Chapter 102: If Your Highness has forgotten, you can do it again.
The King of Jin woke up for only two hours before he fell into a coma again due to the rush of blood and anger.
He closed his eyes and tightly gripped Cong Ying's wrist, his eyes red as he squeezed out two words from between his teeth: "No..."
No one heard anything that was forbidden.
The Prince of Jin's Mansion fell into chaos, and Doctor Zhang rushed to Guanxiyuan again.
Upon hearing the news, Emperor Fengqi bestowed upon Prince Jin a large amount of ginseng and other elixirs and dispatched renowned physicians from the Imperial Medical Bureau to treat him. However, these physicians couldn't even fathom the cause of Prince Jin's coma. Some suggested heart fire, some liver depression, and one suggested calling in a Taoist priest to exorcise the ghost. The princess, however, dismissed them with a mixture of sarcasm and insult.
"These trash are not even as good as Zhang Jingyi's finger. How dare they take a higher position than Zhang Jingyi!" The eldest princess said angrily.
After hearing such praise, Zhang Jingyi did not dare to be happy, but was only afraid, fearing that the princess would get angry and rush into the Imperial Physician's Office to take the old director's chair and give it to him.
He quickly changed the subject and said, "I simply understand the patient's condition better and am more attentive when administering acupuncture and medicine. As for my medical skills, I wouldn't be arrogant, and I have no desire for a high position."
The princess's gaze shifted to his elegant and handsome face, and she smiled, "Since you are so indifferent, you will live in the palace permanently from now on. I can only rest assured that you will take care of our delicate bodies."
Doctor Zhang's hand trembled as he picked up the pen to write the prescription. He didn't say a word, but his ears turned red.
As he was speaking, a servant came to report that Princess Chun'an came to visit him.
This is strange.
After all, everyone knew that Princess Chun'an had encroached on the power of the Eastern Palace and considered herself the crown prince. She was quite hostile to any royal family member who had the possibility of vying for the heir. This was the first time she had set foot in this palace since the Prince of Jin was crowned king.
The eldest princess stood up to greet them in person, and the faces of the aunt and niece were full of warmth and affection.
Princess Chun'an asked a few questions about Prince Jin's situation through the screen, but when she heard that he would not die for a while, she lost interest.
She saw Congying helping Doctor Zhang look through ancient books for prescriptions, and turned to the Princess and said, "Aunt, to be honest, I came here to ask for someone from your family."
The princess followed her gaze and said with some displeasure, "You want Doctor Zhang? I'm afraid that's not appropriate."
But she was a little nervous. Her brother doted on his only daughter, and if she was determined to have him, she might not be able to win the fight once the imperial decree came down.
Unexpectedly, Princess Chun'an said, "No, I want Lady Jiang."
The eldest princess frowned angrily: "She is even worse!"
It's really weird. Jiang Congying is an orphan with no family to rely on. How can she be so popular that everyone wants to snatch her as a daughter-in-law?
Princess Chun'an smiled and said, "Madam Jiang is neither a relative nor a servant of the royal palace. I asked my aunt only out of courtesy, not to ask for your grace."
The eldest princess also took a firm stance: "But she is now in my house. Unless you have the ability to tear down this palace, she cannot leave without my approval."
"Aunt should know that she is not in the right. If she insists on asking my father for an imperial decree, I'm afraid it will only make things awkward."
"What's ugly or not? My son's life is the most important!"
Seeing that the two were about to lose face, Cong Ying heard a few words and walked over to salute them.
"Your Highness, Princess, please allow me to have a few words with His Highness Chun'an."
The two moved to the tea room, and Princess Chun'an asked the female officials to guard the door to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
Her cold phoenix eyes held a look of suspicion as she spoke, "Prince Jin owed me a favor. I asked him not to compete with me for you, and he agreed at the time. Now, have you regretted it and are deliberately lying on the bed pretending to be sick? This aunt of mine is not someone to be trifled with. She uses her methods without regard for the lives of others. You'd better be careful."
Cong Ying lowered his head and smiled slightly: "Thank you for your advice, Your Highness. I have learned from it."
Hearing her indescribable tone and seeing her slightly swollen eyes and tired and thin appearance, Princess Chun'an imagined that she had suffered many grievances in the palace.
