Chapter 138: The present and the future...

Yan Zhuo lowered his head, the jade hairpin that bound his hair loosened a little, and a few strands of black hair fell from his forehead, blocking the darkness and struggle surging in his eyes.

His jaw was set tight, and even his voice was a few notches lower than usual, with a barely perceptible hint of difficulty: "I am indeed under the spell of 'no thought'... I may not survive more than three years."

He originally thought that he had hidden it very well, but he did not expect that she could know the existence of "Wunian" just by taking his pulse when the poison had not yet taken effect.

My throat felt like it was blocked by a lump of warm medicinal juice, bitter and astringent.

The little moments he had spent with her these days surged through his mind: her seriousness when talking about medicinal herbs, her cuteness when discussing delicious food, her composure when faced with danger. Each scene made the vines of love in his heart grow wildly, but the number "three years" was like a cold knife, cutting his heart into pieces.

It's not like he didn't struggle. Countless nights, before the poison took effect, he'd think: Why not just turn away, hide my feelings in the dark, and let the poison slowly eat away at my body? At least I could leave her a peaceful life, unburdened by my own short life.

But every time I see her, smell the medicinal fragrance on her fingertips, and hear her softly calling my name, the thought of letting go will be torn to pieces.

"sorry......"

"Take this." The girl opened the medicine bottle in her hand and handed out a pill.

Yan Zhuo swallowed the pill subconsciously without even asking any reason.

Zhao Mingsheng raised his eyebrows slightly and asked, "Why don't you ask more questions? Aren't you afraid that I might give you poison?"

Hearing her joking question, Yan Zhuo was not annoyed. Instead, he chuckled softly, "So what if it's poison? It's just a matter of dying a few years earlier or later."

After saying this, he looked up to see the girl's expression and said seriously, "I am also willing to die in your hands."

Zhao's father and Zhao Qingyue, who were standing by, were horrified when they heard the two of them talking about life and death. Noticing that Prince Heng looked strange, they panicked.

"What's wrong, little girl Sheng? What medicine did you give His Royal Highness Prince Heng? He's already weak, don't let it cause any harm!"

Zhao Mingsheng quickly reassured him, "It's not poison. I recently developed an antidote for 'Wu Nian'."

"Antidote?!" Zhao's father suddenly became excited, and the short beard on his chin stood up in surprise. "You really developed it? Even the Imperial Hospital can't do anything about this 'Wu Nian', you..."

He paused before he finished speaking. He believed in his daughter. If she wasn't absolutely sure, she wouldn't have rashly given the pill to King Heng. "Okay, okay, Daddy believes you!"

Then he turned to look at Prince Heng and said, "Your Highness Prince Heng, please rest assured. My daughter is much better at making medicine than I am."

Yan Zhuo chuckled and said, "I have always been very confident in her."

Zhao Mingsheng was originally very angry. She was angry that he would rather hide it from her and endure the pain brought by the poison alone than believe that she was willing to work with him to find a way to detoxify it.

But this sentence was reassuring and touched the softest part of her heart.

Zhao Mingsheng also stared into his eyes. After a while, no matter how much he wanted to say, it all turned into a gentle sigh.

"That's all."

What?

Is it just caring about yourself?

Or should we just let go of the entanglement of these days?

Yan Zhuo's heart sank, his breathing slowed, and he couldn't help but imagine the worst. The bitter taste of the pill still lingered on his tongue, making it even more difficult to breathe.

"Well, since you've taken my first antidote, you'll have to listen to me from now on. The toxicity of 'Wu Nian' has already penetrated deeply into your lungs. Pills alone can only alleviate it. In addition to taking the medicine on time every day, to completely eliminate it, you also need to follow my dietary therapy, as well as three-day medicinal baths and acupuncture. It will take at least seven courses of treatment to see results."

Zhao Mingsheng changed the subject and said seriously, "The most important thing is, don't work too hard or stay up late! Otherwise, I'll add coptis root to the pills!"

Yan Zhuo was stunned. He had originally thought that this was just a sign that their relationship was over, but it turned out that this was not the meaning! ?

The girl said harsh words in a fierce manner, her cheeks were stained pink due to her emotional fluctuations, but in Yan Zhuo's eyes, she was indeed very lively and cute.

The gloom that had been weighing on his heart before was dispelled by the palpitations at this moment. He clearly felt that his heart, which often felt cold and stagnant due to "no thoughts", was beating vigorously, bringing with it scorching warmth every time. Even the coldness that was usually in his blood was dispelled a little.

