When he heard what Rong Xi said, Mu Huai was tongue-tied.
He suddenly seem to remember that women did indeed have such a troublesome matter and lightly coughed. Purposely putting on a calm expression, he asked Rong Xi, âThis thingâŚis it that uncomfortable?â
Rong Xi nodded her head and patiently explained to Mu Huai, âThis slaveâŚthis slave did not have this problem previously, but ever since taking an ice bath to help Your Highness reduce the feverâŚthis slave has felt ill whenever these days arrive.â
She didnât want to be polite at all with Mu Huai. She had to make this evil master of hers show some pity towards her, otherwise if one day in the future, Mu Huai wants to kill her, there could be a chance he would remember this and spare her life.
After Mu Huai heard this, his eyes slightly darkened and he supported himself to sit on the wheelchair. In the end, he still ordered the bodyguard to call for a physician.
Before the bodyguard could leave, Rong Xi stopped him. Seeing how Mu Huai was confused, she lowered her voice and explained, âThis slaveâs problem is a womanâs problemâŚitâs inconvenient to consult the imperial physician1âŚthis slave hopes that Your Highness will allow this slave to go to the pharmaceutical bureau to find a familiar medicinal girl and allow her to write a prescription for this slave.â
Mu Huai raised an eyebrow. Knowing that Rong Xi wanted to conceal her appearance first before meeting any outsiders, he replied, âWhy make the trip personally, whatâs the name of that medicinal girl? Iâll get the bodyguard to bring her into the palace.â
Rong Xi bit her lip, acquiescing to Mu Huaiâs request.
The palace servant she knew was named Ye Yunlan, she was a medicinal girl who came into the palace in the same cohort as Rong Xi. Yunlanâs father was a well-known talented physician who roamed the lands2, then opened a small clinic when he settled down in Bianjing.
Yunlan was the same as her. Her mother had passed away early on, and her father married another person.
However, her father was not the same as Rong Bing. After he remarried, he slowly began to neglect Yunlan and treat her coldly. Her stepmother did not treat her well either. Yunlan didnât want to live in this family anymore, so she wanted to enter the palace.
She was deeply knowledgeable about medicine, but because her personality was very timid, Yunlan was always bullied and ostracized by her roommates. She would often go hungry for dinner.
Rong Xi felt very sorry for her, and since her own appetite was not very big, she would often save half of her dinner and give it to Yunlan to eat. The young palace maids who just entered the palace did not have it easy. Not only did they have to learn about the numerous rules and regulations, they also had to understand how to properly perform their duties as servants.
The two people had similar experiences and histories, and their ages were similar as well, which ultimately gave birth to this mutually sympathetic friendship. All these years, although they did not work in the same area, they still took care of each other.
Rong Xiâs stomach pain had eased somewhat. After she had cleaned up and put on her makeup, Ye Yunlan carried a medicine box made out of redwood and was timidly following one of Quyun Palaceâs junior eunuchs into Rong Xiâs quarters.
Ye Yunlan was no longer just a regular medicinal girl. Due to her skills, she was promoted to be one of the head pharmacists of the pharmaceutical bureau.
She wore a round-necked purple palace officialâs uniform with narrow sleeves. Small sunflowers were embroidered on her collar. Her hair was coiled into a bun, and a beaded futou sat on top. She looked a steadier than before.
Due to Mu Huaiâs reputation outside, Rong Xi could tell Yunlan was very nervous and even a little afraid.
After Yunlan took her pulse, Rong Xi whispered into her ear, âDonât worry, Fourth Prince isnât here, you donât need to be nervous.â
Hearing this, Yunlan heaved a sigh of relief.
She observed the room Rong Xi lived in and replied a while later, âHow did your body come to be this way, itâs much colder than before.â
When she saw Rong Xi pursing her lips without speaking, Yunlan felt helpless, âIâll go back and write a prescription for you. Donât catch a cold again. As servants, we dare not have our bodies be even more delicate than the masters.â
Rong Xi nodded.
