Yu Yao's spirit had not been the same since the steam punishment that day. She was preoccupied with her thoughts, often staring blankly into space, fixated on one spot.
She feared that one day her identity would be revealed, and she would also end up in such a sorry state.
Yet, she couldn't make up her mind to leave the Prince's Manor. For a moment, she didn't know what to do.
Xiang Ling entered the room quietly, carrying a warm cup of tea in her hands. Her brows were furrowed, brimming with concern.
She placed the warm tea in her hand gently on the table and said worriedly, "Miss, how have you been so listless these past two days? Is it something from that day..."
Yu Yao sighed lightly, her eyes vacant gazing at the fluttering willow branches outside the window, and she spoke weakly, "Xiang Ling, I'm fine. It's just that I'm a bit vexed in my heart."
"You say you're fine, but no, maid will go to the front courtyard to fetch a doctor from the manor to take a look..."
Xiang Ling is a quick-tempered person. As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and ran out of the house.
It's clear that she is going to the front courtyard to invite a doctor from the manor.
Yu Yao watched as Xiang Ling's back disappeared, her mouth opened, but it was too late to call her back.
She shook her head and smiled helplessly, "This girl, she has a quick temperament."
So she didn't bother to stop her, and let Xiang Ling go to invite a doctor from the manor.
The doctor at the Prince's Manor is named Li Moxuan, around the age of 40, with a lean and handsome face that exudes an aura of transcendence. He often appears in a long robe of light blue, exuding a natural grace in his movements.
Upon hearing that Yu Yao in the fragrant garden was not feeling well, Li Moxuan did not dare to neglect his responsibility, and he followed Xiang Ling hurriedly with a medicine box.
Soon, Li Moxuan entered the Fragrant Garden carrying his medicine box.
Xiang Ling followed closely behind.
At this moment, Yu Yao was sitting by the window reading a novel. Upon seeing the two people enter, she looked surprised for a moment.
"Mr. Li, the young lady has been staring at a place for days. I'm not sure if she was scared that day. Please check her condition quickly."
After entering the room, Xiang Ling hurriedly said to Li Moxuan.
Li Moxuan placed the medicine box on the table inside the room and looked at Yu Yao with a serious expression, "Miss Yu, I heard that you have been unwell recently. I came to check on you."
Yu Yao smiled faintly, stood up from the bed, and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Mr. Li. I'm not in serious condition. It's just that I have been a bit lethargic these past two days. This girl is afraid that something bad might happen to me, so she hurriedly went to invite you over."
"Haha, no problem. Since I'm here, I'll give the young lady a pulse reading."
Li Moxuan smiled.
"If so, thank you very much, Mr. Li."
Yu Yao sat back down by the window, extended her left hand, slightly rolled up her sleeve, and exposed her fair and pale wrist, resting it on the side.
Li Moxuan took out a square silk handkerchief, placed it on her wrist, and gave her a pulse reading through the handkerchief.
Xiang Ling was watching anxiously on the side, seeing that Mr. Li had withdrawn his hand, she asked in a hurry, "Mr. Li, is the young lady alright?"
Li Moxuan calmly folded the handkerchief and said slowly, "The pulse is fine overall, but there is a blockage in the Qi and blood flow, which is due to something troubling her heart."
Upon hearing this, Yu Yao knew that the doctor from the manor was quite skilled. She indeed had something troubling her heart.
However, she didn't want to let others see through it and suspect her, so she said, "Mr. Li's words are very accurate. That day…"
"The incident from that day has nothing to do with the young lady, so why should she worry and overthink it?"
Li Moxuan shook his head gently and wrote down a prescription before handing it to Xiang Ling: "I will first prescribe a few decoctions for tranquilizing the mind and dispelling depression. You will prepare them according to the instructions and give them to Yu Yao to drink. In addition, spend more time with her chatting and going for a walk in the garden. Don't let her stay indoors all day long."
Xiang Ling nodded vigorously, took the prescription, and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you very much for your help, Mr. Li. I will remember it."
Li Moxuan gave a few more instructions and then packed up his medicine box and left.
Front courtyard of the Prince's Manor.
The sunlight penetrates the clouds and shines on the cobblestone path in the front courtyard, casting shadowy patterns.
The east wind passes quickly through the carved and painted corridor, appearing at the door of the study, knocking on it politely, "Master."
"Enter."
Within the study, a low and crisp male voice was heard.
Dongfeng pushed the door open and glanced at his master in front of the desk, then respectfully reported, "Master, Yu Yao from the Fragrant Garden has asked for a doctor from the manor."
Xuanyuan Cheng's pen slightly hesitated, and the ink spread across the paper.
He looked up at Dongfeng, a subtle worry flickering in his brows, and asked with a furrowed brow, "What happened?"
His voice was steady and forceful.
Dongfeng dared not withhold the information and respectfully said, "After examining, Mr. Li diagnosed that Miss Yu has a blockage in her blood flow and Qi due to excessive worry."
