“This Old Man Has Never Encountered Such a Strange Case.”
On New Year’s Eve, Prince Li’s residence was ablaze with light.
News of the assassination attempt on Prince Li and his Consort spread without effort, alarming the palace. The Emperor dispatched five highly skilled imperial physicians overnight. Fuju Courtyard and Baochun Courtyard were placed under heavy guard.
“Head Imperial Physician Wu, how is His Highness?” Xian Feng stood by the bed. After the acupuncture was finished, he leaned forward and asked.
Head Imperial Physician Wu was nearly seventy years old, yet his eyes were sharp and clear. He carefully gathered the silver needles and, assisted by a servant, rose to his feet. “Prince Li’s constitution is strong. This old man has expelled the poison through acupuncture. He must rest well for half a month and take his medicine on time. The remaining poison will be cleared entirely.”
Xian Feng nodded. “Many thanks, Head Imperial Physician Wu.”
Xian Yu interjected, “When will His Highness wake?”
Head Imperial Physician Wu motioned for them to remain calm. “Though the poison is fierce, it is not fatal. The poisoning time was short, and treatment was prompt. At most three shichen, and His Highness will awaken on his own.”
Xian Feng and the others finally relaxed.
Yet by the afternoon of the first day of the new year, Lu Ronghuai still had not woken.
Xian Feng had no choice but to seek out Head Imperial Physician Wu again.
“Head Imperial Physician Wu, please examine him more closely. Why does His Highness remain unconscious?”
Head Imperial Physician Wu took his pulse and examined him for a long while. Suddenly, he let out a soft sound of surprise.
Xian Feng and the others stiffened at once.
“This old man has never encountered such a strange case.” The physician took the pulse again. After a moment, he shook his head. “This old man is incompetent. I cannot determine what ailment afflicts His Highness.”
“What?” Everyone was stunned.
Head Imperial Physician Wu possessed the finest medical skill in the Imperial Medical Bureau. If even he could not diagnose it, was the poison some rare variety?
“His pulse is sometimes rapid and turbulent, sometimes slow and stagnant. Just now, when I examined it again, it bore the signs of deathly decline.”
Everyone’s hearts instantly plunged into an icy lake bottom.
Xian Yu rushed forward and grabbed Head Imperial Physician Wu by the collar. “What kind of Head Imperial Physician are you? A quack! Last night you said His Highness would be fine. Now you change your words. I say it is you who will cause His Highness’s death!”
“Xian Yu, do not be rude!” Xian Feng rebuked.
Xian Shuang stepped forward and pulled Xian Yu back.
Head Imperial Physician Wu straightened his collar and spoke without haste. “This old man merely speaks the truth. If you do not trust this old man, seek others to try.”
With that, Head Imperial Physician Wu instructed his attendant to carry the medicine box and left without looking back.
Xian Feng and the others summoned the remaining four imperial physicians to examine Lu Ronghuai.
The result was the same. All four were frightened by his pulse. One even trembled as he suggested they prepare funeral arrangements in advance.
Xian Yu threw all the physicians out.
Prince Li’s residence was shrouded in grief and gloom.
When Emperor Hongjia Emperor heard that Lu Ronghuai had not awakened, he came personally and tried every method available. However, Lu Ronghuai remained unconscious.
Emperor Hongjia was grief-stricken. Eunuch Yuan Sheng persuaded him back to the palace. It was said he swallowed two Longevity Pills before regaining his composure.
Xian Feng and the others kept vigil in Fuju Courtyard for three days and nights. They even sought many physicians among the common folk. All shook their heads in helplessness.
By dusk on the fourth day of the new year, just as they were on the verge of despair, Lu Ronghuai woke.
Four days and three nights. A long dream.
The moment he opened his eyes, past life and present life seemed like worlds apart.
“My lord, you are finally awake.” Xian Feng and the others stood at the bedside, eyes bloodshot from exhaustion, weeping with relief.
They helped him sit up. Leaning against the headboard, Lu Ronghuai looked at these loyal subordinates from his previous life. When they learned he had been imprisoned and was to be exiled to the Northern Frontier, they had risked everything to break him out.
They had not known it was a trap. Once entered, there was no return.
In the end, they all died miserably beneath a hail of arrows.
