The First Jasmine - Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Critically Ill 

Under Ye Li's permission, Secret Guard Third and Fourth shared the matters regarding the foot of Black Cloud Peak with their partners, Secret Guard One and Two. Ye Li had not mentioned whether this matter could or could not be told to Mo Xiu Yao. However, after Secret Guards One, Two, Three, and Fourth pondered for a moment regarding the issue of professional ethics mentioned by the Princess Consort, they still decided to be secret guards who abided by their professional ethics. One must know that being abandoned by one's master was the ultimate disgrace for a secret guard. From the moment they became the secret guards of the Princess Consort of Ding, the first and only person they required to be loyal to was the Princess Consort, not the Prince. Ye Li was also exceptionally satisfied with these few secret guards who possessed professional ethics; after all, people with such high martial arts, outstanding abilities, and who could be trusted were not that easy to find. She also did not wish to waste time looking for guards herself.

Ye Li satisfactorily maintained a frequency of visiting Black Cloud Peak roughly twice a month, and naturally, she always went in disguise. The people at the manor below Black Cloud Peak and upon the mountain all addressed her as Young Master Chu, Chu Jun Wei. Sometimes she brought Secret Guard One and Two along, and sometimes she brought Secret Guard Third and Fourth. The four individuals clearly all possessed an exceptionally high and enthusiastic interest toward that strange martial arts training field under construction, occasionally even coming to big blows just to be able to follow Ye Li. Regarding her frequent excursions, Mo Xiu Yao naturally knew of them, but he never questioned Ye Li's whereabouts. Toward his tolerance, Ye Li was still extremely grateful; occasionally when she went shopping with Hua Tian Xiang and the others, she would also remember to bring some decent pastries or the like back to gift to him. However, the relationship between the two seemed to have trace-lessly distanced quite a lot amidst Ye Li's busyness. Occasionally witnessing the disapproving gazes of Nanny Wei and Nanny Lin, Ye Li would also feel a minor, inexplicably guilty conscience, but such a guilty conscience was very quickly cast aside by her. Because she was busy—truly very busy.

Not only did she have to manage the affairs within the Prince’s Manor, but she also had her own dowry to take care of. The shops from her dowry still operated in a lukewarm manner just as they appeared on the surface, but in secret, Ye Li extracted almost all of the liquid silver from her dowry, including the silver sent over by Han Ming Yue, to additionally purchase some properties. Among these were two residential properties and three shops purchased in other regions under the name of Chu Jun Wei, alongside two shops within the capital. All of these were handled by requesting Xu Qing Ze to personally arrange people to execute them. Although Xu Qing Ze was somewhat uncomprehending of what she wished to do, he still complied without asking anything at all. In less than half a month, the land deeds for the residential properties and shops were all delivered into her hands. To outsiders, Ye Li appeared to truly be a perfect Princess Consort of Ding, methodically handling the affairs of the Prince’s Manor every day and occasionally attending various gatherings among the powerful and noble of the capital. Yet they did not know that in secret, Ye Li also had to aggregate and organize all kinds of information, and seek out some usable clues from within. Therefore, the overt and covert struggles between the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, the power struggles among the court ministers, and the secret gossip among the nobles—Ye Li watched them all with cold eyes as they slowly drifted past before her. She also gained an even deeper understanding of the interpersonal entanglements within the capital and the situation at court.

"Princess Consort! Princess Consort! The Prince has fainted..."

Ye Li was currently sitting inside the accounting room staring blankly at an account book when Qing Xia charged inside in a frantic panic, crying out.

