Chapter 11 Change of Ownership
On her way back to the Astrology Pavilion, Shen Qingmeng suddenly realized that she had abandoned Chu Wangshu once again.
The caravan followed the detour indicated by Chu Wangshu, and she was now running without stopping to find Shen Ning. Her mind was completely focused on rescuing Shen Ning, and she had forgotten that changing fate would affect Chu Wangshu.
She kept saying she wasn't looking for him for divination, but she never hesitated for even a moment.
Shen Qingmeng suddenly had a headache. This person had been acting strangely and not saying anything for the past few days. If he was really hurt now... how was she going to coax him?
The age-old dilemma: If a family member or partner falls into the water, who should you save?
She chose to save her father, but failed. Then she turned around and tried to coax Chu Wangshu, but she didn't know how to do it.
As soon as Shen Qingmeng stepped out of the carriage, she saw a maid carrying medicine down from the pavilion.
It seems that Chu Wangshu has moved back to the attic; he really likes that little house.
Her mind was in a mess, so Shen Qingmeng decided to just go for it!
Shen Qingmeng carried the warmed medicine, knocked on the attic door, and then—went straight in. She had barely opened the door, and before she even stepped inside, she heard a dismissive voice.
"Get out," Chu Wangshu said, huddled in the corner by the window without looking up, but without any hesitation. "Take the medicine out too."
Shen Qingmeng was taken aback. She only knew him to be stubborn. Although he had been aloof from people recently, he had never spoken to her in a commanding tone. She had always thought Chu Wangshu was a gentle person. She hadn't expected the Grand Preceptor to be so harsh when angry. He must usually be a man of his word, otherwise, all the servants in the Astrology Pavilion wouldn't be so obedient.
But what is he angry about? Could it be that he's really angry that Shen Qingmeng ran away without even saying goodbye?
But why did you get so angry that you stopped taking your medicine? Even though this stuff is really hard to swallow.
Shen Qingmeng was about to bite the bullet and take the medicine to Chu Wangshu's side when she suddenly stopped.
Hiss... A warm current arrived rather untimely.
After placing the medicine bowl on the table, she quickly left the attic.
But before she could react, Chu Wangshu, who was blind, couldn't tell whether it was Shen Qingmeng or one of the servants from the Astrology Pavilion knocking on the door.
But along with the medicine bowl, there was a familiar scent that made him suddenly realize that he might have scolded the wrong person.
"Qingmeng? Is that you?"
The door had been closed again, and no one answered.
Chu Wangshu propped herself up and groped her way forward.
There weren't many items in the attic, and even if Chu Wangshu couldn't see them, she could roughly figure out where the table was.
But no matter how familiar he was with the place, he was still just a blind man without any support. Chu Wangshu had just touched the table when he tripped over a chair leg and, in his panic, knocked the medicine bowl off the table.
The scalding medicine spilled onto his hands, and shards of broken porcelain scattered all over the floor.
Chu Wangshu subconsciously picked up the shards from the ground, but ended up cutting her fingers with many bloody marks.
He threw down the broken pieces of porcelain and sat down, hugging himself.
Why is it that I can't do anything right?
He couldn't save any of the servant, the white fox, his mother, the bluebird, or Shen's father, and now he's personally driven Shen Qingmeng away.
Why can't this long and sinful life end...?
Unconsciously, Chu Wangshu clutched a shard of porcelain in his palm. Blood seeped from his hand, dripping onto the ground, the sound of the dripping blood unusually clear in the silent attic.
After an unknown amount of time, someone came over, pried Chu Wangshu's hands apart, and said, "What are you doing?"
It is Physician Li.
It wasn't a dream.
Chu Wangshu let Physician Li apply the medicine to his hands rather roughly, still looking lost in thought: "Qingmeng, is it that you don't want to see me anymore?"
"Didn't you kick them out?"
“Yes,” Chu Wangshu said, “She should have stayed away from me in the first place, then she probably wouldn’t have been hurt again.”
"Hmm, and then the girl really turned around and left, and you just sat here wrestling with the broken pieces of porcelain?"
Chu Wangshu remained silent for a moment before cautiously grasping Physician Li's sleeve and pleadingly asking, "Uncle Li, please take me to find Qingmeng... I... I don't know... I didn't know it was her, she didn't speak to me..."
Physician Li helped Chu Wangshu sit up by the bed and said to him, "I'll go find Qingmeng and have her come over. Think carefully about what you want to say to her."
"Okay." Chu Wangshu nodded quickly.
Chu Wangshu's mind was also not clear; he always couldn't help but blame himself for everything.
But he really is the source of all this evil.
Without him, Emperor Qing could not have accomplished so much.
Shen Qingmeng should stay away from him... but when he actually discovered that Shen Qingmeng had left, Chu Wangshu felt incredibly panicked. He seemed to have gotten used to Shen Qingmeng's tireless visits, and he seemed unable to accept that Shen Qingmeng had completely disappeared from his world.
