Lin Yan was extremely anxious. Hadn't Prince An just fallen ill? How could he have fallen ill again after only two hours? In the past, it would have taken a month.
Shen Lixue instantly understood. No wonder there was no one around when she encountered Prince An in the wooden house, and no wonder the two guards dared not enter the room. It was because he was having an attack of his illness at the time, and Lin Yan, Little Chili, and the guards had all run far away...
When Prince An fell ill, there was no living thing within thirty meters. Now, Shen Lixue is sitting side by side with Prince An, less than half a meter apart. Wouldn't she be the first person he wants to kill?
Shen Lixue glanced sideways at Prince An, meeting his cold, violent gaze, and her breath caught in her throat for a moment...
025 The Prince trusted her
Prince An's gaze was sharp and chillingly cold as he stared intently at Shen Lixue, like a ferocious beast encountering an enemy, alert and wary, revealing its sharp claws in preparation for battle.
"Prince An, you've had a relapse and need to take medicine. Shall I go and brew some for you?" Shen Lixue asked cautiously, forcing herself to speak. She had no internal energy and no lightness skills. Prince An's martial arts were unfathomable. Even if she was fast, she couldn't avoid his attacks. If she wanted to live, she couldn't act rashly. She had to stabilize Prince An first and then wait for an opportunity to act.
Prince An frowned slightly, a hint of confusion flashing in his cold eyes, and murmured, "Drink the medicine!"
“Yes, two hours ago, you also drank a bowl of medicine in the wooden house…” Although Prince An’s eyes were cold, they were somewhat unfocused, clearly indicating that his mind was clouded. Shen Lixue gently reminded him, hoping that he could regain his senses and remember what had just happened.
“Chen Lixue!” Prince An murmured, the coldness in his sharp eyes gradually fading.
“It’s me!” Shen Lixue replied softly.
Prince An's dark eyes reflected starlight, his brows relaxed, his tight defenses instantly dissipated, and he slumped to the side, slamming hard onto Shen Lixue's shoulder.
Shen Lixue sat upright and swayed a couple of times without being knocked off balance, but her shoulder was in pain. Looking at the Prince An who was fast asleep with his eyes closed, Shen Lixue gritted her teeth. He was really heavy!
"Prince An has fainted?" Lin Yan's sharp eyes flashed with shock and disbelief. For a moment, he thought all three of them would die here. He never expected that after Shen Lixue said a few words, Prince An would fall into a peaceful sleep. This was too unbelievable!
"Cousin Yan, quickly help me lift Prince An up!" Prince An's weight was almost entirely on Shen Lixue, and she couldn't use much strength to support him and stand up.
"Alright!" Lin Yan suppressed his many doubts and strode forward. Unexpectedly, he had only taken two steps when the unconscious Prince An suddenly opened his eyes. His cold eyes flashed with intense violence and vigilance, sending chills down one's spine.
Lin Yan hurriedly stepped back, helplessly spreading his hands: "Cousin Li Xue, I..." It wasn't that he didn't want to help, but that he simply couldn't get close!
Nangong Xiao stood still, gently raising his folding fan, watching Prince An with great interest. Even though he was unconscious, he still had such a strong sense of vigilance. It seems that he had a very exciting three years in Subei!
This is such a hassle!
Shen Lixue sighed helplessly, and with all her might, she helped Prince An to his feet and slowly walk forward. Since no one else could help, she had to support him on her own.
"Shen Lixue, where are you going to help Prince An?" Looking in the direction Shen Lixue was heading, Nangong Xiao snapped his fan shut, a hint of anger burning in his phoenix eyes.
"Of course I'm going to rest in the inner room!" Shen Lixue replied casually, walking steadily forward.
"This is your room!" Nangong Xiao angrily reminded her. Shen Lixue was still a young lady from a prestigious family, yet she allowed a grown man to sleep in her private room...
"I know!" Shen Lixue also wanted to help Prince An to the guest room, but he was too heavy, and Lin Yan and Nangong Xiao couldn't help much, so she had no choice but to help him to the nearest inner room...
The unconscious Prince An leaned weakly on Shen Lixue's shoulder, his eyes closed. Gone was his usual coldness and sharpness; his handsome face was as gentle as a painting. But his furrowed brows and clenched chest shattered this beautiful picture.
Lin Yan stood at the door of the inner room, watching Shen Lixue help Prince An lie down on the bed and remove her boots. His sharp eyes grew increasingly deep. Prince An had fallen ill, but not only did he not harm anyone, he also allowed Lixue to get close to him. This was truly astonishing!
"In my opinion, Prince An likes beautiful women. When he falls ill, you should place more beautiful women around him, and he will calm down!" Nangong Xiao said, waving his folding fan and proudly proclaiming his theory.
