"Jing'er, you'll live here from now on. It's warm here, so you won't be cold even if you go barefoot." Xiao Shixun looked at Su Fuliu with eyes full of joy. He had finally brought back the person he had been longing for.
With his eyes covered by a white veil, Su Fuliu felt extremely depressed. From the moment he stepped into the border of Xiao Kingdom, it felt as if a huge rock was pressing on his heart.
Especially after returning to the Xiao Kingdom's palace, he almost couldn't breathe several times, feeling as if he would die at any moment.
Even with a white veil covering his eyes, he could clearly know where he had passed through and where he had arrived.
"Cough cough..." Su Fuliu coughed a few times before she could even speak.
“Those quack doctors can’t even cure a common cold and cough. Jing’er, wait here, I’ll have someone bring a few more imperial physicians to treat you.” Xiao Shixun quickly ordered the palace servants to find imperial physicians.
Su Fuliu coughed softly as she looked around the warm pavilion and walked around.
Although he knew that even if Xiao Shixun had the antidote, he wouldn't leave it here.
However, he really didn't want to get too close to Xiao Shixun, so he could only use the excuse of visiting to distance himself from Xiao Shixun.
Chapter 548 Is it so difficult to obey me?
After giving his instructions, Xiao Shixun immediately walked over to Su Fuliu: "Jing'er, the imperial physician will be here soon. There's a soft couch over there, why don't you go and sit down?"
"Cough cough..." Su Fuliu only glanced at him, said nothing, and did not want to say anything.
If it weren't for his uncontrollable cough, he wouldn't want to make a sound at all.
Seeing him like this, Xiao Shixun reached out to help him over, but he dodged away. Then he walked straight to the soft couch and sat down.
"Does Jing'er really not want to talk to me?" Xiao Shixun stared at Su Fuliu.
After Su Fuliu sat down, she laughed mockingly: "The fact that I came back with you and stayed obediently in the warm pavilion is already the limit. What more do you want from me? To be like a friend to you, to talk freely and laugh together? Do you think that's possible?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Shixun's expression gradually darkened, and he walked step by step toward Su Fuliu.
"You are mine now. If you don't speak freely with me, if you don't laugh and chat with me, who else do you want to speak freely with, who else do you want to laugh and chat with?!" He stopped in front of Su Fuliu, reached out and grabbed Su Fuliu's chin, and questioned her.
"Cough, cough..." Su Fuliu's cough hadn't gotten better throughout the journey.
He had just raised his hand to push Xiao Shixun's hand away, but before his hand could even touch Xiao Shixun's wrist, he saw Xiao Shixun's hand suddenly slide down, and his other hand also reached out.
Xiao Shixun gripped Su Fuliu's slender neck with both hands; with just a little force, he could snap it.
He gently stroked Su Fuliu's Adam's apple with his thumb: "My precious Jing'er, please don't talk to me like that. If you talk to me like that, I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back... and kill you."
As he spoke, his hands gradually tightened, and his eyes flashed with a chilling light that sent shivers down one's spine: "I only want you to obediently submit to me and listen to my words. Is that so difficult?"
"Ugh...cough cough, cough cough cough..." Su Fuliu was already coughing, and now she was even more breathless.
He tilted his head back slightly, coughing incessantly, and tried to pry Xiao Shixun's hand away.
"Your Majesty, the imperial physician has arrived," came Yuan Sichen's voice from outside.
Xiao Shixun suddenly came to his senses. He looked at Su Fuliu, whose face was flushed, and immediately let go of her. Then, he hugged Su Fuliu apologetically and said, "I'm sorry, Jing'er. I didn't mean it. Please forgive me, please forgive me."
Su Fuliu didn't say anything, but pushed him away forcefully with both hands, then lifted her feet and sat down on the soft couch, moving further in.
He covered his neck, which had been choked red by Xiao Shixun, with both hands, panting and coughing.
Although his eyes were covered by a veil, making it impossible to see his gaze, one could still sense his terror.
Seeing that Su Fuliu remained silent, Xiao Shixun let the imperial physician come in first.
