AMLFS Chapter 15
by VolareChapter 15 Zhao Fangye… So Uncomfortable…
The next morning, Zhang Mama opened the door of the main courtyard’s bedroom but didn’t see Song Huaixi return.
She felt slightly relieved.
The bed was empty, and a smile appeared on Zhang Mama’s face.
It seemed to have worked.
Zhang Mama turned to call Chun Hua, who was busy in the courtyard, and said with a smile, “Go and inquire about the Prince’s courtyard to see if there’s any movement.”
After hearing this, Chun Hua nodded and turned to walk towards the courtyard gate, but unexpectedly bumped into Zhao Fangye carrying Song Huaixi.
“Your Highness!”
Chun Hua hurriedly bowed after seeing who it was, and then noticed that the person in his arms had a flushed face.
She anxiously asked, “Royal Consort? What’s wrong?”
“Get out of the way.”
Zhao Fangye carried the person with a cold expression and quickly walked into the room.
This morning when Zhao Fangye got up to go to court, he noticed that Song Huaixi’s face was flushed.
He reached out and touched his cheek, and it was very hot.
Last night, Song Huaixi ran over wearing only a thin coat. It was the middle of winter. And then he cried.
It was hard not to have a fever.
The doctor hurriedly rushed over to take his pulse, saying that he had caught a cold. Song Huaixi curled up in the blanket, constantly saying he was cold.
His foundation was not good to begin with, and he was afraid of the cold as soon as winter arrived. Now, with the fever, it was even more uncomfortable. He only felt his limbs were cold, and his whole body was freezing, but inside it was like a fire was roasting him.
The detached courtyard did not have a ground dragon, which Zhao Fangye could still tolerate. But it was more difficult for Song Huaixi.
Back in the main courtyard’s bedroom, the warmth in the room made him feel a lot better.
Song Huaixi curled up on the bed, delirious with fever. He kept calling Zhao Fangye’s name.
Everyone was busy around the bed. Zhao Fangye sat by the bed, looking down at the little fool calling his name unclearly.
Chun Hua was holding a wet towel, preparing to come over and wipe Song Huaixi’s sweat.
Zhao Fangye reached out to her.
Stunned for a moment, Chun Hua quickly handed the towel to him and retreated.
Zhao Fangye took the towel and personally wiped the sweat off his face, and carefully wiped the sweat on his neck after lifting his clothes.
His expression wasn’t good, knowing that the little fool wouldn’t have come up with last night’s events on his own.
He glanced at Zhang Mama standing beside him.
Zhao Fangye gave her only one warning: “I don’t want this to happen a second time.”
“Yes. Your Highness, please forgive me.”
As soon as Zhang Mama heard what he meant, she immediately knelt down to beg for forgiveness.
Zhang Mama’s heart sank as she saw his attitude, thinking that this time she had overplayed her hand. She looked at Song Huaixi on the bed and felt a little guilty.
“Get up.” Zhao Fangye didn’t say much.
On the bed, Song Huaixi was delirious with fever. He heard the faint voices coming from the bedside. He forced himself to open his eyes.
After seeing that the person in front of him was Zhao Fangye, he felt wronged.
So uncomfortable.
He frowned, calling Zhao Fangye’s name with teary eyes.
“Zhao Fangye… So uncomfortable…”
His voice was weak and without energy, without the usual liveliness. It made people’s hearts ache.
Song Huaixi had never suffered any grievances from childhood to adulthood until he entered the Prince’s mansion. The peaceful life changed. He had suffered more grievances in a few days than in the past decades at home.
Zhao Fangye gently wiped the sweat on his forehead with the towel.
He comforted, “It’s okay, you’ll feel better after a sleep.”
Listening to Zhao Fangye’s deep and gentle voice, Song Huaixi felt a little better. He stretched his hand out from the blanket and acted spoiled towards Zhao Fangye.
His voice was a little hoarse, “Hold…”
Staring at his fair palm, Zhao Fangye paused.
He did not respond immediately.
