Chapter 64

His Highness Xiao Qiyun remained steadfast, spending almost all his time at Shuyu Courtyard except for his daily routine of going to the Grand Tutor to check in and study.

His arrival was always accompanied by exquisite pastries, seasonal fruits, and the finest tonics, as well as a silent yet ever-present concern.

However, it became an impossible task for Su Zhelan to speak a few words with Xiao Qiyun alone.

Because Su Yan practically became Su Zhelan's personal armor, never leaving her side!

Su Yan set up a small medicine stove in a corner of the outer room of Shuyu Courtyard, treating it as his home.

The heavy bronze pestle that had almost smashed Sheng Chi's head was now in his hand, pounding the herbs in the stone mortar with a "clang, clang," the force still fierce, as if the herbs were Sheng Chi himself.

As he pounded the medicine, he kept muttering curses, targeting everything from Sheng Chi's ancestors to the posture of the guards in the general's mansion. He even cursed the cooks in the mansion for making the food too salty. His anger had nowhere to go, so it all turned into the flying spittle and the loud pounding of the medicine.

Su Zhelan leaned against the warm and comfortable soft couch in the inner room, listening to the angry sound of the master pounding medicine and cursing in the outer room, but her heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat.

Through the gap in the beaded curtain of the partition, he could see Prince Xiao Qiyun sitting at a small table by the window, quietly reading an ancient book. His profile looked calm and gentle in the afternoon light.

Su Zhelan's gaze fell on Xiao Qiyun, hesitating for a long time. He wanted to ask, he couldn't wait to ask—how was Sheng Xuan? Was the Gu poison really completely cleared? Did the wound still hurt? Did he take his medicine properly?

These questions lingered in his mind day and night, making it difficult for him to find peace.

Especially after learning that Shengxuan was out of danger, the heavy worry, mixed with grievances and an indescribable expectation, almost burst forth.

But whenever Su Zhelan mustered up the courage to whisper a question to Xiao Qiyun while her master was grinding medicine, Su Yan seemed to have eyes in the back of his head!

He would either slam the copper pestle into the stone mortar with a loud clang, making the whole room vibrate; or he would cough twice, his voice as loud as thunder; or he would simply lift the curtain and come in, carrying a bowl of dark, pungent medicine, and say with a stern face, "Drink your medicine!"

After several attempts, Su Zhelan's pitiful courage was completely crushed, leaving her with nothing but helplessness and unease.

He was afraid! He knew his master's temper too well! If his master heard that he was still thinking about Sheng Xuan, he would definitely be furious again, and his spittle would drown him! He really didn't want to see his master so angry because of him again, and he didn't want to hear those humiliating curses directed at Sheng Xuan and Sheng Chi.

That afternoon, while Su Yan had just gone out to the porch to check on the herbs drying, only he and Xiao Qiyun were in the house. Warm sunlight streamed through the window and fell on Xiao Qiyun, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere.

Su Zhelan's heart skipped a beat; the opportunity had arrived!

He quickly sat up from the soft couch, ignoring the slight pain from his chest wound, and looked anxiously at Xiao Qiyun, his lips barely moving—

With a creak, the door opened again! Su Yan walked in carrying a basket of herbs that had just been brought in and were emitting a strong medicinal aroma!

Like a startled rabbit, Su Zhelan instantly shrank back, his movement so fast that it aggravated his wound. He gasped in pain and quickly leaned back onto the soft pillow, pretending nothing had happened. He closed his eyes in a panic, but his long eyelashes trembled violently.

Su Yan placed the winnowing basket on the floor of the outer room, patted the medicine crumbs off his hands, glanced suspiciously at the inner room, and muttered, "You brat, what were you doing just now? Don't aggravate your wound!"

After saying that, he plopped back down next to the small medicine furnace, picked up the ill-fated copper pestle, and began a new round of "struggle".

The dull thud of the pestle striking the mortar was like a curse, signaling that this brief opportunity had once again vanished.

Su Zhelan's heart sank to the bottom.

