Chapter 26
How did you manage to torment Prince Su to the point where he can't even get out of bed?
Birds chirped outside the window, and sparse sunlight slanted down through the window, casting a pale golden hue on the corners of the boy's eyes, creating a sense of indifference yet alluring fragmentation.
If she doesn't pull him, how can he have the strength to go out?
...There really is.
It just hurts a lot.
He forcefully broke through his meridians and bore the brunt of the pain himself; the aftereffects of it had not yet dissipated.
The prolonged pain caused him to break out in a cold sweat. Soaking in cold water would not only fail to relieve the pain, but would also allow the cold water to seep into his muscles and bones, which would be of no benefit to his health.
But now even moving a finger feels like being slowly tortured, so he'd rather soak in this cold water a little longer.
Xie Yutang naturally knew this as well.
She looked at the boy's almost bloodless lips, and her hand quietly stopped in front of him.
Su Lu looked at that long, slender hand, her drooping eyelashes trembling.
She wanted to pull him out of the icy pool, even though he wasn't much better off than her.
A moment later, the boy placed his hand in her palm.
That hand was practically perfect, with long, slender fingers, slightly protruding tendons at the finger bones, and faintly visible pale blue veins beneath the porcelain-white skin.
Xie Yutang finally understood why just one night of handcuffing could leave a red mark on his wrist.
His skin was so tender, it felt like the finest jade, and even the calluses on his palms from years of holding a sword only added to its texture.
The boy used her strength to rise from the water. Just as he was about to take a step, Xie Yutang suddenly pulled him up, pressed him against her shoulder, and hugged the boy's slender waist.
The body in his arms froze for a moment.
Xie Yutang took a step in the water, still able to sense his discomfort. "Is Prince Su still in considerable pain?" She paused, then a smile inexplicably appeared on her lips. "How about I carry you?"
...
How dare she flirt with him so brazenly and even make suggestive remarks?
Su Lu trembled with pain all over his body, but the pain was mixed with a tingling sensation, making him feel pathetic.
The scent of grass and trees from the crabapple tree under the moonlight wafts over the entire room.
He gave a slightly destructive sneer: "Master, aren't you afraid of falling while you're carrying me?"
...
Xie Yutang paused for a moment. Most of his weight was forced onto her, which was already making her a little tired. If they were to actually hug each other, they would both fall into the water.
She didn't pursue the unusual arrogance in the boy's tone, and half-helped, half-supported him as she led him towards the pool. It was only a few steps, but once they were out of the pool, he broke out in a cold sweat again.
If you're in so much pain, why would you take all the medicine?
A low stool was placed in front of the screen, and a carved mahogany clothes rack was placed to the side, with clean clothes hanging on it.
The boy consciously let go of her hand, slowly stood up from her embrace, and placed one hand on the clothes rack beam. His soaked clothes clung tightly to his forearm, and red marks could be seen on his wrist.
Xie Yutang let Su Lu pull away from their overly intimate distance, and the unusual awkwardness in his movements made her raise an eyebrow.
He was soaked to the bone, and the way he held onto the clothes rack accentuated his waistline. The thin layer of his undershirt barely covered anything, and his wet hair clung to his neck, back, and chest, making his skin appear even more like snow and jade.
She had always thought Su Lu's face was already top-notch, but she never expected his figure to be just as stunning.
Wet clothes, red marks, blindfold.
Xie Yutang's gaze was unabashed, lingering for quite some time, so long that even the boy in front of him, who couldn't see her, found it hard to bear.
"What? You just let me hold you, and now you won't even let me look at you?"
After saying that, the boy covered his lips and coughed softly.
Xie Yutang knew he was still there, so he neither removed the white silk nor changed his wet clothes.
Her own clothes were almost soaked, but she didn't make things difficult for him. After confirming that he could hold on, she went around the screen to the outer room.
These past few days have been rainy and overcast, and it's late autumn, so the charcoal fire outside has been burning, making it quite warm.
Xie Yutang first added charcoal to the brazier, then took off his wet undergarments and changed into the clean clothes that the servants had brought him that morning.
She brewed a pot of hot tea, then sat down at the table, closed her eyes, and felt the energy in her body. The effects of the muscle-softening powder were really strong. Her meridians were still a little sluggish, but she could still move them to some extent. Su Lu had told her that she could recover about 30%, but she didn't know if it was just good luck, but she felt that she had recovered even more.
The day before yesterday, after leaving the secret room where she had hidden military equipment, Xie Yutang ordered her guards to take her two handwritten letters and tokens and ride at full speed to the prefectural government. If Song Zhen could successfully persuade the general's office to send troops, there should be news by tomorrow. She went through all the details in her mind again. Hearing the noise, she turned around and saw Su Lu coming out from behind the screen. He had changed into a moon-white long robe, and his hair was still wet and loosely draped over his shoulders. He had a fragile and elegant air about him.
