Chapter 8
Outside the Ziyi Palace, a group of palace servants were hurrying around. The guards were stationed at every level and the security was so tight that even a fly would have difficulty getting in.
Yu Xi sat beside the bed, frowning, her eyes fixed on the person on the couch. All the doctors from the Imperial Hospital gathered around, taking Ling Huanchen's pulse one by one.
"Your Majesty, the assassins are the remnants of Fengcheng, and they have all been arrested." The secret guard stood aside and reported with his head bowed.
Yu Xi didn't turn around, but just asked, "Where is the antidote?"
The secret guard paused, lowering his head even lower. "This poison is called Yinse, it's colorless and odorless. Just a little bit of it can kill you, and there's no antidote."
Yu Xi raised her eyes when she heard the voice, "What do you think?"
The doctors looked at each other and knelt together. The most senior doctor, Li, replied, "Your Majesty, this young prince from the mermaid tribe has indeed been poisoned, but it is no longer a serious problem."
Yu Xi narrowed her eyes slightly, "It doesn't matter?"
"Yes, according to legend, the flesh and blood of mermaids can cure all kinds of poisons. Although this hidden color poison is very strong, fortunately the poison is not serious and has been dissolved by itself in the small hall."
Yu Xi's brows relaxed slightly. "Since the secret has been solved, why hasn't he woken up yet?"
"Although the poison has been neutralized, it will still damage your vitality. It is normal for you to be drowsy for an hour or so. I will prescribe some nourishing and restorative medicine for you, Your Highness."
Yu Xi glanced at the person on the couch and said calmly, "I want him to wake up quickly."
Doctor Li quickly agreed, "I understand."
"Back off."
After receiving Yu Xi's order, the imperial doctors finally dared to breathe slowly, as if they had survived a disaster.
"Your Majesty, what should be done with the remnants of Fengcheng?"
Yu Xi stood up, away from the bed, and walked to the window, standing with his hands behind his back. "Deal with three a day, leaving the one who shot the sleeve arrow for last. Every morning, noon, and evening, send his companions and food over, and deal with them in front of him."
"As you command." The secret guard seemed to be accustomed to it and disappeared in the room in a flash.
Yu Xi returned to the bedside and stared at the unconscious man thoughtfully. Ling Huanchen's face was slightly pale, and his lips were not as rosy as before.
He didn't like seeing the man looking so lifeless.
After a moment, he took Ling Huanchen's hand and held it in his palm.
Ling Huanchen slept for three days and three nights. He lay there for so long that when he woke up, he was still groggy.
In the dim vision, he saw a figure silhouetted against the red candle platform in the distance. He knew who that person was without much effort.
I don’t know if it was telepathy, but Yu Xi raised her eyes at this moment and her eyes met Ling Huanchen’s.
The calm and composed King Youcheng put down the memorial and walked quickly to the bedside. There was a hint of concern in his usually indifferent eyes.
"Do you feel unwell?" After saying that, Yu Xi turned around and ordered, "Go get the imperial physician."
Ling Huanchen grabbed a corner of Yu Xi's sleeve and said in a hoarse voice, "Your Majesty, I have nothing to do. I just want to drink some water."
Without thinking, Yu Xi turned around and poured a glass of water. She stretched out her long arm, gently lifted Ling Huanchen up, and personally handed the cup to his lips.
Ling Huanchen was stunned for a moment. He now looked like a baby in Yu Xi's arms. In fact, he wanted to say that he was not so weak, but when he saw Yu Xi's serious expression, he swallowed all the words back and drank the water in the cup in this posture.
Seeing this, Yu Xi poured him another cup without saying anything. "Are you hungry? Does your wound hurt?"
Ling Huanchen shook his head and said, "I am fine, Your Majesty, don't worry."
The four treasures of the study were all on the desk, and memorials were piled up like a small hill beside the desk.
Has this person been guarding here all the time?
As if sensing his doubts, Yu Xiyan said, "I had someone move here. I said I wanted to be the first to see you wake up."
As he spoke, Yu Xi suddenly leaned forward, and the two of them faced each other, their breaths entangled, "Why did you block the arrow?"
Yu Xi's eyes seemed deep and unclear, as if they wanted to suck people in. Anyone who was stared at would be exposed.
Ling Huanchen had never thought of escaping in this life. Looking back, he was frank and said, "Maybe there is no reason."
If he thought of anything at that time, it was that he must not let Yu Xi get hurt.
"No reason?" Yu Xi's eyes flashed slightly. This answer was obviously beyond his expectations.
He thought Ling Huanchen might say that he would swear allegiance to him until death, or use other opportunities to express his loyalty, but nothing came of it.
Ling Huanchen couldn't help but laugh, "If there is, Your Majesty would think it is instinct."
It was his instinct that was reborn after he realized his own feelings.
"Instinct." Yu Xi repeated in a low voice, a hint of smile in his eyes, "This king will remember your instinct."
In the end, the imperial physician was summoned to take Ling Huanchen's pulse and prescribe some new medicines, saying that they were to regulate his body.
When Ling Huanchen saw the pitch-black bitter medicine soup, he immediately lost his composure.
He drank this medicine once and never wanted to drink it again.
"Master, good medicine tastes bitter, but you still have to take it." Yun He advised earnestly.
"Yes, master, how about I feed you." Xiao Qi said as he was about to pick up the bowl, but was interrupted by a cold voice behind him.
"Everyone, please step back."
