Li Yue glared at Meng Fu and said to her, “Right now I want to find a doctor — to have you looked at.”
Meng Fu shut her mouth and didn’t speak anymore. Her illness seemed to have gotten a bit worse — her head was dizzy, and her body alternated between hot and cold. But His Majesty’s chest was very warm, which made Meng Fu feel a little more comfortable. His Majesty walked steadily and quickly, and very soon, they had reached the top of the stone steps.
After Meng Fu and Li Yue had exchanged bodies, in order to learn riding and archery, the two of them often had physical contact. But at that time, it was different from now — at that time, Meng Fu had been using His Majesty’s body, and those touches didn’t feel very real to her.
But now, she had returned to her own body. She was being carried in His Majesty’s arms. Men and women should maintain propriety in physical contact, and besides, she was still the wife of the Xuanping Marquis.
But now, she didn’t want to think about those bothersome things anymore.
Li Yue carried Meng Fu into the tent and laid her down on the bed Gao Xi had made. He crouched down and said to Meng Fu, “Wait a moment. I’ll have someone bring a clean set of clothes over.”
Not long after, someone brought a set of clothes. They were men’s clothes. Meng Fu knew that there was no place near Jun Mountain that sold clothes, and at this hour, no ready-made clothing store could possibly be open. She lowered her head to look at the clothes in front of her — the dragon patterns on them were far too obvious.
Li Yue explained to Meng Fu, “They’re my clothes. Never worn before. Put them on for now — I’ll have someone buy a new set tomorrow morning.”
After saying that, he turned and walked out of the tent to wait outside. After a while, when Meng Fu inside the tent said she had changed, he re-entered the tent.
Li Yue looked at Meng Fu sitting on the bed. His clothes were too big for her, but luckily she didn’t need to go outside now. She just needed to get a good night’s sleep here.
Meng Fu rolled up the sleeves a bit and asked Li Yue, “What about those assassins?”
Li Yue said, “All were killed.”
Meng Fu let out an “Ah,” and was about to ask more when Li Yue beat her to it. He said, “Come over here a bit. I’ll help you dry your hair.”
“No need,” Meng Fu felt like this was fine. She didn’t feel too uncomfortable.
“Hurry up,” Li Yue saw that Meng Fu didn’t move and urged again, “If you don’t come over now, I’ll get angry.”
This threat was actually quite effective — Meng Fu immediately scooted over toward His Majesty. She was really worried that if his poison truly couldn’t be cured, Imperial Physician Pang would go mad. Although it seemed like His Majesty had gotten angry earlier, if it could be a little less, then the less the better.
Li Yue picked up a long towel and helped her dry her hair. Then he shook open a small blanket and covered it over her, asking, “Still cold?”
Meng Fu shook her head.
Li Yue reached out and felt Meng Fu’s forehead — a bit hot. Her illness hadn’t yet recovered, and now she had been soaked by a whole night of rain. It would surely get worse. Thankfully, no other accident happened along the way. Li Yue said, “I’ll have Gao Xi figure out a way to find a doctor to come here.”
“No need to trouble anyone,” Meng Fu covered her mouth and let out a couple of low coughs. Then she asked, “Right, how is Gonggong Gao doing?” [Gonggong is an honorific for high-ranking eunuchs.]
Li Yue handed her a cup of hot water and grumbled, “You’re not asking about me — why are you asking about him?”
Just then, Gao Xi, who had been about to enter the tent, halted his steps upon hearing this. He felt that the timing wasn’t right — he should go in later.
Meng Fu held the cup and looked up at Li Yue, saying, “Didn’t I already ask you when I first arrived? Is Gonggong Gao good at martial arts?”
Li Yue said, “He’s just passable.”
Meng Fu felt that in that kind of situation, for Gonggong Gao to dodge a sword coming straight at him, he must have had some skill. Since His Majesty said “passable,” then his skills probably weren’t that high.
But as long as she knew Gonggong Gao was fine, that was enough.
After a while, when the two inside the tent stopped talking about him, Gao Xi finally lifted the curtain and entered. Li Yue wanted to have Gao Xi fetch a doctor. Meng Fu held onto Li Yue’s sleeve and said to him, “Really, there’s no need to find a doctor — I know my own body.”
Li Yue turned back to her and said, “You know? If you knew, would you still have come out in such heavy rain?”
Meng Fu pressed her lips together. She slightly lowered her head and didn’t speak again. Her sudden silence made Li Yue a little panicked. He reached out to touch her forehead again, then softened and said, “Alright, alright — we won’t find one for now.”
Gao Xi: “……”
Standing here really feels so unnecessary.
Seeing that neither of these two had any intention of calling on him for anything, Gonggong Gao quietly withdrew.
After Gao Xi left, Li Yue said to Meng Fu, “Sleep earlier. You’ll recover faster. Otherwise, if you get a high fever again in the middle of the night, I definitely will have to call a doctor.”
Meng Fu followed His Majesty’s words and obediently lay down. She remembered that she hadn’t asked the question she’d originally wanted to. She asked Li Yue, “Did you find out who sent today’s assassins?”