Several imperial physicians shrank their necks and walked in, bowing tremblingly and saying in unison, "Greetings, Your Majesty."
“Go and see him, he’s been coughing,” Xiao Shixun replied.
"Yes." The imperial physicians quickly went over and took Su Fuliu's pulse one by one.
After a long silence, Xiao Shixun asked, "How is it?"
"Your Majesty, it is clear that this young master's cough was not treated properly when it first started, and it has now become a chronic illness that is difficult to cure."
"Although this warm pavilion is as cozy as spring, it is already winter. This young master has been barefoot all this time, and the cold air can easily seep in from the soles of his feet and ankles."
"In addition, this young master's health is not very good. I think he was injured before, and it seems that the injury has not fully healed. This makes his resistance even worse, and his cough will be even more difficult to cure."
After listening, Xiao Shixun frowned deeply: "Why waste so much time on nonsense? I just want to know if you can cure him or not?!"
Chapter 549 This Voice
The imperial physicians all lowered their heads, cupped their hands, and said in unison, "Your humble servants will do their utmost."
Xiao Shixun was very displeased and angrily rebuked, "What I want is not your efforts, but that you must cure him. If you cannot, you will all die."
These words terrified the imperial physicians so much that their legs went weak and they all knelt down on the ground.
"Your humble servant will certainly heal this young master," they said in unison.
"If they can't be cured, they can all go back and hang themselves." After saying this coldly, Xiao Shixun looked at Su Fuliu and his tone became gentle. "Jing'er, rest well. I have things to take care of. I'll come and keep you company when I'm done."
Then, his cold gaze swept over the imperial physicians one by one, his eyes full of warning, which frightened the physicians so much that they dared not even breathe.
They all knew that Xiao Shixun was ruthless in killing people, and that he acted entirely according to his whims, without regard for right or wrong.
Only after Xiao Shixun left did the imperial physicians breathe a slight sigh of relief and stand up shakily.
However, they all knew that Su Fuliu's cough could not be cured so quickly, and Xiao Shixun certainly did not have the patience to wait too long; by then, their lives would definitely be in danger.
The three looked at each other and sighed.
"We can only do our best. If the Emperor loses patience and wants our lives before we can cure this young master, then there's nothing we can do."
"Sigh, there's nothing to think about. Ever since the new emperor ascended the throne, none of our lives are our own anymore. We'll just live for as long as we can."
"Alright, you two, shut up. How dare you say such things so casually?" The imperial physician gestured with his eyes, indicating that there were other people present and that they should not speak carelessly.
The two imperial physicians also looked at Su Fuliu and gently shook their heads.
At this moment, Su Fuliu spoke up: "Imperial Physician Xing, Imperial Physician Zhang, Imperial Physician Qu..."
The three of them were startled when they heard Su Fuliu speak: "That voice..."
Su Fuliu gently removed the white veil from her eyes and looked at them.
They all stared wide-eyed at Su Fuliu in disbelief, unable to come to their senses for a long time.
Besides helping his father, the emperor, with state affairs, Su Fuliu spent most of his time in the Imperial Hospital.
Therefore, he was very familiar with the imperial physicians in the Imperial Hospital. Although they were all older than Su Fuliu, they all respected him.
It was Imperial Physician Qu who reacted first. He knelt down excitedly, tears welling in his eyes, and said, "Your Highness—"
Upon hearing the cry of "Your Highness the Crown Prince," Imperial Physician Xing and Imperial Physician Zhang were immediately moved to tears, and they knelt down as well: "Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are still alive!"
"Your Highness, you're back! You're back!"
Seeing them like this, Su Fuliu's tears welled up instantly. He quickly got off the soft couch and reached out to help them up: "Cough cough, please get up quickly."
Imperial Physician Qu wiped away his tears and said excitedly, "Is this a dream, Your Highness? Is it really you?"
"Cough cough... Hmm." Su Fuliu wiped away her tears and nodded. "This matter is a long story, and I really can't tell you the details. Xiao Shixun is a cold-blooded person. If you can't heal me quickly, he definitely won't let you off the hook."
