The next morning.
You Yue, along with Mei Lan and others, helped Lin Qinghe with her morning routine of washing up and grooming. Lin Qinghe then said to You Yue with a smile, "Let's go, we'll go see your brother. Imperial Physician Zhang is coming today to change his dressing, to see how his injuries are healing."
You Yue served Lin Qinghe, feeling very apprehensive at first. However, it was already morning, and Lin Qinghe was not as difficult to serve as the rumors suggested. On the contrary, she was quite kind to the palace attendants.
The worry that had been weighing on her heart finally eased.
You Yue's eyes lit up, and she nodded emphatically, "Yes, Your Highness, this servant will accompany you to see my brother immediately."
"Mm, let's go."
Upon arriving at the side hall, Imperial Physician Zhang had already changed You Rong's dressing. You Rong's complexion was much better than in the past few days, and he was able to sit up with support.
When Lin Qinghe entered, Imperial Physician Zhang and the others immediately bowed, "Your servant greets Your Highness."
"This servant greets Your Highness..."
Lin Qinghe quickly stopped You Rong from bowing, "I have told you several times, you are injured, there is no need for so many courtesies."
You Rong pursed his thin lips, "Your Highness, this servant cannot neglect proper etiquette."
Lin Qinghe knitted her brows, sighed, and was too lazy to lecture You Rong any further. No matter how much she said, he wouldn't listen.
Lin Qinghe's gaze fell on Imperial Physician Zhang, and she asked, "Imperial Physician Zhang, how are You Rong's injuries? Are they serious? How long will it take for him to fully recover?"
Imperial Physician Zhang replied, "You Rong's injuries are no longer a major concern. With about another half a month of rest, he will fully recover."
"That is excellent," Lin Qinghe nodded with satisfaction.
Suddenly, Lin Qinghe remembered something. She looked thoughtfully at You Rong for a moment, then asked again, "Oh, right, Imperial Physician Zhang, You Rong is so severely injured, he's bound to have scars. Is there any medicine to remove scars?"
Imperial Physician Zhang pondered for a moment, then said, "Reporting to Your Highness, yes, there is. The medicine that can remove scars is Sheng Ji Gao (Muscle-Regenerating Paste). However, this Sheng Ji Gao is extremely rare, with only ten bottles received annually as tribute from foreign lands. It is too precious. Furthermore, You Rong's injured area is quite large, and several bottles might be needed."
Lin Qinghe turned to ask Mei Lan, "Does my personal treasury have any Sheng Ji Gao?"
Mei Lan replied, "Reporting to Your Highness, yes. In the early spring this year, His Majesty bestowed two bottles upon you."
"Take them out for You Rong to use later. If two bottles are not enough, this princess will ask my father Emperor for more," Lin Qinghe said.
Her generosity made everyone present tremble inwardly. Lin Qinghe showed no sign of reluctance, as if she were not giving away a priceless medicinal paste but merely bestowing some pastries upon You Rong.
Imperial Physician Zhang seemed to want to say something but hesitated, eventually swallowing the words back.
He had personally witnessed how much Lin Qinghe cared for You Rong during this period. She had him consume numerous precious tonics like thousand-year-old ginseng, and she would not be stingy with the Sheng Ji Gao either.
You Rong's eyes flickered, and he cupped his hands, "Sheng Ji Gao is too precious. This servant's status is humble, I cannot accept it. Please, Your Highness, withdraw your command."
Lin Qinghe said dismissively, "It's just a medicinal paste, how precious can it be? I said for you to use it, so you will use it. Besides... this princess wants to make amends for the mistakes she has made. Are you unwilling to give this princess an opportunity to atone?"
"This servant... this servant dares not!"
Lin Qinghe raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Then it is settled. Use the Sheng Ji Gao with peace of mind."
You Rong had no other choice, so he said, "Yes, this servant thanks Your Highness for the bestowed gift."
Lin Qinghe smiled with satisfaction and asked Mei Lan to escort Imperial Physician Zhang out. Then, she said to You Rong with a smile, "You haven't had breakfast yet, you must be hungry. This princess will have someone serve food in."
Lin Qinghe ordered Zhu Ju to bring the meal to You Rong's room. She personally served a bowl of porridge to You Rong, "This is porridge made with red dates and medicinal herbs. It's good for replenishing qi and blood. Eat more. You are injured, so it's good to supplement your strength."
You Rong looked at the porridge Lin Qinghe offered him, and subtly frowned, "Your Highness, this servant is a subordinate. It is inappropriate to dine with you."
"What is inappropriate about it? This princess doesn't feel anything is inappropriate. The porridge is just right, not too hot, not too cold. Eat it quickly, or it will get cold."
"This servant..."
Lin Qinghe didn't give You Rong a chance to refuse, and directly fed him a spoonful of porridge.
Seeing You Rong's expression change, wanting to spit it out, feeling it was inappropriate to swallow, caught between a rock and a hard place, Lin Qinghe secretly found it amusing.
Lin Qinghe deliberately asked, "Why aren't you eating? Is it not to your liking?"
You Rong forced himself to swallow, "No... no, it tastes very good."
"That's good, eat a little more."
Seeing that Lin Qinghe was about to feed him porridge again, You Rong quickly said, "How can I trouble Your Highness to feed this servant? This servant will do it himself!"
Lin Qinghe didn't insist. She feared that if she truly fed You Rong spoonful by spoonful, he might be able to swallow it, but he would likely suffer indigestion.
Lin Qinghe turned to look at a stunned You Yue and called out, "You Yue, come and feed You Rong the porridge."
You Yue snapped back to attention and quickly replied, "Yes, Your Highness, this servant will feed my brother the porridge."
Handing the bowl in her hand to You Yue, Lin Qinghe returned to sit at the table in the hall and calmly began her breakfast.
Everyone in the hall was secretly shocked. Did Lin Qinghe specifically have food sent to the side hall so that she could have breakfast with You Rong?
After finishing her breakfast, Lin Qinghe left.
You Yue remained in the side hall. Seeing Lin Qinghe leave, she said with a look of shock, "Brother, the Princess is acting very strangely towards you. She even fed you porridge herself. I've never seen any master treat a servant so well. What do you think... could the Fifth Princess be in love with you?"
You Rong choked on the porridge he had just swallowed and coughed violently, his face turning red.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Seeing this, You Yue quickly patted You Rong's back, "Brother, are you alright?"
You Rong finally recovered. He put on a stern face and said seriously, "Yue'er, one must be careful with their words and actions in the palace. You must never say such things again in the future!"
You Yue replied aggrievedly, "Yes... Brother, I understand. But... the Fifth Princess really does seem to like you..."
You Rong pursed his lips and remained silent, his eyes lowered, his mind in turmoil.
For a dignified princess to fall for a servant, a eunuch, how was that possible!
You Rong was certain that Lin Qinghe must have some ulterior motive!
However, for the next half a month, Lin Qinghe treated You Rong and You Yue extremely well. She was so good that they were even allowed to dine together, and various tonics and precious items were constantly sent to the side hall.
This shocked all the palace attendants in Yao Hua Palace. Wasn't the Fifth Princess previously taking pleasure in tormenting You Rong every day? Why was her attitude towards him so completely different all of a sudden?
You Rong's injuries had completely healed. Lin Qinghe sat on a soft couch, her face etched with worry.
She had been treating You Rong with the best food and drink every day, to the extent of holding him in her hand for fear of dropping him and holding him in her mouth for fear of him melting. Yet, the progress bar remained completely still.
Could it be... that she needed to find a way to help You Rong become the Chief Eunuch for the progress bar to increase?