Chapter 26: Applying Medicine

Wen Renlin deliberately slowed down his voice, so that Zhao Yan could hear it clearly.

The Emperor did not notice the momentary eye contact. Upon hearing this, he was surprised, placing one hand on his crossed knees and asking, “Who is the girl from? If her family background is appropriate, I can make arrangements for you.”

The so-called “appropriate family background” means that the other party has no power or influence, and the marriage will not affect the balance of power in the court.

Zhao Yan knew it well, fearing that Wen Renlin would blurt out some shocking and scandalous name — like Princess Changfeng. Anyway, he always liked to use this matter to scare himself.

The brief silence felt as long as a century.

Every breath was a great challenge to Zhao Yan’s state of mind.

“At the banquet, a glimpse of beauty swiftly departed, so I didn’t have the chance to inquire about her name,” Wen Renlin said with a perfect smile, glancing at Zhao Yan again as if sincerely asking, “Does the Crown Prince know who the girl is?”

Of course, Zhao Yan knew, but how could she dare to tell the truth?

Instead, she seized the opportunity and calmly said, “There were many guests at the banquet, and I didn’t pay close attention. I’ll ask the Grand Tutor to describe the girl’s appearance later, so I can have someone find her.”

A hint of amusement flashed in Wen Renlin’s eyes until her eyelashes trembled uneasily. Then he nodded and said, “I will do as you wish, Your Highness.”

In this way, the dangerous topic was finally bypassed. The Emperor probably had important matters to discuss with Wen Renlin. After instructing Zhao Yan for a few moments, he let her go. Leaving the Taiji Hall, Zhao Yan’s senses, suppressed by tension, gradually returned. Sourness and pain spread throughout her body, but she felt a sense of relief.

She took a deep breath of the moist rain-filled air and leaned on the arm offered by Liu Ying, saying, “Let’s go to the Chongwen Hall.”

Because she had been delayed by reporting to the Emperor in the Taiji Hall, when Zhao Yan climbed the stone steps to the Chongwen Hall, it was already two quarters late.

The eldest son of the Marquis of Jinping, Pei Sa, was slouched in his seat, playing with his brush out of boredom. Meanwhile, Zhou Ji was quietly arranging the incense ash in the bronze incense burner. Dressed in a plain blue robe, he resembled a bamboo shoot bathed in the rainlight by the window, displaying no impatience.

Zhao Yan remembered hearing someone call Zhou Ji’s name from afar when she was taking medicine. She couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. Zhou Ji was an absolute upright gentleman, always honest and never lied. Yet, in her drugged state, she had briefly considered dragging him into trouble.

Provoking Wen Renlin was a terrifying thing, but it had one advantage: as long as Wen Renlin didn’t want to reveal the incident at the Spring Banquet, no one could touch her. In this world, there were hardly any who could surpass the Crown Prince in power.

As a mere fifth-ranking attendant, Zhou Ji would likely lose his life whether he succeeded or failed, just by stumbling upon the secrets of the Eastern Palace.

It was a stroke of luck that she hadn’t implicated more innocent people. Thinking of this, Zhao Yan focused and took a deep breath, adopting a more serious posture as she said, “Assistant Zhou, I’m late.”

Pei Sa stood up to salute and noticed the faint sweat on Zhao Yan’s forehead. He was puzzled, “Why does Your Highness look so pale?”

The recent string of misfortunes was something Zhao Yan didn’t want to dwell on.

She took the handkerchief Li Fu offered her and sat down behind the desk with some difficulty, saying, “It’s nothing. I caught a chill at the Spring Banquet.”

As the spring days grew warmer, the thick carpets had been replaced with thinner ones, not as soft and substantial as the thick blankets of winter. Zhao Yan knelt, feeling the pain in her abdomen worsening, especially uncomfortable where her ankles pressed against her during the revelry.

At first, she could barely keep her back straight, but in less than a moment, she simply settled into whatever position felt most comfortable. She listened to the lecture with a tired expression, her eyelids heavy from a sleepless night.

Seeing Zhao Yan leaning to the side, seemingly lost in thought, Zhou Ji remembered the task his teacher had given him. Seizing the opportunity while the young prince was relaxed, he hesitated for a moment, then swallowed his prepared words and said, “Your Highness, if you’re feeling unwell, you can summon the imperial physician for a consultation and then excuse yourself to rest in the palace.”

Zhao Yan snapped out of her daze and rubbed her eyes, shaking her head. “I stood in front of the Taiji Hall for a long time just now, and I feel completely drained of energy. Let me rest here for a while.”

Seeing her pale complexion, Zhou Ji nodded in agreement, “Then I’ll continue the lecture, Your Highness can rest and don’t need to listen.”

Zhao Yan knew Zhou Ji was a principled person. Since he was tasked with teaching the Crown Prince with companion, he wouldn’t waste any time, lecturing until the bell tolled.

But he never forced his principles on others.

