Volume 4 Chapter 18 Unyielding in Ice and Snow

  I felt as if I was seriously ill, and vaguely saw countless people's shadows flickering in front of my eyes, but I was too weak to look clearly. Every day, I would wake up dazedly and swallow the medicine liquid handed by others, without feeling any bitterness at all. Occasionally, I would spit it out, only to be fed back mouthful by mouthful. Sometimes, I would say a few vague words that even I didn't understand, and then feel a wave of fatigue wash over me, too lazy to even open my eyes. So I simply fell back asleep in a daze.

  When I finally came to, the sky was already brightening. My mouth felt parched and dry, and I fumbled around for water to drink. My eyes were blurry and everything around me seemed like a white misty shadow swaying back and forth. It took a long time before I could see clearly, but I didn't know where I was. All I saw was the window curtain hanging densely, with layer upon layer of drapes blocking out almost all the light. Only through the narrow slit between the curtains did a thin line of blue morning light peek through. Just that one line illuminated the entire room with a pale blue glow like fine porcelain. The surroundings were eerily quiet, and the candles that had burned throughout the night were now extinguished, their red wax tears congealed in droplets, like the dried tears of a woman who had been parted from her loved one for too long, hanging precariously as if they might fall at any moment. As my gaze steadied, I saw Xuan Qing lying on his side on a daybed outside the window, covered with a tiger skin blanket. He seemed to be sleeping very restlessly, his brow furrowed like a child's, making me want to reach out and smooth it away without thinking.

  The soft morning light crept in, mingling with the warm, hazy glow of the candles shining through the semi-transparent white gauze curtains and falling on his face. His originally sleek hair bun had come undone a bit, and the golden crown that held it in place was slightly askew. As the wind blew gently, his fine strands of hair were blown onto his forehead, forming a smooth arc. Before, I only thought he was warm and refined like jade, always making people feel warm and at ease, but didn't pay attention to his appearance. Now, looking at him quietly, I realized that his eyes were lightly closed, his pale lips tightly pursed, and his entire being seemed as majestic as a fallen jade mountain. Even the tired expression on his sleeping face was flawless. He had always been elegant and refined, with an air of detachment, but now he had a strong and heroic aura that he didn't usually show. I let out a soft sigh - how could he be just a carefree prince who indulged in poetry, music, and idle pursuits? The young hero who shot down the Sea East Blue's double eyes with one arrow, was another side of him that he rarely revealed! If he weren't the son of Empress Dowager Shu, if he weren't the former emperor's chosen successor... his life would be entirely different now. Probably, he would have achieved great things and become even more illustrious than the most glorious era of King Nan.

  I stared at him, dazed for a moment, and saw his body move, the tiger skin blanket on him almost slipping to the ground. Although the room was warm, without covering, it would still catch a chill.

  My heart skipped a beat, and I slowly got up. Not expecting that someone who hadn't gotten out of bed for a long time, whose illness wasn't yet better, would have such weak and unsteady legs. With great difficulty, I struggled to stand up, just about to take a step forward, when golden stars whirled around in my eyes, buzzing loudly, and my legs went soft and I fell back down.

  The place where I fell was soft and fluffy, and someone called out "ah" in a low voice. I was startled and saw Fen Bi curled up on the edge of the bed dozing off, but I had fallen onto her body. Fen Bi opened her eyes dazedly, saw it was me, and exclaimed with surprise: "Miss is awake?"

  But with just one sentence, Xuan Qing suddenly woke up. He threw off the quilt and jumped over, hastily but steadily holding me, delightedly saying: "Are you feeling better?"

  The breath in his arms rushed to my surroundings, familiarly wrapping me tightly. I was unsteady on my feet due to illness and had to lean against his arm, feeling embarrassed and flustered. As I raised my head, I saw the dense network of blood vessels at the bottom of his eyes, his expression extremely worried, and my heart trembled slightly. In a soft voice, he said, "It's okay."

  I looked around in confusion and asked: "Where is this?"

  Xuan Qing said: "This is my Clear Breeze Pavilion. You're so seriously ill, I've brought you here to the Clear Breeze Pavilion for care."

  I softly murmured "uh-huh", and couldn't help but scold: "You didn't even sleep properly just now, the bedding is about to fall off and you don't even know."

  He grasped my arm, his face revealing a mixture of joy and shyness, "Did you see me sleeping?"

