Chapter 84 He defied the imperial decree, but his mind was made up; he said he already had love in his heart…
The chills and fever syndrome, when it flares up, makes the skin feel like it's covered in frost in the twelfth lunar month, while inside it feels like it's burning with scorching heat, and all the internal organs feel like they're being roasted. Once this disease takes hold, it's like a bone-deep carbuncle, with no possibility of ever being cured. Each flare-up can only be endured.
Since Gu Xiangzhi contracted this illness in his childhood, it has been several decades. Every three months, this torment recurs precisely on time, lasting for a full twelve hours.
Until the appointed time arrives, the excruciating pain of intertwined ice and fire will not subside. Even someone with an iron body would have to endure this torture.
“My lord…” Mei Nian stepped forward to support him, sweat beading on his forehead with anxiety: “I will go to the Imperial Medical Bureau to fetch a physician.”
The bulging veins on his neck looked like a gruesome scar on his pale skin. He grabbed Mei Nian's arm, the pain inside his body like a cruel torture that was peeling away his flesh layer by layer, and cold sweat slid down his temples.
"No need..."
“But you can’t keep enduring this. If the Imperial Medical Bureau prescribes some painkillers, it will at least provide some relief for a while.”
Gu Xiangzhi remained silent, as if waiting for the pain in his body to subside.
After a long pause, he paused slightly, and the words seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, the last syllable almost swallowed by a muffled cough in his throat: "Don't you know... those medicines never worked for me..."
Even Dugu Loujun couldn't cure his illness; the medicine prescribed by the Imperial Medical Bureau was completely ineffective.
Mei Nian had been by his side for a long time, so of course she knew this, and she knew that the medicine from the Imperial Medical Bureau was not very effective.
As the saying goes, when someone is desperate, they will try anything. Seeing how much pain he was in, Mei Nian wanted to ease his suffering.
"Go outside and wait." Gu Xiangzhi pushed his hand away, his fingertips icy cold: "Let me calm down..." He knew better than anyone that the people from the Imperial Medical Bureau would have made a wasted trip.
This time, the old ailment was triggered by falling into the water while rescuing someone yesterday, and it's just that it's more severe than usual. I'll just have to endure these twelve hours, and it will pass eventually.
"Can……"
Mei Nian wanted to say something, but he interrupted her.
"Go out..."
Mei Nian couldn't refuse. Over the years, he had come to understand Mei Nian's decisive nature. Despite his many worries, he could only suppress his anxiety. He watched him anxiously for a while, and seeing the cold sweat still dripping from his forehead, he finally gritted his teeth and retreated, looking back every few steps, his eyes filled with barely suppressed worry.
The door creaked shut, cutting off any noise from the outside.
Gu Xiangzhi then lay heavily back on the couch.
His bangs were stuck to his skin with cold sweat, making him look disheveled and alone.
Nan Yin was the descendant of a disgraced official.
As a child, he followed his servant on the run, enduring hardships and sleeping in the open along the way. He contracted a fever and chills halfway through the journey, and in the end, his servant risked his life to save him and help him escape, which led him to Beiye.
These memories, buried deep in the past, are like scars etched into his bones, invisible on ordinary days, but always etched into his mind at times like these.
Thinking of how his entire family was slaughtered, and the things his parents entrusted to him before their deaths, which he has yet to accomplish.
If she really is the only daughter of the Rong family, then does he still need to produce that letter announcing the engagement?
There was no possibility of them fulfilling the promises made by their two families, so was there any need to say anything at all?
The person on the bed had his eyes closed, and a barely audible sigh escaped his throat. Before he could think it through, he was quickly overwhelmed by a new wave of intense pain surging through his body.
*
Before even stepping into the bedchamber, Yu Nie instructed Song Ai to keep a close eye on Gu Xiangzhi's movements, repeatedly urging her to report to her immediately if anything happened.
Song Ai readily agreed, and the two of them stepped into the hall one after the other.
Just as Yu Nie crossed the threshold, several familiar voices came from behind him.
She turned around and saw that Xiao Chengyan had come with Zhao Huaruo and Zhao Huashu.
