Outside the door, Shen Zhi and the others waited with expressions of disbelief. Had their Crown Prince been replaced by someone else? He was actually comforting someone!
Shen Zhi was the most curious. Having always stayed by the Crown Prince’s side, he had no idea what had happened to the Taizi Fei to make the Crown Prince console her like this.
He cast a questioning glance at Yan Yu and Yan Xue.
Noticing his look, Yan Yu whispered, “Perhaps the Taizi Fei had a nightmare!”
Upon hearing this, Shen Zhi was momentarily at a loss for words and could only continue waiting.
Inside the room, Xuan Yuan Beichen had lost count of how many times he had responded.
Seeing that her crying had subsided somewhat, he gently tried to reach out and take her hand, all the while reassuring her, “I’m here.”
Only when she didn’t refuse or react violently did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Once her emotions had completely stabilized, Xuan Yuan Beichen attempted to withdraw his hand, but the moment he moved, Mu Anran gripped it tightly.
“Beichen…”
In the end, Xuan Yuan Beichen had no choice but to pull her a little closer and extend her other wrist to the edge of the bed.
“Yan Yu, Yan Xue, come in!”
Hearing his call, Yan Yu gently pushed the door open. “Crown Prince?”
Xuan Yuan Beichen instructed softly, “Lower the bed curtains and have the court physician come in to check her pulse.”
Yan Yu immediately rose to lower the bed curtains, shielding the two from view, and ensured Mu Anran’s wrist was accessible for the physician’s examination.
She then placed a small stool beside the bed before turning to exit. After giving the physician a few instructions, she led him inside.
Upon entering, the physician saw the Crown Prince holding a delicate, slender hand and understood it belonged to the Taizi Fei. Silently, he sat on the small stool and began taking Mu Anran’s pulse.
Xuan Yuan Beichen asked anxiously, “How is the Taizi Fei?”
The physician stood up and bowed respectfully. “Your Highness, the Taizi Fei’s body shows no major issues. However, she is excessively weak, showing signs of convulsions and profound sorrow. It seems she may be grappling with some unresolved emotional distress.”
Hearing that she was physically fine, Xuan Yuan Beichen felt somewhat relieved.
“Shen Zhi, have someone investigate what the Taizi Fei has been through. You may withdraw for now.”
Shen Zhi and the physician bowed silently and withdrew.
Xuan Yuan Beichen reached out to touch Mu Anran’s clothes and found them completely soaked with sweat. Even the bedsheets were damp. How much had she sweated? Her pillow was stained with tears and mucus.
Xuan Yuan Beichen, who had a strong aversion to uncleanliness, couldn’t help but frown.
“Yan Yu, bring the wheelchair over.”
Yan Yu pushed the wheelchair to his side.
Xuan Yuan Beichen released Mu Anran’s hand, braced himself against the edge of the bed, and settled into the wheelchair. He then wheeled himself to the side and ordered, “Change the bedding.”
Upon hearing this, Yan Yu and Yan Xue went to the wardrobe to fetch clean quilts and sheets.
As Mu Anran’s hand became empty, her brows furrowed more and more deeply. Suddenly, her eyes flew open. Seeing that Xuan Yuan Beichen was no longer on the bed, she sat up abruptly.
“Xuan Yuan Beichen…”
Spotting him in the wheelchair, her first thought was that he must be angry. “Xuan Yuan Beichen, don’t go, please don’t go…”
She struggled to get off the bed but collapsed onto the floor, weakened and exhausted.
Xuan Yuan Beichen hadn’t expected her to wake up so suddenly. “Anran!”
Yan Yu, who was fetching the quilts, gasped in shock. “Taizi Fei…”
She hastily set down the quilt and rushed to help Mu Anran up.
But Mu Anran crawled over to Xuan Yuan Beichen and clung tightly to his leg.