  I hummed and asked curiously: "What's there to be so happy about?"

  He was overjoyed and whispered very softly in my ear: "Was it because you saw that my pants were about to fall down that you got up?"

  My face felt hot and I didn't know what to say, so I just ignored him and asked Huàn Bì, "Where is Lord Wēn?"

  "Goodness gracious!" exclaimed the maid, "I'm so delighted! Just now, Master Wen was keeping watch, but I saw he was extremely tired, so I asked him to go rest in the guest room. Now, I'll go invite Master Wen over to take a look at Miss."

  Bai He left with a happy smile. I struggled free from his embrace, sat down on the bed with my head hung low, and ignored Xuan Qing. He walked over to me, scratched his head and chuckled softly: "Let's just forget what I said earlier. I think I look better when I'm asleep than usual."

  The way he spoke was quite childish. I couldn't help it and burst out laughing with a "heh".

  So Wen Shi came over and took a look, and was delighted to see that I had improved a lot, saying that from now on, all I need is to rest and recover quietly.

  "I softly said: 'How did Shichu Gege also come?'"

  His face was heavy with worry, and he said: "That day I had just finished taking care of Hu De's body and left the palace, when I returned to the mansion, I heard that Qingliangtai had come to summon me to see a patient. I rushed over, but it was you. At that time, I was so scared, you were running a high fever, talking nonsense, and constantly fainting."

  I anxiously asked: "What disease do I have after all?"

  Wen Shi sighed and said, "You are the root of the disease that was left behind due to poor postpartum care back then. On top of that, you have been overworking every day. Now that the weather has turned cold, your old illness has relapsed, coupled with excessive worry and contemplation at night, which is why you've fallen ill. Fortunately, it's much better now, so just focus on recuperating well and nourishing your body to consolidate your foundation."

  "I said: 'Since Shichu Gege also says I'm much better now, when can I go back?'"

  Just saying this, Xuan Qing said: "Why are you in such a hurry to go back? Your body hasn't fully recovered yet. You should rest and calm down. The Clear Breeze Pavilion is rarely visited by outsiders, it's the best place for you."

  Wen Shi Chu hesitated for a moment, looked at me and Xuan Qing, and said: "Actually, the Clear and Cool Stage may not be good either..."

  Xuan Qing was about to speak, but Huan Bi softly said: "If Qingliangtai is not good, is there a better place? Can't live in Lord Wen's mansion, although it's close to the doctor, it's too unconventional and easy to be discovered. Moreover, Miss's body can move around now?"

  "I didn't mean it like that..."

  "General Wen's meaning is something he knows himself, no need to tell us. The prince isn't interested in listening, I'm too busy to listen, and the young lady doesn't have the energy to listen, so it's better not to say anything."

  I secretly smiled, Wen Shi had probably thought of having me live with him. However, with just a few words from Huan Bi, his thoughts were completely exposed. I silently praised her, indeed the Huan Bi who grew up with me, sisterly connected at heart.

  I looked around but didn't see Gongzi, so I asked: "Where did Gongzi go?"

  " I accompanied Miss to Qingliangtai, and Rong Yu is watching the house in that room. If anything happens, we'll take care of each other."

  I nodded and said, "It's okay, but if Ruo Yu also comes along, it won't be good."

  Xuan Qing smiled warmly and scanned the surroundings, his smile all over his face: "At that time, I was in a hurry to send my wife to Qingliangtai, so I randomly found a spacious place to settle down. Now that she's feeling better, this house isn't suitable for long-term residence either. Since she needs to recuperate, it's best to move to Xiao Xian Guan."

  I nodded slightly, "It's all the same wherever you live. There's no need to go to such great lengths."

  Xuan Qing thought for a moment, then said, "Alright, let's talk about it when you're feeling better." As she spoke, she clapped her hands twice, and two women entered from outside. I leaned against the bed and took a closer look at them - they were two young women, probably around 17 or 18 years old, with long faces, pale skin, slender waists, and very elegant figures. Upon closer inspection, however, it was clear that they weren't ordinary maidservants - both of them wore pink and silver Wu Mian clothes, with delicate silver plum blossom hairpins and a crimson silk flower on their heads.

  Xuan Qing's expression was worried, and she said slowly: "You're so ill, and it's also very hard for Yu Mei to take care of you alone. These past two days, the task of decocting medicine outside has been taken care of by them, now they've come in to help Yu Mei take care of you."