Xiao Chengyan and Hua Ruo walked at the same speed, almost side by side, as if they were in a race.
"Qiqi..." Xiao Chengyan saw her turn around and hurriedly called out, his tone carrying an imperceptible intimacy.
Upon hearing this address, Zhao Hua Ruo's curiosity was piqued, and she turned to look at the person beside her: "Qi Qi? Why do you call Sister Hua Yan that?"
Xiao Chengyan's face lit up with a smug look, as if he were holding a great secret.
"You don't know this, do you? This is Hua Yan's childhood name." As he spoke, he raised his hand and gently patted Hua Ruo's head, repeating what he had reminded her of in the past: "Also, didn't I tell you before that you have to behave properly when you're out? Don't keep saying 'you' all the time. I'm your cousin."
Hua Ruo scoffed, not buying his act at all, and rolled her eyes: "You're only a few years older than me? I'm not going to call you cousin."
"Not only will I not call you cousin, I will also call you Xiao Chengyan. If you have the guts, go and complain to the Empress Dowager and see if she sides with you or me."
Before Xiao Chengyan could even retort, she snorted and, lifting her skirt, quickly ran towards Yu Nie.
Xiao Chengyan was speechless after being shut down by her retort. Looking at the back of her back, he shouted, "Then we'll see whether Grandmother sides with you or me."
Zhao Huashu, who was standing to the side, was used to the two bickering. She couldn't help but shake her head with a smile.
After shouting, Xiao Chengyan couldn't help but retort to Zhao Huashu, "With her personality, whoever marries her in the future will be driven crazy."
Just as Zhao Huashu was about to speak, Zhao Huaruo, who was in front of her, turned around as if she had eyes in the back of her head.
She had arrived at Yu Nie and Nian's place. She put her hands on her hips and glared at him, saying, "Xiao Chengyan, stop cursing me. I think you should be worried about yourself. See which lady is willing to marry you."
"Whether or not someone marries me, it's still better than some people who act all fierce and unruly when they see my cousin. Who knows, they might scare away some talented and handsome young man in the future."
"You're the one who's being unreasonable!" Zhao Huaruo stomped her foot, her tone full of dissatisfaction.
Xiao Chengyan, who caught up with her, laughed heartily and stopped chatting with her.
His gaze shifted to Yu Nie, his joy almost overflowing. He hurried forward to congratulate her: "This morning I went to have lunch with my grandmother, and she specifically said that your marriage to the Da Que Khanate has been called off. Congratulations, sister, you no longer need to travel to that bitter and cold place."
Hua Ruo also stopped bickering with him earlier, affectionately took Yu Nie's arm, and echoed, "That's right, sister no longer has to suffer that ordeal. From now on, she can choose a suitable husband to marry in Jian'an City. Isn't that wonderful?"
The news of the annulment of the marriage alliance with the Da Que Khanate has already spread throughout the court and the public, and even in the inner palace, no one is unaware of it.
Yu Nie realized that they had come specifically to celebrate her, and she couldn't help but feel extremely warm inside.
She smiled and said gently, "Thank you for your concern and care, cousin, sister, and sister Hua Shu. I am also grateful for your special trip. The marriage was originally the Emperor's decree, which concerns diplomatic relations, so I should obey the decree. However, now that I can stay in Jian'an and avoid the hardship of a distant marriage, it is ultimately a fortunate thing."
Her gaze swept over the three faces, her expression sincere: "I will remember your kindness in caring about my situation and coming to congratulate me."
"Don't be so polite with us, little sister. We're all family. We were so happy to hear that you don't have to suffer." Zhao Huashu had also come over.
Upon learning that the marriage alliance between Beiye and the Daque Khanate had been indefinitely postponed, she was happier than anyone else. Firstly, no one else would have to suffer, and secondly, she would no longer have to feel guilty about her selfish actions and be tormented day and night.
Yu Nie felt grateful for their care of her, the fake princess who had returned to Jian'an halfway through her journey. Even though she knew these words were addressed to "Hua Yan," since she was representing her at this moment, she naturally had to express her gratitude several times.
“Sister is right, but how can I not be grateful for your concern for me?”