Xie Yutang pressed the back of his finger against the cup to check the temperature, then pushed it towards him: "Drink some hot tea first."
After thanking her, Su Lu sat down next to her. The distance between them was neither distant nor intimate.
He regained his refined manners and dignified demeanor befitting a young master from a prominent family.
Xie Yutang's fingertips caressed the rim of the cup, a sudden desire welling up inside her, tickling her heart, yet she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.
She wanted to go over the plans with Su Lu again, but the words that came out were: "Does Your Highness have someone you love?"
Su Lu paused in his tea-drinking.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and he gently placed the cup on the table before looking up, seemingly surprised: "Why did you suddenly ask that, Master?"
Although it wasn't Xie Yutang's first time sleeping in the same bed with a man, Su Lu was someone she had always thought would make her uncomfortable. However, after spending the last few days together, she found that he had a very good sense of propriety. Although they were forced to share a room due to the circumstances, upon reflection, she found that she didn't feel uncomfortable at all.
Xie Yutang ran his fingers along the rim of the cup and curled his lips into a smile: "With your looks, figure, and your thoughtfulness towards girls, there must be quite a few young ladies who like you, but not a single one of them is interested in you?"
In her past life, her heart was entirely devoted to Lin Tan. In the later stages, she was too busy taking care of herself to have any time to concern herself with the romantic affairs of a general from another dynasty.
Even if she didn't worry about it, she remembered that every time the imposing and dignified Prince Muqing appeared, he would make the noble ladies at the banquet blush and their hearts race, but he was always covered in snow, and no woman could stand by his side.
He seemed to remain single until her death.
“Young Master Su.” Xie Yutang tapped her fingertip lightly on the rim of the cup. “I am not a harsh person. I have seen the effort you have put into serving me. If you have someone you like, feel free to speak up. I am confident that I have the ability to make sure you can bring that person home in style, no matter which family’s daughter she is from.”
The importance attached to it was evident in his words.
But Su Lu's face showed little joy. His hand holding the teacup fell to the ground. He lowered his eyes and thought for a while before slowly speaking: "Master, you want me to marry someone else. Aren't you worried that I... won't be able to serve you by your side as I am now?"
"I'm not worried."
Xie Yutang did not hesitate at all, as if she had already thought it through. She raised her hand and hooked the boy's chin, forcing him to look up at her. Every word was clear, "Because I will tell you in advance that if you have a woman you like, it is best to do so after I have finished what I need to do. Before that, you can only belong to me alone."
"And... you'd better pray that she knows when to advance and retreat, because those who work under me must devote all their energy and time to the tasks I assign them."
The boy's eyelashes blinked very lightly.
He tilted his head, avoiding Xie Yutang's hand that was gripping his chin, and let out a soft snort.
"Master is so domineering."
That's probably her real purpose.
Asking about his ideal woman is actually a way of reminding him to always keep her affairs and orders in mind, and to always maintain his proper status even after he gets married and starts a family.
Xie Yutang then turned his jaw back to its normal position.
"What, regretting it?"
She had given him many chances, and even sent him to the patrol camp. With his abilities, if he were truly interested in this, Wei Xianxi would be no big deal.
It was him, who kept coming back, even after removing the collar from her neck, to remind her again and again that his chains were in her hands.
The boy's chin was held in her hand, but for the first time, a smile appeared on his pale face. "Your subordinate will obey your master's orders."
"There will be absolutely no overstepping of the bounds."
His tone was as docile as ever. Even though he was the one obeying the order, Xie Yutang felt a small part of his heart being soothed and comforted.
In the past few days, Wei Xianxi and Cui Hu have been very active, and even though Xie Yutang was trapped in the courtyard, he could still sense things from the smallest details.
Judging by the time, the reinforcements from the General's Mansion will arrive soon, and the next two days will certainly not be peaceful.
Xie Yutang's martial arts skills were not weak, but he had to admit that, whether it was his moves, internal strength, or how he dealt with enemies, this young Prince Muqing was a rare master in the world.
He had exerted himself greatly today by using his internal energy to expel the medicine, and needed to recuperate properly. Therefore, as soon as it got dark, Xie Yutang told him to go to bed and rest.
It started raining again in the middle of the night. Xie Yutang was awakened by the thunder. Just as he was about to get up to pour himself a cup of cold tea, his gaze inadvertently fell on the person beside him, and he was startled by the person's pale face.
"Young Master Su..."
Xie Yutang called out, but there was no response. She tentatively reached out a finger and touched his cheek.
It's so hot.
Su Lu has a fever.
The usual frost-like and snow-like aura was gone, and the person was burning up, seemingly unconscious due to an abnormally high fever. Xie Yutang's heart tightened, and she was about to put on her clothes and get up when her wrist was grabbed.
Where are you going?
The man's closed eyes opened at some point, his hands were weak, but his eyes were clear.
"Go find a doctor."
