My Darling, Coax Me.

CHAPTER 8: My Intention Is Clear.

　　Gao Chang's body stiffened as he bent at the waist, clasping his fists tightly, “I understand my mistake.”

　　“I have urgent matters to attend to, I'll take my leave.” With that, he turned and left, taking a group of guards with him. The room was suddenly quiet.

　　Xie Jue could no longer hold himself up. He coughed violently, blood pouring from his mouth. He closed his eyes and slumped back, his body limp.

　　The young palace maid's voice filled the air, laced with panic, “Your Highness, Your Highness, what's wrong?”

　　Just outside the door, Gao Chang let out a cold laugh. “He's a dying man,” he muttered, “Let's see how long he can keep up this arrogance. Let's go.”

　　After Gao Chang and his men left, Yun Ling knelt on the floor, biting her lip, using all her strength to help Xie Jue sit up. She looked at his pale face and the blood staining his clothes, her eyes welling up with tears. “A bunch of traitorous dogs, how dare they attack Your Highness!”

　　Xie Jue closed his eyes, his breath shallow. “Go, fetch the imperial physician.”

　　Yun Ling touched his nose, feeling the faintest breath. It was so weak, and with each passing moment, she feared the worst.

　　With great effort, she helped him onto the bed and pulled the covers up to his chin. Choking back a sob, she whispered, “Yes, Your Highness, please wait for me. I'll bring the imperial physician back as quickly as I can.”

　　Without a moment's hesitation, she dashed out of the room.

　　……

　　The night was thick and heavy, the shadows of the trees swaying in the breeze.

　　Outside the Imperial Medical Bureau.

　　Yun Ling, holding Xie Jue's token, approached the Imperial Medical Bureau, hoping to summon a physician. But two young apprentices barred her way. “Imperial Physician Wang and Imperial Physician Zhang are preparing a medicinal meal for the Empress. No one is to disturb them.”

　　Preparing a medicinal meal at this time…

　　Yun Ling pleaded, her voice laced with urgency, “But the Sixth Prince has coughed up a great deal of blood. If we delay any longer, his life might be in danger. Please, let me see Imperial Physician Wang or Imperial Physician Zhang.”

　　The two young apprentices stood firm, their voices unwavering. “No, it's not allowed. If the Empress's health is affected, who can bear the consequences?”

　　“But the Sixth Prince's condition can't wait,” Yun Ling pleaded, dropping to her knees and kowtowing deeply to the two apprentices. “I beg you, please. His Highness is a prince, if something happens to him, we won't be able to bear the consequences either.”

　　The other apprentice scoffed, “Oh, are you threatening us, little palace maid?”

　　“Seeing as you're somewhat presentable, we've given you some face. Otherwise, you would have been kicked out of the Imperial Medical Bureau long ago for making such a fuss.”

　　The other apprentice whispered, “A confined, useless person, his death means nothing.”

　　Yun Ling bit her lip, her head bowed, remaining silent. It was clear these two were deliberately blocking her. It seemed someone close to the Empress wanted the Sixth Prince dead. After a while, she slowly rose from the ground. Taking advantage of their distraction, she attempted to rush past them, shouting as she ran, “Imperial Physician Wang, His Sixth Highness is gravely ill, save him!”

　　Before she could get far, the apprentices swiftly caught up to her, grabbing her arm. One of them shoved her hard to the ground, snarling, “The Imperial Medical Bureau isn't a place for a little palace maid to make a ruckus!”

　　The force was so great that Yun Ling, unprepared, landed hard on her knees and palms, scraping her hands on the rough floor. Blood welled up on her palms, her hair came loose, and a strand of dark hair fell, clinging to her sweat-dampened cheek.

　　Despite being pushed and shoved, she stubbornly remained kneeling, her small, snow-white face dusted with grime.

　　In the depths of the night, rain began to fall, a sudden, heavy downpour, the drops drumming against the ground.

　　The apprentices, finding the scene unlucky, turned and left, taking shelter under the eaves. One of them sneered, “Let her kneel if she wants to, the lowly thing.”

　　The rain intensified, falling so hard it was difficult to see through the sheets of water.

