Chapter 21
The moon outside the room was as bright as gauze, its soft light gently flowing on the floor tiles.
All around was silent, so quiet that even the sound of a burning lamp wick could be heard clearly.
The imperial physician sat by the bedside, feeling Zhao Heng's pulse while sneaking glances at Li Wenjian from the corner of his eye.
Since he entered the room, the prince had stood silently by, watching as the physician took Zhao Heng's pulse, his scrutinizing gaze sending shivers down his spine.
As soon as the physician removed his fingers from Zhao Heng's wrist, Li Wenjian asked, "How is she? Is it serious?"
The physician replied, "Your Highness, her pulse is weak and floating, indicating a deficiency in both Qi and blood. There is no major issue. She needs to gradually improve and nourish her deficiency."
Only then did Li Wenjian slightly relax, looking at Zhao Heng and asking, "Why has she been unconscious for two days and has not woken up?"
The physician sighed, "She was overwhelmed with grief, and the already weak Qi and blood reversed, causing an obstruction in her heart..."
"When will she wake up?"
The physician shook his head, unable to provide an answer to this question.
Li Wenjian knew that her illness was mostly from her heart and could not be treated with medicine. He instructed the physician to write a prescription and dismissed everyone.
The side chamber fell quiet, with Li Wenjian standing with his hands behind his back in front of the bed, silently watching the sleeping Zhao Heng. It had been two days since she had fallen into a deep slumber after her grandmother's funeral, refusing to wake up.
In her dreams, her brows furrowed, her body slightly curled up, her delicate figure looking extremely vulnerable.
Li Wenjian sat by the bedside, supporting her body and tucking her loose hair behind her ears strand by strand. In the dim light, he saw her pale face, sweat dripping from her forehead.
She moved her lips, as if saying something, but her voice was hoarse and weak. He had to lean closer to hear her faint words.
"Cold."
She murmured sorrowfully.
Her fever was due to excess internal heat, with a paradoxical feeling of internal heat and external cold. Even if she were placed on a charcoal fire, she might still feel cold.
Li Wenjian gazed at her for a moment, gently rubbing her small face with his fingers.
Her snow-white face held a burning temperature.
The warmth of his palm touched her sensitive skin, making her feel hot, causing her to shyly avoid his touch.
A faint, inexplicable smile crossed Li Wenjian's lips. She had always been gentle and respectful towards him, but now, sick and vulnerable, she had let down her guard, showing resistance to his touch.
The frail Zhao Heng, like a green chrysanthemum in the autumn wind, appeared delicate and weak, yet she also possessed resilience and stubbornness.
On the morning in her courtyard, he saw the resolute coldness in her eyes and suddenly realized. The person who had once made her willing to compromise was no longer there, bringing forth the sharpness she had hidden deep inside.
Li Wenjian covered her with a blanket and then said to the maid standing by, "Prepare the bath."
"Yes, Your Highness," the palace maid nodded and withdrew.
After days of continuous rain, the weather had finally cleared today, with a few clouds lingering in the sky.
Looking out through the window with peony patterns, the moonlight seemed to be veiled in a thin layer.
A moment later, the palace maid returned and reported, "Your Highness, the bath is ready."
Li Wenjian bent down to lift Zhao Heng around the waist, carrying her towards the bath.
Steam rose from the bath, and the natural sulfur smell was slightly strong. This palace was built by the previous ruthless emperor using the natural hot springs on the mountain as the bathing pool.
In the cold winter season, with snow covering the mountains and the surroundings draped in white, soaking in the hot springs was considered a refined pleasure.
However, Li Wenjian had never taken pleasure in such activities.
Zhao Heng had caught a chill and needed warmth as well as fever reduction. Li Wenjian brought her here to soak in the hot springs daily, soothing the heat in her heart and warming her cold body.
Li Wenjian carried her to the edge of the pool, helping her remove her clothes. After taking off her inner garment, she wore only a delicate silk undergarment.
Despite soaking in the bath every day, her body did not carry the sulfur smell but instead emitted a faint fragrance.
As her clothes came off, a light scent filled the air.
The warmth in the bath made her body blush, masking the paleness of her illness.
Li Wenjian glanced at her fair and delicate skin and then turned his face away, slowly carrying her into the bath. The warm water enveloped her, comforting and soothing, causing Zhao Heng to let out a soft hum.
Her voice was so soft that it seemed to tickle the ears.
He placed her in a corner, helping her to sit on the edge of the pool.
The edge of the pool was made of white marble, slightly cool against her arms. She subconsciously leaned back, resting against Li Wenjian's shoulder.
Furrowing his brow, Li Wenjian glanced at her trembling eyelashes and suddenly noticed a tear stain at the corner of her eye.
He cupped some water with flower petals and splashed it on her face, then gently wiped her face with his large hand, his fingers rubbing away the remaining tears.
Li Wenjian had never been gentle in caring for others. The water splashed into her nostrils, and his actions weren't exactly gentle.
Zhao Heng choked a few times, and soon after, her eyelids fluttered open.
In a daze, she saw Li Wenjian's face in front of her.
"Your Highness?" She paused slightly, her watery eyes looking at him, a confused expression on her face, looking dazed for a moment.
The smell of the hot spring water tickled her delicate nose.
