Chapter 20 Don't you know why I'm blushing...?
Chi Yangqing was also in a difficult position. She had been very careful, but he was wearing a narrow-sleeved round-neck robe, so she couldn't hold his sleeve. She couldn't just hold his hand directly on the street, could she?
Li Shangxuan's purpose for this trip to southern Sichuan was surprisingly simple: to understand the people's conditions. His only special mission was to invite a renowned physician from Luonan to the capital.
The Empress's headaches are getting worse. As her adopted son, and given that his birth mother and Empress Ming had a history of conflict, Li Shangxuan should indeed show his filial piety.
Yang Qing thought about it carefully. Li Shangxuan hadn't succeeded in this matter in his previous life, and she didn't know what would happen in this life either. In any case, she had a clear understanding of herself and knew that she could never be of any help.
She had also asked out of curiosity, "Isn't Mr. Luo a renowned doctor? Can't he do it too?"
Li Shangxuan said, "Southern Sichuan is humid, and headaches are a local ailment, so naturally the locals know best how to treat them."
Chi Yangqing asked, "Then why wouldn't she go when the Empress summoned her?"
Li Shangxuan said, "Extraordinary people and eccentric individuals often have rather strange temperaments."
Yang Qing seemed to understand but not quite. She traveled and played her way to Luonan. First, she visited the Ming family. Yang Qing also met the eldest son, who was about twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. He looked very refined and easy-going, which was different from the Ming family girls in the capital. One of them was bright and flamboyant, while the other was cold and aloof. Neither of them seemed to have a good temper.
Li Shangxuan's identity was not explicitly stated, but Young Master Ming knew it all. When he saw Yang Qing, his gaze became intriguing. "And who is this?"
Huo Lu quickly spoke up before the others, saying, "My younger sister is young and doesn't know any better. She insisted on coming along to broaden her horizons."
Yang Qing was not very willing, but she knew what kind of occasion it was, so she could only obediently stand behind Huo Lu and bow.
Young Master Ming's expression softened, and he smiled gently at her, saying only, "It's a pleasure to meet you."
He naturally wouldn't ask the girl's name, but after Yang Qing, he still made up a name to fool the Ming family, which was Huo Qi.
On one occasion, when Li Shangxuan was invited by the Ming family, Huo Lu, thinking he had become somewhat familiar with Yang Qing, no longer avoided her as before and asked her with interest, "Miss Chi, why do you always act so evasive when you see me? Am I that scary?"
Yang Qing didn't dare to speak to him and hurriedly hid back in her room.
This was what Yang Jiayin told her in her previous life: Huo Lu was extremely lecherous, and she didn't want to talk to him.
After staying at the Ming family's house for two or three days, Li Shangxuan prepared to visit the divine doctor surnamed Xin. He had heard that the divine doctor lived in Tongtang Mountain, a famous mountain range, and Yang Qing had never been to such a famous mountain before.
The capital city is located on a plain, with only a few small hills nearby, which are not very significant. She wanted to go with him, and Li Shangxuan agreed without much hesitation.
When Yang Qing arrived at Tongtang Mountain, she was stunned. In early summer, the vegetation was so lush that there was hardly any sunlight even before entering the mountain.
The Ming family sent someone to guide the way. The mountain wasn't very steep, but the path was winding, and you had to wade through the grass from time to time. Yang Qing was always worried that there might be unknown creatures like snakes hiding underneath, and she was really scared.
There were also many flying insects in the mountains, rushing straight at people's faces. She dared not open her mouth, for fear that she might accidentally swallow a few.
Seeing that her face was flushed, Li Shangxuan handed her a water pouch. Yang Qing was indeed thirsty, so she took it and drank several mouthfuls before twisting it tightly and returning it to him.
Li Shangxuan was slightly taken aback, rubbed it a couple of times, and put it away without saying anything.
Huo Lu was in excellent health. He walked for two or three hours without even panting, and he hadn't said much. Suddenly, he spoke up, looking at Yang Qing with a worried expression, "I'm such a bad older brother. I completely forgot that my sister isn't feeling well."
He pretended to pant heavily a couple of times, "But I can't hold on much longer either. Your Highness, could you do me a favor and carry my sister?"
Yang Qing quickly refused, "It's okay, I'm not tired, I can walk by myself."
The group of people Li Shangxuan brought all chimed in, saying, "Yes, yes, the girl couldn't take it anymore. If I hadn't been unable to take it anymore, I would have carried her on my back."
"Your Highness, please carry her on your back. Seventh Miss is so slender, she must not weigh much. Your Highness, please help her out."
"Yes, yes, yes."
The Ming family members were slightly puzzled. It was already quite generous of the Crown Prince not to have his sedan chair carried up, so why would they make him carry people up on his back?
He immediately smiled ingratiatingly and said, "How about I do it? I've been walking this mountain path for so many years, I'm used to it."
Huo Lu said, "How can that be? Brother, you still need to lead the way. We are all counting on you. Let our prince handle this small matter. He is strong and healthy, it's alright."
Before the Ming family could say anything more, they saw that the Crown Prince had no airs at all. He actually bent down and said to Yang Qing, "Let me carry you on my back."
