The phrase “little imperial aunt” made Xie Jingchu frown deeply.
“Speaking of being pleased,” Shen Yao said, “this marriage was something I sought myself. Having achieved my wish, naturally I am in high spirits. Is Your Highness the Crown Prince not asking a question to which you already know the answer?”
Xie Jingchu was angered by her words and began coughing violently.
Shen Yao felt no sympathy and quickly took a large step back, putting a safe distance between them. Coolly, she said, “Your Highness the Crown Prince is unwell. You should return, take more medicine, and rest. I will first go to pay my respects to His Majesty and Her Majesty.”
Without waiting for Xie Jingchu to respond, she led Qingque and Yinzhu away.
When Shen Yao was with the Empress, the Emperor arrived after court and was especially delighted to see her.
It turned out that today, the court officials had praised the Emperor for this marriage.
Originally, the civil and military officials of Shengchao were not on good terms, quarreling frequently. This was the first time they had reached a consensus.
Thus, the Emperor was overjoyed.
Seizing the opportunity, the Empress invited Shen Yao to dine in the palace, and Shen Yao did not refuse.
By the time Shen Yao returned to Jingwangfu, the sun was already high in the sky.
In the courtyard, Qiushan was leading two servants toward the room.
Shen Yao called out to him, “What are you doing?”
Qiushan replied honestly, “Your Highness, it is time to feed the Prince his medicine.”
Shen Yao’s gaze fell on the wooden tray in his hands, which held a purple clay medicine jar. The scent was identical to the medicinal odor she had smelled while lying beside Xie Yuan the previous night.
“Your Highness, please wait outside for a moment. I will feed the Prince his medicine and then come out,” Qiushan said. “It may take some time, as feeding him in his current state is not easy.”
Shen Yao, however, spoke cheerfully, “I will go with you.”
Qiushan was visibly taken aback, thinking he had misheard. He looked astonished, “Together?”
Shen Yao nodded, “Yes, I am the Prince’s lawful wife. Taking care of him is my duty. Today, I will observe and learn, so that in the future, I can handle these matters myself.”
Hearing this, Qiushan was deeply moved.
He had no reason to refuse, but as they walked in, he still reminded her, “Your Highness, the Prince is unconscious and unaware. He cannot drink on his own, so we have to force-feed him. Sometimes, even after we manage to feed him, he vomits it back up… This task is not easy.”
Shen Yao listened patiently, but her expression remained calm, clearly not taking these difficulties to heart.
Qiushan sighed silently.
He only hoped… that the Princess would not grow disgusted when the time came.
Upon entering the room, the two servants stepped forward and slightly propped up Xie Yuan’s body.
Qiushan poured a small bowl of decoction from the medicine jar and approached, sitting by the bed. He scooped half a spoonful of medicine and tried to feed it to Xie Yuan.
Xie Yuan’s lips were tightly closed, so a servant held his jaw, forcing his mouth open.
Only then could Qiushan forcibly pour the medicine in.
However, although the medicine entered his mouth, it soon trickled out from the corners, leaving a large, damp, dark brown stain on his sleeping robe.
Qiushan continued feeding him, but half of the medicine was consumed, and half was spilled.
After watching for a while, Shen Yao could no longer bear it and turned away.
Qiushan glanced at her cautiously. Had the Princess finally found the Prince’s disheveled and dirty state too repulsive to endure?
Shen Yao was unaware of his little thoughts. She turned her back, rolled up both sleeves, then turned around and said, “Qiushan, feeding medicine like this wastes over half the bowl. Let me do it.”
Qiushan was taken aback.
So…
The princess consort wasn’t disgusted, but… wanted to personally feed the prince?
Shen Yao extended her hand toward him, her expression serious and resolute. “Get up, give me the medicine bowl.”
Qiushan stood up, watching Shen Yao as she sat by the bed. “Princess Consort, we’ll withdraw immediately.”
Shen Yao was puzzled instead. “Why withdraw?”
Qiushan said with a straight face, “Aren’t you going to feed the prince medicine? If we servants are present, you might feel embarrassed. It’s also against the rules.”
Shen Yao grew even more confused. “Feeding medicine is a proper task. What’s there to hide?”
Qiushan scratched his head sheepishly. “Aren’t you going to feed the prince mouth-to-mouth later?”
Shen Yao froze. Mouth-to-mouth feeding?
She would hold the decoction in her mouth, press close to Xie Yuan’s lips, and pass the warm medicine over?
The image startled Shen Yao, making her heart race and her cheeks flush. She retorted, “Who told you that unconscious people need to be fed mouth-to-mouth?”
Qiushan replied honestly, “That’s how it’s written in story-books.”
Shen Yao: …
Shen Yao: “You know those are just story-books!”
Qiushan stood before the bed, his remaining round eye blinking, shining with ignorant innocence.
Shen Yao felt inexplicably stifled. Why bother arguing with him?
She took a deep breath, her tone finally patient and calm. “Story-books are story-books, feeding medicine is feeding medicine. There’s no need for mouth-to-mouth… Here, go find a bamboo strip—one finger long, one and a half fingers wide. Smooth it down, remove any splinters, and wash it clean.”
“Yes…” Although Qiushan didn’t understand what this was for, he obediently complied.
Soon, Qiushan returned with the bamboo strip.
Shen Yao gestured for the two servants to place an extra pillow under Xie Yuan’s head. Then, she inserted one end of the bamboo strip into Xie Yuan’s mouth, scooped up the decoction, and poured it onto the strip.
The medicine flowed continuously down the bamboo strip into Xie Yuan’s throat.
Qiushan watched, his face lighting up with delight. “So feeding medicine is this easy!”
Shen Yao snorted. “Read fewer story-books from now on!”
Qiushan chuckled, leaning closer with curiosity. “Princess Consort, how did you know you could feed medicine like this?”
Shen Yao focused on scooping the decoction and replied, “My grandfather practiced medicine. I picked up some knowledge naturally. Actually, the bamboo strip is just a makeshift solution out of necessity. There are also some very useful medicine-infusion devices for feeding medicine to unconscious people. They’re quite convenient.”
Qiushan looked enlightened. “I see!”
As another bowl of decoction was finished, Qiushan eagerly took the bowl to refill it. Watching his retreating figure, Shen Yao suddenly realized something strange.
Xie Yuan was unconscious, diagnosed and cared for by imperial physicians from the palace.
Logically, what her grandfather knew, the imperial physicians must also know.
But why hadn’t they told Jingwangfu about things like medicine-infusion devices?
Shen Yao shifted her gaze to Xie Yuan’s astonishingly handsome face, her mind filled with doubts.
Could winning battles consistently also make enemies?
“Princess Consort.”
Qiushan brought the last half-bowl of decoction.
Shen Yao collected her thoughts and took it.
Just as she was feeding carefully, Qiushan suddenly asked, “Princess Consort, later we need to change the prince’s clothes and wipe his body. Will you also be watching?”