Moyu and Mo Yuan's hearts, which had been held high, finally settled at this moment. The cloak had already begun to catch fire, and Xiao Huayong swiftly threw it into the forest. The group rushed a distance away, ensuring they were no longer at risk of being surrounded by the flames, before stopping.
Shen Xihe turned her head and asked Xiao Huayong, who was lying on her back, "Are you alright?"
"I am not injured, Youyou, do not worry." Xiao Huayong reassured Shen Xihe, but his voice was noticeably hoarse, likely due to an injury to his throat.
"Were you burned?" This was Shen Xihe's greatest concern.
"No." Xiao Huayong answered firmly.
Without further delay, Shen Xihe immediately whipped the horse to leave this dangerous place, knowing that every moment they stayed increased the risk.
By the time they returned to Tingzhou, the battle there had already ended—or rather, shifted locations. Shen Yungan led his troops in pursuit of the Turkic army, determined this time to press on until they reached the Turkic royal encampment.
Upon returning to the Protectorate Headquarters, they avoided prying eyes and entered the room where Xiao Huayong's double was lying. Zhenzhu was already waiting there. Shen Xihe instructed, "Quickly, check on His Highness."
Zhenzhu dared not delay, as Xiao Huayong had already fallen unconscious. She glanced at her mistress, who appeared composed with pursed lips and little emotional fluctuation, but noticed Shen Xihe's clenched fingertips turning white. Knowing her mistress was on the verge of extreme restraint, Zhenzhu nervously began to take Xiao Huayong's pulse.
Xiao Huayong's physical injuries were not severe and required only simple treatment. The serious issue was his exhaustion, leaving him in a depleted state. Fortunately, his meridians were unharmed, but... it seemed the toxin had begun to spread again.
"A Xi, quickly administer acupuncture to His Highness." Fortunately, Shen Xihe had brought Sui Axi along. Zhenzhu promptly stepped aside to make room. "I will instruct, and you apply the needles: Zhongfu, Tianxi, Zhourong..."
As Zhenzhu spoke, Sui Axi swiftly and accurately applied the needles. After completing the acupuncture, Sui Axi personally checked Xiao Huayong's pulse. Her expression turned grave after the examination. Meeting Shen Xihe's intense gaze, she noticed that Shen Xihe, usually fastidious about cleanliness, now had stains on her skirt and slightly disheveled hair. Since bringing Xiao Huayong in, Shen Xihe had not left, nor had she even taken time to wash up.
Sui Axi understood Shen Xihe's deep concern and felt compelled to report truthfully, "Crown Princess, it appears the toxin in His Highness's body is showing signs of spreading. I have suppressed it again, but like a wild beast breaking free, once it escapes, it becomes easier to break out again. Originally, the Unique Poison in His Highness's body could have been suppressed for three to five years without major issue. Now, I fear it can be suppressed for at most three years..."
Xiao Huayong's extreme exertion had weakened his internal organs, allowing the toxin to erode further and damage his vitality.
Her face slightly pale, Shen Xihe maintained a calm tone. "I understand. Tend to His Highness's injuries. I will go freshen up."
As Shen Xihe stepped out of the room, she encountered Xie Yunhuai, who was hurrying over.
Xie Yunhuai had secretly followed Shen Xihe to Tingzhou after her arrival and had taken lodging at an inn in the city.
"I will go check on the Crown Prince." The two exchanged nods. From a distance, Xie Yunhuai had already noticed Shen Xihe's disheveled state, so he did not pause his steps.
Shen Xihe did not stop either. She quickly bathed, changed clothes, and returned to Xiao Huayong's room. By then, Xiao Huayong had regained consciousness, but this time his weakness was genuine, not feigned.
"Youyou, I'm hungry..." Before Shen Xihe could speak, Xiao Huayong seemed to preempt her.Xie Yunhuai had already departed, leaving only their own people in the room. Xiao Huayong never minded Zhenzhu, Sui Axi, and the others seeing him acting weak and coquettish toward Shen Xihe.
Whenever such moments occurred, Zhenzhu and the others would discreetly withdraw, and this time was no exception.
"What would you like to eat?" Shen Xihe's voice unconsciously softened.
Xiao Huayong raised an eyebrow, then his smile brightened even more: "Wontons."
"Sleep for a while. You can eat when you wake up." After speaking, Shen Xihe tucked the quilt corners around him again and then gazed directly at him.
Understanding her meaning, Xiao Huayong obediently closed his eyes. Shen Xihe sat for a moment longer before rising to leave. The moment she departed, Xiao Huayong opened his eyes, his gaze filled with an unshakable, profound joy.
Xie Yunhuai had informed him of his current condition—whether three to five years or at most three years made little difference to him. Within three years, he was determined to rid himself of this Unique Poison. He had worked so hard to gradually win her affection and trust, and he hadn't yet had his fill of her love for him. How could he bear to leave this world that had finally given him something to cherish?
Shen Xihe didn't treat him with guilt or excessive caution because of this. Her tenderness wasn't due to learning about his physical condition but stemmed from the trials they had endured together. His brows relaxed as he slowly closed his eyelids, his mind filled with the image of her rushing back to carry him away. He couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips upward, drifting into dreams with a smile.
When Xiao Huayong woke again, not only had the wontons made by Shen Xihe been brought over, but the medicine prescribed by Xie Yunhuai had also been decocted.
Both bowls, steaming slightly, were pushed before him. Xiao Huayong initially intended to pick up the medicine bowl and drain it in one go, but Shen Xihe stopped him: "You fought with Xiao Changtai from last night until today without a single drop of water or food. How can you take medicine on an empty stomach? Have some food first to cushion it."
Shen Xihe's reasoning was sound, but the Crown Prince, currently being pampered by the Crown Princess, couldn't help acting a bit spoiled: "I thought to endure bitterness before sweetness. If I eat the wontons first, won't the medicine taste even more bitter afterward?"
"Eat two wontons first, then take the medicine, and finish the rest afterward," Shen Xihe proposed a solution.
But the Crown Prince wouldn't accept it: "But if I taste Youyou's wontons, I fear I won't be able to stop."
Looking at his unabashedly roguish demeanor, Shen Xihe had no choice but to stand up: "Eat first, then take the medicine. I'll go make you something sweet to eat afterward."
"Youyou treats me so well." Having gotten his way, Xiao Huayong's smile was as sweet as honey.
Shen Xihe helplessly rose and headed to the kitchen again.
Tianyuan stood at the door, watching Shen Xihe walk away with a complicated expression. Since when had their Crown Prince, a man of iron will, needed sweet treats to wash down a bowl of bitter medicine?
Had he forgotten how he used to swallow all sorts of foul and bitter medicines without batting an eye to suppress the toxins in his body?
The Crown Prince, currently enjoying his meal, accidentally caught sight of Tianyuan's constipated expression: "If your bowels are blocked, I can have Zhenzhu prepare a dose of medicine for you."
Tianyuan shuddered, quickly rubbed his face into a proper smile, bowed, and approached. He retrieved a document from his robes and presented it with both hands to Xiao Huayong: "Your Highness, Pei Zhan has gone."
Xiao Huayong glanced at it but didn't take it. He recognized this document at a glance as imperial.
If Pei Zhan hadn't received an imperial edict from His Majesty—even if it were just an oral decree—he would have suspected treachery and never led his men to deal with "Xiao Juesong."Your Majesty is well aware of this point, so an imperial decree will certainly be issued to Pei Zhan.
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