She immediately said in a cold voice: "The Taiyi's ceremonial hall has been cleared for you, but she still wants to keep you as a concubine by the side of the Prince of Jin. This is simply unreasonable! Today, I insist on taking you away. I don't believe she dares to fight with me!"
Cong Ying gently advised her, "Your Highness, please do not become enemies with the Prince of Jin's Mansion."
"how?"
Cong Ying explained, "Although the Prince of Huai is dead, the noble families are still eager to support an heir. His Royal Highness the Prince of Ying still has a son. At the critical moment, His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin will be asked to step forward and face the enemy."
Princess Chun'an said, "He may not be willing to help me."
Of course, she did not trust Prince Jin either.
Although the two had collaborated in snatching Jiang Congying away from Xie San, they were now at odds over who should inherit Jiang Congying. Today it was a fight for a person, but who knew tomorrow it wouldn't be a struggle for imperial power?
Princess Chun'an had been backstabbed too many times, so she would first look at everyone with a questioning and almost harsh gaze.
However, she did not mention this thought to Cong Ying. She asked her, "You can't stay in Prince Jin's Mansion forever. Have you thought of a way to escape?"
Cong Ying glanced in the direction of Prince Jin's bedroom and said, "When His Highness feels better, the Princess will let me go."
Now she didn't dare to leave because she was afraid that Prince Jin would become emotionally unstable after waking up and would do something self-harming.
She asked the princess to wait for a moment, got up and went back to Jisu Garden, brought back a small bookcase, and gave it to the maid beside the princess for safekeeping.
Cong Ying said, "This is the 'Collection of Scholars' Essays' that I have been compiling for the past two weeks. It draws on the spring and autumn examinations of the Fengqi Dynasty, as well as the widely-watched provincial examination topics. Each chapter is compiled with the main topic, the collection, and my own humble opinions. At the end of each chapter, I have included reference books for further study. Your Highness the Princess and my colleagues at the Grand Court, please review it. If you find it useful, you can use it as a further study for the students of the Grand Court after they have begun their studies."
Although she spoke modestly, her tone was rarely so firm, and the princess could hear her confidence in her own knowledge.
The princess picked up a book and flipped through two pages. She felt that both the handwriting and the content were very familiar. It reminded her of the collections of essays that Yiyun had sent to Taiyi during the last debate.
It was those collections of essays that helped Taiyi's students quickly prepare for the exams and distinguish themselves in the world of qingtan. Although the content of these collections of Shilun Jicui differs from that of the collections of essays at that time, they are more comprehensive and more painstakingly compiled.
Princess Chun'an suddenly looked at her intently: "What is your relationship with the man from Luoxi Mountain?"
"Who is the man from Luoxiang Mountain?" Cong Ying didn't fall for her trick.
The princess said, "Oh, that's Yiyun from Xuandu Temple."
Cong Ying said, "That's my senior sister. I studied with her under the leader of the Jiangxia Crown. She is more knowledgeable than me, and I received her guidance on these collections of essays."
The answer was flawless. The princess said, "She has time to guide you in compiling academic classics, but no time to reply to my letter. I have a question for her, which has been hanging in Xuandu Temple for a long time."
Cong Ying said, "Senior Sister hasn't been in Yunjing recently. I heard she's traveling with the Crown Master again."
These days, she was either too busy to take care of the rest or was detained in the palace by Prince Jin. It had been a while since she last visited Xuandu Temple.
Princess Chun'an still had doubts in her heart: "Is that so? But I feel that—"
"Madam Jiang, Madam Jiang!"
Before the princess finished speaking, she heard a call from outside. It was Nanny Guan, the eldest princess's attendant, kneeling outside the tea room and apologizing, "Please forgive me, Princess. This is an emergency. His Royal Highness Prince Jin has woken up and is anxious to see Madam Jiang!"
Hearing this, Cong Ying quickly stood up: "Your Highness..."
Princess Chun'an was speechless. She sighed and waved her hand: "Forget it, go ahead."
Cong Ying bowed and took her leave. When she was about to step out of the door, Princess Chun'an suddenly called her back.
"Jiang Congying," she said slowly, "Prince Jin is truly blessed. There are always people who choose him without hesitation. This is true for my father, and it's true for you as well."