Zhao Yan rested her head on her palm, lying on the desk, and closed her eyes with the monotonous reading in the background. In no time, she fell into a deep sleep, exhausted. Seeing this, Zhou Ji paused his voice slightly, got up, and fetched the oilcloth cape that had dried on the lacquered coat rack, gently draping it over the thin shoulders of the young prince.

Wen Renlin walked out of the Taiji Hall, still carrying the heavy scent of aloeswood, which made him slightly uncomfortable.

Zhang Cang, waiting at Changqing Gate, approached. He held a paper umbrella under his arm and a navy blue cape to shield from the rain in his hand, leaning over to help his master put it on.

Wen Renlin glanced him over and asked, “New clothes?”

“Heh! My lord is sharp-eyed to notice,” Zhang Cang chuckled, rubbing his clean-shaven iron-blue chin, “Took a bath and shaved the beard.”

Zhang Cang had pondered all night. He had made up his mind to find a wife and settle down in his life. Although he couldn’t cater to the lord’s preferences, he needed to maintain a neat appearance to justify the lord’s special treatment.

He thought about various things and also diligently held the umbrella to shield Wen Renlin from the raindrops falling from the eaves.

The umbrella almost poked his eyes. Suppressing the urge to overturn the broken umbrella with one palm, Wen Renlin lifted his finger to move it away from his eyes.

Zhang Cang raised the umbrella again, lowering his voice as he muttered, “It’s almost the time of the snake. My lord is going to the Chongwen Hall to meet the Crown Prince. Don’t forget to bring that…”

When he first took on the role of the Crown Prince’s tutor, it was just to keep an eye on the young prince and have some amusement during his leisure time.

Now that the puzzle was solved, logically, the “Crown Prince’s Tutor” was no longer needed.

Wen Renlin contemplated finding an opportunity to step down from this position and focus on the Crown Prince. After all, achieving success required stirring up trouble with these pawns. Unknowingly, they climbed the stone steps of the Chongwen Hall, passed through the corridor, and saw Zhou Ji slightly bowing, helping the “Crown Prince” who was dozing at the desk put on warm clothes.

Pei Sa also wore a cold expression and took the opportunity to tuck her coat edges.

Wen Renlin’s squinted eyes revealed a hint of thoughtfulness.

When Zhao Yan woke up groggily, she found herself lying on a comfortable bed, covered with a silky spring quilt. The room was empty, and she blinked her hazy eyes, quickly recognizing this as the resting place behind the rear hall of the Chongwen Hall.

But wasn’t she listening to Zhou Ji’s lecture in the front hall? How did she end up here?

Rubbing her stiff neck, she turned slightly and saw Wen Renlin sitting in the chair by the bedside. With the half-open window, she could vaguely see the slanting rain outside, and Wen Renlin sat in the light, reading a scroll of military books.

Zhao Yan instantly woke up, some terrible images flooding her mind. She had to sneakily touch the clothes on her body…

Fortunately, everything was intact, and her chest wrapping was still in place.

With a sudden movement, she clutched her stomach, enduring a wave of pain.

Hearing her movements, Wen Renlin looked up from his book.

Seeing her frowning, he knew she hadn’t taken the medicine he gave her last night. He put down the book and got up, pouring hot water from the simmering kettle in the outer room into a cup, then returning to the bedside, placing the steaming cup on the table.

His calm demeanor carried a hint of elegance.

Zhao Yan stared at Wen Renlin without blinking, her watery peach blossom eyes following his movements. Until she saw Wen Renlin take out a small bottle from his pocket, exactly like the one he had sent last night, and uncorked it, pouring half of the amber-colored liquid into the cup right in front of her, did she lower her eyelids as if to shield herself from what was happening.

Wen Renlin didn’t explain, he just pushed the cup towards her direction, commanding her, “Drink it.”

Zhao Yan cleared her throat, her fingers tightening and loosening, and then extended a pale hand from under the covers, obediently taking the cup. The pale golden liquid steamed with heat, and Zhao Yan pursed her lips before finally tilting her head back and closing her eyes to sip the tea in small sips.

It was a bit bitter and spicy. She carefully licked the water droplets off her lips.

Wen Renlin watched her rosy tongue flicker past, unable to resist reaching out. His cool fingertips wiped away the water marks left on her lower lip.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, both of them were stunned.

With his frost-white fingertips pressing against her vibrant lips, it stirred up some inappropriate memories. Despite having done more intimate things, Zhao Yan still felt embarrassed and flustered.

Fortunately, it was just a brief touch, and Wen Renlin withdrew his hand without changing his expression, sneering, “This time, are you afraid I poisoned it?”

Trying to remain composed, Zhao Yan didn’t respond. If it were poison, Wen Renlin wouldn’t have used it twice, nor would he be foolish enough to act openly in the Chongwen Hall.

Sure enough, a wave of heat rose in her abdomen soon after, coursing through her veins and warming her limbs. In no time, even the soreness in her waist and legs eased considerably.

This medicine… had such miraculous effects?

Then what was all the fear and suffering she had endured for most of the day?

