Chapter 140: I Am Not a Boy
Bi Langzhong arrived quickly.
Carrying his medicine chest, he hurried into the inner chamber where Yun Chu was resting. He extended a thread and placed it over Yun Chu's pulse.
"Blood deficiency generates wind—avoid it when necessary," Bi Langzhong quickly concluded. "Since it was caused by consuming wild mushrooms, simply avoid them in the future. I will prescribe two formulas: one to nourish and generate blood, and another to relieve the skin itching."
The physician picked up his brush and soon completed two prescriptions. Jiu'er took them and immediately sent a horseman from the estate to fetch the medicine from the pharmacy.
"In over thirty years of practice, Lady Xie is only the second person I've encountered who falls unconscious after eating wild mushrooms," Bi Langzhong remarked. "The first was the Little Commandery Princess."
Yun Chu's heart skipped a beat, her face showing disbelief.
Could Little Changsheng also be unable to eat wild mushrooms?
This was simply too coincidental.
"Lady Xie may later soak in the hot spring, which can quickly eliminate these red rashes," Bi Langzhong said, turning to Chu Yi standing nearby. "Since the Little Commandery Princess is also at the estate, why not try acupuncture for her tomorrow in the hot spring water? We can observe what therapeutic effects it might have."
Upon hearing this, Chu Changsheng's body trembled involuntarily. She buried herself in Yun Chu's embrace, shaking uncontrollably.
Chu Hongyu sniffled, clenching his small fists as he declared, "Bi Langzhong is a bad man! He's always giving Sister needles! All the needle marks on her body are from him! Bad man! Very bad man!"
Bi Langzhong rubbed his nose.
Having lived with the Young Son and Little Commandery Princess for over three years, the two young masters would hide whenever they saw him, as if he were some kind of monster.
Still, he had grown accustomed to it.
Then a gentle woman's voice spoke up: "Yu Ge'er, Bi Langzhong applies acupuncture to Changsheng to regulate her health. Surely you don't want to see your sister remain so weak that she can't even hold a kitten, do you?"
Her voice was somewhat hoarse, yet gentle and firm.
Chu Hongyu understood this reasoning perfectly well, but every time his sister underwent acupuncture, she would become even more withdrawn than before—so much so that even he, her own brother, couldn't approach her.
His heart ached too much for Changsheng; it wasn't that he deliberately disliked Bi Langzhong.
Pursing his lips, he released Yun Chu's hand, walked around the screen, and approached Bi Langzhong. Looking up, he said, "Bi Langzhong, I'm sorry I called you a very bad man. Can you forgive me?"
Bi Langzhong was so astonished his eyes nearly popped out.
When the Young Son had called him a bad man before, it wasn't as though the Prince hadn't intervened, but the Young Son simply wouldn't listen to his father.
Now, with just one simple sentence from Lady Xie, the Young Son had actually come forward to apologize.
It was as if the sun had risen from the west.
Stroking his beard, he replied, "If the Young Son can keep the Commandery Princess company and distract her with conversation while I administer the acupuncture, then I shall forgive you."
Chu Hongyu nodded. "I would have done that even if you hadn't asked."
Bi Langzhong laughed heartily and followed Chu Yi outside.
"Old Bi," Chu Yi said calmly, "are there many people in this world who fall unconscious and break out in rashes after eating wild mushrooms?"
Bi Langzhong shook his head. "Not many. In my entire career, I've only encountered two—the Little Commandery Princess and Lady Xie... Most people with such symptoms cannot consume triggering foods like shrimp, crab, or peanuts. Wild mushrooms are indeed rare."
Something flickered through Chu Yi's mind, but he couldn't grasp it.He had someone escort Bi Langzhong to the guest quarters of the estate, then turned to instruct the matrons in the courtyard: "Prepare yourselves to attend to Lady Xie as she bathes in the hot spring."
The matrons bowed respectfully: "Yes, Your Highness."
When the servants returned with the medicine and finished brewing it, Yun Chu drank it down. The swelling and pain in her throat subsided considerably, but the dense red rashes still covered her body.
She rose, intending to soak in the hot spring.
Chu Hongyu clung to her: "Auntie Yun, can I join you in the bath..."
Before Yun Chu could respond, Chu Yi's voice came from outside the room: "Chu Hongyu, what have I told you? Men and women should maintain proper boundaries!"
"I'm not a boy, I'm a girl!" Chu Hongyu declared shamelessly. "Auntie Yun, just pretend I'm a girl, won't you? I really want to soak in the hot spring with you."
Yun Chu: "..."
For a moment, she truly didn't know how to respond.
Still, he was just a four-year-old child, too young to be concerned with such formalities between men and women.
She had someone prepare clothing and helped both children change into their hot spring attire. After changing herself, she took their hands and led them into the Hot Spring Pool.
Chu Yi's face darkened like the bottom of a pot.
Though he couldn't see them, he could hear the boy's laughter, so loud it startled the birds from the trees.
Lady Xie was truly spoiling that boy...
"Your Highness!" At that moment, his attendant entered and reported, "Consort Yin requests Your Highness's presence at the palace to discuss an important matter!"
Chu Yi twisted his fingers.
The "important matter" his mother spoke of was likely about his marriage to a Princess Consort.
Although he had previously agreed to take a wife, Yu Ge'er strongly opposed the idea, even to the point of falling into water over it.
He said: "Go tell the matron who delivered the message that I already have someone in mind, and ask Mother to trouble herself no more with this matter."
The attendant's eyes widened in astonishment.
His Highness had someone in mind?
He was with the Prince every day—how could he not know?
And there hadn't been any women around His Highness! How could he suddenly have someone in mind!
Wait...
The attendant's gaze drifted toward the Hot Spring Pool. Though he couldn't see it, he could hear the Young Son repeatedly calling "Auntie Yun."
Could it be... Lady Xie?
But Lady Xie was already married, with a husband, a son, and a daughter!
"What are you standing there for!"
Chu Yi snapped coldly.
The attendant jolted back to reality and hurried out to carry out his orders.
Chu Yi's expression was shadowed.
Someone in mind... Who was this someone?
When he was fifteen, marching off to war with General Yun, she had stood on the city wall, seeing off the Yun Family Army.
She was only ten years old then. He hadn't dared to think anything, ruthlessly crushing any budding feelings in their cradle.
If he had known that five years later, upon his return, he would drink at her wedding celebration... would he still have hidden those feelings?
Chu Yi smiled bitterly.
Even if the Yun family had known of his feelings, it would have been useless.
The Yun family would never have allowed a daughter of theirs to marry a prince, and his father would never have granted a marriage between him and her.
So those secret feelings had long been buried by the river of time... yet the two children had inexplicably attached themselves to her...
Every meeting, every conversation, every time he stood so close to her, was like pouring water over his heart. The long-dead seed had actually begun to sprout slowly, growing tiny green leaves...
But no!
He couldn't ruin her.
Chu Yi turned and walked out of the courtyard.Yun Chu and the two children were soaking in the hot spring pool. Although it was midsummer, the surrounding greenery and strategically placed ice blocks prevented any oppressive heat.
Chu Hongyu darted through the hot spring pool like a loach, bursting into frequent laughter. His infectious mirth soon spread to Chu Changsheng, drawing a sweet smile from the little girl.
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