As soon as the words left her mouth, Wu Lang’s eyes indeed lit up with joy. The young man nodded eagerly, looking determined to prove his resolve.
“Yes, this base slave will certainly heal his wounds quickly and serve Your Highness with all his heart.”
Xue Yunyi vaguely felt that Wu Lang had misunderstood her meaning again, but the one silver lining was that he had finally stopped moving around recklessly. She sighed, silently reminding herself in her heart not to rush things—to take it slow.
The boy before her could not withstand any harsh words. Even if her tone rose just a little, it would frighten him badly. Those clear, dark eyes of his were always filled with fear, constantly watching her expression with care.
At this moment, Wu Lang knelt quietly at her feet. He took the bowl that Liu Yin handed him and clumsily scooped up the porridge with a spoon to drink. He remembered Xue Yunyi’s reprimand from the day before and did not dare eat the way he used to.
He was obedient.
His thick, crow-like lashes hung low. A bit of steam brushed against the young man’s handsome nose tip. Every movement was cautious, as he tried his utmost to avoid any clink between the spoon and the porcelain bowl, lest he make the slightest sound.
Xue Yunyi had originally meant to tell Wu Lang to get up, but seeing him like this, she suddenly felt reluctant to disturb him.
Fine. As long as he was willing to eat, that was good enough. As for this habit of kneeling at every turn, she could correct it gradually later.
But it was not long before Xue Yunyi noticed that, although it was just a simple bowl of plain porridge, Wu Lang ate it extremely slowly. Every time he swallowed, his brow furrowed in discomfort.
It was probably too bland, making it hard to get down.
Yet the boy still obediently finished the entire bowl. Then he handed the empty bowl back to Liu Yin with both hands and looked up at her with his clear, bright eyes.
So obedient.
Xue Yunyi’s gaze softened. She could not help but reach out and gently stroke Wu Lang’s head.
Her sleeve draped lightly, the moon-white soft satin brushing inadvertently over the young man’s refined cheek, carrying the fresh fragrance of magnolia.
Wu Lang’s eyes widened slightly. A strange feeling filled his chest, leaving him dazed all over, his cheeks tinged with a faint blush.
Seeing Wu Lang staring at her in a daze, Xue Yunyi could not help but chuckle. She ruffled his hair and said softly, “Well done. This is your reward.”
Re…ward?
Bewilderment appeared in Wu Lang’s eyes as he silently repeated the unfamiliar word in his mind.
He only knew that if he did something wrong or failed to please his master, he would face severe punishment. So, if he was obedient, could he receive such gentle… rewards?
Emboldened, he straightened his kneeling posture a little and dared to try rubbing against Xue Yunyi’s palm ever so slightly—
“Your Highness, Judge Wu has arrived,” a palace servant announced respectfully.
Wu Lang jolted awake in an instant. He hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to make any unauthorized move.
Xue Yunyi felt somewhat helpless. The servant had only spoken a bit loudly, yet he was frightened into this state—his eyes slightly red as he huddled by the bed, as if he had done something wrong.
She said warmly, “Return to the bed first.”
“Yes.” Wu Lang responded and quickly got up to sit back on the bed.
Zhao Xi’s outstretched hand, meant to support him, froze in midair. The man stood there, dumbstruck. He knew full well how severe Wu Lang’s injuries were, so he had instinctively moved to help. But before Xue Yunyi had even finished speaking, Wu Lang had climbed onto the bed on his own, as if he felt no pain, not daring to slacken for a moment.
Zhao Xi silently withdrew his hand and stepped aside, stealthily observing this strange, taciturn young man whom the Eldest Princess had suddenly brought back to the palace.
“Invite Judge Wu in,” Xue Yunyi instructed. After a moment’s thought, she added, “Everyone else, withdraw.”
The people in the room dispersed accordingly. Judge Wu entered carrying his medicine box. With practiced ease, he took out bandages and the itch-inducing powder. Two attendants stepped forward to help lift Wu Lang’s lower garments.
Wu Lang gripped the bedsheets beneath him tightly and pressed his legs together uneasily. In the past, the eunuchs in Ninghua Palace had always stripped his clothes so roughly, ignoring his pained struggles. With expressionless faces, they had repeatedly washed his festering, pus-oozing wounds with salt water. Only when his body was barely presentable could he don thin silk robes and be brought to Xue Qingzhi’s bedchamber.
