Si Que slowly straightened up, releasing his hand that was pressing down on You Yuji. Just like the previous night, he took out black silver needles and inserted them one by one into the acupuncture points on her back. The needles lost their color before he removed them. This time, after dressing You Yuji again, he let her lean against his chest.
He took a small knife and lightly cut his palm, letting drops of fresh blood fall into a small snow-white porcelain cup.
The poison she accidentally ingested was actually the medicine for his illness.
The best antidote for her was him.
Si Que pinched You Yuji’s nose and poured half a cup of his blood into her mouth. Some of the blood trickled out from the corner of her lips, slowly sliding down her cheek.
“Do you know how precious my blood is? Not a single drop should be wasted,” Si Que leisurely said, using his fingertip to dab the blood and then repeatedly rubbing it forcefully onto her tender lips.
He placed his bleeding hand on his knee, the wound still bleeding, staining his snow-white clothes. He had been like this since childhood, his wounds healing much slower than normal.
He didn’t have to feed her with his blood; he could have continued with the method from the previous night.
But he didn’t want to sleep with her in his arms on this narrow wooden bed.
It was very annoying.
Si Que put You Yuji down, carefully wiped the blood from her lips with a wet cloth, and wrapped his injured hand while heading to the inner room.
The next day, You Yuji opened her eyes, once again finding she had not slept in her own room. She propped herself up and turned to look towards the inner room. She tried to recall the events of the previous night, her brow furrowing, her eyes showing traces of confusion.
She wasn’t someone who cried often, so how could she have cried herself to sleep in someone else’s place for two days in a row?
You Yuji felt something was wrong. She looked down at her clothes, which were still intact.
Was she overthinking?
But the seed of doubt had already been planted in her heart.
A bout of coughing interrupted You Yuji’s thoughts. She got up and, surprised, walked towards the inner room. The door was half-open, and she saw Si Que sitting by the bed, coughing continuously.
“What’s wrong with you?” You Yuji hesitated for a moment before gently pushing the door open and quickly walking inside.
The smell of medicine in the room was very strong, even stronger than yesterday.
You Yuji hurried over and squatted in front of Si Que, looking up at him with a furrowed brow, asking, “Are you feeling unwell? Yesterday morning, I noticed you didn’t look well. Did Liufeng go to get the doctor?”
Si Que looked at her with an unclear expression.
You Yuji didn’t understand that look.
However, she could see that Si Que’s complexion was very poor, worse than the previous day.
“Did you catch a fever from the storm the night before?” You Yuji raised her hand, placing her warm palm on Si Que’s forehead. “It seems like you have a slight fever. We should get a doctor to come over.”
Si Que was just about to say there was no need when another itch in his throat forced him to turn his head and cough uncontrollably. Specks of blood stained the snow-white cloth.
You Yuji stood up, looking helplessly at the scene.
“Go call Liufeng.”
“Alright.” You Yuji hurriedly ran outside. Just as she got out, she encountered Liufeng coming up the stairs.
“His Highness is calling you. He looks very pale and was just coughing up blood,” You Yuji explained anxiously.
Liufeng paused for a moment, then quickly walked to the cabinet in the corner, took out a bottle of medicine from a drawer, and hurried to the inner room to give it to Si Que. You Yuji stood at the door, anxiously watching Si Que, and couldn’t help but recall the rumors. It seemed the rumors were true; the princess was not only frail.
Before long, Si Que stopped coughing. Liufeng quickly walked out, intending to go downstairs to prepare the medicine.
You Yuji approached the bed, softly asking with concern, “Do you want to lie down for a while?”
Si Que kept his eyes down, making it hard for You Yuji to read his expression. She thought for a moment, then walked over to pour a cup of warm water that Liufeng had just brought up, and handed it to Si Que.
“Have some?”
Si Que took it.
Only then did You Yuji notice that Si Que’s left hand was wrapped in bandages. She remembered that last night, when the princess was playing the qin, her hands were fine.
“What happened to your hand?”
