In a fit of rage, Yuwen Hao saw Yuan Qingling pick up a razor blade and angrily ask: “What are you trying to do now?”
“Shave, of course. How else to disinfect and treat the wound?” Yuan Qingling slapped his leg. “Cooperate and spread your legs.”
Yuwen Hao felt all his blood rushing to his head. His ears buzzed as if they were about to explode.
Hearing the scraping sound of the razor blade against his skin and the tufts of hair falling off, the sensation sweeping across his thighs, each touch carried a sense of humiliation.
Yuan Qingling was actually quite helpless inside.
Did she want to watch? Want to shave his hair for him? Want to treat the wound there for him?
But if he died from infection, she wouldn't be able to explain it to the Retired Emperor or herself.
Although, if he died, it would be his own fault.
Luckily, the wound had just barely missed the femoral artery on his thigh, scraping past the side. The cut was deep. He must have used some method to stop the bleeding himself, as there was some caked powder nearby.
Also, if it was just a little more towards the middle, it would definitely have chopped that part right off.
If it had been chopped off, now that would have been great, the root of all evil.
She thought this as she sneakily glanced up at Yuwen Hao.
Yuwen Hao threw a punch at her. Yuan Qingling quickly ducked her head back down, catching a glimpse of his beet-red face.
“Stitches are still needed!” Yuan Qingling declared seriously after disinfecting the wound.
“No!” Yuwen Hao firmly refused, slowly bringing his legs together. But Yuan Qingling had already wedged her hand in to stop him from closing them.
Yuwen Hao felt like all the hairs on his body were standing on end, each being singed by his fury.
“Alright then!” Yuan Qingling took out the medical kit, found the topical anesthetic, and said, “I’ll apply some medicine to stop the bleeding and promote faster healing.”
“Hurry up and do it!” Yuwen Hao glared.
After applying the medicine, Yuan Qingling looked up and asked, “Does it feel less painful there now?”
Yuwen Hao did feel it was less painful, but unwilling to admit it, he stubbornly said, “Who said it doesn’t hurt? You think your medicine is that amazing?”
Yuan Qingling knew he was being stubborn and didn’t bother with him. She threaded a needle and said, “I’ve applied anesthetic. I’m going to start stitching now.”
“Yuan Qingling!” Yuwen Hao roared furiously. Damn this ugly woman actually dared to deceive him?
That day she had stitched him, the pain made him grit his teeth to the point of breaking. And now she wanted to stitch the most painful part of his body? She must be trying to kill him.
“Alright, no stitches, but I have to scrape out the pus. That should be acceptable, right?” Yuan Qingling said.
Only then did Yuwen Hao restrain his rage. Watching as she lowered her head, he thought that if he felt any pain, he would directly kick her over.
Yuan Qingling was actually stitching him up.
With the anesthetic applied, she could finish before it wore off if she worked quickly.
The door was shoved open with a “bang”.
Xu Yi blew in like a whirlwind.
Pushing aside the curtain, with one sweeping glance, his whole body froze, standing extremely still, as if struck by lightning.
Doctor Tang had said that the Prince would need someone to assist him at night, so he had come to keep night watch and was just about to report in, when he saw the Princess Consort’s head buried between the Prince’s legs.
“Get out!” Yuwen Hao was also as if struck by lightning. After freezing for a few seconds, he erupted in fury.
Xu Yi fled like he had seen a ghost, then ran back to shut the door.
No one heard his screaming and crying inside, that the woman had taken advantage of the Prince while he was injured.
Yuan Qingling was the calmest person in the room.
Calmly finishing up the stitches, she said, “There, stitched up.”
Stitched up? She had dared to stitch him again!
His hands went limp at his sides, no longer wanting to say another word.
Yuan Qingling cleaned up. He turned his head, watching as she poured the contents onto the floor. That strand by strand of black...hair.
He would have to kill a few people to vent his hatred.
But for now, he could only endure. Don't sweat the small stuff, or the big plans would be disrupted...
After that, neither of them spoke.
Yuan Qingling dozed off leaning over.
In her dream, she was being chased down. Blades and swords flashed, as she dodged left and right until being driven to a dead end. A huge saber was raised up. Through the cracks between her covering fingers, she saw Yuwen Hao’s sinister face.
The saber slashed down. Blood sprayed onto her face. She let out a shriek and woke up.
Her face felt damp. Wiping it, it was all water.
She looked up to see Yuwen Hao holding a bowl, tilted over upside down, now empty.
His expression was smug and sinister.
A bowl of water had been placed by the bedside for him to conveniently drink when thirsty.
Yuan Qingling was very angry. She had painstakingly cared for and treated him, without a word of thanks, and instead he played a trick on her.
However, she didn't show her anger. On the contrary, she looked at him compassionately, “How pitiful. A prince of royal blood, who has slain countless enemies, can now only take revenge against me, a young lady, by pouring water.”
Yuwen Hao’s eyes flashed with anger. He flung his arm and the bowl flew towards her.
The bowl didn’t hit Yuan Qingling. Instead it hit himself in the head.
His hand had slipped. It looked like he had thrown it out but he had just let go.
The bowl smashed right into his nose bridge, the pain bringing instant tears to his eyes.
Pathetic and embarrassing.
Yuan Qingling's mouth twitched. She picked up the bowl and walked out.
“Hahahaha”, outside, Yuan Qingling laughed until her wound nearly burst.
Inside, Yuwen Hao rubbed his nose bone, trembling all over. “He’s going to be the death of me!”
The first light of dawn emerged, a faint orange glow on the horizon as the clouds were slowly dyed.
Xu Yi had squatted outside all night, dozing off.
He was jolted awake by Yuan Qingling’s maniacal laughter, rubbing his eyes in fright as he looked at Yuan Qingling’s face somewhat contorted from laughing hard. “Princess Consort...are you alright?”
Yuan Qingling laughed until her complexion was flushed red. Even after stopping, her eyes and brows still flew high. She patted Xu Yi’s shoulder. “Go take care of the Prince, Xu Yi. He...has had some bad luck!”
Seeing her break into devilish laughter again after saying this, Xu Yi fled in fright into the room.
“Get out!”
He dejectedly came back out, his face ashen.
Yuan Qingling didn't go back in. She leisurely walked to the lakeside, looking at the huge orange sphere slowly emerging on the horizon.
Watching the sunrise always invigorated people, filling them with spirit.
The sadness of leaving her family after transmigrating was slowly suppressed by the sunrise, pressed to an inconspicuous place, almost out of reach.
Perhaps it was the sunrise, or perhaps it was the bout of laughter just now, but she felt like she had finally lived a few minutes as a normal person under the sun.
What was there to fear under the sun?
She stood by the lake for over half an hour.
Only when she felt the sunlight was too glaring did she slowly retract her gaze.
Tang Yang hurried over and solemnly said, “Princess Consort, Eunuch Mu Ru is here.”
Yuan Qingling turned back, seeing Tang Yang’s rather grave expression. “Eunuch Mu Ru?”
“Eunuch Mu Ru is the Retired Emperor’s head eunuch.
“What business does he have?” Yuan Qingling knew Tang Yang was usually steady. Seeing him looking somewhat alarmed now, Eunuch Mu Ru's visit did not bode well.