Ye Li was startled within her heart, immediately standing up to ask: "What happened?" The consistently steady Qing Xia was clearly also thoroughly frightened, her voice even bearing a crying tone as she said: "Just now the Prince returned to the room... and asked where the Princess Consort had gone. We servants said the Princess Consort was in the accounting room. Before the Prince could say anything else, the Prince suddenly vomited a massive amount of blood... and then, and then he fainted." Ye Li's heart trembled. Tossing down the brush in her hand, she walked outward, asking as she walked: "Has a doctor been summoned?" Qing Xia said: "Ah Jin... Ah Jin and Qing Luan have both gone. Qing Yu knows a bit of medicine and stayed in the room with Qing Shuang to take care of the Prince..." Before Qing Xia could finish speaking, Ye Li's figure had already swiftly vanished around the corner of the corridor.

Returning to the courtyard, the courtyard full of maidservants was clearly thoroughly frightened; upon seeing Ye Li, they even forgot to step forward to pay respects. Ye Li stepped into the room, and turning past the screen, she saw Mo Xiu Yao lying upon the bed with a face as pale as paper, and lips still stained with dark red blood traces.

"Princess Consort," Qing Yu, who was currently checking Mo Xiu Yao's pulse, rose and spoke in a low voice.

"How is he?"

Qing Yu spoke with some worry: "The Prince once suffered extremely severe injuries and does not seem to have convalesced properly, so his body is actually extremely weak. Sudden vomiting of blood is also caused by excessive exhaustion, but... he has vomited far too much blood, and it is feared that this is highly disadvantageous for the Prince..." Following Qing Yu's gaze, a massive patch of blood traces that had not yet completely dried not far from the bedside caused one to feel incomparably jarred. That massive volume of blood almost caused Ye Li to feel terrified. "Right now... is he alright?"

Qing Yu shook her head and said: "This servant specializes in medicine and poisons, and is truly somewhat at a loss regarding the Prince's condition. However, for the time being, there should not be any major issues."

Ye Li took a deep breath, nodded, and said: "I understand. You go and see if the doctor has arrived, and also request Steward Mo to come over for a moment."

Qing Yu and Qing Shuang complied and departed. Ye Li sat by the bedside, silently watching the person lying upon the bed. She had consistently heard others say that the Prince of Ding was physically disabled and plagued by severe illness. However, from the first time Ye Li saw Mo Xiu Yao, he had always performed very healthily; even when winter was approaching and she herself had caught a cold for two days, she had never heard him cough even once. Therefore, Ye Li had long since thrown that phrase 'plagued by severe illness' to the back of her mind, merely treating it as an erroneously transmitted rumor spread by outsiders. For these past months, they seemed to meet every single day, but only now did Ye Li discover that Mo Xiu Yao was practically much more emaciated and haggard than during the previous period. At this moment, beneath his tightly closed eyelids, a faint, dark-blue shadow was clearly visible.

Ye Li was currently lost in thought when she felt the comatose person upon the bed move slightly, and she hurriedly raised her head to look. She happened to see Mo Xiu Yao slowly opening his eyes. As their eyes met, Ye Li for a time only felt at a loss for words.

Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly. "Ah Li, what is wrong?"

After a good while, Ye Li only then looked at him and said: "You vomited blood just now."

Mo Xiu Yao was startled, before speaking with a smile: "These past two days have been slightly tiring; it does not matter."

"It does not matter?!" Ye Li only felt a burst of rage rush straight from the bottom of her heart into her mind. Even vomiting blood does not matter, so what else matters? How much blood do you think you possess to let you squander it like this? Mo Xiu Yao seemed to feel very happy to see Ye Li angry, the light within the depths of his eyes becoming even brighter and gentler. "It truly does not matter; I have already grown accustomed to it. Once winter approaches, it is just like this. As long as I pay attention to resting, nothing will happen. Ah Li, believe me."

"If I believe you, I am a pig!" Ye Li gave him a vexed glance, while simultaneously being shocked by his words. Grown accustomed to it—what kind of state must one be in to grow accustomed to such heavy vomiting of blood? "You rest first, and we will talk after the doctor arrives."