“Ah… Qiqi, you are mistaken.” Xiao Chengyan said, “We are all siblings, blood is thicker than water. His Majesty’s decision to send my sister to a marriage alliance was out of necessity. He probably didn’t want her to go to such a place. Now that the Jie people have requested to cancel the marriage alliance, it is the best possible outcome. Everyone is happy.”
Xiao Chengyan's words carried a hint of naiveté. But it wasn't surprising that he had such thoughts. Regardless of what the current emperor did behind the scenes, he always treated him well on the surface, never regarding him as a cousin, but rather as a younger brother.
Before the emperor ascended the throne, Xiao Chengyan was a frequent visitor to the Eastern Palace, where he often went to freeload. The Crown Prince and his wife treated him very well and gave him plenty of good things.
Yu Nie didn't think much of his statement. Although she didn't know the original relationship between Xiao Chengyan and the emperor, after getting to know him these past few days, she could tell that Xiao Chengyan was a person of deep feelings and a kind prince.
Unlike despicable people like Zhao Huaishu.
She responded to him, saying, "Cousin is right."
Then, she turned to the three of them and invited them, saying, "It's hot, let's not stand here anymore. Let's go inside and sit down to talk in detail."
The other three had already planned to do so, and upon hearing this, they all nodded in agreement.
She then led them inside.
The four sat down in order at the table in the hall. Cuiwei was busy in the backyard. Song Ai brought out chilled sweet plum soup and served it to each of them. She also set out fruit and food. She led the other maids to the side to wait.
Xiao Chengyan took a sip of the sweet plum soup in his bowl and exclaimed that it was sweet and refreshing, saying that it had a different flavor from the prickly pear juice she had personally given him that day.
Prickly pear juice is common in Jian'an, so Hua Ruo and Hua Shu didn't find it strange.
However, when Hua Ruo heard that Yu Nie had given prickly pear juice to Xiao Chengyan, she became jealous and asked why she hadn't given any to herself.
Before Yu Nie could answer, Xiao Chengyan interjected, "I did take Qiqi out for a trip, but you didn't take her out."
"Who said I didn't?" Hua Ruo defended herself: "I also took my sister out, but a little accident happened."
Before Xiao Chengyan could ask about the accident, Hua Ruo said, "Never mind, you have some at your place anyway, I'll bring some back later."
Xiao Chengyan shrugged: "That's unfortunate, I don't have any in my own residence either."
Not to mention Hua Ruo, even Yu Nie was puzzled by these words. Did he not go back to Jiheng Mansion to retrieve it after they separated that day?
In reality, he had been busy finding opportunities to teach Li Yunsheng a lesson behind his back these past few days, and with the Empress Dowager unwell, he hadn't had time to go to the Imperial Household Department to get it.
But perhaps fearing she might misunderstand that he didn't want her things, he first explained, "I've been too busy these past few days, and the things are still at the Jiheng Mansion."
Hua Ruo said, "Then when we go back, we can just go there and get it." She emphasized, "You have to share some with me."
Xiao Chengyan said, "You can go, but watch your words. Don't tell Huan Xun that you're going to introduce him to any noble ladies. He doesn't like these kinds of things."
"Why?" Hua Ruo asked, puzzled.
Xiao Chengyan: "His Majesty wanted to choose a member of the royal family to marry him, but he refused."
Hua Ruo, Hua Shu, and even Yu Nie were all taken aback.
Hua Shu said, "Your Majesty dislikes it most when others disobey his orders. Lord Huan is doing this...aren't you afraid Your Majesty will punish him?"
Xiao Chengyan shook his head at this: "But his mind is made up, and he said that he already has someone he loves."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Nie felt as if a large wad of cotton had been stuffed into his chest, causing severe congestion.
*
A hundred miles outside Jian'an City, there is a vast, flat wilderness.
A woman wearing a veil and a handsome man were sitting on horseback, gazing at the distant plains.
The young woman raised her hand and slightly lifted the gauze, wiping the thin layer of sweat from her forehead with the corner of her sleeve, and said joyfully to the person beside her:
"Judging from this, we are not far from Jian'an."
"Junior Brother Ahui, we're about to find Qiqi."
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