Jealous?

Returning to Jiang Xuan's palace, as expected, Jiang Xuan merely called Jialin over and then retreated into his own study.

Although within the palace walls, eunuchs and palace maids like us were never permitted to summon imperial physicians when we fell ill, the Ninth Prince's status, combined with the genuine severity of my injuries which necessitated medical attention, prompted me to instruct Jialin specifically. When sending Fang'er to fetch a physician, she was to request Liu Yunhe. In this manner, Jialin would not be implicated, and I could receive proper treatment.

While Fang'er went to fetch Liu Yunhe, Jialin brought me a bowl of ginseng soup. Blowing gently on the hot broth, she said with a heart-wrenching tone of distress, "Little Xiao, you have truly suffered immensely. In the past, I spoke without thinking and said I envied how you always managed to turn misfortune into fortune. But seeing you endure such torment now, I truly regret ever uttering those words. Look at you—so much suffering inflicted, and who knows when your hands will ever heal. Those people are utterly ruthless. Compared to what Noble Lady Ya used to subject me to, this is far worse."

"For Madam to speak thus fills this servant with profound shame," I replied. "How could this servant possibly be worthy of causing Madam such anxiety and exhaustion? Madam, let this servant handle it." I made to take the bowl from Jialin's hands, but the moment my hands moved forward and brushed against the porcelain surface, a searing pain shot through them.

"Oh, Little Xiao, stop trying to act tough," Jialin scolded gently. "Whether out of our personal affection or the Prince's explicit instructions, it is my duty to take good care of you. There are no outsiders here; you need not stand on ceremony with me. To act so formally now would be to treat me like a stranger. Once you are well, I shall find an opportunity to make you wait on me instead—will that satisfy you?"

Jialin's playful remark melted away much of my tension. Fortunately, we were indeed unobserved, and given my deep trust in Jialin, I ceased my stubborn attempts.

After finishing the bowl of ginseng soup, a wave of warmth spread through my entire body. As the internal heat dispersed, the throbbing pain in my body and hands subsided significantly.

Before long, Liu Yunhe arrived in the company of Fang'er.

"This subject pays respects to Madam."

Jialin rose and addressed Liu Yunhe, "Lord Liu, please examine Little Xiao. I am deeply grateful for your trouble."

"At once!"

"Lord Liu, please examine him here while I go check on His Highness the Ninth Prince."

"Please do as you wish, Madam."

Liu Yunhe stepped forward to inspect my injuries. A grave expression settled upon his features as he murmured, "I never imagined you would endure such suffering. If Lan'er were to see you like this, her heart would surely ache. You showed great kindness to both me and Lan'er, yet we are powerless to assist you—it is a heavy burden on my conscience."

I quickly replied, "Lord Liu exaggerates. This servant has never done anything of true significance for you or the Consort. Isn't Lord Liu attending to my treatment right now? Without your medical skills, this servant's humble life would surely be forfeit."

Liu Yunhe sighed, "Although I have studied in the Imperial Medical Academy and possess some rudimentary knowledge of medicine, I am well aware of my own limited capabilities and cannot guarantee I can cure you. Ultimately, Little Xiao, everything depends on your own constitution. I shall go write the prescription for you now."

"I am indebted to Lord Liu."

"Little Xiao, you must take your medicine diligently every day, and the dressings on your hands must be changed punctually. As long as you do not develop a fever during this period, you will be out of danger. But should a fever set in, your condition will become grave," Liu Yunhe cautioned solemnly.

"Rest assured, Lord Liu, this servant will take good care of himself."

"After all, you must eventually return to serve in the Cuiwei Palace. If His Highness the Ninth Prince intervenes, you might be granted a few days to rest within the palace grounds; otherwise, I fear—"

"Lord Liu need not worry; this servant knows how to manage."

"Very well. I shall have Fang'er accompany me to the Imperial Pharmacy to fetch the medicines."

"Thank you once again, Lord Liu!"

