When Gan Qiongying was by Gan Lin's side, he almost never made such a sound. He only accidentally made such a sound twice when Gan Qiongying occasionally left and then suddenly returned.

Her immortal slave had finally grown up and was no longer the little child who would only cry uncontrollably in her older sister's arms when she was in pain.

Sure enough, Gan Lin heard Gan Qiongying's footsteps this time, and he swallowed back his painful wails.

He even propped himself up from the dragon bed and quickly tidied his appearance.

When Gan Qiongying went around the screen and saw him, he even had a smile on his face. Because he had been through so much, his face was pale and he actually looked quite well.

But his cheeks, and even the clothes clinging to his body, which were now damp, did not lie with him.

His trembling fingertips seemed to be telling the story of just how much pain he was in.

Gan Qiongying walked to his side and reached out to hug the wet Gan Lin.

She gently patted his back and said, "Don't cry, Changsheng Nu, your elder sister has avenged you!"

"I just made Kou Ning'an drink the nourishing soup too, it cracked me up. She thought I was going to get it for you, so she made a really thick one. But I used the Regent to force her to drink it. After she drank it, the medicine kicked in and she was barely holding on. I really should have let you see her..."

Gan Lin was held in Gan Qiongying's arms. He knew he could no longer hide it from his older sister, but he had grown up and did not want to leave his sister with only the impression of incompetence and weakness.

She stubbornly insisted, "I didn't cry."

His eyes showed no signs of crying, but his tears had all turned into sweat, almost drowning him.

Gan Qiongying patted Gan Lin on the back and coaxed him, "It's alright, it's alright, you're not crying, you're not crying, I must have been mistaken."

"Since you're so strong, have an extra half bowl of porridge tonight," Gan Qiongying said. "I asked Li Quan to cook you some minced meat porridge, and I also had the imperial kitchen make some radish cake."

“You need to eat more; you’ve become so thin you’re practically just skin and bones.”

Upon hearing this, Gan Lin chuckled softly. It wasn't that he had to pretend he wasn't in pain in front of Gan Qiongying; a larger reason was that his attention was diverted when Gan Qiongying was around.

That way he really won't be in so much pain.

For example, right now his attention is focused on what Gan Qiongying is saying.

"Sister, have you ever heard of a starved camel being bigger than a horse?" Gan Lin lowered her head slightly, rested her chin on Gan Qiongying's head, and said slowly, "Even if I'm just skin and bones, I'm still taller than you, sister."

Gan Qiongying was both amused and exasperated. She pushed him away and glared at him.

With Gan Qiongying watching over him at dinner, Gan Lin did indeed drink a whole bowl and a half of minced meat porridge and ate two pieces of radish cake.

But after only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Gan Lin, sitting at the table, was already flushed, with veins bulging on his forehead and neck, yet he still managed a forced smile at Gan Qiongying.

Gan Qiongying was so heartbroken she could hardly breathe, but she had no idea who to direct her resentment at.

She really wanted to kill the Empress Dowager right now, and kill the Regent too! Kill everyone, everyone! Nobody should live!

But she couldn't. She had just saved Gan Lin and was watching him slowly get better. How could Gan Qiongying bear to destroy everything in front of her?

In the end, Gan Qiongying had no choice but to overturn the table, and the plates, bowls, cups and saucers rolled and shattered on the ground.

Gan Qiongying roared at Gan Lin, "Stop holding it in, go vomit!"

Gan Lin stood up almost immediately from beside the table. Li Quan scrambled to get him a spittoon. Gan Lin squatted down and vomited violently, even vomiting blood in the vomit.

Gan Qiongying immediately and hurriedly ordered someone to bring Physician Xiao over.

After checking her inside and out, she was given a calming herbal medicine and put to sleep for the time being.

After further questioning of Physician Xiao, it was learned that Gan Lin's condition was already the best-case scenario.

Physician Xiao had been working countless sleepless nights, becoming so thin he was almost as thin as Gan Lin. His eyes were dark, and he squinted when he looked at people. Clearly, he had been spending these days at the Imperial Hospital, desperately studying those thick classic texts.

Seeing him like this, Gan Qiongying couldn't blame him. In the end, she just patted his shoulder and said, "You should take care of your health. Don't die young."

"Your humble servant is ashamed," said Physician Xiao. "But this nourishing soup contains an herb that came from a southwestern foreign country. It is not widely available in Nanzhao, and there are very few records of it in various medical books. Moreover... there is no corresponding medicine to counteract its medicinal properties."

"These kinds of herbs are addictive, and Your Majesty can only get through it by sheer willpower."

After hearing this, Gan Qiongying sighed deeply and nodded. She then sent Li Quan to personally escort Physician Xiao out, instructing him to make sure Physician Xiao rested every night.

He then bestowed many gifts upon the young imperial physician, fearing that this devoted and hardworking doctor might actually die from overwork.

After seeing the imperial physician off, Gan Qiongying sat down next to Gan Lin, looking at his sleeping face and reaching out to brush aside his disheveled hair.

She's too thin, and she's always acting like she's going to die.

How could she possibly leave the palace in peace to plan the escape route for the two of them under such circumstances?

Taking her away directly... plays right into Kou Ning'an's hands. Before, it was a near-death experience, but now that Kou Ning'an has been angered, if she gets in touch with the Regent and runs away from the palace with Gan Lin, it will be a certain death for her.

She must now temporarily deceive Kou Ning'an and everyone in the world, making them believe that she and Gan Lin are power-hungry.

Gan Lin's condition, ravaged by the nourishing soup, terrified Gan Qiongying, who feared that Gan Lin might collapse in the blink of an eye.

When she forced him, Gan Lin could at least eat something. Doctor Xiao said that even if he vomited, it didn't matter, as long as he ate, he would always retain some food. Moreover, soup and broth alone could not sustain his life; he had to eat some solid food.

Gan Qiongying had no choice but to stay with Gan Lin and endure it. Fortunately, Gan Lin was very cooperative. He would eat whatever Gan Qiongying forced him to eat, as long as Gan Qiongying didn't let him vomit... Except for one time when he couldn't hold back his projectile vomiting, he was like today, at least he wouldn't vomit completely.

Gan Qiongying sighed, sat down beside Gan Lin's bed, and directed the maid to wet a handkerchief and wipe the sweat from Gan Lin's face.

He was frowning deeply, probably not having a good dream, as he was sweating profusely.

Gan Qiongying took care of him and watched over him, hoping that when he woke up, he could drink some more rice porridge. Doctor Xiao said that Gan Lin would wake up after the effects of the medicine wore off.

But Gan Qiongying was too tired these days, and before she knew it, she fell asleep next to Gan Lin.

Gan Lin did wake up in the middle of the night. When he woke up, Gan Qiongying was sitting on a stool in a contorted position by his bedside, guarding him.