Chapter 4 (1/2)
Tryingspree before the next round of hectic scheduling starts…
Please let me knohere my translations can be improved, especially the many historical titles!
Chapter 4 – Visiting a Patient
Fu Shen did not sleep well Theheart palpitations, nightmares, and shortness of breath Halfway between sleep and waking, he felt as if a large boulder was pressing down on his chest He could not move, his head spun, and his ears buzzed——it was exactly the symptoms of ”sleep paralysis”1 described by the coh Fu Shen had not yet fully awakened, his consciousness was clear He quietly slowed down his breathing and tried to blink his eyes When he finally regained control of his eyelids, he reached out to grab the bed in order to try and sit up——
But he forgot that his legs were still disabled and he had no sensation below his knees His arms and abdomen both used force at the same time Because of this excessive force as well as his unstable center of gravity, he toppled over and fell straight off the bed
The bed was not particularly high, but there was a footstool right underneath When Fu Shen fell down, his abdomen was first poked harshly by the footstool Then he landed on his back onto the ice-cold floor tiles, knocking the back of his head to the point where his vision darkened and his ears could not stop buzzing
But before he could feel the dull pain start up, the door of the bedroom was kicked open and someone rushed into the rooht still floated up from that person's sleeves, but their paled up, his head leaning against that person's chest and his face pressed against the dark blue brocade official's robes The fabric felt soft and slewood2 fragrance seeped from the collar and sleeves This seemed to be a person he was very fae because of the close distance between the, so scalding that the person's body suddenly tightened up in shock He was iid hand was placed on his forehead: “How is your breath this hot, do you have a fever?”
As both his blurry line of sight and the pain in his body gradually cleared up, Fu Shen recognized the person holding him His first action was to push that hand away: “What did you co behind, the old servant and the young Flying Dragon Guard heard this cold and harsh interrogation as they entered the door They i the rumors weren't false after all: neither of these twoinevitably began it would be of utmost importance to first hold down Yan Xiaohan
Yan Xiaohan shut his eyes and took a deep breath, not wanting to stoop to Fu Shen's level He stiffly said: “Your fever is et up and drink soive you a prescription”
Fu Shen closed his eyes and gave a lukewarm reply: “Don't bother Let's talk business: Sir Yan honors ht, what teachings have you conored hi first, he walked to the table and picked up the teapot Upon pouring out a half-cup of already cold tea, his expression ilanced at the old servant: “This is how you serve your master?”
Fu Shen felt his head ache: ”Are you still not done yet…”
Yan Xiaohan said: “The Marquis's noble body is incoht be tolerated? If you continue to be so careless, don't bla this status of affairs to His Majesty and exacting punish by his side, twitched almost unnoticeably
The old servant was by no ht, and hurriedly knelt down to plead for mercy Fu Shen was so annoyed that he couldn't stand it anyh, thank you Sir Yan formy household servants in this Marquis's place”
His words carried a hint of sarcastically rebuking Yan Xiaohan forin other people's business Yan Xiaohan adeptly ith the flow4, icily spitting out a “Bring soenerosity and letting the servant go
There were now only three people left in the room Yan Xiaohan stood by the bed and looked down to watch hih, sothe outline of his features appear especially sharp with hidden depths He had truly been worn down to just skin and bones, yet was also truly beautiful beyond compare—so beautiful it almost hurt one's eyes
Yan Xiaohan smiled a smile full of very false sincerity: “The Marquis is si of your return to the capital, His Majesty specially orderedsomeone to take the Marquis's pulse”
Fu Shen's eyes were half-closed as he spoke earied weakness: “Thank Your Majesty for his care in o back and reply to the decree: this Marquis is fine I have already been diagnosed and treated by the Northern Yan Army military doctors, so there is no need to bother any imperial physicians”
It was ru was headstrong and fiercely independent, immune to both cajolery and coercion5 These did indeed appear to be true
The accoon Guard military doctor Shen Yi'ce took a step forward Out of a physician's benevolence, he intended to entreat the stubborn general on his superior's behalf But Yan Xiaohan iesture for hi that he first wait The expression inadvertently revealed on Yan Xiaohan's face was exactly like that of one dealing with a troublesome fierce beast
“His Majesty is concerned about the Marquis's injury, so this lowly official6 caive His Majesty peace of mind” Yan Xiaohan looked at Fu Shen's side profile, slowly and clearly enunciating every word: “To be able to earn the Marquis's trust, that military doctor in the Northern Yan Army must possess exquisite medical skill This lowly official is not worried about nosis It is just that the Marquis's injury is so incredibly iood idea to find a few more doctors to check as a second opinion What do you think?”
