Shen Qing carried Meng Zhao to the room and gently placed her on the bed. Noticing that her body was trembling slightly, he quickly pulled over the quilt and carefully covered her. Then he turned to the maid beside him and instructed, "Go and get a heater and boil some water as soon as possible."
Madam Gu stood to the side, pacing anxiously. "She was fine when she got into the car, how could this happen all of a sudden? Qinghe, will Zhaozhao be alright? I shouldn't have taken her to that stupid banquet! It's all my fault, I insisted on making her come along..."
“Mother, don’t worry. My sister has always been in good health. She’ll be fine.” After a pause, she continued, “Granny Sun, please take my mother back first. I’ll go and reply to the doctor when he arrives.”
Madam Gu was unwilling to leave and insisted on staying by Meng Zhao's side. At this moment, Meng Zhao was all she could think about, so she couldn't care about anything else. However, Granny Sun, being an observer, had a clearer perspective. Whether it was Lord Shen's anxious appearance just now, or his unwillingness to let go, or even now, although he was speaking to them, his eyes were fixed on the person on the bed. She had a guess in her mind.
Thinking of this, Granny Sun felt a pang of anxiety and quickly advised, "Madam, what Madam Meng needs most right now is quiet rest. Your coming and going here will only disturb her rest. Besides, your clothes were wet just now, and if you catch a cold, that would be even worse. Anyway, the doctor will be here soon, so let's go back and change our clothes first, and then come back to check on her later, don't you think?"
Madam Gu glanced at Meng Zhao with reluctance, and was finally persuaded by Granny Sun to leave the room.
The door closed gently, leaving only him and the unconscious Meng Zhao inside. Shen Qinghe finally broke down, his eyes revealing his heartache and worry without reservation.
In his memory, Meng Zhao had always been strong and independent, as if nothing could faze her. But now, she lay quietly on the bed, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she were restless even in her sleep. Shen Qinghe reached out and gently placed his hand on her forehead. It was burning hot to the touch. His heart sank, and he quickly pulled the blanket up higher.
“Meng Zhao…” he called softly, his voice filled with suppressed emotion, “Why do you never believe me?”
Shen Qinghe only slightly left the bed after the maid brought in a heater and hot water. After taking her pulse, the doctor said that the cold had entered her body and that the fright from falling into the water had caused the evil qi to invade her body, which led to the fever. He prescribed a decoction and asked the maid to decoct it. He also asked Huang Cui to wipe her body with hot water to help her sweat.
The doctor was about to leave, but Shen Qinghe was worried and left him in the back room, so that if Meng Zhao had any problems at night, there would be a doctor by his side.
The maid brought the medicine to the room after it was brewed. Although Huang Cui was strong, she was completely incapable of taking care of people. When she fed her the medicine, a lot of it spilled down her neck. Shen Qinghe frowned as he watched, and finally couldn't help but raise his hand to push her away.
He took a pillow and placed it under Meng Zhao's shoulder. Then he tilted Meng Zhao's head slightly, placed his hand on her chin, and applied a little pressure. After Meng Zhao opened her mouth, he had Huang Cui bring over the bowl, and then he picked up a spoon and fed her little by little.
Meng Zhao was just asleep, not unconscious. After being tormented like this, how could she not wake up? She opened her eyes groggily and saw Shen Qinghe and Huang Cui, one holding a bowl and the other a spoon. She couldn't help but frown and say, "Are you two trying to make me suffer?" After saying that, she reached out and took the medicine bowl, tilted her head back and gulped down the medicine in a few mouthfuls.
However, something was added to the medicine, and it was so bitter that Meng Zhao's eyes welled up with tears. She leaned over the bed and kept gagging. Seeing this, Huang Cui quickly said, "I'll go buy some candied fruit!" After saying that, she hurriedly ran out.
Perhaps because she had just been wiped down, Meng Zhao felt much clearer-headed than before, even though she was still physically uncomfortable. She glanced at Shen Qinghe, who was still sitting by the bed, and felt a surge of irritation. She kicked him and said in an unfriendly tone, "Get off me!"
Shen Qinghe didn't argue with her. He obediently stood up, pulled the blanket to the side, and covered her outstretched feet back up. Meng Zhao thought he would leave, but instead he turned slightly and sat on the footstool.
Meng Zhao was too exhausted to get up and chase him away, so she could only say helplessly, "I'm already awake, what are you still doing here?"
Shen Qinghe didn't answer, but just looked at her silently. Meng Zhao was so angry at his unyielding attitude that she simply closed her eyes and pretended to sleep. However, Shen Qinghe spoke up at this moment, "Why did you go into the water?"
Meng Zhao was angry at the thought of the trouble she had suffered, but she couldn't very well say directly that it was because Shen Qinghe was too handsome, attracting the princess's affections and causing her to be implicated in the affair due to jealousy. The princess's feelings were probably still unknown to anyone, and there was no need for her to expose them. Besides, in the end, it was an accident, and Shen Qinghe couldn't be blamed.
So he said, "If someone falls into the water, I can't just watch her drown."
Upon hearing this, Shen Qinghe's face immediately darkened. "Have you ever heard the saying, 'A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall, and a wise man does not fall into a collapsed nest'? What do other people's lives have to do with you? Why do you put yourself in danger? Have you ever thought about how heartbroken your mother, Qingze, and Qingyu would be if something happened to you? Uncle Meng and Aunt Meng only have you as their daughter. What would they do if something happened to you?" Shen Qinghe became angrier and angrier as she spoke, and by the end, her eyes were filled with barely suppressed anger.
Although Meng Zhao had many complaints, he didn't think he had done anything wrong by jumping into the water to save someone. "I can swim. If I see someone fall into the water and don't save them, what will others say?"
Shen Qinghe said coldly, "We've known each other for so many years, and I didn't even know you could swim. How could anyone else know? Even if you don't go into the water, no one can blame you."
Meng Zhao rolled her eyes, her tone laced with sarcasm: "She's a princess, I'm a merchant. Even if I couldn't swim, if she drowned and I were just sitting on the shore, do you think it wouldn't implicate me?"
“Since you didn’t push her, her life or death is none of your business. No matter what happens, you can’t always think about risking your life!” At this point, Shen Qinghe’s voice suddenly softened, and there was even a hint of pleading in his tone: “I’ve grown up. I’m no longer the child that you need to protect at every turn. You can try to rely on me and trust me. I will protect you and won’t let anyone hurt you.”
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