  He spoke in a gentle and courteous tone when mentioning the two women, I exchanged a glance with Huanbi, her eyes were also filled with uncertainty. I knew she was as puzzled as I was, wondering if these two women were indeed Xuanqing's concubines.

  Then, with a slight movement of her eyes, Biyu understood my expression and hurriedly smiled: "How can this be good? The young lady was originally served by me since childhood, now I alone am enough to take care of her. There is no need to trouble the prince's people."

  Xuan Qing's expression was somewhat tired, and he said: "Don't worry, if it's not good, I won't send someone to take care of your young lady. You've been keeping watch for two days, and you're also very exhausted."

  Just as the blue was about to speak, I raised my head and saw that Xuan Qing's expression was not right, his face was flushed with a crimson color, his eyes were half-closed, and he seemed extremely tired. I remembered that just now in his arms, his breath was hot and not normal, thinking that he had caught a cold and had a fever.

  I suddenly became anxious and didn't care about anything else, hastily looking at Wen Shi Chu said: "The king's situation seems to be not right, you take a look."

  "His Highness is overworked and has caught a chill, which led to the fever. Hurry up and get under the quilt for a good sleep to sweat it out. I'll prescribe some medicine to dispel the cold and he'll be fine."

  Lingbi hastily grasped Xuanqing's arm and said: "I'll have someone send the prince to rest."

  Xuan Qing smiled and waved his hand: "It's not that precious, it doesn't matter if we go later."

  "Wen Shi Chu said with a hint of complaint, 'That day when the king came to see Huan sister, he was wearing less clothes. These two days have been tiring, so go sleep well now.'"

  Bing hurriedly responded and turned her head to call out: "Ah Jin, quickly come in and help support the prince."

  Xuan Qing smiled wryly at me and said: "It seems I won't be able to avoid going to sleep for a while, you rest well."

  I nodded repeatedly and scolded: "You're also ill, but you're still worried about others? Hurry up and go." And so the two of them supported Xuan Qing as they left together.

  I smiled and said to Wen Shi Chu: "It's all right here, you go take a look at Wang Ye first."

  Wen Shi Chu glanced at me with a hint of a smile and said, "You seem to care about Qing He Wang quite a bit."

  My heart skipped a beat, and I said, "I treat you both the same, who doesn't care? I'm a bit better off now, are you going to come after me again?" My words came out a bit too hastily, and I couldn't help but cough twice.

  Wen Shi's face changed greatly at once, and he hastily apologized: "It was my fault, I made you angry. This cough is even more uncomfortable now."

  I took a deep breath and slowly said, "The King of Qinghe has always been righteous, and when we were in the palace, he often showed me kindness. Now that he's the host here, he risked his life to save me. I was just asking him a couple of casual questions." I paused for a moment, then continued, "Besides, he's from the palace, and he's his brother... how could I..." My tone also became somewhat sorrowful as I spoke.

  Wen Shi's face was filled with remorse, and he said, "It's my fault, I made you sad. From now on, I won't speak nonsense again." However, after a moment of contemplation, he carefully and sorrowfully said, "But I still feel that you treat him better than I do myself."

  I couldn't help but laugh and cry, so I said: "In that case, I'll take good care of you too. You've been taking care of me for days, working hard, now go rest early." He wanted to say something else, I said: "If you say anything more, I won't let you treat my body again in the future."

  With no other choice, he reluctantly bid farewell with a hint of resentment.

  As soon as they left, a lovely voice of a girl suddenly said: "This doctor is really cute, I almost can't help but laugh."

  I turned back to look, and it was the two women from just now. They were also clever, seeing me looking at them with a smile on their faces, they curtsied and said: "Greetings to the young lady." After that, they both smiled sweetly.

  I wasn't quite clear about their identities, so I could only awkwardly receive their courtesy and asked with a smile: "What are your names?"

  A slightly raised tone: "I'm called Cai Lan."

  Another plump and lively one said: "I'm called Cai Pu."

  I heard them call themselves "nu bi", I knew they were just maids who had gained favor, perhaps they were Xuan Qing's personal attendants. I couldn't help but laugh and ask: "Is this name given to you two by the prince?"

  The maid who was picking water caltrops quickly asked: "Miss, how did you know?"

