Chapter 133 After Marrying the Crippled Prince, 13 Cold Winds

Lin Jinyuan is ill.

Yun Chiyi hadn't expected him to be so ill. He had a high fever that night and couldn't wake up, having nightmares all night.

Chao Sheng was not good at taking care of people, so Yun Chiyi moved into Lin Jinyuan's room and took care of him personally.

She tried to get some information out of his sleep-talking, but he remained silent, just tossing and turning without waking up.

As dawn broke, Yun Chiyi had already slept through two rounds of sleep. When she woke up, she saw Lin Jinyuan holding her hand tightly, still fast asleep.

Yun Chiyi squinted her sleepy eyes and checked his temperature; it was still burning hot.

She tried to pull her hand away, but he twitched his fingers and gripped it even tighter.

Just as Yun Chiyi sighed, Zhenzhen pushed open the door and tiptoed in. Like a thief, she first checked whether Lin Jinyuan was awake. Seeing that his eyes were closed, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhenzhen stepped forward: "Your Highness, please go and take a nap. This servant will look after Your Highness."

Yun Chiyi said softly, "No need. You were frightened yesterday too. Go and rest some more."

Zhenzhen looked startled: "Shh, if His Highness can hear this in his dreams, Your Highness can simply nod or shake your head. I understand what you mean."

Yun Chiyi was truly at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

She was exhausted after a night's rest, but Lin Jinyuan wouldn't let go, so how could she leave?

Zhenzhen tried to pry open the hand with its clearly defined joints, but it didn't budge for a long time.

Yun Chiyi was deflated: "It seems I can't leave."

Zhenzhen pursed her lips: "This servant will go and fetch hot water for the Princess to wash up."

Yun Chiyi nodded: "Mm."

Her hands were clenched so tightly they turned white. She covered her mouth with her other hand and yawned. Her eyes casually dropped down and she saw Lin Jinyuan's furrowed brows, as if he was not sleeping soundly.

After washing up, Yun Chiyi casually ate breakfast by the bedside and asked Zhenzhen to open the window to let the snow-covered mountain scenery into the room.

The landscape was desolate, devoid of any sign of life, with countless deadly threats lurking in the shadows.

At this moment, Lin Jinyuan suddenly tightened his grip on Yun Chiyi's fingers again. She thought he was about to wake up, but to her surprise, his thin lips moved slightly, and he slept even more soundly.

Yun Chiyi sat there in a daze. It was her usual time for a nap, but her eyelids kept drooping. She lifted Lin Jinyuan's blanket and lay down on it fully clothed.

The bed was warm, enveloped by Lin Jinyuan's feverish temperature.

The outer side of the bed was a bit cramped, so Yun Chiyi pushed Lin Jinyuan to the inside, where he took up a pillow.

Lin Jinyuan remained unconscious, letting her do as she pleased.

Yun Chiyi glanced at their tightly clasped hands again, then closed her eyes.

Feeling cold as she was about to fall asleep, she snuggled into Lin Jinyuan's arms, treating him like a hot water bottle without any hesitation.

After the end of the hour, Yun Chiyi finally opened her eyes; her wrist, which Lin Jinyuan had been gripping tightly, was already numb.

She blinked, guessing that Lin Jinyuan was afraid she would take advantage of his illness to poison him, so he kept her by his side.

He truly valued his life, and gripped it even tighter.

If this continues, I'll lose this hand...

Yun Chi wanted to call Zhenzhen in to help, but as soon as she stood up, Lin Jinyuan wrapped his other arm around her waist, preventing her from leaving.

She turned around blankly and met a pair of cold eyes. His face was pale, and he stared at her intently.

Lin Jinyuan coughed softly and asked in a hoarse voice, "What time is it?"

Yun Chiyi gestured.

Lin Jinyuan lowered the coldness in his eyes, replacing it with his usual gentle expression, and sighed softly, "I actually slept for so long."

Yun Chiyi tested the temperature of his forehead; it was still burning hot. She looked at him with concern.

"Don't worry, my lady, I've already woken up."

