Chapter 29: Nowhere to Be Found

The female physician sighed inwardly, feeling burdened by the fact that she had caught the Crown Prince’s attention. He summoned her constantly, and she dared not refuse, prioritizing the Eastern Palace above all else.

She arrived in a hurry, as she had several times before. Shen Quanyi knew that this woman was the only female physician in the Imperial Medical Bureau, tasked with attending to the ladies of the harem when their ailments were too delicate for the male physicians to examine.

She was indeed kept very busy.

After lifting the curtain and entering, the physician stole a cautious glance at Li Qian, who sat by the bedside, his expression grim and his brows furrowed with worry.

In truth, Li Qian was feeling nothing but regret; had he known, he would not have been so reckless the night before.

Seeing the physician's movements, Shen Quanyi reached out and secretly pinched Li Qian’s hand. Li Qian snapped out of his reverie and composed himself. Shen Quanyi turned her head, offering an apologetic smile. "I have troubled you so much these past few days; I am truly uneasy."

The physician waved her hands, gradually feeling more at ease, and let out a soft, silent breath before beginning to examine the injuries on Shen Quanyi's back and hips.

Having spent nearly half a month lying prone, the bruising on Shen Quanyi’s skin had begun to fade, and the scabs had largely fallen away, revealing fresh, fair skin beneath.

However, she had likely strained herself the previous day. It was not serious, but with a few days of proper rest, she would recover completely.

The physician spoke quietly of her condition, and Li Qian nodded, his heart finally put at ease.

Previously, whenever it was time for dressing changes or massages, Shen Quanyi would be in great pain, but, feeling embarrassed, she would simply grit her teeth and endure it in silence.

Li Qian, sitting by the bedside, saw Shen Quanyi hanging her head, her fingers tightly clutching the silk quilt, and realized she was deliberately holding back her pain.

"You have suffered."

As he spoke, Li Qian ignored the physician’s presence and leaned down to kiss her forehead. The gesture made Shen Quanyi’s face flush with shyness, and she couldn't help but reach out to push him away.

Qiuyue entered with a basin, but through the purple sandalwood screen carved with plum blossoms, she saw the faint, swaying silhouettes of the two inside. Daring not to intrude, she stood with lowered eyes.

After waiting at the door for a while, she heard Shen Quanyi speak and only then bowed her way into the inner chamber.

***

Having left behind several prescriptions, the physician took her leave, and the medicinal formulas were sent off to be prepared.

Qiuyue knelt by the bedside, helping Shen Quanyi wipe her body with warm water and dress in fresh, clean clothes.

After the massage, Shen Quanyi felt much better. She rose from the couch, and Li Qian brought her a cup of tea. She waved for Qiuyue to withdraw and asked in a gentle voice, "How are you feeling?"

Shen Quanyi took a few sips of tea from his hand, catching her breath. Seeing Li Qian's concerned expression, her heart warmed. She reached out to touch his face, only to find it burning hot.

Li Qian’s fair skin was flushed with an unnatural crimson, and his eyes were swollen. Shen Quanyi felt a pang of distress. "You spend all your time worrying about me, yet you don't even know when you are unwell yourself."

As she spoke, Li Qian finally felt a chill run through him, followed by a wave of heat. His nose felt congested, and his throat tickled. He couldn't help but cough, but remembering Shen Quanyi was nearby, he covered his mouth and turned away.

"My body does feel a bit off. Stay away from me—you’ve only just recovered; don't let my illness infect you again."

Li Qian frowned, feeling quite miserable now. Rubbing his aching, bloodshot eyes, he called for someone to fetch a physician from the estate.

Shen Quanyi remembered that when Li Qian returned yesterday, his clothes had been soaked by the snow; he must have caught a chill then. Seeing him in such discomfort yet still worrying about her, her heart softened. She stood up, lowered the window curtains, and sat down, clinging to his arm. Li Qian, feeling feverish and wanting to avoid spreading his illness, tried to pull away and lean back, but Shen Quanyi paid no mind and sat right beside him.

She poured a cup of hot tea and offered it to him, then pressed her forehead against his. It was even hotter than before. Anxious, she stood up and headed for the door.

Li Qian watched her but said nothing. Standing at the entrance of the main room, Shen Quanyi called through the thick cotton curtain for Qiuyue to bring hot water, only to catch sight of Zhang Desheng waiting to the side.

She opened her mouth to speak, but ultimately said nothing and turned back to the inner chamber.

A thin sheen of cold sweat had broken out on Li Qian's forehead, and Shen Quanyi used a handkerchief to wipe it away.

"It’s alright. You haven't fully recovered yet. There are servants for these tasks; you should sit down."

Shen Quanyi sat beside Li Qian, holding hand warmers in her lap. Li Qian, drifting in and out of consciousness, leaned against her, shivering and burning by turns. Worried, Shen Quanyi ordered more braziers to be brought in.

She then had Qiuyue bring a thick, potent ginger soup from the small kitchen and personally served it to him. Li Qian frowned and sneezed several times, but he felt a bit more relieved afterward.

***

Shen Quanyi collected the teacup Li Qian had finished. She bowed her head, her thick, long lashes casting shadows beneath her eyes. With her hair flowing loose over her shoulders and the steam rising from the teapot beside her, her face appeared all the more gentle.

Despite the pallor of illness, Li Qian still smiled and beckoned to her. "The New Year is approaching. Is there anything you want? We must return before the year ends."

Shen Quanyi nestled obediently in his arms, her hands tightly clutching his waist. She squeezed her sore eyes shut and said softly, "I want nothing, Your Highness. As long as I can be by your side, I am content."

Seeing such a lovely woman, entirely devoted to him, asking for nothing, Li Qian felt his affection for her swell. He kissed her forehead and slowly stroked her hair. "You are such a fool. If others heard me say such things, they would be begging for all sorts of precious treasures."

"No matter how fine or rare an object is, it cannot compare to you. I only wish to remain by your side."

Shen Quanyi buried her face in Li Qian's chest. Her eyes were clouded with deep concern, but she kept it out of her voice, speaking in a muffled tone.

Li Qian was even more satisfied.

Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the corridor outside, followed by a commotion. Li Qian, already feeling unwell, was deeply annoyed. He shouted a reprimand, and a young eunuch—the one he had sent to find a physician—scurried into the room.

The young eunuch knelt, trembling, and said in a shaky voice, "This servant is incompetent... I could not find any physicians."

Li Qian’s expression darkened instantly. His throat felt parched; he coughed into his hand and then slammed his palm onto the table, glaring coldly at the eunuch.

Zhang Desheng, who was waiting nearby, was struck with terror. He hurriedly knelt and turned to scold the young eunuch harshly. "You cannot even handle a small task, yet you dare to disturb His Highness! Get out and accept your punishment!"

The young eunuch was dazed for a moment before Zhang Desheng’s words snapped him back to reality. Realizing this was a plea for mercy, he immediately kowtowed in gratitude and scrambled out to receive his punishment.