Chapter 22: Afflicted with a Strange Illness (2)

Seeing Zhuo Qing's hand stop on Lou Xiyan's chest, Lou Xiwu couldn't stand Zhuo Qing touching her brother all over at a time like this and roared almost like a scream: "What are you doing, you ugly woman?! Let go, let go!"

Ignoring Lou Xiwu's clamor, Zhuo Qing looked back into Lou Xiyan's deep eyes and said in a low voice: "Lou Xiyan, relax and follow my rhythm of breathing."

"Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale..."

Lou Xiyan frowned. What was she doing?! The feeling of suffocation in his chest seemed to have really eased after sitting up. Watching her earnestly accompanying him and breathing hard, Lou Xiyan felt a warmth in his heart and finally slowly loosened his grip, breathing along with her rhythm, though his hand never let go from beginning to end.

Everyone stared blankly at Zhuo Qing leading Lou Xiyan to exhale and inhale; they had never seen such a treatment. But strangely enough, after Lou Xiyan sat up and took such deep breaths a few times, although his breathing was still very difficult, it wasn't like before, where every breath seemed to use up all his strength.

After a few breaths, Zhuo Qing looked up and glared at Yang Mu, scolding coldly: "Continue your treatment; what are you looking at me for!"

Yang Mu finally came to his senses and replied repeatedly: "Oh, oh." He didn't dare to be negligent and inserted the needles.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn...

Through the efforts of the Imperial Physician and Zhuo Qing, Lou Xiyan seemed to have improved, his breathing becoming smoother, though his complexion remained pale.

Yang Mu withdrew the needles and wiped the fine sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, secretly letting out a long sigh of relief. It had been truly dangerous just now; fortunately, that Miss Qing had used a strange trick, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Master, the medicine is here." A medicine boy walked over carefully, carrying a bowl of pure black medicinal juice.

Before the medicine was even brought in front of him, Zhuo Qing smelled a heavy scent of Chinese medicine. Fortunately, she had chosen Western medicine back then; this ghostly smell was enough to make her nauseous just by smelling it. She wanted to cover her nose with her hand, but found that the hand Lou Xiyan was holding her wrist with tightened slightly. Looking up, a trace of cold light flashed hidden in his narrow eyes. She remembered that before entering, Lou Xiyan had fallen once; did he also hate Chinese medicine?! Or...

Yang Mu took the medicine bowl and walked to the bed. Mo Bai stepped forward and said coldly: "Imperial Physician Yang, let me do it."

Fearing any further mishaps, Yang Mu hesitated whether to serve the Prime Minister medicine personally. A clear, beautiful voice carrying a faint smile rang out idly: "Imperial Physician, you have been tired all night; why not go to the side and rest for a while? When the other Imperial Physicians come later, you will still have plenty to be busy with. Let us take care of things here for now."

The words were said with consideration but carried an irresistible power. Yang Mu looked up and saw the woman sitting generously on the bed, without the slightest affectation, one hand tightly held by the Prime Minister. No wonder she had such momentum just now; it turned out she had the Prime Minister supporting her! Quickly lowering his gaze, Yang Mu handed the medicine bowl to Mo Bai and bowed: "Very well. Then I will trouble you, Madam. This old official will be in the room next door; call me if you need anything."

"Good." Zhuo Qing didn't pay any attention to the title "Madam," and even less did she notice the corners of Lou Xiyan's lips curling up slightly.

"Brother." Biting her diamond-shaped lips lightly, Lou Xiwu knelt halfway in front of the bed. She didn't want to cry, but tears couldn't help but fall uncontrollably.

Gently raising his hand, Lou Xiyan wiped away the tears from the corners of Lou Xiwu's eyes and said softly: "I'm fine. Xiwu, Brother has something to say to Miss Qing; you go out first."

"Mm." Glancing at Zhuo Qing, Lou Xiwu didn't say anything and retreated obediently.

Mo Bai also retreated outside the screen, leaving only Lou Xiyan and Zhuo Qing. The two sat facing each other like this. In the spacious inner room, Lou Xiyan's obvious panting rose and fell, and his collar was slightly open, his solid chest and abdominal muscles vaguely visible, his ink-black hair half-tied and hanging down. Zhuo Qing admitted that the scene before her was a feast for the eyes, but would it be too much to stare at someone like this? However, if she didn't look, it would also hurt his self-esteem.

