To divert Xiao Huayong's attention, Tianyuan hurried into the main hall and respectfully presented the Cold-Warding Incense sent by Shen Xihe.
"When was this delivered? Why didn't you inform me earlier?" Xiao Huayong carefully accepted it and opened the container, where a potent fragrance immediately enveloped him.
"It arrived this morning, but you weren't here..." Tianyuan protested innocently.
His master hadn't returned to the Eastern Palace last night. Previously, Xiao Huayong had to cautiously evade patrol guards when leaving the palace. But ever since obtaining the secret passage map from Imperial Son-in-Law Wei, he could come and go as he pleased.
"Fetch an incense burner." Xiao Huayong noticed a note attached with instructions for the Cold-Warding Incense.
Tianyuan promptly brought over an exquisite incense burner. After washing his hands and changing clothes, Xiao Huayong lit the incense. A comforting warmth spread with the fragrance, wrapping around him like a gentle embrace.
Tianyuan watched as his master closed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips, radiating pure contentment.
Perhaps it was his imagination, but Tianyuan thought he detected a hint of sweetness in that subtle smile.
He couldn't bear to deliver harsh news just yet, deciding to let the Crown Prince enjoy this moment until the incense burned out.
Unexpectedly, the prince fell asleep in the warm ambiance. Tianyuan had no choice but to wait until Xiao Huayong awoke.
"I haven't slept this well in ages." Xiao Huayong felt refreshed upon waking.
This particular Cold-Warding Incense had been improved by Shen Xihe - while retaining its warming properties, she had added calming effects.
"Tianyuan, preserve this incense burner carefully. Henceforth, use it exclusively for this incense," Xiao Huayong instructed.
After silently tidying up, Tianyuan returned to his position behind Xiao Huayong. Taking a deep breath, he reported: "Your Highness, the Imperial Hospital sends word that the princess is inquiring about your pulse records.""
"She's inquiring about my pulse records?" Xiao Huayong's eyes softened with tenderness. "She must be concerned about me."
Tianyuan: ...
In previous years, when other princes and officials inquired about your pulse records, they were clearly scheming. How does it become genuine concern when it's the princess?
Frankly, he didn't believe the princess was truly concerned about His Highness.
"If she weren't concerned, she would have inquired before coming to the capital or immediately upon arrival," Xiao Huayong reasoned. "Why would she wait until now? She must have repeatedly heard about my fainting spells and grown worried about my health."
Ignoring Tianyuan's complicated expression, Xiao Huayong declared seriously: "I should faint less frequently from now on, lest I frighten her."
Tianyuan: ...
Tianyuan felt emotionally numb, his hopes of awakening his brilliant master to reality completely extinguished.
Thus, he swallowed his suspicion that Shen Xihe wanted the pulse records to assess whether Xiao Huayong was suitable for marriage.
What ill intentions could the princess possibly harbor?
How could the princess not be kind and considerate?
Since when was the princess someone who acted solely for personal gain?
He repeatedly hypnotized himself with these thoughts. Without such mental conditioning, he feared he'd soon be exiled to the borderlands.
After thorough self-persuasion, Tianyuan asked: "Should we provide your pulse records to the princess?""
"Yes." Xiao Huayong's silver-flecked eyes shimmered with gentle light. "She's a stubborn girl. If denied, she won't give up easily. Providing them early will prevent her people from being exposed."
Tianyuan: ...
After silently reciting his three self-hypnosis questions again, Tianyuan managed to ask expressionlessly: "How shall we deliver them?"You must understand, the copy on file at the Imperial Hospital is for Your Majesty and those who wish to see it.
According to those pulse records... I'm afraid it would terrify your precious darling.
Any woman seeing such pulse records would surely abandon all thoughts of marrying this man.
He'd better seek instructions—he couldn't bear the blame for causing His Highness to lose his treasure.
Xiao Huayong composed himself and, after a long silence, spoke helplessly: "Give her the Imperial Hospital's version."
Tianyuan's eyelids twitched, his hopes stirring—could his master still be salvageable?
But that faint hope instantly turned to ashes: "She doesn't understand medicine, and her maid who does is still in Luoyang. When she gets my pulse records, she won't consult untrustworthy people. Coincidentally, Xie Yunhuai is going to examine her tomorrow—go inform him. He'll know what to say."
Tianyuan:...
He'd been too naive, truly!
"Acknowledged." Tianyuan retreated dejectedly.
That very night, Shen Xihe obtained Xiao Huayong's pulse records.
Though skilled in perfumery and familiar with some herbs and their properties, she knew nothing of pulse diagnosis. After flipping through it casually, she set it aside. As Xiao Huayong predicted, the next day after enduring the effects of the Bone Shedding Pill again, she brought the records to Xie Yunhuai.
"Doctor Qi, could you examine these pulse records for me? What's the patient's condition?"
After reviewing them, Xie Yunhuai's gaze grew complex. Lowering his eyes, he hid his emotions from Shen Xihe.
"Merely ordinary physical weakness."
"Just weakness?" Shen Xihe doubted it. Though she too was frail—breathless after brisk walking—she wasn't as severe as Xiao Huayong.
"This person differs from you, Princess." Your weakness is congenital; his is acquired," Xie Yunhuai explained.
"What about his lifespan?" Shen Xihe asked.
"Might I ask who this is to you?" Xie Yunhuai countered instead of answering.
"Someone... I'm considering entrusting my life to," Shen Xihe replied candidly.
As a former heir to a ducal household, Xie Yunhuai surely knew more about Xiao Huayong than she did, so she indirectly identified whose records these were.
Xie Yunhuai looked up, studying Shen Xihe intently: "Based solely on these pulses, it's undoubtedly physical weakness. Whether it affects longevity cannot be determined."
Shen Xihe nodded.
Noting her pale face from enduring the Bone Shedding Pill's agony, Xie Yunhuai added: "Princess, in the future, refrain from such frankness." Those raised in the capital wear countless masks—speaking human language to humans, ghost words to ghosts. The only difference lies in whether they're easily deciphered or profoundly unfathomable."
Hearing his implication, Shen Xihe smiled faintly: "Including you?"
"Yes, including me."
Shen Xihe watched him quietly; Xie Yunhuai met her gaze with restrained intensity.
Her eyes seemed veiled in frost, elusive; his pupils were too profound to fathom.
"Doctor Qi." After a long pause, Shen Xihe suddenly smiled. "I'm quite close with Sister Gu. She's always wondered—why did you break off the engagement back then? Had you not, she wouldn't have had to marry into the imperial family."
Xie Yunhuai's long, dense lashes trembled slightly. He lowered his gaze again, remaining silent for a long time.Just as Shen Xihe thought he wouldn't answer, he said: "Your Highness, the reason I studied medicine is because my mother died from a wrongly prescribed medicine by a doctor. The medicine wasn't poisonous, it just didn't match her symptoms. She drank this improper prescription for three years before passing away beyond cure, and all of this was done under Xie Guogong's instructions."
A flicker of astonishment passed through Shen Xihe's eyes.
Xie Yunhuai smiled self-deprecatingly: "Burdened with such hatred, how could I possibly shoulder the responsibilities of being a husband?"
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