Lin Jinyuan pulled her to lie down on her side, loosening his grip on her wrist slightly, but not completely.

"My lady must have stayed up all night to take care of me. You've worked so hard."

A hint of approval flashed across Yun Chiyi's eyes. At least he had some conscience, but empty words of thanks still lacked sincerity.

Fortunately, Lin Jinyuan immediately understood and said, "I will accompany you to purchase some jewelry another day."

Before Yun Chiyi could respond, Lin Jinyuan pulled her down to lie down, saying, "Please stay with me a little longer, my lady."

So, Yun Chiyi was pulled back onto the bed by him.

Lin Jinyuan was probably not fully awake yet. His affectionate eyes met Yun Chiyi's gaze quietly, his expression gradually fading until he closed his eyes.

Yun Chiyi didn't have trouble sleeping; she fell asleep even before Lin Jinyuan.

I was fast asleep when I thought I heard the sound of the tide rising.

When she woke up, it was already dark. Lin Jinyuan was supposed to take his medicine. Yun Chiyi got dressed and was stunned when she opened the door.

Zhuangzi has changed.

The plants in the courtyard and the decorations in the corridor have all been moved and replaced with new ones.

If I hadn't never been out before, I would have thought I was in the wrong place.

Why would anyone be busy cleaning in the freezing cold?

On her way to the kitchen, Yun Chiyi encountered an old man who bowed to her from afar with such reverence that her suspicions only deepened.

She stood in the pavilion, gazing into the distance, and with just one glance, she saw a large grove of weeping crabapple trees on the back hill.

There was someone by her side who was particularly fond of weeping crabapple.

In an instant, she suddenly understood.

The master of Zhuangzi is not absent; rather, he has returned.

Lin Jinyuan was the owner of the manor.

He was very wary; he should have realized that he wouldn't just stay at someone else's house.

Yun Chiyi rested her chin on her hand as she prepared the medicine, thinking that the addition of a new piece of land to the household was a good thing.

The kitchen was filled with the bitter smell of Chinese medicine, which made Yun Chiyi cough. Zhenzhen quickly took the banana leaf fan and pushed Yun Chiyi outside the door.

"The princess is not in good health, she must not be exposed to the smoke."

Yun Chiyi glanced at her helplessly.

Zhenzhen patted her chest confidently: "Don't worry, leave it to me!"

Yun Chiyi stood outside, leaning against the doorframe, smiling as she looked at Zhenzhen.

Zhenzhen shook her hand like a slow windmill, squatted on the ground like a kitten, and breathed out air.

A gust of wind rose outside, and Yun Chiyi turned her gaze to a white dove that entered her field of vision and perched on Lin Jinyuan's window.

Chao Sheng came out of the house, looked around, removed the secret letter from the white dove's leg, and turned back into the house.

From the moment Chaosheng left, Yun Chiyi retreated back inside, watching the scene with half-closed eyes.

Zhenzhen's voice came from behind: "Your Highness, there are many wild rabbits in the mountains. I will go find one tomorrow to roast and eat."

Yun Chiyi turned around with a smile: "It's snowing, so let's not bother."

Seeing that she was somewhat interested, Zhenzhen quickly shook her head: "No, no, I've been catching rabbits since I was a child. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, I'll bet you five coins."

Yun Chiyi said, "Alright, let's bet five coins."

After she finished speaking, she thought again that Lin Jinyuan's physical condition meant he wouldn't be able to go down the mountain tomorrow, and who knows, he might actually be able to eat the rabbit that Zhenzhen caught.

Tonight, Yun Chiyi and Lin Jinyuan will sleep in separate rooms, and she can finally get a good night's rest.

The next day, Yun Chiyi put on her coat and opened the door. Unexpectedly, a heavy snow fell silently during the night, leaving a blanket of white in the courtyard.

The old man in the village arranged for someone to clean the courtyard, and Yun Chiyi nodded to him.

Chao Sheng, with his sword at the ready, walked over steadily and said with his head bowed, "Your Highness, the mountain road was blocked by snow last night, and it has been cold these past few days. I'm afraid we won't be able to go down the mountain."

