CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: GRAVELY ILL

"What’s wrong? I’m not dead yet." Xiao Chengyu felt quite alright at the moment, not experiencing the dizziness he had yesterday.

Why was Jing Lai even more upset?

Jing Lai sniffed, lowering his voice, and sobbed, "I just think, the Second Young Lady must be deeply in love with the Marquis."

"Only then would she enter to care for the Marquis without hesitation, and then purposefully say what she did to avoid troubling you."

A pang of pain struck Xiao Chengyu’s heart, "You think so too?"

Jing Lai nodded emphatically, speaking softly for fear Fu Shinian might overhear, "Marquis, you mustn’t give up. You must recover and marry the Second Young Lady."

"Even disciplining the servants isn’t that reliable," Jing Lai said. "There’s no wall that doesn’t let the wind through. If word spreads to the capital, the Second Young Lady’s reputation will be ruined."

Xiao Chengyu gritted his teeth and said, "I’ll ensure their silence. No one would dare speak of it."

Jing Lai sighed, thinking how good the Second Young Lady was indeed.

He thought Xiao Chengyu’s illness had improved significantly and might recover with good rest.

But unexpectedly, by nightfall, Xiao Chengyu began burning up with fever again.

Jing Lai hurriedly prepared medicine for Xiao Chengyu.

While preparing the medicine, Jing Lai couldn’t help but admire Fu Shinian’s foresight. In the daytime, he had sent a heater and made the Imperial Physician update the prescription and prepare medicine after considering Xiao Chengyu’s condition from the previous night.

The new prescription from the Imperial Physician was for Xiao Chengyu’s fever flare-ups, helping reduce the fever swiftly.

Otherwise, prolonged fever could lead to complications.

That night, Fu Shinian had Jing Lai simmer the medicine early on low heat.

Hopefully, it wouldn’t be needed.

But in case Xiao Chengyu developed a high fever again, he could take it immediately.

At that moment, Jing Lai brought the medicine for Xiao Chengyu to drink.

Xiao Chengyu only felt a terrible headache and tried to endure it with a furrowed brow.

But Fu Shinian noticed, "Marquis, do you have a headache?"

"It’s alright, I can endure it," Xiao Chengyu said.

"Don’t strain yourself, let me massage it." Fu Shinian sat by the bedside, not waiting for Xiao Chengyu to speak, and began massaging his temples.

Her soft fingertips pressed against his temples, applying just the right pressure.

"Is this pressure okay?" Fu Shinian asked.

Xiao Chengyu sighed lightly, "It’s perfect."

"Anywhere else that hurts?" Fu Shinian asked again.

"There’s a throbbing pain at the back of my head," Xiao Chengyu replied.

So, Fu Shinian applied pressure with her thumbs on his temples and spread her remaining four fingers to massage the back of his head.

The tight furrows on Xiao Chengyu’s brow gradually relaxed, letting Fu Shinian know he felt much relieved.

Suddenly, Xiao Chengyu tensed, breaking into a violent cough.

The coughing fit forced him to turn over and support himself, coughing incessantly.

"Cough!" A crimson splash of blood fell from Xiao Chengyu’s mouth, landing right at Fu Shinian’s feet.

"Marquis!" Fu Shinian exclaimed in shock.

Jing Lai had just taken the medicine bowl outside, opening the window for ventilation.

Upon hearing Fu Shinian’s scream, he rushed back in hastily.

He saw Fu Shinian trembling as she used a handkerchief to wipe Xiao Chengyu’s mouth.

The handkerchief bore a stark crimson stain.

"Quick, call the Imperial Physician!" Fu Shinian said, unable to care for anything else, "Let the Imperial Physician in to see the Marquis!"

Previously, they worried the Imperial Physician might contract the illness too, making it impossible for him to prescribe medicine for Xiao Chengyu.

So, the Imperial Physician hadn’t been allowed in.

But now, not letting him in was not an option.

"Yes!" Jing Lai dashed out, tripping on the threshold on his way.

His hand was scraped, but he couldn’t worry about it, quickly getting up to find the Imperial Physician.

The Imperial Physician resided next door for convenience, should Xiao Chengyu need anything urgently.

The Imperial Physician hurriedly came in, carrying his robe, with two layers of veils on his face, the outermost one soaked in alcohol, being very cautious indeed.

The Imperial Physician took Xiao Chengyu’s pulse, then looked at his eyes and tongue, and said gravely, "The lungs have been damaged."

"Is there a way to stop it?" Jing Lai asked.

"I’ll add a prescription to stop the cough and clear the lungs, but..." the Imperial Physician shook his head, saying, "It’s not optimistic."

Jing Lai reddened his eyes, wiping his tears with his sleeve indiscriminately, "The Marquis cannot be in danger."

The Imperial Physician sighed heavily, stood up, and went to write the prescription.

"The Marquis will definitely pull through," Fu Shinian said.

"Miss, you haven’t been to the tribute courtyard to see those patients, so you don’t really know," Jing Lai sniffled, "I’ve been there with the Marquis. Those with illness harming their lungs and coughing up blood, there are quite a few. But those reaching this point, not one... not one of them made it through."

Fu Shinian’s eyes were red, "Others are others, the Marquis is the Marquis. Others being in trouble doesn’t mean the Marquis will be too."

"Regardless, first stop the cough." Fu Shinian said to the Imperial Physician, "Whatever dietary support that might help clear heat and soothe the lungs, please also note it down for the kitchen to prepare."

"Certainly." The Imperial Physician nodded, holding the prescription, "I’ll go get the medicine."

"Wait." Fu Shinian said again, "Could you add some sleep-inducing medicine to the prescription? The Marquis hasn’t been resting well, and now with a headache and cough, it’s even harder for him to sleep. I think, if he can sleep better, at least he won’t feel so uncomfortable."

"That’s reasonable." The Imperial Physician nodded, "Proper rest is crucial for recovery."

The Imperial Physician left to get the medicine and soon returned to prepare it.

Fu Shinian didn’t let the Imperial Physician stay longer, saying, "Please go rest. The Marquis still relies on you."

The added sleep-inducing medicine by the Imperial Physician took effect, and Xiao Chengyu fell asleep soon after taking the medicine.

Not long after, the Imperial Physician returned in excitement.

"Miss Fu, is the Marquis awake?" the Imperial Physician asked.

Fu Shinian shook her head, "The Marquis is finally sleeping well, so I didn’t wake him. What’s going on?"

"His Majesty’s people have arrived! Five Imperial Physicians, along with ten carts of medicinal materials and food supplies, and numerous medical women and chief physicians!" the Imperial Physician said excitedly.

Fu Shinian’s long-standing tension finally eased slightly at this moment, "Thank goodness, with this, the situation in the city should improve significantly."

"Moreover, they brought a prescription along," the Imperial Physician added.

Fu Shinian’s eyes lit up, "Can it cure?"

"It’s unclear; I came over to inform you first," the Imperial Physician said, "Those five colleagues will come over shortly to examine the Marquis again."

"Yes, with collective efforts, there might be a better way." Fu Shinian remarked.

In the dream, Xiao Chengyu wasn’t here, so the epidemic in the city didn’t gain much attention.

But now, with Xiao Chengyu present, Emperor Jiawen could not allow anything to happen to him here; therefore, he placed increased emphasis, sending numerous people and resources over.

Perhaps the fate of the city of Ganning might differ from the dream.