　　Yun Ling, having twisted her ankle from the fall, hobbled over to a tree for some shelter. The damp, cold palace attire clung to her, and her once-pink lips began to turn a shade of blue from the chill. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering from the cold but refusing to leave her spot.

　　She didn't believe that no one had heard her urgent plea.

　　Just then, a few palace servants walked by.

　　Yun Ling quickly grabbed the servant's arm, anxiously saying, “Sister, you serve by Zhang Guifei, don't you? The Sixth Prince is gravely ill. I came to request the Imperial Physician, but no one would let me through. Please help me.”

　　The servant brushed Yun Ling's hand away with disgust.

　　The two apprentices guarding the door, however, looked troubled. They exchanged a glance, and one of them quickly went inside.

　　Not long after, Imperial Physician Wang and Imperial Physician Zhang, the two Imperial Physicians, hurried out, carrying their medicine chests. Yun Ling wiped away the rain on her face and rushed forward to meet them, “Two Imperial Physicians, the Sixth Prince is critically ill, he needs your help!”

　　The white-bearded Imperial Physician Wang exclaimed repeatedly, “Why didn't you report this important matter earlier? Quickly, quickly, it's already too late!”

　　——

　　Inside the sleeping chamber.

　　Imperial Physician Wang concentrated on taking the pulse. After a long while, he shook his head.

　　Yun Ling quickly stepped forward and asked, “Imperial Physician Wang, how is the Sixth Prince?”

　　Imperial Physician Wang sighed and said, “The chronic illness is difficult to cure. The Sixth Prince's weak constitution is getting worse. If this continues…”

　　He left the rest of his sentence unsaid and turned to ask Yun Ling, “Has His Highness caught a cold recently?”

　　Yun Ling hesitated and said, “His Highness usually doesn't leave his room, except these past few days…”

　　Imperial Physician Wang pressed, “How so?”

　　Yun Ling paused, looking at the two Imperial Physicians in the room, she hesitated and said, “His Highness missed the late Empress Zhaohui, so he left the room to pray for her. Just now, he was searched by the guards... He probably got cold then.”

　　Imperial Physician Wang nodded silently and lowered his head to write a prescription for Yun Ling. “His Highness's filial piety is commendable, but his health is most important. Follow this prescription, boil three bowls of water down to one, and have His Highness take it.”

　　“Yes,” Yun Ling replied respectfully.

　　After the two Imperial Physicians left, Yun Ling changed clothes and hurriedly went to fetch the medicine. The medicine was very difficult to boil. It had to be watched over the fire, not too big and not too small, and another bowl of water had to be added midway.

　　It took a full two hours to boil the medicine.

　　When she carried the hard-earned medicine inside, she found that the Sixth Prince had already woken up, his long black hair falling down, leaning against the headboard.

　　Yun Ling excitedly walked over with the medicine, her steps quickened, and she said happily, “Your Highness, you're finally awake.”

　　Xie Jue raised his eyes, his thin lips still pale. He saw the black ash on the tip of her pink nose at a glance.

　　Yun Ling held the bowl of medicine and walked to the bedside, her apricot eyes filled with worry, her eyes were red, “It's good that Your Highness is awake, I was really scared.”

　　She stirred the medicine in her hand to cool it down, then slowly brought it to Xie Jue's lips, “This is the medicine prescribed by Imperial Physician Wang. You'll be fine after taking it.”

　　The thick black medicine reached his lips, Xie Jue lowered his eyes slightly. He saw the distinct scars and blisters on her palm, crisscrossed and dense, a little dazzling.

　　“What happened to your hand?” He asked softly.

　　“Ah,” Yun Ling was caught off guard by his sudden question, her palm curled slightly, “It's just that I accidentally fell and bumped it, it's nothing serious.”

　　Fallen…

　　Those obvious blisters were clearly caused by high temperatures. A fall wouldn't cause such extensive abrasions.

　　“Your Highness, drink the medicine while it's hot.” Yun Ling's eyes held hope, “I've been simmering it for a long time. You'll feel better after taking it.”

　　Xie Jue lowered his head and stared at her.

　　After a while.

