Chapter 35: Forced Medicine

Keep your wicked thoughts to yourself.

Li Youqing still remembered her birthday—the fourteenth day of the twelfth month, the coldest time of the year.

The Crown Prince personally tying up her hair to celebrate her coming-of-age ceremony felt like a lifetime ago.

After all this time, the people in the imperial city had probably forgotten there was once a Third Princess.

Now, far from the magnificent palace, she lay on a narrow bed in a peasant household in Ming City, frowning as she finished half a bowl of vegetable porridge.

Though she had no appetite, she knew very well that not eating at this time was not an option.

The discomfort in her stomach gradually subsided, but her joints still ached terribly. Her calves twitched intermittently, and she felt utterly drained.

She furrowed her brow and shook her head. “No more.”

Aunt Chen took the bowl and saw more than half remained. Just as she was about to persuade her to eat a little more, someone called from outside the window, “The General is here.”

It was nearly noon, yet the sky remained overcast. Through the faint mist, she saw a tall figure striding into the courtyard.

Noticing Li Youqing’s pale complexion, Aunt Chen sighed silently, set down the bowl, and left.

Outside, the man’s tone carried a hint of impatience: “How is she?”

An elderly physician replied, “This young lady has suddenly contracted a severe wind-heat illness, no less dangerous than the plague. Judging by her pulse, symptoms appeared two days ago, but the optimal time for medication has passed. I’m afraid it will take at least ten days to half a month for her to recover.”

The man’s expression darkened. He then asked if she had eaten anything. Aunt Chen truthfully replied, “She had some porridge earlier but refused to eat more.”

Li Youqing turned over and suddenly covered her chest, coughing violently.

After a moment, the voice calmly ordered, “Bring the medicine over once it’s ready.”

The people outside the bamboo window dispersed, and the man’s steady footsteps approached, heading toward her room.

Li Youqing clutched the soft cotton quilt tightly and shut her eyes firmly.

After entering, Xuan Rui first removed his cloak. Seeing her asleep, he approached and noticed the half-eaten bowl of vegetable porridge on the bedside table still steaming.

Moreover, the knuckles of the hand gripping the quilt were strained, veins bulging on her slender, pale hand—clearly, she was awake.

He pulled up a chair and sat by the bed, unable to bring himself to expose her pretense, though the tightness in his chest grew heavier.

When Aunt Chen brought the medicine over, Xuan Rui cleared his throat and said, “I heard some commotion earlier in front of the Ancestral Temple. What happened?”

Aunt Chen paused, puzzled as to why General Xuan would ask about something he already knew, but she answered truthfully, “Young Master Bai, for some unknown offense, was dragged to the front courtyard and given thirty solid strokes. Everyone gathered to watch the spectacle.”

Xuan Rui hummed in acknowledgment, then addressed the person feigning sleep on the bed, “Thirty strokes—he won’t be able to leave his bed for a month. Do your best to recover quickly so you can go flaunt your health at his sickbed.”

Li Youqing remained expressionless, but inwardly, she was astonished.

This man appeared rough and straightforward, yet he was meticulous and perceptive.

Why had Bai Cha rushed over last night? A blunt man like Xiao Ziqi might not have noticed, but Li Youqing understood all too well.

It was a pity she had lost her composure and ended up becoming a laughingstock.

“General, this medicine should be taken while it’s hot. Let’s wake the young lady first.” Aunt Chen, in her forties and quite experienced, had long noticed the unusual relationship between these two. After offering this reminder, she tactfully withdrew.

The young girl lying on the bed seemed even younger than her own daughter. To follow him to this desolate and treacherous place, growing so frail and now falling ill—what a tragedy.

With only the two of them left in the room, Xuan Rui’s gaze fell upon her fever-flushed cheeks. He said indifferently, “You weren’t the only one punished. Satisfied?”

