Qu Dubian was sleeping groggily when he was woken up to eat something.
He ate half a piece of sweet cake and drank some rice porridge. Although he still wanted more, his body was too weak to take any more, no matter how hard he tried.
Ye Xiaoyuan couldn't bear to eat the rest either, saving it for him.
Qu Dubian patted his own face to perk himself up. "Ye Banban, have you found anyone who knows Tai Chi again?"
Ye Xiaoyuan hesitated. "This servant picked up a little eunuch who was nearly frozen to death on the road. He said he knew it, so this servant brought him back. He's waiting outside now."
Qu Dubian immediately sat up from the bed, ready to get down at once.
"Let me see him!"
He scared Ye Xiaoyuan half to death.
Good heavens! It's so cold outside, if he catches a draft, how will he ever recover? Ye Xiaoyuan quickly stopped him. "This servant will go call him in. Your Highness, please stay right here."
"Hurry, hurry."
The little prince on the sickbed looked up eagerly, his face growing thinner, making his eyes appear even larger, pitifully so, like a malnourished kitten.
Even though he himself was this ill, he was still worried about the life and death of an unrelated servant. With such a kind heart, how could he possibly manage in this palace? How could Her Ladyship, watching from heaven, rest easy?
Ye Xiaoyuan sighed inwardly and went outside to fetch the little eunuch in.
Seeing the boy's face was much cleaner now, he nodded slightly with satisfaction. He was sensible.
Afraid the cold clinging to the eunuch would transfer to Qu Dubian, Ye Xiaoyuan didn't let him get close. About six or seven steps away, the little eunuch knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly, his voice weak, his teeth chattering from the cold.
"Please... I beg Your Highness to take me in... This servant will definitely, definitely repay Your Highness's kindness with all my heart..."
Perhaps because his voice was too soft, or perhaps because he was too wretched to catch the noble's eye, after he finished speaking, there was no movement in the room.
Smelling the strong scent of medicine filling the hall, the little eunuch bit his own tongue. Only when he tasted the metallic tang of blood did he feel a sliver of pain. He mustered all his strength to stay conscious, but his heart grew colder and more despairing.
The lives of lowly servants in the palace were like dust beneath the feet of the nobles, utterly humble. How could someone as filthy and wretched as him be kept?
"Do you know Tai Chi?" It was a tender, soft child's voice, small and lacking strength, asking him.
The little eunuch bit himself again, swallowing the blood seeping from his tongue, forcing himself to focus. "Yes... yes! Before entering the palace, this servant learned a move or two. I know some basic martial arts."
Half the heavy stone in Qu Dubian's heart dropped. Finally, someone had come to help extend his life.
His gaze couldn't help but fall on the little eunuch's body, still trembling as it knelt prostrate on the ground, whether from cold or fear.
What a sin.
In his old world, he'd only be middle school age, looking about the same age as Ye Banban.
"Then from now on, you'll stay in the Ju'an Hall, responsible for teaching me martial arts every day."
The little eunuch was stunned for a moment, then said repeatedly, "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness!"
Ye Xiaoyuan: "Alright, come with me."
Although His Highness had accepted him, he had been frozen outside for too long. A high fever was unavoidable. The medicinal herbs here were only for the little prince; servants only got ginger soup. Whether he could survive depended on tonight.
The little eunuch didn't know what Ye Xiaoyuan was thinking. Helped to his feet, he couldn't help but look up before leaving.
He only saw slightly lowered bed curtains and a small, bundled-up lump of quilted blanket. The little noble who saved him seemed to be sick, right there inside that bundle.
-
As the hall door closed, the [Disease Simulator] in Qu Dubian's mind underwent a slight change.
[Character Available for Rapport: The Picked-up Little Eunuch (No Name Yet)
Favorability: 20]
Qu Dubian didn't have time to complain that this little eunuch didn't even have a name before his full attention was captured by the favorability number below.
Twenty? That fast?
This little eunuch that Ye Banban casually picked up could not only teach him martial arts to extend his life, but was also a potential stockpile of a year's worth of lifespan.
Qu Dubian immediately wondered if he had been too indifferent just now. If he had personally gotten out of bed to offer some consolation, would the favorability have risen even faster?
Ah, what a missed opportunity!
It was no wonder he was this happy. Anyone who had to look at a lifespan countdown timer every day would be unable to stop their eyes from gleaming upon seeing such a reserve energy source.
Happy as he was, Qu Dubian understood that rising so fast was because offering help in times of need was more precious than adding flowers to brocade. Such opportunities wouldn't come every time.
But speaking of which, why wasn't there a favorability rating for Ye Banban? He could sense Ye Banban's care and concern for him, no less than that of family, right?
He tentatively asked a question in his mind.
The [Disease Simulator] popped up a line: Ye Xiaoyuan's favorability exceeded sixty before the host's arrival and is not included in statistics.
Qu Dubian was taken aback, then felt a twinge of sadness for Ye Xiaoyuan.
He would never know that the child he had cared for two years had still died quietly.
And he was merely a soul from another world.
Others might feel guilty because of Ye Banban's affection and doting, but Qu Dubian would not. He had taken on Ye Xiaoyuan's love for the little prince, and naturally, he would take on the consequences that came with it.
What? His soul wasn't the little prince's, so he didn't deserve it? Fine then, please summon the little prince's soul back from the underworld. He would willingly leave this little body and return to his own world to go roll into his next reincarnation, so the original little prince could provide for Ye Banban in his old age.
Since that wasn't possible, why dwell on it?
Qu Dubian never wasted energy on things that couldn't be changed with internal effort.
