Chapter 101 He was unsure whether Zhilan would stay...
Fu Yun opened her eyes and met a pair of cool, clear eyes, which were full of tenderness.
Their eyes met, and they stared at each other silently, an indescribable palpitation filling the air.
"Ahem~" Imperial Physician Yu coughed lightly, breaking the silence between the two: "Your Majesty, why don't you go and rest for a while? I'll change the dressing for Your Highness."
Zhilan's expression shifted slightly. Her gaze fell on Fu Jun's face, and seeing that he looked away without saying a word, she nodded and went to sit down at the round table in the outer room to rest.
Imperial Physician Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and reminded him, "Re-bandaging will hurt a bit, Your Highness, please bear with it."
Fu Yun looked slightly embarrassed. In front of Zhi Lan, she couldn't directly refute the title, otherwise it would damage her dignity. She could only wait until the imperial physician left before asking Zhi Lan.
"I'm fine, please go ahead and bandage me."
Imperial Physician Yu gently helped Fu Yun up from the bed, his movements extremely tender, as if the person he was supporting was a rare and precious fragile object.
Fu Yun's lips twitched, feeling a bit exasperated. Did they really need to be so cautious? Anyone who didn't know better would think they were treating a newborn.
He just wanted Physician Yu to hurry up and bandage him up as soon as possible, so that he wouldn't feel dizzy every time he sat up.
Imperial Physician Yu naturally couldn't discern Fu Yun's inner thoughts. She carefully removed the blood-stained ribbon from Fu Yun's shoulders and back, observing Fu Yun's reaction from time to time.
Seeing his pale face and slightly furrowed brows, yet he remained silent, she felt a strange pang of pity: "If you feel any pain, just say so, and I will be gentler."
Fu Yun shook her head and said, "It's okay, I'm not in pain, I'm just a little dizzy. Please help me bandage it up as soon as possible."
The imperial physician explained, "Don't worry, the dizziness is not due to a worsening of your injury, but rather because you haven't eaten for several days and are hungry."
Fu Jun nodded and said nothing more.
He had just heard Zhilan tell Xiao Jingzi to prepare food; they only needed to wait a little longer to fill their stomachs.
After about half a cup of tea's time, Physician Yu finally re-bandaged the wound.
She helped Fu Yun lie back on the bed and then stepped aside.
Fu Yun said gently, "Thank you for your trouble."
Imperial Physician Yu quickly waved his hand: "Your Majesty is too kind to this humble subject. This is merely my duty."
Fu Jun smiled slightly and said no more.
The imperial physician stared at him unconsciously for a long time, then looked away in a slightly flustered manner.
After a moment of silence, she calmed herself and said, "Your Majesty, the prince's wound has been bandaged."
Zhilan stood up, walked to the bedside, and said calmly, "You may leave."
"promise."
Imperial Physician Yu picked up his medicine box, hunched over, and slowly withdrew.
Zhilan sat down on the edge of the bed, her gaze sweeping over Fu Jun, and asked in a low voice, "Does it still hurt?"
Fu Yun said, "It's alright, it doesn't hurt much."
Zhilan sighed, pulled open the brocade quilt beside her, and gently covered Fu Jun with it, her face showing remorse: "I'm so sorry that you suffered such a serious injury because of my negligence."
Fu Yun disagreed, saying, "How can you blame yourself? It's that crazy Mu Xin's problem. Don't take all the blame on yourself."
Zhilan fell silent, gazing at Fu Jun with unspoken words in her eyes. In the end, she simply said softly, "You stay here and recover well. I will take care of everything else."
After a moment's thought, Fu Yun finally asked the question she wanted to ask: "Why do they all call me 'Noble Lady'?"
Zhilan paused, not answering Fu Jun's question, but instead asking him, "Are you bothered by this form of address?"
Fu Yun explained earnestly, "It's not a matter of whether you mind or not, but rather that they've misunderstood our relationship, which is having a very negative impact on you."
Zhilan paused slightly, a strange light flashing in her beautiful eyes: "What impact will this have on me?"
Fu Yun said, "The impact will be huge, let me tell you. Your ministers will think that you are entangled with the son of a lowly merchant. As the most noble emperor, it is not a good thing for you to have such rumors about a commoner. It will do you no good. Those ministers who are already dissatisfied with you will definitely take this opportunity to make things difficult for you, and then it will be even more difficult for you in the court."
“You…” Zhilan’s expression faltered slightly as she stared directly at Fu Jun and asked, “Is this all you’re worried about?”
Fu Yun retorted, "Isn't that enough?"
Zhilan asked in surprise, "Aren't you worried about yourself?"
Fu Jun said nonchalantly, "I'm a grown man. A few rumors won't hurt me. Anyway, I've already severed ties with the Su family. I'm carefree and independent. No matter how nasty the rumors are, as long as I don't care, they can't do anything about it. I don't need to worry about causing trouble for anyone."
"On the contrary, even the slightest unfavorable rumor about you will be amplified by some people with ulterior motives. They probably can't wait to find something wrong with you and use it to force you to do something you don't want to do. I don't want that to happen."
Before Zhilan could respond, he added, "Of course, if that moment really comes, you don't need to worry too much. Just tell them that we have an employer-employee relationship. If they don't believe you and insist on accusing you of lusting after a commoner, then I will stand up and prove your innocence to them."
Zhilan's expression turned somewhat strange, and she asked in return, "How do you intend to prove it?"
Fu Yun didn't see anything wrong with it and said frankly, "We can sign an employment agreement that states that we only have a cooperative relationship. I'm just doing things for you, not trying to have a romantic relationship with you. If they continue to cause trouble, I will question them in court about their ulterior motives and why they are trying to smear you."
Zhilan was deeply shaken, her thoughts a jumbled mess: "Have you considered the consequences of your actions?"
Fu Yun said with great enthusiasm, "If they want revenge, let them come. I'm barefoot, why should I be afraid of them who are wearing shoes? At worst, I'll just die. Everyone has to die eventually, it's just a matter of time."
Zhilan was deeply moved. She hadn't expected Su Fuyun to be so indifferent to life and death, willing to die rather than offend the powerful ministers in order to protect the reputation of his monarch.
Although he was willing to die for her, she couldn't be happy, simply because none of this had anything to do with love.
Unconsciously, she asked the question that was on her mind: "Would you like to stay in the palace?"
Fu Yun raised an eyebrow, his heart pounding inexplicably. He wasn't sure what Zhilan meant by those words.
Does it mean they want him to stay as a male concubine, or literally, to stay in the palace to recover from his injuries, or to give him a place to stay?
After all, he is still living at Su Mang's house and does not have his own permanent residence.
On second thought, Fu Yun realized she was overthinking things.
Zhilan probably didn't have feelings for him, but rather felt guilty about the injury she sustained on this trip and wanted to make amends by providing him with a stable place to live.
After all, the palace not only had guards to protect them, but also people to take care of their daily lives.
This was actually a very good reward for him.
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