“Zhen—” He coughed softly. “This Prince… how long have I slept?” His throat, unused for days, was coarse and hoarse.
Xian Shuang poured tea and handed it to Xian Feng, who offered it forward. “My lord, you have slept four days. This subordinate will have the kitchen prepare light porridge and dishes.”
“No need.” Lu Ronghuai shook his head. His lips were pale from poison. His features were sharp and defined. When his gaze settled on Xian Feng’s face, Xian Feng straightened unconsciously.
A strange thought flickered through him. Since awakening, Master’s presence felt even more formidable than before.
As though born to rule, carrying the formidable authority of one long in a position of power.
“Your Highness! Your Highness, you have finally awakened!” Mao Shu rushed in upon hearing the news and fell beside the bed, wailing.
Lu Ronghuai said flatly, “This Prince is not dead yet. Why are you mourning?”
Mao Shu’s mouth hung open and he was froze in place.
Seeing Lu Ronghuai’s cold expression, he retreated and knelt. “This old servant saw Your Highness and the Consort unconscious these past days and lost his senses. I misspoke. Please punish this old servant.”
He kept his head lowered and did not see the sudden change in Lu Ronghuai’s expression.
Memories flooded back, crashing into his mind like a rising tide.
He threw off the covers at once and murmured, “Ah-Yuan.” The sound was too low for anyone to hear.
When he rose from the bed, Xian Feng stepped forward. “My lord, the physicians said you must remain in bed and rest—”
“Move aside.”
Lu Ronghuai pushed past him. Dressed only in inner robes, he strode out swiftly.
Xian Feng and the others grabbed an outer robe and hurried after him.
He walked fast. Too fast. However, he seemed to find it still too slow. In the end, he actually broke into a run.
Servants along the way bowed in greeting. Before they could finish speaking, he had already swept past like a gust of wind, leaving them bewildered.
Xian Yu shook his head as he chased behind. “Where is His Highness rushing to in such a hurry?”
They had never seen him so anxious, as if he feared that if he arrived one moment too late, someone would no longer be there.
Soon, they had their answer.
Lu Ronghuai burst into Baochun Courtyard and stopped before the tightly closed door. His hands hung at his sides, clenched into fists. If one looked closely, they trembled.
“Stand guard outside the courtyard. Without this Prince’s order, no one enters.”
He drew a deep breath and pushed the door open.
Inside the room was utterly quiet. The light was dim with no lamps lit. Gauze curtains hung down, blocking his view.
He lightened his steps and approached the bed. Slowly, he reached out and lifted the curtain.
Before him lay Chu Yuan’s pale, slender face.
In an instant, bone-gnawing, heart-searing pain spread from his chest throughout his limbs and bones. He slowly leaned down, knelt on the bed, and firmly embraced Chu Yuan along with the bedding.
In that moment, the joy and trembling relief of having regained what was lost drowned his reason entirely.
Lu Ronghuai buried his face at Chu Yuan’s neck and shoulder, against the delicate warmth of his skin. The tall, steady man’s breathing grew ragged. Tears spilled down without restraint.
They slid across Chu Yuan’s skin and fell onto the soft pillow, soaking it in a large patch.
He held Chu Yuan close, eyes red, whispering again and again by his ear, “Ah-Yuan, Ah-Yuan…”
Each utterance carried deep, deep love.
Each utterance carried endless pain.
Chu Yuan lay quietly in his arms, sleeping peacefully, unaware.
Half a shichen later, Lu Ronghuai removed the soaked pillow and cast it aside. Then carefully laid Chu Yuan down, avoiding his injured leg, moved to the inner side of the bed, lifted the bedding, and lay down inside.
He gently supported Chu Yuan’s head and drew him into his embrace, letting him rest against his arm.
Thick bandages wrapped around Chu Yuan’s head. Lu Ronghuai’s heart ached with remorse. He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to his brow.
“I am sorry. I came too late.”
“Ah-Yuan, from this day forward, I swear I will certainly protect you for this lifetime.”
Those who once harmed you, this Prince will not spare a single one.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu·Edgelord·Ronghuai: Those tears I shed over the years were all the sins I once committed.
Thank you all for your support! A deep bow~
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