　　He picked up the bowl of medicine from Yun Ling's hand and drank it all in one gulp.

　　“How did you get the Imperial Physician?”

　　Yun Ling handed him a clean handkerchief, “Your Highness's life was in danger, I didn't care about anything else. I ran to the Imperial Medical Bureau and begged Imperial Physician Wang to come take a look. They say doctors are compassionate, thankfully Your Highness is blessed, and I finally waited for him.”

　　She only said she waited for him.

　　But waiting for someone wouldn't make her this disheveled, with her hands covered in scars.

　　Xie Jue clenched his fist against his lips and coughed twice.

　　His lips were bloodless, and he was still very weak.

　　Yun Ling quickly helped him lie down, then pulled the covers over him and tucked him in tightly, saying worriedly, “Your Highness, you've been injured, you need to rest well.”

　　……

　　The anniversary of the late Empress's death was approaching. Xie Jue, the only son of Empress Zhaohui, was suffering from a heart ailment due to his grief for his late mother. His illness was difficult to treat, and his health was steadily deteriorating.

　　His filial piety moved heaven and earth.

　　The court officials were moved and submitted memorials requesting that the Sixth Prince be allowed to temporarily leave the Jingxiang Palace to pray for Empress Zhaohui on the anniversary of her death.

　　The Emperor, heartbroken, granted the request.

　　“Gao Chang dared to disobey and disrespect the royal family, and he was dismissed and investigated for his incompetence. The Imperial Guard commander has been replaced with our own people. Looks like the Empress lost a trusted aide, tsk tsk.”

　　Chen Zhan thought of something else and said with a teasing tone, “It's all thanks to your little palace maid. Without her, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly. I hear she was caught in the rain for half an hour to get an imperial physician for you.”

　　Xie Jue, his face devoid of expression, placed the slip of paper in the candle flame, watching it burn to ashes.

　　He said nothing.

　　Chen Zhan sheepishly closed his mouth.

　　……

　　The Sixth Prince, having suffered a grave illness, looked even more frail, as if his days were numbered.

　　This winter's wind and snow seemed harsher than usual, the cold so biting it felt like it would crack your very bones.

　　Faint sunlight, filtering through the broken window panes, cast long, shadowy streaks across the cold room.

　　On the curtained bed, a young man in black nightclothes lay sleeping. Suddenly, his handsome brow furrowed slightly. A moment later, he could no longer suppress the urge to sit up.

　　His black hair cascaded over his shoulders, and his face, pale as jade, was even more wan. Xie Jue propped himself up on one arm, pressing a handkerchief to his lips, and let out a muffled groan.

　　A trickle of bright red blood slowly seeped from the corner of his lips.

　　A strand of hair clung to his sharp jawline, looking both fragile and disheveled.

　　Xie Jue lowered his head, closing his eyes, waiting for the wave of agonizing pain, like needles piercing his bones, to subside.

　　This agony would continue for several more days.

　　But this pain, for him, was nothing.

　　He kept his eyes closed, casually reaching out to push aside the curtain. His gaze suddenly froze.

　　A weary little palace maid, her arm resting against the edge of the bed, her forehead resting on her forearm, had fallen asleep without realizing it.

　　Her raven-black eyelashes cast shadows over her delicate face, her dainty nose upturned, revealing half of her fair, youthful features.

　　Xie Jue's eyes darkened. For so long, this little palace maid had been meek and timid, always keeping to herself. This was the first time she had dared to fall asleep by his bedside.

　　It seemed she was truly exhausted.

　　The freshly brewed medicine sat on the table.

　　Yun Ling's sleep wasn't very restful. Even the slightest movement could wake her. She hadn't slept well these past few days, tending to the Sixth Prince and preparing his medicine. She brought over the freshly brewed concoction, only to find him asleep. So, she quietly waited by his side.

　　Perhaps it was the exhaustion and worry of these past days that had finally overcome her, and she had fallen asleep without realizing it.

　　Her long lashes fluttered, and Yun Ling suddenly awoke. She quickly sat up, her gaze inadvertently meeting a pair of deep, dark eyes.

