Chapter 1198 - 875: Matters of the Heart
Shang Ruyi and Chu Ruoyan chatted for a while, and when the nanny returned with Little Yuanzi, Chu Ruoyan joyfully played with the child for a bit. As it was getting late, she rose to take her leave.
Shang Ruyi personally escorted her out.
At the palace entrance, the snow was heavier than before. Panqing brought out an oil-paper umbrella to shield Chu Ruoyan’s head, and after saying their farewells, they left Qianqiu Palace. Yet, Shang Ruyi remained at the entrance, staring at their disappearing silhouettes and gazing pensively at the falling snowflakes.
Tushere couldn’t bear to see her like this and fetched a wind cloak to drape over her, saying, "Princess, take care not to catch cold."
Shang Ruyi glanced back at her with a smile but still refused to return inside, continuing to watch the snow. After a long while, she said, "The snow here is so heavy; I wonder how much it is snowing at Hot Spring Palace."
Tushere pouted, "I only know that no snow can freeze Your Majesty, but even a little snow can freeze you, Princess!"
Shang Ruyi shook her head with a smile but couldn’t help mumbling, "My father should be coming back."
"..."
"Even if Father doesn’t intend to return, my uncle, Mr. Shen, and Lord Ji should advise him. So many days have passed, yet there’s still no news of the royal return to the capital."
Tushere blinked at her without saying a word.
These matters were naturally beyond the comprehension of a servant like her, but seeing Shang Ruyi’s frown deepen, she too felt a bit uneasy.
Her anxiety deepened when Shang Ruyi suddenly sneezed.
"Achoo!"
The sneeze made her bend over, followed by several more that reddened her cheeks and brought tears to her eyes. Tushere hurriedly went to half-support, half-embrace her, saying, "Princess, it seems you caught a chill; let’s go back inside!"
Shang Ruyi turned to head back into the palace.
Though four corners of the palace were warm with stoves, the sudden warmth made her shiver, and she immediately felt chilly in her limbs, with something uncomfortable in her body. Tushere anxiously refilled her teacup with hot water, urging her to drink it, but seeing her complexion still not right, she said, "I’ll go fetch Doctor Su."
Shang Ruyi originally didn’t want to cause a fuss, but seeing Wo Xue holding Little Yuanzi’s swaddling and stepping back several times, apparently worried about affecting the child, she conceded and said, "Don’t let everyone know; have her come alone."
"Alright."
Tushere glared at her with some resentment, then rushed out.
Not long after, Su Qinglan arrived hurriedly with her medicine box, following Tushere back to Qianqiu Palace.
Upon seeing her, Shang Ruyi smiled and said, "Doctor Su, I’m troubling you again."
Su Qinglan hastily replied, "Princess, why say such a thing."
Finishing her statement, she washed her hands and warmed them over the scented stove to ensure they were not cold before placing a soft cushion under Shang Ruyi’s wrist and began taking her pulse.
As she took her pulse, her frown slowly began to relax.
From such a close distance, Shang Ruyi noticed Su Qinglan’s face had grown thinner, her cheekbones a bit more prominent, and her tranquil eyes had a faint shadow as if she hadn’t slept well recently.
Compared to her own chill, Su Qinglan looked more ill.
Contemplating this, Shang Ruyi quietly waited for her to finish taking her pulse, slowly adjusted her sleeves, and then looked up to see Su Qinglan put away the cushion and softly say, "Princess has caught a cold; it seems you’ve had it for a few days."
Tushere immediately said, "It must be from the day we bid farewell to Your Majesty."
Shang Ruyi sighed, "No wonder I’ve felt weighed down these past few days without any other issues."
Su Qinglan smiled, "Princess is young and robust, so it doesn’t show easily, but you still shouldn’t be careless. The snow today stirred the ailment up. I suggest the Princess doesn’t need boiled medicine, just take two pills dissolved in hot soup; drink it warm and you’ll be fine."
"That sounds good."
"However, in the next few days, the Princess should avoid being too close to Young Master."
"I understand."
Su Qinglan washed her hands again, took out a box of pills, giving them to Tushere, and personally demonstrated how to dissolve one in a small bowl. Meanwhile, Shang Ruyi sat aside and looked over her complexion again, before smiling, "Doctor Su, you don’t look well; are you sick?"
Su Qinglan’s expression faltered slightly upon hearing this and immediately with a forced smile replied, "No."
"No? Why does your complexion look worse than mine?"
"..."
Su Qinglan’s hand slowed significantly in grinding the medicine, and Shang Ruyi gestured subtly to Tushere and Wo Xue, who retreated to the side. Shang Ruyi then smiled at Su Qinglan, saying, "Though I’m not a person of influence, if there’s anything troubling you, Doctor Su, feel free to tell me. If there’s a way I can assist, I certainly will not ignore it."
"..."
"When I was giving birth, you helped a lot, yet refused any reward, making me——"
"Princess!"
Hearing this, Su Qinglan panicked somewhat, quickly putting down the pill and bowing, "That is absolutely not my intention. To serve the Princess is my duty, whether rewarded or not; I remain loyal to the Princess and to Your Majesty."
Seeing her cold sweat, Shang Ruyi smiled.
She did not mean to pressure Su Qinglan; it’s just that she was in charge of her and Little Yuanzi’s health. If anything troubled her affecting her duties, it would be no small matter, reminiscent of the story of the thousand-mile dyke collapsing from an ant hole she heard as a child.
Thus, she gently said, "Don’t be afraid; I’ve only spoken out of concern for you."
Seeing she had said this much, Su Qinglan dared not conceal further and softly said, "I’m not sick, nor is it a big matter, but——"
Shang Ruyi looked at her warmly.
Su Qinglan sighed finally, "It’s just that Jiang Xian has been gone for several months, saying he’d return before winter, but he hasn’t yet, and I’m worried about him."
Hearing this, Shang Ruyi actually felt relieved.
It wasn’t a serious issue.
Previously, she had talked with Su Qinglan about her future, and Su Qinglan mentioned Jiang Xian’s trip to Henan for horse trading, saying he’d be back after a while, but he hadn’t returned yet, understandably making her look worried.
Shang Ruyi concernedly asked, "Has he sent no message back?"