On the third day of Xiao Xi'er's illness, the empresses in the palace and the ministers outside the palace all knew about it.
After Xiao Xi'er woke up, she was reluctantly coaxed by Qin Jue into drinking medicine for three days, but in the end, she refused to drink it no matter what.
Qin Jue was worried about Xiao Xi'er's health, so he asked Feng Feng to take her pulse. Only after confirming that everything was alright did he reluctantly agree to let Xiao Xi'er stop taking her medicine.
After the medication was administered, Qin Jue began his "interrogation."
"Little Xi'er, come here."
Sitting in the courtyard, Qin Jue beckoned to Xiao Xi'er, who was playing with Sha Ting, signaling her to come over. Xiao Xi'er did indeed run to Qin Jue's side.
"What's wrong, Father?"
"Where did Xiaoxi play the other day, and what did she play?"
"Just staying home and playing..."
Before she could say anything, Xiaoxi covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes darting around.
Seeing Xiao Xi'er's guilty expression, Qin Jue knew she must have done something to cause his illness. Without revealing his thoughts, Qin Jue spoke to Xiao Xi'er in a casual tone.
"Why did Xiaoxi stop talking?"
"Sigh, Father was planning to have Xiao Xi'er take Father out to play, but it seems Father hasn't done enough to be able to let Xiao Xi'er take Father out to play."
As Qin Jue spoke, he looked disappointed, and Xiao Xi'er was very conflicted.
After all, Xiao Xi'er had secretly played with cold water behind Qin Jue's back. If Qin Jue found out, Xiao Xi'er would definitely be scolded. Seeing Qin Jue's disappointed and unhappy look, Xiao Xi'er wanted to speak up several times, but then she kept her mouth shut.
Sitting on the stone bench, Qin Jue thought of what Feng Feng had said about Xiao Xi'er's fever being caused by being exposed to cold, and then he thought of water.
"Ugh, it's so hot today. I wonder how to cool down."
As he spoke, Qin Jue tugged at his collar with his large, well-defined knuckles. Sanhezi, ever observant, brought over a fan and began to fan Qin Jue.
"It's so hot... Is Xiaoxi hot?"
Now Xiao Xi'er thought Qin Jue wasn't asking about what happened before, but simply saying it was hot.
Seeing that Qin Jue looked really hot, he "generously shared" it.
"Father, I know a place where it's cooler."
"Oh? Really? Little Xi'er is that amazing?"
"It's a pity Father can't go, alas."
"Daddy, I'll take you there."
Xiao Xi'er fell for Qin Jue's trick.
"Kitty, let's go together."
Sha Ting, who was sunbathing outside, lazily stood up when he heard there was still some for him. Qin Jue put Xiao Xi'er on the tiger's back.
The three of them left the Hall of Mental Cultivation, followed at a distance by Sanhezi and the palace servants. Don't ask why; the answer is simple: they were afraid of tigers.
This time, Xiao Xi didn't even need to tell Sha Ting how to get there; Sha Ting already knew the way. Qin Jue followed beside him, raising his eyebrows.
Soon they arrived at the gate of a courtyard. Qin Jue looked up and saw the words "Feng Garden." His black pupils were now as deep as they could possibly be.
However, Qin Jue did not show it.
Upon entering the courtyard, although it appeared desolate, one could still vaguely discern how extraordinary this courtyard had once been.
This courtyard is unlike any other palace. Normally, a concubine's sleeping quarters wouldn't have lakes or artificial hills, but this courtyard, because that person liked it, was an exception, having a lake and artificial hills built.
Xiao Xi'er led Qin Jue to the lakeside, patted Sha Ting's head with her little hand, and Sha Ting skillfully lay down to let Xiao Xi'er get down.
After getting off the tiger's back, Xiao Xi'er pulled Qin Jue to the lakeside, sat down, and was about to take off her shoes and socks.
This was stopped by the sharp-eyed and quick-handed Qin Jue, while Xiao Xi'er was still blinking her eyes in confusion.
"So, Xiao Xi'er got a fever from playing in the cold water here, right?"
"Huh...? What did Father say?"
"I don't know."
Feeling guilty, Xiao Xi put her hands behind her back and kicked the grass on the ground.
"Does Xiaoxi really not know?"
"I really don't know, Daddy. You can ask the cat."
"Roar—" (The little devil was playing with cold water the other day.)
Sha Ting kept professing his loyalty, but unfortunately Qin Jue couldn't understand him. Xiao Xi'er, on the other hand, kept hitting Sha Ting's head with her little hands.
"Little Xi doesn't know, so let's just forget about it."
"Father thought Little Xi'er knew what was going on and was going to reward her with something delicious, but we'll just have to let it go."
Little Xi'er, who was wearing a shawl, lit up with her eyes when she heard there was something delicious to eat, and raised a little hand.
"Father, I know how I got sick."
"But Father doesn't want to know anymore."
Qin Jue had already gotten up to leave when Xiao Xi'er grabbed his sleeve and stammered...
"Daddy, I soaked my feet in the water from this spot for the past two days... and they feel so cool!"
Qin Jue squatted down and hugged Xiao Xi'er, saying, "Daddy is very happy that Xiao Xi'er can admit it."
"However, it's still a bit chilly, Xiaoxi. You'll get sick if you keep going like this, just like this time. Take your medicine, okay?"
"However... Father thinks that medicine is particularly sweet, and Little Xi'er likes to drink it very much."
Sanhezi, standing not far behind Qin Jue, overheard his words and inwardly roared: "Your Majesty, your 'medicine' is indeed not bitter but rather sweet and sour, that's because you're drinking plum juice! The princess is drinking real medicine!"
When Xiao Xi heard the words "take medicine," her face scrunched up. "Daddy, I won't play in the water next time!"
"I don't want to get sick, and I don't want to take medicine."
"Good job, Xiaoxi'er!"
"whee"
Qin Jue carried Xiao Xi'er back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
——————
In a house outside the palace, Jun Qingzhi sat listlessly on a stool.
"Yu He, did you find out about that little dumpling you were asked to investigate?"
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