41

  Simarui stood there with a expressionless face, paused for a moment, and heard the sound of someone approaching. Without turning his head, he quietly said: "You're back."

  In the courtyard stood a stately and beautiful woman, about twenty-five or six years old, wearing a light yellow dress, with a calm face and gentle demeanor. "Fourth brother, are you well?"

  Simarui lightly turned around and smiled slightly, "Second sister-in-law, long time no see. How do you have the time to come back to the palace?"

  Hong Yu smiled gently, "It was your second brother who made me rush here. He said that the concubine of the fourth prince had fallen ill and the imperial physicians in the palace had no good solution, so he specially asked me to bring the good medicine from Wumeng country to give to you, to alleviate Murong girl's illness."

  Simarui's face changed slightly, "He is indeed meticulous."

  Hong Yu's face seemed slightly embarrassed, but it flashed by, some things, what's the use of mentioning them, since they've already happened in the past, can't be right or wrong today.

  Look at Sima Rui taking the medicine, let Yan Yu go decoct it. Hongyu quietly looked at Murong Feng lying on the bed. It wasn't that she was sensitive. In those years when Sima Qiang liked her, and she and Sima Zhe were in love, even the Emperor had already agreed to let her marry into the Crown Prince's mansion in a few months. However, just then, she met Sima Qiang who had just returned from the border. After a huge wave, she married Sima Qiang and followed him to the border, rarely returning. But two days ago, Sima Qiang ordered his men to rush back to the border on horseback, instructing her to send the medicine over immediately. For the sake of the fourth prince's consort, he did this, how could she not be suspicious?

  Isn't your own experience in those years a vivid example?

  "What are you looking at?" Sima Rui asked lightly, "Is it strange that she has some ability to make Sima Qiang send someone to deliver medicine over here?"

  "Fourth brother, I know you resent me for hurting your elder brother's heart back then, but some things are really hard to explain. Now, seeing her is just like seeing the me of that year, and I truly don't want her to follow in my footsteps."

  Simarui smiled coldly, "You and your elder brother have been together since childhood, but just because of a so-called heroic rescue, you promised to spend the rest of your life with him. Feng'er is different from you, she won't be as reckless as you are. Moreover, as my wife, Sima Rui's wife, no one else can worry about her. What you should look at is not my Feng'er, but your husband, that hero in your heart, Sima Qiang!"

  Hong Yu was speechless, some old matters, mentioning it would only hurt the harmony, why mention it, having stayed in the border for so many years, she had always lived a very stable life, she was content, if not for the sudden appearance of Murong Feng, she would have continued to live a stable life like this, but, for some reason, seeing the weak Murong Feng lying on the bed, she felt a kind of fearful feeling.

  She knew that even if Sima Qiang really liked Murong Feng, he wouldn't show it and would only keep it deep in his heart. But thinking about it, she still felt sad knowing that Sima Qiang had someone else's shadow in his heart. She thought of what her mother said before she got married: "Hongyu, you betrayed Zhe'er today, I'm afraid one day you'll be controlled by the demon of fear of losing Sima Qiang's heart and suffer unbearably."

  Can it really be like this?

  After all these years, it was the first time he had been so concerned about another woman. He had never been so concerned about any other woman except her, and even for her sake, he had never had any idea of taking a wife or concubine. According to the attendants, Princess Yali tried to seduce him several times on the way, but he was unmoved.

  The medicine brought by Hongyu was indeed effective, after drinking two doses of the medicine, she broke out in a sweat all over her body, even the bedding was soaked through. The next morning, the fever had subsided, and she felt much more energetic, her complexion also looked much better, and she could eat some light porridge.

  The Empress Dowager was overjoyed to visit her, looked at Murong Feng and let out a sigh of relief, saying: "Fortunately, there's some improvement, almost worried me to death. What medicine did you take? The effect is so good, if I had known about such good medicine earlier, we wouldn't have suffered the past few days."

  Yan Yu answered, "It's the medicine that Er Tai Zi Fei brought back from Wu Meng Guo. She took two doses yesterday and saw improvements this morning, and she can eat a bit now. The imperial physician just came to examine her and also praised it as good medicine. However, the imperial physician also said that since Tai Zi Fei has been ill for several days, her body is weak and needs to be taken care of properly."

  The empress dowager was taken aback, looked up at Sima Rui and asked casually: "Is Hongyu back? Did she come back by herself? I didn't hear Qiang say anything about it. This girl is also like that, since she's back, doesn't even know to come see me. She and Yunque are the closest, knowing she's back, Yunque must be overjoyed. These days, always staying in the palace, you brothers don't have time to accompany her, making her anxious and uncomfortable."

  Simarui smiled and said, "Yes, she came in person, probably curious about what kind of person Rui'er's consort is. She must have asked the Second Prince to send someone to deliver the medicine."

  "Rui'er!" The empress dowager called out somewhat anxiously, "It's all old news now, let's not bring it up again. Now that those who should be married are married, and those who should be wedded are wedded, everyone should just mind their own business."

  Simarui just smiled and didn't say anything else.

  "Maple, rest well, Grandmother is leaving too." The Empress Dowager looked at Murong Feng with kindness. As for Sima Rui's matter, Murong Feng seemed to have no dissatisfaction in words, but only lay there with a light expression, which made the Empress Dowager like and pity him even more. She knew that her grandson was such an unbearable rascal, and marrying him would mean guarding against him all one's life - this was fate. But Murong Feng seemed to be enduring it calmly and quietly, without complaint or disturbance.

  After seeing the empress dowager off, Sima Rui returned to Murong Feng's room, only to find that Murong Feng had already gotten out of bed by himself, wearing a pale blue cloak as transparent as dew, and was reading a book.

  "You'd better get back to bed, didn't you hear what the imperial physicians said? You need to rest well for a few more days." Sima Rui immediately half-forced and half-pleaded with Murong Feng to lie back down on the bed, covering him with the quilt. "Today it's very windy outside, I'm afraid it's going to change weather, you can't catch another cold. Whatever you want to do, let Yan Yu and the others do it for you. If you want to read a book, I'll read it out loud to you."

  "How have you been these past few days, Moon Jade?" Murong Feng lay down again, asking casually, "I heard that day that it was an accident while dancing, has your leg recovered?"

  Simarui sighed, "Her leg is fractured, I'm afraid she'll have to rest for a while before it heals. I've already asked Dr. Lu to treat her, and apart from complete bed rest, there's nothing else that can be done."

  "Go take a look at her." Murong Feng said lightly, "I'm troubling you to take care of her. I have no way to thank you, so I'll give you a day off. Go see how her injury is recovering. Yueliang is someone who loves dancing, hurting her leg is more painful than taking her life. She's followed you for many years, and at this moment, she's probably hoping that you can stay by her side for a while."