Chapter 322: She can’t be helped (1/2)

Chapter 322: She can’t be helped

“What, you’re not afraid of pain?” Han Yunxi asked in amusement.

“I’m afraid!” Baili Mingxiang admitted openly. How could she not be afraid? She’d been hurting for over 10 years. She’d never gotten over her fear, only used to the agony. Ever since losing her mother in childhood and being sent to the Tang Clan to raise Beauty’s Blood, no one had ever asked her if she was afraid or if she hurt.

All her father had said was, “Mingxiang, soldiers have to be like soldiers.” Her older sisters had no idea about the Beauty’s Blood and were all jealous that her father had placed enough importance on her to send her to the Tang Clan. Not only that, she didn’t have to marry, but could stay at General Baili’s estate to render services to His Highness Duke of Qin. She never thought that the first person to care about her would be His Highness Duke of Qin’s official wife, Han Yunxi.

“If you’re afraid, why are you still acting strong?” Han Yunxi smiled.

“I…” Baili Mingxiang suddenly didn’t know what to say. Acting strong?

She…alright, she admitted that Han Yunxi’s words had struck straight into her heart. Even if she didn’t want to face it, she knew that she was putting up a front. But what of it? She’d manage to endure until today, hadn’t she?

My life won’t be long, she thought. I can probably keep up this front for a lifetime. Suddenly, Baili Mingxiang shivered. She was fine until a fearful chill had taken over her body.

The poison was reacting! She was all too familiar with this sensation. Soon enough, she’d get so cold that her entire body would shudder out of control. Deciding quickly, she said, “Esteemed wangfei, just wait awhile outside. I’ll….” Before she could finish, she saw Han Yunxi rise to her feet. The woman didn’t leave the room, but quickly lit the stove in the room and poured a cup of hot water, then dissolved the painkiller pills in the liquid. Even though she hadn’t shown any outward symptoms, Han Yunxi had seen through her condition at a glance.

“Esteemed wangfei, I’m fine. Go outside first, alright?” Baili Mingxiang could even crack a smile.

Han Yunxi gave her a stern denial. “Not alright!”

Baili Mingxiang simply didn’t want Han Yunxi to see her in her most wretched state. But since Han Yunxi wouldn’t leave, she only left her a helpless smile. She settled by the stove, her body huddled up against the cold as she rubbed her hands to generate heat. Right now, the cold was starting to spread from her head and toes throughout her entire body. It felt like someone was slowly pouring a giant pail of ice water over her head until the cold seeped into every single one of her pores. As Baili Mingxing curled into a ball, her pale face quickly took on a purplish tinge. She was clearly biting her lips, yet they remained white without a hint of color.

Just how cold could she be? Despite this, she still held onto her reason and stayed there silently. There was not even a single complaint of ‘cold’ coming from her lips. If it was anyone else, they might not even realized that she was suffering, but Han Yunxi could tell.

She promptly said, “Lie down on the bed, I’ll warm you up with acupuncture needles.” The cold from Winter Poison came from the inside out, so no amount of external heat could warm up the victim. She could only start from inside the body.

“Esteemed wangfei, it’s no use. I know my own body.” Baili Mingxiang’s lips were clearly trembling, but she could still grin. Gentle and soft, sweet and tranquil, her smile was like the sun in a frozen sky.

“I’m clearer than you are! Hurry!” Han Yunxi was even getting anxious for her. She grabbed Baili Mingxiang’s hand before subconsciously withdrawing her own!

So cold!

It was an infectious chill that seemed to enter through her pores as well. Han Yunxi hadn’t meant to take back her hand, but her instincts did it for her.

“Esteemed wangfei, it’s fine. It’ll be better once it passes,” Baili Mingxiang comforted.

“It hasn’t passed yet!” Han Yunxi grew angry for no reason. She didn’t wait for Baili Mingxiang to lie down, but sat behind her and took out her needles. Though it was difficult to insert needles through the clothes, Han Yunxi’s movements were still as smooth as flowing water and rolling clouds. She was a seasoned expert at acupuncture.

Soon enough, Baili Mingxiang’s back was littered with acupuncture needles. If possible, Han Yunxi would treat Baili Mingxiang’s poison that very instant, but she couldn’t. Right now, she could only use these needles to disperse the chill within instead of getting angry.

“Is it better now?” Han Yunxi asked in concern.

Baili Mingxiang expelled a breath and said, “Mm, it’s not that cold anymore.”

“See? I said it’d be useful!” Han Yunxi exhaled as well. She’d encountered plenty of troublesome illnesses in the past, but she’d never felt so pent up as she had today. How depressing it was to know she could treat this poison, but leave it as it was!

Han Yunxi didn’t stay idle. The cold would gradually cause pain to the victim, so she brought over the cup of warm water with dissolved painkillers. Judging from Baili Mingxiang’s current state, she’d probably have to increase the dosage. Han Yunxi dissolved another painkiller pill into the liquid. Taking the medicine this way would allow faster absorption into the body, creating better results. But as Han Yunxi was dissolving the medicine, Baili Mingxiang couldn’t stop her shuddering anymore.

Actually…

The needles on her back had no effect at all. She was still so very, very cold. She’d lied to Han Yunxi! The trembling started in her hands, but quickly traveled to the rest of her body. She tightly bit her lips, afraid that her teeth would start chattering as well.

“Drink a bowl first. It’ll take time for the effects of the medicine to set in,” Han Yunxi said as she lifted her head. Her hands froze in the process of offering the bowl as she finally saw the truth.

“You lied to me!”

“Esteem…esteemed wangfei, it’s fine…. You go out first, I…I’ll be okay very soon.”