Li Wenjian pulled back his hand, his fingers gently rubbing the corner of her eye, the smooth touch lingering.
"Can you sit by yourself?" Li Wenjian asked.
Zhao Heng's consciousness slowly returned, and she realized that Li Wenjian's supporting hand was steadying her as she sat up.
"Your Highness, I can do it," Zhaoheng said.
"Mm," Li Wenjian released the hand supporting her waist immediately and said, "Sit properly."
He stood up and walked out of the bath barefoot.
Exhausted, Zhao Heng lay on the white jade pool edge, her eyes drooping with fatigue.
Before long, the prince returned, accompanied by a bitter scent of medicine.
He changed out of his wet clothes, wearing only a thin moon-white robe with a loose collar, revealing his lean and strong chest. Walking barefoot, he slowly approached her in the flickering light.
"Can you drink by yourself?" Li Wenjian handed her the bowl of medicine.
Zhao Heng nodded, saying, "Yes."
After two days of feverish slumber, she was still hot and weak, her trembling hand holding the bowl of medicine.
Li Wenjian squatted beside her, observing her weakened state. After a few gentle caresses, he ultimately took the bowl from her hand.
Scooping up a spoonful of the medicine, he brought it to her lips.
Their eyes met for a moment, and Zhao Heng, no longer forcing herself, opened her mouth and drank.
Li Wenjian continued to feed her slowly, and soon the bowl of medicine was emptied.
Weak and frail, Zhao Heng was left catching her breath after just drinking a bowl of medicine.
In the early spring night, a warm breeze passed through the corridor in the mountains, brushing the empty palace. Her slender shoulders exposed above the water shivered from the chill. She shrank into the water, submerging herself completely.
Unexpectedly, her feet slipped, and before Li Wenjian could react, she slipped into the pool. She reached out, but only grasped a wet strand of hair. As she submerged, the hair slipped through her fingers.
The milky water rippled, and the petals on the surface swayed gently.
Subconsciously, Zhao Heng closed her eyes, held her breath, and let herself float in the water without struggling. The warm spring water enveloped her like a gentle touch of a loved one.
Gradually adjusting to the underwater situation, she slowly opened her eyes. The water was dim, and she could barely see, only vaguely making out the blurry silhouette of Li Wenjian crouching at the shore.
Feeling reassured with him there, she relaxed, allowing herself to sink to the bottom of the pool.
The pool bottom was dark, and the pungent sulfur smell made it nearly impossible to keep her eyes open. She held her breath, enduring the increasing difficulty in breathing.
With a splash, Li Wenjian jumped into the water beside her.
His palm slid past her waist and supported her back, lifting her upwards. The next moment, Li Wenjian held her in his arms as they rose from the water with a splash.
Zhao Heng gasped for air, wiping the wet water droplets from her face.
Li Wenjian maintained his embrace, holding her waist and lifting her onto his lap as water splashed around. With most of her body exposed above the water, pressed against his sturdy chest, the heat from his body met hers, yet she lacked the strength to push him away.
In times of extreme sorrow, it seems like even shame disappears along with it.
Li Wenjian picked up the towel from the white jade plate beside her and draped it over her trembling back. Suddenly, he raised his hand, and his large palm gently caressed her cheek, wiping away the tears under her eyes.
Her tears seemed unstoppable, no matter how much he tried to dry them.
Zhao Heng entered the palace because that year he had made a suggestion to the emperor. His words changed her life, and to this day, he did not know if he was responsible for her current suffering.
He felt pity and guilt towards her. Countless karmic consequences born from him piled up to create her current pain. Li Wenjian looked at her teary eyes, then lowered his head, brushing against her cheek and kissing away her tears.
Salty, bitter, and astringent.
Zhao Heng was soaked through, trembling even more from his touch.
As time slipped away, Li Wenjian kissed away her tears. After a while, he suddenly spoke with a deep voice, "That night was solitary and absurd. What compensation do you seek?"
Zhao Heng lowered her gaze, and as he looked into her crimson eyes, he silently lifted the towel that had slipped off her shoulder.
Bitterness filled her heart as she knew that if she blamed everything on Li Wenjian, she might feel better.
But she couldn't do it.
Because to this day, every step she had taken was a carefully considered decision.
Even on that fateful night, she couldn't solely blame him for the mistake.
She had overestimated herself, thinking she could make it back to the East Palace before curfew; then, she had let her guard down too much. After the palace gates were locked, she should have rushed back to the royal kitchen. But she didn't. She chose to stay in the abandoned hall to avoid trouble.
She had believed that the palace rules were strict enough to keep her safe even if she stayed out overnight.
From the beginning, she shouldn't have harbored any illusions of luck.
While the Crown Prince was at fault, she had created the conditions for his wrongdoing.
Even though he was a haunting nightmare, ever since he had promised to send her out of the palace, she had never blamed him.
No one knew that her connections were so fragile. If she had left the palace just one day earlier, perhaps her grandmother wouldn't have faced tragedy.
She wouldn't have become a homeless orphan.
Her dreams were always modestâno one bullying her, avoiding the most arduous tasks, living simply and comfortably with her grandmother.
Now that her grandmother was gone, she had bowed and sworn before her spirit.
She vowed to live well, to live with dignity.
"Your Highness, grant me a place," she pleaded.
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Author's note:
Li Wenjian: My wife is so clingy~