Chapter 07: The Holy Physician

I, I... she was stunned, standing there at a loss.

This is a small town at the foot of Mount Shaoshi, where Brother Xie saved you

Li Yue lay languidly on the bed

What are you still standing there for

Suddenly shaken, the color drained from her face as she held her sister tightly, her arms gradually tightening around her... Her heart was in turmoil.

Why is it you? Why... Unable to resist, I reached out my finger to trace across Li Yuejiao's beautiful face, which, even in illness, did not diminish her grace.

A handkerchief was handed to her, and Xie Junkai's expressionless face was completely at odds with his gentle and considerate actions at that moment. Li Yue smiled at him gratefully, reached out to take the handkerchief, but did not use it to wipe her mouth

Li Yue was astonished, unable to believe that the usually well-mannered Princess Tong would utter such words

Thank you, big brother

She leaned against the window frame, recalling the conflict with him from a few days ago, feeling quite embarrassed

Why did she exhaust all her efforts to escape from the deep palace, only to inadvertently step into the chaotic quagmire of the martial world? Where exactly is the peaceful life she longs for, free from worldly disputes?

He led her to stand a little farther away, and then lowered his voice to instruct: "You first take a pair to fry, remember, three bowls of water should be boiled down to one bowl."

Sister

She couldn't help but feel a pang in her heart, wondering how Qie Yang was doing now

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked with a smile that was not quite a smile.

Sister, I am no longer a princess. Moreover, for the sake of Brother Xie, I... I would rather not be a princess!

She did not turn back, lightly laughing to herself: "Tong'er, do you still remember that we said we would go to Luoyang to admire the flowers..." Turning around, her smile suddenly froze on her face

After drinking water, Li Yue fell into a deep sleep once again. Outside the window, dark clouds had gathered in large patches, and occasionally, a dull rumble of thunder could be heard

However ... ...

"The doctor can treat the illness, but cannot save the life!" The masterful physician said coldly, "Life is her own; if she does not wish to live, no one can save her!"

Better not to be a princess

Li Yue waved her hand to take the bowl of medicine from her sister, and with a defiant tilt of her head, she drank the dark, thick medicinal liquid to the last drop

"How come you are here? You, you should be inside the imperial city of Chang'an..." Li Yue asked hoarsely, her eyes wide open.

He insisted that Li Tong pour out the medicine. She hesitated, holding the bowl of medicine, when Li Yue suddenly said: "Bring it here, I will drink it"

"Don't cry..." A slightly hoarse voice rang in her ears. Although the voice was low, it startled her greatly. Li Yue, lying on the bed, was weakly gazing at her with open eyes. "Tong'er, I'm fine, don't cry... cough..." She suddenly coughed as she struggled to catch her breath.

She anxiously glanced at the charming figure on the bed

The continuous rain falls gently, and the sky is overcast, showing no signs of the rain coming to an end.

This is not a dream! She is still outside the palace, she is still free! ... It's just ...

The Tang Dynasty esteemed women for their plumpness as a standard of beauty. Every woman he had encountered was round and radiant, except for her—he had taken her pulse and knew that this seemingly resilient and skilled young woman was, at her core, a piece of decayed wood, slowly hollowed out and corroded.

Li Tong reached out to take the prescription, her hands trembling slightly

Sister's health is still weak, so it is important to take good care of yourself. When you are well again, Tong'er will inform you of all the details. Li Tong was reluctant to say more, gently helping her lie down, covering her with a light blanket, and soothing her with soft words

Li Tong gazed at her baby-like sleeping smile, feeling a moment of daze, and within her heart, she faintly sensed a pang of pain

Li Yue draped herself in a lotus-colored cloak, wearing only a single garment underneath. Her long hair cascaded down to her waist as she stood by the window, listening to the gentle sound of the rain outside. Gazing out from the window, she could faintly see the majestic Shaoshi Mountain towering among the surrounding peaks.

Here are twenty taels of silver, which should be sufficient for your expenses over the next few days

Oh, good..." She quickly darted into the inner room, her heart pounding as if it were about to leap out.