Yan Zhuomo gazed at the person in front of him with bright and affectionate eyes, and replied softly: "Okay. All is up to you."

As long as the relationship between them is not over, and as long as he can still see his beloved every day, he would be willing to take pills with coptis root every day.

Zhao's father and brother stood there, looking at their daughter who was angry but couldn't hide her concern, and then looking at Prince Heng's obedient look. Their minds, which had been overwhelmed by the news of the antidote, gradually became clear, and the feeling of "something was wrong" in their hearts finally became connected!

What kind of doctor-patient relationship is this!

This is clearly, this is clearly just like a young couple having a tantrum!

"You..." Father Zhao's trembling fingertips moved back and forth between the "young couple". Before he finished speaking, Zhao Mingsheng turned around and said confidently.

"Yes, Dad, it's just what you think."

Father Zhao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly raised his voice: "I don't agree!"

"What do you disagree with?" Mother Meng walked in from the door, carrying a food box. Her footsteps were so quiet that no one noticed when she arrived. She put down the food box and reached out to pinch Zhao's father's ear, but her tone was still gentle: "What do you mean you disagree?"

Although the force in his hand was not strong, Father Zhao felt a chill on his back.

"No, nothing, I'm just worried about our girl!"

As he spoke, he looked at his daughter and son, urging them to come and save him.

Zhao Qingyue touched his nose and pretended not to see it. He had no objection to whoever Sheng wanted to be with, but he didn't expect that his brother-in-law would be Prince Heng. No wonder he had felt something was weird between the two of them since before.

Mother Meng's expression remained unchanged. She turned to look at Zhao Mingsheng and Yan Zhuo with a smile in her eyes.

"Although Sheng didn't grow up by my side, I know she's a careful child. What she does and who she chooses can't be wrong."

"We parents should stop worrying about this." Mother Meng loosened her grip and looked at Father Zhao, her voice softening. "I know you're concerned about Sheng, but the children know what's going on."

How could Zhao's father dare to refute? He could only rub his ears and snort coldly.

"The child has grown up and is no longer under the control of his father."

Mother Meng didn't ask any further questions. She smiled and opened the food box, saying, "I thought you might not have eaten well at the banquet, so I asked the kitchen to make some more of your favorite dishes. Come and enjoy."

When the food box was opened, the sweet aroma of osmanthus cake instantly spread out, mixed with the aroma of medicine from the pharmacy, creating a particularly alluring warmth.

This is what Zhao's father likes to eat.

There is also the glutinous rice lotus root that Zhao Mingsheng likes to eat, and the mung bean cake with lotus seed soup that Zhao Qingyue likes to eat.

Steamed lotus root slices are stuffed with glutinous rice soaked in syrup and drizzled with a sweet osmanthus honey sauce, rich yet not cloying. The mung bean cake is crispy and soft, and you can't stop eating it while you eat the cake and lotus seed soup.

Under the temptation of delicious food, Zhao's father's disapproval mostly disappeared, and he grabbed the osmanthus cake and started to eat it with relish.

Not to mention Zhao Qingyue, the father and son were no slower than each other.

Zhao Mingsheng secretly gave Meng's mother a thumbs up.

Mom is still awesome!

Yan Zhuo looked at the little movements of the girl behind her back and couldn't help but chuckle. He secretly hooked her fingertips when no one was paying attention.

Zhao Mingsheng was slightly stunned. He didn't understand the meaning behind his little action and just thought that he was hungry and wanted to eat.

Turning back, he asked, "Are you hungry too?"

Without waiting for Yan Zhuo to answer, Zhao Mingsheng picked up a piece of mung bean cake and tiptoed to his mouth. When he saw him take a bite, he turned around and picked up a bowl of steaming lotus seed soup and handed it to him, "Try it quickly, it's delicious."

Yan Zhuo held his forehead helplessly. Although that was not his intention, when his fingertips touched the warm porcelain bowl and he looked at the lively family in front of him, his heart was gradually warmed, and the remaining trace of uneasiness in his heart completely dissipated.

He carefully swallowed the lotus seed soup mouthful by mouthful. The aroma of the food mixed with the faint scent of medicine completely enveloped him.

Outside the window, the warm winter sun shines through the window lattice into the house, bringing even greater warmth.

He believed that the days to come would be just like this moment, plain, comfortable and warm.