Shang Rui felt dizzy and had no appetite. After drinking a bowl of hot ginger soup, his clothes became more comfortable and he inevitably felt sleepy. So he looked at the soft couch under the window and said to Xia Yue, "I'll sleep here for a while. You eat by yourself. When you're done, call me to set off." After saying that, he lay down and fell asleep in less than a moment.
There was no quilt on the couch, and even if there was, he would probably dislike it.
Xia Yue glanced at him and continued to eat her meal. Being able to help him order a bowl of ginger soup was already the greatest kindness she could do as a half-baked doctor.
After a while, the waiter brought the last dish of steamed rice, which made some noise but did not disturb his sleep.
After she had eaten, he still fell asleep.
It was still bright outside, with the sun out, but in spring, the sun seemed bright, but it turned dark in the blink of an eye. She couldn't sit still, so she called out "Hello".
He didn't move.
Xia Yue walked over and wanted to push him to wake him up, but she felt that something was wrong with his face, which was so pale that there was no trace of blood. She touched his hand, which was as cold as ice, and her body shivered imperceptibly.
She knew that this was a sign that the cold air was gathering in his heart and a high fever was about to break out throughout his body.
"Mr. Hong." She tried calling out.
He was already ill when he fell asleep, so of course he couldn't answer her call.
Xia Yue called out again, but he still didn't move. After standing there for a while, she reached out and touched his forehead again, and her body temperature had indeed risen suddenly.
Seeing that he was really sick and unconscious, she couldn't help but take a step back and had other ideas in mind.
Now that she had left the capital easily, and the man in front of her was like this, it was a good opportunity for her to escape.
He Xiang is still in the city, and Gao Xinyu is also hiding in the city. Jade is a thing outside of the body, but He Xiang is a living life. If I abandon her, will she lose her life
However, if she didn't leave now, Zi Jin would have already started the rebellion, and she would be his weak spot.
When she thought of Zi Jin, she glanced at Shang Rui lying on the couch.
He has a face that looks like a member of the Wei family. Is he a friend or an enemy? Is he a relative of the royal family or a descendant of the royal clan? Is his surname really Hong? If not Hong, is his surname Wei
In an instant, Xia Yue recalled the chill in his eyes when he called her "Yu Zhaoyang", which still oppressed her to the point of suffocation. He knew Yu Zhaoyang, so he would be able to trace the clues to Zijin, not to mention that he had seen her Gao Xinyu.
Even if it was just a chance, she couldn't take the risk with Zi Jin.
As she thought about this, she touched the hairpin hidden on her chest.
At this moment, should she kill him by surprise
Thinking of this, her hands began to tremble, and she could not help but hold the golden hairpin tightly in her hand. She had some knowledge of medicine and knew where the weak spot was. Although she could not guarantee a fatal blow, she could at least give him a few more blows.
But it is easier said than done. She has lived for so long and has never killed even a chicken, let alone a living person.
While she was struggling in her heart, Shang Rui on the couch was probably confused by the fever, and he even called out like a child, "Mom."
She was startled.
Yes, he might be just an irrelevant person, with a father, a mother, and maybe a wife and children. How could she kill him indiscriminately just because of his face and the fact that he knew her real name
What's more, he had saved her. How could she be such a sinister villain who repays kindness with enmity and takes lives lightly
She wanted to give him his life, so she couldn't kill him.
Xia Yue seemed relieved by the reason she had found. She took several steps back, then turned around, opened the door and walked out.
Yao Chuang's heart was finally at ease. He winked at the person beside him and asked someone to follow Xia Yue. Then he carefully went into the house to check on Shang Rui's situation himself.
Yao Chuang was at a loss for a moment. If Xia Yue really wanted to escape, how could they keep her? Was it really like Shang Rui had instructed last time, that they only needed to keep her alive
Xia Yue was afraid of being suspected by others, so she calmly walked downstairs. The lobby on the first floor was very lively, and no one paid any attention to her. Even the young man who had just walked by didn't know where he had gone. She walked to the stable outside without looking around and led her horse.