He cautiously opened his eyes a crack and saw Xiao Qiyun put down his book, his gaze seemingly sweeping over him almost imperceptibly. In that calm gaze, there seemed to be a hint of understanding and... a hint of barely perceptible apology.

Opportunities are fleeting.

Su Yan pounded the medicine with unusual force this time, seemingly venting his dissatisfaction at not keeping an eye on his apprentice who almost "misbehaved".

The clanging sounds made the teacups on the table tremble slightly, and also blocked all the questions Su Zhelan wanted to ask, turning them into a silent sigh and a growing sense of worry and confusion in her eyes.

He could only lower his head silently, his fingers unconsciously picking at the edges of the brocade quilt, as if the answers to all the questions in his heart were hidden in those folds.

Several more days passed in Shuyu Courtyard amidst the clanging of the pestle and Su Yan's endless cursing.

With careful recuperation, Su Zhelan's body is indeed recovering at a speed that can be seen with the naked eye.

A sliver of color finally returned to her pale cheeks, and the wound on her wrist gradually healed, leaving only pale pink new flesh. Although the wound in her heart was still fragile, it no longer caused her to break out in a cold sweat with the slightest touch.

However, the melancholy between Su Zhelan's brows did not dissipate with his recovery. He remained taciturn, often staring blankly out the window, his eyes filled with an unyielding confusion and an indescribable anxiety.

Su Yan's constant protection was like an invisible shackle, locking all his thoughts of inquiring about Sheng Xuan's recent situation in his throat, making him feel anxious.

Gu Linzhao saw all of this. He sat by the window, slowly wiping a set of silver needles, but his gaze would occasionally sweep over Su Yan, who was venting his anger on the medicine pot in the outer room, and then fall on Su Zhelan, who was silently lost in thought on the couch in the inner room.

Su Yan's anger did not subside with Su Zhelan's improvement; on the contrary, it was like a pent-up volcano, ready to erupt at any moment with the slightest spark.

His force in pounding the medicine remained fierce, and his curses never stopped, only now the target had expanded from Sheng Chi to all the cooks and gardeners in the general's mansion, and even the birds that chirped too loudly as they passed by the gate.

Gu Linzhao knew that Su Yan had been holding his anger in for too long. If this continued, Su Zhelan wouldn't be fully recovered before Su Yan himself would suffer a serious accident from anger.

That morning, Gu Linzhao put down the gleaming silver needles, went to the outer room, and sat down on the small stool next to Su Yan. Su Yan was fanning the medicine stove vigorously with a palm-leaf fan, the firelight reflecting off his tense profile and tightly pursed lips.

“Su Yan,” Gu Linzhao’s voice was steady, with a hint of barely perceptible consideration, “Ze Lan’s complexion is much better.”

Su Yan snorted and fanned himself even harder, creating a gust of hot air: "What's so good about it! Your pulse is still weak! The scar on your wrist hasn't faded completely! You've been completely drained! Don't even think about recovering your strength in a year or two!" His tone was still sharp, but the deep, unyielding heartache in his eyes was undeniable.

Gu Linzhao nodded, his gaze falling on the bubbling medicinal liquid in the medicine pot: "The medicine is good, but it is still just ordinary medicine. The other day I was looking through an ancient book, and Xuanpo grass has a miraculous effect on strengthening the body's foundation and repairing the heart meridian. If we can harvest it and add it to the medicine, Ze Lan's recovery will be several times faster."

"Mysterious Amber Grass?" Su Yan's pounding motion abruptly stopped, his eyes instantly sharpening. "That thing... wasn't it said to have been extinct for a long time?"

“Not necessarily.” A hint of certainty flashed in Gu Linzhao’s eyes. “Although the location recorded in the ancient books is vague, it’s worth a try. Besides…” He paused, his gaze sweeping casually over the inner room, “Ze Lan can now walk around on the ground, and only needs to take her medicine and change her dressing on time. If the two of us go together, we can make a round trip in four or five days at a fast pace. If we can collect it, it will be of great benefit to him.”

