You Rong's body froze. He abruptly opened his eyes, his pupils constricting, his entire being rigid. His pale face displayed a visceral disgust.
The hand on his forehead made him feel utterly nauseous!
Still groggy from sleep, Lin Qinghe, unaware You Rong was awake, continued to murmur to herself, "Should I have Mei Lan fetch Imperial Physician Zhang again to examine You Rong a second time..."
As she spoke, she lowered her head.
Suddenly meeting You Rong's icy gaze, she startled and quickly withdrew her hand.
In an instant, the side hall fell into a profound silence.
Lin Qinghe wanted to say something, but didn't know where to begin with You Rong, feeling immensely awkward.
After a long pause, she finally managed to squeeze out, "You're awake? How do you feel? Does the injury hurt badly?"
Within moments, You Rong had collected his scattered thoughts and struggled to rise from the bed to pay his respects. However, the movement aggravated his wounds, and before he could get up, a pained grimace bleached his face white.
Seeing this, Lin Qinghe quickly said, "Your injuries are too severe, you cannot get up yet. There is no need to pay respects. Just lie down."
You Rong lowered his gaze and respectfully replied, "Yes, this servant thanks Your Highness, the Princess."
"Uh..." Lin Qinghe's mind raced, trying to think of what to say. After much deliberation, facing You Rong's battered body, it was difficult to speak.
Could she just blurt out, "I was wrong, I like you now, marry me"?
Not only would You Rong not believe it, but if word got out, people would think she was possessed by an evil spirit and burn her at the stake.
Just as she was contemplating, Mei Lan called from outside the hall, "Your Highness, this servant has warmed the porridge as you instructed and brought it."
Lin Qinghe's senses returned with a jolt. "Come in."
Mei Lan entered the hall. Lin Qinghe looked at You Rong, then at Mei Lan, and commanded, "You Rong has been unconscious for many days and has not eaten. He must be hungry. And he is severely injured, so you feed him some porridge."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Mei Lan approached the bed, picked up a spoon, scooped some porridge, and held it out to You Rong. "You Rong, please eat some."
You Rong's thoughts swirled inwardly. He subtly surveyed his surroundings and, realizing he was in a side hall, felt astonished.
Why would Lin Qinghe have him stay in a side hall of Yaohua Palace? And have someone feed him porridge? What was she plotting now?
But no matter what her scheme, even if the porridge contained deadly poison, he had to drink it, for he was now a lowly servant.
You Rong swallowed two mouthfuls with difficulty. Mei Lan's hand trembled slightly, spilling some porridge onto him. He let out a muffled groan of pain, his face alarmingly pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead from the agony.
Lin Qinghe's heart tightened. She reprimanded, "Mei Lan! How could you be so careless!"
Mei Lan, on the verge of tears, knelt down. "Your Highness, this servant knows her mistake. This servant is clumsy and cannot even feed You Rong properly. This servant deserves to die, please forgive Your Highness..."
Lin Qinghe swiftly stepped forward and gently wiped You Rong clean with a fresh handkerchief.
Fortunately, the bandages had been wrapped multiple layers, so they were not soaked through, and the wound should not have been exposed to water.
Seeing Mei Lan weeping profusely, Lin Qinghe couldn't help but frown. "Enough, stop crying! Give the porridge to this Princess. I will feed You Rong myself. You go to the Imperial Physician's office and fetch Imperial Physician Zhang. Tell him You Rong is awake and ask him to examine him again."
Mei Lan quickly handed the porridge over with both hands. "Yes, Your Highness, this servant will go now."
You Rong's suspicion deepened.
She even wanted to invite an imperial physician to see him. It seemed this was not the first time; she had also summoned an imperial physician to treat him when he was unconscious.
What was she really up to?
Or... was Lin Chenrui instructing her?
Lin Qinghe stirred the porridge in the bowl with the spoon, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it gently, and brought it to You Rong's lips. "Come... eat slowly."
You Rong slightly turned his face away, his deep eyes unreadable. After a moment, he replied, "Your Highness must not do this. This servant is merely a eunuch, of humble status, and cannot trouble Your Highness to stoop so low. Please put it down, this servant will eat himself."
Saying this, You Rong struggled to get up. Seeing this, Lin Qinghe quickly said, "No! Lie down and don't move. Your injuries are too severe, you cannot move yet!"
You Rong gritted his teeth and still tried to insist on getting up.
Noticing that some of the bandages on his wounds were starting to seep blood, Lin Qinghe, left with no other option, said sternly, "Lie down and do not move. This is this Princess's command! Do you, a mere servant, refuse to obey your master's orders!"
Perhaps due to his struggle and realizing he was too injured to get up, or perhaps because Lin Qinghe's threat had worked, You Rong lowered his gaze again and said, "Yes, this servant obeys. Thank you for Your Highness's concern."
Lin Qinghe breathed a sigh of relief and brought the spoon to You Rong's lips again. "...Eat."
You Rong opened his mouth obediently and ate the porridge. In just a quarter of an hour, the bowl was empty.
Lin Qinghe put down the bowl with satisfaction. "You haven't eaten for several days, so you cannot eat too much at once. Drink some porridge first, and in an hour, have some ginseng soup."
"Your Highness, there is no need. This servant's humble status does not warrant such precious things. Also, it is truly unsuitable for this servant to stay in the side hall of Yaohua Palace. Please allow this servant to return to his own quarters."
Just as Lin Qinghe was about to speak, Mei Lan's voice came from outside.
"Your Highness, Imperial Physician Zhang has arrived."
Lin Qinghe, resigned, retracted her words and said to You Rong, "Let Imperial Physician Zhang examine your injuries first. We can talk later."
Saying this, she called out, "Please invite Imperial Physician Zhang in."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After Imperial Physician Zhang entered, he felt You Rong's pulse, removed the bandages, and changed the dressing. Once he finished, Imperial Physician Zhang cupped his hands. "Your Highness, You Rong is no longer in serious danger. His wounds only need proper care from now on, and he will fully recover in no time."
Lin Qinghe nodded. "This Princess understands. Thank you, Imperial Physician Zhang. You may withdraw."
"Yes, your humble servant takes his leave."
After Imperial Physician Zhang departed, Lin Qinghe looked at Mei Lan and Zhu Ju and said softly, "You two may also withdraw for now."
Mei Lan and Zhu Ju exchanged glances, not daring to object. They curtsied and left together.
The side hall was once again empty except for Lin Qinghe and You Rong. The room was quiet, the atmosphere inexplicably awkward.
Lin Qinghe narrowed her eyes, her thoughts churning, a cunning glint flashing in their depths.
She sighed, sat on the chair by You Rong's bed, and looked at him with a hint of sorrow in her eyes. She said in a low voice, "Do you hate this Princess? Hate that this Princess treated you so cruelly?"
You Rong's face betrayed no emotion. "This servant dares not!"
Lin Qinghe gave a bitter laugh. "Tell me the truth. If you tell me the truth... this Princess will not punish you again, and will never be so wicked towards you again."
"Your Highness, this servant speaks the truth. The Princess is the master. If she wishes for this servant's life, this servant will have no complaints."
You Rong's words were pleasant, but Lin Qinghe naturally did not believe him.
He was probably thinking of tearing her limb from limb!
Lin Qinghe's face was full of bitterness. "You Rong, do you know why this Princess was so cruel to you? It is because, it is because I resent you. I resent that you do not know... do not know that this Princess... loves you!"