Chapter 13: Coax him "Hold me, it hurts."
There was a tear in He Jiuyue's heart, and blood was dripping out.
How many times had he been hurt by her, and how much had he missed her, that he could only be so familiar and bold with her in his dreams?
"Hold me, it hurts."
He Jiuyue subconsciously hugged him.
Wen Zheliu had no strength left in his body, but he kept rubbing against her arms.
He curled up into a ball, like an insecure stray kitten who finally found a shelter before the arrival of winter. "You are so good in my dreams. You won't be mean to me."
...Is she fierce?
He Jiuyue stood there like a warrior, motionless, and then he saw Wen Zheliu pulling at the hem of her clothes that was hanging in a pool of blood.
"It's stained with blood, so dirty, Wuhuan is going to blame me again."
He Jiuyue wanted to say "I don't blame you", but when she thought of what he said, "Don't talk, just stay with me", she didn't say anything.
"My dear, princess..."
Wu Yang started yelling from a distance away. Just as he was about to go into the house and vent his dissatisfaction in front of He Jiuyue about how she was treated like a cuju and kicked wherever she needed, Chen Jin covered his mouth.
"Jing, he's asleep." He Jiuyue gestured.
Wen Zheliu was so restless, how could he fall asleep?
Wu Yang went forward doubtfully and took his pulse.
In a moment, she gestured frantically: "He's not asleep, he's fainted!"
"Then wake him up." He Jiuyue reached out to knock Wen Zheliu on the forehead.
"No!" Wu Yang shook his head repeatedly, his hand leaving a shadow. "Although he fainted, he won't be in a long sleep. He's just too weak and needs rest. It's okay if he fainted."
He Jiyue withdrew her hand: "But how can we use the medicine when he is unconscious like this?"
"...Then I may have to trouble you, Princess."
Wu Yang took out a silver needle from the medicine box, carefully lifted up Wen Zheliu's sleeve, and pricked his entire arm with a few thrusts.
The thin silver needle pierced into the snow-white skin, making Wen Zheliu's arm look even thinner and whiter. He Jiuyue reached out and touched the part of his arm that was not pricked by the needle, and her heart suddenly tightened.
It was cold and had little meat.
She frowned: "Will it hurt if I stab him like this?"
"It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. Your technique is excellent!" Considering that Wen Zheliu would turn over when sleeping, Wu Yang avoided the needle on his back and pierced his hands and face. "Everyone who has tried it says it's good!"
He Jiuyue gently stroked Wen Zheliu's slightly furrowed brows.
Fortunately he was unconscious, otherwise he would have cried in pain.
"Why did you bother me just now?"
Wu Yang finished the acupuncture and picked up the medicine box to leave. "Xiao Qing has been poisoned and needs help. I see that the princess can't stay with Xiao Qing, so I dare to ask the princess to take care of Wen Zheliu."
"Um."
He Jiuyue's mind and eyes were filled with Wen Zheliu, and she didn't even bother to be perfunctory with Wu Yang, but only hummed a single word from her nose.
Why hasn't his wrist injury healed yet?
His skin was covered in bruises, and she had clearly applied the best ointment in the army, but it had no effect.
The candlelight in the room was dim. Wu Yang stood by the door and could just see the dark circles under He Jiuyue's eyes.
Although she was straightforward and always said what she thought, she was the director of the Imperial Medical Bureau after all and had close ties with the royal family. She knew very well what she should and should not say in her position.
Wu Yang did not take this opportunity to ask He Jiuyue about the affairs of the court, but just gently reminded her to get enough rest.
"Your Highness is so busy that it's inevitable that you won't be able to rest well. However, all the civil and military officials are relying on you. Please take care of your health."
He Jiuyue slowly sat down on the edge of the bed without saying much.
"I know what you mean. Go ahead."
When I woke up from my sleep, I heard the sound of willows being cut, and it was already noon.
He was still very weak due to excessive blood loss. He lit a brazier in the house and closed the windows. It was warmer than a summer day with the sun shining brightly, which made him even more lazy.
But when he was half asleep and half awake, he saw the magnified peach blossom eyes and his heart started beating wildly.
It’s strange, why is Wuhuan in his bed?
"Awake?" He Jiyue was afraid that something might happen to Wen Zheliu, so she woke up and fell asleep all night, and the dark circles under her eyes became even darker. "Don't move yet, you have a needle hanging on you."
Wen Zheliu couldn't move his hands and feet, and kept blinking.
He was born with a pair of affectionate eyes, with long eyelashes fluttering, just like a bird spreading its wings over the calm lake, stirring up circles from dots.
"You're blinking so happily, what do you want to say?"
"I'm curious why you're here," Wen Zheliu tilted his head when he realized he could move his neck. "Can I ask?"
"……Can."
He Jiyue couldn't find a suitable excuse for a moment, so she clenched her five fingers into a fist, put it to the tip of her nose and coughed: "You can ask, but I can choose not to answer."
Wen Zheliu didn't expect her to be so dishonest.
If she didn't answer, what difference would it make whether he asked or not?
Seeing that Zheliu pouted and seemed to be in the mood to get angry with her, He Jiuyue reached out, gently rubbed his head, and stroked his thin face.
"This needle has been stuck in all night, it's time to remove it. I'll call Wu Yang over... Sorry."
He Jiuyue's palms were warm and dry, with some thin calluses.
Her face felt itchy but warm. Wen Zheliu couldn't help but put his hands on the back of her hands and asked hoarsely.
"Why are you apologizing?"
He Jiuyue rarely bowed her head, and it was a rare occasion for her to show weakness, but she was still being questioned, and her face suddenly turned red.
"…I'm sorry for locking you up without explanation."
"Don't blame the princess."
