side hall where the servants lived before finally finding Hongye.
She looked somewhat different from when she had followed behind Fuliu last time.
Dark circles now shadowed her eyes, but she seemed more energetic.
When she saw Mu Wanwan, Hongye appeared as though she wanted to speak but stopped herself. She blinked meaningfully at her, then hurried off to bring the ox cart.
Mu Wanwan guessed that she had something to say.
She waited until the ox cart had passed through the estate’s barrier and reached a quieter stretch of road before Hongye finally spoke mysteriously.
“Madam, was that your doing?”
Mu Wanwan paused.
Her heart stirred.
She guessed that whatever Hongye was about to say must be connected to Fuliu’s strange behaviour the last time.
However, she allowed nothing to show on her face.
“What do you mean?”
Hongye said, “Didn’t we come to deliver your monthly allowance last time? After we returned, Fuliu began acting strangely.”
“She actually ran to the edge of the forbidden grounds and waited for Lord Ao Xue to finish cultivating.”
“Then she loudly declared that Lord Ao Xue was the azure dragon tribe’s pretty boy with no real strength, and that he had only earned the right to cultivate in the forbidden grounds because he was having an affair with Lord Ao Qin.”
“Lord Ao Xue has a violent temper. He transformed into his dragon form on the spot and swallowed her.”
Hongye shuddered as she spoke.
“It was terrifying. It only happened yesterday.”
Mu Wanwan felt her heart tremble upon hearing this.
She had been wondering why the weather, which had been fairly pleasant yesterday, suddenly darkened in the evening before rain fell briefly.
So it had not been a passing shower.
Someone had transformed into a dragon.
Countless thoughts passed through her mind.
Mu Wanwan cooperatively showed a frightened expression.
“He swallowed her directly? That’s far too cruel. Did Fuliu offend someone and get cursed?”
Hearing her tone, Hongye believed that Mu Wanwan had not been responsible.
After all, she could sense that this madam truly was useless.
If Mu Wanwan genuinely possessed the ability to control people, she would never have allowed Bai Shuiyao to suppress her, nor would she have endured Fuliu’s bullying for so long.
Perhaps…
Someone really had harmed Fuliu.
“Possibly.”
Hongye told Mu Wanwan a few more things that had happened to Fuliu.
As they spoke along the way, they soon arrived at the market.
After bidding farewell to Hongye, who went to feed the ox as usual, Mu Wanwan paid the entrance fee and headed directly to Uncle Zong’s shop.
The shop door was half open.
Uncle Zong was waiting inside, and even Yun’er was dressed in thick clothing, dozing behind the counter.
“Girl, you’re here.”
A smile appeared at the corners of Uncle Zong’s eyes.
He gently nudged his partner beside him.
“Yun’er, the girl is here.”
Hearing his voice, Aunt Yun opened her eyes and greeted Mu Wanwan with a smile.
Uncle Zong stood up from behind the counter and closed the shop door.
“Uncle Zong, Aunt Yun.”
Mu Wanwan guessed that they had been waiting specifically for her.
She lowered her basket and, without wasting time, took out the second-rank Blue Star Grass and Hundred Treasures Fruits she had prepared.
“Good! Excellent!”
Uncle Zong looked excited and repeated the word several times, his eyes filled with gratitude.
Mu Wanwan touched the edge of her veiled hat.
“Uncle Zong, about these…”
Uncle Zong laughed heartily.
“Of course your uncle won’t let you suffer a loss.”
“But, girl, there’s something I need to tell you.”
His expression became solemn.
“Didn’t I previously mention that I was going to attend an auction?”
—
**Author’s Note:**
Mr. Dragon: “I made her hurt. QAQ”
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