He gently withdrew his hand from her grip.
He set the bow down, "practice some more. When you are perfect, you may challenge me", he said.
Lingxi did not seem to hear him.
"Your highness?" He Yu called.
Instead of answering, Lingxi instinctively raised her hand to touch He Yu's forehead. She expected it to be hot so as to confirm he had a fever but his forehead was just as cold as his hand.
"Your highness, are you cold?" she asked.
He Yu held her hand and brought it down gently, "the weather is cold", he answered.
Lingxi was half-believing half-doubting.
"All right. I'm tired, I'll go rest", he said and smiled before leaving.
Lingxi watched his back as it slowly disappeared. When he was out of sight, she touched her forehead to feel her temperature. It was warm and her hands were also warm.
[Wei City]
"Actually we don't have such medicine here", Ming yuan denied.
Liu ying looked worried, "you don't. You just said you had everything. What am I going to do?"
"Miss, there is no need to worry. Our Hall of Everlasting Harmony isn't the only reputable one here. By our sides, you will find the Hall of Benevolent Healing and Hall of Hundred Herbs. Their reputation is no less than ours", he said.
"Do you think they'll have it?"
"That would depend on your luck"
Liu ying sighed, "thank you", she turned to He Rui, "Brother, let's go"
He Rui dropped the herb bag he was holding and followed her out.
Once outside, Liu ying spoke first, "there was hesitation in his voice. He must know more than he says"
"Or maybe he is just confused", He Rui said.
Liu ying rolled her eyes when He Rui was not looking.
"Let's go to the next pharmacy", he said directing his gaze at the Hall of a Hundred Herbs which was by the right but Liu ying went to the left hall.
He Rui watched her leave and on a second thought, followed her.
[Evening]
Gu Wenxiu struggled as he tried to free himself from the ropes tightening his arms and legs. He had been tied to a cross pole.
"Official Lu, I agreed to come with you. Why did you choose to tie me up?"
Lu Qian did not answer.
"That is because people tend to tell the truth when they realize they have no way out", Lv Chi responded.
"But I already told you what I know".
"Lord Lu, I will ask you this once, why did you visit Green Willow Pharmacy, Lotus Heart Pharmacy and Spring Herb Pavilion and within specific hours?" Lu Qian asked.
"I told you - I went to purchase medicine for my mother", Gu Wenxiu answered desperately but Lv Chi who was eating a peach shouted, "he lied!"
Immediately, the sound of a whip was heard followed by a loud cry.
Gu Wenxiu was petrified, "who..... who is that?"
"I forget to tell you. For every false statement you make, Mrs. Gu will have to bear the punishment for you", Lu Qian answered with a face full of indifference.
Gu Wenxiu's eyes widened, "let her go! Let her go!"
"I never knew the rumors of your love were true. Relax, as long as you tell the truth, Mrs. Gu will be just fine. Isn't that right, brother Lu?" Lv Chi asked looking at Lu Qian who was standing while he was sitting.
Lu Qian nodded.
"The use of torture is prohibited. You are breaking the law", Gu Wenxiu screamed.
"Lord Gu, why are you excited? His Majesty ordered us to solve the case as soon as possible with any means possible. Don't worry, it's completely legal", he paused before he continued, "Brother Lu isn't gracious enough to ask you twice but I am. Why did you visit Green Willow Pharmacy, Lotus Heart Pharmacy and Spring Herb Pavilion and that too, within specific hours?"
Gu Wenxiu did not answer.
Lu Qian and Lv Chi turned to look at each other and Lv Chi's voice rang out again, "he doesn't want to talk!"
Another slashing sound was heard again that was followed by a louder cry. That seemed to tear Gu Wenxiu's last straw of resistance.
"I'll talk! I'll talk", he shouted.
There was a short pause as he breathed a tired sigh, "I was indeed going to visit my sick mother and had brought some medicine along but before I left, Shen Cheng'an visited me"
Lv Chi and Lu Qian exchanged glances. Shen Cheng'an was the deputy magistrate of Wei City.
"He gave me some items in a sealed box and asked me to deliver them to those three pharmacies at the hours of Wu, Shen and Xu"
"What were in those boxes?" Lu Qian asked.
"I don't know"
Lv Chi stared at him for a long time and was about to say something while facing the direction of the wall where the whipping was taking place when Gu Wenxiu interrupted with a desperate shout, "I don't know! I really don't know!"
There was another pause and Lv Chi turned to Lu Qian who was still staring at Gu Wenxiu.
"What do you think?"
Lu Qian thought for a while before answering, "he doesn't seem to be lying"
Gu Wenxiu heaved a sigh of relief, "then, can you let my wife and I go?"
Lu Qian turned to Lv Chi, "do you think we should let him go?"
Lv Chi thought for a while as well before responding.
Gu Wenxiu fixed his pleading gaze at him like his life depended on it. Lv Chi lifted up his head to see his look and slowly turned to Lu Qian, "that shouldn't be a problem, should it?"
Lu Qian turned to the two guards at the door, "release him"
[Channing Palace]
Lingxi walked into the room to see He Yu lying still on the bed. He had changed into another robe.
She went to bathe but as she bathed, her nose caught a faint scent of blood and she became uncomfortable.
She left the water, changed her clothes and traced the smell. It was by the edge of the door where He Yu's clothes were kept. She touched and brought it close to her nose to confirm the smell. It was indeed blood. She also found his previous clothes and smelt sweat.
In all the time she had known He Yu, he was never sweaty, how was that possible?
She recalled He Yu's very cold hands.
Looking at the clothes and blood, she deduced what had happened. He must have bathed and changed his clothes. While dropping his previous outfit, he must had felt weak and leaned by the door frame. His palms must had become sweaty while holding his previous clothes and dropped on the floor. While trying to regain himself, he must have vomited blood.
Knowing He Yu, he would never leave things unorganized as he was extremely clean so that was the only theory she could come up with.
She rushed outside into the room and found He Yu in the same position as before.
"Your Highness", she called.
She called him again but there was no response. He Yu had always slept lightly which increased her suspicion.
She started shaking him frantically, "your highness!"
There was still no response. She paused not believing what her mind was telling her.
Slowly, she reached her finger under his nose to check his breathing but a voice stopped her halfway, "I am not dead yet".