Feeding Medicine

Jiang Xun was running a fever, a thin layer of sweat on his face. His brows were tightly knitted as he gripped Shen Que's arm hard, his gaze fixed on Shen Que as if confirming his identity.

The emperor used his gaze to carefully trace Shen Que's features, from his gentle, elegant, and handsome face to the neck tightly wrapped by his clothes. Finally, as if suddenly frightened, he reached out, threw off the blanket, and extended his hand toward Shen Que.

Shen Que was startled. The emperor's current condition could not endure any drafts, so he hurriedly wrapped him back up.

But Jiang Xun struggled anxiously. Like an animal emerging from its nest to forage, he poked a hand out of the blanket and reached for Shen Que's leg.

Shen Que didn't know whether to laugh or cry, unsure of what exact appeal this leg held for the emperor. But Jiang Xun had already felt his way to his knee. He used his fingertips to touch every contour of the muscle, feeling every turn of the bone. He pressed carefully for a long time before letting out a shallow breath of relief.

"..."

The emperor was burning with fever, his fingertips scalding hot. It was so hot that Shen Que's calf twitched. A strange sensation struck his heart all the way from his knee. He moved slightly but forcefully stopped his movement, allowing the emperor to feel around.

Shen Que lowered his eyes and coaxed, "Why don't you get inside the blanket, and I'll let you touch it under the blanket, alright?"

Jiang Xun seemed to understand but also not. He let go of Shen Que, as if having confirmed something important. He stopped struggling, rolled the blanket around himself, and lay down with his back facing Shen Que.

It wasn't a relaxed sleeping posture, but rather facing the wall, curled up tightly into a ball.

This was a posture completely lacking in a sense of security. The Emperor looked as if he had dreamt of something terrifying. He occupied only a very small space, almost shrinking into the corner of the wall, appearing bewildered and frightened.

Shen Que frowned.

Princes were raised with the utmost nobility and care; each one was relaxed and at ease. Jiang Xun, moreover, was the one who was especially unruly and unconventional, a trait that had never changed from his time as a prince to his era as the Emperor.

At that time, among the dozen or so princes in the study hall, Jiang Xun was the student who most loved to stare blankly out the window and completely ignored the lectures, looking every bit the spoiled child. How could he reveal such a panicked and uneasy appearance?

Jiang Xun was delirious with fever, his body alternating between hot and cold. When Shen Que reached out to touch him, he tried to get closer to the heat source in front of him, rubbing against Shen Que's side. Shen Que then embraced him, tucked him in, and reached out to feel his forehead. His cold sweat was freezing, yet his skin was burning with high fever.

If he ran a fever like this for a few hours, something bad would happen.

Shen Que held Jiang Xun down. He wanted to go out and call the Imperial Physician, but the emperor gripped a section of his sleeve in a death grip, and Shen Que couldn't tear himself away. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out to hug Jiang Xun, soothingly patting the emperor's back.

Shen Que said softly, "Your Majesty, this subject will go call the Imperial Physician for you."

This was a slightly presumptuous action, but Jiang Xun did quiet down. Shen Que then draped his clothes over his shoulders and ordered Wang An to summon the Imperial Physician.

Afterward, he circled back into the room to check on the emperor's condition.

Jiang Xun's brows were still locked, his lips parting and closing slightly as he murmured something.

A person dreaming would mix up their concept of time, blending several memories together. Shen Que leaned over to listen. Jiang Xun's syllables were slurred, and he could only intermittently make out scattered words like "cold, blanket, fire, save people."

Shen Que pieced them together and figured he was probably saying, "It's cold, I want a blanket, there's a fire, save people."

These things were completely unrelated. He leaned over again and heard Jiang Xun spit out two more words.

"Sister" and "Mother".

The late Emperor had many concubines in his palace. Aside from a few whose maternal families were exceptionally powerful, the rest faded into the background, so Shen Que was not clear about them. As for a sister, the late Emperor had several princesses, but only two were older than Jiang Xun, titled Princess Anping and Princess Ningguo.

Both princesses had long since married and lived in harmony with their husbands, rarely entering the palace. Shen Que pondered for a moment; he hadn't heard of anyone having interactions with Jiang Xun. But he didn't know much about palace matters anyway, so it was normal to be unaware. He only thought to himself: 'Which princess is His Majesty missing?'

The Emperor's mother passed away early, and there was no Empress Dowager now, so Jiang Xun couldn't see her even if he wanted to. But it wouldn't be difficult for the Emperor to see his sister. In a few days it would be the Qianqiu Festival, and when the birthday banquet is held then, he could just summon the two princesses for an audience.

Jiang Xun was sometimes hot and sometimes cold, so he kept kicking off the blanket. Shen Que reached out to hold it down, firmly confining the emperor inside, and coaxed, "Your Majesty, please don't move. You need to sweat this illness out... Which princess are you missing? I'll have Wang An summon her another day so you can meet her."

Jiang Xun lifted his eyelids, gave Shen Que a confused look, and then closed them again.

He said, "I can't see them."

"...I will never see them again."

That sister who would make tiger-head shoes for him, who would share a little of her food with him, the sister who would hold him together with their mother, he would never see her again.