After a short while, Ah Jin and Qing Luan rushed inside, dragging a doctor between them on the left and right—it was still that old doctor from the Wu Yue Convent last time. Seeing Mo Xiu Yao lying upon the bed already awake, the old doctor brushed away Qing Luan and Ah Jin's hands, speaking slowly: "This old man said there would be no issue; you young people are simply too unstable." Ye Li stood up and yielded the position to the old doctor so that he could check the pulse. The old doctor stepped forward to check the pulse, furrowing his brows as he stroked his beard. Ye Li inquired: "Doctor, how is it?"

The old doctor shook his head and said: "It is nothing, but it is still best for the Prince to definitely pay attention. Having no issue this time does not mean there will be no issue next time."

Ye Li furrowed her brows and said: "If I remember correctly, last time the doctor said the Prince's body was very good." The old doctor raised his ash-white eyebrows and said: "This old man did not speak erroneously; at that time, the Prince's body was indeed very decent, but right now it is clearly very terrible." Ye Li looked at him speechlessly. Could there truly be someone whose body was healthy for half the year and weak for half the year? The old doctor continued: "The Prince's body cannot tolerate cold; as soon as winter approaches, he must be careful. However... right now it shouldn't have reached such a severe time yet. This time... how long has it been since the Prince took his medication? How long has it been since he rested?"

Under Ye Li's glare, Mo Xiu Yao smiled bitterly in helplessness. "Your medicine... seems to no longer have much effect." Reaching into his sleeve to extract a small, delicate medicine bottle, Mo Xiu Yao spoke detachedly.

The old doctor's brows furrowed tightly as he took the medicine bottle from Mo Xiu Yao's hand to open and inspect it, speaking concurrently: "That is impossible; this medicine was formulated less than two months ago, how could it lose efficacy?" Ye Li said: "Doctor, I think what the Prince means is likely that your medicine no longer has much effect upon his body."

 

The old doctor's face darkened, and he once again took Mo Xiu Yao's hand to check the pulse, though this time it was clearly for a much longer duration. After a good while, the old doctor only then lowered his hand, furrowing his brows as he said: "I will write a prescription first for the Prince to use; for the time being, there will not be any issues. I must return first to study the prescription before speaking further." Ye Li also knew that this kind of matter could not be rushed, so she could only nod and say: "Then I must trouble the doctor." The old doctor nodded, looking at Ye Li as he spoke: "This old man will say it one more time: the Prince's illness absolutely cannot tolerate labor. The closer it gets to winter, the more careful he must be. If he had disregarded everything and quietly convalesced these past few years, it would not have reached such a severe state now." Ye Li nodded, speaking with a solemn face: "I understand; the doctor may rest assured."

Having commanded someone to follow the old doctor to fetch the medicine, Ye Li settled Mo Xiu Yao properly and was about to rise, but she was pulled back from behind by someone. Ye Li turned her head to look at the man upon the bed who was watching her with a peaceful expression, dropping her gaze onto his somewhat pale and emaciated hand, her heart involuntarily twitching along with it. "What is wrong? Is there any other place that feels uncomfortable?" Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, smiling faintly: "Is Ah Li very busy?"

"It is... alright." There were indeed some matters within the study that required handling, but they were not any urgent matters. She was merely accustomed to finishing the handling of the matters in her hands, that was all.

"Then... can Ah Li stay to accompany me for a moment?" Mo Xiu Yao spoke softly, looking into Ye Li's eyes with a gentleness that still did not carry half a shred of forcing, but Ye Li simply could not voice words of refusal. Silently sitting back down by the bedside, she watched the smile within the eyes of the man lying upon the bed grow even denser. Ye Li glanced at the dark red upon the ground that had not yet had time to be cleaned, inquiring with worry: "Do you not wish to sleep for a while?" Mo Xiu Yao shook his head, speaking detachedly: "It is a bit cold; I cannot fall asleep." Ye Li remembered that people who lost a massive amount of blood would indeed experience a sensation of feeling extremely cold; presumably, people who vomited blood would also possess such a sensation. Involuntarily reaching out her hand to pull the brocade quilt for him, she inquired: "Is charcoal fire required?"