Too embarrassed to continue pretending sleep, Li Youqing opened her eyes to meet his warm gaze, biting her lip without a word.

Unexpectedly, he suddenly leaned closer.

Xuan Rui stared straight at her lips for a moment, then pressed his finger against them, gently stroking.

The bitten spot had already formed a scab, feeling slightly rough to the touch.

Then he took her small hand, slowly tracing her fingertips before finally bringing it to his lips for a kiss.

Li Youqing inwardly cursed him as a beast, struggling to pull her hand back.

Xuan Rui’s heart had long softened. Suppressing the strange feeling within, he sneered, “Just one night, and both your lips and nails are worn out. You’re quite something.”

He had changed into a set of black robes with python patterns embroidered in gold thread at the cuffs, making him appear heroic and imposing.

Li Youqing tucked her hand under the blanket, her lips moving silently.

Just a savage, putting on this dignified act for whom?

Xuan Rui picked up the medicine bowl with one hand, his gaze somewhat casual. “What are you muttering? Speak up so this general can hear too.”

Li Youqing blinked, her voice hoarse when she spoke: “I was thinking how merciful the General is toward Bai Cha. If it were anyone else, they’d probably have been thrown into the ice cave long ago.”

Xuan Rui pressed his lips together, leaning over to help her sit up for the medicine.

“Don’t touch me, it hurts—” Every joint in her body ached terribly, and she didn’t want to move at all.

Her throat felt like it contained hot coals, making her afraid to breathe too deeply. The few mouthfuls of porridge she’d managed earlier were already her limit.

Seeing her brows tightly furrowed, Xuan Rui knew she was suffering from the fever. Precisely because of this, she couldn’t avoid taking the medicine.

“Turn on your side. I’ll feed you slowly, alright?” Holding the medicine bowl, he scooped a spoonful and steadily brought it to her lips.

The dark medicinal liquid emitted a bitter odor. At the smell, Li Youqing leaned over the bedside and began dry heaving.

Her long black hair draped beside her ears, forehead resting weakly on his knee as she remained unable to rise for a long while.

“So delicate,” Xuan Rui frowned involuntarily. Seeing her pitiful state, he had no choice but to set the medicine bowl aside.

Supporting her shoulder with one hand while gently patting her back with the other, he sighed helplessly, “Haven’t you taken medicine when sick before?”

Li Youqing was burning with fever. When her forehead touched the cool fabric of his clothes, it felt immensely soothing, so she pressed her cheek against it.

Seeing her delirious from fever, Xuan Rui had no choice but to lift her under the arms and carry her back to bed.

No sooner had Li Youqing lain down than she began uncomfortably tugging at her collar, complaining, “What did you dress me in? It’s uncomfortable.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Xuan Rui reached to unfasten the cross-collar buttons for her.

Her mind muddled, Li Youqing yelled at him: “So rough-handed! What kind of service is this!”

The door was slightly ajar when Xiao Ziqi happened to come to seek instructions from the General about how to deal with Bai Cha next. Hearing those words, his face involuntarily paled in shock.

Their leader was the renowned God of War from the northern deserts—merely hearing General Xuan’s name was enough to make the Barbarians tremble in fear. Yet what had this young girl just said—

Clumsy and rough, how could they serve properly?!

Wasn’t this treating their leader like a servant?

Hearing the commotion outside the door, Xuan Rui roared, “Get out!”

Seeing the General in a foul mood, Xiao Ziqi didn’t dare bring up Bai Cha’s matter again and had no choice but to slink away.

Although he hadn’t received the General’s approval, seeing Bai Cha beaten so severely, he couldn’t bear it and went to fetch medicine on his own.

Li Youqing, who had been fine just moments before, saw the other party fly into a rage because she hadn’t immediately drunk the medicine. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes, and she prepared to storm out in a fit of pique.

Earlier, she had been delirious with fever. This wasn’t the palace—there were no familiar matrons or maids to attend to her, only this demon watching her every move.

