The rain finally stopped at dusk, and Shen Yue's fever had subsided. Her dark hair was spread across her shoulders. She seemed to have lost a lot of weight these past few days; her already slender frame appeared even more delicate, her complexion pale and sickly.
She held the medicine with her slender, snow-white fingers, drinking it down sip by sip.
Her face was very white, which made her full, vibrant red lips appear exceptionally so, as if painted with rouge.
The medicine was very hot, causing her delicate lip flesh to swell slightly. The steaming white vapor blurred her exquisite and beautiful eyebrows.
Huo Dao watched expressionlessly, his dark, deep-set eyes reflecting Shen Yue's appearance.
Shen Yue always moved slowly when drinking medicine. She had little appetite to begin with, and the medicine was unbearably bitter and difficult to swallow, causing a gag reflex in her empty stomach.
Her long, dense eyelashes drooped, like butterflies resting on branches.
Shen Yue happened to look up once and saw Huo Dao staring intently at her, his eyes unblinking. It was quite frightening.
Shen Yue felt a chill creep up her spine under his gaze, and she couldn't help but furrow her brow. Her face was still tinged with illness, not as imposing as usual.
"What are you looking at?" Her tone was a little cold.
Even so, the man's gaze did not shift from her face. His voice was low and hoarse, "Is it very bitter?"
Of course, it was bitter, not just ordinarily bitter.
Shen Yue found his question quite baffling, as medicine was never not bitter.
In fact, Huo Dao had never taken medicine his entire life and did not know that medicine was bitter.
After a pause, Huo Dao went out for a moment. When he re-entered, he was holding a small plate of preserved fruits.
His figure was tall and robust, his features sharp, and his eyes were like those of a lone wolf.
He brought the small plate of preserved fruits to Shen Yue. He no longer stammered when he spoke, but he still spoke sparingly.
"Eat."
Shen Yue did not move.
Huo Dao pursed his thin lips. "It's very sweet. Not bitter."
Shen Yue looked up at Huo Dao. Her beautiful, dark eyes were as serene as a still lake. Then, she lowered her head and quietly ate the preserved fruit.
The sweet and sour taste quickly dispelled the lingering medicinal taste in her mouth. She narrowed her eyes, and the tear mole beneath her eyelid shone brightly.
Huo Dao simply lowered his eyelids, gazing intently at Shen Yue's slightly puffed cheeks, his thoughts unreadable.
Shen Yue finished the entire small plate of preserved fruits, a sweetness lingering in her mouth.
Huo Dao stood silently to the side. He always disliked speaking, and his expression was always faint. He heard the person on the bed call his name.
"Huo Dao."
His deep, dark eyes fixed on her.
"Has the rain outside stopped?"
Huo Dao said, "It has."
Shen Yue said nothing more. Huo Dao saw Shen Yue close her eyes, seeming to fall into a muzzy sleep. He did not leave, but continued to gaze at her quietly, his gaze slowly becoming more fervent.
---
Cheng Qian Gong stared at the book in his hands but couldn't absorb a single word. He lowered his eyes, appearing somewhat indifferent.
It was already the next day.
Shen Yue had not come here for two days. Previously, no matter how busy Shen Yue was, she would always come here to stay the night. Sometimes she was quite proactive, her soft, sweet lips awkwardly and bashfully brushing against his. Cheng Qian Gong, for reasons he couldn't fathom, never stopped her.
She would also chatter in his ear about interesting things that happened outside. At such times, Cheng Qian Gong would just lower his head and read indifferently, offering no response. When she received no reply, Shen Yue would eventually stop talking, as if afraid of disturbing him, and would quietly accompany him in his reading.
Cheng Qian Gong found it rather annoying, but when the silence finally returned to his ears, he would feel inexplicably restless.
Recalling the day Shen Yue had rushed to him, dripping wet, and said those words, a sense of panic inexplicably arose in his heart, as if foretelling the loss of something very important.
Shen Yue seemed truly angry...
Was it because of those matters?
Cheng Qian Gong unconsciously clenched his fingers. In truth, the imperial decree for marriage had not yet been issued. When the Emperor had spoken to him about it, while he was somewhat surprised, he had not refused.
After all, he had reached the age for marriage. His heart was filled only with aspirations for the nation; there was no room for romance. It didn't matter who he married; he only wished for a respectful companionship.
At the time, he hadn't thought much of it, but Shen Yue's words now caused a dull ache in his chest.
However, their relationship was ultimately wrong...
He became engrossed in the book in his hands until a maidservant softly called him for a meal, bringing him back to reality.
The table was laid with exquisite delicacies, but Cheng Qian Gong had no appetite.
The maidservant discreetly served the dishes. As she prepared to withdraw, Cheng Qian Gong called her back.
The handsome man pursed his lips, appearing hesitant, but still asked, "Is His Highness... unwell?"
If not for being unwell, Shen Yue wouldn't have stayed away for so long. It couldn't be just because of those words, could it?
The maidservant knew the gentleman's high standing in the Fourth Prince's heart, so she dared not be negligent and truthfully replied, "His Highness caught a severe cold two days ago and only woke up yesterday."
Cheng Qian Gong's throat felt dry, his breathing faltering slightly.
The rain that day had been so heavy. Shen Yue had been completely soaked. How could she not catch a cold?
If he had kept Shen Yue with him back then, would it not have been so severe?
Cheng Qian Gong felt uneasy the entire day, his mind filled with the image of Shen Yue, soaked to the bone, her clothes dripping water, her eyes rimmed with red, her skin pale and sickly, fatigue etched onto her features.
And then she had rushed out and never returned.
She had even cried from his few words. He never knew Shen Yue was so prone to tears before.
She had a fever for a day; it must have been quite serious.
Cheng Qian Gong was restless. He couldn't concentrate on the book in his hands. He tossed the book aside and stared at the closed door, his eyes dark and unreadable.
By evening, Shen Yue still hadn't come. Was it because she was still feeling unwell?
Cheng Qian Gong had sat in the same position all day. When he stood up, his calves felt a sharp, stinging ache.
He calmly told himself that he was partly responsible for Shen Yue catching a cold. Logically, regardless of the circumstances, he should go and see her.
Having convinced himself, the gloom in his chest dissipated, and a sense of concern and urgency he himself was unaware of flickered in his eyes.
This was the first time he had stepped out of that room.
The corridor was brightly lit, lanterns swaying gently in the breeze. The guards stationed at the entrance of the sleeping quarters were very surprised to see Cheng Qian Gong. Everyone in the palace tacitly understood the relationship between Cheng Qian Gong and Shen Yue, and many whispered behind their backs, saying Cheng Qian Gong used his looks to get by, that a man was more debased than a woman.
They described Cheng Qian Gong with the most viciously denigrating words, seemingly disdainful and mocking, but in reality, harboring hidden jealousy and unwillingness.