Before leaving, she turned around and glanced at the second-floor window. She thought the waiter would bring him the dried clothes in a while, and seeing his condition, he would definitely ask someone to see a doctor for him.
She didn't ride the horse immediately for fear of attracting attention, but led it along the road, walking slowly. Firstly, she was afraid of getting lost, and secondly, she was sure that with Shang Rui in that state, it would be difficult for him to wake up, let alone chase her.
She looked back at the inn again.
He is so young and strong, and looks in good health. He should not die from a high fever.
But what if the young man and the shopkeeper are both evil-minded and, seeing that I have run away and the one left behind is unconscious, they just carry him out and throw him away, what should I do
She didn't kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of her.
Xia Yue suddenly remembered his hands that were frozen for her, and the raindrops that dripped down his nose in the cave on the black cliff.
She walked a little way and then climbed back onto the horse.
Her heart seemed to be entangled by something, becoming more and more tightly entangled, layer after layer, making it hard for her to breathe.
At this moment, it was as if a drop of water fell on it, such a small wet ball, but it spread out layer by layer, gradually seeping into the deep, the cool and cold touch touched her heart, and for a moment, there seemed to be a crack, and a gentle breeze penetrated into her heart.
She rode on the horse, turned around to look at the way she came, took a deep breath of the wind blowing towards her face, pulled the reins and turned back the way she came.
She told herself that she owed him a life in the matter of the blood magpie, and now she should pay it back first.
six
Xia Yue's return so quickly caught Yao Chuang off guard. He didn't know Xia Yue's intention, and didn't dare to risk Shang Rui's safety. He let them be alone together again, and then he jumped lightly and hid on the roof beam.
She went back into the room and touched Shang Rui's forehead.
It was already incredibly hot.
He began to mutter, but it was unclear what he was saying.
Xia Yue asked the waiter to find him a quilt to cover him, and then she went to get a basin of cold water, soaked a handkerchief with it, and put it on his forehead. His head was completely different from his limbs, like ice and fire, so he shivered from time to time due to the torture.
Seeing him like this, the young man couldn't help but ask, "He's so cold, does he want another quilt?"
Xia Yue shook her head: "He just has a high fever so he feels cold. Covering him too much is not good."
The waiter asked enthusiastically, "Do you want me to get him a hot water bottle?"
Xia Yue touched his cold hands and replied, "His body is burning. This kind of illness needs to be cured by dissipating the heat. The hot water bottle is too strong." As she spoke, she warmed his hands in her warm palms without caring that the waiter was still beside her.
But his fingers were so long that she couldn't even cover half of them, so she had to rub them back and forth.
The young man thought the two must be a couple and didn't think much about it.
Xia Yue said again: "Brother, please help us find a car to take us into the city."
The young man thought about it and realized that this place was in the wilderness, with no doctors or medicine, and it was definitely not as convenient as in the city. He said, "But, this carriage..."
Xia Yue understood what he meant. She didn't bring any money with her when she went out, and she didn't notice where Shang Rui put his purse after changing his clothes. She could only hand the gold hairpin in her arms to the young man: "I don't have any money with me, do you think this will work? I'd also like you to find two people to help me carry him downstairs."
The young man's heart skipped a beat: "Girl, your jewelry is too expensive. It's okay, but you definitely can't afford so much."
She had not originally planned to keep the hairpin. If she had escaped, she would have used it as travel expenses. She thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you cut off a corner of it and give me the rest."
The clerk thought this was a good idea. He weighed it in his hand and was about to ask the shopkeeper for advice. But he couldn't help asking, "Wouldn't it be a pity to cut such a beautiful piece of jewelry?"
Xia Yue rubbed the cold hands in his palms without even raising his eyelids: "Why should I feel sorry for my possessions?" He bought these things with his own money anyway, and it might as well be used to save his life.
