Chapter 111:
“Mm, okay.”
Jiang Juan responded, his wrist hurting from the tight grip, but he didn’t care. Frantically, he asked, “You’re coughing up blood. How are you?”
Xue Fangli didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled Jiang Juan close and held him tightly in his embrace.
He loved holding Jiang Juan, to the point of almost being unable to let go, and he had never hidden this fact.
Whether traveling, dining, or even sleeping, he always held Jiang Juan close.
No matter how much anger and restlessness he felt, Xue Fangli’s tension would dissipate as long as he could hold Jiang Juan and be close to him.
This moment was no different.
But the relief of having him back made it hard for him to stay calm. Xue Fangli held Jiang Juan tightly, with so much force that it felt like he wanted to break his waist and crush his entire body.
It was very painful, really painful.
Jiang Juan’s eyelashes fluttered. He hesitated but didn’t struggle, as the hands holding him were trembling.
“I’m fine now. I’m really fine.”
Jiang Juan spoke softly. Not knowing how to comfort Xue Fangli, he endured the pain and gently patted Xue Fangli’s back, repeatedly soothing him.
“Don’t be afraid…”
The youth obediently lay in his arms, just like every other day and night. His breathing was gentle and long. In his embrace, not only was Xue Fangli’s embrace filled, but his heart was filled as well.
Xue Fangli lowered his head, and the scent of medicinal herbs that was uniquely Jiang Juan’s lingered at the tip of his nose. The person in his arms was so thin it seemed like a gust of wind could scatter him like smoke. He was fragile, yet he was the one who had reached out to Xue Fangli, pulling him back to the world.
He was Xue Fangli’s last straw, something to hold onto with all his might.
“How could I not be afraid.”
Xue Fangli closed his eyes. He was afraid of so much. Afraid that the boy might never wake up, afraid there would be no one to tease him, afraid that no matter how excessive he was, no one would be angry with him.
Forcing E’nan to appear, Xue Fangli could destroy the temple and threaten the monk’s life to get Jiang Juan back. He could slaughter everyone in the world, but even if he did, the youth might not return.
He wasn’t unaware of the youth’s abnormalities, nor was he oblivious to the possibility that Jiang Juan might not belong here.
Xue Fangli didn’t believe in ghosts and gods, but he had no choice but to seek their help. He prayed at the thirty-seven-story pagoda, committed many evil deeds, all just to hold onto Jiang Juan’s soul and keep his wife.
Even if it meant descending to hell together, he would gladly do so.
Hearing Xue Fangli’s fear, Jiang Juan was stunned and looked up at him.
Xue Fangli’s eyes were red at the corners, his gaze fierce and slightly neurotic. Despite his usually gentle or nonchalant demeanor, he now appeared genuinely terrified. In front of Jiang Juan, he had always been composed, as if nothing could ever shake him, but now he openly admitted his fear.
Jiang Juan looked at him for a long time, feeling a deep pang in his heart. “I’m sorry…”
He belatedly showed Xue Fangli his hand. “This is the relic. As long as it’s here, I will be here.”
Xue Fangli said nothing, only lowered his gaze. The red string and the clear relic on the youth’s delicate wrist caught his attention. He reached out, his fingertips lightly touching the relic.
Jiang Juan was still very worried and asked, “You were coughing up blood just now. How are you now? Do you need someone to…?”
His words were cut off abruptly.
Xue Fangli lowered his head and kissed him.
It was a bitter kiss, tainted with the taste of blood. It was also a kiss of reunion, fierce and urgent. Xue Fangli’s lips and tongue explored every corner of Jiang Juan’s mouth, leaving his mark and imprinting his scent.
“You’re…”
It wasn’t that Jiang Juan didn’t want the kiss, but he was very concerned. He tried to push Xue Fangli away, but couldn’t budge him. Jiang Juan turned his head, trying to end the kiss.
“Can we go back first? Let the doctor check you.”
Dissatisfied with Jiang Juan’s distraction, Xue Fangli pinched his chin and muttered, “It’s nothing,” before trying to kiss him again.
