“You’re awake!”
Ji Yu had spotted him through the crack in the door, struggling to sit up. She hurried over and pushed the door open.
“Hey, don’t rush to get out of bed!” Seeing that one long leg was already reaching for his shoes, she set the medicine down carefully and stepped forward, pressing her hand firmly against his thigh to stop him.
Nan Xing froze for a moment. He felt a soft, cool touch on his leg. Looking down at that slender, pale hand resting on him, his brows furrowed involuntarily.
He hated physical contact with others. Growing up, aside from his mother and his betrothed, no one dared touch him casually—and even they rarely got close.
Yet this girl had simply placed her hand right on his leg. It was intolerable.
He raised his hand to swat hers away, but suddenly felt a firm force. Nan Xing narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening.
Ji Yu simply slid her arm under his knee, effortlessly lifted his leg back onto the bed, and tucked it under the blanket. She then propped up the pillows so he could sit comfortably.
Without waiting to see his reaction, she turned to grab the bowl of medicine. “Not only are you badly injured, but you’ve also made things worse for yourself.”
Nan Xing suppressed his irritation, his face returning to its usual cool composure. He looked up at her and said seriously, “I feel like vomiting.”
Since waking up, his head had been spinning and his stomach churning. He had only managed to hold it together out of pride.
Ji Yu handed him the bowl. “No wonder. You’re having an allergic reaction to the fish.”
“Normally it wouldn’t be this bad, but because your body is already so weak from injury, the symptoms are much more severe. This medicine is specifically for allergies. Drink it, and you’ll feel better.”
Nan Xing took the bowl and looked at the dark, murky liquid inside. He pressed his lips together, silent and unwilling.
Seeing this, Ji Yu quickly said, “Is it too bitter? I have some candied fruit, I can go get it for you!”
She turned to leave, but he stopped her immediately. “No need.”
Without another word, he downed the entire bowl in one go.
It was bitter, yes, but it was still much better than the other medicine he was forced to drink every month.
“Good boy,” Ji Yu smiled. “Rest a little longer. I made some lean meat congee, I’ll go get it.”
Since he couldn’t eat fish, she had finished the entire pot of fish congee herself.
Knowing he hadn’t eaten properly for days, she knew he needed food to heal. Luckily, she still had half a piece of pork, so she had quickly cooked him some vegetable and pork congee.
When she brought it back, she served him a large bowl.
Watching him swallow a spoonful, she asked eagerly, “How is it?”
Nan Xing took another spoonful. “Delicious.”
Ji Yu smiled, ready to say something, but suddenly everything seemed to blur. Nan Xing collapsed backward onto the bed, his hand going limp. The bowl slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor with a loud crash.
Ji Yu stared blankly at the congee splattered everywhere, then at the man unconscious on the bed. The smile froze on her face.
She took his pulse. The cause was still the same reaction. She couldn’t help but mutter in disbelief, “…Could he possibly be allergic to pork too?”
The room was silent. No one answered her. She sighed and knelt down to clean up the broken pieces.
***
When Nan Xing woke up again, Ji Yu was sitting right beside the bed.
“You’re awake!” she said delightedly, holding out a bowl. “You must be hungry. Drink this while it’s hot.”
This time, it was plain white congee—absolutely nothing added. Surely he couldn’t be allergic to *this*!
But moments later, when he collapsed yet again, Ji Yu was completely speechless.
Alright, so he’s a Prince, noble and delicate… but does he have to be allergic to *everything*? Even plain congee? Was he actually allergic to rice itself?
If he was allergic to rice, how on earth had he survived to adulthood?
Oh right! There was also wheat and noodles!
An idea struck her. She rushed to the kitchen, determined to make noodles. Tonight, she *would* get food into his stomach. She refused to believe he could be allergic to noodles too!
Ji Yu was from the south and didn’t eat much noodles, so she hadn’t bought any since arriving. She rummaged through every cupboard and finally found a bag left behind by the original owner’s father.
When she returned to the room, he was still unconscious. She set the bowl of noodles down and brought the medicine over first. Since he was asleep, she had to help him drink it.
Nan Xing woke up groggily, his stomach churning violently and his mouth tasting of bitter medicine. He gagged a few times, looking wretched.
Ji Yu looked at him with sympathy. Poor thing, he really was allergic to rice. She felt bad for making him suffer three times in one night.
This was her golden ticket! He absolutely could not die, or all her suffering would be for nothing.
She held up the bowl of noodles with an ingratiating smile. “Master Qi, you aren’t allergic to noodles… are you?”
Nan Xing fought down the nausea, looking pale. The noodles were freshly cooked, steaming hot, and the aroma wafted up to him. He swallowed hard, and before he could speak, his stomach growled loudly.
A faint blush touched his ears. He cleared his throat and asked in confusion, “What do you mean by ‘allergic’?”
“Oh,” Ji Yu realized. They didn’t have that word here. “It means when your body feels sick or uncomfortable after eating certain things.”
“I can eat noodles,” he stated.
“Great!” Ji Yu beamed. That was a relief.
She watched him intently as he finished the whole bowl. When he was done, she asked nervously, “How do you feel? Any discomfort? Stomach ache? Dizziness?”
Nan Xing looked at her, his eyes filled with suspicion. Was this girl truly naive, or was she pretending? Every thought seemed to be written clearly on her face.
Yet he couldn’t figure her out. She kept making him faint by “poisoning” his food, then gave him that black medicine to wake him up again. What exactly was she planning?
He clenched his fist hidden under the blanket. His chest still hurt terribly. If not for his severe injuries leaving him powerless, he would have strangled this woman long ago for drugging him over and over again.
For now, all he could do was wait and see.
He unclenched his hand and replied calmly, “I feel fine.”
Ji Yu let out a huge sigh of relief, wiping imaginary sweat from her forehead. “Good! Then rest well. I’ll come back later to change your dressing.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
She smiled and walked out with the empty bowl.
The moment the door clicked shut…
**THUD.**
Another heavy sound of something falling to the ground echoed from inside the room.
Ji Yu’s smile froze completely on her face.