Those eunuchs who carried out their duties treated him no differently from livestock.
Wu Lang was very afraid. He hated having his body casually exposed to view. Even though it was thoroughly filthy, he still clung to the last shred of his dignity.
He raised his eyes and saw that Xue Yunyi was turned slightly to speak with Judge Wu, not stopping the attendants’ actions. So he silently bit his lip, saying nothing and offering no resistance.
For ease of applying the medicine, Wu Lang wore no undergarments. His two long, straight legs were bare, covered in wounds. As Xue Yunyi turned her face, she was met with the sight of hideous, terrifying scabs mottling the young man’s pale skin—like a ruined painting, utterly wretched.
Xue Yunyi’s breath caught. Her heart clenched suddenly. She could hardly bear to imagine how many more wounds Wu Lang bore that she did not yet know about. Composing herself, she finally spoke up. “Please be gentle, Judge Wu.”
“Your Highness need not worry. This official knows his limits.” Judge Wu was experienced and handled such injuries with ease. As he worked, he did not forget to caution, “This young master’s knee bones are especially badly injured. He must take great care not to bump them again.”
From start to finish, Wu Lang kept his head lowered, biting his lip and enduring the pain with effort. His throat bobbed with suppressed agony, and a few drops of thin sweat slid down the veins of his neck. He bore it with difficulty but staunchly made not a single sound—like a wounded kitten too scarred to cry out.
Xue Yunyi could not bear to watch. She silently turned her face away.
After a long while, Judge Wu finally wiped the sweat from his brow and straightened up. “Your Highness, it’s all done.”
Xue Yunyi let out a breath of relief. “Thank you for your trouble, Judge Wu. This Palace has a few questions for you. Would you please come to the inner hall to speak?”
Judge Wu bowed hastily in assent.
Wu Lang realized she was leaving and suddenly sat up straighter. His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something but held back.
“Have something to say to This Palace?” Xue Yunyi raised her hand, signaling Mo Ying to stop the wheelchair.
Wu Lang licked his dry lips and mustered his courage. In a small voice, he said, “This base slave will obey you and heal properly.”
Afraid she might change her mind and drive him away, he carefully reaffirmed his promise.
Xue Yunyi laughed lightly. “This Palace knows. Rest easy and don’t overthink it.”
“Yes.”
Wu Lang watched Xue Yunyi’s back until it vanished from the room. As the door closed, silence enveloped him once more. He finally released the bedsheets he had crumpled beyond recognition and lay back down with effort, quietly feeling the familiar pain.
Xue Yunyi instructed the palace maids to bring in a round stool for Judge Wu to sit on, then had Mo Ying serve some fresh tea and snacks.
Judge Wu waved his hands repeatedly, flustered. “Your Highness, if there is anything you need, just command this official. There is no need to be so courteous.”
He had never been able to cure Empress Jiang’s illness, and the guilt had always weighed on him. Now, to be able to do something for Xue Yunyi was something he welcomed. He would not refuse even if she asked him to come to Azure Cypress Palace every day.
Xue Yunyi said, “This Palace does indeed have something to trouble you with, Judge Wu.”
Judge Wu listened attentively at once.
“You’ve seen Wu Lang’s condition. This Palace thinks he needs more nourishing food, but This Palace wonders if there are any foods he should avoid. Please advise.”
She had read many medical texts and understood some pharmacology, but she had never delved into dietary supplements or medicinal cuisine. For safety’s sake, it was best to consult Judge Wu.
Judge Wu was taken aback. That was all?
“There is nothing serious,” he said hesitantly. “For the first few days, keep the diet light—no Sichuan peppercorns or garlic chives in the dishes. Use lean meat. He can drink some cow’s milk…”
He was simply saying whatever came to mind. Glancing up inadvertently, Judge Wu realized that Xue Yunyi had already spread out a sheet of paper. She listened carefully while taking notes with brush in hand.