Right now winter had only just approached, so it wasn't counted as too cold yet, but many households' rooms had indeed already lit charcoal fires, and many noble and wealthy families had prepared silver charcoal in massive quantities. Because Ye Li's own body was very good, she basically had never used charcoal fires in winter after the passing of the Xu clan; since their room had consistently not burned charcoal fires, she hadn't paid attention to this issue either. After all, Mo Xiu Yao was an internal strength expert whose internal strength was far deeper than hers. Mo Xiu Yao shook his head helplessly. "I cannot smell the smoke odor of charcoal fire. Although the specially made silver charcoal is said to be smokeless and odorless, but... Ah Li, do you understand now? Once winter arrives, I am indeed a useless person." Speaking to this point, a few fragments of bitterness and sorrow were added within Mo Xiu Yao's eyes.

Ye Li rose to take another brocade quilt from the cabinet to cover over Mo Xiu Yao, only then furrowing her brows to inquire: "What injury did you actually suffer back then? How could it be so strange?" Generally, even if both legs were useless and even if amputated, there would only likely be intermittent phantom pains, but a condition like Mo Xiu Yao's where he could not tolerate chill and his body became weak as soon as winter arrived definitely had no connection to his legs. Furthermore, being unable to inhale smoke and dust ought to be an issue of the respiratory system or the lungs. Mo Xiu Yao said: "Exactly what injuries I suffered, I myself do not know either. By the time I woke up, it was already a matter of over a month later. My body was already like this." Mo Xiu Yao's expression was detached, as though he were merely stating a fact. However, this kind of expression Ye Li had witnessed many times. Formerly, those comrades-in-arms who had been severely injured and disabled upon the battlefield—when some of them calmed down from extreme madness, it was this kind of flat expression. Yet it caused one to feel even more heartbroken than when they were madly roaring. Ye Li did not know what kind of expression Mo Xiu Yao possessed when he first woke up to find himself transformed into this appearance, but his current peaceful appearance still caused her to feel extremely uncomfortable.

"Alright, then according to the doctor's instructions, I must trouble the Prince to best rest more recently. I heard that recently, the Prince stays inside the study for an average of over seven double-hours every day?" Ye Li raised her eyebrows.

Mo Xiu Yao was startled, before sighing softly: "Ah Li... I will pay attention, but..." Right now was simply not the time to rest; over this half year, the situation at court had become increasingly bizarre. The Prince of Ding’s Manor currently appeared to place itself outside the court, but with the slightest carelessness, it would plunge into the abyss. And he, as the Prince of Ding, bound by duty, must assume certain responsibilities.

Ye Li gave him a somewhat dangerous glance, speaking detachedly: "What is there that you can do while I cannot do? Even if that is the case, wait until it truly cannot be coped with before speaking further. Forgive my meddling, Your Highness Prince of Ding. Even if you exhaust your mental and physical strength to take ninety-nine steps, yet die upon the very last step, that is exactly the same as failure. Therefore, before you take those ninety-nine steps, you had best first consider whether you possess the life to take the hundredth step." Mo Xiu Yao was silent for a half-silence, before only then looking at Ye Li and laughing out loud, saying: "Ah Li is right. Then... from now on, I must trouble Ah Li."

"I thought I am the Princess Consort of Ding," Ye Li spoke peacefully.

Mo Xiu Yao spoke softly: "Of course, you will forever be my Princess Consort."

Consequently, Ye Li became even more busy; not only the internal affairs of the Prince’s Manor, but even the external affairs had to be handled along with them. With Mo Xiu Yao providing guidance from one side, Ye Li caught on very quickly. And Ye Li's style, which could be called thunderous and swift, also gradually caused the managers within and outside the manor to feel convinced. These elders like Steward Mo and Nanny Sun also looked at Ye Li with a gaze that possessed a few more fragments of gratification and respect. Lest Mo Xiu Yao feel bored staying confined to bed by himself to rest, apart from meeting a few managers, Ye Li transferred the venue for handling other affairs from the study into their room. While handling affairs, she could concurrently still chat with Mo Xiu Yao, and if there were any questions, she could also inquire at any time.