"What are you doing!" A voice filled with authority reprimanded, leaving Li Yue in shock. By the time she reacted, a man had forcefully pushed her back onto the bed, firmly pinning her shoulders down. "Do you still want to live?!"

There was no echo in the room, and she cautiously peeked in, only to be momentarily stunned.

Her heart trembled, and in a daze, Xie Junkai's face unexpectedly transformed into Xie Yang

What is Jianghu

The illusion before her suddenly vanished, and Li Yue shivered, her heart sinking in an instant, her expression slightly despondent, left speechless in melancholy

He placed the medicine bowl on the table: "The medicine has cooled; its efficacy will diminish, and it will be of no benefit to your body, but rather may cause harm."

Her tears streamed down.

What exactly is it

I am not going to enjoy the mountains, I just want to ... ...

Rest assured, I will be back very soon

She originally thought that Cao Huan would protect Li Tong and ensure her safe return to the palace, but unexpectedly, they met at the foot of Mount Shaoshi in Henan, and she...! ... She was actually still infatuated with a man of humble status, a commoner!

His brows furrowed, and his gaze involuntarily lingered on her frail and slender figure

Tong'er! Li Yue's mind seemed to have become much clearer. She asked nervously, "Why are you here? Where is this place?"

She wore a look of distraction, leaning dejectedly by the window, lost in thought

Just like when she encountered Xie Yang, did it not also ... ...

Thank you for your concern, young master. However, her tone was indifferent, as if she did not take his words too seriously

She stared blankly at his busy figure, a hint of jealousy passing through her heart—he actually took the initiative to prepare medicine for her to drink

She suddenly felt extremely embarrassed. As a princess, she had always carried herself with grace, but to behave so ungracefully in front of such a stranger was truly unprecedented.

Creak! The door was gently pushed open, and the footsteps stopped behind.

Xie Junkai's cold eyes revealed a hint of warmth as he fixed his gaze on her, watching her finish the medicine. He then quietly took the empty bowl and left the room.

He had no choice but to stand up from beside the bed and walk in front of her: "Miss Xia, is your medicine ready?"

"I am back!" A crisp and melodious soft female voice accompanied by the lifting of the curtain, as a beautiful young girl rushed in from outside, holding three bags of herbs in her hand, shy yet bashful, "Brother Xie, I have brought the medicine."

"Savior?" Surprised by her sister's unusual reaction, Li Yue suddenly noticed that her face displayed a considerable amount of the shyness and awkwardness typical of a young woman.

Sister, Brother Xie is going to Shaolin this time to handle important matters, not for sightseeing!" Li Tong anxiously grabbed Li Yue's arm, holding it tightly and refusing to let her go to Shaolin.

"Sister..." Li Tong sat on the edge of the bed, taking out a silk handkerchief to gently wipe the medicine stains from the corner of her lips. "Please do not blame Brother Xie for being rude; he is actually... actually a good person..."

He still wore a blue garment, though old, it showed no signs of patches, and it was laundered to a pristine state, free from dust. His broad shoulders leaned against the door frame, and a pair of sharp eyes, keen as an eagle's, gazed deeply at her, causing her to feel an involuntary sense of panic.

After feeding her water, he carefully placed her back onto the bed, his gaze deeply fixed on her

Why go up the mountain? Is it because of concern for Qie Yang? I don't know

What exactly is the reason that this girl, who is clearly in a critical condition, continues to wander the world? With her frail constitution, she truly cannot withstand the turmoil of great winds and waves; she needs to rest and recuperate properly. If she continues to be tossed about, I fear... this decaying body of hers will not last a year.

It has only been a few days since we last met, yet she has become so haggard!

Tong'er! She lifted the thin blanket and stepped barefoot onto the cold floor. Due to her weakness and lack of strength, as soon as her feet touched the ground, her legs began to tremble uncontrollably

Be careful

A slightly magnetic voice rang in her ears, and she suddenly awoke from her panic, hurriedly rushing to the table, picking up the porcelain bowl, and drinking the medicinal liquid in one gulp

Ah! She suddenly withdrew her head

Not long after, she quietly peeked in again and asked in a low voice, "Brother Xie, when will she wake up?"