Cong Ying paused, turned, and said solemnly, "Your Highness, you are different from His Highness the Prince of Jin. He is often ill and frail, and others may be more cautious of him, but that doesn't make them treat you lightly. I dare not speculate on the emperor's heart, but I myself... once this matter is resolved, I am willing to help Your Highness, the princess, to revitalize the girls' school."
Princess Chun'an wanted to ask her, is it just about revitalizing girls' education?
But he didn't dare to push her too hard, for fear that the duck was not yet cooked and might get frightened and fly away.
She smiled gently and nodded: "Well, I believe you."
But she thought to herself, how could this kid, Prince Jin, compete with her? It turns out that Jiang Congying likes cold and sickly men. She really needs to send someone to find some pretty boys.
＊
Not only did the Prince of Jin wake up, but he was also walking around in his clothes, somewhat annoyed by Doctor Zhang who insisted on taking his pulse.
Turning around, he saw Cong Ying coming back, and his expression softened instantly.
Cong Ying advised him, "Your Highness has been in a difficult situation these past few days, and Doctor Zhang has been guarding for a long time. I hope Your Highness will forgive his hard work."
Prince Jin responded with a "good" and sat down beside the Arhat couch, taking the patient's pulse, giving him medicine and acupuncture without a trace of impatience. His eyes followed Congying as she walked to the antique shelf, picked up an upside-down book and continued reading.
No one came over to ask him how he was doing, nor did he show any relief or surprise.
Looking at this, he seems to be angry...
Was she angry that he had cut his wrists, or was she angry that he had offended her?
Doctor Zhang was about to take his leave after finishing his work and report to the Princess. Before leaving, he told the Prince of Jin to calm down and not to get angry anymore. When he left, the Prince of Jin and Cong Ying were the only ones left in the room.
For a long time, the two of them remained silent.
It was not until Prince Jin coughed weakly a few times that Cong Ying put down the book in his hand, walked over and handed him a cup of ginseng tea.
Prince Jin didn't answer, but looked at her with his dark and calm eyes.
Cong Ying asked him, "Your Highness, are you thinking of a new way to torture me?"
Prince Jin thought she was referring to the wrist-cutting incident and said, "This was my own choice. I didn't mean to torture you. I thought you could figure it out... But it's really my fault for making you stay by my side for so long. What's the matter? Did the princess give you a hard time?"
After hearing this, Cong Ying showed a hint of confusion on her face: "Your Highness... why do you think of asking this now?"
There was something strange about his tone and demeanor. They were no longer aggressive but gentle like flowing water, very different from when he had just woken up yesterday.
Are you feeling better now?
Prince Jin also noticed something strange and asked Cong Ying, "Now? How long have I been unconscious?"
Cong Ying replied, "Since I last woke up, it's been about ten hours, and since the day of the medicinal wine... it's been about five days."
Prince Jin's eyebrows slowly furrowed, his eyes suddenly darkening: "You said I woke up once yesterday?"
Why did he himself have no recollection of this?
He gradually lost consciousness amid the sound of blood dripping from his wrist and the scent of her clothes between his teeth.
I did have a dream in a daze, but it was not an erotic dream. I dreamed that I was stabbed in the abdomen, lying in the cold snow, and was dragged to a mass grave. When I was about to be buried, I was kidnapped and hid in a Buddha statue in a dilapidated temple.
Seeing that his face was pale and he was silent, Cong Ying handed the ginseng tea to him and advised him gently, "Thinking too much will damage your mind, Your Highness, take a rest."
A flash of red appeared in Prince Jin's eyes. He reached out, grabbed Cong Ying's wrist, and rolled up her sleeve.
The clear tooth marks, with a faint blue tint at the deepest part, were imprinted on her wrist, which was as white as jade.
He felt a strange, eerie feeling in his heart. At first, it was just a slight doubt. As he stroked the teeth marks on Ying's wrist, a strange guess emerged in his mind, causing a surge of fear in his stomach.
It was like walking on a street at night, and suddenly turning around, he found a pair of green eyes staring at him from the dark shadows of the branches behind him.
He asked in a deep voice, "What's with these tooth marks?"
Cong Ying smiled faintly: "Your Highness asked me to remember this pain well, but you forgot it first."
She withdrew her wrist in the pale look of King Jin and handed over another one, which was spotlessly white and had a faint fragrance.
She said, "If Your Highness has forgotten, you can bite it again. If you have forgotten what you have heard, I can also repeat it... Xiao Lang."
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