I carefully tugged at his sleeve. He sighed, then chuckled again and said, "Can't wait to become my empress? The ceremony isn't even prepared yet, so hasty?"
I let go of his hand, my heart skipped a beat, and then I grabbed it again.
He reached out from his sleeve and gently took my hand. I don't know if it was because the rainy night was too cold, or if I was too sensitive, but I felt that his hand was frighteningly cold.
“I’ve been traveling for a long time. Let me rest today, and I’ll come back to keep you company tomorrow, okay?” He leaned down, rested his chin on my forehead, wrapped his left arm around my waist, gave me a light hug, and then pulled away. “Go back and change your clothes. If you get sick tomorrow, I won’t stay with you.”
I couldn't linger any longer, so I left with my head slightly lowered and went to stay in a side hall. I couldn't leave, I really couldn't leave. Even though he was right in front of me, I was still terrified.
I spent a sleepless night. Occasionally, rustling sounds came from his palace. I opened the window to look, but the shadows were indistinct, and I could make out nothing clearly. I only vaguely sensed that something had been commotion going on all night. So I stood by the window, following the light, all night long. Until dawn, someone finally emerged shakily from his room, carrying something in their hands. The sunlight was too bright for me to see clearly, only a faint crimson glimpse. My heart clenched again. Was he injured? Severely? Otherwise, why would he have abandoned the south and rushed back?
My throat hurts, and I coughed lightly twice. I got caught in the rain last night and forgot to change my clothes. Sure enough, I'm about to catch a cold. I just don't know how he is. I want to go see him, but I'm afraid of passing this illness on to him.
Suddenly, a palace maid came out carrying a brocade quilt. It was bright yellow, so it must be his, but there was a shocking patch of red on it, no longer just a small corner as before. Panic instantly gripped him. He didn't have time to think about the scorching sun outside and rushed out the door.
The old servant at the door stopped me, speaking respectfully as if he wanted to say something, but I had no interest in listening. I tried to rush in, but was stopped time and time again.
"His Majesty has retired for the night! His Majesty has retired for the night!"
"I order you to leave!" A loud shout suddenly came from inside the room, followed by a series of shattering sounds.
The door suddenly opened, causing me to stumble. Someone stumbled out, and something shattered at my feet. I looked down, and shards of porcelain were scattered all over the floor.
The moment she took a step, a jade bowl was smashed against the hem of her skirt, and scalding hot juice splashed out, scalding her skin through the thin fabric.
The taste of bitter medicine.
What illness or injury did he have that required this medicine?
I pulled at my skirt, ignoring the burning pain, and stepped inside. When he saw me, he was so frightened that he quickly turned away, leaving only a half-silhouette of me.
I looked at his shoulder; it was trembling slightly, as if he were enduring immense pain. On the ground was a pool of blood.
I took a step forward, and he suddenly turned his head, took a big step back, and swayed too much. His arms seemed to be trying to support him on the edge of the table, but he couldn't hold on and fell down.
The moment he fell to the ground, it was as if I saw the dream that had woken me up yesterday.
Before she could even utter a word, she rushed over to help him up, but before she could, she collapsed to her knees with him.
Looking down, all he could hold in his hand was an empty sleeve stained with blood.
Suddenly, my heart felt empty, just like my hands, an emptiness that was frightening.
He swiftly pulled the sleeve from my hand with his left, frowned, and turned away, trying to get up. He struggled several times, but to no avail. Sitting beside me, even with only his back to me, he still looked so dejected. It was as if he was no longer himself.
Everything was fine last night, wasn't it?
"Your Majesty, please stop the bleeding first..." A hesitant voice came from behind me. I turned around and saw a man who looked like an imperial physician, kneeling tremblingly on the ground holding a medical kit.
"Get down!" he growled, his voice unusually hoarse.
"Your Majesty, the wound has gotten wet. If it's not treated properly..."
"I said, get out!"
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