  I leaned against the quilt, smiling: "Cai Lan and Cai Ping are names from the Book of Songs. King Qinghe was truly a refined and elegant person." I softly recited: "'Cai Lan' comes from 'All morning picking blue flags, not filling one basket, five days as the deadline, six days not yet arrived', 'Cai Ping' then comes from 'Where to pick lotus? On the banks of the southern stream'. They are both very elegant names."

  She smiled and said, "We servants don't know what's good or bad, it's just that Miss has been reciting this sentence, when the prince named us, we heard him say it before, but we just can't remember."

  I smiled slightly, but was worried about Xuan Qing's body in my heart, and felt a bit tired. Cai Lan and Cai Ping served me to sleep. This sleep was deep, and when I woke up again, it was already late afternoon.

  Lan Caihe has returned and is sitting beside me. Cai E and Cai Chong are sitting far away at the gate, none of them speaking a word.

  Lan Caihe saw me wake up, hurriedly served me water to drink, and then let Caiyun and Cailan go to the kitchen to fetch white porridge and small dishes to serve me dinner.

  I noticed that Huanbi and Cai Ping, Cai Lan spoke in a polite but distant tone, which was not like her usual self, and couldn't help but feel some doubt. Taking advantage of the two going to the kitchen, I whispered to Huanbi: "Don't you like them?"

  She smiled slightly and said lightly, "There's no such thing as liking or disliking. It's just that Miss knows I'm a bit reserved, while Cai Wei and Cai Lan are both lively people, so they don't quite get along."

  I smiled faintly, "What's wrong with that?" My tone was somewhat melancholic, "Didn't my former passionate nature used to match yours perfectly?"

  She lowered her head, twisted her clothes and said: "Liuzhu has been growing up with me since childhood, so the feelings are different. Moreover, Cai Ping and Cai Lan may be close relatives of the prince, I am too close to them, it's inevitable that someone will say we are fawning..."

  I smiled and sighed: "You're really overthinking this." I thought for a moment, then asked: "When you came back just now, was the prince any better?"

  Bai Lian lowered her head for a moment, and there was a hint of shallow and faint worry in her eyebrows and eyes. She forced herself to say: "Miss is joking, how can it be good so soon? I had a fever and fell asleep as soon as I returned to Qingyetai. Now Ah Jin and Mo Danni are taking care of me."

  I slightly furrowed my brow and said with a murmur, "You should go take a look if you have time, it's also a courtesy for us as guests. I'm unable to move around, even if I could, I would just go myself."

  Miss said it was right, originally we lived in the Clear and Cool Pavilion, and the prince was ill again, so we should go and take a look at the prince. However, if Miss didn't speak up, I wouldn't dare to go either. Now that Miss has given orders, how can I not do my best? Just as she finished speaking, Cai Pin and Cai Lan brought in some light and refreshing dishes and white porridge, and also moved a nanmu wood inlaid with mother-of-pearl cloud leg fine tooth desk onto the bed. Huan Bi took it with one hand, smiling faintly at Cai Lan and Cai Pin: "I'll serve you, you two can rest."

  Cai Lan didn't know what she meant, so she just smiled and said: "Bijiao, it's a lot of trouble, but the prince asked us sisters to serve Miss..."

  "I've been serving the young lady since I was five years old, so I'm used to doing these chores. You two can just make yourselves at home." Xuanbi said with a smile, but her tone didn't allow for any excuses. The two girls couldn't do anything about it and could only look at me.

  I was too lazy to mediate their discord, so I just smiled and said: "Jian Bi has always served me, let her do it." So Jian Bi began to serve me, feeding me mouthful by mouthful.

  I didn't have much of an appetite, but after eating a couple of mouthfuls, I felt full. Pointing to the two dishes on the table, one with Yunzhou fermented bean paste and the other with rose-flavored tofu, he said to Cai Lan: "Your master Wangye has contracted wind chill, so his appetite must not be good. It's best for him to eat something light and easy to digest. These two dishes are very suitable, you can send them over to Master Wangye later."

  Cai Lan smiled and took it over, Cai Ping said: "Thank you miss for caring about our prince."

  Lan Bi silently packed her things, and after a moment, her almond-shaped eyes turned slightly towards me, saying: "Earlier this morning, I sent Wang Ye back to the Green Wild Hall. Today is already late, and I haven't gone to see what kind of situation Wang Ye is in yet. It's inevitable that I have to go, so why don't I send you there instead?"

  The room was warm as spring, I felt dizzy and barely nodded, following her.