Chapter 875 Thoughts
Shang Ruyi and Chu Ruoyan chatted for a while. When the nanny brought Xiao Yuanzi back, Chu Ruoyan happily played with the child for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, she got up to say goodbye.
Shang Ruyi personally saw her out.
Upon reaching the entrance of the main hall, the snowfall was heavier than before. Pan Qing took an oil-paper umbrella and held it over Chu Ruoyan's head. After bidding farewell, the group left Qianqiu Palace. However, Shang Ruyi remained standing at the entrance of the main hall, watching their figures disappear without leaving. She stared blankly at the swirling snowflakes, lost in thought.
Tushe'er couldn't bear to see her like this, so she ran to fetch a cloak and draped it over her shoulders, saying, "Your Highness, be careful not to catch a cold."
Shang Ruyi glanced back at her, smiled, but still refused to return to the main hall. She kept looking at the falling snow outside and said after a long while, "The snow is so heavy here, I wonder how heavy the snow is over at Tangquan Palace."
Tushe'er pouted and said, "This servant only knows that even the heaviest snow won't freeze His Majesty, but this little bit of snow can freeze you, Your Highness!"
Shang Ruyi smiled and shook her head, but couldn't help but murmur, "But Father should be back soon."
"..."
"Even if Father Emperor didn't intend to return, my uncle, Lord Shen, and Lord Ji should have advised him against it. How come so many days have passed and there's still no news of His Majesty's return to the capital?"
Tushe'er blinked at her but didn't say anything.
These things were naturally beyond the comprehension of a servant like her, but seeing Shang Ruyi's brows furrowing more and more, she seemed to sense a little unease as well.
What made her even more uneasy was that the next moment, Shang Ruyi sneezed.
Achoo!
The sneeze made her bend over, and then one after another followed, until her cheeks were bright red and tears were almost streaming down her face. Tushe'er hurriedly stepped forward, half-supporting and half-carrying her, and said, "Your Highness, you must be getting cold. Hurry up and go back!"
Shang Ruyi turned around and went back to the main hall.
Although the hall was warm with stoves everywhere, the warmth made her shiver and feel a chill in her hands and feet, as well as something else. Tu She'er hurriedly refilled her teacup with hot water so she could drink it while it was still warm, but seeing that her complexion was still not right, she said, "This servant will go and fetch Physician Su."
Shang Ruyi didn't want to make a scene, but seeing that Wo Xue, holding the swaddled baby Xiao Yuanzi, took several steps back as if afraid of hurting the child, she didn't insist and said, "Don't make a scene so everyone knows. Let her come over by herself."
"well."
Tushe'er gave her a resentful look before hurriedly running out.
Before long, Su Qinglan, carrying her medicine box, hurriedly followed Tu She'er to Qianqiu Palace.
Upon seeing her, Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "Imperial Physician Su, thank you for troubling me again."
Su Qinglan quickly said, "Your Highness, what are you saying?"
After saying that, he washed his hands and then burned his snow-white hands on the incense burner on the table for a while to make sure they wouldn't be too cold. Then he took a small soft pad and placed it under Shang Ruyi's wrist before taking her pulse.
After examining her for a while, her furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
Even at such close range, Shang Ruyi could see that Su Qinglan's face was thinner than before, and her cheekbones were more prominent. Moreover, there was a faint shadow in the depths of her clear, watery eyes, as if it were a result of not getting enough sleep these days.
Compared to her own chill, she looked more like she was ill.
Shang Ruyi pondered to herself, but didn't say anything immediately. She just waited quietly for Su Qinglan to finish taking her pulse. She slowly straightened her sleeves, then looked up and saw Su Qinglan putting away the cushions. She lowered her head and said softly, "The princess has caught a cold, and it seems to have lasted for several days."
Tushe'er immediately replied, "It must have been the day we saw His Majesty off."
Shang Ruyi sighed: "No wonder I've felt a bit heavy these past few days, but there's nothing else wrong with me."
Su Qinglan smiled and said, "Your Highness is young and vigorous, so she does not appear sickly, but she still cannot be careless. Like today, the snow brought out the illness that had been suppressed. I think Your Highness does not need to take any decoction. Just take two pills, dissolve them in hot soup, and drink it while it's hot."
"That's fine too."
"But for the next two days, Your Highness should probably avoid getting too close to the young prince."
"I understand."
Su Qinglan washed her hands again, then took out a box of pills and handed it to Tu She'er. She took one out herself, put it in a small bowl, and ground it for her to see. Shang Ruyi sat to the side and carefully examined her complexion again, then smiled and said, "Imperial Physician Su, you don't look too well. Are you ill?"
Upon hearing this, Su Qinglan's expression stiffened slightly, and she immediately replied with a forced smile, "No."
"No? Why does your complexion look worse than mine?"
"..."
Su Qinglan's hands slowed down considerably as she ground the medicine. Shang Ruyi looked up and gave a wink to Tu She'er and Wo Xue, who both stepped aside. Only then did Shang Ruyi smile at Su Qinglan and say, "Although I am not some powerful figure with connections everywhere, if Physician Su has any difficulties, feel free to tell me. If there is anything I can do to help, I will certainly not ignore it."
"..."
"You helped a lot when I was giving birth, but you refused to accept any reward, which made me—"
"princess!"
Hearing her say that, Su Qinglan panicked and hurriedly put down the pills in her hand, bowing and saying, "This humble subject absolutely did not mean that. Serving the Princess is my duty. Whether the Princess rewards me or not, I will remain loyal to the Princess and to His Majesty."
Seeing her sweating profusely, Shang Ruyi smiled.
Actually, she didn't want to pressure Su Qinglan. However, Su Qinglan was the imperial physician in charge of her and Xiao Yuanzi's health. If Su Qinglan had any worries that affected her actions, it would be a serious matter. After all, she had heard the story of "a thousand-mile dike being breached by an ant" since she was a child.
So she said softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm just concerned about you."
Seeing that she had already gone this far, Su Qinglan dared not hide anything any longer and could only say softly, "This humble subject is not ill, nor is it anything of great concern, it's just—"
Shang Ruyi looked at her gently.
Su Qinglan sighed and finally said, "However, Jiang Xing has been gone for several months. He said he would come back before winter, but he hasn't returned yet. I'm worried about him."
Upon hearing this, Shang Ruyi breathed a sigh of relief.
Originally, it wasn't a big deal.
She had mentioned her marriage to Su Qinglan before, and Su Qinglan said that Jiang Xing was going to Henan to sell horses and would not be back for a while. He still hadn't returned, so it was no wonder that she looked so unwell.
Shang Ruyi asked with concern, "Then he hasn't sent any news back either?"
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