　　“Your Highness, you're awake?” Yun Ling rubbed her eyes, not bothering with anything else, and immediately stood up to pick up the covered medicine on the table, still warm. “Your Highness, please forgive me. I was just waiting for you to wake up, but I don't know how I fell asleep.”

　　“Mm.” Xie Jue replied coldly, picking up the medicine bowl and tilting his head back to gulp it down in one go.

　　This medicine was a concoction of tonics designed to strengthen his body and replenish his blood. It was good for his health, but it was also incredibly bitter.

　　Every time, Xie Jue would swallow it down without a flinch, as if he couldn't even taste the bitterness.

　　After he finished, Yun Ling took the empty bowl and placed it on the table. Then, with a twinkle in her eye, she pulled out a candied fruit from her pouch, like a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat. “Your Highness, have some sweets. They'll help to mask the bitterness.”

　　Xie Jue subtly leaned back, his brow slightly furrowed. “Where did you get this?”

　　“This is made by a servant with dried pomegranate flowers, it's very sweet.” Yun Ling handed the candied fruit forward again.

　　Xie Jue slightly raised his eyes.

　　The little palace maid had almond-shaped eyes that curved into a smile, her skin as white as snow and her face like a blossoming flower. Her hair was simply styled. Even her only silver hairpin was gone.

　　It had been traded for a bag of useless candied fruit.

　　“When I was little, every time I got sick and didn't want to drink the bitter medicine, my master would buy me some candied fruit. As long as I obediently took my medicine, I would get to eat it,” Yun Ling said softly, her voice seeming to carry a hint of sweetness. “When I was a child, I felt that as long as I had this sweet candied fruit to eat, I wouldn't even feel sick.”

　　Xie Jue stopped, “You have a master?”

　　“Yes,” Yun Ling nodded. “My master was a horse breeder in the Imperial Stables. I was sold into the palace when I was very young. My master saw how young and pitiful I was, so he often took care of me.”

　　Xie Jue: “You're now in the Cold Palace. Doesn't your master come to see you?”

　　“Mm.”

　　Yun Ling's voice lowered, “Because he's dead.”

　　“How did he die?” Xie Jue's voice lacked warmth, his tone flat.

　　“He drowned after falling into the lotus pond while drunk. By the time they pulled him out his body was already rotten.” Yun Ling lowered her head and clutched her pouch.

　　It wasn't that her master didn't come to see her.

　　It was that she no longer had a master.

　　“That's a pity,” Xie Jue said. “Otherwise, you wouldn't have to come to me and suffer.”

　　Yun Ling shook her head.

　　“No.”

　　Xie Jue lifted his eyelids slightly.

　　Yun Ling pursed her red lips and said seriously, “I don't feel like I'm suffering.”

　　“Actually, when I was first transferred here I was scared, but when I found out it was Your Highness I was only surprised and grateful. So, being able to serve Your Highness, I never considered it suffering.”

　　The continuous, dense pain in his chest had drained even the color from his lips.

　　Xie Jue's face was pale, and he leaned back slightly, looking weak.

　　The sun had climbed higher, warming the air. Golden light streamed in through the window, painting the floor in a soft, comforting glow.

　　But it couldn't hide the coldness in his brow, “Is that so?”

　　Yun Ling, gathering her courage, leaned in slightly, her white, delicate fingers brushing against the corner of his black robe. She looked at him with her pretty, misty almond eyes and said earnestly, “My intentions are clear, doesn't Your Highness know my heart?”

　　That face, as beautiful as a rose, was filled with sincerity, anticipation, and a soft warmth that was both evident and elusive.

　　On the bed, atop the black sleeve, the pink and white fingers were slender and delicate, intertwined with the deep, cold, hard outer robe.

　　Black and white, soft and hard, in stark contrast.

　　Xie Jue turned his head, silently watching the little palace maid by the bed.

　　Those bright, clear, watery eyes were incredibly piercing.

　　His Adam's apple bobbed, suppressing the urge to cough up the blood that was welling up in his throat.

　　His gaze remained fixed.

　　Several breaths passed.

　　Xie Jue closed his eyes, turned his head away, his pale lips pressed tightly together, his voice cold, “Don't be presumptuous. How could I possibly know?”

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