Jiang Juan hurriedly blocked his lips and shook his head, “You’re coughing up blood. Something’s wrong.”
Xue Fangli held his hand, not allowing him to push away, clearly not taking it seriously. Jiang Juan had no choice but to speak softly, “Please let someone check on you, okay, husband?”
“Husband, I’m really worried about you.”
Jiang Juan pleaded, “Did you hear me? Husband? Husband, husband, husband.”
His soft voice was almost like a cat’s meow, repeatedly calling out “husband,” as if he wouldn’t speak without it. Xue Fangli glanced at Jiang Juan, his fingertips moving, “No need.”
Jiang Juan wouldn’t listen. “Your word isn’t enough. The doctor needs to say it’s nothing.”
“Troublesome.”
Xue Fangli snorted lightly and lifted Jiang Juan up in his arms. He commanded, “Let’s go back to the palace.”
After walking a few steps, his sleeve was lightly tugged. Xue Fangli looked over to see Jiang Juan frowning, his clear eyes full of worry and unease. He asked, “Really don’t want to see the doctor? Are you feeling unwell?”
Xue Fangli’s tone was flat, “I said it’s nothing.”
Jiang Juan remained anxious, “But…”
Not wanting to see him frown, Xue Fangli sighed, “Fine.”
“Then let’s call the doctor.”
In the end, he gave in.
When they returned to the palace, the doctor arrived quickly.
Seeing Jiang Juan, Imperial Physician Sun was momentarily taken aback but didn’t ask further, silently relieved. In the past few days without the new empress, the new emperor seemed to have reverted to his old self, revealing his previous harsh and violent nature. The entire palace was on edge, fearing retribution. Now that Jiang Juan was awake, it was certainly a great relief.
“Your Majesty and the Empress.”
Imperial Physician Sun greeted them with a smile and turned to Jiang Juan, saying respectfully, “Empress, please extend your hand.”
Jiang Juan blinked, taking a moment to react. He shook his head and explained, “It’s not me. Please check His Highness—His Majesty. He’s been coughing up blood again.”
Coughing up blood was no small matter. Imperial Physician Sun immediately went to check Xue Fangli’s pulse. As soon as his hand touched Xue Fangli’s wrist, he hesitated, a puzzled expression crossing his face.
Coughing up blood again?
Had he ever done so before?
Imperial Physician Sun was unaware of any previous incidents. The former Emperor Hongxing, feeling deeply indebted to Prince Li, had arranged for Imperial Physician Sun to stay at the prince’s residence specifically to address his ailments, including the madness and headaches that had plagued him.
Given that Xue Fangli had previously exhibited symptoms of coughing up blood, Imperial Physician Sun should have known about it. Frowning, he asked, “Your Majesty, when did this start…..”
“How is it?”
Xue Fangli calmly interrupted, and Imperial Physician Sun, glancing at him, understood the unspoken message.
Don’t ask unnecessary questions.
After a brief hesitation, Imperial Physician Sun kept quiet and focused on examining the pulse.
Moments later, Imperial Physician Sun spoke in a low voice, “Your Majesty, the Empress is suffering from heart issues. Both of you should avoid extreme emotions.”
“Recently, your mental state has been troubled, and your energy and blood flow have been disrupted. The sudden shift in emotions could indeed cause coughing up blood.”
Overall, there wasn’t much to worry about. In fact, the blood might even be a sign of improved circulation.
However, Jiang Juan still couldn’t ease his worry.
Whether in joy or sorrow, Xue Fangli’s coughing up blood was tied to Jiang Juan. In reality, Xue Fangli had experienced this symptom before, but it had been a long time, and Jiang Juan had nearly forgotten it—forgotten that Xue Fangli’s health was frail, and even…
That his life might be short.
“Is there really no issue?”
Jiang Juan asked Imperial Physician Sun anxiously, “But he coughed up so much blood.”
Imperial Physician Sun smiled and reassured him, “There’s nothing to worry about. The Empress needn’t be overly concerned.”
How could he not be worried? Seeing Xue Fangli, who was normally in good health, coughing up so much blood made Jiang Juan’s frown persistent. After a while, he asked Imperial Physician Sun, “Can you prescribe some medicine?”