Wen Renlin retrieved another small white jade medicine box from somewhere and placed it beside Zhao Yan’s pillow, indicating, “For external use.”

External… use?

Following Wen Renlin’s gaze, Zhao Yan was startled, instinctively pulling her knees together.

“I’ll apply it when I return to the Eastern Palace,” she said, avoiding his gaze.

“Your Highness has just experienced… and also with me…”

Wen Renlin paused imperceptibly, his eyes deepening slightly, “If this continues, it will be difficult for Your Highness to even move, let alone return to the Eastern Palace.”

Hit the nail on the head.

After the bumpy ride, Zhao Yan had indeed reached her limit.

“Then… please excuse me, Your Highness.”

Zhao Yan turned her head, then immediately came to her senses: yesterday during the herbal medicine session, she seemed to have said the same thing to Wen Renlin. Fortunately, Wen Renlin didn’t bring up any embarrassing memories again. He placed a clean piece of cotton cloth on the table and then went to the outer room.

Zhao Yan thought he had left, so she carefully untied the golden leather belt and picked up the ointment to apply it to the painful areas…

She never expected Wen Renlin to come back at that moment. Nervous, she pressed too hard, causing herself to wince in pain.

Wen Renlin carried a basin of warm water, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Zhao Yan, who was kneeling and huddled under the covers.

She was truly pitiful, yet… it made people want to take advantage of her.

Wen Renlin’s lips twitched slightly.

With broad shoulders and long legs, he took three steps to reach the bedside, placing the cotton cloth in the copper basin and wetting it, then gently wringing it dry.

As he exerted force, his knuckles protruded slightly, and the clear warm water overflowed from his slender and powerful fingers, like a clear spring washing over cold white jade.

“This medicine needs to be applied after cleaning.”

Wen Renlin held Zhao Yan’s delicate and trembling wrist, pulling her hand out from under the covers. He gently tapped her clenched fist with his bent fingers.

Zhao Yan stiffened, slowly opening her clenched fist bit by bit.

The fingertips were stained with a bright red hue, mixed with the faint fragrance of ointment. Wen Renlin lowered his gaze and carefully wiped her hand clean with a damp cotton cloth.

Zhao Yan trembled as she tried to discern some emotions on Wen Renlin’s face.

But to no avail. Wen Renlin’s expression remained relaxed and calm, his thick eyelashes casting harmless shadows, without a hint of frivolous intimacy, as if he were merely handling a fragile and beautiful jade artifact to a patient.

“Your Highness is unwell, yet you refuse to rest properly and wander around. Are you afraid I will betray you?” Wen Renlin’s tone was low and casual, as if asking casually.

As he let go, Zhao Yan quickly recoiled, biting her lip and adjusting her attire neatly under the bedding.

The hall was very quiet.

Some things, even if Zhao Yan didn’t want to mention them, she had to face them.

“I didn’t expect the Prince Su to come to the Chongwen Hall.”

She took the initiative to speak, her voice soft, “I thought, I had no more value to test for the Prince Su.”

Wen Renlin keenly noticed that she referred to herself as “I” rather than the “prince” in disguise, like a dejected little beast that had withdrawn its claws. Even though he guessed her thoughts, there was no ripple on Wen Renlin’s face.

“Scarlet clothes, slender waist, slender legs, supple skin, exquisite and unparalleled. Just a bit sharp-tongued, loves to bite people…”

Seeing Zhao Yan’s spreading astonishment and confusion, he curved a faint, elegant smile at the corner of his mouth and explained slowly, “Didn’t Your Highness ask me to describe the woman’s appearance? That’s it.”

Zhao Yan was dumbfounded.

She didn’t expect her appearance and figure to be described in such… such an unpleasant manner by Wen Renlin.

Wen Renlin saw her fair cheeks blush like rouge, approached, and asked with a smile, “Your Highness, have you found her for me?”

Zhao Yan opened her mouth, then closed it again.

“It’s a dying person anyway, what’s the use of finding her?”

She lowered her eyes to hide her emotions and carefully worded her probing, “Won’t the Prince Su kill me?”

Wen Renlin held the cotton pad stained with bright red and soaked it in the copper basin until the pale red color spread like ink, dissipating.

“Why would I kill Your Highness?”

He said, “With such a big treasure in my hands, Your Highness is wary of it. In the future, you should consider your actions more carefully. Isn’t that more useful than killing you?”

“…”

Wen Renlin said these threatening words shamelessly and openly!

If it weren’t for being unable to fight back, and losing so miserably… Zhao Yan would have rushed forward long ago.

“Your Highness also thinks so, right?”

Wen Renlin raised his hand, shook the water droplets off his fingertips, and said calmly without any waves. Seeing the beautiful eyes of Zhao Yan losing their weak disguise and faintly igniting with anger, Wen Renlin leaned against her lips and smiled pleasantly.

“Take good care of your injuries. Next time, I’ll personally check on you.”

Wen Renlin flicked the water stains off his fingertips, with profound meaning, “And by the way, I’ll help Your Highness make up for today’s missed lessons.”

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