"Oh, by the way, I have two more horses. You take care of them first. Someone will come to pick them up in a few days." Xia Yue added.
After a while, the boy found someone and a car, lifted Shang Rui into the car, and did not forget to hand her the dried clothes.
The young man said, "This guy has taken over your job, you just need to tell him the way."
Following the waiter's words, Xia Yue looked at the driver. He was a very strong middle-aged man, but he did not look very comfortable. Especially when the waiter handed Shang Rui's clothes to her, his eyes lit up when he saw the flawless white jade waist buckle.
She was cautious and asked the waiter, "Isn't this guy from your store?" If he was running a legitimate business, she would not be afraid.
The clerk replied, "The carriage in our store is for delivery, and we're afraid it's not suitable for you to sit in. This guy often comes here to buy wine, and when he heard we were looking for a carriage, he said he had one. But don't worry, the shopkeeper has already paid for the carriage."
Ever since Wang Gan's incident, she has become very sensitive to these details and has become very timid.
For a moment, she hesitated.
Xia Yue looked at Shang Rui in the car. She wanted to ask the driver to take him to the city. She parted ways with him halfway, but now she was afraid that it would not work. If she left him alone, if the other party had any bad intentions, he would be at the mercy of others.
She looked at the broken gold hairpin that the shop assistant returned to her, and felt like crying but had no tears. The shopkeeper probably thought that the hairpin was delicate and it would be bad if it was missing any part, so he simply removed the hairpin stem and left her with only the hairpin head, which was definitely not good enough for self-defense.
She left Shang Rui in the car and asked the waiter to take care of him. She made an excuse that she had to go to the toilet, took the opportunity to go into the kitchen and asked for a small knife to hide on her body, and then got into the car.
Yao Chuang watched her struggling from afar, and his mood became complicated.
Shang Rui was quite tall, and the carriage was not big enough for him to lie flat, so he had to sit sideways. However, the wheels of the carriage were very crude, and the driver's driving skills were not very good. The carriage was shaking and swaying, and his head kept hitting the wooden board on the side. Xia Yue was frightened watching from the side, and was afraid that his brain would not be burned out, but would be confused, so she quickly held his head in her arms.
His head was still burning hot, his eyes were tightly shut, and his lips were plump and red from the fever.
She was very afraid of people around her having a fever like this. Zi Jin had her ears burned in this way, and she was traumatized by this since she was a child, and she still has lingering fears.
Xia Yue sighed softly and changed the wet towel covering his forehead.
But he was so hot that even the cold handkerchief was warmed up. There was no water in the car, so he could only put the handkerchief in the wind to cool down before putting it back on.
She didn't dare to lower the curtains. She kept staring nervously outside the car, fearing that the driver would drag them to some remote place. She couldn't help but touch the knife hidden behind her. After making sure it was still there, she felt a little relieved and held Shang Rui's hand in her palm and breathed on it.
Repeat this many times.
They rode fast out without feeling anything and felt relaxed, but they never expected the journey back would be so long.
She kept her nerves tense for a long time, watching the sky outside the window gradually darken and finally become chaotic.
Suddenly, the person in his arms moved, and in a daze he said, "I want to drink some water."
The high fever made his voice hoarse, and his voice was mumbling. She only heard the word "water" at the end, and said, "I forgot to prepare some water. You have to bear with it."
Hearing this voice in a daze, Shang Rui was startled and regained consciousness. He immediately realized that he had said something wrong. He looked around suspiciously, and after a moment, he closed his eyes again.
Xia Yue thought he was awake, and felt very embarrassed thinking about how they were snuggling together so intimately. She mustered up the courage to lower her head and look at him, but found that he didn't open his eyes at all. She thought he was probably still talking nonsense in his dream, so she turned the handkerchief over her forehead again.
Then, she began to rub his cold hands.
Shang Rui closed his eyes, somewhat reluctant to open them.
Everything went smoothly along the way, and Xia Yue felt relieved.
