Chapter 820: Lovesickness
Yun Jiao moved swiftly and soon prepared a stack of pancakes. Du Ruo placed them in a basket, covered them with a cloth, and put them on the carriage.
Jiang Youzhi came out holding the child, and along with Yun Jiao, got on the carriage. Du Ruo gave the elderly couple two taels of silver and drove the carriage out of the courtyard gate.
Yun Jiao whispered, "With You Er, I’m afraid it won’t be easy to pass the checkpoints. How about we stop near the city gate or the checkpoint, so I can hide You Er?"
Jiang Youzhi grasped Yun Jiao’s hand, looking steadily at her, "Where will you hide him?"
He still hadn’t had the chance to ask how she had disappeared.
Yun Jiao thought for a moment, "It’s just a place, similar to a room, only You Er and I can go inside."
Jiang Youzhi tightened his grip on Yun Jiao’s hand, still not understanding her answer.
But since Yun Jiao said so, he couldn’t press further for answers.
He held Yun Jiao’s hand tightly and after a while said, "Jiao Jiao, don’t leave me. Without you, I can’t live."
Yun Jiao, knowing he misunderstood, leaned her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist, "Fool, I won’t leave you."
The carriage surged forward through the biting cold wind.
In the Prince Mansion of Huining City, Wanyan Zhang had fallen ill.
Since the day Yun Jiao disappeared, he had barely eaten for several days, locking himself alone in Qinxin Garden.
That morning, it was time for court, and at the hour of the rabbit, Lin Shishi called for Wanyan Zhang to get up, only to find that she couldn’t wake him.
Lin Shishi hurriedly sent someone to report to the Princess, who first had Doctor Chen look at him. Doctor Chen couldn’t determine what the illness was but carefully prescribed a few remedies. After taking two doses, there was no improvement, and Wanyan Zhang remained drowsy, more often asleep than awake.
Even when he was awake, he just kept his eyes open, seemingly not fully conscious.
The Princess, very anxious, sent for an Imperial Physician from the palace.
The Imperial Physician also couldn’t determine the illness but prescribed a remedy to clear the senses and awaken the mind.
After administering the medicine, half an hour later, Wanyan Zhang was still asleep in a daze.
The Princess, Doctor Chen, and the Imperial Physician stayed by the bedside, not daring to leave even a step.
Seeing the severity of Wanyan Zhang’s illness, the Imperial Physician sent someone back to the palace to deliver the message, and soon a servant came in to report to the Princess: "Your Highness, the Empress herself is coming to visit the Prince, and the phoenix carriage will arrive at the gate shortly."
The Princess quickly took people to the main gate to greet her.
Empress Xiao’s carriage entered the second gate, and the palace maid helped Empress Xiao off the carriage.
Empress Xiao, with a somber expression, entered the room holding the maid’s hand.
Empress Xiao sat by the bedside, looking at Wanyan Zhang on the bed.
In just over ten days, Wanyan Zhang appeared much thinner, with deep-set eyes, even his cheeks had sunken in.
A grayish-blue tint appeared on his face.
Empress Xiao instinctively felt that his complexion was wrong. Her heart was filled with panic, clutching her chest, "Has Ah Shang been like this since that day?"
The Princess bowed, replying, "The first few days were better, the Prince just seemed low-spirited."
"Who knew that by the morning of the day before yesterday, he couldn’t be woken up."
"He has been in a constant state of unconsciousness these past few days."
Empress Xiao turned to look at the Imperial Physician and Doctor Chen, "What exactly is Ah Shang’s illness? Can’t you give a definite answer?"
The Imperial Physician lowered his head, "Your Majesty, my medical skills are inadequate; I truly cannot determine what illness the Prince is suffering from."
Empress Xiao then looked at Doctor Chen, who hesitated for a moment, "I think, perhaps the Prince is suffering from lovesickness."