When Yu Xi came over, Yun He and Xiao Qi had already put down the medicine bowl and left in a hurry.
Ling Huanchen looked embarrassed and said, "Your Majesty, I will be fine even without taking medicine." In fact, he was no longer in serious condition, he was just a little weak.
However, Yu Xi didn't listen to him. She stared at him and said word by word, "Good medicine tastes bitter, but you must drink it."
"Your Majesty has forgotten that I myself am the medicine." And a top-notch medicine at that.
Yu Xi sat directly beside the bed, took the medicine bowl, scooped up a spoonful, and let it cool for a moment, "I will feed you."
There was no room for refusal. The spoon was already handed to Ling Huanchen's lips. He opened his mouth reluctantly, but his face showed surprise.
Why isn’t it bitter anymore?
Yu Xi ate one spoonful after another. Although he was clearly doing the job of serving others, the King of Youcheng seemed to be very interested.
"I asked the imperial physician to add herbs to remove the bitterness."
It turns out that I didn't say it on purpose just now because I wanted to see him make a fool of himself.
Ling Huanchen drank the medicine obediently, and the next moment something was stuffed into his mouth. He blinked and felt only sour and sweet in his mouth.
Yu Xi took out a bag of plums from her wide sleeves and placed it in his hand. "Don't eat too much every day."
Ling Huanchen's ears blushed unconsciously. He was not a child and did not need to be coaxed with plums.
The wound on his arm has healed, leaving only a light scar. If Yu Xi had not ordered him to rest, he would have been able to get out of bed long ago.
During the days of recuperation, Yu Xi went straight to his bedroom after court every day. It seemed that this place had become Yu Xi's second study.
"Your Majesty, I am a little tired."
After a long period of recuperation, he became lazy and wanted to sleep at any time. After he recovered, Yu Xi often asked him to play chess. Most of the games ended in a draw, and the length of the game often depended on when Ling Huanchen fell asleep.
Yu Xi pushed the chessboard aside and said, "Go to sleep."
After hearing the even breathing of the person on the bed, Yu Xi whispered, "What's the matter?"
A dark figure suddenly appeared from the corner, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, we have dealt with three people every day according to your instructions. The last one left went mad by the fourth day."
Yu Xi seemed uninterested. "It's boring. Let's deal with the rest together."
"yes!"
In the blink of an eye, the secret guard had quietly left. Yu Xi carefully examined Ling Huanchen in the remaining candlelight.
These days, every night he would stare at Ling Huanchen so closely after he fell asleep, as if he could see something from his face.
From childhood to adulthood, there are few people who can win his heart, but since this person entered the palace, he has already affected a lot of his emotions.
Yu Xi gently traced his eyebrows and eyes. He remembered what Ling Huanchen said at the beginning.
Would you like to be by his side forever?
"I'm serious about it." There's no reason for him to let go of the people and things he has decided on.
Thanks to the unique healing power of the mermaids, and the fact that Yu Xi had the Imperial Hospital send him precious medicinal herbs every day, the shallow scars on Ling Huanchen's arms were completely gone.
With the imperial physician's assurance, Yu Xi finally allowed him to walk around freely. Ling Huanchen often took advantage of Yu Xi's morning court hours to go out to the courtyard to bask in the sun. It was almost the beginning of summer, and the weather was incredibly warm. Counting the days, he had been confined to his bedroom for half a month.
"Master, the peach blossoms are about to bloom." Xiao Qi squatted on the ground and counted the peach petals on a whim.
Ling Huanchen was curious and couldn't help asking, "What are you doing?"
"Master, you may not know this, but this is a folk remedy. Pick up a handful of flower petals. If it's an even number, as long as you are sincere, you can make a wish come true."
This was the first time he heard of it.
"What did you wish for?"
Xiao Qi raised his head, smiling with his eyes curved, "May the master be free from illness and disaster and live in good health in the future."
Ling Huanchen was startled when he heard this, but then he understood and said with a curved lip, "I'm fine."
"Master, please let him agree. You don't know that when the king brought you in, we were all very worried." Yun He brought out a cup of tea and placed it in Ling Huanchen's hands.
Ling Huanchen took a sip of tea, his expression softening with satisfaction. Fortunately, they were all still here.
At that time, something floated down and fell into Yunhe's hands in the blink of an eye.
"Where did the kite come from?" Yun He looked at it over and over again, and only handed it to Ling Huanchen after making sure it was an ordinary kite.
At this moment, a palace servant hurriedly ran up to Ling Huanchen and said helplessly, "Sorry, that's my kite."
"This is the little prince from the mermaid tribe." Yun He reminded.
The palace attendant suddenly looked up, stared at Ling Huanchen in a daze, and then lowered his head again, "I didn't realize I had offended Your Highness. I beg Your Highness to forgive me."
Ling Huanchen saw the man's face clearly, and a strange look flashed in his eyes, but he quickly calmed down and said, "It's okay."
Xiao Gongshi seemed to be overjoyed when she got the kite back. A sweet smile appeared on her fair and delicate face. Anyone who saw her would think she was innocent.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
After the man ran away, Ling Huanchen was still staring at the place where he had just stood, as if thinking about something.
He remembered this face very clearly.
"Master?" Yun He followed his gaze and asked, "Is there anything wrong with that person just now?"
Ling Huanchen retracted his gaze, "Nothing, which hall is he from?"
The person I was supposed to meet in the second year after entering the palace actually appeared now.
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