She had wanted to reach out and touch him several times at moments like this, but fearing she might disturb him, she simply gazed at him with infatuation.
But this time, the more Chu Chu looked, the more something felt wrong.
His brows were slightly furrowed, his face deathly pale, even his lips were so pale they seemed bloodless. A fine layer of sweat glistened on his forehead, yet his body trembled faintly.
"What's wrong with you?" Chu Chu asked aloud. Xiao Jin Yu didn't respond. Unable to resist, Chu Chu walked over and touched his damp forehead, exclaiming in surprise, "Ah! You have a fever!"
Feeling a warm, soft hand on his forehead, Xiao Jin Yu's delicate eyelashes fluttered slightly. He struggled to open his eyes, only to be met with a wave of dizziness that made him furrow his brows even tighter.
Having slept in the carriage all night, the charcoal fire had burned out before midnight, leaving him frozen awake, chilled to the bone, and stiff. It wasn't until the guards found him in the morning and relit the charcoal that he finally warmed up. The little strength he had left was exhausted while forcing himself to listen to the village chief's rambling. It would be a miracle if he weren't running a high fever now.
Xiao Jin Yu parted his lips slightly, his voice hoarse. "It's nothing, just a slight chill..."
For others, a chill might mean nothing more than a headache, fever, cough, or sneeze—a minor illness. But for him, like any other seemingly trivial ailment, it could easily take his life. Still, he should be able to endure it for just one day. No need to frighten her.
Watching Xiao Jin Yu slowly close his eyes again, Chu Chu rushed to the large medicine chest. "Take some medicine. Which one should you take? I'll get it for you."
Over the past few days, while helping him fetch medicine, Chu Chu had become familiar with the chest's contents. As long as he named it, she could find it immediately.
Xiao Jin Yu shook his head gently. Most of the medicines Ye Qian Qiu had prepared for him were pre-made pills, with only a few requiring immediate decoction and consumption—unfortunately, the medicine for chills was among them.
"I'll take it tonight... Tell them to stop at Yongxiang Tower. I'll rest for a while, and you go eat something..."
"Alright."
The carriage stopped in front of Yongxiang Tower, but Xiao Jin Yu made no move to get up. He only said he wanted to sleep for a while and instructed the guards to accompany Chu Chu for a meal.
Xiao Jin Yu truly wished to sleep, but the pain rooted deep in his bones raged fiercely as his body temperature soared. Sweat poured from him like rain, soaking his clothes and hair in no time.
By the time Chu Chu returned with a steamer basket of soup dumplings packed for him, Xiao Jin Yu was already somewhat delirious. His lips were slightly parted, and faint, weak moans escaped unconsciously from his throat.
He had always been ill, but this was the first time Chu Chu had seen him in such a state. Startled, she dropped the soup dumplings and rushed to his side. "What... what's wrong with you?"
Xiao Jin Yu didn't respond. His eyes were half-open, but his vision was blurred. Sensing someone nearby, he pressed his lips together tightly, struggling to suppress any sound he might make.
The carriage fell silent for a moment. Then, a pair of warm, soft hands gently and somewhat clumsily wiped the sweat dripping from his pallid cheeks.
Who else would dare touch him like this besides that girl... Xiao Jin Yu's face grew warm, a faint blush spreading across his cheeks. With great effort, he opened his eyes.In his blurred vision, Chu Chu's small face appeared, filled with worry and panic. Just as he had feared, her eyes were red-rimmed, her little mouth pouted, and her gaze was glistening with tears as she looked at him. Her sweet voice carried a heartbreaking sob as she asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Xiao Jin Yu tried to speak, but a sharp pain twisted in his stomach, and a scalding, sweet metallic taste surged up his throat. He immediately pressed his lips tightly together, forcing himself to swallow it back. If he were to spit out blood now, he would surely frighten her terribly.
Though he managed not to vomit blood, the pain intensified, and Xiao Jin Yu's body trembled even more violently.
It seemed he couldn't hold on any longer...
"Find an inn... I want to sleep for a while..."
These were the last words Xiao Jin Yu uttered before completely losing consciousness.
When Xiao Jin Yu regained consciousness, he found himself lying on a sturdy yet soft large bed, his entire body aching and weak.
As his senses gradually sharpened, Xiao Jin Yu faintly sensed something unusual about his body, as if...
Struggling to open his eyes, he barely made out two things in his hazy vision.
First, as he had just sensed, he was lying naked on the bed.
Second, Chu Chu was right by the bedside, seemingly... doing something to his numb legs!
"What... what are you doing..."
Hearing Xiao Jin Yu's astonished yet feeble voice, Chu Chu looked up at him in pleasant surprise. "You're awake?"
Only then did Xiao Jin Yu see clearly: Chu Chu was holding a large towel, and a basin of water was placed beside the bed. She was washing his body and had just reached his numb legs.
Xiao Jin Yu's pale, handsome face instantly flushed from his forehead to the tips of his ears. Shocked, he tried to sit up and grab something to cover himself, but he lacked the strength, only causing his body to tremble uncontrollably.
He, the esteemed Prince An, had been stripped completely naked, lying helplessly on the bed, allowing someone to handle his body as they pleased. Overwhelmed with shame and anger, Xiao Jin Yu glared fiercely at Chu Chu and scolded sharply, "Get out!"
Though his voice was weak, its seriousness carried an undeniable authority. Chu Chu was stunned by his rebuke.
Staring at Xiao Jin Yu, who was shaking with rage, Chu Chu remained dazed for a long moment before seeming to understand. She asked cautiously, "Did I hurt you?"
Xiao Jin Yu choked back his anger—was this really about pain?...
It felt as if a pot of boiling water had been poured over his head: the scalding heat remained, but the fire of his anger simply couldn't ignite.
Her response left him speechless, and his furious mind cooled slightly. Realizing he had lost his composure and spoken harshly to her in his panic, the redness on his face deepened uncontrollably. His voice, now devoid of anger, was as cold as the night. "You needn't do these things. Please leave..."
Chu Chu furrowed her delicate brows. "You were sweating so much; wouldn't it be uncomfortable not to clean up?"
"I can manage myself..."
Chu Chu held the towel out in front of his face, lifting it high and shaking it a few times. "Go on, grab it. If you can reach it, you can do it yourself."
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