Si Que took a small sip of the warm water before replying, “I cut it while changing the strings.”
Today was the day You Yuji had been longing to return home. She couldn’t stay here any longer. Softly, she said, “I have to go now. If you still feel unwell, remember to call a doctor. I’ve ended up sleeping here the past two nights without knowing how, which must have disturbed you.”
You Yuji furrowed her brows, feeling a bit apologetic, “I don’t know how I fell asleep… I wonder if my presence has somehow caused you to fall ill…”
Si Que glanced at her and said, “I don’t sleep well at night. The incense in the Boshan burner always has a sleep aid.”
You Yuji suddenly understood. She smiled gently, bent down, and placed a hand on Si Que’s shoulder, looking at him with a smile, “Meeting in a foreign land is a kind of fate. If there’s anything you need, you can tell me.”
Si Que glanced at the hand on his shoulder, lowered his eyes, and replied softly, “Alright.”
“Take a good rest then.” You Yuji smiled gently, stood up straight, and turned to leave.
Si Que watched her leave, sipping the warm water slowly. You Yuji reached the door, turned back to smile at him, and then closed the door for him.
You Yuji quickly returned to Tanxiang Yingyue, washed and changed as fast as she could, and then got on the carriage to go home. However, the carriage remained at the gate for a long time without departing.
Because Chen Anzhi hadn’t woken up yet.
You Yuji sent a maid to ask about the situation. The news came back that last night Chen Anzhi had complained about his injuries being tormenting and had gone to bed very late. In the morning, the servant called him twice, but he had no intention of getting up.
You Yuji sat in the carriage, holding a box on her lap. This was the Suzi cake she had asked Zhenxu to buy early in the morning. Even through the wooden box, she could still feel the warmth.
This was a type of cake her mother loved very much.
You Yuji tightened her grip on the wooden box.
After waiting for another quarter of an hour, Chen Anzhi was still nowhere to be seen. You Yuji sighed lightly and said, “No more waiting, let’s go.”
Lady Jing, standing nearby, frowned. “How can this be? Returning home alone for Guining will make us a laughingstock!”
“The bridal chamber was just me, serving tea was just me.” You Yuji smiled faintly, “What does it matter if I return home alone?”
A laughingstock? Hadn’t she been a laughingstock long enough for others? It didn’t matter anymore. Reputation and face were nothing compared to rushing home to embrace her mother.
Lady Jing opened her mouth, but in the end, turned her face away, quietly wiping the corners of her eyes.
Due to her recurring headaches, the princess had been unable to manage household affairs recently. When she learned from Gu Momo that You Yuji had left for Guining1Guining (归宁) refers to the traditional Chinese custom where a married woman returns to her natal home to visit her parents, usually shortly after the wedding. alone, You Yuji’s carriage had already been gone for a long time. The princess, furious and enduring her headache, went directly to Chen Anzhi’s room and dragged him out of bed.
“Mother! Mother, why are you here!” Chen Anzhi woke up instantly from his drowsiness.
“If you still recognize me as your mother, leave for the You family immediately!”
“What did she say to you again…” Seeing his mother’s terrible complexion, Chen Anzhi wisely shut his mouth. He hurriedly ordered the maids to bring water and efficiently washed up and changed clothes before boarding another carriage heading to the You family.
Getting closer to home, You Yuji lifted the curtain and looked at the familiar street scenes outside.
Many people recognized the carriage from the Prince of Jinnan’s mansion and crowded around to watch. You Yuji had to lower the curtain again, unable to look outside.
The You family was quite far from the Prince of Jinnan’s mansion, and it was already past lunchtime when they arrived.
Seeing that they were getting close to home, You Yuji heard familiar voices. Ignoring the onlookers, she lifted the curtain again and saw her younger brother.
“Jiamu!”
You Jiamu turned his head, his eyes sparkling, and he instantly smiled brightly. At eleven years old, he was taller and stronger than his peers, like a brave little bull. He had been riding his horse back and forth on the street in front, waiting for his sister to return home.