After entering the city, she let go of Shang Rui, lifted the door curtain in front, gave directions to the coachman, and went directly to Li Ji's house.
When they arrived at the gate of Li's house, she politely asked the driver to knock on the door. She turned around and found that he was awake and sitting upright in the carriage.
She looked at him, not knowing where to begin to tell him about the experience. She moved her lips and was about to speak, but was interrupted by the doorman who came hurriedly.
When Li Ji heard the news, his face changed and he came out of the mansion to greet him.
Shang Rui supported his head, lifted the bamboo curtain of the carriage and got out.
She returned to her yard, and no one came to tell her what happened to him later. Seeing the way he got out of the car and walked, she thought that as long as Li Ji was there, he would be fine.
What she didn't know was that Shang Rui did not go back, but stayed at Li Ji's house.
Shang Rui said to Li Ji, "It's not a serious illness. You can just give me some medicine here, otherwise I'll have to go back and ask the imperial physician to record the file and ask questions. This will alarm the empress and the queen mother, and they'll start nagging again."
However, not long after taking the medicine, he had another high fever.
Ming Lian, who had waited for Shang Rui for a whole day in Li Ji's house, muttered with tears in his eyes: "He was fine when he left home this morning, how could he be so sick? How can I explain it when I return to the palace this time?"
Li Ji explained: "The emperor has been working hard for days and has not taken care of his food or sleep. He has become ill due to overwork and has also caught a cold, which is why he has such a severe fever."
Li Ji asked again: "Master Yao, where did you and the emperor go?"
Yao Chuang didn't dare to answer. How could he say anything without Shang Rui's approval
Ming Lian hesitated: "Are we going back to the palace now?"
Yao Chuang said, "The emperor just said that he will not go back yet, so we have to stay here with Lord Li for now." He is a stubborn person and he does whatever Shang Rui says.
Shang Rui was burned so hard that his entire body was cold and trembling. He felt better only after Li Ji gave him two acupuncture treatments.
When He Xiang went to the backyard kitchen, she heard the sound of decocting medicine, so she came back and told Xia Yue: "Miss, should we go take a look?"
"Look at what he is doing? If it weren't for him, I would have run away long ago. I regret it so much now." She told He Xiang the whole story, except for the part where she wanted to kill him.
"And you," Xia Yue poked her head with her finger again, "I told you to leave earlier but you didn't listen. What if I'm cruel enough to ignore him today and leave you alone?"
He Xiang smiled and said, "If the young lady finds the young master and tells me something in a dream, I will run away."
"Pfft, pfft, pfft," Xia Yue said, "Only dead people can send messages in dreams. You must hate me so much to want me to send messages in your dreams."
He Xiang giggled non-stop.
When the two were laughing in the room, someone came to the door: "Miss Min."
A young boy's voice, not quite familiar.
"Ms. Min, are you resting?" Seeing that Xia Yue did not respond, the other party asked again politely.
He Xiang went to open the door and found that the person coming was Ming Lian.
Ming Lian didn't dare to enter the house and stopped at the door.
"What's wrong?" Xia Yue asked in the inner room behind the screen.
Ming Lian bowed deeply and said, "My master kept repeating your name, please go and have a look."
Xia Yue was stunned when she heard that. If this person was sick, he should look for Li Ji. If he was not seriously ill, he should go back to his home. Why was he looking for her
"Is there anything I can do for you? I'm going to bed now." Xia Yue declined.
Ming Lian felt a little aggrieved when he saw her refuse. He had just heard the master and servant playing at the door. Now that the emperor had caught a cold because of her, she was still as happy as if she had encountered a happy event, and she didn't even want to take a look...
He advised again: "Our young master is not feeling well at the moment, I hope you can go and see him."
Seeing him like this, Xia Yue couldn't refuse anymore, so she had to put on her clothes and follow Ming Lian.
When she saw Shang Rui, Li Ji was giving him an acupuncture.