Chapter 0159: Shen Yuan Administering Medicine with His Mouth, Is Xie Chengze Receiving the Female Lead’s Treatment?
“Do not fabricate rumors! Do not believe rumors! Do not spread rumors!”
When Xie Chengze woke up and learned that news of his death had spread throughout Tianshui City overnight, with commoners even donning white linen clothes to mourn him, he once again roared this “truthful mantra.”
“His Highness the Second Prince suffers from dietary injuries—irregular eating habits, excessive consumption of raw and cold foods leading to spleen and stomach deficiency, compounded by prolonged overthinking and physical exhaustion. His body has long reached its limit, sustained only by mental tension preventing collapse,” the elderly physician summoned explained while writing a prescription. “His Highness’s fainting was likely due to sudden mental relaxation causing physical backlash. Had he not previously sipped some old ginseng soup, he wouldn’t have woken so quickly.”
Xie Zimiao, standing nearby, wore a relieved expression. “Thank goodness! I knew this old ginseng would come in handy. To avoid a repeat of last time’s tragedy, I specifically used only a tiny root filament!”
Last time’s tragedy? What tragedy?
Everyone turned to Xie Zimiao with puzzled looks.
“However, His Highness’s internal depletion suggests he previously endured prolonged hunger with inadequate nutrition, followed by binge eating and excessive spicy consumption…” the old physician diagnosed, then questioned curiously, “Has Your Highness been fasting? You must refrain from this. With your inherently weak spleen and stomach, maintaining regular meals would keep you functional, but severe dietary restriction will inevitably strain your body. Initially asymptomatic, once vomiting and diarrhea manifest, you’ll require constant medication.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan, seated by the bedside, tensed, his grip crumpling the quilt beneath him.
The physician’s words likely referred to those six months in Yi Province.
During Yi Province’s food shortage, even after merchant convoys delivered supplies, only basic grains were available. Pork and vegetables were scarce, prioritized for laborers doing physical work.
Xie Chengze had declined preferential treatment citing his lack of manual labor, only occasionally indulging in meat dishes when cravings became unbearable.
In their previous life, the Second Prince never restricted his diet, thus never developing spleen and stomach deficiency. Shen Yuan had assumed his constitution was ordinary—that mere sustenance would suffice—so he’d thought nothing of Xie Chengze surviving on steamed buns and plain rice congee daily.
He hadn’t known…
He hadn’t realized that every time Xie Chengze seemed distracted or listless, it was his body screaming at its limits.
“Physician, can this be remedied?” Shen Yuan asked gravely, his palm resting over the quilt to clasp the slender wrist beneath.
He really had grown thinner—usually concealed within sleeves where none could see.
“First, administer herbal medicine for seven days. Once His Highness returns to the palace, normal meals supplemented with medicinal cuisine should restore balance,” the old physician concluded, finishing his prescription. “During this period, avoid spicy and sweet foods.”
“What?!” Xie Chengze exclaimed in horror.
He hadn’t panicked when transmigrating into the book. He hadn’t panicked when the protagonist reborn sought to kill him. He’d faced floods and blizzards undaunted. But being forbidden sweets—
This was tantamount to murder!
Human nature is perverse—the more something is forbidden, the more one craves it. Had Tianshui City lacked pastries, abstinence might have been tolerable. But with Su Qinghe right there, yet unable to taste his creations—
His heart ached as if ants were gnawing at his bones!
…
The herbal medicine was truly bitter.
After four consecutive rounds of medication, Xie Chengze felt utterly miserable. Every time he tried to hide to avoid taking the medicine, Shen Yuan would inevitably track him down.
“How… how did you find me?” Xie Chengze’s face was a mixture of shock and disbelief. He had even asked Wuhen to carry him to such a remote location—how could Shen Yuan still locate him?!
Watching Shen Yuan effortlessly pull him off Wuhen’s back, realization dawned on Xie Chengze. He glared furiously at Wuhen. “Wuhen! You betrayed me?!”