Shortly after Liu Yunhe departed, I resolved to bid farewell to Jialin and return immediately to the Cuiwei Palace. Recalling that Jialin had mentioned going to see Jiang Xuan, I decided to wait for her near his study.

Upon arriving at the study, I saw a eunuch emerging from within.

"Little Xiao, are you here to see the Ninth Prince?"

"No, I am here for Madam."

The eunuch replied, "Madam has gone to the kitchens to prepare the Ninth Prince's evening meal."

"Ah, then I shall go to the kitchen to find her."

Just as I turned to leave, Jiang Xuan's voice rang out from the doorway, "Little Xiao!"

"This servant is here!"

Returning to Jiang Xuan's study, he gazed at the two bandaged fingers on my hand and inquired, "Has the imperial physician examined you?"

I stood before him and nodded, "He has."

"What did he say?"

"The physician said there is no major danger as long as I take the medicine on time. This servant was just about to pay my respects to Madam before returning to the Cuiwei Palace."

"Return to the Cuiwei Palace?" Jiang Xuan frowned. "Have you forgotten what I told you?"

Lowering my gaze, I answered, "This servant dares not forget. But this servant also dares not forget his proper duty; I must return to the Cuiwei Palace immediately to report to the Consort."

"Did you fail to understand my words? Do you intend to aggravate your injuries in this state? As for the Consort, I shall speak to her myself. At worst, this Prince will simply demand you from her, and you can serve henceforth within my own palace."

I hurriedly dropped to my knees, pleading, "This servant lacks both virtue and ability; I am unfit to serve the Ninth Prince. This servant must still—"

"Little Xiao!" Jiang Xuan shouted. "You lack the virtue and ability to serve this Prince, yet you are fit to serve the Consort? What is the meaning of this?"

"This servant—"

Jiang Xuan strode up to stand directly before me, his voice descending from above, "Lift your head and look at this Prince."

"At once!" I was forced to raise my eyes to meet Jiang Xuan's gaze.

"Little Xiao, what on earth are you playing at? Can you accept favors from Long Zhan alone, yet refuse any kindness from this Prince? You must realize that you have long since been in this Prince's debt."

Confused, I asked, "What does the Ninth Prince mean by this? Lord Long, he—"

"This time, Third Sister-in-law stepped forward of her own accord to confess. Do you truly not know the reason why? Though I am unaware of what Long Zhan said to her, I know that immediately after he visited her, she confessed everything to the Emperor. Many people can perceive the underlying currents in this matter, yet each takes what they need, and none are willing to dig deeper."

Could it be that Long Zhan persuaded Han Feiyue? That seemed impossible!

Noticing me lost in deep thought, Jiang Xuan grew even more enraged. He seized my wrist and glared at me fiercely, "Why does every mention of him send your mind into turmoil?"

"This servant—"

Jiang Xuan roughly dragged me forward, and it was only then that I noticed a bed concealed behind the silk curtains of the study. He pushed me forward, causing me to tumble directly onto the bed, and demanded with lingering fury, "From now on, you will rest here. As I have said before, you will recuperate right here. If you are so eager to return to the Cuiwei Palace, you had best heal the injuries on your hands first."

I attempted to climb up, but Jiang Xuan pushed me back down, leaning over to trap me beneath his body. "Little Xiao, if you refuse to obey obediently, do you believe I will not punish you?"

Jiang Xuan's words chilled me with fear. Yet after what had transpired previously, he intended to repeat the act. I could not help but protest, "What is the Ninth Prince's intention by this? Are you not afraid Madam might walk in unexpectedly? There is actually a bed in this place—is this where the Ninth Prince and Madam—"

A trace of a smile flickered at the corner of Jiang Xuan's lips as he looked down at me. "Little Xiao, are you jealous? Are you jealous of Jialin?"

I immediately denied it outright, "This servant is guilty of no such thing! This servant is merely a eunuch—how could I ever feel jealousy?"

Yet the more I spoke against my true feelings, the more scorching my face became.

At that moment, Jiang Xuan stood up and pursued the matter no further. Standing beside the bed, he stated, "This bed has always been used by me alone; no one else has ever dared to lie upon it."

