Chapter 116 The Satisfaction of Feeding Mianmian
A rich, sweet aroma filled a porcelain spoon, with ripe, bright red papaya pieces resting on top. The refreshing fruity fragrance mingled with a creamy, milky flavor, lingering on Xie Mianmian's lips.
So close that she only needed to slightly open her mouth to "slurp" the tempting, sweet milk into her stomach.
But Xie Mianmian leaned back, her fingers twitching weakly. "Seventh Prince, perhaps... Eunuch Li should feed Mianmian."
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Li, who was standing to the side, was immediately filled with a joyful sense of responsibility. His eyes crinkled with laughter, as if he were the one who had eaten the sweet treat.
He stepped forward with a grin, "Oh, Your Highness, please hand it over to this old servant."
The seventh prince narrowed his eyes unhappily, his handsome face tense. He didn't put down the porcelain spoon, nor did he speak.
Seeing this, Eunuch Li wisely stepped aside, oh dear, he had no idea what his master was being so stubborn about.
Xie Mianmian's eyes darted around, and she lowered her head guiltily.
To Xie Mianmian, the Seventh Prince was not only a brother and friend, but also someone she greatly admired. If the Seventh Prince were bedridden, Xie Mianmian would be more than willing to take care of him.
But the cold-faced Seventh Prince actually fed her by hand, making Xie Mianmian feel itchy inside, and she was inexplicably afraid, not knowing what she was worried about.
Perhaps she was afraid that her dawdling while eating would annoy the Seventh Prince, even though Xie Mianmian knew he was a very good person.
But he was neither a close relative who was infinitely tolerant of her, nor a servant who took care of her wholeheartedly.
He was the proud and noble seventh prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
He gently placed the porcelain spoon against Xie Mianmian's lips, his tone unusually gentle, "Xie Mianmian, open your mouth."
Before her mind could even process it, her mouth had already obediently opened, and a spoonful of sweet fruit landed on her tongue. Without the child needing to chew much, the soft, ripe papaya and the finely chopped snow fungus were swallowed smoothly.
Healed by the delicious food, Xie Mianmian shook her head and exclaimed, "So delicious!"
Seeing the child's face regain its radiance, and his big eyes shining happily as he looked at him, the Seventh Prince's lips curled up slightly.
"Eat more if you like it." Another spoonful was scooped up and handed over.
Xie Mianmian focused all her attention on her taste buds, putting all her worries behind her. She swallowed and eagerly opened her mouth.
"Ah~" like a fledgling bird crying for food.
The overflowing porcelain spoons, like busy cargo ships, were willingly fed into that little, watery mouth time and time again.
Sometimes, before the porcelain spoon was even fully loaded with goods, Xie Mianmian would gently shake the Seventh Prince's other hand, silently urging him on.
The seventh prince, who was being fed for the first time, did not show the impatience that the child had imagined.
His stiff fingers, initially clumsy, gradually became adept, as if he had done feeding Xie Mianmian hundreds or thousands of times.
Slowly realizing what was happening, Xie Mianmian released her grip on the luxurious clothes. "You bad hand! I can't bully the Seventh Prince!"
She carefully observed the Seventh Prince's expression and found that he showed no displeasure and did not seem to mind her being a nuisance. Xie Mianmian was completely relieved.
"One last bite, please."
She let out another "woof," and said, "The Seventh Prince is a good person; Mianmian likes him."
The porcelain spoon fell to the bottom of the dry bowl; the food was all gone, and the Seventh Prince felt a pang of regret.
The fact that he successfully fed Xie Mianmian and made her very happy gave the Seventh Prince a secret sense of accomplishment.
This feeling of pleasure was strange, unlike the excitement I usually felt when I received praise from the Grand Tutor or won a horsemanship and archery competition.
The Seventh Prince felt as if a little raccoon was playfully scratching at his heart with its soft little paws, making him feel itchy.
"Would you like to eat more?"
Xie Mianmian shook her head, touching her round belly. She felt full and her eyelids seemed to grow heavier.
She said softly, "Seventh Prince, Mianmian is sleepy."
The Seventh Prince helped Xie Mianmian and gently laid her flat on the bed. He remembered that she was still ill and needed to rest.
Hearing Xie Mianmian's long, rhythmic breathing, the Seventh Prince knew she was asleep, so he sat down beside her and read a book.
Suddenly, Eunuch Li came up to him and whispered something in his ear: "The Xie family has arrived."
Outside, the Xie family members all bowed to the Seventh Prince, who gestured to them that there was no need for such formalities.
Xie Mingyi asked anxiously, "How is Mianmian now? Is she alright?"
Eunuch Li relayed the magistrate's words to the Xie family without missing a single one.
The group entered the inner room and saw Xie Mianmian lying unconscious on the bed, which startled the Xie family.
The Seventh Prince said, "She is fine for now. She has finished eating and is now asleep."
Wen Shuwan kept patting her chest with the handkerchief in her hand, murmuring, "It's alright, it's alright."
Then he said to the Seventh Prince, "Thank you for your help today, Your Highness. It's getting late, so we shouldn't disturb you any longer. We'll take Mianmian back now."
The Seventh Prince glanced at Eunuch Li, who nodded and said to the Xie family, "This poison is vicious. The Imperial Physician is still working hard to find an antidote. Once the poison takes effect, the Imperial Physician will need to use acupuncture to suppress it. It would be safer for the Princess to stay in the palace."
Seeing the Xie family's troubled expressions, Eunuch Li continued, "The palace has all the necessary medicines. Once the Imperial Physician prepares the antidote, we can give it to the princess as soon as possible to minimize her suffering. Besides, the princess is currently unwell and it's inconvenient for her to travel. Please rest assured, the palace will take good care of her."
The Xie family knew that Eunuch Li was right. Even though they were worried about Xie Mianmian, for her safety, they had no choice but to let her stay in the palace.
They stayed by Xie Mianmian's side the whole time. There were many people in the room, but no one made a sound, afraid of disturbing the child's rest.
Worried or saddened gazes all fell on Xie Mianmian, who was fast asleep, snoring softly.
It wasn't until the palace was about to close that the Xie family had to part ways.
Wen Shuwan tenderly kissed the child's forehead, Xie Mingyi clasped her hands together and prayed devoutly for Xie Mianmian, while Xie's father and Xie Linyuan looked somber and frosty.
After a while, the Xie family members bowed to the Seventh Prince and then left reluctantly.
During this time, the Emperor and the Sixth Princess also came to visit Xie Mianmian. Looking at her innocent sleeping face, when the Emperor returned to the Imperial Study, he smashed a cup and said with a grim face, "These two unfilial sons!"
"Someone, convey my imperial decree: order the Imperial Physician to use all the medicinal herbs in my treasury to cure Mianmian." A palace servant withdrew upon receiving the order.
As night fell, a full moon hung in the dark blue sky.
Xie Mianmian was still asleep. Eunuch Li looked at her, struggling with how to move the child to the side hall without disturbing her.
Eunuch Li didn't want to move Xie Mianmian's room, but she was currently sleeping in the Seventh Prince's palace. He was so anxious and helpless that he couldn't let the Seventh Prince sleep somewhere else.
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