His status was that of a prince, however poorly he fared. When his cheap father died, he would at least get a princely title. Providing for Ye Banban in his old age and repaying that warmth on behalf of the child who died early was more than sufficient.
So, all he had to do was live well!
-
Xiuxiang Palace.
Wispy blue smoke curled from the cloisonné gold-thread peony and cloud incense burner.
The hall had underfloor heating, but silver frost charcoal was still burning in the corners, its purpose to dispel the dampness accumulating there.
Consort Lan carefully admired the fresh henna dye on her nails.
"That little bastard in Ju'an Hall, isn't he dead yet?"
The chief palace maid, Lian Zhu, said, "It's said he fell ill, quite seriously. The weather is so cold, and they don't have much usable charcoal over there. It's uncertain if he can pull through."
Consort Lan sneered. "Back then, Consort Yun went underground right after giving birth to that little bastard, only seeing the child once. She must miss him terribly. Perhaps I should do a good deed and help the mother and child reunite in the underworld."
Lian Zhu: "But if we act too overtly, the Empress Dowager is sure to notice."
Consort Lan shot her a glance, which actually revealed a touch of gentle concern. "When a child is sick, medicine can be three parts poison. Whether the dosage is light or heavy, it can lead to major trouble. Just have someone keep an eye on the Imperial Hospital to ensure they take good care of him. We mustn't have any oversights."
Lian Zhu didn't dare meet her gaze, lowering her head to acknowledge the order. "Yes, understood."
After giving her instructions, Consort Lan frowned slightly. "Moreover, that little bastard is about to turn three. Although the Imperial Astrologer's words have kept the Emperor from mentioning him these past three years, I always feel he might become a hidden danger. I don't want an extra stumbling block on my own child's future path."
Lian Zhu: "This servant will see it done promptly."
-
Ye Xiaoyuan went to the Imperial Hospital in the evening.
When he returned this time, his face was full of smiles. The Imperial Hospital had been extremely accommodating today, prescribing more and better medicine for His Highness than last time—a full three doses, so the little prince wouldn't have to worry about tomorrow's medicine.
While boiling the medicine in the kitchen, he glanced at the little eunuch curled up in the corner. The eunuch was already delirious with fever, shivering under his tattered quilt.
As Ye Xiaoyuan tended to the medicine, the little eunuch forced his eyes open, drawing in deep, ragged breaths as if trying to inhale every bit of the medicinal scent, hoping it would help him survive this ordeal.
This medicine is for the little prince.
Ye Xiaoyuan said indifferently.
The little eunuch nodded, his body trembling. "I... I understand..."
His feverish mind vaguely recalled the little prince lying in bed today—a small, frail figure, ill and deserving of the finest care. It was clear that someone of such status needed the medicine to heal and survive far more than a lowly servant like him.
Looking at him now, surviving the night seemed unlikely. Pondering this, Ye Xiaoyuan kept watch over the medicine, and once it was ready, he promptly poured it out and hurried to deliver it to the bedchamber.
Qu Dubian was feeling drowsy. With his eyes closed, he drank the medicine guided by Ye Xiaoyuan's hand.
However, the moment his lips touched the rim of the bowl, the crude [Disease Simulator] in his mind suddenly popped up a window. Bold red text appeared abruptly:
[Detection: This fever-reducing medication is suitable for humans over twelve years old. The host's body is young and frail. Consumption may cause adverse effects, with risk of death.
Suggestions for the host:
1. Drink several doses and test your luck on whether you die.
2. Consume the medication. The simulator will decompose it, unlocking the 'Drug Overdose [Fever-reducing Type]' disease simulation. (Note: The initial decomposition for cataloguing will not cause adverse effects to the host's body.)
3. Refuse consumption.]
Qu Dubian jolted, all drowsiness instantly gone.
Damn it!!
Someone was trying to harm him!
The child on the bed slowly opened his eyes wide, a trace of shock visible within them.
Ye Xiaoyuan gave an understanding smile, coaxing gently, "Your Highness fears the bitterness. We'll finish the medicine, then eat the remaining sweet cakes to settle your stomach."
He lifted the medicine bowl, a spoonful of dark, murky liquid within it.
"Your Highness, be good now, time for your medicine."
Qu Dubian: "......"
His mind, which had fought its way to the C-position debut in a cutthroat survival show in his past life, began spinning rapidly. Fragments of countless palace intrigue dramas flooded his thoughts, and he quickly calmed down.
If today's incident wasn't an accident, then his current situation might not be as inconspicuous as he had imagined.
Who would want to harm him?
Attendant Ye? No.
He was just a child who needed care in every way. If Attendant Ye wanted him dead, there would be no need for such roundabout methods. Simply abandoning him here would ensure his death within two days.
Qu Dubian lowered his gaze, hiding the calculations in his eyes. He chose the simulator's second option, bent his head, and took a small sip from the bowl's rim.
[Ding! 'Drug Overdose [Fever-reducing Type]' disease has been catalogued.]
After the cataloguing, the interface changed slightly.
[Submit Disease Insights]
Status: 0 submitted
Currently Simulatable Diseases:
1. Fever [Level 1, Level 2, Level 3]
2. Drug Overdose [Fever-reducing Type] - Adverse Symptoms
This crude simulator seemed to have more hidden functions, and to be more useful, than he had initially thought.
After swallowing the first sip, Qu Dubian pretended to retch violently with the second, spitting it out by the bedside. Tears came on cue, followed by continuous fake dry heaves.
While vomiting, acting, and calmly adding names to his mental list of grudges.
Anyone who stood in the way of his peaceful, long life was an enemy of Qu Dubian!
