Chapter 265 I Don't Want to Stay in the Brothel
To be on the safe side, the imperial physicians carried a fairly complete set of medicines and tools along the way, especially a sufficient quantity of medicines for external injuries.
He prescribed a hemostatic and blood-stasis-removing medicine and had someone decoct it. Then he disinfected the tools he was going to use with strong liquor. After thoroughly washing his hands, he sat down in front of Jiang Zhi and had Xiao Xuanyou give her a bowl of anesthetic.
Jiang Zhi lay half-lying on Xiao Xuanyou's lap, barely moving since being shot with an arrow.
Ruying and Anyue stood guard nervously to the side, while Qingxing was taken away to check if she had any other hidden weapons on her person.
"Now we need to cut open all the clothes on Princess Qinghe's back. All irrelevant people, please leave."
"Boss, your injury is also quite serious. Why don't you come out with me to get it bandaged and stop the bleeding?" Ye Qi asked with concern as he looked at Lu Yuan covering the still bleeding wound on the side of his neck with one hand.
He knew his eldest son's feelings for Miss Ji—no, now for Princess Qinghe.
But if the eldest brother's injury is not treated soon, he may also faint from blood loss.
However, Lu Yuan simply shook his head. "I'm worried. You go out and deal with the assassin first, and we'll talk about it again once her condition has stabilized."
Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Ye Qi had no choice but to go out with Ru Ying, while An Yue stayed behind to help.
Lu Yuan casually picked up a piece of gauze from the side and wrapped it around his still-bleeding neck, his eyes fixed on Jiang Zhi.
Her breathing was very weak, her originally pink lips were now as white as paper, her brows were furrowed, and the anesthetic had not yet taken effect.
Lu Yuan used his remaining clean hand to grasp her cold palm.
"Ah Zhi, you absolutely cannot get hurt."
Xiao Xuanyou even held his breath, as the movement he had made to save Jiang Zhi had aggravated his newly healed wounds, which were now bleeding again.
But he had his back to the carriage, so no one knew.
Dark Moon's hand, steadied from years of wielding a sword, didn't touch Jiang Zhi's wound at all, and simply cut open the clothes on her back.
Seeing that Jiang Zhi's expression was no longer as pained as before, the imperial physician must have realized that the medicine was working. He said to Xiao Xuanyou:
"Please trouble Your Highness to support her. This arrow has barbs on it, and I will have to slowly rotate it to pull it out. The princess may not be able to withstand it."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Xuanyou felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if it were being repeatedly cut by a dull knife.
Lu Yuan gripped Jiang Zhi's hand even tighter, his throat tightening.
Once he returns to Kyoto, he will make Xiao Yunheng pay the price.
The imperial physician took a deep breath and gripped the arrow shaft.
He was Xiao Xuanyou's confidant, had been by his side for many years, and had treated many wounds, big and small, so he was very experienced.
He gently rotated the arrow shaft, guiding the barb to avoid vital flesh; his movements were precise, and his force was steady and even.
Soon, even the effects of the anesthetic could not suppress the excruciating pain of having one's flesh cut open.
Jiang Zhi cried out "Ah!" while unconscious. Lu Yuan reacted quickly, placing his hand between her lips and teeth and relaxing his muscles to prevent her from biting herself.
Xiao Xuanyou held her shoulders firmly.
The imperial physician was quick and efficient. After pulling out the arrow, he immediately applied the prepared blood-staining medicine to stop the bleeding and had Dark Moon gently wrap Jiang Zhi with gauze to secure her.
"Fortunately, there was no major bleeding." The imperial physician breathed a sigh of relief.
Xiao Xuanyou asked in a hoarse voice, "Is she alright?"
The imperial physician shook his head with a somber face, "This is only the first hurdle."
"The county princess has lost too much blood, and we need to observe whether she will develop a high fever due to the invasion of poisonous pathogens at night."
