114 His Arrival (1/2)
XuanRong grit her teeth and once again used the 'command' to order the female Gu. The time limit of one cup of tea time[1] had already passed and her body was now starting to deteriorate. XuanRong could feel that her innards were on fire but she stubbornly refused to yield. Since the foreign poison was not located on her Fourth JiuMu's head, she had to try and search at the other parts of her body.
XuanRong, who was on the verge of collapsed, suddenly sensed the excitement of the female Gu. It was as if the female Gu had found something. XuanRong directed the female Gu to follow the faint trace of the foreign poison and found out that it was leading to her Fourth JiuMu's belly, where her little DiDi was conceived. Using her last strength, she ordered the female Gu to thoroughly eat the foreign poison that was accumulated at the fetus inside her Fourth JiuMu's belly.
*puked*
Once again, XuanRong puked black blood but this time, it was starting to coagulate, forming into a sponge-like substance. XuanRong could no longer hold herself and groan due to pain. Her eyesight was starting to get blurry and she could only hear silence, signifying that she was starting to turn deaf.
Luckily, it only took an incense stick of time[2] before the female Gu was able to wipe out all the foreign poison on her Fourth JiuMu's and BiaoDi's body. Before passing out, XuanRong successfully ordered the female Gu to return inside her body.
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Mu Qing panicked when he saw that Xu Fei Yi was puking black blood nonstop. He could not understand why Xu Fei Yi's illness suddenly relapsed. Full moon was still far and Mu Qing did not expect that Xu Fei Yi's illness would flair up.
”Where is the Imperial Physician?!! Call him!!”
Mu Qing carried the weak Xu Fei Yi inside his inner room and placed him on the bed. Mu Qing turned his head and ordered one of the servants to prepare a bowl of water. Xu Fei Yi's face was very pale due to the lost of blood.
”Your Highness, this servant already called an Imperial Physician. Please bear the pain.”
Mu Qing saw that Xu Fei Yi's semi-closed eyes once again opened up, but instead of fear and pain, Mu Qing was startled to see that Xu Fei Yi's pupil contained neither of the two. Instead, it was full of intensity, similar to a vicious tiger. Taken aback, Mu Qing was dumbfounded and was momentarily shaken. The look Xu Fei Yi had was very different from his usual weak and fearful him, it was as if the man lying on the bed was a different person.
Xu Fei Yi raised his hand and pull the blanket on the top of his body, trying to go out of the bed. Seeing Xu Fei Yi's sudden movement, Mu Qing was awakened by his stupor. He immediately moved forward, wanting to dissuade Xu Fe Yi from leaving the bed.
”Your Highness, please do not----”
”Move.” Xu Fe Yi spoke coldly, cutting all the words Mu Qing wanted to say. When he puked blood, Xu Fei Yi felt that something inside of him was becoming restless and agitated. His intuition was telling him that it was connected to XuanRong.
Hearing Xu Fei Yi's cold reply, Mu Qing could not help but freeze. His movement stopped, he stared at Xu Fei Yi as if he could not believe what he heard.
Xu Fei Yi knew that Mu Qing was now having suspicions, but he did not care. He had to find XuanRong. He pushed Mu Qing out of his way and stood up. His body was still weak due to his illness, but thanks to his internal energy and great physique, he was able to properly control and move his body.
Many questions started appearing on Mu Qing's mind. He wanted to ask Xu Fei Yi and clarify things. Based on what he had seen, Xu Fei Yi was acting like a normal person, very different from his childlike attitude. He had many questions he wanted to ask but he knew that it was not the right time. Whatever reason Xu Fei Yi had for pretending that he was foolish, Mu Qing did not have any right to question him because he was the master and he, Mu Qing, was only a servant.
”Your Highness, please listen to this servant. Your body is currently weak and has to be treated immediately. Please return to the bed and wait for the Imperial Physician to come.”
Xu Fei Yi turned his head and stared at Mu Qing.
”I must leave.”
*thud*
Mu Qing suddenly kneeled on the ground and kowtowed.
”Your Highness, this servant pleads His Highness to think once again. Whatever His Highness was planning to do, let this servant do it for His Highness.”
Mu Qing did not stop kowtowing until his forehead started bleeding. Xu Fei Yi's eyes darkened when he saw the wound on Mu Qing's head. Mu Qing had accompanied him ever since he was young. Among all the servant his late Imperial Father gave him, Mu Qing was the only one who genuinely cared for his well-being.
”Stop.”
Xu Fei Yi commanded but Mu Qing did not stop. Without any other choice, Xu Fei Yi weakly returned to the bed and sat down.
”You can now stop. BenWang[3] did not expect that one day, you will disobey BenWang's order.”
”This servant thanks His Highness.”
”Mmm. Go to the XuanFu and try to ask if something was wrong with their eldest Young Miss.”
Hearing XuanRong's name, Mu Qing did not show any reaction. He wiped the blood on his cheeks and left the inner room. The Imperial Physician arrived and checked Xu Fei Yi's pulse. Since Xu Fei Yi's illness was unique, the Imperial Physician could only give some medicines for strengthening the body.
Moments later, Xu Fei Yi's condition slowly returned back to normal. He no longer felt the aching pain inside his chest and the urge to puke had also stopped. It took Mu Qing half a shichen[4] before he was able to return.
”Speak.”
”Reporting to Your Highness. Eldest Lady Xuan is currently at the Chen's residence, accompanying the Fourth Chen Furen who was ill. Nothing peculiar was reported.”
”Mmm. You are now dismissed.”
When Mu Qing left, Xu Fei Yi was the only one left inside the room.
'Am I over thinking things?'
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When Chen Zi Tao and the two Chen Furen did not hear any noise coming from the inner room, they could not help but worry. They had been waiting for a quarter of shichen but XuanRong did return.