Su Yan fell silent. He put down his palm-leaf fan, his brows furrowed, his eyes scanning back and forth between the medicine pot and the inner room.

Xuanpo Grass…this legendary divine medicine, if we could truly find it, would be an immense boon to Zhelan's depleted body! But…to leave for four or five days? Leaving Zhelan alone in this General's Mansion? Although Shuyu Courtyard is heavily guarded, and Sheng Chi has promised not to make things difficult, Su Yan is still extremely worried! Who knows what might go wrong? Who knows if that foolish disciple will start overthinking again?

“No!” Su Yan shook his head abruptly, his tone resolute. “Ze Lan isn’t fully recovered yet! He can’t be left alone! Who knows if those quack doctors will prescribe the wrong medicine again? Who knows if he will…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but the worry in his eyes was obvious—he was afraid that Su Ze Lan would do something foolish again, afraid that he would get himself into trouble again.

"We've prepared a seven-day supply of medicine in advance." Gu Linzhao was well-prepared and pointed to a large medicine box that had already been packed away. "The instructions for internal and external use are written on paper and pasted inside the box. The wound dressings and gauze that need to be changed daily are also ready, wrapped in oil paper and labeled with the date."

He paused, his voice steady, "As for care... Xiao Qiyun comes every day. He is meticulous and knows some medical principles. With him watching over things, it's a hundred times better than those physicians in the manor."

Upon hearing the name "Xiao Qiyun," Su Yan's brows furrowed even more, a clear hint of displeasure and wariness flashing across his face. However, Gu Linzhao's subsequent comment, "a hundred times more attentive than the physician in the manor," left him speechless. Indeed, he had witnessed Xiao Qiyun's dedication and meticulous care for Su Zhelan.

Su Yan was torn between two conflicting emotions. On one hand, there was the allure of the legendary miraculous medicine that could greatly aid Su Zhelan's recovery; on the other, there was his disciple whom he couldn't let go of. He scratched his head in frustration, his eyes darting back and forth between the medicine chest and the tightly closed beaded curtain of the inner room.

Ultimately, his desire for his apprentice's recovery outweighed his anxiety. He sighed heavily, as if making an extremely difficult decision: "...Fine! I'll go!" He abruptly stood up, his movements tinged with a hint of defiance. "But it's a deal! Five days! Not a single day more! If I don't manage to collect the herbs, I'll be right back!"

He strode over to the medicine box, opened the lid again, and carefully checked the medicine packets, ointments, and gauze inside. After confirming that everything was in order, he slammed the lid shut.

He walked to the door of the inner room, lifted the beaded curtain, and looked at Su Zhelan, who was leaning against the couch and staring blankly out the window.

Hearing the noise, Su Zhelan turned around, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion.

Su Yan's face was stern, his tone harsh, as if he were issuing an order: "Lin Zhao and I are going out for a few days to find you some good medicine! You stay home and behave yourself! Take your medicine on time! Change your dressing on time! Don't run around! Don't think about anything else! Do you hear me?!"

Su Zhelan felt a warmth in her heart as she looked at her master's stern yet concerned expression. She nodded gently and said, "Yes, I understand, Master."

Su Yan seemed to want to say a few more words, opened his mouth, but ultimately only snorted and strode out. At the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and glared fiercely at Su Zhelan: "If I come back and find you haven't listened to me, I'll break your legs!"

Having said that, he didn't linger. He grabbed Gu Linzhao, who was already waiting in the courtyard, and rushed out of Shuyu Courtyard. The sound of horses' hooves quickly faded into the distance and disappeared outside the General's Mansion.

Shuyu Courtyard fell silent instantly. Without Su Yan's signature pounding of medicine and his curses, the medicinal fragrance in the air seemed to have faded, leaving only the faint sounds of rising steam and the crackling of burning charcoal.