He shut up, his mind racing. It seemed the Crown Prince and this woman had a close relationship.
With so many eyes staring at her, Yang Qing was indeed tired. Her calves were throbbing with pain. She pursed her lips and understood what they meant, so she didn't refuse and slowly climbed onto his back.
Once everyone turned away and continued chatting and laughing, she pouted and thought, "Can't these people be a little more professional when they're acting?"
She clung to Li Shangxuan's shoulders, noticing his ears and face were flushed, and asked softly, "Am I too heavy? If you're too tired, put me down. I can still walk."
Li Shangxuan's face flushed even more. As she spoke, she unconsciously leaned close to her ear, her soft breaths like feathers, tickling the heart. She shook her head slightly, "No, you're very gentle."
Yang Qing was skeptical: "Then why is your face red?"
Li Shangxuan was silent for a moment, and just as he was about to ask again, almost thinking that Li Shangxuan hadn't heard him, he slowly said, his voice tinged with a hint of bitterness, "Don't you know why I blushed?"
...
Yang Qing didn't say anything, she just leaned against his back. To be honest, it felt pretty good, at least she didn't have to worry about stepping on a snake.
But he couldn't help but keep thinking about his ambiguous words from earlier, and his face started to flush.
At this time, Li Shangxuan was still treating her well, just like in his previous life. Thinking that he had thought her innocence was compromised, yet he was still willing to cover it up and marry her as his crown princess, she felt a sweet warmth in her heart. But this warmth only lasted for a short while before it was dispelled by the mother and son from her previous life.
She snorted coldly. Since the two of them were now so close, Li Shangxuan naturally noticed and asked softly, "Are you uncomfortable? We'll be there in half an hour. Just bear with it."
Yang Qing ignored him, her mind filled with memories of her past life. What was the point of that despicable Li Shangxuan being kind to her before? All that talk of a lifelong, monogamous relationship was a lie. Maybe he had many other women outside of their relationship, she just didn't know it.
After all, he was the emperor; wouldn't it be an easy thing for him to keep it from her?
******
The courtyard of Doctor Shen had the feel of a hermit's retreat, with thatched roofs and bamboo fences, but instead of chrysanthemums and plum blossoms, it was planted with various herbs.
Yang Qing had previously thought that, based on the Ming family's exaggerated claims, Doctor Xin should be an old man in his eighties or nineties, but she was surprised to find that he was actually a woman in her forties.
The rest was up to Li Shangxuan and the others. It was getting late, and Yang Qing was arranged to stay in the backyard by several apprentices. The courtyard was quite large and housed many people. The apprentices didn't say anything, but Yang Qing could guess that they were probably there to seek medical treatment.
After a while, a young woman brought her food, which was pancakes mixed with wild vegetables, and the taste was quite palatable.
She finished eating in small bites, and the young woman still stared at her, her chin resting on her hand. The room was dimly lit, with no candles lit, yet her eyes remained unusually bright.
Feeling embarrassed by her gaze, Yang Qing could only make small talk, "Thank you for your hospitality. Where are the people traveling with me seated?"
She was a little scared by the way the woman was staring at her so intently.
The young woman said casually, "It's nothing. They're still talking to my mother; I don't know when they'll be back. My name is Xin Wanyou. What's your name? Are you from the capital?"
Yang Qing said, "My name is... Huo Qi, and I come from the capital."
Xin Wanyou said, "Your name isn't as pretty as you are. Are all the girls in the capital this beautiful?"
Yang Qing stammered, "Is that so?"
She figured young girls probably liked it when people complimented their looks, so she added, "You're very pretty too."
Xin Wanyou was delighted to hear this. "Haha, I think so too. The people who came with you probably won't be back for a while. Let me take you somewhere fun."
Yang Qing's first reaction was to refuse: "Don't bother me..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xin Wanyou forcefully pulled her up. She stumbled and before she could regain her balance, she was dragged out the door and walked into the mountains. When they reached a small lake, they stopped and began to undress without saying a word. In a few moments, she was completely naked and jumped into the water, calling out to Yang Qing, "What are you standing there for? Come down!"
Yang Qing had also been sweating all day and really wanted to wash up, but this was in the wild. "What if someone comes?"
Xin Wanyou said, "No one will come. This is my secret base. Even my mother doesn't know about it. Come down quickly."
Yang Qing shook her head again: "Although it's hot, this is cold water, and I'm afraid I'll get sick."
Xin Wanyou simply splashed water on her. Yang Qing dodged for a moment, but didn't completely avoid it, and a few drops still splashed onto her face. She was taken aback; it wasn't cold water, but warm water.
Xin Wanyou said smugly, "You can feel it now, it's a hot spring. Stop dawdling and come down quickly, or I'll have to come up and pull you down."
Yang Qing could only slowly take off her clothes and walk slowly into the pool.
This small hot spring is practically a natural bath. The temperature is pleasant, and the depth is just right; if you sit down, it just reaches your chin.
Yang Qing felt very comfortable. She had never soaked in a hot spring before. With Xin Wanyou's trivial words in her ears, she suddenly saw a movement in the grass next to her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly said to Xin Wanyou, "There seems to be someone there."
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