C63. Cui's Granddaughter Offers Tea.

C63. Cui's Daughter Offers Tea.

The people around the bed heard this and immediately looked towards Yuan Li with tears in their eyes.

Upon seeing a stranger's face, they hesitated, clearly not trusting Yuan Li.

Furrowing his brow, Yuan Li raised his voice, "If you delay any longer, this child will die!"

Cui Xuan's daughter-in-law, Mingshi, abruptly stood up, decisively reprimanded the servants to make way, and pulled her husband aside, choked up saying, "Please save the child, sir."

Yuan Li could respond, he picked up the child from the bed.

Cui Xuan tightly held the hand of his servant, looking hopefully at Yuan Li, immediately saying, "As long as you can save my beloved grandchild, I will crown you for your cappingceremony! What do you say?"

He placed all his hope on this young man, grateful to Yuan Li if he could help his grandchild survive until the doctor arrived.

Yuan Li didn't even pay attention to his words at that moment.

When a child chokes while eating, it can block the airway and cause difficulty breathing, even lead to asphyxiation, potentially resulting in death within minutes. In such cases, immediate use of the Heimlich maneuver is required.

The Heimlich maneuver has two methods, one for children under three years old and another for children over three years old and adults. Yuan Li realized the child's size was around three years old, he then embraced the child's abdomen, placed a fist just above the child's navel with two fingers, and wrapped the other hand around the fist.

Once in position, Yuan Li pressed upwards forcefully and rapidly.

One time, two times, three times...

The child's face turned red, even a bit bluish. The parents were standing firm, supporting each other, tears in their eyes watching every move of Yuan Li.

Yuan Li made another forceful upward thrust, and the child suddenly expelled a piece of pastry from his throat, crying loudly, "Mom..."

Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief, including the onlooker Yang Zhong, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling relieved.

Mingshi hurriedly took the child in her arms, hands trembling, "Lianer, my Lianer."

The two of them thanked Yuan Li, but he shook his head and said, "Ask the child how this happened."

Yuan Li felt something was odd.

This was too coincidental.

He suspected foul play behind this.

Why did this happen just as they arrived?

Upon hearing this, the parents stabilized their emotions and looked towards the maid on the side.

Relieved that their grandson was safe, Cui Xuan almost lost his balance, supported by others to sit down. His heart was pounding, repeatedly asking, "We should investigate. What happened?"

The poor child in his mother's arms understood, stuttering and in a jumble, with the maid's help, finally explained the situation to everyone.

It turned out the child was eating pastry and running around, wanting to take a nap with his grandfather as usual. When he couldn't find his grandfather inside, he went to the garden and saw the imposing figure of Chu Hechao, which scared him and caused him to choke.

The guards on duty noticed the commotion and looked over, frightening the three-year-old child.

After the servants caught up, they saw the young master gasping in discomfort. Some of them hurriedly carried the young master back to the room, while others went to summon the doctor to inform Cui Xuan and the rest.

After the maid finished speaking, Yuan Li's lips twitched, "So that's how it is..."

It was strange how coincidental it was that the child choked just as they arrived, the reason was actually related to them. Hearing the cause, they felt embarrassed, they were supposed to be saviors, but now they seemed like troublemakers.

Yuan Li chuckled wryly, knelt down, met the child's gaze, and softly said, "These uncles can protect people from harm, they unintentionally scared you, so on their behalf, can you forgive them? Can you forgive us?"

The tear-stained child on his cheeks timidly nodded.

Mingshi shook her head, tearfully smiling, "How can Sir apologize to Lianer? It should be Lian'er thanking you. The soldiers were just doing their duty, if it weren't for you today..."

She didn't finish her sentence.

Cui Xuan sighed, looking at his beloved grandson with relief, "As long as everything is alright, everything is alright..."

When the doctor hurriedly arrived, the young master had stopped crying and slept. After the doctor examined him, he said with relief, "It's fortunate we were able to save him in time, otherwise, the young master would have been in real danger."

Upon hearing this, Cui Xuan and the others felt relieved and thanked Yuan Li once again.

After the doctor left, it was already evening. The setting sun dyed half the sky red.

Cui Xuan invited them to stay, and as Yuan Li was escorted back to his room, Cui Xuan grasped Yuan Li's hand with deep emotion, saying, "Since I've promised to crown you, I will keep my word. Stay a few more days here while I prepare my belongings, and then we will leave together."

After saying this, Cui Xuan sighed, "It was a mishap caused by my grandson running around, not your fault... It's all fate."

Patiently, Yuan Li explained, "People are prone to choking when they laugh or run around while eating. It's important to learn the method I used to save the young master, as it can save lives in emergencies."

Cui Xuan nodded repeatedly.

After bidding farewell to Cui Xuan, Yuan Li felt relieved. They were led to the guest rooms by the servants.

The mansion of Cui Xuan was not large, and when they arrived in Changping County, they brought over twenty soldiers, so they had to share rooms.

As the master of the house, Chuhe Chao, Yuan Li, Yang Zhong said, "General, Young Master Yuan, would you two like to stay in the most spacious room together?"