“Anything to replenish his strength or help with his recovery.”
Imperial Physician Sun hesitated. “This…”
Xue Fangli interjected, “It’s unnecessary.”
“There is,” Jiang Juan insisted, “In the past, whenever I felt slightly unwell, you’d insist I take tonic. Why is it different now when it’s you?”
Xue Fangli’s eyes softened slightly at Jiang Juan’s concern. He could see how much Jiang Juan cared for him, even if he tried to downplay his own discomfort.
“Take the medicine.”
Jiang Juan’s tone was firm, and regardless of Xue Fangli’s protest that it wasn’t necessary, he addressed Imperial Physician Sun. “Ignore him. If I say he needs medicine, then he needs medicine. In this household, I am the one in charge, and his words don’t count.”
Xue Fangli: “…”
The person whose words didn’t count could only click his tongue in response. Imperial Physician Sun, bemused, asked, “Shall I prepare a few doses of medicine then?”
It wasn’t that the medicine couldn’t be prescribed, given the severity of coughing up blood. A dose to replenish Xue Fangli’s blood was feasible. After some consideration, Imperial Physician Sun provided a prescription.
Soon, someone went to prepare the medicine, and Imperial Physician Sun took his leave.
In the Lingguang Palace, only Jiang Juan and Xue Fangli remained.
Xue Fangli looked at Jiang Juan and gently grasped his chin, lifting his face. “What are you unhappy about now?”
Jiang Juan pushed his hand away but then willingly sat on Xue Fangli’s lap, burying his face in his chest.
“I don’t want to be a widow…”
Jiang Juan’s voice was muffled. Previously, when Xue Fangli’s condition hadn’t flared up, Jiang Juan hadn’t worried about such things. But now, he couldn’t avoid the thought.
“You keep coughing up blood. If this continues, if you really were to leave… what would I do?”
Jiang Juan asked, his voice filled with melancholy.
The person in his arms felt warm and soft, but the spot where Jiang Juan’s face rested was gradually becoming damp, the warmth spreading. Xue Fangli reached out and felt the tears on Jiang Juan’s face.
Xue Fangli: “…”
In reality, Xue Fangli had only coughed up blood twice—once at the Buddhist tower and once just now. As Imperial Physician Sun had said, it was merely due to intense emotions.
The coughing fits in the past had been mostly pretense. During their wedding, Xue Fangli had been deceiving Jiang Juan. Any subsequent feigned coughing was meant to evoke sympathy from Jiang Juan.
Revealing the deception would involve explaining past lies, and Xue Fangli frowned slightly, the expression on his face betraying a rare complexity.
—It was easy to imagine how upset Jiang Juan would be upon learning of the deceit, and how furious he might become.
“Why are you crying?”
Xue Fangli lowered his head, resting his forehead against Jiang Juan’s, his voice gentle and calm. “How could I ever let you be a widow? As long as you live one day, I will live two days. As long as you live two days, I will live three days… Between us, I will definitely outlive you. In this lifetime, you won’t have to face a life without me.”
“If you keep crying, the real issue won’t be my coughing up blood, but your own heart condition.”
Jiang Juan shook his head. He didn’t want to cry anymore, but his tears were uncontrollable. However, hearing Xue Fangli mention his heart condition made Jiang Juan feel a pang of guilt.
He quietly rested in Xue Fangli’s embrace.
After what seemed like an eternity, the medicine was finally ready, and a maid brought it in.
“Give it to me.”
Jiang Juan’s voice still carried a nasal tone. After crying, his face was damp and covered in a layer of mist, looking pitiful.
He took a spoon, carefully blowing on the medicine to cool it, and personally fed it to Xue Fangli. “Drink this.”
The dark, bitter-smelling medicine made Xue Fangli’s brow furrow slightly. Jiang Juan held the bowl to Xue Fangli’s lips and gently urged, “Your Highness, you must drink this properly.”
“If you don’t, how can you live longer than me?”
Author’s Note: The heavens spare no one.
Remember when you used to force-feed medicine to others? Did you ever imagine that you’d be in this position one day?
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