Shen Que's doubts grew stronger. Although the two princesses were not in the palace, they were both living perfectly well. The husband of Princess Ningguo was a marquis in the capital, and the marquis's manor was only a few streets away from the Imperial Palace. With a single imperial decree, the princess would enter the palace in the time it takes to drink two cups of tea. How could he never see them again?

However, the emperor had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep, so Shen Que couldn't ask any further.

About half an hour later, a soft palanquin carried the Chief Imperial Physician all the way to the palace gates at a trot.

The Chief Imperial Physician was over sixty years old this year, a gray-haired old man. He had been roused from his bed in the middle of the night but didn't dare utter the slightest complaint. He simply placed his medical box on the head of the bed: "Lord Shen, what is wrong with His Majesty?"

Shen Que pulled one of Jiang Xun's hands out from under the blanket. The wrist felt cold and instinctively tried to shrink back, but was forcefully held back by Shen Que.

The Imperial Tutor pressed the Emperor's wrist onto the pulse pillow, gesturing for the physician to take his pulse: "I don't know what happened. He went out with the two heirs this afternoon and came back like this: running a fever, shivering, breaking into a cold sweat, and his thoughts are quite muddled. He said many nonsensical things. I was worried that if his temperature doesn't come down, he might faint."

Hearing this, the physician's expression also grew solemn. He placed his fingers on Jiang Xun's pulse and diagnosed him carefully, his expression gradually becoming strange.

Shen Que: "How is it?"

Although the Emperor couldn't be considered wise, he wasn't the worst either. At this critical juncture, with Northern Di glaring like a tiger watching its prey and the court in a chaotic mess, regardless of the considerations, nothing could happen to Jiang Xun.

Moreover...

Shen Que lowered his eyes to look at Jiang Xun. The emperor's age was between that of a boy and a young man. His body possessed both a boy's youthfulness and a young man's slender build, yet his waist and back were extremely thin, completely lacking the appearance of someone raised in luxury in the palace.

The physician deliberated for a long time: "In this old official's opinion, His Majesty was exposed to the cold wind and caught a chill, which is causing this continuous fever. But..."

He hesitated for a moment, actually not daring to speak further.

Shen Que frowned: "This concerns the Emperor's health. Is there anything you cannot say?"

Physician: "The chill is just a surface symptom. His Majesty's real problem is that his underlying constitution is very poor, with internal and external deficits. This is the result of long-term depletion, not something caused all at once. This chill only triggered it prematurely. Furthermore, judging from his pulse, His Majesty must be... must be overthinking and worrying too much. He needs to relieve his depression and absolutely must not let things weigh on his mind anymore."

As soon as these words came out, not only did Shen Que fall silent, but even Wang An couldn't hold back and raised his eyebrows.

...Overthinking and worrying too much?

Who was overthinking and worrying too much? Their Emperor was overthinking and worrying too much?!

For a moment, the physician had to lick his lips to cover up his gaffe, and Wang An's face showed even more astonishment. Shen Que didn't say anything, merely instructing: "Prescribe the medicine."

Having diagnosed such a result, the physician also felt very guilty. He hurriedly wrote down the prescription, handed it to Shen Que, and took his leave.

Shen Que glanced at it. It mostly consisted of nourishing and gently conditioning medicinal herbs that needed to be taken daily without interruption.

Wang An took the prescription and went down. Before long, he brought up a bowl of brownish-black medicinal soup that smelled bitter. The head eunuch handed the medicine bowl to Shen Que, looking distressed: "Lord Shen, this?"

He certainly didn't dare force this kind of thing down the Emperor's throat.

Shen Que said, "I'll do it."

He supported Jiang Xun into a half-sitting position and brought the spoon to his lips. Jiang Xun could taste the bitterness of the medicine and pursed his lips in refusal. Then he heard Shen Que say, "Your Majesty, this will bring down your fever and reduce the internal heat. This subject has asked Wang An to prepare candied fruits."

A youngster always needed to be coaxed.

Jiang Xun opened his eyes listlessly and asked softly, 'System 55, do I have to drink this?'

He had carefully read the system's contract back then. During the plot missions, his body would not be in danger. As for outside the plot missions, Jiang Xun didn't care anymore.

System 55 answered hastily and instinctively, "You have to drink it."

Jiang Xun was the only host who had carefully read the contract. System 55 should have been happy, but right now its heart was pounding, and it quickly told a lie: "...The system will guarantee the host's minimum vitality, but if your health points hit rock bottom before the plot even starts, many plots won't be completed, and then you won't be able to get 85... um, how should I put it, anyway, you have to drink it!"

By the end, System 55 was starting to get anxious.

Jiang Xun let out a chuckle.

System 55: "Hurry up and drink it! Host, how do you still have the nerve to laugh! Hurry up and drink it!"

It was really getting a little anxious.

Besides the system, the Imperial Tutor's brow hadn't unfurled either.

Jiang Xun didn't move, and Shen Que couldn't force it down, so he held the spoon in a stalemate. He didn't know how to continue coaxing, so he merely said, "Perhaps Your Majesty has something else you want to eat? Please instruct this subject, and I'll have it prepared for you after you finish your medicine?"

