Chapter 113: Back and Forth
Xue Sui smiled faintly, leaning to the side as if to make way for Li Huan. Her wide, moon-white sleeves, however, inadvertently brushed against the wind lantern swaying on the bronze candlestick.
With a “clang.”
The wind lantern teetered precariously, its candlelight about to spill.
“Be careful!”
Li Huan extended his arm, his long, slender fingers firmly supporting it. He calmly removed the lampshade, gracefully raised the flame, and looked at Xue Sui’s face, smiling slowly.
“It’s dry and the weather is hot, be mindful of fire. If there’s an accidental fire, it would be troublesome.”
Xue Sui slightly raised her eyes, glancing at the windowpane wet with rain. “It’s been raining for two days. Your Highness also mentioned that this place is damp and not suitable for staying long.”
Li Huan chuckled, “Sharp tongue.”
His words, laced with three parts frost, sounded like seven parts affection—
carrying a unique flavor.
Xue Sui had read in storybooks that most emperors, kings, generals, imperial princes, and their descendants had this habit: they liked to look down on all beings and show tenderness to women, occasionally uttering ambiguous sweet words that stirred the heart. Then, women would become infatuated, believing they had found true love, and would entrust their lives to them, ultimately meeting a tragic fate.
She smiled faintly, standing quietly, her demeanor cool and distant.
Li Huan, likely finding it uninteresting, casually glanced at her and then strode forward, reaching out to open the door.
Outside the door was a pale face, quite eerie in the candlelight.
Li Huan instinctively recoiled.
Xiao Zhao had been waiting outside the door since the wind lantern had bumped the candlestick.
Her entire being was in a state of readiness for action.
Seeing that Xue Sui was unharmed, her tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
“Young Lady…”
Xue Sui leaned against the doorframe, coughing softly.
“Quickly pay your respects to His Highness.”
Xiao Zhao then seemed to awaken from a daze and quickly bowed.
Ru Yi followed closely behind, hastily bowing.
“You may rise,” Li Huan said, hands behind his back with an imposing air. “Pass down the word, I will be staying at Liu Shang Yan Gui tonight. Have the pavilion prepare accordingly.”
Ru Yi’s face was filled with shock, rendering her speechless for a moment.
Xiao Zhao’s expression was not as exaggerated, but her entire body was tense, like a drawn bowstring, filled with vigilance and worry.
Seeing this, Xue Sui coughed softly again.
Li Huan lowered his head slightly, waved his wide sleeve, and subtly supported her arm.
“Is Ping An feeling unwell?”
Xue Sui’s gaze swept lightly over Xiao Zhao and Ru Yi. She adjusted her plain silk cloak, using the opportunity to withdraw her hand and create distance from him.
“Replying to Your Highness, this is an old ailment from many years ago. It flares up whenever the weather is damp. The continuous rain at the separate villa has worsened it… Please forgive my indisposition, Your Highness.”
“Medical Officer Chen mentioned that Ping An was not in good health that day…” Li Huan said, suddenly reaching out to grasp her wrist again.
As his fingertips barely touched her warm skin, Xue Sui “happened” to stumble, her slender wrist twisting. She slipped away like an eel, and in the process, tugged at the coiled dragon jade pendant at his waist.
With a crisp “snap,” the jade pendant fell to the ground, shattering into two pieces.
Xue Sui quickly covered her mouth with her hand, looking at him innocently, her eyes filled with fear and guilt. Her body weakly retreated towards the display shelf…
As she retreated, the pottery jar on the display shelf toppled over, and the scented powder within scattered like snowflakes.
In an instant, a rich fragrance filled the room, so strong it was almost suffocating.
Li Huan’s pupils contracted sharply.
Xue Sui coughed, her eyes reddening, her voice extremely loud.
“Ping An has been discourteous, please forgive me, Your Highness.”
Li Huan fanned away the powder with his hand, also feeling uncomfortable. He bent down to pick up the jade pendant from the ground, then frowned at the scented powder billowing towards him, coughing a few times.
“Ping An has been ill for a long time. You must take good care of yourself. I will have Medical Officer Chen examine you later and prescribe some suitable prescriptions for you to recuperate properly.”
Xue Sui tightened her cloak and shook her head.
“It’s an old ailment, nothing serious. Your Highness is busy with state affairs and still worries about me; Ping An is truly undeserving.”
Li Huan’s gaze was intense, and he smiled gently.
“Your health is most important.”
Xue Sui lowered her head and curtsied, performing a bow.
“Ping An is of humble fortune and fears she cannot bear Your Highness’s great favor.”
After speaking, she looked back at the overturned scented powder jars.
“Young Madam Gu usually enjoys playing with these things. I don’t know if there’s anything wrong with this scented powder. I only feel dizzy and more unwell after smelling it… cough… cough cough…”
Tears welled up from her coughing, and she looked as if she were about to vomit.
