Chapter 192: Prince Longevity (22)


    “`


    “Cough cough cough…” The youth was coughing, pressing his lips, his entire body trembling slightly.


    The youth coughed for quite a while, his already pallid face turning even more ghastly white.


    Chuzheng stepped forward, wanting to help him steady his breathing, but the youth shifted inward, avoiding her hand.


    Yan Gui hung his head low, revealing only his smooth jawline and profile. His ear tips, whether from the coughing or the cold, were tinged with a faint blush.


    Chuzheng nced at her own palm.


    What is he avoiding?


    It’s clean!


    Chuzheng yanked him back forcefully.


    She stood while Yan Gui sat. When she pulled him back, Yan Gui ended up leaning against her abdomen.<div>


    Chuzheng said sternly, “What are you avoiding?”


    The fragrance from the girl’s body was refreshing and prating to the heart.


    Yan Gui’s ear tips reddened even more.


    A warm palm brushed across his back.


    His body stiffened slightly.


    A tickle in his throat was unbearable, and Yan Gui, covering his mouth, couldn’t stop coughing.


    “Cough cough… Miss Cheng, please let me go,” Yan Gui said softly, catching his breath.


    “Feeling better?”


    Yan Gui stiffened again, and, with an expressionless face, nodded.


    Chuzheng let him go.


    Yan Gui immediately moved further inside, pulling the quilt over himself.


    Just then, Xiao Guizi brought in the ginger soup.


    Yan Gui held the bowl, slowly sipping the ginger soup with a white porcin spoon.


    Wisps of steam made the youth’s rosy lips even more vivid…


    “Would Miss Cheng like some too?” Xiao Guizi had prepared two bowls.


    “Mm.”


    This time, Chuzheng didn’t refuse.


    She was feeling a bit thirsty, especially watching Yan Gui drink the ginger soup.


    After finishing the ginger soup, Yan Gui, with his head lowered, politely said, “Thank you, Miss Cheng. I would like to rest now and will visit another day to express my gratitude.”<div>


    That was a clear dismissal.


    Chuzheng could tell.


    After saving his life, that’s how he treated her.


    Such an ungrateful little thing!<div>


    Chuzheng watched him silently for a while, then turned and left.


    The young girl walked briskly, leaving the room with a strong surge of emotion.


    Xiao Guizi was left looking at his master, puzzled.


    Why did the atmosphere feel so weird?


    “Xiao Guizi.”


    “Prince?”


    “Get a cloak for Miss Cheng.”


    Xiao Guizi had been focused on Yan Gui just now. Only then did he remember that Miss Cheng also seemed to be wet.


    Xiao Guizi immediately responded, “Yes.”


    –


    Prince Rong nearly drowned and was barely rescued. The Imperial Physicians did not dare to be negligent and kept guard outside the chamber, fearing anything might happen to Prince Rong.


    “How could he drown all of a sudden?” one Imperial Physician wondered.


    “The water wasn’t deep, and Prince Rong can swim. Even if he identally fell in, he shouldn’t have drowned,” another Imperial Physician agreed.<div>


    “That’s true…”


    The Imperial Physicians all found it strange, but couldn’t pinpoint the oddness.


    They could only wait for Prince Rong to wake up.


    Inside the chamber, Chuzheng, carrying a wooden basin, climbed in through the window.


    The basin was filled with a dark mass that at first nce appeared to be ink; a closer look revealed all its contents writhing alive.


    The squirming leeches were enough to make one’s skin crawl.


    This wooden basin was the same one Prince Rong’s attendant had been carrying.


    Chuzheng had found it outside the chamber.


    Expressionless, she walked to the side of Prince Rong’s bed with the basin.


    In one swift motion, she flipped back Prince Rong’s quilt and poured the basin full of leeches all over him.


    Dare to mess with my Good Person Card!


    I’ll kill you, you cur!


    After dumping the leeches, Chuzheng climbed out the window and left.<div>


    It was said thatter in the night when the Imperial Physicians came to check, they discovered the bed full of leeches beside Prince Rong.


    A group of Imperial Physicians spent half the night catching leeches.


    –


    “What are you doing!”


    “`


    Xiao Guizi’s panicked voice arose.


    Bang—


    The doors to the hall were kicked open as the Imperial Forest Army burst into the room, heading straight for Yan Gui.


    Yan Gui had just awoken, his sleepy eyes staring at those who had barged in.


    The Imperial Forest Army, without a hint of respect, asked with a stern face, “Prince Six, where were youst night?”


