HomeAfter I Bloom Hundred Flowers DieChapter 67: She Must Care About Me

Chapter 67: She Must Care About Me

To divert Xiao Huayong’s attention, Tianyuan hurriedly ran into the main hall and respectfully presented the cold-dispelling incense that Shen Xihe had sent.

“When was this delivered? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Xiao Huayong carefully received and opened it, releasing an intense fragrance.

“It arrived this morning when you weren’t here…” Tianyuan protested innocently.

His master hadn’t even returned to the Eastern Palace last night. Previously, Xiao Huayong had to sneak carefully past the palace guards when leaving the palace, but since obtaining the secret passage map from Prince Consort Wei, he now came and went freely without hindrance.

“Find an incense burner.” Xiao Huayong noticed a note attached describing the cold-dispelling incense.

Tianyuan immediately brought over an exquisite incense burner. After washing his hands and changing clothes, Xiao Huayong lit the cold-dispelling incense. A gentle warmth spread with the fragrance, enveloping him.

Tianyuan watched his prince close his eyes, his lips curving slightly upward in extreme enjoyment and satisfaction.

Unless his eyes deceived him, he detected a hint of sweetness in that faint smile.

He really couldn’t bring himself to tell the Crown Prince the cruel truth right now, preferring to wait until the incense burned out to let His Highness enjoy a few more moments of happiness.

Unexpectedly, the prince fell asleep in the warm sunlight, forcing Tianyuan to wait until Xiao Huayong awoke.

“I haven’t slept so well in ages,” Xiao Huayong felt refreshed upon waking.

This cold-dispelling incense had been improved by Shen Xihe, retaining its warming properties while adding a mind-calming effect.

“Tianyuan, store this incense burner carefully. We’ll use it exclusively for this incense in the future,” Xiao Huayong instructed.

After quietly putting everything away, Tianyuan returned to stand behind Xiao Huayong, took a deep breath, and said: “Your Highness, word from the Imperial Medical Office – the Princess has been inquiring about your medical records.”

“She’s asking about my medical records?” Light sparkled in Xiao Huayong’s eyes. “She must care about me.”

Tianyuan: …

In previous years, when other princes and officials inquired about your medical records, they had ulterior motives. How is it that when the Princess does it, it becomes a sign of care?

Forgive his directness, but he didn’t think the Princess was showing concern.

“If it wasn’t out of concern, she would have inquired before coming to the capital or right after arriving,” Xiao Huayong had his interpretation. “Why would she wait until now unless she’s worried about my health after repeatedly hearing about my fainting spells?”

Ignoring Tianyuan’s complicated feelings and speechlessness, Xiao Huayong declared seriously: “I should faint less often in the future to avoid frightening her.”

Tianyuan: …

Tianyuan was numb inside now, his heart like dead ashes, having lost all hope of awakening his usually brilliant prince to reason.

So he swallowed back his suspicion that Shen Xihe wanted the medical records to determine if Xiao Huayong was fit for marriage.

What ill intentions could the Princess possibly have?

How could the Princess not be kind and touching?

How could she be someone who only pursued profit?

He kept hypnotizing himself with these thoughts. Without such self-hypnosis, he feared he would soon be banished to the frontier by his prince.

After thoroughly convincing himself, Tianyuan asked: “Should we give the Princess your medical records?”

“Yes.” The silvery light in Xiao Huayong’s eyes scattered into gentle fragments. “She’s a stubborn girl. If we don’t give them to her, she won’t easily give up. Better to give them to her early and avoid exposing her people.”

Tianyuan: …

After repeating his three self-hypnosis questions, Tianyuan managed to ask with a straight face: “How should we provide them?”

The version kept at the Imperial Medical Office was meant for the Emperor and others to see.

According to those records… it might frighten your precious one.

Any woman who saw such medical records would likely abandon all thoughts of marrying such a person.

He’d better ask for specific instructions – he couldn’t bear the responsibility of causing his prince to lose his treasure.

Xiao Huayong’s expression grew serious, and after a long silence, he replied resignedly: “Give her the version from the Imperial Medical Office.”

Tianyuan’s eyelid twitched, his heart quickening – could his master still be saved?

But that hope was instantly crushed: “She doesn’t understand medical principles, and her maid who knows medicine is still in Luoyang. When she gets my records, she won’t consult anyone she doesn’t trust. Tomorrow, Xie Yunhuai happens to be going for her follow-up examination. Go inform Xie Yunhuai – he’ll know what to say.”

Tianyuan: …

He had been too naive, truly!

“Yes, Your Highness.” Tianyuan withdrew dejectedly.

That night, Shen Xihe received Xiao Huayong’s medical records.

Due to her expertise in perfumery, she knew some medicinal ingredients and properties, but she was completely ignorant about medical records. After a casual glance, she set them aside. As Xiao Huayong had predicted, the next day after enduring another bout of the bone-melting pill’s effects, she showed the records to Xie Yunhuai.

“Doctor Qi, please look at these medical records and tell me about the patient’s condition.”

After reviewing them, Xie Yunhuai’s gaze grew complex. He lowered his eyelids, preventing Shen Xihe from seeing the emotion in his eyes.

“Just ordinary weakness.”

“Only weakness?” Shen Xihe felt that couldn’t be right. She was also weak and would get breathless from exertion, but not to Xiao Huayong’s extent.

“This person is different from you, Princess. Your weakness is congenital, while his developed later in life,” Xie Yunhuai explained.

“What of his life expectancy?” Shen Xihe asked.

“May I ask who this person is to the Princess?” Xie Yunhuai countered instead of answering.

“Someone… I’m considering entrusting my life to you,” Shen Xihe answered frankly.

As the former heir to a Duke’s mansion, Xie Yunhuai surely knew more about Xiao Huayong than she did, so she indirectly revealed whose medical records these were.

Xie Yunhuai raised his head, gazing deeply at Shen Xihe: “Judging solely from these pulse readings, the weakness is undeniable. As for whether it affects lifespan, that cannot be determined.”

Shen Xihe nodded.

Looking at her pale face, drawn from enduring the bone-melting pill’s torment, Xie Yunhuai added: “Princess, don’t be so frank in the future. Those who grew up in the capital wear countless masks. They speak one way to people and another to ghosts. The only difference is that some are easy to understand, while others are unfathomable.”

Hearing Xie Yunhuai’s pointed words, Shen Xihe smiled slightly: “Including you?”

“Yes, including me.”

Shen Xihe watched him quietly as Xie Yunhuai gazed back with veiled eyes.

Her eyes seemed covered by a layer of frost, making them hard to read clearly, while his pupils were too deep to see their bottom.

“Doctor Qi.” After a while, Shen Xihe suddenly smiled. “I’m quite close with Sister Gu. She’s always wondered why you broke off the engagement back then. If you hadn’t, she wouldn’t have had to marry into the royal family.”

Xie Yunhuai’s dense long eyelashes trembled slightly. He lowered his eyes again and remained silent for a long time.

Just when Shen Xihe thought he wouldn’t answer, he said: “Princess, the reason I studied medicine is that my mother died from medicine wrongly prescribed by a doctor. The medicine wasn’t poisonous, just inappropriate for her condition. She drank the wrong medicine for three years before dying, and all of this was orchestrated by Duke Xie.”

A flash of shock crossed Shen Xihe’s eyes.

Xie Yunhuai smiled self-mockingly: “Carrying such hatred, how could I bear the responsibility of being someone’s husband?”

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