Ling Xi took out the brocade pouch, his palm spread open, revealing several white pills nestled within.
“Right.”
He then produced a neatly folded silk handkerchief from his robes, peeling back layer after layer. Several plump candied fruits were revealed, glistening and translucent, radiating a sheen that spoke of sweetness.
“An shen is most effective when kept in the mouth.”
“It’s a bit bitter, have something sweet.”
Ye Ziling stared at the candied fruits in his hand for a moment, then looked up, her gaze meeting his. She felt a slight burn as their eyes locked.
“Mm,” she nodded slightly, accepting the items from his hand, stars flickering in her eyes.
A hint of a smile danced in Ling Xi’s eyes, but before he could react, she had popped both the pills and the candied fruits into her own mouth.
He froze for a beat, his eyes wide and innocent, like those of a bewildered puppy.
The person before him offered a bewitching smile, tidied his loose sleeping robe, and a flicker of triumph crossed her eyes. “Rest tonight, sleep early.”
As soon as she spoke, Ling Xi felt his eyelids grow heavy. He slumped onto the bed, closing his eyes and falling into a deep sleep.
Ye Ziling pulled the quilt over him, tucked him in, and lay beside him, waving out the candlelight.
The crimson window was half-open, letting in a gentle coolness.
Darkness enveloped the room, save for the dimly lit path outside the courtyard, where lamps flickered on and off.
Once Ye Ziling’s breathing evened out, the person beside her opened his phoenix-like eyes. He drew out the letter from his embrace, his fingers gently stroking it, revealing a dense covering of golden characters.
His gaze was complex. He turned onto his side, his eyes, illuminated by the moonlight, drifting towards the fair skin of the neck of the person beside him. A profound thought crossed his mind.
A gleam flickered in his deep pupils, reflecting an unnamable emotion.
Fortunately, the matter of the letter without words had been temporarily smoothed over.
Moonlight poured down by the window, reflecting in his affectionate eyes, capturing her sleeping face. The tear mole at the corner of her eye appeared exceptionally alluring under the moonlight.
He had been thinking these past few days about what he would do if the person he had guarded for lifetimes were to disappear again.
He truly loved her so much.
Through lifetimes of reincarnation, he had never forgotten the breathtaking first glance.
Ling Xi turned over restlessly, a mist clouding his eyes, and a self-deprecating smile touched his lips.
These past few days, he often wondered what he would do if he couldn’t spend his days and nights with the person he had cherished for so many lifetimes.
He truly loved her so much.
Yet, all his words, in the end, remained unspoken.
The night was tranquil. He gazed at her profile, murmuring softly to himself, pausing and resuming, afraid she might hear, yet also afraid she might never hear again.
The night deepened.
—
Upon returning to the medical hall, Ye Ziling developed a high fever and was unable to get out of bed for several days.
She lay in bed with her eyes closed, her slightly disheveled hair spread across her fair neck. Her eyes, like glazed porcelain, were half-hidden, fluttering occasionally, wanting to open but unable to. She lay on the bed, helpless, a poignant and fragile figure.
Ye Jinghuai sat by the edge of the bed, feeling her pulse. His ink-black brows were furrowed in concern, and he sighed softly, “Have you been too tired these past few days? How did you get such a high fever?”
Ling Xi stood beside her, his brow deeply creased, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes. The five fingers beneath his sleeve clenched involuntarily.
“Never mind, I’ll go and brew some medicine. A few days of drinking it should help,” Ye Jinghuai said with resignation as he got up and left the room alone.
Ling Xi sat on the edge of the bed, taking her hand, his gaze holding a peculiar depth.
Even without saying it, Ye Ziling knew it all too well.
She had been exhausted from treating patients these past few days, and on top of that, Ling Xi had deliberately pulled her into the bath to soak with him. It was no wonder she had a high fever.
Now, she felt lightheaded, extremely weak, unable to muster any strength.
Ling Xi sat beside her, reached out to feel her forehead, and immediately frowned at the heat, a faint anxiety appearing in his eyes.
“So hot?”
This shouldn't be.
Ye Ziling squinted, gazing at him hazily, and spoke in a light, drawn-out voice, “It’s all… your fault.”
Ling Xi propped his head on his hand, staring at her pale, lamb-like face. The smile in his eyes deepened.
She was fierce when killing, but now she lay on the bed like a sick cat, her half-dead appearance possessing a unique charm.
“My fault?”
Before she could finish, he had already turned on his side, propped himself up on her delicate body, and gazed at her face, his fingertips caressing her lips.
“If not yours, whose fault is it?” she forced her eyes open, her tone soft but tinged with a hint of playful blame.
Her lip color had shifted from vibrant red to a peachy hue, her hazy eyes veiled with a mist, exuding a fragile beauty.
Accustomed to her strong demeanor, seeing her lying so obediently still was irresistible.
If he didn’t tease her now, he wouldn’t get another chance once her strength returned.
“Ling Xi, get down…” Ye Ziling forcefully pushed against his chest, only to find him pinning her wrist, his fingers slowly interlocking with hers.
“Ling Xi, let go of me…” Ye Ziling was helpless. Just as she was about to gather her immortal power to break free, he bit her earlobe in warning.
“Move again, and I’ll tie you up.”
“Do you want to die? I’m like this…” Ye Ziling struggled, but every time she pushed him away, her faint gasps only fueled his desire, making him unable to resist provoking her.
She was about to curse him vehemently when he passionately kissed her, then unfastened her sash, tying her struggling hands in a tight knot.
“...You beast!”
“When I recover, I’ll castrate you with a sword!”
Ling Xi watched her thrash about and pulled the quilt back over her, saying, “You have so much strength even when you’re sick?”
“Good girl, don’t fidget. I’m cold, let me cool you down a bit.”
Ling Xi was about to lift the quilt and embrace her when she kicked him aside, nearly sending him tumbling off the bed.
He rubbed his aching waist, saying with a touch of annoyance, “Are you serious about this?”
She seemed delicate, but in reality, she was quite formidable!
Ye Ziling tilted her head to gaze at him. Her clear eyes, now clouded with mist, suddenly loomed large before her.
Instantly, a long, passionate kiss descended upon her chin, then her neck, and finally her collarbone, leaving behind scattered red marks.
She clutched at the fabric of his shoulders, their whispered breaths heating the air.
His searing breath fanned across her skin, leaving only his traces.
A cool, large hand moved up from her waist, reaching her most tender spot, eliciting a soft gasp from her.
Heaven, this sensation of alternating heat and cold was truly subtle.
In her haze, she felt as if she were floating on water, tossed about by the rain.
The temperature of her body dropped amidst her confusion, and a wave of drowsiness washed over her. Soon, she drifted into sleep.
When she finally regained consciousness, she had slept for a full day and night, her head spinning and her mind a muddled mess.
She glanced beside her and found that Ling Xi had already disappeared.
In a daze, Mu Heng brought a bowl of hot porridge. Without even looking, she picked it up and began to eat.
Having not eaten for a day and a night, her stomach was empty, and she couldn’t taste anything.
“Slow down! Are you eating porridge like a starving ghost reincarnated?” Mu Heng couldn’t help but comment as she drank the porridge like plain water.
Ye Ziling raised her eyes to look at him, but did not reply. Instead, she scanned her surroundings and asked, “Where is Ling Xi? Has he eaten?”