Ye Yunlan glanced at her surroundings again, then took out an exquisite jade box from her sleeves and handed it to Rong Xi. When Rong Xi took it, she sat up and in a low voice, questioned Ye Yunlan, âIs there a problem with this peach blossom perfume?â
When Lady Yu was pregnant, Rong Xi had thought about asking Ye Yunlan to help take care of Lady Yuâs body. However, Lady Yu didnât like how Ye Yunlan didnât have much experience and only wanted the best physician from the imperial physicianâs courtyard to help her stabilize the fetus during her pregnancy.
Rong Xi could only follow. She didnât understand medicine. Every time the physician wrote a prescription, she would still go to Ye Yunlan for her to check that there werenât any problems with the prescription. Only then did she dare to grab the herbs to concoct the medicine for Lady Yu.
Normally speaking, all the medicines that Lady Yu had eaten over the course of her pregnancy were all fine.
But since Lady Yu passed away due to a miscarriage, Rong Xi truly could not fathom what went wrong. Thus, she carefully gathered the items that Lady Yu would use daily and secretly handed them to Ye Yunlan.
However, ever since she began to serve Mu Huai, she never had the time to go see Ye Yunlan. Coincidentally, she came in today to help take a look at her, and also gave her the information she wanted to hear.
âThis peach blossom perfume by itself doesnât have a problem. However, the peach blossom flower powder inside this little box is ten times more than normalâŚif there is too much peach blossom concentrate, it will cause the body to turn cold. I remember you once told me that Lady Yu liked to use this peach blossom perfume to wash her hair, and would often rub it into her hair all the way from her roots to her tips. Being absorbed for such a long period of timeâŚhow could it not harm the body?â
Rong Xiâs heart jolted after hearing this.
Lady Yu loved this peach blossom perfume. Moreover, the perfume that she used during her pregnancy was rewarded by Empress.
Ye Yunlan saw Rong Xiâs expression change, and she advised her, âDonât blame yourself too much. It also took me a long time to discover the abnormality in this perfume box. A normal physician would not be able to find out either. Each of the masters in the palace have scheming heartsâŚit was not your fault that the Lady was unable to keep her child.â
Rong Xi frowned. Strictly speaking, the Empress had no children and her body was not too healthy these years either, therefore, many of the matters in the inner palace were managed by Noble Consort Li and Consort De. She didnât seem like someone that would harm others in the dark or stick her hand between the disputes of other women.
Rong Xiâs heart grew a little heavy, but did not forget the most important matter.
She quickly grabbed Ye Yulanâs hand and spoke in an earnest tone, âYunlan, in this palace, you are the person I trust the most.â
Ye Yunlan smiled, âDonât worry, I wonât say anything about this matter.â
Rong Xi shook her head, âItâs not about this.â
Ye Yunlan didnât understand, âThen what matter?â
Rong Xi bit her lip and finally decided to thicken her face3, âAfter you go back, can you prescribe me some contraceptive medicine? IâŚI really have no other wayâŚâ
Ye Yunlanâs face immediately turned ashen, she asked in a shocked voice, âYouâŚyou want thisâŚâ
Rong Xi stared into Ye Yunlanâs eyes and nodded her head.
Ye Yunlan suddenly understood inside. It wasnât uncommon for a palace maid to be kept by an imperial prince or be graced by the Emperor.
However, she never wouldâve imagined that the master Rong Xi followed was that violent and ill-tempered Fourth Prince.
Ye Yunlan steadied her breathing. After staying silent for half a beat, she finally replied, âOkayâŚthen I will help you concoct the medicine and try not to give anything that is cold. Donât worryâŚI wonât say anything.â
******
After Ye Yunlan left, Rong Xi felt like her thoughts were in a mess. She felt very exhausted and rested in her room until shen shi (3 PM â 5 PM).
After she woke up, she felt that her stomach pain had greatly easy. Even though there was still a faint throbbing, it didnât hurt to the point where she felt like it was difficult to even breathe. No one disturbed her either these past few hours.
Mu Huai mustâve found his conscience and didnât call for her to serve him either, letting her sleep peacefully.
