Chapter 204 That Back View... It's Somewhat Familiar
Chu Jichen led Shen Qingci back to the courtyard. As soon as they stepped into the corridor, they saw Physician Li carrying his medicine chest and waiting outside the flower hall.
Shen Qingci was somewhat surprised. She quickly stepped forward, her voice tinged with concern: "Imperial Physician Li, is someone in the manor injured? Or ill?"
Physician Li quickly bowed and then shook his head, denying it, saying, "Your Highness, rest assured, everything is fine in the manor. It's just... it's time for the monthly treatment of His Highness's leg again. I need to carefully examine His Highness to see if there are any changes in his leg, so that... I can change the subsequent treatment method."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci immediately stepped aside and said to Physician Li, "Please come in quickly!"
She led Physician Li into the bedroom, and then said to Chu Jichen who followed in, "Recently, I have occasionally massaged the prince's legs. Sometimes I feel that when I massage certain areas, the prince's legs... seem to react in some way."
Upon hearing this, Physician Li's eyes instantly lit up with surprise!
He nodded heavily, his face full of relief: "That's why I said last time that it's actually a great thing that Your Highness's legs hurt on rainy days!"
"If there is a reaction and the pain can be felt, it proves that... there is still consciousness!"
He paused, seemingly worried that Shen Qingci was too anxious, and added, "However, Your Highness need not be too hasty. After all, His Highness's leg has been delayed for so long, the treatment... is destined to be a very long process."
Shen Qingci knew that Physician Li was trying to comfort her, afraid that if she knew that Chu Jichen's leg might be curable, she would have too many expectations and become too anxious.
She smiled and nodded: "I understand."
Without saying another word, Physician Li immediately took out silver needles and began to administer acupuncture to Chu Jichen.
He then took out an old-fashioned bamboo tube from the medicine box, lit the mugwort inside, and slowly steamed it on Chu Jichen's legs.
After a moment, he put away the needles and said to Chu Jichen, "Your Highness's condition is much better than before. From now on, you can slowly start some rehabilitation training."
“For example,” he paused for a moment and suggested, “at the beginning, you can stand for a little while each day while holding onto a wheelchair or a table.”
"Start with half an hour, and then... gradually increase the time."
As Physician Li packed his medicine chest, he said, "I have already written a letter to my master, detailing the prince's condition. In a while, he... should come in person to see the prince's condition."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingci was somewhat surprised: "Imperial Physician Li...does he really have a master?"
She thought that the so-called "miracle doctor" was just a pretext they had fabricated to mislead Liu Wenyuan and Emperor Yongming.
Physician Li nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, but my master has been traveling around and is not in the medicine valley that the Prince and Princess mentioned to His Majesty."
“My master is also aware of the prince’s condition. He travels around everywhere in order to find a better way to cure the prince’s leg.”
Shen Qingci looked delighted: "That's wonderful!"
After Physician Li left, Shen Qingci turned to Chu Jichen, her voice carrying a hint of encouragement: "Does Your Highness wish to stand for a while with the help of a wheelchair? Or... a table?"
Chu Jichen pursed his thin lips almost imperceptibly, seemingly somewhat unnatural: "Let's go with... the table."
Shen Qingci then pushed him, wheelchair and all, to the desk.
Chu Jichen gripped the edge of the table with both hands and slowly stood up from his wheelchair.
However, before he could stand up straight, his body swayed uncontrollably, and after a short while, he fell back down heavily!
His expression instantly turned somewhat unpleasant.
"If it hurts, or... if you can't take it, how about we stop today? Or start tomorrow?" Shen Qingci quickly stepped forward and held his hand.
Chu Jichen looked at her and slowly shook his head, his deep phoenix eyes filled with an unprecedented determination.
“I also really want to…” his voice was hoarse, “to stand up as soon as possible, so that I can…stand shoulder to shoulder with you.”
After he finished speaking, he leaned on the table again and slowly stood up.
But because of his previous experience, this time he concentrated almost all his strength on his arms that were holding the table, while his legs... hardly used any strength at all.
But he knew that wouldn't work.
Chu Jichen took a deep breath and tentatively transferred a sliver of strength slowly to his legs.
But his legs, which had long since lost their ability to obey him, seemed utterly unable to bear the weight of his body. With a slight limp, he fell heavily back down.
Seeing that he was about to fall again, Shen Qingci instinctively reached out to catch him.
But just as her hand reached out, about to touch Chu Jichen, she suddenly pulled it back.
Since he is trying so hard to get back on his feet, then she... cannot be an obstacle for him.
All she could and should do was offer her silent support.
Shen Qingci slowly took a step back and stood quietly behind him, watching him fall down again and again, and then stand up again and again.
Looking at the fine beads of sweat on his forehead, and watching him persevere for longer and longer.
But as she looked at him, she vaguely felt that Chu Jichen's back view seemed... somewhat inexplicably familiar.
Shen Qingci frowned deeply, staring intently at the figure's back for a long, long time. The familiar feeling lingered, yet she couldn't recall where she had seen it before.
She suddenly remembered what Chu Yuening had said earlier, and her brows furrowed even more.
Could it be... that she really knew Chu Jichen before?
Her familiarity with Chu Jichen's back meant that at that time... Chu Jichen had not yet been put in a wheelchair.
That was at least... five years ago?
Shen Qingci bit her lower lip tightly, her mind a jumble of thoughts.
Five years ago...where was she five years ago?
The fact that she was so familiar with Chu Jichen's back view was enough to show that her relationship with Chu Jichen was far more than just a casual encounter.
Can……
But what kind of person is Chu Jichen? And what about his face—a face that's unforgettable? If she had truly seen him before, how could she... have no recollection of him?
She could recognize even his back view. It was impossible that she had absolutely no recollection of his face.
unless……
Unless, at that time, Chu Jichen wasn't using this face at all, nor... this identity!
Shen Qingci was startled by the sudden thought that appeared in her mind, and her heart jolted!
Yes, that's the only possibility that can explain this strange situation!
As Shen Qingci was lost in thought, she saw Chu Jichen finally give in and slump back into his wheelchair. He was panting heavily, his temples soaked with sweat, clearly... he had reached his limit.
Shen Qingci quickly stepped forward and grasped his cold hand.
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