Su Lu shook his head. Xie Yutang was about to speak again when he heard Su Lu say something that hit the nail on the head: "The doctor will know how you and I expel the poison by taking our pulses."
...
That plan will be scrapped.
Xie Yutang choked.
Su Lu smiled and suppressed a low cough rising in his throat: "It's nothing, I'll be fine tomorrow."
Forcibly unleashing the energy to open the meridians while the true energy is sealed will have an impact on the body that cannot be dismissed as "nothing serious".
Xie Yutang lit a lamp, poured out the cold tea on the table, boiled a pot of water, added some clean cold spring water, tested the temperature himself, and then fed it to Su Lu.
His body was burning up abnormally. Xie Yutang had been in the army when he was young and had seen people die from fever before. He knew that he had to find a way to bring down the fever.
The pool where the two had bathed during the day had been cleaned, and the wooden tub next to it contained fresh spring water that the servants had drawn for washing. She filled a small basin with the water, wet a towel, and brought it to the bedside.
"I've seen this before, so I'd appreciate your understanding, Your Highness."
After Xie Yutang finished speaking, without caring whether the man had heard her or not, she directly untied the belt around his waist and took off his outer robe from his shoulder.
Su Lu remained quiet throughout, only slightly bending her fingers when she fully opened her collar.
Xie Yutang wiped his body with a handkerchief, and when the handkerchief became warm from his body heat, she soaked it again in the basin of water.
She was used to being served and waited on, and had never done this kind of work before. At first, she was a little unaccustomed to it, but after wiping it a few times, she became more and more skilled. She even wanted to pull down the man's pants to wipe his lower body, but the boy finally pressed down on her wrist, his tone revealing no emotion: "...Master, no need."
Xie Yutang gave him a half-smile: "Are you sure?"
"Um."
She didn't insist any further. She took a new handkerchief, soaked it, folded it, and pressed it against his forehead. She glanced at the candlestick on the table and said, "Are you sure you don't want to call a doctor? After all this commotion, Wei Xianxi will bring someone to see him tomorrow morning."
There were guards outside day and night, and someone was assigned to report the movements inside the house every day.
Since their attempt to detoxify through internal energy will be discovered sooner or later, it's better to call a doctor now.
But Su Lu curled his lips, looking confident: "It doesn't matter if the doctor comes tomorrow."
"That's really strange," Xie Yutang raised an eyebrow.
His breath was still weak, but his condition had indeed improved considerably: "With my master taking such good care of me, what could be worse?"
Xie Yutang patted him on the chest: "Speak properly."
Her slap triggered another series of low coughs, startling Xie Yutang, who stared at him nervously, afraid of breaking the exquisite porcelain piece.
Su Lu was amused by her alarmed expression. After coughing, he tried to put the handkerchief back in her hand, but Xie Yutang refused. He just kept pulling on it quietly, the shackles on his wrists making a crisp sound. In the quiet night, each sound made people tremble.
—The two of them used the excuse of washing up to get the key, and after they finished "showering", they would handcuff the person.
The guard who came to collect the key watched from the side. Su Lu had already stretched out his wrist, but she hesitated to touch it because of the red marks around his wrist. Finally, she took the white silk that he used to blindfold him and wrapped it around his wrist to cover the red marks before fastening the shackles.
The guard's eyes held a meaningful look as he took the key.
Seeing that he couldn't pull the handkerchief in her hand, Su Lu sighed softly, "Master, I can't pull you."
Xie Yutang paused for a moment, then resignedly let him pull the handkerchief to his chest and continue to cool him down.
"Why can't I call a doctor tonight, but I can call one when it's light?"
"I can't control my inner energy right now, and if the doctor takes my pulse, I'm likely to give myself away. But my master lowered my temperature, and after resting for a night, I was able to control my pulse the next day without letting him see through my disguise."
Xie Yutang had heard that highly skilled masters could control their inner energy to conceal their true pulse, but she had never actually seen it in her two lifetimes. Now, after hearing Su Lu explain it to her, she realized that it was true.
This is practically a life-saving trump card.
Is that what he said to her?
Xie Yutang did not hide her thoughts, but Su Lu closed his eyes and tugged at her sleeve: "I'm tired and want to sleep for a while. Master, you should rest too."
...
They even dare to make things difficult for her.
But after struggling for most of the night, Xie Yutang was indeed exhausted. He tested Su Lu's temperature and found that it was no longer frighteningly hot.
She threw the handkerchief back into the basin, lay down on the bed fully clothed beside him, and quickly fell asleep. She slept soundly until dawn, and just after 9 a.m., Wei Xianxi indeed brought the doctor over.
He greeted her and was about to speak when he suddenly noticed the white silk ribbon under the shackles on Su Lu's wrists. He paused for a moment, then let out a half-smile and said, "Since Your Highness is so tender-hearted, how come you've made Su Lu so miserable that he can't even get out of bed?"
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