"However, I have already sent someone to brew the medicine. The county princess will feel much better after drinking it. This is all I can do."
Xiao Xuanyou and Lu Yuan thanked the imperial physician.
The imperial physician looked at the two men's equally pale faces and sighed resignedly, "The Crown Prince and Lord Lu's injuries must be treated as soon as possible; there can be no further delay."
The imperial physician diligently treated their wounds, and when he came out of the carriage, he looked several years older.
The medicine was ready and brought in shortly afterward, but Jiang Zhi kept her lips tightly closed and couldn't drink it no matter what.
Lu Yuan had no choice but to hold the food in his mouth and feed it to her mouthful by mouthful.
Xiao Xuanyou watched from the side with a cold face, remaining silent, seemingly lost in thought.
During this time, Ye Qi came to ask for instructions, saying that the little maid named Qingxing wanted to come and see Princess Qinghe.
Lu Yuan coldly refused, "The county princess was injured because of her. She should be detained until the suspicion against her is cleared. We'll talk about it after the county princess wakes up."
"Your subordinate obeys."
It was already dark, and Xiao Xuanyou and Lu Yuan had no appetite for their meal.
“Your Highness,” Lu Yuan said, “she can no longer stay in your carriage. I will take her back to my own place first.”
Just now, one could say that she was seriously injured and forced by circumstances.
But now that so much time has passed, if she spends a night in Xiao Xuanyou's carriage, who knows what kind of rumors will spread when she returns to the capital.
Xiao Xuanyou knew that Lu Yuan was right. He was injured and unable to move, so he nodded in agreement.
However, just as Lu Yuan bent down to take Jiang Zhi from his arms, Xiao Xuanyou suddenly stopped him.
"Has His Highness the Crown Prince changed his mind?" Lu Yuan frowned.
Xiao Xuanyou glanced at him with a serious expression. "Go and call the imperial physician. Her body is getting hot; she must be starting to have a fever."
Lu Yuan dared not delay any longer and immediately went to call in the imperial physician who had just fallen asleep.
The imperial physician examined her forehead and carefully took her pulse. "The situation is somewhat complicated. The county princess has a persistent high fever, and the poison has entered her body. We can only prescribe some more medicine to clear heat and detoxify her, and wipe her body to reduce the fever. The rest is up to the county princess to get through."
Lu Yuan's voice was hoarse and weak, "What if... we can't make it through?"
"The wound festered, and the poison attacked the heart, leading to internal exhaustion and death."
The carriage was silent.
"Alright, thank you for your help, Imperial Physician."
After a long while, Xiao Xuanyou finally spoke.
The imperial physician had just left when Jiang Zhi, who was still unconscious, suddenly moved her lips, cold sweat pouring down her face, "No...no..."
She mumbled incoherently.
Lu Yuan stepped forward and grabbed her hand. "Azhi, I'm here."
Her palms were burning hot, and her pale face was covered in sweat, making Lu Yuan wish he could take her place.
Xiao Xuanyou gently patted her back, "Chanyi, you'll be alright."
“Cicada Robe…” Jiang Zhi seemed delirious with fever, “Your Highness…”
"Madam, please don't hit me... I won't do it again..."
"Chanyi will study obediently..."
Her speech was jumbled and disordered, and it was unclear what kind of nightmare she was trapped in.
Lu Yuan didn't understand what she meant and thought she was just delirious from a high fever.
Xiao Xuanyou froze, his face filled with shock and dismay.
"Don't be afraid, Chanyi. I'm here. No one will dare to hit you." He took her other hand and placed it on his face.
"It hurts so much..." Her eyelashes trembled violently, and tears slid down her temples. "I'm not running anymore... There's so much blood..."
"I don't want to stay in the brothel... Jiangxue..."
"I don't want to have children..."
"Help me..."
Fragmented memories surged into a chaotic tide.
Her voice was mournful, each word like a dying cuckoo's cry.
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