His words left me utterly bewildered. If only he used it, why bother placing a bed in the study at all? I recalled that on many previous occasions when I visited, I had never noticed a bed here. It seemed to have appeared only after Jialin moved in.

Could it be that Jiang Xuan and Jialin—

I dared not dwell on the thought further; these matters had nothing to do with me. Jialin was already married to Jiang Xuan, and I wished only for him to treat her well.

Jiang Xuan was a man who responded better to softness than to force. I struggled to my feet, knelt upon the bed, and addressed him, "Ninth Prince, this servant's persistent desire to return to the Cuiwei Palace is not because I wish to neglect my recovery, but rather to ensure it. Having narrowly escaped death, I still bear inescapable blame for the Crown Princess incident. If I were to exploit my injuries and remain in the Ninth Prince's palace, it would surely provide gossip for malicious tongues. Should I return to the Cuiwei Palace, I shall have the Consort's protection, and others will not dare to speak freely. Only by acting with utmost caution within the Cuiwei Palace can my wounds heal swiftly."

With that, I pressed my forehead heavily against the mattress in a formal kowtow.

Jiang Xuan stared at me in silence for a long moment before finally speaking, "Very well, I shall let you return. As for the Consort's side, you may inform Aunt Yunqing; she will make proper arrangements for you. That being said, if I discover that you have failed to take your medicines properly, this Prince will certainly not spare you."

"This servant thanks the Ninth Prince for his grace."

"Get up. Why must you constantly resort to kneeling? Do you not know your body is frail right now?"

"Yes, this servant rises at once."

As I stood up and stepped down from the bed, Jialin's voice drifted in from outside, "Your Highness, the evening meal is prepared. Will Your Highness partake now?"

"Come in."

"Yes!"

Jialin entered and caught sight of me standing within. "Ah, Little Xiao, you were here all along. No wonder I couldn't find you when I came by just now."

"This servant pays respects to Madam."

"There is no need for such formalities. Little Xiao, go to the kitchen and share a meal with Fang'er. You must be famished by now, aren't you?"

"This servant thanks Madam, but I must return to the Cuiwei Palace now."

Jialin looked puzzled. "Why must you rush back for no reason? Fang'er only just brought the medicine back and is currently brewing it for you! Your Highness, look at this—"

Jialin glanced toward Jiang Xuan, whose expression remained placid. "Let Little Xiao partake of the evening meal and medicine before returning to the Cuiwei Palace. Furthermore, leave the medicine here; have Fang'er brew it on schedule, and once it is ready, summon Little Xiao back to the palace in my name to take it."

"Understood, Your Highness. Shall I have the meal served here in the study, or would Your Highness prefer to dine in the chambers?"

"Here in the study will suffice."

"Understood! I shall go arrange the serving."

"Go."

The moment Jialin left, I spoke up as well, "Then this servant shall head to the kitchen."

"There is no need to rush your meal. Wait here for a moment."

"At once!"

"After applying the medicine, do your hands feel somewhat better?"

I replied, "Thanks to the ginseng soup prepared by Madam and the treatment administered by Lord Liu, this servant no longer feels the pain."

"Lord Liu? Could that be the Lord Liu newly appointed to the Imperial Medical Academy by His Majesty—the younger brother of Consort Meng?"

I nodded. Jiang Xuan's inquiry instantly stirred anxiety within me, as I feared he might press further regarding Liu Yunhe—a subject I was ill-equipped to lie about smoothly in his presence, yet entirely unable to reveal the truth concerning Liu Yunhe and Lin Lanzhi.

Fortunately, Jiang Xuan let the matter drop, offering only a soft murmur of acknowledgment.

As I stood quietly to one side, my gaze chanced upon the slightly disheveled state of the bedsheets. A jolt of panic ran through me as I wondered whether Jialin had noticed anything amiss.

Taking advantage of the brief window before Jialin's return, I hurried forward to smooth the bedding, only to turn around and find Jiang Xuan watching me with an ambiguous, half-amused smile.