Fu Shen lifted his eyelids and aze as chilly as cold iron, Yan Xiaohan's heart shi+vered A strange illusion suddenly rose to his idly at another person
After a while, this incredibly stubborn Marquis of Jing Ning lowered his eyes He co hair and listlessly stretched out a hand, gesturing for Yan Xiaohan to help him up: “Since you've already coo ahead”
Shen Yi'ce froze, but Yan Xiaohan did not seeement Fu Shen probably counted as the first person to ever order the Flying Dragon Guard Royal Inspector Envoy around like his own personal maid
Yan Xiaohan helped him up, while he himself sat sideways on the bed Afraid that the head of the bed would bump into his injuries, Yan Xiaohan extended an ar hi down Because of this exact movement, Fu Shen's hair was scattered, so Yan Xiaohan offhandedly hugged him over and carefully tucked the fallen locks of hair behind Fu Shen's ear In this way,Ning probably thought that this 'cushi+on' was softer than the bed, so he did not make a fuss over how detestable Yan Xiaohan was as a person—after shi+fting around a little, he chose a comfortable position to lay down
This position appeared too intimate for torn nemeses”, but fortunately Shen Yi'ce was entirely concentrated on Fu Shen's condition He did not notice when the Royal Inspector Envoy feared by all officials considerately pulled up the blanket and wrapped it around the Marquis of Jing Ning, nor did he see how the Marquis of Jing Ning relaxed his tense back under the quilt and let his entire weight press onto Yan Xiaohan's body
Fu Shen did indeed have a high fever, and after that recent fall his entire body ached all over He was not actually such a delicate person, but Yan Xiaohan had probably seen tooin the wind”7 and thus subconsciously treated hiile vase
“The Marquis's body is injured and his constitution is not as good as before, so he must be careful to avoid the cold Do not use any chilly ite food The bedroom should ward off the cold and be free of rown colder, charcoal braziers and their franited early” After Shen Yi'ce finished feeling his pulse, he released Fu Shen's wrist and continued: ”Marquis please forgive us, this lowly official6 needs to look at the wounds on your legs”
Yan Xiaohan silently opened the quilt and helped hi these actions, his fingertips inevitablyabnore look
He remembered that Yan Xiaohan clearly did not feel dizzy or sick at the sight of blood, so as he treh Fu Shen did not feel any pain at the th: “The surface wounds have healed very well The fever must be because of the cold wind outside The Marquis's most severe injuries are in the knees and veins These will require three to five years of slow rehabilitation and have hope of recovering a little, but… I a will be difficult in the future”
Yan Xiaohan folded Fu Shen's trouser legs bag down for hiain Shen Yi'ce took back the wrist-cushi+on he had used to take the pulse: “I shall write a prescription for the Marquis, first focusing on curing the cold As for the injuries on the legs and feet, continue to follow the Northern Yan doctor's treato back and consult with the i on their collective wisdom, we may be able to come up with a better way”
Just as Fu Shen nodded, he suddenly sucked in a cold breath and hissed: ”…Gentler!”
Shen Yi'ce: ”Huh?”
“…Nothing,” Fu Shen gritted his teeth and flexed the shoulders that Yan Xiaohan had gripped to the point of soreness He nodded and thanked hi all that trouble”
“I dare not accept your praise,” Shen Yi'ce humbly turned sideways “This lowly official'sunable to help relieve the Marquis's worries and difficulties”
“Doctor Shen is by no means unskilled,” Fu Shen was instead thebeen injured to this extent, I am well aware of my own situation I can only do whatever I can and heed what Heaven has willed for me”
“Marquis please rest assured, Heaven never seals off all one's exits—there will inevitably be a way to cure your injuries” Yan Xiaohan spoke suddenly, and then turned to Shen Yi'ce, “Take the prescription to the servants of the Marquis's residence and get the, have soo out to buy it If none can be found, take some from my own residence”
Shen Yi'ce sensed that the two of the to say to each other, so he bowed to Fu Shen and followed orders to leave
Yan Xiaohan supported Fu Shen to lie back down, his expression unfathoentle appearance Looking at his face alone, it would be impossible to tell he was the one who had just pinched the fir General Fu until the latter had to suck in a breath of cold air
At last, only the two of them were left in the room Yan Xiaohan pulled out a stool and sat far away fros—”