Lin Yan's eyelids darkened: "In Subei, when Prince An fell ill, he slapped several beautiful women who were too arrogant to know their place to be. Moreover, Little Chili is Prince An's cousin, and no one is allowed to get close to him..."
Nangong Xiao waved his hand dismissively: "That shrew Dongfang Yu'er has a bad temper and a rough personality. What's the difference between her and a man? You need to arrange for a few more gentle and charming beauties." He absolutely refused to admit that when Prince An fell ill, only Shen Lixue could get close to him!
As soon as Prince An lay down, he reached out and grabbed Shen Lixue's wrist, gripping it tightly and forcefully. A dull pain shot through her. Shen Lixue struggled for a long time but couldn't break free. She sighed softly.
When Prince An fell ill, he was not in his right mind, and all his actions were purely instinctive reactions. His vigilance and wariness were the result of long-term defensiveness.
Shen Lixue didn't know what had happened to Prince An, but she knew that only someone who lived in constant danger would develop such a habit. Subei was the border between the two countries, and there had been constant warfare for several years. As the commander of the soldiers in Subei, how could Prince An's life be peaceful and comfortable...
Those in the royal family hold high positions and wield great power, but they also bear heavy responsibilities and face numerous dangers. Their fortune is also a kind of tragedy.
"Shen Lixue, why are you undressing Prince An? He's a grown man!" Nangong Xiao stood by the door, glaring angrily at Shen Lixue, his eyes blazing with fury. Stupid woman, doesn't she know the difference between men and women and that they shouldn't touch each other?
"I want to check on Prince An's injuries!" Shen Lixue glared at Nangong Xiao. Prince An's old injuries had relapsed, which was why he was unconscious. If she wanted him to wake up, she had to heal his injuries first.
"Treating injuries is very simple. Just ask any doctor to come. There's no need for a weak woman like you to do it..." For some reason, Nangong Xiao didn't like Shen Lixue and Prince An having too close contact.
"Are you sure the doctor you hired can get close enough to him to take his pulse and treat his illness?" Shen Lixue looked at Nangong Xiao with a half-smile. Prince An was extremely guarded, and few people could get close to him. Since Shen Lixue's wrist was being held and she couldn't leave, she decided to check his injuries first.
Nangong Xiao's gaze flickered uncomfortably. He couldn't even get close to Prince An, let alone those mediocre doctors...
Prince An's clothes were clenched into a ball, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and his handsome face was full of pain. Shen Lixue quickly unbuttoned his outer and inner garments, revealing his strong, tanned chest. Near his heart, a dark scar was shocking. If the sword had been a little off, Prince An would have been dead!
Shen Lixue reached out and removed a pearl hairpin from her hair. She quickly untied it, revealing long, thin needles. Since Shen Lixue had been in the Prime Minister's residence for half a month and had hardly gone out, she had to use these needles instead of the finely crafted silver needles.
The thin, long needles were quickly inserted into various acupoints of Prince An, promoting the flow of qi and blood. Prince An's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, his breathing gradually became even, and his sleeping face became peaceful and serene.
"You know medicine?" Lin Yan asked, somewhat surprised.
"I only know a little bit!" Shen Lixue gently wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. Acupuncture is very mentally taxing. She was exhausted after treating Prince An's injuries.
"What's wrong with Prince An?" This was the thing that puzzled Lin Yan the most: why was there only a two-hour interval between the monthly flare-ups?
“Prince An’s heart meridian was stabbed. After taking the medicine, he needs to rest for at least three hours. If he doesn’t rest, the wound will not only fail to heal, but will become increasingly painful until he faints!” Shen Lixue’s gaze was cold. Two hours ago, Prince An took the medicine, chased after her, encountered bandits, was jostled by the carriage, and was delayed for so long at the Prime Minister’s residence. His wound must have been in extreme pain. He actually endured until now before fainting. His endurance is truly extraordinary!
"Can you heal his injuries?" Lin Yan's sharp eyes held a hint of hope. He was like a brother to Prince An, and he hoped that Prince An could recover and no longer suffer from the pain.
Shen Lixue shook her head: "Prince An has been injured for nearly three years, and his heart meridian is severely damaged. It is basically impossible for him to recover. However, I can do my best to make him less painful when he has an attack..." Her medical skills are superb, but she is powerless to save him from this serious injury.
"When will Prince An wake up?" Nangong Xiao glared at Prince An on the bed. If he weren't wary of Prince An's martial arts skills, he would have dragged him away and thrown him back to the palace long ago!
Shen Lixue roughly calculated: "Five or six hours!" Prince An was seriously injured, so it would be quite good if he woke up in five or six hours.
"Then he'll have to spend the night in your room!" Nangong Xiao lowered his voice, gritting his teeth. A man and a woman alone in a room—it was obvious that nothing good would happen.