Sister! Sister... Are you alright?" She hurriedly helped Li Yue to her feet, gently patting her chest, but was instead tightly grasped by her hand.

Medicine, I will endure it again

Li Tong was startled and after a moment hurriedly said: "Brother Xie, please don't... Sister, Brother Xie is a doctor, he saved your life..."

She wiped her lips with the back of her hand, carefully placing the medicine bowl back on the table: "Thank... cough cough, thank you..."

Wait, wait a moment! Li Yue, with an excited expression, chased after them, saying, "Take me with you! I... I..."

Thank you, Brother Xie..." Li Tong took two steps out and stopped at the door, the tears that had filled her eyes finally fell down her cheeks.

No!" she murmured, answering in a daze, "I am not afraid... how could I be afraid of you?"

Xie Junkai turned around suspiciously and stared at her intently. She looked like a helpless child who had lost a candy, gazing blankly at him as he lingered by the door, the damp air making it hard to breathe.

Those eyes seemed to harbor a storm within their pupils. After a long while, he let out a cold smile and released her: "Miss Xia, please dispose of that bowl of prepared medicine."

His surname is Xie, and his name is Xie Junkai. I can assure my sister that he is definitely a good person, because..." She lowered her eyelids, and a sudden flush appeared on her fair cheeks, "He is my savior

Li Yue raised her eyebrows, and a proud princess's temper suddenly flared up, laughing in anger: "My life is mine; whether or not I decide it is none of your business"

Xie Junkai had not yet spoken a word, but Li Yue's expression had already changed dramatically: "What, you are also going to Shaolin?"

She recognized this face, recognized this person—he was the masterful physician whom Qie Yang had repeatedly attempted to provoke at the post station

How can one blame her for this? They live deep within the inner palace, and the only individuals they encounter there, apart from their brothers, are the eunuchs who are neither male nor female. After leaving the palace, when they suddenly meet someone like Xie Junkai, a man with a decent appearance and demeanor, who is also her savior, it is only natural for her to develop feelings for him.

"Tong'er, what has happened?" A strong sense of unease enveloped the heart

Water is here! Open your mouth! He furrowed his brow and helped her up, her body as soft as if it had no bones, her head and neck weakly resting on his shoulder

She sobbed as she threw herself into Li Yue's embrace, and Li Yue could only gently pat her sister's shoulder and comfort her in a soft voice

"Hush." He turned around and made a gesture for silence

Perhaps even Xie Junkae himself did not realize the fleeting joy that crossed his face when Li Yue said she wanted to accompany him

Despite having numerous questions, Li Yue, exhausted in both body and mind, could only temporarily set them aside

Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt both shy and embarrassed as she held the three bags of herbs, unable to move forward or backward. To say that she was indifferent would be nothing but self-deception

"Take your medicine." The cold voice softened considerably, perhaps he was unaware that he had inadvertently shown a measure of tolerance and caution in front of her.

Upon thinking of this, a deep sense of compassion arose in my heart as I saw her standing by the window in a thin garment, exposed to the wind. Xie Junkai, in contrast to his usual indifferent demeanor, gently reminded her, "It's windy; you should put on an extra layer of clothing"

Oh, good. I will go right away! She cast an extremely unnatural glance at Li Yue, who was still in a state of unconsciousness on the bed, and hurriedly walked out.

Because she drank too hastily and quickly, she choked on her throat, coughed twice, and the medicine foam slid down the corner of her lips, dripping onto her chest

No! Xie Junkai resolutely refused

She let out a sigh of relief

"Exorcism", does this "demon" refer to him? ... If so, then he ...

Miss Xia, please take some time to accompany Miss Li. She is in a weak state and has not yet fully recovered. Here is a new prescription I have prepared. I would appreciate it if you could make a trip to the pharmacy and ensure she takes the prescribed dosage daily

A flush of shyness appeared on Tong Er's face, with tear stains still fresh on her cheeks, making her look even more delicate and enchanting like a pear blossom in the rain. "I..." she hesitated, but the implication was clear; Li Yue could easily guess what she meant without needing to spell it out.

Li Yue felt a slight tremor, her heart stirred

Li Tong suddenly stood up, distancing herself from the bed, and retreated indifferently.