Mo Xiu Yao discovered with some astonishment that his Princess Consort was just like a scroll of a book that could forever never be finished reading; he could forever never guess how many more things she knew, and where the baseline of her ability lay. If another such person were to appear by his side, Mo Xiu Yao would absolutely feel threatened, and would further employ various methods to test or even eradicate them. But facing this woman before his eyes who was concurrently holding a brush and writing furiously while still being able to separate her mind to chat with him with a smile, he only felt as though a cluster of a faint flame had been added within his icy heart; though it was faint, it caused a person who felt as though they were situated within an icy sky and frozen earth as soon as winter arrived to feel an inexplicable warmth and comfort. He only wished to indulge her to do what she was willing to do, quietly watching the faint smile she occasionally revealed. He knew that one day, she would bloom with a refinement that would astound the world. A bright pearl would not remain covered in dust forever; one day she would definitely soar across the nine heavens. And at that time... he might perhaps no longer be around.

"Prince, Princess Consort. Steward Mo says Doctor He has sent the medicine over," Qing Yu came inside to report.

Ye Li glanced at Mo Xiu Yao, who had fallen into a deep sleep upon the bed, before nodding toward Qing Yu and saying in a low voice: "Please request Doctor He to wait a moment within the flower hall." Although it had only been a few days, Ye Li also felt that the colder the weather turned, the more disadvantageous it was for Mo Xiu Yao's body; likely because medication was already unable to control Mo Xiu Yao's illness, even after resting for two days, Mo Xiu Yao's spirit had not become any better than before.

Entering the flower hall, Doctor He and Steward Mo hurriedly welcomed her. Ye Li waved her hand and said: "Doctor, Steward Mo, no need for excessive politeness. Sit down and speak."

Only after Ye Li took her seat did the two thank her and sit down on their respective sides. Doctor He extracted a prescription and handed it to Ye Li, saying: "This is the prescription this old man has readjusted these past few days. Please inspect it, Princess Consort." Ye Li took the prescription and glanced at it, discovering that most of the medicines within were not for curing illness or healing injuries, but were instead used for neutralizing poison. "Doctor He, what is going on with this? If this Princess Consort remembers correctly, if this medicine is used too much, it will cause addiction." Ye Li lowered the prescription, inquiring in a deep voice. The final item of the prescription wrote 'A Furong'; Ye Li naturally knew clearly what that thing was, and what consequences would arise after using it.

"I did not expect the Princess Consort to also be proficient in pharmacology. What the Princess Consort says is correct; A Furong is an extremely excellent analgesic medication, but using it for a long duration indeed causes addiction. Therefore, this old man has consistently been hesitating as to whether to add it or not," Doctor He spoke with a grave expression. Ye Li nodded, counting as accepting his explanation. "Does the Prince require pain-relieving medication in massive quantities?"

"He requires it very much. The reason the previously formulated medicine lost efficacy was precisely because those medicines were already unable to suppress the pain generated by the toxins within the Prince's body. If some pain-relieving medications are not prescribed, the Prince's spirit will be even worse, and his body will also be even weaker. It is even possible that before the poison is neutralized..." Doctor He spoke in a deep voice, his somewhat old face completely filled with fatigue. Clearly, these past two days had not been easy for him either. Hearing Mo Xiu Yao's physical condition, Steward Mo's face also turned terrible. "Princess Consort, this..."

Ye Li shook her head and said: "A Furong cannot be used; the dosage you prescribed is too much. In at most less than a month, he will become addicted. After becoming addicted, it is even more harmful and without benefit to the body."

