Her eyes met with He Yu's who slowly opened his eyes.
"You..." Lingxi wanted to say.
"Your highness seems quite displeased that I survived", He Yu commented.
Lingxi who had just been panic stricken a moment was annoyed. She raised her hand to hit him but the pale look on his face made her stop halfway. She sighed and stood up to go but He Yu held her hand. She turned back, still annoyed. He turned to the side to face her properly.
"I have always been sick. I won't die all of a sudden", he said.
"That's good because I'm too young to be widow", Lingxi replied.
She stared at him for a while and her expression softened.
"Why didn't you answer when I called you the first time?"
"I was tired", He Yu answered.
He slowly sat up, "you can let go now".
Only then the Lingxi realize that after He Yu had stopped her, she had been the one holding his hand. She let it go, a bit embarrassed. She sat next to him and placed her hand on his forehead.
"You are still cold", she sighed and paused in thought for a while, "will your highness be willing to have another bath?" she asked.
He Yu looked into her eyes, "if I say no, will it make any difference?"
"No"
*****
He Yu stood at the corner of the bathroom with his hands folded as he watched Lingxi throw in different herbs into the pool of water. Some of which he could recognize, others which he couldn't which made him curious because he knew a thing or two about medicine.
Lingxi who was bent over as she spread the herbs in the water stood up and turned to him, "come here".
He Yu paused for a while before moving forward.
"Take off your clothes", she said.
"Hmm?" He Yu did not quite understand what she meant and Lingxi did not wait for him to.
She walked behind him and helped remove his outer robe, "you need to take off your clothes to soak in the herbal bath", she explained as she dropped his robe on the table next to the medicinal supplies.
She took off about three layers of his clothes which was made of light cotton but was quite heavy. She reached to take one more off but realized it was the last covering. She hesitated for a minute. He Yu noticed her hesitation and took it off himself. Before Lingxi could react, he had already entered the water.
"You....." Lingxi was embarrassed.
Fortunately for her, the steam of the water created a fog-like environment and they could not see each other clearly. She heaved a sigh of relief and a slight worry for He Yu but it was only for a moment.
"Does Your Highness want to stay and watch me?" He Yu asked.
Lingxi caught a glimpse of him. His eyes were close and he was leaning on the edge of the water. She became embarrassed again by his words.
"Why am I feeling embarrassed if he isn't? I have nothing to lose", she muttered to herself as she walked away.
[Wei City]
"Wenxiu", Mrs. Gu who waiting outside the prefecture called out as she saw him come out. Gu Wenxiu rushed up to her.
Checking her, he asked, "are you okay? Did they hit you hard? I'm sorry", he cried.
Mrs. Gu did not understand, "hit me? Why would they hit me? I thought they were hitting you"
"Huh?" Gu Wenxiu became confused.
He turned behind and saw Lv Chi who was holding an apple waving at him, "Lord Gu, goodbye. See you soon"
"Who wants to see you?" Gu Wenxiu muttered quietly.
He only wanted to live a peaceful life with his wife in Wei city. Who knew he would get caught up in a mess that didn't belong to him? He was only glad that he and his wife were still alive. What if they had become dispensable pawns in others dangerous games?
Looking at Lv Chi, he couldn't help but wonder where he learnt such a deceitful trick from. He sighed and helped his wife into the carriage. He followed and the carriage moved along the road. His only prayer was to never return there again.
Not too long after, Liu ying and He Rui returned.
"So, have you guys figured out anything?" Lv Chi said with a wide smile that was carrying a sense of victory.
"With your look, you must have discovered something important", Liu ying teased.
"Of course, with my talent there's nothing I can't do", Lv Chi praised himself.
"We found out that Lord Shen used Lord Gu to deliver some boxes to the three pharmacies, you?" Lu Qian said interrupting Lv Chi who wanted to say more.
Lv Chi turned to him feeling wronged, "that was supposed to be my line"
Lu Qian ignored him.
"We visited the three pharmacies today. They didn't reveal anything. It was as though they had already prepared what to say", Liu ying said.
"So what are you going to do next?" Lu Qian asked.
"I have sent an invitation to the three shop's owners. We will discuss more clearly then", He Rui said.
"Then the both of us will pay Lord Shen a visit", Lv Chi said.
"Be watchful. Lord Shen is the empress's brother. He is known for being sly and manipulative", He Rui reminded them.
"That's fine. It work on us", Lu Qian concluded.
The four exchanged a glance that finalized the next step of the investigation.
[Channing Palace]
Lingxi who was seated on her workspace was putting everything back in place smelled the refreshing scent of herbs and her gaze landed on He Yu who was walking into the bedroom slowly. His clothes were loose and flowing and his steps were light.
"Already done?" Lingxi asked.
"I don't like the smell", He Yu responded.
Lingxi looked up at the man who had been surrounded by different medicines and herbs while growing up. How did he suddenly not get used to the smell of herbs? Anyways, arguing with him was just like speaking to a rock so she did not press further. Instead, she stood up with a little bottle of oil in hand.
"Sit down", she said.
He Yu sat down obediently.
Lingxi stared at him for a while before bending down and reaching for his feet. He Yu instinctively shifted his feet before she could touch it.
"What are you doing?" he asked a bit surprised.
"I'm condescending to rub oil on your feet, can't you tell?" she said looking up at him with the same expression she had when she had wanted to hit him earlier.
"No need", He Yu responded wanting to lie down but Lingxi held his leg firmly, "stay still"
He Yu stifled a laugh, she was quite strong.
She poured the oil on He Yu's feet and gently rubbed it.
"This is my special homemade anti-cold oil. My mother used to make it and I upgraded the formula and it leaves a faint scent of plum blossom", she explained.
She went to get his socks and helped him wear it.
"My mother always said cold starts from the feet"
He Yu watched her for a while and then slowly leaned over and with a quiet voice asked, "which mother?"