Seeing her about to run off in tears without even putting on shoes, Xuan Rui’s expression darkened as he scooped her back, first placing her across his knees, then pulling up the quilt to wrap her completely.

“Catching a chill and still running around?!” Xuan Rui hadn’t slept for two days either. Remembering her aggrieved yet stubborn gaze made him uncomfortable.

Call her bold, and even a slightly raised voice could startle her.

Call her timid, yet she had a rebellious streak, acting with audacity and recklessness.

Li Youqing had both feet stuffed into the quilt by him, forced to curl up like a zongzi in his embrace. Her joints ached, her head spun, and she panted heavily, saying, “Didn’t you tell me to leave? I’ll go, then.”

“Huh?” Xuan Rui frowned, carefully recalling before realizing what she had misunderstood.

Seeing her crying like a drowned mess, wiping her tears and snot all over his clothes, he sighed helplessly, “Ziqi was waiting outside the door earlier. I was talking to him.”

Li Youqing froze for a moment, her tears stopping abruptly. “Was he here to plead for Bai Cha?”

From their earlier conversation, she had sensed that he was rather protective of Bai Cha.

Later, in the prison corridor, it was also him who stopped her, afraid that the woman might be injured by the hairpin.

Remembering this, Li Youqing’s heart swelled with indignation again.

If this were the palace, she would have long sent anyone who offended her to the Department of Justice. Anyone who dared plead for them would be considered equally guilty.

But now, a tiger at bay is bullied by dogs—one after another, they all trampled over her.

Noticing the resentment in her eyes, Xuan Rui said sternly, “The punishment has been dealt. What’s there to plead for?”

Thinking of those thirty strikes, Li Youqing felt slightly comforted. Wiping her tears, she said, “Give me the medicine bowl. I’ll drink it myself.”

He was right about one thing earlier—she needed to recover first…

Xuan Rui brought over the medicine bowl, his sharp jaw tilting slightly as he signaled for her to drink it while it was hot.

This little creature was as docile as a rabbit when tame, yet she refused to suffer the slightest disadvantage, always ready to bite at a moment’s notice. Who knew where she had picked up such awful habits?

Li Youqing had only taken a small sip before she couldn’t stand the bitterness and was about to spit it out.

But the next moment, the man’s left hand gripped her chin, forcing her mouth open, while his other hand held the medicine bowl, steadily pouring the contents into her mouth.

Li Youqing widened her eyes, silently accusing him, yet he remained unfazed, even raising an eyebrow slightly as if performing the most ordinary task.

Her mouth was filled with bitterness, making it impossible to swallow.

But he was evidently experienced in this regard, controlling the rhythm of feeding the medicine with extreme patience, pouring it into her mouth in small, deliberate sips.

The medicinal liquid inevitably trickled down her throat. Li Youqing closed her eyes, tears streaming from the corners and falling drop by drop onto his broad knuckles.

The previously bitten area began to grow warm and feverish, especially the finger her lips had enveloped. As the warm tears washed over it, it felt as though it had returned to that moist warmth.

His thoughts gradually wandered, and his fingers gently stroked her cheek.

Li Youqing held her breath, struggling to swallow each mouthful of medicine he fed her. The bitterness made her entire body tremble.

Yet he showed no mercy, not releasing her until the bowl was empty, leaving only the dark dregs of the medicine.

Suddenly freed, Li Youqing slumped against him, coughing violently.

Her insides churned, and she curled up in discomfort, shrinking into a small ball on his lap, covering her mouth with her hands as she dry-heaved uncontrollably.

His nightmarish voice echoed in her ears again: “It doesn’t matter if you vomit. There’s another bowl warming in the kitchen. This General is kind-hearted and won’t abandon you. I’ll simply feed you again.”

Li Youqing froze, desperately suppressing the itch in her throat, fearing she might vomit the medicine she had struggled to swallow and have to drink more later.