He immediately rode over and handed a lotus leaf-wrapped package through the carriage window to You Yuji.
Surprised, You Yuji opened it and found roasted sweet potatoes inside. She couldn’t help but laugh and cry, looking at her brother. “Doesn’t it burn when you hide it in your clothes like that?”
You Jiamu shook his head and rubbed his chest with his hand.
“Hurry and eat it while it’s hot!”
You Yuji nodded gently and took a small bite of the roasted potato, which was warm and sweet.
It had only been four days since she left home, but standing in the courtyard now, memories flooded her mind, leaving her with mixed emotions. In truth, her family had only moved here less than two years ago, not a long time. But because her family was here, this place was filled with deep emotions and was home.
Seeing You Yuji return alone, Liu Momo, who was beside her mother, couldn’t help but darken her gaze. She quickly smiled again and said, “Miss has returned home. Madam was thinking about you this morning!”
You Yuji walked quickly inside while asking, “Is Mother awake?”
“She was awake for a while this morning, but she’s sleeping again now…”
Despite having prepared herself mentally, You Yuji couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. She quickly entered the room, sat down by the bed, and gazed at her mother. Her mother’s thin face was devoid of any color.
You Yuji leaned down, rubbing her cheek against her mother’s hand, and gently said, “Mother, your daughter is back.”
Feeling her mother’s fingers move slightly, You Yuji hurriedly looked up and saw her mother opening her eyes and looking at her tenderly.
“Mother is awake!” You Yuji immediately smiled happily, but tears streamed down her face.
Her mother nodded weakly, her heavy eyelids closing again.
Even if her mother was only awake for a brief moment, You Yuji was satisfied. She took off her outer garments and shoes, lay down on the outside of the bed, held her mother’s hand, and quietly nestled beside her for the entire afternoon.
You Jiamu stood at the door watching for a while before quietly withdrawing, instructing everyone not to disturb them. He found Baohe and asked, “Are the people in the prince’s residence bullying my sister?”
Baohe hesitated for a moment, about to speak, but You Jiamu interrupted her.
“Never mind, you don’t need to say anything.”
He already knew; everyone in the capital knew.
In the late afternoon, Chen Anzhi finally arrived. Learning that You Yuji had fallen asleep by her mother’s side and understanding her mother’s condition, he didn’t mind. As the only male in the You family, You Jiamu had to entertain Chen Anzhi.
You Jiamu took Chen Anzhi to fish by the lake in the backyard.
Chen Anzhi didn’t like fishing but forced himself to pass the time.
You Jiamu didn’t like fishing either.
When their father was alive, he would happily force You Jiamu to accompany him fishing. Their father would say, “You are so impatient, you should come fish with me to cultivate patience. Hahaha…”
His father’s laughter seemed to still echo in his ears, and You Jiamu gradually tightened his grip on the fishing rod.
Yes, he needed to be more patient. He not only wanted to kill Chen Anzhi but also escape unscathed and take his sister back to the grasslands. In just four or five days, the seeds of hatred had taken root in his heart, growing wildly.
Do not underestimate the young men of the You family.
“Are we going to fish here all the time?” Chen Anzhi asked, growing a bit impatient.
You Jiamu looked up, pulling up the corners of his mouth in a pure, innocent smile. “Brother-in-law, my teacher left me some assignments, and there are parts I don’t understand. Could you help me?”
“Of course.”
“Brother-in-law is so kind.” You Jiamu’s smile became even more radiant.
In the evening, Si Que asked Liufeng to fetch You Yuji.
“Your Highness, the lady is not in the residence. She went back to her family today with the young master. The You family is quite far, so even if they return, it will be at night,” Liufeng pondered for a moment. “The lady might stay at the You family residence for the night and come back tomorrow.”
Si Que lowered his gaze, his eyes falling on his bandaged left hand.
Today was the last day to detoxify her; if she wasn’t here, wouldn’t his blood be wasted?
After a long while, Si Que softly murmured, “How worrisome…”
He slowly walked downstairs and took a bamboo hat.