"Overthinking?"
Xuanyuan Cheng deeply furrowed his brow, this woman was thinking about what? She was so worried that she even got sick.
On that day, although she went to watch the punishment, he also ordered her to go back early.
Since she did not see the entire execution process, how could she have been so frightened?
Perhaps, she is afraid of something?
Xuanyuan Cheng thought about it here, his eyes slightly narrowed.
He put down the wolf-hair brush in his hand and decided to go to the Fragrant Garden himself to find out the truth.
Dongfeng was taken aback for a moment, but after realizing it, he quickly caught up.
Xuanyuan Cheng's figure soon appeared in the back courtyard, which was winding and fragrant.
He had just reached the garden and was about to head towards the Fragrant Garden.
Suddenly, a pleasant fragrance greeted him, mixed with intentional allure and temptation.
Xuanyuan Cheng paused his steps, narrowed his brow, and looked over. He saw a woman dressed in rose red, embroidered with Hedecarpa flowers, holding a hand fan partially covering her face, gracefully blocking his path.
The woman's hair was piled high with pearls and jade, and her eyes flickered with calculating light, clearly indicating that she had heard the news and had been waiting here for some time.
This is Li Youyan, the daughter of the county magistrate of Huaiyang. She participated in the imperial selection half a year ago and was appointed as a concubine in the Qin Palace by Xuanyuan Zan.
Although she is a concubine, because she has not served yet, her name and status are not official, so she can only be called a young lady.
"Prince, you finally came. The slave has been sitting here waiting every day, it's really tiring."
Li Youyan's voice was soft and alluring, with a hint of petulant sorrow. As she spoke, she slowly approached, the fan gently swaying, as if it could move the most tender parts of the heart.
Xuanyuan Cheng did not recognize the woman before him or have any impression of her, but he could be sure that she was not a woman from his harem by any means.
He just doesn't know whether his mother brought her in, or his brother.
"I have business, move aside."
His voice was deep and powerful, devoid of any emotion, like the cold wind in winter, chilling those who heard it.
Li Youyan was taken aback, clearly not expecting her beauty and abilities to be of no consequence in front of Xuanyuan Cheng.
She bit her lip helplessly, trying to use a more alluring posture to retain him: "Prince, the slave just wants to accompany you and chat to relieve the boredom..."
Xuanyuan Cheng had lost his patience. He moved quickly, easily sidestepping Li Youyan's entanglement, leaving behind only a resolute silhouette and the lingering cool scent in the air.
Li Youyan gazed at Xuanyuan Cheng's hurried departure, her expression was very sad.
The prince did not show interest in her, and she felt that she would really be lonely for the rest of her life in the Qin Palace.
In the Fragrant Garden, the scent of medicine mingled with the fragrance of flowers.
Yu Yao heard Xiang Ling report that Xuanyuan Cheng had come to the Fragrant Garden and was quite shocked. She quickly tidied up and went out to welcome him.
She had just reached the door when Xuanyuan Cheng's steps stepped into the Fragrant Garden.
The man was dressed in a dark black robe, cold and handsome, with an extraordinary air of nobility.
"Your Highness has come, the slave did not properly welcome you in advance, please forgive me."
Yu Yao hurried forward, bowing low with her eyes lowered in submission.
Xuanyuan Cheng saw that she was pale and seemed much thinner, and his heart couldn't help but feel pity for her.
He gently helped her up and said in a warm tone, "Since you are unwell, there is no need for you to be too polite. The mansion doctor said that you are overthinking things, was that day's execution scene what frightened you?"
Although his tone was gentle, his gaze was firmly fixed on her expression on her face, scrutinizing and observing her closely.
Yu Yao wanted to say that she indeed was scared.
But then, she keenly noticed that Xuanyuan Cheng was scrutinizing and observing her.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly became tense. This man might be suspecting something.
Although Yu Yao was very nervous inside, her expression remained calm. She found a reasonable excuse: "Thank you, Your Highness, as a slave born and raised in the Western Regions, I have always been accustomed to freedom and mobility. Suddenly being confined to this foursquare courtyard is undoubtedly monotonous and boring."
She forced a bitter smile, "Considering that day's execution, I am very afraid that I will not be able to adapt to the life in the Qin Palace, and I am also afraid that I might make a mistake accidentally. In the future, it may result in…"
Her expression was filled with helplessness and fear.
Although the words were not completed, Xuanyuan Cheng understood what she wanted to say.
He smiled faintly, and did not suspect anything, soothing in a low voice: "If you feel bored, I will take you out for a walk next time. As for your concern about not being able to adapt to the life in the Qin Palace and making mistakes, there is no need to worry about that. As long as it's not a fundamental mistake, I am very easy to talk to."
He is not a cruel and bloodthirsty person. The reason why he imposed the punishment of steam cautery that day was only because the maid had spread rumors that touched his bottom line.
