Chapter 5

I was on duty the next morning. When you stayed awake all night, you became strangely lucid around dawn. Watching the sun rise, my heart pounded as if it might leap straight out of this world.

Then again, I had never belonged to this world, had I?

I tied the sachet to Prince Li’s waist.

He glanced at it. “A passable repair. Did you have that maid who embroiders… What was her name?”

“She used to be called Qingping. You later renamed her Ping’er. She stayed awake all night repairing it and is now feverish in her room.”

Prince Li flicked the tassel irritably. “With such a weak constitution, she truly was unworthy of her old name.”

After working all night, my mental state was hardly stable. I nearly punched him in the face. Fortunately, Nanny Wang spoke first.

“Your Highness, the girl is pitiful. We should show consideration to our servants, give her some silver, and send the household physician to examine her.”

Nanny Wang was the lunatic’s wet nurse and the only person in the residence who could occasionally keep his madness in check.

Prince Li waved a hand. “Make the arrangements.”

Nanny Wang was about to continue when he said, “I know you wish to protect my reputation. You don’t want others calling me brutal. But if I endure every insult, will my imperial brother stop fearing me?”

“Hah. I would rather follow my heart than wag my tail at him.”

Endure what, sir? Why was he acting like the victim now? So abusing servants was what his heart desired?

After seeing that inauspicious creature out, Nanny Wang mysteriously handed me a packet of medicine. I thought it was for Qingping and was about to thank her when she said, “Le Yao, decoct this medicine. We finally found the divine remedy prescribed by Miracle Doctor Zhao for His Highness.”

“You work efficiently, and this medicine is extremely troublesome. Ice must be used as the catalyst. The moment it melts halfway, fish it out. Alternate high and low heat on schedule, changing the flame five times during each incense stick’s worth of time, for a total of eight hours.”

My vision went black. I nearly dropped the packet.

“I know you’re excited too. Hold it steady. Once he takes this medicine, His Highness’s constitution will be fully restored. Then I can finally watch him marry and have children.” Nanny Wang smiled lovingly.

Why did this lunatic insist on being both an invincible God of War and a sickly beauty? Character archetypes were precious things. Hoarding too many only ruined the flavor!

“Nanny, the flower His Highness ordered me to raise still needs tending. Perhaps…”

Nanny Wang pursed her lips. “What matters more, his medicine or a gift for some young lady outside?”

“You and Ping’er are the two girls I watched grow up, and the two I trust most. Ping’er fell ill because she was loyal. And once His Highness recovers and takes a princess, you’ll still serve at his side. Then you’ll have a proper place in life…”

My scalp crawled. “Nanny, please stop! I’ll cook the medicine now!”

Me and Qingping.

Only the two of us remained. All the others were gone.

I raced back to our room. Qingping had indeed fallen ill from fright. The fever had dried the tear tracks on her face. She stared at me without speaking.

“It’s all right now,” I told her. “Everything’s all right. Go to sleep.”