CHAPTER 342: CHAPTER 342

The Crown Prince felt a sense of embracing death in his heart, though it did not show on his face, only revealing some helplessness.

Yan Luan scooped up a spoonful of porridge, gently blew away the heat, and brought it forward.

The Crown Prince swallowed it down in one gulp, without even tasting it, directly allowing it to slide down his esophagus. He had long perfected this skill of direct swallowing; the medicine was too bitter, and if he savored the taste for too long, he would end up spitting it out.

Indeed, the residual taste left in the mouth wasn’t so agreeable, but the Crown Prince’s brows did not even twitch, his face showing no ripples of emotion.

As he swallowed, Yan Luan paused in her feeding action. Everyone was waiting for the Crown Prince’s reaction, seemingly anticipating some sort of judgment.

A warm sensation slid down the esophagus into the stomach. Strangely, the constant nausea was suppressed, and the tumultuous stomach seemed to have a calming anchor placed within it, gradually soothing down.

After waiting for a long time, not only did the Crown Prince not spit it out, but the ever-unwavering expression on his face suddenly softened, the previously palpable restraint now easing considerably.

"This... it actually works?! Yan Luan, quick, quick, feed more!" The Second Prince was instantly excited, urging eagerly.

The Crown Prince chuckled softly: "It’s not like feeding chickens or pigs, Second Brother, don’t be anxious."

Yan Luan glanced sidelong at the Second Prince, who then sheepishly restrained his excitement.

Spoonful after spoonful, more than half of the porridge in the bowl was gone in no time, and the Crown Prince’s expression became increasingly relaxed. Despite the long duration, he no longer coughed.

"Let me do it."

Miraculously, the Crown Prince propped himself up and sat, reaching out to take the bowl from Yan Luan’s hands.

Seeing Yan Luan hesitate, the Crown Prince smiled again: "I’ve regained some strength, surely enough to eat a bowl of porridge myself. I have hands and feet; I don’t wish to trouble others all the time. Consider it as sympathizing with me."

"This servant dares not!" Yan Luan exclaimed upon hearing this, quickly apologizing as she handed the bowl to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince’s smile grew a little more bitter. He didn’t want to be interpreted through every word he spoke, nor were his words loaded with extra meaning. Yet, in this palace, even the seemingly freest Second Prince Consort was in truth cautious in every step.

The Crown Prince finished the remaining porridge with slurps. Having been unable to eat for a long time, he now felt a strong sense of fullness from just one bowl. To know, even a small child could manage two bowls.

"To think it truly has such miraculous effect! Miss Chen, how did you make this porridge? Teach me!" The Second Prince’s eyes lit up, observing the Crown Prince nearly "rejuvenated" by the change.

"This..." Chen Muxue scratched her head, just about to continue, when Cen Lizhui interjected, "Apologies, it’s a secret skill of the Qian Ding Sect, not to be divulged."

"I see, I see!" Having read some ancient records of the Qian Ding Sect, the Second Prince readily believed this explanation.

It must involve a divine skill of blending Elixir into porridge, allowing the patient to ingest necessary food and maximize the Elixir’s effect, a monumental advancement in healing commoners!

The Second Prince entertained himself with imagined explanations of the so-called "Divine Skill," nodding continuously by himself, approval of something unknown.

Though Chen Muxue was slightly embarrassed, on another thought, she was the Sect Leader of the Qian Ding Sect; only she knew how to make such porridge, so claiming it to be a secret skill wasn’t wrong. Thus, she accepted the Second Prince’s admiring gaze graciously, patting Cen Lizhui’s shoulder in appreciation.

"Cough!"

However, amidst the crowd’s joy, the Crown Prince suddenly coughed up a mouthful of black blood.