Yun Chiyi's brow furrowed upon hearing this.

The mountain is quiet, but I don't know when the snow will melt, otherwise I'd probably have to spend the New Year there.

There was also Lin Jinyuan's cold; there were no doctors in the mountains, and Yun Chiyi was worried that his high fever wouldn't subside.

Chao Sheng lowered his head slightly and said, "His Highness is feeling better. He asked me to convey to His Highness that His Highness should take good care of her health."

Yun Chi nodded.

Only after Chao Sheng bowed and stepped back did she go back to her room to wash up.

After combing my hair into a bun, it started snowing again in the gray sky.

Yun Chiyi went to the kitchen and, with Zhenzhen's help, stewed a bowl of chicken soup for Lin Jinyuan.

She took a sip first, and found the flavor delicious and rich. She drank a bowl of it in the kitchen before sending it to Lin Jinyuan.

Yun Chiyi carried the bowl to the door, but found it closed and could faintly hear voices coming from inside. She instinctively stopped.

Zhenzhen tilted her head in confusion to look at her.

“Prince Lin has already made his move. He can’t hold back for long. There should be a result in the next couple of days.” Lin Jinyuan’s voice was still a little hoarse, and he spoke slowly.

Then came Chao Sheng's voice: "We already know the Lin King's troop deployment, so Your Majesty need not worry about His Highness the Emperor."

Yun Chiyi felt extremely embarrassed; knocking on the door was awkward, and retreating was also awkward.

Don't they know they should talk in private?

She didn't want to hear any of this!

Zhenzhen's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. How could it be that Prince Lin was planning to assassinate the Crown Prince?

She only saw that Prince Lin was a womanizer who bullied the princess, which was extremely despicable. But she never expected that Prince Lin would be so audacious as to have such a scheme.

May Heaven bless the Prince Lin so that his assassination attempt fails, and may the Emperor exile him to a very, very far place, so that he will never return to humiliate the Princess.

On the other hand, how did the prince know about these things?

Zhenzhen was completely bewildered, unaware of the intricacies involved.

Who's outside?

Chao Sheng's alert voice suddenly came through the door, startling Zhenzhen. She looked at Yun Chiyi again, who was calm and composed, holding the soup with a faint smile as if she hadn't heard the conversation.

Yun Chiyi slowly moved her lips and silently said, "Push open the door."

Zhenzhen tried her best to suppress her shock and pushed open the door as if nothing had happened: "The princess got up early and made soup for the prince."

Chao Sheng quickly stepped aside: "This subordinate was rude."

Yun Chiyi shook her head, indicating that she didn't take it to heart.

She sat on the edge of the bed, holding a bowl. Lin Jinyuan was leaning against the bed, gazing at her with a gentle smile, not missing any subtle changes.

Zhenzhen explained in a low voice, "The pheasants raised by farmers are very good for nourishing the body."

Lin Jinyuan said, "You're very kind, Madam."

Yun Chi smiled, scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to Lin Jinyuan's lips.

Lin Jinyuan took a small sip, then suddenly turned his head and coughed violently.

For some unknown reason, Chao Sheng suddenly rushed forward, as if the sky were about to collapse, and knelt on the ground, calling out to Lin Jinyuan.

"Your Highness!"

He knelt down at Yun Chiyi's feet. Yun Chiyi pulled her feet back, and had good reason to suspect that Chaosheng was afraid that the soup was poisoned.

The room was completely silent. Lin Jinyuan spoke first: "Chaosheng, do you have something to say?"

Chao Sheng looked up and saw that Lin Jinyuan's face was flushed. It turned out that he had just choked. He glanced guiltily at Yun Chiyi and said hurriedly, "I just remembered that I haven't fed the horses yet. I'll take my leave now."

"Go ahead, the ground is slippery with snow, don't rush things," Lin Jinyuan secretly admonished.

Yun Chiyi almost burst out laughing when she saw Chaosheng's limping figure.

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Author's note: I almost forgot I was supposed to update to 6k words! [doge]