Chu Wangshu shrank into a corner again, as if only in this way could he feel a little bit of safety in the darkness.
After changing her clothes, Shen Qingmeng did not go to the attic immediately. She figured that Chu Wangshu was actually quite easy to coax. If she made him some food and acted a little cheeky, Shen Qingmeng felt that he wouldn't be willing to push her away.
If he dares to push... then let him touch his wound, that trick seems quite effective.
Having not prepared anything in advance, and with pastries being difficult to make, Shen Qingmeng had no choice but to make some shortbread in the kitchen. When Physician Li came to the kitchen again to prepare medicine for Chu Wangshu, Shen Qingmeng's hands were still covered in the aroma of sesame seeds and soybeans.
Physician Li even made sure Shen Qingmeng saw the broken porcelain shards.
【What's wrong? 】
"He's throwing a tantrum, refusing to take his medicine or eat anything. And since you've been gone these past few days, nobody has been able to take care of him."
Shen Qingmeng cut the brittle and arranged it on a plate, then washed her hands: "This medicine is really bitter."
As soon as Shen Qingmeng opened the door, she saw Chu Wangshu huddled in another corner. She didn't look angry at all; it was more like she was reflecting on her mistakes.
She walked over, sat on the edge of the bed, took Chu Wangshu's hand and looked at it. How could she have gotten herself into this state in less than two hours? Did she break a bowl or hurt herself with a piece of porcelain?
"Qingmeng?" Chu Wangshu touched Shen Qingmeng's hand, confirmed the person beside her, then leaned forward and lowered her head. "I'm sorry, I... I know, it's... it's my fault. If I... had foreseen it earlier, Uncle Shen might not have died..."
Shen Qingmeng stared in shock. Whose confession was it? Moreover, Chu Wangshu was acting very strangely. His hands were cold, but his face was flushed, and he seemed to be trying his best to hold back something. Even his breathing was trembling.
"You...you can pinch me, or...uh...scold me, give me bitter melon...please...please ignore me..."
Good heavens! For the first time, Shen Qingmeng realized just how difficult it was to go from luxury to frugality. It wasn't that she didn't want to care; her throat was just sore again!
Shen Qingmeng had no choice but to pull Chu Wangshu into her arms and stroke his chest.
Li Bo had said that the remaining poison in Chu Wangshu's body had not been cleared, and it was uncertain when it would flare up again. He had probably been enduring it alone for a long time, and now he was in even more pain, so he clung to Shen Qingmeng as if grasping at a lifeline.
“I know I’m a troublesome person…” Chu Wangshu wrapped her arms around Shen Qingmeng’s waist. “Qingmeng… please don’t give up on me, okay…”
Shen Qingmeng wanted to tell Chu Wangshu that she had never blamed him, but she couldn't utter a sound. She gently kissed Chu Wangshu's forehead, hugged him tightly, and stroked his back.
Whether it was from the fever, the exhaustion from crying, the pain that made her dizzy, or the effect of Shen Qingmeng's comforting words, Chu Wangshu gradually slumped into Shen Qingmeng's arms and fell into a deep sleep.
This was the first time he had spoken so much while suffering from the poison, and it was also the first time he had openly embraced Shen Qingmeng seeking comfort.
Shen Qingmeng looked at the person in her arms, gently stroked his still furrowed brows, and wiped away the tears on his face.
I really don't know what Uncle Li said that could scare him like this. In such a short time, his eyes were swollen from crying, and even in his sleep he looked extremely restless. Shen Qingmeng gently patted and coaxed Chu Wangshu for a long time before he gradually fell asleep.
Shen Qingmeng rode her horse all the way to the capital, put on a show in front of Emperor Qing, and returned to the Astrology Pavilion without resting for a moment. Now she was gradually feeling sleepy. She patted Chu Wangshu's back absently, closed her eyes, and leaned against the bed curtains to doze off.
For some reason, she always felt sleepy whenever she was in Chu Wangshu's bed.
Perhaps because she had something on her mind, Shen Qingmeng didn't sleep soundly and opened her eyes again not long after.
Fortunately, Chu Wangshu was still asleep, but his fever had subsided. He seemed to be sleeping comfortably, as his arms were no longer wrapped tightly around Shen Qingmeng as they had been before; they were merely resting loosely on her waist.
Sure enough, a young woman's belly is much more comfortable to sleep on than a hard pillow.
By the moonlight, Shen Qingmeng looked at Chu Wangshu. He was truly handsome. Shen Qingmeng wasn't good at describing it, but Chu Wangshu was definitely the most handsome person she had ever seen.
A hint of sorrow lingered in his handsome features, making him all the more pitiful. His long eyelashes drooped, trembling slightly with his breath. Shen Qingmeng wanted to reach out and touch them, but it was just a thought. She rarely got a good night's sleep, so she couldn't bear to disturb him.