Su Zhelan leaned against the couch, gazing at the empty doorway, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside her. There was worry about her master's departure, a sense of bewilderment at suddenly gaining "freedom," and even more so... an indescribable, secret anticipation and... tension.

Master and Gu Linzhao have both left.

So... when His Highness Xiao Qiyun comes again this afternoon...

Is it possible for him to... finally... ask?

This thought, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, rippled across his heart.

He instinctively clutched the brocade quilt covering his legs, his fingertips trembling slightly. Outside the window, the sunlight shone brightly, streaming through the windowpanes and bringing him a long-lost warmth. The worries and questions that had been weighing on his heart, with nowhere to be expressed, seemed to have finally found an outlet.

The afternoon sun shone warmly through the half-open windows of Shuyu Courtyard, illuminating the floor covered with a thick carpet and the soft couch beside Su Zhelan.

Without Su Yan's signature pounding of medicine and loud cursing, the entire courtyard was unusually quiet, with only the soft sound of the hot spring water flowing and the occasional bird calls passing by outside the window.

Su Zhelan's heart, however, could not find peace. He leaned against the soft pillows, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the brocade quilt, his gaze occasionally drifting towards the door.

He rehearsed in his mind the questions he would ask later: "Sheng Xuan... how is he?" "Has the Gu poison really been cleared?" "Has he... mentioned me?" Each question was like a pebble thrown into a still lake, creating ripples that made him both anxious and eager.

Finally, familiar, steady footsteps came from outside the door, approaching from afar.

Su Zhelan's heart skipped a beat! He instinctively straightened his back, which pulled at the wound in his chest, causing a slight stinging pain, but he was completely unaware of it. His gaze was fixed on the doorway, and his eyes, which had previously held a hint of confusion and weariness, were now surprisingly bright, filled with undisguised anticipation.

The door was gently pushed open, and Xiao Qiyun appeared in the doorway. He was still carrying an exquisite food box and a familiar medicine box. The afternoon sun shone on him, outlining his handsome and upright features.

However, when Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell upon Su Zhelan's expectant eyes on the bed, he paused slightly, a barely perceptible understanding and... a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

He knew all too well what Su Zhelan was thinking. Su Yan's parting words of "keeping a close watch" still echoed in his ears, and Gu Linzhao had also specifically reminded him of this. At this moment, the almost overflowing longing in Su Zhelan's eyes could only mean something else: inquiring about Sheng Xuan's recent situation.

Xiao Qiyun sighed silently in his heart.

He carried a food box and a medicine box, and walked calmly into the house, gently placing the items on the low table by the window.

He turned around, his gaze gently meeting Su Zhelan's hopeful eyes. His voice was clear and gentle, with his usual composure, but he preemptively stopped Su Zhelan from asking the question she was about to ask: "Mr. Su Yan gave me many instructions before he left."

A gentle smile played on Xiao Qiyun's lips as he spoke casually, as if chatting about everyday matters, but his eyes held an unmistakable warning.

"I packed all the pills, decoctions, and ointments you need to take over the next few days into a whole box, categorized them, packed them up, labeled them, and arranged them by day and meal."

As he spoke, he walked to the bedside and naturally tucked the thin blanket that had slipped down Su Zhelan's back. His gaze fell on Su Zhelan's slightly forward-leaning, anxious posture, and his tone carried a hint of barely perceptible teasing and...unquestionable concern: "He entrusted you to me, telling me to keep a close eye on you, to make sure you take your medicine and change your dressings on time, especially—"

Xiao Qiyun leaned slightly closer to Su Zhelan, lowered his voice, and said with a mischievous smile, but his eyes were very serious: "—Especially tell you that you should stay in the courtyard these days, behave yourself and rest quietly. You are not allowed to go anywhere, not even think about it."

He straightened up, his gaze sweeping over Su Zhelan's eyes, which had dimmed instantly, and her body, which had stiffened slightly. He understood, but pretended not to notice, and continued in a relaxed tone, "So, Zhelan, just focus on getting better these next few days. When you're feeling better, wherever you want to go, I'll go with you, okay?"

