Not long after finishing the rice noodles, Imperial Physician Cai brought another bowl of dark, murky medicine.
I turned my head away in disgust, feeling as though I had taken more medicine this year than in the previous fifteen combined. Still, I was old enough not to throw a tantrum about drinking medicine. I pinched my nose and drank it down, the bitterness making me suspect I had offended Imperial Physician Cai, thus earning me triple the amount of Coptis chinensis.
It was then that the candied fruit was placed in my mouth.
The sweetness dissolved on my tongue, and I stared blankly at Situ Yao, truly surprised that the Crown Prince would do such a thing.
The medicine likely contained a sleep-inducing component, as my eyelids grew heavy shortly after. I leaned against the headboard, dozing. But Situ Yao showed no sign of leaving. I deliberately yawned twice before he finally stood up.
"Finally, he's leaving," I thought. But instead, he walked towards me, reached out to steady my shoulder, and helped me lie down. "Sleep if you're tired. I will stay and watch over you."
I felt like I was going mad. "Why are you guarding me for no reason?"
"A’chun, I cannot let another man keep watch over you."
"Then don't stay."
And what was this "A’chun"? My entire being felt unsettled. I had finally managed to dispel his intentions towards me before, but would they resurface because of this injury?
The plot device of a heroine getting injured and the hero realizing his feelings—while enjoyable in stories, it felt exhausting when it actually happened. Gods knew how difficult it was to reject a man of such high status, power, and outstanding qualities.
Situ Yao ignored my refusal and thoughtfully tucked the quilt around me. "Rest assured, I will sleep in the outer room. Call me if you need anything."
I desperately wanted to argue, but lacked the energy. I could only grumble, "Can you leave now, then?"
Situ Yao’s expression faltered. He had likely never been so disliked in his life. But what could I do? How could anyone sleep with a grown man watching them by the bedside?
The bed was warm and soft. Thinking that I could return to the capital the next day, I tried to console myself with the thought of enduring it for one night. Then, unable to resist the call of sleep, I soon fell into a deep slumber.
When I woke up the next day, my body still ached intensely, though I couldn't pinpoint exactly where the discomfort was.
Imperial Physician Cai took my pulse and soon brought another bowl of the same foul-tasting medicine as last night. The Crown Prince wasn't present this time, but Peng Cheng had already prepared candied fruit. Tsk, they really treated me like a child. Still, it was nice to sweeten my mouth with candied fruit after drinking bitter medicine.
I asked Peng Cheng, "When does His Highness the Crown Prince plan to return to the capital?"
Peng Cheng replied, "The matters in Meicheng are basically resolved. If you hadn't met with an accident, we would have set off today."
So, my injury had delayed their departure. I waved my hand, "Then don't delay. Prepare yourself, we'll leave today."
I really didn't want Situ Yao to guard me again; it was too awkward, especially when I needed to go to the privy. Who knew Situ Yao had such sharp ears? I had tried my best to be quiet when getting up, but he still rushed in at the first sound.
Alas, I was mortified to the point of death.
Imperial Physician Cai's task was to monitor me. Upon hearing my words, he quickly said, "Miss Wang, you cannot. You are injured and must not be subjected to jolting."
I stretched my arms. "Actually, I don't think I'm that badly hurt."
"Injuries to the internal organs require caution."
"Then when can I go back? I'm not going to have to spend the New Year in Meicheng, am I?"
"That is not necessary. We will observe for a couple more days. Once you feel well enough, you may depart." He stroked his beard. "It's not just you, Miss. Even I need to return to the capital for the New Year."
Relieved, I then asked Peng Cheng to find me a maidservant.
Peng Cheng seemed hesitant, saying he needed to get Situ Yao's permission. I rolled my eyes and urged him to hurry. I figured Situ Yao, after last night's awkwardness, must understand that despite his noble status, he was still a man. Not only would it be difficult for him to care for me meticulously and thoughtfully, but just avoiding awkwardness would be a challenge.
As I thought this, I felt a bit ungrateful.
Sigh. Life is not easy.
Why can't interactions between people be more pure?
And why must my situation with Situ Yao be so complicated?
As the saying goes, plans cannot keep up with changes. Two days later, just as we were preparing to return to the capital, heavy snow descended unexpectedly. Within a single afternoon, the roads were blocked by the blizzard. Countless young trees were bent low, their branches weighed down by the snow, and even the roofs of sturdier houses seemed precarious.
Worse still, the snow showed no signs of stopping.
The people of Meicheng were constantly shoveling snow. A moment's carelessness could result in the snow blocking their front paths. Especially for the roofs bearing the brunt of the snowfall, if not cleared quickly, they risked collapsing at any moment.
Fortunately, the snow had started in the afternoon. If it had begun at night, perhaps half of the dilapidated houses in Meicheng would have collapsed.
Magistrate Tao had just been arrested, leaving the county yamen without a leader. As the Crown Prince, Situ Yao naturally could not stand idly by in the face of this natural disaster.
He organized the yamen runners and assigned them to patrol different sections of the city.
On one hand, they were helping the residents clear the accumulated snow. On the other hand, they were prepared to rescue people in case of house collapses.