Li Huan looked uncomfortable seeing her like this. He strode out the door, his wide sleeves billowing.
“Let’s go, let’s go back and rest early.”
A maid carried a wind lantern, walking carefully ahead. The light flickered uncertainly in the rain, as if it might extinguish at any moment.
Li Huan and Xue Sui walked behind, each lost in their own thoughts.
The atmosphere was oppressive and tense.
The drizzle outside the eaves grew heavier, wetting the stone path.
As they passed the lotus pond, Xue Sui paused slightly.
The withered lotus in the pond shivered in the wind and rain, making a rustling sound, as if someone were walking behind them, inexplicably making one’s body tense.
Xue Sui stopped.
Li Huan looked back, “What is it?”
Xue Sui said, “The beautiful lotuses, just two days ago, they stood tall and competed for beauty. Who knew their fate would be so harsh? After a storm’s devastation, they are about to wither…”
Li Huan scrutinized her, a fleeting emotion crossing his eyes. His voice, however, was laced with a smile, “When flowers wither, they will bloom again. If you like them, when the weather clears, I will accompany you to see them again.”
Xue Sui remained silent.
From the jade steps to Liu Shang Yan Gui was only the time it took to brew a cup of tea. Due to Prince Duan’s high profile, the entire separate villa was alerted.
Upon returning to Liu Shang Yan Gui, Li Huan’s esteemed medical officer, Chen Henian, hurried over.
He had seen Xue Yueying that morning and was now here to examine Xue Sui. He was so nervous that his forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, which he wiped away with his sleeve from time to time.
“Madam’s body is deficient and lacks qi and blood. She needs to rest and recuperate, and must not overexert herself…”
As he said this, Chen Henian cautiously glanced at Li Huan.
That day, he had informed Li Huan of Xue Sui’s physical condition in detail, stating directly that Madam Ping’an was not suitable for sleeping with or bearing children. However, as a medical officer, he had a duty to remind, but ultimately could not control the Prince’s decision.
Li Huan understood his meaning and nodded slightly.
“Write the prescription and then you may withdraw.”
Chen Henian, as if granted a great pardon, quickly replied, “Yes.”
Xue Sui’s lips curved slightly, a perfectly measured faint smile on her face.
“Thank you, Doctor Chen.”
After Chen Henian left, she got up to rummage through the trunks and called to Ru Yi, “Help me find some clean bedding in the room. Find it and change it, so His Highness can rest early…”
Li Huan smiled faintly.
He knew very well why Xue Sui had instinctively dodged when he touched her earlier.
She did not wish to be favored.
And he, why would he wish to?
Between them, there was a back-and-forth, outwardly calm, but inwardly filled with hidden stratagems, depending on who could remain patient and who had greater willpower.
After a while, seeing Xue Sui genuinely preparing to make the bed and fold the covers while still unwell, Li Huan frowned slightly, sighed, and conceded.
“Ping An, you should first recover your health. Other matters can be discussed later. You don’t need to be nervous; I am not a reckless person who would disregard your health. Tonight, consider it a simple overnight stay.”
Xue Sui understood in her heart that he did not want to favor her, yet he wanted to create an illusion of “favoring Madam Ping’an” to the outside world.
As for Li Huan’s purpose in doing so, whether it was to harm her through excessive favor or to use her as bait to lure Li Zhao, she could not immediately fathom.
She feigned astonishment, paused for a moment, then curtsied.
“Your Highness’s compassion is truly Ping An’s fortune. Ping An will certainly keep silent and will not speak a word of this outside.”
When intelligent people speak, it is simple.
Just as Li Huan began to smile, an urgent shout was heard from outside, accompanied by the patter of rain, carrying an air of panic.
“Your Highness, something terrible has happened!”
Li Huan’s expression darkened, and he asked sternly, “What is it?”
The other person seemed to be wary of Xue Sui’s presence, lowering their voice slightly.
“It’s news from Shangjing, sent by Xiang Yang…”
Li Huan’s expression changed slightly. “I understand. Have him wait for me in the study room.”
The person replied with a “Yes” and quickly ran off.
Xue Sui looked at Li Huan and said softly, “Your Highness has matters to attend to. I am feeling unwell and will return to my room to rest.”
Li Huan waved his hand, clearly agitated by the sudden news and temporarily unable to attend to her.
“I will be sleeping in the study room tonight. If you need anything, send someone to find me.”
Xue Sui curtsied slightly, escorting him to the door. She then thoughtfully instructed the maid to prepare bedding and toiletries to be sent to the study room.
Li Huan turned, gave her a deep look, said nothing more, and strode away.
As soon as he left, Jinshu slowly entered from the outer room and shook her head at her.
“Young Lady, Qiao’er’s whereabouts cannot be found.”