“What about beef or mutton? Is it better to stew fish or steam it clear? Should the cow’s milk be heated or just warmed? And can we add pumpkin or Chinese yam to white porridge for flavor?” Recalling how Wu Lang’s brow had furrowed while drinking the porridge earlier, Xue Yunyi paused and added one more question.
Judge Wu froze, his mouth agape, momentarily at a loss for words. Of course—he had forgotten that the Eldest Princess had been renowned since childhood for her diligence and curiosity. She was rigorous to the point of severity in her studies, once hounding Prime Minister Lin for three full days over the interpretation of an archaic term in a book until she received a definitive answer.
To her, caring for the injured was clearly another subject to be thoroughly mastered.
Meeting Xue Yunyi’s inquiring gaze, Judge Wu dared not be neglectful. He sat up straighter and gave detailed instructions, word by word.
Xue Yunyi noted it all down. A quarter of an hour later, Judge Wu departed Azure Cypress Palace, pockets heavy with a bulging pouch of silver fragments as thanks for his lesson.
“Mo Ying, instruct the small kitchen to prepare a separate serving of red bean porridge for Wu Lang’s room tomorrow.” Xue Yunyi handed her the paper densely filled with writing. “Give this to the small kitchen and have them take note.”
“Yes.” Mo Ying took it, unable to resist a few more words of heartfelt concern. “Your Highness, Liu Yin and the others are looking after Wu Lang. You should worry more about your own health. This morning, you only had half a bowl of porridge and barely touched the vegetables…”
Xue Yunyi looked up at her and curved her eyes in a smile.
“For lunch, have the small kitchen make an extra dish of eight-treasure duck. The eight-treasure duck from Mother’s palace was always the most delicious. It’s been so long since This Palace had any—This Palace is starting to crave it.”
She would take good care of Wu Lang and look after herself as well. Only when her body had recovered would she have the energy for more things. She understood that reasoning perfectly.
Seeing Xue Yunyi finally rousing herself, Mo Ying was delighted beyond measure. She let out an “Ah!”, her voice trembling as she hastily wiped her eyes. Then she bowed and withdrew, hurrying off toward the small kitchen.
“Add a dish of Eight-Treasure Duck, make some lotus-wrapped pork tenderloin, and a serving of cherry meat? Your Highness used to love these the most…” Mo Ying’s steps were light and springy as she muttered to herself along the way.
She let out a contented breath, thinking that the young man Your Highness had picked up was proving somewhat useful after all. At the very least, ever since he had arrived at Azure Cypress Palace, Your Highness had finally shown some interest in the world around her. She was no longer spending her days either buried in books or staring vacantly at the birds outside the window.
If Your Highness wanted to keep him, it didn’t seem like such a bad idea.
At noon, the fragrant Eight-Treasure Duck was brought to the table. Mo Ying stood to one side, serving the dishes and piling Xue Yunyi’s plate high.
The meal left Xue Yunyi feeling stuffed. Afterward, she idly picked up a scroll and lounged by the window, flipping through it desultorily. Sparrows chirped noisily as they flitted up to the high branches. She lifted her gaze toward the distance, her eyes settling on the side room where Wu Lang was staying.
All morning, she had kept watch through the small window. Liu Yin and Chun Yu had been bustling about in the front courtyard the whole time, but Wu Lang had not called them inside—not even to fetch him some tea. Yet he had been lying in bed for so long; how could he possibly not be thirsty?
Xue Yunyi had a vague inkling that Wu Lang simply did not want to trouble anyone, so he was enduring it in silence. With a sigh, she set the scroll aside and decided to check on him herself.
The moment she pushed open the door, Xue Yunyi saw the boy—who ought to have been lying quietly—curled up at the foot of the bed instead. He was biting his lip hard, his fingers digging restlessly into the bedding as if fighting to endure some intense discomfort.
Sunlight spilled into the room like scattered gold, illuminating the boy’s face, which was beaded with thin sweat and gleaming brightly. He looked up in alarm, and the instant he saw Xue Yunyi, he dropped his gaze again, just like a startled little animal.
“What is it?” Xue Yunyi asked, concern creeping into her voice.
Wu Lang hesitated, his lips pressing together again and again. At last, with great difficulty, he rasped out his plea. “Your Highness, this base slave needs to use the lavatory. I beg you… to permit it.”