“Not yet. The secret guards are investigating. We should have results by tomorrow,” Li Yue reached out and tugged the blanket up for her. “Don’t think about anything else. Just go to sleep.”
Meng Fu responded with an “Mm,” and closed her eyes. She thought, being in a completely unfamiliar place, and with His Majesty sitting beside her, she surely wouldn’t be able to fall asleep tonight — but in fact, she drifted off very quickly.
She even had a rather nice dream.
Li Yue had been keeping watch at the bedside, holding a military strategy book in his hand. Yet after more than half an hour, he hadn’t turned a single page. He lowered his head to look at Meng Fu, sleeping deeply on the bed, occasionally reaching out to feel her forehead.
After a while, Gao Xi tiptoed inside and lowered his voice to ask, “Your Majesty, you should also rest. How about this servant lays bedding on the ground for you?”
Li Yue turned to glance at Gao Xi and said, “Get lost.”
Gao Xi didn’t leave immediately. Smiling, he said, “The secret guards have set up another tent nearby. The bedding is all prepared. If you feel tired, you can go rest over there.”
Li Yue shook his head and said, “No need. I’ll keep watch here. You all use that tent.”
Gao Xi quietly withdrew. Li Yue turned his head back and saw Meng Fu, sleeping on the bed, the corners of her mouth slightly lifted. Li Yue tilted his head and looked at her for a long time, then smiled along with her.
What kind of dream was she having?
He blew out the candlelight in the tent. Outside, the wind and rain still continued, but somehow, it now sounded quite pleasant.
—
When Meng Fu woke up the next morning, the sky was already bright. Perhaps because she’d slept too well this time, her fever had gone down quite a bit, and she no longer felt as miserable as the night before. The secret guards had gone out early and bought a set of women’s clothing, placing it beside her bed. After changing into them, she stepped out of the tent — and saw Li Yue practicing swordsmanship outside.
Morning light bathed his entire body; his movements were graceful, his sword aura was like a rainbow. When he saw Meng Fu awake, he immediately put away his sword and came over to ask her, “Feeling better?”
Meng Fu nodded and glanced in the direction of Luo Mountain. The rest of the hunting party headed for Jun Mountain would be arriving soon. If they saw a woman by His Majesty’s side, it would truly be inappropriate. She said to Li Yue, “Your Majesty, I must return to the Marquis residence.”
“Go back now?” Li Yue frowned slightly. “You’re not fully recovered yet. Stay and rest for another two days.”
Meng Fu shook her head. She said seriously, “There is something I need to do.”
Li Yue looked at her, then asked solemnly, “Is it something that absolutely has to be done today?”
Meng Fu nodded and answered, “Yes.”
Li Yue took a breath and slowly let it out. In the end, he still nodded and said to her, “Then go. I’ll have a secret guard find a carriage to take you back to the Marquis residence. Take care of yourself.”
Meng Fu gave a soft “Mm.” Before leaving, she reminded Li Yue, “Let Divine Physician Pang come take a look at you today.”
Her eyes were earnest and full of worry. Li Yue could only nod helplessly and said, “Alright, alright, I know.”
She left Jun Mountain under the brilliant sunlight and returned to the capital.
—
Last night, after Meng Fu left the Marquis residence, Xie Wenzhao returned to the banquet alone. The guests asked him most about one thing — why Meng Fu wasn’t there. Xie Wenzhao had no explanation. What should have been a proper birthday banquet ended with him feeling full of nothing but frustration.
Today, just past noon, he heard the servants report that the Madam had returned by carriage. Xie Wenzhao knew that if he waited for Meng Fu to come see him, he would likely wait in vain — so he simply went directly to Jixue Courtyard to wait for Meng Fu there.
So when Meng Fu entered Jixue Courtyard, she saw Xie Wenzhao standing in the courtyard. Seeing her return, Xie Wenzhao let out a cold laugh and asked, “Where exactly did you go yesterday? You still know to come back, huh? Do you know how angry Father-in-law was last night? If it weren’t for Meng Yu calming him down, he probably would’ve walked out on the spot. Father-in-law wants you to go to the Meng residence immediately upon your return. Meng Fu, can you act a little normal? Do your part properly as the Marchioness of the Hou Residence. You already got everything you wanted, why do you still have to be so unreasonable?”
The anger that Xie Wenzhao had accumulated since yesterday—or rather, since three months ago—was all vented toward Meng Fu at this moment.
He spoke without stopping, without pausing.
Even the autumn cicadas in the bushes fell silent.
Still, he kept speaking.
It was only after Xie Wenzhao finally stopped, turned around, and sat down that Meng Fu at last opened her mouth.
The sunlight of an autumn afternoon enveloped her body.
A golden leaf fell upon her shoulder.
From Tingshui Pavilion, a clear and elegant zither melody drifted, startling a few birds into flight.
Her expression was calm, her voice carried no major fluctuations.
She said to Xie Wenzhao: “Xie Wenzhao, let’s he li.” [和离 – hélí, a formal, mutual divorce in traditional Chinese marriage, often initiated or agreed upon by the wife]