The man in front of the bed was gazing intently at the sleeping girl, his eyes soft and uncharacteristic. This focused expression was something she had longed for but had never received.

Suddenly, a wave of inexplicable fear washed over me. Have I returned to the palace? To the Qifeng Pavilion? Could it be that the so-called departure from the palace is merely a fleeting dream?

Although Xie Junkai was speaking to her, every word and sentence seemed to bypass her, as if directed at another person in the room

His face was very close, a countenance that was strikingly proud and unsmiling, with handsome features and a hint of anger lurking in his eyes

I... I don't know what to do, I don't even dare to tell him my real surname, I... I... " Li Tong's voice choked, "Sister... I am so sad..."

Li Tong explained with understanding: "Indeed, Shaolin Temple issued a martial arts invitation half a month ago, inviting heroes and champions from all walks of life to gather at Shaoshi Mountain, claiming that they would discuss a grand plan to eliminate evil. Brother Xie..."

He doesn't know your identity, does he? The prince consort must be appointed by the Empress and His Majesty; otherwise... sigh, do you even realize what you are doing? If he truly gets involved with you, it might instead bring about a fatal disaster!" She was somewhat flustered; her plan to leave the palace did not include involving Li Tong at all.

"Summer girl!" he called out helplessly. Since this morning, she has been absent-minded and distracted.

He followed closely out of the inner room, only to see her sitting on a small stool with a fan in hand, lost in thought, oblivious to the fact that the medicine pot in front of her was already bubbling and about to boil dry

Thank you ... ... Thank you, Da ... ...

He did not notice, but Li Tong saw it very clearly

Li Yue gazed out the window, the figure of Xie Junkai faintly swaying beyond the gauze curtain: "Who exactly is he?"

Hmm. Li Tong felt a pang of bitterness in her heart

Li Tong turned her face to the side, her expression complex and ever-changing, filled with fear, sorrow, pain... and even humiliation

"You go inside and fetch some cooling ointment for the burns, then help take care of that young lady. No need to come out!" He instructed calmly and unhurriedly

You ... ...

He let out a faint sigh in his heart and finally turned to leave

As I left... Xi Junkai casually cast a glance at Li Yue before departing

Her ailment, a congenital deficiency, has its roots in the womb. Over the past decade or so, she must have been carefully nurtured and cared for; otherwise, given her age, she would likely have succumbed many years ago and would not have survived to this day

Li Yue suddenly came to her senses and was astonished to see her in tears. After a while, she could no longer contain herself and asked, "Tong'er, do you perhaps have feelings for that Xie Junkai..."

Tong'er! You are a princess, your status is so noble, how could you...

Standing behind her was not Li Tong, but rather Xie Junkai

"Thank you, Brother Xie..." A timid voice interrupted his words. Li Tong had unknowingly leaned against the doorframe. She was wearing a peach-red high-waisted skirt adorned with flowers, with a long, light veil draped over her shoulders. Her hair was styled in an elegant bun secured with a pearl hairpin, her cheeks were rosy, and her pair of exquisite, large eyes sparkled as they gazed at Xie Jun Kai, smiling gently. "Aren't you supposed to be heading to Shaolin Temple today? Why haven't you set off by noon? I thought you had left early."

"I will leave first..." Xie Junkai suddenly threw out this sentence stiffly. When he strode to the door, he stopped again and instructed in a low voice, "Wait for me at the foot of the mountain, no later than three days, I will come back to find you!"

"Wow, that's hot!" She winced in pain, shaking her hands repeatedly, and the medicine jar fell to the ground with a "bang," shattering into four or five pieces, with the medicinal liquid mixed with residue spilling everywhere

Drowsiness surged over her, and she could no longer resist the fatigue. She closed her eyelids and fell into a deep, hazy sleep

Miss Li... it is time to take your medicine! He calmly handed over the medicine bowl

However, to say that one no longer cares about his well-being at all is self-deception

I ... ...

Oh—she hurried to fetch the medicine pot

Water ... ... Water ... ... '' Her cheeks were as red as two burning clouds, her lips cracked, and the persistent high fever over the past few days had tormented her to the point of losing a whole circle of weight.