“Your Highness…” Su Zhelan’s voice was very soft, with a slight tremor that was almost imperceptible, interrupting Xiao Qiyun’s words.

Xiao Qiyun looked down and saw that Su Zhelan was tilting her head up slightly, and her eyes, which had been as bright as stars just now, were now covered with a layer of moisture.

His pale lips were slightly pursed, and a faint white mark was left on his lower lip from being bitten. His eyes no longer held pure expectation, but were mixed with grievance, helplessness, and an almost humble plea.

He reached out his uninjured hand, his fingertips trembling slightly, and gently grasped the cuff of Xiao Qiyun's moon-white robe. The touch was light, as light as a feather brushing against him, yet it carried an undeniable tenderness and vulnerability.

"I..." Su Zhelan's voice was thick with nasal tone, and tears quickly welled up in his eyes, rolling down his pale cheeks and leaving a wet, glistening trail. "I just want to know... how is Sheng Xuan..."

He sniffled, his voice choked with emotion, each word seeming to be squeezed out with difficulty from his throat, his voice broken and tearful: "Is the Gu poison really cleared up? Does the wound still hurt?"

Tears streamed down her face like broken beads, large drops falling onto Xiao Qiyun's sleeve and staining it with dark liquid.

Su Zhelan didn't wail loudly; she just shed silent tears, her shoulders trembling slightly.

All his questions revolved around one core issue—Shengxuan's safety and current situation. There was no mention of longing, no expression of love, only the purest concern and worry for the well-being of another life.

This fragile and helpless demeanor, as if he could only live if he knew the other person was safe, was more impactful than any harsh questioning.

Xiao Qiyun's heart clenched! All his defenses and prepared words crumbled instantly in the face of Su Zhelan's silent tears and humble pleas.

He looked at Su Zhelan's red, tear-filled eyes and her trembling fingers clutching her sleeve. The grip was so light it seemed as if she would loosen her grip at the slightest touch, yet it carried a stubbornness born of desperation.

The string of "principle" in Xiao Qiyun's heart was finally snapped by the torrent of tears.

He sighed silently and gave up the idea of ​​continuing to stop them.

He slowly sat down on the edge of the couch, not pulling back the sleeve that was being held, but instead reaching out with his other hand to gently and carefully wipe away the hot tears on Su Zhelan's cheeks with his fingertips. The gesture carried a tenderness that was almost a sigh.

"Don't cry..." Xiao Qiyun's voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of barely perceptible tenderness, "Your eyes are all swollen."

He paused, looking at Su Zhelan's still pleading eyes, and finally spoke as if in resignation, his voice soft yet carrying a soothing power:

"Sheng Xuan... is fine now. The Gu poison has been completely cleared, General Sheng Chi personally confirmed it."

"The wound... is still healing, but it's no longer a big problem."

Xiao Qiyun's narration was extremely objective, stating only the facts without any subjective speculation or emotional embellishment. He avoided speculative statements such as "I'm worried about you," and only described Sheng Xuan's own state.

He raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing against the corner of Su Zhelan's tear-filled eye, his movements as tender as if handling a rare treasure: "So, Su Zhelan, now... the most important thing for you to do is to focus on recovering."

Xiao Qiyun's words were like a warm spring, slowly flowing into Su Zhelan's cold and desperate heart.

Su Zhelan's tears gradually stopped, though his body still trembled slightly from the emotional turmoil. He still gripped Xiao Qiyun's sleeve, but his grip loosened a little. Looking into Xiao Qiyun's eyes, filled with gentleness and understanding, and feeling the warmth of promise emanating from his fingertips, he finally nodded very slowly but firmly.

“…Mmm.” He responded, his voice thick with nasal tone, but no longer choked with sobs. He gently rested his face on the back of Xiao Qiyun’s hand, like a young animal seeking shelter, drawing upon that hard-won sense of security and warmth.

At this moment, he felt no romantic thoughts, only immense relief and exhaustion upon learning that Shengxuan was safe.