Ji Dong He suddenly remembered that the old physician's frail nephew from his hometown had been abused to death by his wife. It was said the woman had callously abandoned the funeral arrangements, taken the family fortune, and remarried in grand style just one or two months ago. The old physician must have been reminded of his nephew upon seeing Xiao Jin Yu, and in a moment of heartache, redirected his anger toward his nephew's wife onto Chu Chu.
Had the old physician been scolding anyone else, Ji Dong He would have remained silent. But he was insulting Prince An's woman and even cursing Prince An along with her. If this continued, not only would the physician face punishment, but Ji Dong He himself could forget about ever advancing in his official career.
"Mr. Gu, you are the finest physician in all of Shengzhou! Saving a life is like fighting a fire - I beg of you!"
As he spoke, Ji Dong He clasped his hands and bowed deeply to the old physician.
With a case of dismembered corpses just discovered in his jurisdiction, and now Prince An's consort being verbally abused by the physician he himself had summoned - if anything were to happen to Prince An here, he might as well throw himself into a river with a stone tied to his neck.
Hearing the county magistrate plead so earnestly, and seeing Chu Chu's red-rimmed eyes, bitten lips, and pale face, the old physician's heart softened. He sighed, swallowing the harsher words he had been about to utter.
The physician cast a pitying glance at the figure on the bed and waved his hand. "I'm a physician - I don't intimidate or deceive, I speak the truth... At this rate, he has at most a year or two left. At worst, he might not even survive this winter."
Before the physician finished speaking, Chu Chu couldn't contain herself. "You're lying! You're lying! He was perfectly fine just moments ago!"
Having practiced medicine his entire life, this was the first time anyone had called him a liar. The old physician's beard trembled with anger as he snapped his medical case shut, slung it over his shoulder, and stormed out. "If he's perfectly fine, then why did you call me here!"
Caught between the prince's woman and the elderly renowned physician, Ji Dong He couldn't reprimand either. He could only chase after the doctor. "Mr. Gu, I'll accompany you to prepare the medicine!"
Ji Dong He followed the physician all the way out the courtyard gate. The cold wind had somewhat cooled the old man's temper, and his steps slowed. He couldn't help sighing and frowning. "Lord Ji, what kind of person is this patient? So young yet completely exhausted, his body as fragile as paper. How can he endure such deadly pain without making a sound..."
Ji Dong He smiled bitterly, recalling Tang Yan's devout and solemn expression while guarding that proud and aloof figure. "It's better you don't ask. He's no ordinary man."
Xiao Jin Yu didn't wake until the next day. The moment he opened his eyes through the haze of illness, a warm, soft weight threw itself into his arms, accompanied by a tearful voice crying, "Don't die!"
While falling gravely ill and losing consciousness was hardly uncommon for him, waking to such funeral-like words was a first. Xiao Jin Yu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "I'm not dead..."
Hearing Xiao Jin Yu's weak, hoarse voice only made Chu Chu cry harder.
"I promise I'll treat you well, make you delicious food, never let you overwork yourself, and take good care of you... Even if you die, I'll never remarry!"
Xiao Jin Yu felt imaginary black lines forming on his forehead. What nonsense was this...
With great effort, he raised his hand and gently patted Chu Chu's small body, which was clinging tightly to him as she sobbed. "What's wrong..."Chu Chu finally lifted her head, wiping her tears while still shedding them as she said, "The physician said you can't be cured... I don't believe it!"
Xiao Jin Yu was momentarily stunned, "What physician..."
"You were so feverish you lost consciousness. The physician Lord Ji summoned."
Xiao Jin Yu frowned slightly, his gaze shifting, "What did the physician say..."
This question only made things worse. As soon as he asked, Chu Chu threw herself back into Xiao Jin Yu's still-feverish embrace, clutching him tightly as if afraid he would disappear in the blink of an eye. "Everything he said was nonsense! I don't believe a word of it! He said you had this problem and that problem, but to me you seem perfectly fine—better than anyone!"
Xiao Jin Yu imperceptibly sighed in relief. Fortunately...
He had known that his condition would eventually frighten her, but he never expected that something as ordinary as fainting from fever would terrify this girl—who didn't even blink while dissecting corpses—to such an extent. A pang of guilt stirred within him. Patting Chu Chu's shoulder, he offered a faint, bitter smile. "Don't be afraid... I'm fine, I won't die... The physician probably saw that I was staying at the county magistrate's residence and assumed I was wealthy. He just wanted to trick me into buying more medicine..."
Chu Chu suddenly lifted her head. How had she not thought of that? She nodded eagerly like a pecking chick. "Yes, yes! That must be it!"
Watching Chu Chu's tears turn to laughter, Xiao Jin Yu closed his eyes and listened to his own heartbeat, sighing silently. To greet his yet another return from death's door with such a dramatic scene—heaven truly hadn't treated him badly...
"How about... we don't go to Chu Shui Town? Let's return to the capital, back to the Royal Mansion."
Chu Chu said this with the same seriousness as her previous statements, though much calmer, as if she had given it careful thought.
Tang Yan's words suddenly echoed in his ears. Tang Yan had just spoken to him about these matters—how could she already be asking to turn back?
Xiao Jin Yu's heart sank. He opened his eyes and looked at Chu Chu, who sat beside him crying like a little tear-streaked kitten. "Why..."
"The physicians at the Royal Mansion are better. They'll surely cure you quickly."
Xiao Jin Yu shook his head gently. "The physician has already given me all the necessary medicine. It would be the same if we returned... We've come all this way, and the journey back is even longer..." Seeing Chu Chu's unmoved expression, his voice softened slightly. "Or... are you ashamed to be seen with me like this..."
Chu Chu grew frantic instantly, her small face flushing bright red. "That's not it at all! You're so handsome, the most handsome—even more so than Guanyin Bodhisattva!"
Xiao Jin Yu sighed silently beneath invisible sweatdrops. He really must be delirious from fever—why provoke her for no reason...
Chu Chu looked at Xiao Jin Yu, pursed her lips, and sniffled. "Well, if we don't go back... you have to promise me to take your medicine properly every day, eat more, and sleep more. The Emperor entrusted you to me. If you don't get better, I'll be guilty of deceiving the Emperor and will have my head chopped off."
With her tear-streaked face and watery eyes fixed on him, what else could he say? "Alright, as you wish..."
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