Wen Zheliu cried in front of the bronze mirror last night, and listened to the rustling of snow outside. He suddenly realized that he was also wrong in this matter: "It was my fault. I shouldn't have asked."
With the sweet and soft beauty in his arms, He Jiuyue's usually clear mind was covered with a layer of fog.
She gently pushed Wen Zheliu away, hurriedly put on her black boots, looked around the room three times to find the teapot, gulped down a whole cup of cold tea, and slammed the door shut.
"...I'm going to look for Wu Yang."
It was rare to see He Jiuyue, who was usually calm and composed, in such a state of panic. Wen Zheliu stared at her fleeing back, as if thinking about something.
Wuhuan's ears are red. Is he embarrassed?
But she always acted shamelessly and nonchalantly with Xiaoqing, so why did she act so shameless in front of him...
But she shouldn't have such a feeling towards him that went beyond master and servant. He was just a useless slave who couldn't lift anything or even warm the bed.
He was extremely grateful to her for taking him in.
How could he dare to ask her to give him some of her love?
Touching the place where He Jiuyue's fingertips had just touched, feeling her remaining warmth, Wen Zheliu's gloom since yesterday morning was swept away.
Could it be that she still cherishes the old feelings... In her heart, he and Xiaoqing are still different after all?
The corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously. Wen Zheliu pinched his arm hard where the needle was not inserted, leaving a red mark, but he still couldn't stop laughing.
He wanted to scold himself and tell himself that he was deceiving himself, but he couldn't bear to do it.
After all, his only comfort now staying in the princess's mansion is the rare warmth from Wuhuan. Wuhuan treats him very well, at least for now. So what if he is just deceiving himself?
It's just to make myself happy, and it doesn't hurt anyone.
Wu Yang stayed with Xiaoqing, who was complaining all night, and finally waited until He Jiuyue came. He thought he was relieved and was about to go back to the room to rest for a while, but He Jiuyue grabbed his collar and dragged him to the side hall.
"Pull the needle out of him."
Wu Yang glanced at the numerous wrinkles on the bed sheet and spoke earnestly while pulling out the needle.
"My Lady, Wen Zheliu is in poor health. You are being too aggressive, and he might not be able to bear it. No matter how strong and energetic you are, you must...be moderate."
What is "moderation"?
"You're overthinking it. I just watched him for the whole night. His hands were covered in needles. What should I do?"
"Ahem!" Wu Yang was surprised to hear He Jiuyue speak so bluntly. "I was just reminding you. I have no intention of blaming you, my lady."
Knowing that Wu Yang had feudal ideas, and that although she had only married one husband, she had five children in the past ten years, He Jiuyue thought that her mind was full of thoughts about her husband, children, and a warm bed. She did not care about her bold guess, but only asked about Wen Zheliu's situation.
"How is his recovery?"
Wu Yang was just about to pick up Wen Zheliu's wrist and take his pulse when he met He Jiuyue's gaze, which was sharper than a knife, and silently took out a handkerchief from the medicine box.
"He doesn't have any major problems at the moment, but he hasn't eaten for a few days and is weak. It's not easy to take medicine, so he needs to eat some food to supplement his health."
I lose my appetite when I hear about willow branches being broken, and feel nauseous when I hear about food.
He crawled into the bed silently, leaving only half of his face outside, closed his eyes tightly, and tried to pretend to be unconscious to avoid the fact that he had to eat.
"How can I make up for it? I don't think he can eat anything."
It was not an easy task to feed Wen Zheliu who had just recovered from a serious illness. She always tried to coax him with candy but it didn't work. Finally, he got angry and just forced the candy down his throat, and the relationship between the two became strained again.
"I'm just trying to coax him. Don't slap a smiling face." Wu Yang picked up the meat porridge sent from the kitchen and scooped up a spoonful. "Come on, open your mouth."
Wen Zheliu rolled up the quilt with a "rustle", leaving her with a round buttocks.
"No, it's disgusting."
"How can you not eat when you're so skinny? This is a peaceful and prosperous time, not a famine. Why are you arguing about starving to death? Eat quickly, or your princess won't want you anymore."
Wu Yang and Wen Zheliu are friends regardless of age difference. Wen Zheliu cannot tell his mother and father about his feelings for He Jiyue, which go beyond those of childhood sweethearts, let alone He Jiyue, so he can only confide in Wu Yang who comes to see him for treatment.
At that time, he thought Wu Yang was keeping her mouth shut and filled her with the love of a young boy. Now, when he heard her talk about it, he regretted it.
How could Wu Huan be his? He didn't deserve it.
He Jiyue saw Wu Yang sitting on the edge of the bed and talking about moral principles. Wen Zheliu was not moved at all and became more and more withdrawn, expressing her resistance with her body. She snatched the bowl from Wu Yang's hand.
"Thank you for your hard work. Go out, I'll do it."
Wu Yang was so tired of talking that he was about to push the job to Chen Jin, who was standing outside the door watching him intently. But when he saw He Jiuyue taking the initiative to take the job, he was overjoyed.
"Then I'll trouble you, my lady. I'll take my leave."
Only He Wen and another person were left in the house. There was no light in the house in broad daylight, only the burning charcoal fire, making crackling sounds.
"Wen Guiyun, get up and eat something."
He Jiuyue was not good at coaxing people. Even when her tone softened, her words were unusually short. They didn't sound like lovers' whispers, but more like a general giving orders to his soldiers.
Jianwen Zheliu remained silent, huddled in the quilt and shivering violently. She coughed and spoke in a slightly slower tone, "...Is it okay?"
Wen Zheliu trembled and slowly turned over.
His eyes were red, just like a pitiful little white rabbit: "Do I have to eat it?"
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