Doctor He smiled bitterly in helplessness; he also did not wish to prescribe that much, but prescribing it too lightly simply had no effect. Unless experiencing it personally, ordinary people simply could not comprehend the pain when the poison upon the Prince's body flared up.

"Why was he fine during summer?" Ye Li inquired.

Doctor He shook his head and said: "Summer is not a time of being fine, but is relatively much easier. Because what the Prince was afflicted with happens to be a type of cold poison. The summer weather is warm, and when paired with the medicine this old man prepared to restrain the cold poison, as long as it is taken on time, there is no abnormality compared to ordinary people. But as soon as the weather turns cold, the cold poison will double its raging. The blood vessels of the Prince's entire body even seem to stagnate. During the most severe period of the initial two years, he would even fall into a long duration of deep lethargy. These past few years have been controlled decently, but this year it is feared that..."

An issue of the weather... Ye Li pondered for a moment, before nodding to say: "I understand. Regarding the prescription, I still request the doctor to deliberate upon it again. Additionally, the antidote for the cold poison?"

Doctor He shook his head and said: "Currently there is no medicine to resolve it; the Prince's cold poison was caused by being plotted against by the people of Beirong at the border back then. At that time, we requested the contemporary divine physician, the venerable old gentleman Shen Yang, to diagnose and treat the Prince. That cold poison originated upon the summit of a snow mountain perpetually covered in snow at the junction of Beirong and Xiling; it can be said to be a type of cold marrow within a place of ultimate Yin and ultimate cold throughout the world. It is said to grow within a cold pool upon the summit of the snow mountain. That cold pool is bone-chillingly cold; regardless of whether man or beast falls into it, there is absolutely no survival. However, within the cold pool grows a flower named the Raging Fire Lotus; only her lotus seeds can restrain the cold poison upon the Prince's body."

Before Doctor He's voice could fade, Steward Mo cut in to say: "But that Raging Fire Lotus blooms once every ten years, and bears fruit once every fifteen years. Starting from six years ago, the Black Cloud Cavalry has dispatched people to lurk at the foot of the mountain year-round to wait; unfortunately... it will take at least another two years to wait until the lotus seeds mature." Steward Mo did not say that even if they obtained the lotus seeds at that time, regardless of whether the Black Cloud Cavalry wished to pass through Beirong or Xiling to return to Great Chu, they must pay what kind of tragic price. But no matter what kind of price was paid, the Black Cloud Cavalry would definitely obtain the Raging Fire Lotus, and would definitely deliver it back to Great Chu smoothly. Even if they exhausted the lives of the people of the entire Black Cloud Cavalry.

"Does that Divine Physician Shen have no other methods?" Ye Li furrowed her brows. The reputation of Divine Physician Shen Yang was something she had heard of even when she was residing within her maiden chambers; that was indeed a divine physician and national hand whom even the Emperor might not definitely be able to invite. Doctor He said: "Divine Physician Shen heard a year ago that an island nation in the Eastern Sea possessed a type of medicinal ingredient named Fengwei, which possessed extreme and wondrous effects toward cold poison. At the beginning of this year, he brought people to sea. It is feared that at the earliest, he will also have to wait until the end of December to be able to return."

Ye Li nodded and said: "I understand; then I must trouble Doctor He."

 

Doctor He rose to take his leave. Steward Mo still remained within the main hall, watching Ye Li's beautiful brows knit tightly, her mood clearly being extremely gloomy. "Princess Consort..."

