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墨書 Inktalez
Before, Huo Yun'ai's lies had left Qing Wu both worried and angry. Now, faced with the truth, she found herself unable to feel angry; instead, she was left in a state of helpless laughter.
What to do?
What else could she do...
After thinking for a while without any solutions, Qing Wu could only resign herself and soften her tone to coax him: "If you don't take your medicine, you won't get better. Why not just take it obediently, and then you'll feel better."
Her voice was already soft, and with this deliberate gentleness, it became sweet and soothing to the heart.
Huo Yun'ai had never been coaxed like this before.
Moreover, the one doing the coaxing was a delicate young girl.
The Young Emperor's face immediately turned red, but he was too embarrassed to let the girl notice, so he could only close his eyes and pretend to sleep.
Qing Wu remembered that when she was weak as a child, she had taken countless medicines and had pretended to sleep to avoid injections. Seeing Huo Yun'ai like this, how could she not understand?
She thought that perhaps her approach wasn't effective enough yet, so she quickly added, "Hurry and take it. After you take the medicine and get better, I..."
Halfway through her sentence, she found herself at a loss for words.
Qing Wu racked her brain trying to think of what benefits she could offer him. In the end, she sadly realized that he seemed to have everything.
So she resignedly came up with a casual excuse: "...I can take you out to play?"
Unexpectedly, this seemingly casual remark caused the young man in front of her to slightly flutter his long eyelashes, clearly touched by her words.
Qing Wu was secretly amazed and decided to sit closer to him, eagerly sharing everything she knew about the outside world. "It's almost New Year! Outside, there are so many fun things—clay figurines, candied hawthorn sticks, books, and opera performances. The best part is that there are many miscellaneous books. Have you ever read storybooks? No? There are some outside..."
She listed everything she could think of about the outside world, regardless of whether he knew about them or not. When her throat became dry and she saw he still hadn't reacted, she reached out again to check his forehead.
A cool hand touched the burning skin, causing a sudden flinch as if it had been scalded.
Qing Wu felt anxious and was pondering what to do when she heard Huo Yun'ai softly utter a word: "Bitter."
Qing Wu initially intended to persuade him again but suddenly remembered that when she was a child and refused to take medicine, her family would add a little sugar to the medicine to help her swallow it. If she added some sugar to his medicine now, would it be better?
She recalled that her family said not to use brown sugar when someone had a fever, as it could worsen the condition. Rock sugar and white sugar were cooler in nature, so a little could be used.
She acted on her thoughts.
Qing Wu didn't give Huo Yun'ai any sugar; she just wanted to eat a few pieces of rock sugar herself. When Uncle Yu brought it to her, she carefully set it aside. Once Uncle Yu and Dou Mama had left, she added a bit into the medicinal soup.
By the time she wanted the sugar, Huo Yun'ai had already woken up and was staring at her silently.
Qing Wu also remained quiet. She waited until everything was ready before bringing the medicine bowl in front of him.
The medicinal soup was extremely bitter. Even adding a little sugar wouldn’t make much difference.
However, perhaps because of the sight of rock sugar being added, thinking about that sweet substance made the dark, bitter medicinal liquid seem less unbearable than before.
Huo Yun'ai drank it down in large gulps, and then his mouth was filled with candied fruit—something Uncle Yu had prepared early in the morning specifically for after taking medicine.
After setting the empty medicine bowl aside, Qing Wu finally felt relieved. She made sure he lay comfortably and climbed onto the bed to tuck him in properly.
Just as she finished all this, voices sounded from outside the door. Soon after, Uncle Yu came to report that Qin Shuying and Zheng Ning were requesting an audience.
Huo Yun'ai forced himself to sit up, allowing them both to enter.
As Qin and Zheng stepped into the hall, they automatically ceased their low discussions and approached respectfully to pay their respects.
Huo Yun'ai inquired about the whereabouts of the civil officials. Upon learning that they had all dispersed, she let out a low "hm." Then, she cast a faint glance at Zheng Ning before turning to Qing Wu and asking, "Why did you come today?"
That glance seemed casual, but for some reason, Zheng Ning felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. He couldn't shake the feeling that Huo Yun'ai might have already guessed the answer.
Otherwise, why would the Emperor ask Girl when they were not present? Why wait until everyone was gathered?
Zheng Ning suddenly felt anxious.
He dared not let Huo Yun'ai know the truth. If the Emperor found out that he had brought Girl over and that she had seen the Emperor's fierce demeanor, there would be no escape for him...
Zheng Ning quickly gestured to Qing Wu—considering their teacher-student relationship, he hoped she would help him out.
Fortunately, Qing Wu glanced over and caught his eye. The truth that had been on her lips circled around but ultimately did not come out.
But in that moment, where could she find an excuse?
Qing Wu paused and could only come up with a very generic reason: "I haven't seen you in several days, so I thought I'd come by to check on you."