No wonder Shen Yuan could always find him—someone had been leaving trails for him to follow! And here he thought Shen Yuan had improved his martial arts!
“Wuhen did this for your own good.” Shen Yuan took out a waterskin from his robe, the medicinal soup inside still warm. “Will you drink it yourself, or shall I force it down your throat? Or perhaps…”
“Or perhaps what?” A flicker of hope rose in Xie Chengze as he anticipated the third option.
“Or perhaps,” Shen Yuan said leisurely, “Wuhen and I will force it down your throat together.”
Xie Chengze: …
Shen Yuan, you heartless monster!
“This prince refuses to drink!” Xie Chengze snapped, his sleeves fluttering with the motion. His eyes were stubborn. “I feel perfectly fine now! I don’t need any medicine! My appetite is excellent!”
“Your Highness, stop being unreasonable.” Seeing his obstinance, Shen Yuan’s tone sharpened. “If you refuse to drink now, your stomach condition will worsen. You may end up drinking more than just seven days’ worth of medicine!”
Xie Chengze turned his head away. “I said I won’t drink!”
The young man crossed his arms, his stance resolute. Having exhausted both persuasion and threats over the past two days just to get him to take the medicine, Shen Yuan finally lost his patience. He strode forward and seized Xie Chengze’s wrists to prevent another escape.
“Are you truly refusing to drink?” he asked in a low, dangerous voice.
“I won’t drink!” Xie Chengze continued to defy him, relying on his superior status. “What can you possibly do to me?!”
“Fine. Very well!” The man let out a cold laugh, his eyes darkening. He bit open the cap of the waterskin, raised it, and took a large gulp of the medicinal soup.
Xie Chengze: !!!
Holy shit! Bro! There’s no need to go this far!
Feeding someone medicine mouth-to-mouth should be the female lead’s treatment!
Even though this book has no female lead… Xie Chengze’s thoughts raced chaotically. As he watched Shen Yuan’s lips leave the waterskin and those dark eyes slowly turn toward him, he tried to flee but found his wrists firmly gripped—there was no breaking free.
He could only watch as Shen Yuan set down the waterskin, turned his head toward him, and began to approach slowly.
Staring at those lips stained with the dark medicinal liquid, Xie Chengze swallowed hard…
Then dropped to his knees.
“Big brother! I was wrong!” Xie Chengze literally knelt. “I’ll drink! I’ll drink it myself!”
Shen Yuan: ?
Shen Yuan swallowed the medicine, surprised by Xie Chengze’s sudden surrender.
He had originally planned to take a sip first and then negotiate—perhaps offering to share the burden, even drinking double the dose if Xie Chengze would just finish his medicine.
He never expected Xie Chengze to give in so abruptly.
In the biting wind, the beautiful young man shivered as he raised the waterskin. His fair, delicate face scrunched up like a tiny bun from the bitterness, and he took small, reluctant sips of the medicinal brew. As he swallowed, the slender Adam’s apple at his throat rolled like a pearl, eventually settling into his flat abdomen, stirring a wave of searing heat.
By the time he finished the entire dose, the corners of his eyes were glistening with unshed tears, flushed crimson by the lingering winter breeze, making him appear utterly pitiable.
“Finished,” Xie Chengze handed the waterskin to Shen Yuan, his voice thick with nasal congestion and a hint of grievance.
Shen Yuan took the waterskin, shaking it lightly to confirm it was truly empty. Unexpectedly, this action only deepened Xie Chengze’s resentment, hurting him more than the bitter medicine had. He exclaimed indignantly, “Shen Yuan, you don’t trust me again!”
“Ever since Your Highness began neglecting medicine and disregarding your health, this subject’s trust in you has plummeted,” Shen Yuan replied with a faint smile. “I hope you’ll obediently take your medicine after dinner as well, otherwise…”
Xie Chengze immediately fell silent, meekly lowering his head.
Shen Yuan! How shameless you are!