A junior eunuch knocked at this time, âIs Rong gugu awake, this little one has brought Pharmacist Ye to gather the herbs needed for your medicine. His Highness has already ordered people to concoct the medicine and let Rong gugu drink it after waking.â
Rong Xi called for the eunuch to enter. Pinching her nose, she drank the bitter medicine. Seeing the sky turning dark, she didnât dare to rest any further and prepared to serve Mu Huai with his dinner.
The moment she stepped out, Zirui Hallâs clocktower rang out, the ringing to signal twilight came from afar.
The last rays scattered through Bianjingâs skies, setting everything aglow.
Rong Xi saw Mu Huai was watching the sunset at the side tower, and she carefully climbed up the steps, walking towards Mu Huaiâs side.
Mu Huai had one hand on the wheelchairâs handle. His side profile was defined and exquisite. The thick, black eyelashes cast a shadow on his handsome face.
A goshawk circled up, its cries scaring the skies.
At this moment, Mu Huai raised his head and looked at Rong Xi.
He spoke in a light voice, âCome here.â
Rong Xi was in a trance for a moment, feeling that the Mu Huai in front of her was actually a little gentle.
She slowly walked to Mu Huaiâs side when he spoke again, âSit down.â
Rong Xi was stunned and was afraid to move. There was a bodyguard standing behind, after all.
Mu Huai wasnât impatient at all as he spoke again, âSit down, donât let me say it a third time.â
Rong Xi could only thicken her face and under the astonished faces of the bodyguards behind them, she sat in Mu Huaiâs lap.
Mu Huaiâs arm wrapped around her waist. When he looked down at her, he awkwardly placed a hand by her stomach, seemingly try to rub it for her.
Under the fading sun rays, an amber glow could be seen within his deep eyes.
In that moment, Rong Xiâs breath hitched. She could only hear the sound of her heart jumping furiously without stopping.
But she was very clear that this feeling definitely wasnât fear.
*****
As time passed, Bianjing entered winter.
Today, Rong Xi felt a little nervous inside, but she didnât know why. It shouldnât be her who was feeling nervous.
A few days ago, Mu Huaiâs legs had recovered again. Early this morning, he decided he would not sit in the wheelchair anymore and did not get ready to go to Hanlin Academy either.
Instead, he wanted to go to Jiazheng Hall.
Last night, Zhuang Emperor bestowed a court uniform for Mu Huai to wear. Today, he wore a yuanyou guan4 and the court robes. He looked extremely regal as he stood.
Rong Xi originally stood stably on her tiptoes as she straightened out the manâs clothes.
Mu Huai did not rest well last night and was currently a little sleepy. He shut his eyes and lowered his head, his forehead almost touching Rong Xiâs.
The two peopleâs breaths intertwined. Rong Xiâs cheeks slowly turned pink as she spoke in a small voice, âYour HighnessâŚif youâre like thisâŚthis slave wonât be able to straighten the clothes properly.â
Mu Huai opened his eyes and straightened his body. After observing Rong Xi for a moment, he asked, âYour heightâŚdid you also grow taller?â
Why he tacked âalsoâ on, Rong Xi was clearer than anyone else. Last night, Mu Huai had said that some of the parts he kneaded finally felt a little plumper. He even showed a rare smile, saying he finally fed her to the point wehre she had gained weight.
Rong Xi was helpless and could only nod her head.
At this moment, the bodyguard pushed the wheelchair into the room and asked Mu Huai in a respectful tone, âYour Highn,ess where should this wheelchair be put?â
The smile on Mu Huaiâs face gradually receded. He was not as relaxed as he was just now when he was interacting with just Rong Xi.
He coldly ordered, âStart a fire, burn it.â
The bodyguard assented, yet Rong Xiâs face turned even redder.
She unconsciously recalled how the two of them had squeezed into the wheelchair last night. Mu Huai looked at her and his voice was a little bewitching as he commanded, âKiss me.â
Thinking of this, Rong Xi didnât dare to recall the rest of it.
She secretly rejoiced about the wonderful decision to burn this wheelchair.