Huo Yun'ai raised her finger and rubbed her head gently, saying nothing more. She then turned to discuss some details of the Shasong case with Qin Shuying and Zheng Ning.
Qin Shuying was already accustomed to Huo Yun'ai being open around Qing Wu, so she remained unfazed. However, it was Zheng Ning's first time witnessing this situation, and he couldn't help but look twice.
Huo Yun'ai appeared weak; after about a cup of tea's time, she was already sweating lightly from her forehead.
Qing Wu worried that she might not be able to handle it and exchanged a glance with Qin Shuying.
Understanding, Qin Shuying took her leave. Before departing, she called out to Qing Wu.
"I heard someone in your family is ill; do you want to go back and check on them?"
Qing Wu had been worried about Liu Anfeng's condition. After hearing this, she instinctively agreed.
She was not at ease with Huo Yun'ai, so she watched him lie down, then climbed up to tuck the blanket around him before reluctantly leaving, looking back three times.
As she exited the palace door, Qin Shuying nudged Zheng Ning with her elbow and scoffed, "What? Are you scared?"
"Scared of what?" Zheng Ning casually tugged at the corner of her mouth. "What do I have to be afraid of?"
"Don't play dumb! That girl was definitely brought here by you! I can tell, and you think the Emperor wouldn't notice?"
Qin Shuying chuckled, noticing Zheng Ning's shoulders tense up a bit. She then said, "You don't need to be nervous. Think about it—when has the Emperor ever calmed down this quickly after getting angry? That girl came at the right time, so the Emperor won't hold it against you."
Zheng Ning thought about it and realized that was indeed the case. With this in mind, she felt much better inside.
After their murmuring, they began to think about the girl they had mentioned.
Qin Shuying was just about to turn back to pick her up when she noticed Fellow suddenly stop in her tracks, her head slightly bowed, deep in thought.
Dou Mama reached out to hug her but was gently pushed away.
"Miss?" Dou Mama asked in confusion. "Did you forget something?"
Forgot something... what...
Qing Wu felt a sense of unease in her heart, as if she had overlooked something. Hearing Dou Mama's words made her turn back to take a look.
The heavy tall doors separated the interior from the outside.
Outside was fresh air and bright sunlight. Inside, there was only a strong smell of medicine and a stifling atmosphere.
"Dou Mama, there must be many people accompanying Brother San right now," Qing Wu said softly.
Dou Mama was puzzled by her meaning, paused for a moment, and then replied, "That's right. The lady is with him, and soon the master and the two young masters will return to accompany him as well."
Qing Wu nodded and then shook her head. "Then you should go back first. Help me check on Brother San, and apologize to him for me. He is sick because of me, but I can't go back for now."
Dou Mama was surprised. "Miss, are you..."
"I want to stay."
After saying this, Qing Wu felt inexplicably relieved. When she spoke again, it was much easier. "I want to wait until he recovers from his fever before leaving. If my father and mother ask, just say," she glanced at Qin Shuying, "that I went to General Qin. As for the reason, just ask General Qin."
Qin Shuying looked frustrated and gritted his teeth, saying, "Are you really going to bully me like this?"
Qing Wu winked at him and nodded. "It's all about reciprocity."
Qin Shuying suddenly remembered the last time he had tricked her. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly and resignedly agreed.
Qing Wu sincerely thanked him, bid farewell to the three of them, and then resolutely headed back.
The palace door was pushed open. The lonely figure lying on the bed came into view.
Just as she was about to leave, Qing Wu unexpectedly thought of the time when she coaxed Huo Yun'ai to take medicine; simply saying "I'll take you out to play" could make him happy.
She felt a pang of sadness in her heart.
He seemed to lack nothing, yet he was missing something that even she had when she first arrived here.
—The companionship of family.
When she was sick, her parents and brothers worried about her, Qin Shuying rushed around for her, and Huo Yun'ai tirelessly protected her both inside and outside the palace.
One might ask, who was by his side when he fell ill?
It was nothing but the Imperial Physician and Maid.
But how could that compare to the company of loved ones?
She looked at his sleeping face, reached out her hand, and tucked the messy hair at his temples behind his ear.
Thinking of his meticulous care for her, thinking of his selfless rescue of her, a feeling suddenly surged in Qing Wu's heart. This feeling was so intense, so genuine, that it gave rise to a thought.
She raised her finger and slowly traced his handsome profile in the air. After carefully observing Huo Yun'ai and confirming that he was indeed asleep, she moved her lips slightly and whispered softly.
"Don't be afraid. From now on, let me be your family, alright?"
Huo Yun'ai had intended to pretend to be asleep so as not to startle her.
Unexpectedly, he heard this heartfelt confession.
The strong and resolute Young Emperor was suddenly shaken, his fingertips trembling, almost brought to tears.
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