Perhaps due to limited sun exposure and poor health, Chu Wangshu had very pale skin and almost no color in her lips. The flush on her face from the fever had faded, making her look like a broken work of art.
The hand resting on Shen Qingmeng's waist had distinct knuckles, was slender and well-proportioned, with slightly upturned fingertips and prominent blue veins. The swollen wounds were not bandaged, but rather treated with medicine and left to dry, which looked truly heartbreaking.
After a moment, Physician Li gently knocked on the door and entered the room carrying a bowl of medicine that Chu Wangshu didn't really want to see.
Shen Qingmeng pointed at Chu Wangshu: [She's asleep.]
Physician Li put the medicine bowl aside, tiptoed over, and looked at Chu Wangshu.
I've never seen him like this before. He usually lies properly in bed, sleeping like a dead person, completely still.
"I had a slight fever and a bit of pain for a while, but I seem to be feeling better now." Shen Qingmeng gestured as much as possible so that Physician Li could understand: "What did you say to him before I came?"
Physician Li shook his head and said softly, "I didn't say anything, I just didn't explain what you went to do."
Shen Qingmeng looked puzzled. In her memory, Physician Li should have taken good care of Chu Wangshu. Why was he playing tricks on him?
"If you don't scare him a little, how will he know what he's really thinking? He keeps threatening suicide and ignoring you. You'll probably get tired of him sooner or later."
Shen Qingmeng was even more puzzled. When did he start threatening suicide? Besides, he wasn't exactly ignoring people; he would react to Shen Qingmeng's teasing, which was quite amusing.
"You don't need to spoil him like this. Holding him to sleep is one thing, but patting him all the time is like trying to soothe a baby."
“I heard you,” Chu Wangshu nuzzled against him, turning her head toward Physician Li without opening her eyes. “Uncle Li, are you jealous?”
Shen Qingmeng covered her mouth to suppress a laugh; she really couldn't imagine what it would be like if Physician Li found a companion.
Now that Chu Wangshu has regained his senses, he can naturally realize that Shen Qingmeng has lost her voice again, not because she doesn't want to talk to him. She was just emotionally overwhelmed, and the poison caused her heart pain, making her mind too unclear.
He knew that he was probably sick, and sometimes he couldn't control what he was thinking.
"Drink the medicine as soon as you wake up. I'm just wasting my herbs by brewing the same medicine three times a day." Doctor Li picked up the medicine bowl and handed it to Chu Wangshu. "Or should I get you a spoon and have the maid feed you?"
Chu Wangshu took a deep breath, and he suddenly felt that it would be better to just keep pretending to be asleep.
He propped himself up, took the medicine bowl, and felt even more regretful; his hand now ached from holding the bowl.
After not taking the medicine for two days, the bitterness seemed even stronger. Chu Wangshu drank the medicine in the bowl in one gulp, then immediately covered her mouth, trying hard to suppress the physiological reaction that made her want to vomit.
Shen Qingmeng stuffed a piece of candy into his mouth.
Qingmeng is still better.
"It hurts so much," the Imperial Advisor said pitifully as he lay back down on Shen Qingmeng, taking her hand and placing it on his stomach. "It hurts, can you rub it?"
Although she felt that Chu Wangshu's habit of not eating when he was in a bad mood was not good, Shen Qingmeng always indulged him. She obediently used the heel of her hand to circle Chu Wangshu's upper abdomen, and secretly decided that she would have to make him some delicious food tomorrow to tempt him.
Shen Qingmeng picked up a small piece of candy and fed it to Chu Wangshu, then looked at Uncle Li: "Want to try some?"
"Did you just go and make me candy?"
"The girl has started her period. She went to change her clothes and apply some medicine to her wounds. She thought you were angry and didn't dare to come directly over, so she ran to make you something to eat." Doctor Li also took a piece of candy and put it in his mouth.
Shen Qingmeng's dessert-making skills are truly excellent, far surpassing those of the chefs at the Astrology Pavilion. Perhaps it's because she puts more effort into making desserts for Chu Wangshu.
"Are you injured?" Chu Wangshu propped herself up, but Shen Qingmeng pressed her back down to lie down.
She took Chu Wangshu's hand and touched his shoulder, where a very obvious, raised bandage was visible.
Shen Qingmeng wrote on Chu Wangshu's palm: "Very small."
"Excuse me, where will you two stay tonight?" Physician Li sat to the side, eating some sweet candy while watching the commotion.
Chu Wangshu remained silent.
Shen Qingmeng pointed to the mattress beneath her.
Very good, it seems the Astrology Pavilion will change hands soon.
"Alright, then I'll start making up lies for you tomorrow." Doctor Li stood up, wiping the crumbs off his hands. "Wake up, don't sleep. In a little while, you'll be competing with the owls outside to see who's more energetic."
What nonsense are you spouting?
Although Chu Wangshu couldn't see, he could sense Shen Qingmeng's doubts. He smiled and said, "They said my body is too weak, I can't get an erection, and I can't have a little charlatan for the time being."
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