Her chin ached from his grip, and the fear of him repeating this ordeal cast a shadow over her. She lay against him, sobbing softly.

Seeing her like this, Xuan Rui’s heart softened slightly, though his expression remained stern. He used his thumb to wipe the traces of medicine from the corner of her lips. “Medicine must be swallowed in one go. If the potency dissipates, it won’t be effective.”

Noting how pitifully she cried, he patted her back and drew her closer into his embrace. “It stops being bitter after the first sip. Next time, drink it yourself. Understood?”

Li Youqing looked up, her fear of him deepening, and nodded lightly.

Satisfied, Xuan Rui placed her, still wrapped in the blanket, back onto the bed. “Aunt Zhang is quite skilled. Eat well at noon and rest properly. I’ll come see you again tonight.”

Still feeling uneasy, Li Youqing called out as he turned to leave, “Wait.”

As he turned to look at her, an inexplicable sense of anticipation stirred within her. She asked, “The General first locked me in the dark room and only afterward dealt with Bai Cha. The order of these actions shows your unfairness. Is it because she is the head of the Bai family and aids the Zhenbei Army, while I am nothing but a burden to you, utterly useless except for causing trouble?”

As she spoke, her gaze drifted distractedly toward the window.

Xuan Rui was taken aback by her words. He turned back and stood by the bed, leaning down to scrutinize her carefully.

He frowned. “So this is how you see me.”

The effects of the medicine gradually spread, and drowsiness began to overtake Li Youqing. Hearing his deep voice, she forced herself to stay alert and listen.

Xuan Rui’s gaze fell on her chest, and his throat tightened. He asked in return, “Does it still hurt?”

The night before, she had wept, complaining that the pain in her chest kept her awake.

Though he doubted the truth of her words, he had nonetheless been weighed down by guilt for a long time.

Li Youqing fought back her drowsiness and shook her head. “I was teasing you—it stopped hurting long ago. But you can’t just forget about it because it doesn’t hurt anymore. That kick is something you owe me, and I will definitely pay you back someday.”

Perhaps her fever had muddled her mind, but she had unwittingly spoken her true thoughts aloud.

Xuan Rui, however, let out a low chuckle. Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he leaned down and gazed at her leisurely. “Fine, I’ll wait to see how you plan to get back at me.”

Remembering the question she had asked earlier, his expression turned serious. “Last night, my initial plan was to lock you up first and then deal with that adulterer. But it turned out the person was a woman, so I set it aside for the time being.”

Seeing her beautiful eyes wide open, fixed unblinkingly on him, a sudden warmth surged in his chest.

He raised his hand and ruffled her hair, sighing helplessly. “I don’t care about the Bai family’s trivial affairs. Whether that person is a man or a woman makes no difference to me. As for why I dealt with her today—”

Xuan Rui leaned closer, his tone turning grim. “No one has ever dared to lay a hand on someone by my side. If you had actually run off with her last night, even if she were the emperor’s daughter, I would have broken both her legs.”

Li Youqing’s face paled, and she pushed against him. “You should go attend to your duties. I need to sleep.”

Xuan Rui gently patted her cheek, his tone half coaxing. “And you, drop those mischievous ideas of yours. There’s no need for a ‘forced confession.’ Once you’re better, confess everything willingly, and I won’t punish you.”

Li Youqing’s already feverish face flushed even redder, her lips becoming as enticing as ripe cherries, waiting to be plucked.

Suppressing the urge to tease her further, Xuan Rui lowered his voice. “Alright, no matter who forced you in the past, now that you’re with me, I won’t let anyone mistreat you again.”

Finally, the man left, closing the door firmly behind him.

Li Youqing turned over, her mind swirling with the echoes of his words—

“Even if she were the emperor’s daughter, I would have broken both her legs.”

“Now that you’re with me, I won’t let anyone mistreat you again.”