    “In my room,” answered Yan Gui, no different from usual.


    The Imperial Forest Army scanned the room, “Is there anyone who can confirm this?”


    Xiao Guizi didn’t know what the trouble was but had a hunch it was serious.<div>


    He quickly said, “The Prince fell into the water and was feeble. Last night, this servant repeatedly went to summon the Imperial Physician, and many can attest to this.”


    The Imperial Forest Army sent someone to verify the im.


    Indeed, as Xiao Guizi had said, Yan Gui was unwell, and that wasmon knowledge.


    The Imperial Forest Army arrived with a threatening presence, and they left in the same manner.


    Yan Gui instructed Xiao Guizi to go outside and inquire about the situation.


    News about Prince Rong had spread throughout the temporary pce, and Xiao Guizi soon brought back the information.


    “Prince, who would dare to deal with Prince Rong with such boldness? They almost took Prince Rong’s life.” The thought of all those leeches on the bed made one’s scalp tingle.


    Leaning against the bedpost, an image involuntarily shed through Yan Gui’s mind.


    “Prince?” Xiao Guizi tentatively called out.


    “I am tired.”


    “…” Xiao Guizi nced at Yan Gui’s expression, “Then, Prince, you should rest a bit longer.”


    Xiao Guizi exited the room.


    Standing outside the hall, he shook his head. Why was the Prince acting so strange?


    –


    The Emperor hadmanded the Imperial Forest Army to capture the criminal who had nearly killed Prince Rong.


    After much investigation, they found nothing.


    The leeches had been procured by someone from Prince Rong’s own entourage.


    That night, a group of Imperial Physicians were stationed outside, along with the Imperial Forest Army and Prince Rong’s attendants, making it impossible for even a fly to prate.


    Yet, how did those leeches end up in Prince Rong’s bed?


    The incident was so peculiar that it left everyone in the temporary pce feeling uneasy.


    Cheng Xiao and Prince Rong had encountered troubles one after the other.


    The Emperor’s temper grew so vtile that even the Ministers were struggling to contain it.


    Fortunately, the time for the sacrificial blessing had arrived, and it just barely managed to calm the irascible Emperor.


    However, during the sacrificial ceremony, yet another incident urred.


    The sacrificial offerings had disappeared.


    After finally rearranging the sacrificial offerings, a torrential downpour began amidst the ritual.


    No one had ever experienced such circumstances on the day of the blessing before, which left the crowd pale with shock.


    It was as though the heavens themselves were displeased with the ceremony.


    The Court Officials and ritual officers all felt it was an ominous sign.


    Yet, the Emperor’s fury reached a boiling point, and several people were beheaded in session.


    The sacrificial ritual was supposed tost half a month, but the Emperor was executing people during the ceremony, leaving the Court Officials nearly vomiting blood with indignation, yet they dared not speak out for fear that the tyrant would decapitate them on a whim.


    Throughout those half a month, a suffocating atmosphere pervaded the entire temporary pce, making it difficult to breathe.


    The sacrificial process was intricate, and during that time, the women of the court and the Ministers were in different ces, so Chuzheng had hardly seen Yan Gui.


    Good Person Card also seemed reluctant to see her…


    As Chuzheng pondered over this matter, she made her way toward Yan Gui’s chambers.


    “General Ye, let go of me.”


    “Xiaoxiao, listen to me…”


    “General Ye, there must be rity in the interaction between men and women, and now I belong to His Majesty. Please release me.”


    In order not to be seen, Chuzheng took a very secluded path through the temporary pce.


    Hearing the familiar voice, she paused, looked around, and made her way toward the source.


    She crouched behind a bush, peering in that direction.


    This ce was a quiet rockery. If Cheng Xiao had not been somewhat agitated, Chuzheng figured she would not have heard her.


    The young and handsome general held onto the elegant and dignified Cheng Xiao.


    Cheng Xiao’s face showed resistance, yet her body was remarkablypliant, exhibiting no will to resist.


    Chuzheng: “…”


    Come on, at least make a symbolic effort to fight back!


    Act out the whole y!


    Why so unprofessional!


    Ye Yang continued to apologize to Cheng Xiao, exining that it wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to save her before, but that he had been powerless.


    The Emperor is the sovereign of a nation.


    As a subject, disobeying an imperialmand was a capital offense.


    Cheng Xiao alternated between crying and scolding.


    The two of them ended up in each other’s arms as they talked.