After drinking the medicine, she felt a warmth rising in her stomach, making her feel much more comfortable.
Her wet nurse said gently, "My lady, when you return to the manor after leaving the palace, I will slowly nurse you back to health. For now, please close your eyes and rest for a while, it will be alright soon."
Yuan Qingling closed her eyes. She felt like there were sparks popping and exploding in her brain, and some chaotic noises echoing.
"You are not worthy of my hatred. I just loathe you. In my eyes, you are no different from a pesky fly that I detest. Otherwise, I would not have needed the medicine to be with you tonight."
It was the voice of Prince Chu Yunwen, full of resentment and malice. She had never heard such heartless words before.
Someone was sobbing next to her ear. The sparks in her brain turned into twisting pools of blood.
Gradually, everything became quiet.
It was as if the tangled threads in her mind finally unraveled.
The pain also slowly faded away, or rather, it became numb.
She opened her eyes to see Lüye standing by the bed, frowning at her.
"My lady, are you feeling better?" Lüye asked when she saw her open her eyes.
"It doesn't hurt anymore," Yuan Qingling said hoarsely.
Indeed, it did not hurt, but her whole body felt oddly numb. She tried pinching her own cheek, but felt nothing at all.
This worked better than anesthetics.
"Then I will help you up and change your clothes, otherwise the Prince will be angry," Lüye said as she reached out to support her. Her wet nurse also came in from outside, holding clothes in her hands. Seeing Yuan Qingling get up, she said, "Hurry and change, the Prince is waiting."
Yuan Qingling stood numbly as the two stripped off her clothes and dressed her, bandaging her wounds. She felt nothing at all.
After she was dressed, sitting in front of the bronze mirror, Yuan Qingling examined the person in the mirror.
Her features were exquisite, her skin fair, with long curved lashes framing a pair of lifeless eyes.
Her lips were very dry and pale without a hint of color. Her hair was a mess, her slightly wide forehead obscured. Her skin was dull without any luster.
However, with the deft hands of her wet nurse and Lüye busy at work on her face, the person in the bronze mirror seemed to transform into someone else. Her brows were like willow leaves, her lips red and teeth white, her phoenix eyes bewitching. As she tried to open them wider, they looked more spirited.
"What is Zijin Decoction?" Yuan Qingling asked, her voice extremely hoarse.
"You don't remember?" Lüye looked startled.
She didn't remember. Her mind contained many memories that did not belong to her, tangled up with her own. She lacked the energy to slowly sort them out.
But she did not ask any further. Since Lüye said so, she calmed down and thought, she would eventually know what Zijin Decoction was.
She was certain it was nothing good.
She got up and walked around. Her wounds did not hurt at all, just her legs felt sluggish because of the numbness.
"My lady, even if it doesn't hurt, you still need to be careful when walking around, try not to irritate the wounds," her wet nurse cautioned.
"Is Brother Huo better?" Yuan Qingling asked, grasping the door frame as she looked back at her.
Her wet nurse was startled for a moment before reflexively nodding, "Much better."
Yuan Qingling looked at the sky outside. Just a while ago there was still sunlight, now it was overcast and gloomy, looks like a storm was coming.
"I'm sorry about Brother Huo's matter," she said in barely a whisper.
Her wet nurse and Lüye exchanged glances, both somewhat surprised.
Did they hear wrong? She said sorry?
Yuan Qingling slowly walked out. She was not used to these clothes. Because of the numbness, she walked clumsily and slowly. She tucked her hands into her sleeves, and felt something inside. She stopped and took it out for a look. Her entire body froze.