Ye Li raised her head to see Steward Mo's serious yet unable to conceal worried face, before sighing: "Steward Mo, it has been hard on you these years." Steward Mo shook his head in some trepidation and said: "What are these words the Princess Consort is saying? This old servant only hates that he cannot substitute his own body to endure these pains on behalf of the Prince. The Prince back then..." Watching the little master who had been high-spirited and vigorous back then become transformed into this appearance now, how could Steward Mo feel any better? It was merely that right now, he was even more worried about this young Princess Consort; over this half year or more, the performance of the Princess Consort had already exceeded everyone's expectations. The people of the Prince of Ding’s Manor also truly admired this new mistress. The Princess Consort of the Prince of Ding’s Manor did not require a beauty that could overturn states and cities, did not require brimming talent, and did not even require being smooth-tongued; she only required being sufficiently strong. But no matter how strong a woman was, it was feared that she could not endure the current situation, right? This was also the reason why the Prince had consistently concealed his physical condition and why they, as servants, also never mentioned it before the Princess Consort.

Ye Li stood up and smiled lightly, saying: "Steward Mo does not need to worry too much; as long as the person is still alive, there will always be a way. Later on, Steward Mo find some people for me who are proficient in the aspect of construction; I have a use for them."

Watching the figure of Ye Li slowly departing, the dimmed eyes within Steward Mo's sight could not help but brighten slightly. This Princess Consort... might perhaps truly be different.

"This old servant understands."

When Ye Li returned to the room, Mo Xiu Yao had already awakened. Just upon entering the door, Ye Li clearly saw that Mo Xiu Yao's tightly clenched left hand exposed outside the quilt was trembling and spasming. But at the instant he saw Ye Li enter, it then relaxed, and then retracted back into the quilt as though nothing had happened. Ye Li knew that was him enduring the pain. Within her heart, she also could not help but generate a sliver of vacillation toward her decision just now to instruct Doctor He to withdraw the pain-relieving medicine. But seeing Mo Xiu Yao's gentle yet firm gaze, Ye Li pressed down the hesitation within her heart. Mo Xiu Yao would absolutely not like himself transforming into a person who must rely upon a certain medication to be able to live on.

"Ah Li, you are back."

Ye Li sat down by the bedside. "If it pains, you can call out."

Mo Xiu Yao smiled faintly. "Will calling out make it no longer painful? Do not worry, it is only a tiny bit of pain, that is all. It is merely that being unable to rise and lying upon the bed all day is a bit annoying, that is all."

"I will not mock you," Ye Li said.

Mo Xiu Yao quietly watched her, and after a long while, he only then inquired in a deep voice: "Ah Li, can I give you a hug?" Ye Li was startled, and bending her body down, she embraced Mo Xiu Yao together with the quilt, saying with a smile: "Right now you cannot tolerate catching a cold, so just make do with it like this." Mo Xiu Yao let out low laughter, and only after a good while did he stop, speaking in a low voice: "Actually... pain can truly still be endured. But that kind of deep, cold sensation... is just like falling into a cold pool entirely filled with ice water, and a sensation that is destined to forever never be climbed out of. Having pained for long, I have grown accustomed to it, but that kind of bone-chilling sensation is something I can somehow never grow accustomed to. Sometimes... I even feel that pain being a bit more severe does not matter. I am just afraid that one day, I will even be unable to feel pain, leaving only that kind of bone-chilling sensation. If it truly turns out that way... Ah Li, I truly do not know if I can still hold on."

"That kind of thing will not happen," Ye Li embraced him, speaking softly. "Has Divine Physician Shen not gone to the Eastern Sea to seek the Fengwei grass? In another two years, the Raging Fire Lotus will also bear seeds. At that time the cold poison will be resolved, and everything will turn out well. You have even been able to hold on until now, so what does waiting another two years matter?" Mo Xiu Yao nodded and said: "I will naturally wait. Ah Li, if I do not die, you can forever never leave me. Are you not afraid?"

"Before I married you, I did not think of anticipating your early death so as to accept your inheritance," Ye Li spoke detachedly.

"I will absolutely not die, Ah Li." Mo Xiu Yao extended a hand to embrace Ye Li's slender waist. Ye Li was startled, and with an expressionless face, she pulled down his hand and stuffed it back into the quilt. "Since you cannot tolerate cold, do not blindly cause a ruckus." Did she seem to have promised some sort of commitment just now? But she seemed to have said nothing at all... Ye Li silently pondered within her heart.