Zhuo Qing watched unscrupulously until she collided with those slightly upturned, teasing eyes. Only then did Zhuo Qing cough lightly in embarrassment and say: "You had better talk less and rest more now; we can talk about anything when you are better."

"I would like to ask you for a favor."

Raising the arm that was being held by Lou Xiyan, Zhuo Qing replied readily: "Go ahead, but can you let me down first?!"

She knew it was awkward? Lou Xiyan found it amusing; he had never seen any young lady stare at a man like that, and stare with such relish! Lou Xiyan finally didn't make things difficult for her and loosened his grip lightly. Zhuo Qing hurriedly stood up, jumped off the bed, and didn't forget to grab a few pillows from the side and pad them under Lou Xiyan's waist, letting him lean and sit.

Watching the figure busy beside him, Lou Xiyan suddenly lowered his voice and replied softly: "I've had this illness for some years, and the Imperial Physicians have treated it back and forth without any improvement. I saw that your method just now was very effective; I hope you can stay by my side to take care of me."

"I was just performing first aid just now; I don't know how to treat it specifically." She studied Western medicine, OK?! She had no problem dissecting corpses, but treating illnesses wasn't her specialty, especially without medical equipment.

"It doesn't matter. Being able to help me when I am in the most pain is already enough."

The low sigh made Zhuo Qing inexplicably uncomfortable; he was still more suited to his high-spirited appearance. However, Lou Xiyan was really strange. To say he was faking illness? Impossible; the way he had the attack just now couldn't be faked. To say he was really ill, why didn't he take his medicine properly? There must be some unknown secret in this, but she had no interest in knowing; she only wanted to find Gu Yun!

Having made up her mind, Zhuo Qing stopped obsessing over Lou Xiyan's purpose and replied frankly: "Fine, I can stay, but I want to see my sisters within a month."

"Good." To him, this was just a small matter.

"Alright, it seems we have reached a consensus." Picking up the medicinal soup Mo Bai had left behind, Zhuo Qing didn't walk toward Lou Xiyan but walked to the window and said with a look of pity: "Sigh, this medicine has gone cold, and its efficacy will be poor. Let's wait until the Imperial Physician prescribes new medicine before drinking it." Her hands, however, showed no hesitation as she poured all the medicinal juice into the potted plant by the window.

With her back to him, she was idly fiddling with the potted plant. Lou Xiyan stared into her eyes, which became increasingly deep; she was much smarter than he had anticipated.

Putting down the potted plant, Zhuo Qing was about to leave when, outside the house, Jing Sa's cold and arrogant voice suddenly rang out: "Master, the Emperor has arrived."

The Emperor is here!? Lou Xiyan called out in a low voice: "Mo Bai."

Mo Bai entered the inner chamber. After whispering a few words in Lou Xiyan's ear, he stood up abruptly and pulled Zhuo Qing toward the outside. Zhuo Qing was baffled—what was he doing?! The Emperor was here; what did it have to do with her? Why were they so nervous? Was she not presentable?

The two had just reached the screen when the sounds of greetings rang out one after another outside the house.

"Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!"

Clearly, the Emperor was outside the courtyard. Mo Bai could only bring her back into the room. Zhuo Qing rolled her eyes; this room was big, but there was simply nowhere to hide!

"No need to welcome the carriage!" Following a restless, domineering, and majestic male voice, the door was also slammed open. Almost at the same time, the candlelight that had been bright in the inner room was extinguished by Mo Bai with a light flick of his sleeve, leaving only a weak candlelight.

Zhuo Qing was pushed to the side of the screen by Mo Bai. Before she could react, a tray was already in her hand, and hurried, rapid footsteps followed. Zhuo Qing looked up and saw a tall figure walking quickly. The man had been facing away from Zhuo Qing, so she couldn't see his appearance. She only saw him in a dark gray long robe, with dragon and auspicious cloud patterns embroidered with gold thread at the cuffs. The low-key appearance revealed infinite luxury and at the same time displayed his domineering and noble momentum to the fullest.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 23 =====