Jiang Xun scoffed, thinking to himself, 'who is he trying to coax, a three-year-old child?' Before Shen Que's voice had even faded, he had already taken the bowl and downed the medicine in one gulp.

Shen Que was slightly astonished.

Given the Emperor's temper, he originally thought Jiang Xun wouldn't drink it without throwing a tantrum first.

Yet Jiang Xun drank it decisively, downing it all at once, without even waiting for the candied fruits.

Chinese medicine was bitter and astringent. A sour taste rose in Jiang Xun's mouth, and he pressed his chest, starting to cough slightly.

Shen Que reached out his hand, wanting to pat the emperor's back to soothe him. However, Jiang Xun glanced at the screen. Their Intimacy level was already full for today, so he waved him away and said, "Lord Shen, you may withdraw. This Emperor will sleep alone for the latter half of the night."

Shen Que paused. "You've just caught a chill; you still need someone to keep watch."

Jiang Xun lowered his eyes. "Wang An will keep watch over me."

Jiang Xun's reputation as a foolish tyrant was well-known. Keeping the Imperial Tutor trapped in the palace and humiliating him in various ways, although necessary for the plot, made Jiang Xun feel a twinge of guilt.

After all, when historical records condemned Jiang Xun as foolish and tyrannical, one of the charges was persecuting his teacher, detaining this great man who would go down in history in the palace and casually toying with him.

Jiang Xun couldn't recall what his mentality was in his past life, but in this life, since he had no intention of doing anything to Shen Que and had farmed enough Intimacy points, he wanted to let Shen Que go back first. This way, Shen Que could also be more comfortable, saving him the trouble of lying next to a foolish tyrant, his heart pounding in fear, unable to sleep well.

Shen Que frowned.

He objected, "Your Majesty, Head Eunuch Wang can only sleep in the outer room. If you kick off the blanket in the middle of the night, he won't be able to notice immediately."

Jiang Xun remained listless. "If he can't, then he can't."

He wouldn't die.

Shen Que's frown deepened. "Your Majesty, this is inappropriate."

Shen Que had clearly seen how intensely Jiang Xun struggled just now. Given the emperor's current physical condition, if he kicked off his blanket and was exposed to the draft all night, the Imperial Physicians would be holding a meeting tomorrow, the capital would be hanging white flowers the day after, and by the third day, the civil and military officials would all be kneeling and weeping for him at the Qianqing Palace.

"..."

Jiang Xun found it amusing in his heart. He thought to himself that he wanted to make Shen Que's life more comfortable, yet Shen Que was unwilling. Why else would he eagerly stick close to him? So he looked away and said flatly, "Xue Jin's case is already closed; he was wronged. The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicature and Revision still have some evidence to process, but he will be released from prison by next month at the latest. He's uninjured and unhurt, and his status won't change; he's still the Heir of Zhenbei. I won't make things difficult for him anymore."

Not only would he not make things difficult, but Jiang Xun would also continue to use the identity of Master Xun to impart knowledge from future generations without reservation. He would inform him of the numerous natural and man-made disasters after the change of dynasties, helping Xue Jin become a more qualified emperor.

Shen Que was taken aback. "Your Majesty, Heir Xue..."

He wanted to say, what does this have to do with Heir Xue? He hadn't even thought of Xue Jin at all just now.

Jiang Xun's words carried enormous weight. Shen Que had already received a letter from Shen Xiu and knew his nephew had been let off lightly—twenty strokes with the cane hadn't even broken his skin; it was purely a show for his benefit. As for Xue Jin, Shen Que had been following his case all along. Ever since that night at the hot springs, the Emperor had relented, and Shen Que was perfectly clear on the current progress.

But Jiang Xun had already lain back down, pulled the blanket over his head, covered his ears, and plugged them with his hands, sealing them tightly.

The Emperor pressed down on the blanket, thinking, 'I'm not listening.'

Shen Que was going to talk to him about Xue Jin again, and he didn't want to hear it.

People who were ill tended to get tired easily. This time, after lying down, Jiang Xun fell asleep before long.

Leaving Shen Que sitting on the edge of the bed and Wang An waiting by the door.

The head eunuch gave Shen Que a troubled look: "Lord Shen? This... His Majesty just ordered you to return to your own quarters to sleep."

Shen Que glanced at him: "In His Majesty's current state, do you think he can be left unattended, Eunuch?"

"..."

Wang An looked conflicted: "But His Majesty gave the order. If he wakes up tomorrow and sees you still here, he might place the blame. We... we won't be able to bear the consequences. You should hurry back."

But Shen Que said, "He won't."

The Emperor wouldn't place the blame.

After what happened with Shen Xiu, Shen Que was practically certain that Jiang Xun was somewhat sharp-tongued but soft-hearted, especially towards him. Though he didn't know the reason, he was indeed soft-hearted.

He waved Wang An away, lay down on the edge of the bed, and touched the emperor's skin on his shoulder blade.

It was still cold.

And the drowsy emperor rubbed against him again.

——He was hugged.