Han had not had a chance to bathe in days, and he was really exhausted, and she was there.
He spent a moment just staring at her.
Then Asan burst into the room, saying, "Lady Lu, here's the water you asked-"
Asan froze at the door when he saw Han.
Han glared at him.
Asan smiled awkwardly.
"The Lady insisted on seeing you when she found that you'd returned."
"Why did you bring her here?" he asked Asan angrily, throwing the forearm-guard at Asan's face.
Asan shamelessly dodged, clutching the pot of water close to his body.
"Like he said, I insisted." Lu Yan said, trying to stand up.
Asan rushed to her side, hands flailing, unwilling to touch her, but not knowing how to stop her, "No, no, the doctor said that you cannot exert yourself."
Pushing Asan aside, Han pressed her firmly into the chair she had been sitting on.
She winced, hand grabbing her injured side.
"Asan," Han gritted out, tense, "Get out before I kill you with my bare hands."
Asan rushed to the door.
Han paused, then closed his eyes, and said, "Wait! Stay in the room."
Asan stopped.
Han turned to Lu Yan, "Why do you want?"
Lu Yan looked at him with her big eyes, "I wanted to thank you for saving my life."
He stared down at her. He wanted to wring her neck for playing these stupid games with him.
"The last time," he reminded her, "You said you wouldn't thank me."
"That was a long time ago."
"Not that long ago, you also told me to forget everything."
She had the grace to blush and avert her eyes.
He leaned down towards her, "Tell me the truth. Why are you really here?"
She didn't answer his question.
Instead, she examined every inch of his face and said, "You look tired."
"I've been chasing the assassins."
She shook her head, "It's more than that. You look like you haven't been taking care of yourself for a long time."
He sighed, and closed his eyes. Standing up straight again, he asked, "Does your husband know you're here?"
Lu Yan frowned, "Of course, I have no secrets from Ahai."
"He let you come here alone?"
"He's waiting for me in the courtyard. I knew you'd be tired, and didn't want to bring more guests for you to entertain."
Han was out of patience, "I'll ask for the last time: Why are you here?"
Lu Yan glanced at Asan, then whispered, "I'm here to beg a favor."
She pulled the edge of his shirt until he was kneeling beside her.
He didn't resist at all. Kneeling beside her, he repeated, "A favor?"
Shakily, with tears falling down her cheeks, she nodded, "I'll do anything you want. Anything at all."
His heart started racing. Urgently, he asked, "What is it? Is something wrong?"
She leaned in closer, and breathed into his ear, "You have to stop pursuing the assassins."
He pulled back, and looked at her in shock.
Then he looked down at her side where he knew a horrifying wound was hidden under her clothes.
Finally, he looked back into her face.
Her eyes were wet, tears still streaming down.
He closed his eyes, let his head fall back in exhaustion and exhaled loudly.
Then he stood.
"Asan, call Chen Hai, and help the Lady back to her quarters."
Asan, who was standing close to the door, obeyed immediately.
She grabbed his shirt again.
"Please," she begged, "Please, I'll do anything."
He snatched himself away from her hands and took two steps away.
Then he paused, turned back to her, and said, "Alright."
Her eyes widened in surprise, and she opened her mouth, but he talked over her.
"In return, I want you to make sure you are resting properly. No more excursions alone in the middle of the night. Do you hear me?"
She closed her eyes, and bowed her head. He saw tears drop from her eyes and stain two small circles on her light blue dress.
Brokenly, she whispered, "Thank you."
"Look at me," he said.
She raised her head, and more tears leaked from her eyes, rushing down her cheeks.
Even sick and crying, she was so lovely.
He reached a hand out and softly caught one drop off her jawbone with his forefinger.
"You need to stop crying."
She nodded her head, then wiped her face with her sleeves, leaving no trace of wetness on her face.
He walked away from her.
Looking down at his hand thoughtfully, he rubbed his forefinger and thumb together.
The door opened and Asan, Chen Hai and Lu Yan's maids walked in.
"General Han!" Chen Hai greeted, immediately offering a bow, "Thank you so much for saving Lu Yan."
"There's no need to thank me. I was just doing my job."
"No, no, you are truly upright General. I don't know how I can repay you."
Han was surprised that a snake like Chen Yuan had such a brother.
"No need to mention it." Han pulled him up from the bow. "You should make sure Lu Yan follows the doctor's orders from now on. Don't let her exert herself. These kinds of injuries are very hard even on soldiers, let alone women."
Chen Hai bowed again, "You're right General. I've been negligent. I'll take good care of her."
Han gestured with his chin.
Chen Hai rushed over to Lu Yan, and immediately made a move to pick her up.
"No, no," Han said quickly, "With a wound like that, it's important not to exert the muscles here." He pointed towards his own stomach. "Just put an arm under her shoulder, like this-"
He gestured Lu Yan's maid closer, "Take her other arm, and support as much of her weight as you can."
"You." he said severely to Lu Yan, "You need to keep your weight off the leg that's on the injured side of your body. Stop running around when you're injured!"
He was irritable, and short-tempered.
Everyone in the room nodded hurriedly.
They left.
The room was suddenly a lot quieter.
"Asan, take a team of four with you and keep watch over her. Let the rest of the men remain hidden, but you stay by her side at all hours of day."
Asan hesitated, "But young master-"
Han cut him off with a violent gesture, "Go! You don't need to worry about anything Chen Yuan says. And make sure she's not exerting herself!"
Asan bowed, and left.
Han took his armor off, throwing the pieces into the walls to rid himself of the feelings of frustration and helplessness.
Another servant came to tell him that the bath was ready.
He stripped angrily, pulling his clothes off violently. Finally, he sank bonelessly into the hot water.
After several minutes, he called for Aqi.
"Aqi," he ordered with his eyes closed, leaning his head back against the tub, "Kill all the assassins we caught. Make it look like an accident."
Aqi stared at him in amazed shock.
"When you find the ones who got away, extract any information you can and then kill them too."
"Young master," Aqi said, "The regent-"
"I know," Han sighed, "I'll take care of it. Just do as I said."
Aqi paused, carefully considering how to make his objections heard.
Han sighed again before opening his eyes.
"Lu Yan asked me to let it go," Han said, before closing his eyes again.
There was a peculiar smile on his face, a smile filled with bitterness and with joy.
Understanding dawned in Aqi's face.
"And arrange an audience with the regent early tomorrow morning."
Aqi bowed and he left the room to carry out his orders.
Han sank further into the water, still smiling.
"Don't blame me Lu Yan," he whispered to the empty room, "You came to me for help."