Once winter approached, the Prince of Ding’s Manor then declined all invitations and gatherings, including the palace banquets. The reason was still the same as in previous times—the Prince of Ding was severely ill. The hearts of the people, which had originally become somewhat unsettled because they saw traces of the Prince of Ding during summer, gradually quieted down again. After the imperial physicians from the palace came back and forth several times and returned all at a loss, except for various tonics and medicinal ingredients from the palace continuously flowing into the Prince of Ding’s Manor, no one else came forward to disturb them anymore. The Prince of Ding’s Manor seemed to restore its peace and silence just like the previous two years.

Naturally, it wasn't completely without people visiting. For instance, Feng Zhi Yao was one of them.

"Third Young Master Feng, the Princess Consort and the Prince request you to head to the side hall." Feng Zhi Yao, who was waiting inside the study, raised his eyebrows in incomprehension, asking: "Ah Yao is sick again? But is he not living together with the Princess Consort? How did he move to the side hall again?"

Steward Mo's serious face revealed an extremely faint sliver of a smile, saying: "Many thanks for Young Master Feng's concern; the Prince has been doing decently these past few days. A few days ago, the Prince and the Princess Consort moved to live in the side hall."

Feng Zhi Yao had a face full of envy, jealousy, and hatred. "Having a large manor is just good; if one wishes to live in the main hall, one lives in the main hall, and if one wishes to live in the side hall, one lives in the side hall. If one grows tired of living in them, one can even take turns living in a few courtyards." Steward Mo had long since known Feng Zhi Yao's disposition, and without taking offense, he smiled faintly: "If Young Master Feng dislikes that your residence is small, you can mention it to the Prince. The Prince’s Manor still possesses two residential properties within the capital available for Young Master Feng to reside in."

Feng Zhi Yao rolled his eyes. "Forget it. When a residence is large, people are many and affairs are many; it is annoying to death."

"Young Master Feng ought to establish a family," Steward Mo said as he followed behind Feng Zhi Yao.

"I know, your family's Prince married a good Princess Consort. This young master hasn't played enough yet." Feng Zhi Yao waved his hand, indicating that the matter regarding marriage would be discussed later on. His old father hadn't even concerned himself with this kind of matter for him, yet these few elders within the Prince’s Manor were quite enthusiastic instead. Unfortunately, he could not enjoy it.

The side hall where Ye Li and Mo Xiu Yao were situated was an independent building on the exact south wing of the main courtyard where the two resided. Situated within the inner garden of the main courtyard, it only lacked two wing-rooms compared to the main hall. It appeared to be even more quiet and elegant. The moment Feng Zhi Yao stepped into the main hall, he could not help but let out a surprised 'yi'. A gust of warm air blew directly against his face, and the entire main hall was as warm and comfortable as March or April. Feng Zhi Yao knew of Mo Xiu Yao's physical condition, and also knew that wherever Mo Xiu Yao might possibly appear within the Prince of Ding’s Manor, charcoal would absolutely not be burned during winter. But here...

Steward Mo followed behind, saying: "Young Master Feng, the Prince and the Princess Consort are waiting for you inside the small study."

Feng Zhi Yao could not help but turn his head to inquire: "Exactly how many studies does your Prince’s Manor possess?"

Steward Mo answered with a face of utter seriousness: "The outer courtyard and the inner courtyard each possess a library building and a study. Within the main courtyard, the Prince and the Princess Consort additionally each possess a study. The study of this side hall was just newly established temporarily."

"This young master loathes studies, and loathes discussing matters inside studies even more," Feng Zhi Yao said.

"Then... should this subordinate request the Princess Consort and the Prince to come out?"

"...Forget it. I would not dare to let them personally come out to see me." Feng Zhi Yao waved his hand, shaking his fan as he swaggered away.