"Xuan Yuan Beichen, don't go, I really know I was wrong. I failed to see people clearly, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
Seeing her rambling incoherently again, clearly still not fully conscious, Xuan Yuan Beichen's heart ached. He quickly reached out to pull her up and held her in his arms.
"I'm not leaving, I'm not. I just asked Yan Yu and the others to change the bedding! I won't go, I'll stay with you! I won't leave!"
Yan Xue, perceptive as ever, brought over a cloak and draped it over Mu Anran.
"Crown Prince, please cover Taizi Fei with this! Taizi Fei just broke out in a sweat and might catch a chill!"
Only then did Xuan Yuan Beichen realize Mu Anran was only wearing a dudou and inner trousers.
He hurriedly wrapped her tightly in the cloak he held.
"Alright, be good now. I'm here."
But Mu Anran sobbed softly, "Xuan Yuan Beichen, don't go, don't leave…"
Xuan Yuan Beichen responded patiently, "I won't leave. I'll stay with you, don't worry. Be good, I'll hold you while you sleep."
Yan Yu and Yan Xue swiftly changed all the bedding.
Yan Yu stepped forward, "Crown Prince, shall this servant carry Taizi Fei to the bed?"
Xuan Yuan Beichen looked at her furrowed brow and her unsettled state. "Push me over."
Upon hearing this, Yan Yu pushed Xuan Yuan Beichen to the bedside.
With some difficulty, Xuan Yuan Beichen tried to lay Mu Anran down, but she clung tightly to the front of his clothes, refusing to let go.
Helpless, he held her with one arm while using the other to brace against the wheelchair for support. Together, they tumbled onto the bed. He removed the cloak, settled her into a more comfortable position, then lay down beside her, wrapping his arms around her.
Noticing her hair was damp with sweat, Xuan Yuan Beichen instructed, "Fetch a basin of warm water to wipe Taizi Fei down."
Soon, Yan Yu brought warm water, soaked a towel in it, and wrung it out.
"Crown Prince…"
But Xuan Yuan Beichen reached out his hand. "Give the towel to me."
Yan Yu's eyes widened in surprise, but she dared not say anything. She simply handed the towel to Xuan Yuan Beichen.
Xuan Yuan Beichen took the towel and gently wiped Mu Anran's face, then her neck.
He changed the towel twice during the process, continuing until he had wiped away most of the sweat. Then he handed the towel back to Yan Yu.
"You may withdraw."
Upon hearing this, Yan Yu and Yan Xue silently bowed and withdrew.
Yet inwardly, their minds were reeling with shock. The lofty Crown Prince had personally wiped Taizi Fei down. It seemed Taizi Fei truly held a special place in the Crown Prince's heart. They would have to serve her with extra care from now on.
Meanwhile, Xuan Yuan Beichen watched as Mu Anran continued to frown restlessly, occasionally murmuring something softly?
Her condition didn't seem feigned. Even if someone could fake tears, trembling all over was something not even a highly skilled martial artist could easily mimic, let alone her utterly broken state which seemed genuine. He reached out to smooth her furrowed brow.
Xuan Yuan Haoyu, you'd better hope I don't discover you've done something unforgivable to her. Otherwise, I will absolutely fight you to the death, even if it means mutual destruction.
Then, Mu Anran wrapped her arms around Xuan Yuan Beichen's waist, resting her head against his chest, and murmured softly.
"Xuan Yuan Beichen, it's not worth it, not worth thinking about. For my sake, it's not worth it!"
Though her voice was very faint, Xuan Yuan Beichen still heard it, only growing more puzzled. Not worth it? What isn't worth it? It was true that in the past, gifts he sent her were thrown away.
But even if she now truly regretted discarding those things, it shouldn't have driven her to such a state of delirium!
Then he heard her murmur something else again.
"Xuan Yuan Beichen, I'm sorry, I was wrong, truly wrong. In this lifetime, I will never let you down again. Please forgive me, I know I was wrong!"