After hearing this, the three of them sighed and shook their heads.
After coughing a few times, Su Fuliu said, "But don't worry, I'll give you a prescription later. Just get the medicine for me according to the prescription. If you want my cough to get better soon, I also need to use acupuncture. Among you, Physician Zhang is the best at acupuncture. I will tell Physician Zhang how to administer acupuncture to me."
Chapter 550 Everything is understood without words
Imperial Physician Zhang wiped away his tears and said, "His Highness the Crown Prince is always so kind and considerate of our lives, unlike Xiao Shixun, who treats us like ants."
Su Fuliu shook her head: "Pretend you don't know I'm back. Don't make a fuss, lest it cause unrest and unnecessary sacrifices."
"Your Highness...you have suffered so much!" Imperial Physician Xing grasped Su Fuliu's hand, tears welling up in his eyes again. His heart ached for the young man before him, who was only in his early twenties, about the same age as his own children.
Back then, the entire royal family was slaughtered by Xiao Shixun. Everything that was originally so good was destroyed by Xiao Shixun.
Su Fuliu shook his head, choked up, and wanted to say something, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something, and he couldn't say anything except cough.
Imperial Physician Qu said, "Your Highness, in the years you have been gone, the people of Xiao Kingdom have not forgotten you. With just one word from you, everyone will be on your side."
Su Fuliu understood what Imperial Physician Qu meant. He gently wiped away his tears and shook his head, saying, "I told you, you should pretend you don't know I've returned, to avoid causing unrest and unnecessary sacrifices. Besides, I..."
He stopped there. Although this was the palace, it was now Xiao Shixun's territory, and he couldn't speak carelessly. Even though Xiao Shixun wasn't here, he must have arranged for people to keep an eye on things, so he couldn't say everything.
"In short, I understand your intentions, but I don't want anything to happen to you because of me. Alright, that's all. Just focus on healing me and taking good care of yourselves." Su Fuliu dared not say anything more, lest someone overhear.
He made a shushing gesture, then pointed to his ear and shook his head.
The three of them immediately understood what he meant and fell silent.
Then, Su Fuliu told them the prescription and acupuncture technique.
Physician Xing said, "Your humble servant will go and fetch the medicine immediately."
Imperial Physician Zhang and Imperial Physician Qu stayed behind to help administer acupuncture to Su Fuliu.
When Physician Xing went out, he saw Qin Shi guarding the entrance of the warm pavilion and assumed that he was the person Xiao Shixun had left there to watch over Su Fuliu, which was indeed the case.
Therefore, Physician Xing couldn't help but glare at Qin Shi resentfully.
Although he was also very scared, the thought of such a good Crown Prince being imprisoned here by Xiao Shixun and watched over by others made his heart ache. He didn't dare to glare at Xiao Shixun, but he would still dare to secretly glare at Xiao Shixun's men if he put his heart into it.
Qin Shi was slightly taken aback, looking at Physician Xing who had glared at him and then left, feeling somewhat innocent.
After Su Fuliu taught Imperial Physician Zhang the acupuncture technique, she put the white gauze back on, lay down on the soft couch, and asked Imperial Physician Zhang to come and give her acupuncture.
Imperial Physician Qu watched from the side.
After the acupuncture was finished, Physician Xing also brought over the prepared medicine.
After Su Fuliu finished drinking her medicine, she said to them, "Alright, you should go back to the Imperial Hospital now. Don't linger here. Come back tomorrow. Remember, don't tell anyone that I'm back."
The three of them bowed ninety degrees to Su Fuliu and clasped their hands in a gesture of respect.
Su Fuliu also stood up and returned the courtesy.
Neither of them said anything more; everything was understood without words.
Afterwards, the three of them left together. As they exited the warm pavilion, they all looked at Qin Shi, who was guarding the entrance, and glared at him before leaving.
"..." Qin Shi was quite helpless.
Inside the warm pavilion, Su Fuliu coughed twice and then walked towards the entrance.