Chu Hechao rubbed his forehead, his handsome face devoid of expression.

Subtle signs of agitation and anxiety showed on his face. Since the last year until now, Chu Hechao hadn't relaxed, as if something heavy weighed on his mind, making him appear even more cold and unpredictable, sending chills down one's spine.

"Are there no extra rooms available?" he inquired.

"We have, but..." Yang Zhong advised with a bitter expression, "You two are relatives, staying in a single room would be appropriate, could you put up with it for now?"

After a moment, Chu Hechao suddenly chuckled.

Apparently, to others, their relationship as relatives was not an issue?

Yang Zhong suggesting they stay in one room didn't seem concerning to the others, as they hadn't thought about any potential issues with their relationship as relatives.

Exactly.

Most people wouldn't consider the younger brother having feelings for his sister-in-law, especially when they were both men.

Realizing this, Chu Hechao's demeanor turned cold, he glanced at Yuan Li, who avoided his gaze, and instead looked at Yuan Li's fair and handsome chin, "What are your intentions?"

Yuan Li replied casually, "Fine."

Chu Hechao gripped the hilt of his sword, his expression changing as he turned to Yang Zhong, "Then you can room with him."

Chuhe Chao wanted to share a room with Yuanli.

After two months of trying to calm his emotions, he believed his rationality could suppress the desire that had been stirring within him. However, Chu Hechao was aware that the desire had not disappeared, merely pushed into the darkness by his deliberate efforts to meet Yuan Li.

Chu Mingfeng was his brother, and Yuan Li was his brother's wife.

Yuan Li and Chu Mingfeng shared a deep bond.

Whenever he felt different, Chu Hechao reminded himself in this way. These reminders acted like chains, trapping the wild beast within.

Chu Hechao was not one to hold back, but he had always shown extra patience towards his family, enduring his brother's childhood bullying and his parents' neglect and criticism. How could he possibly suppress these inappropriate feelings towards his sister-in-law?

He dared to share a room with Yuan Li not out of fear but because he knew he needed more time, time to reach a point where he could face Yuan Li with a calm heart.

Before that, Chu Hechao understood that the farther he stayed from Yuanli, the better.

Until the wild beast trapped within him was completely silenced, Yuan Li would be a danger to him.

However, Yang Zhong quickly shook his head, smiling awkwardly, "Uh, Young Master Yuan, he snores and grinds his teeth in his sleep. How could you share a room with him? General, it's better for you and Yuan Prince to stay together in one room!"

Having said this, he did not wait for Chu Hechao and Yuan Li to speak before hurriedly pulling He Lang away.

As they walked further away, He Lang raised his eyebrows, "Mr. Yang, didn't expect you were so eager to sleep together?"

"Don't be so talkative," Yang Zhong scolded him, glancing back at the two behind them and muttered, "The general's mood has been good these days, it's clear he's had a disagreement with the Lord Yuan. Giving them a chance to be alone is beneficial for both of them."

He Lang suddenly understood, imitating Yuan Li's expression, he gave a thumbs up to Yang Zhong.

Back at their residence, Chu Hechao stood still, rooted to the spot.

If Yuan Li knew how hard he had worked to control his desires and to secure his own position, would Yuan Li still look down on him?

Without paying him any heed, Yuan Li pushed open the door and entered the room.

As darkness settled, candles were lit in the room, and Chu Hechao finally stepped inside.

Yuan Li looked around the room, the bedding was fresh and thick. Paintings with inscriptions by Cui Xuan adorned the walls.

He admired them for a while, finding solace in it.

Chu Hechao sat on a chair, closing his eyes to rest, his imposing figure exuded silent strength, without uttering a word.

Not long after, a servant came to summon them to dine.

As they entered the dining hall, they saw the head of the household seated at the head of the table, Cui Xuan.

Yuan Li noticed a folding screen in the dining hall, with a table placed on the other side where several figures were seated, likely female relatives.

Indeed, as Yuan Li and the others seated themselves, they heard the gentle voice of Ming shi coming from behind the screen.

Ming shi tenderly said, "Please forgive us, Lord Yuan. Upon hearing that you saved Lianer, as Lianer's elder sister, she wishes to express her gratitude personally."

Yuan Li was taken aback by this unexpected turn of events, saying, "Of course."

"It is also important to thank Sir," another young woman's voice chimed in sincerely, "My brother can be mischievous, and today your intervention saved him. I am full of gratitude and have no way to repay your kindness."

Approaching the screen, she bowed respectfully to Yuan Li.

Yuanli stood up, reciprocating the gesture, "It was merely a small assistance, no apologies necessary. If my actions have caused trouble for the young master, I apologize."

Matriarch Cui stifled a laugh, graciously saying, "You are too polite. There is nothing to thank Sir for, except for perhaps my skill in brewing tea. If you don't mind, I would be happy to show off my tea-making abilities."

Yuan Li graciously accepted, "Please."

The sound of tea being poured could be heard faintly behind the screen.

Yang Zhongfa glanced at the screen and then at Yuan Li, grinning mischievously as he whispered to Chu Hechao, "General, who knows, this trip might lead to some good outcomes!"