Sick people are always sensitive, unable to withstand any neglect. Especially Song Huaixi, who had been spoiled since childhood.
Seeing that he did not respond to his outstretched hand, his nose felt sour and he began to cry.
Tears fell like a broken string, one after another.
Zhao Fangye’s heart tugged as he watched, and he put his hand on top of his to hold it.
Song Huaixi’s hand was smaller than his, having been pampered since childhood. It was very different from his hand, which had thin calluses from years of leading troops.
One big and one small, one soft and one hard. The touch was very subtle.
With the temperature transmitted through the skin, Zhao Fangye’s gaze fell on their clasped hands, and a fleeting emotion flashed through his mind.
Zhang Mama, who was serving by the bed, watched Zhao Fangye’s actions and keenly sensed the subtle atmosphere between the two. She gave Chun Hua and Zhao Lu a look and walked out of the room.
Chun Hua stood outside the room, a little puzzled, “Mama, if we leave, who will take care of the Royal Consort? Won’t that be bad?”
Mama looked at her and smiled, “It’s okay, if he needs us, the Prince will tell us.”
Zhao Lu nodded in agreement.
Chun Hua was still young and couldn’t see through some things. Although Zhao Lu was quiet, she was very perceptive. She had also served by the Prince’s side for a while and could see some subtle changes.
Song Huaixi grabbed Zhao Fangye’s hand and felt inexplicably at ease.
He was unfamiliar with everything in the Prince’s mansion, and he wasn’t afraid when he saw Zhao Fangye.
He knew that as long as Zhao Fangye was there, he would be safe.
Zhao Fangye sat on the edge of the bed, holding his hand with one hand and patting the quilt lightly with the other, somewhat stiffly.
His expression wasn’t as cold and hard as usual. He revealed a rare bit of tenderness.
He had never comforted anyone before, but he was trying to. Unexpectedly, it was quite effective. Song Huaixi leaned his head close to him and fell asleep quietly.
Leaning on the headboard, Zhao Fangye looked at his slightly childish face. He recalled the firm eyes under the dim candlelight last night.
He was momentarily stunned.
For so many years, he had been alone. He felt that he had shallow ties with his relatives and didn’t care about the people and things around him. It was like a pool of stagnant water that could no longer be stirred.
However….
He couldn’t help but reach out and gently touch the face of the sleeping person beside him. His light-colored eyes were lowered with a hint of a smile.
Now, it was as if a colorful koi had fallen into the pool, dyeing a dusty heart with color.
Song Huaixi’s eyelashes fluttered lightly in his sleep, and he muttered in dissatisfaction. Zhao Fangye tried to pull his hand out, but it was tightly grabbed as soon as he exerted force.
Song Huaixi frowned slightly, looking like he was about to wake up.
Zhao Fangye glanced out the window, it was getting late. The morning court should have already begun. He retracted his gaze and gave up the idea of pulling his hand away.
He leaned against the headboard and closed his eyes for a nap. He also felt tired after all the tossing and turning last night.
When he opened his eyes again, Song Huaixi was already awake. He was lying quietly in his arms, staring blankly with his big eyes.
His fingers restlessly fiddled with his fingers.
“Awake?”
Zhao Fangye reached out and touched his forehead. The temperature had already gone down.
Looking out the window, it was already noon.
Zhao Fangye sent someone to bring the meal in.
Song Huaixi was clingy, grabbing him and not letting him leave. Zhao Fangye had no choice but to accompany him to eat by the bed.
While they were eating, Wang Bo suddenly came in with a flustered expression to report.
“Your Highness, an imperial decree has arrived from the palace.”
Zhao Fangye’s expression was as usual, knowing that he hadn’t gone to court today. The emperor would definitely seize this handle to make things difficult for him.
“Bring the person over.”
“Yes…”
Wang Bo glanced at Zhao Fangye sitting on the couch and hesitated.
It was disrespectful to the emperor to have the decree announced in the inner courtyard, but Zhao Fangye didn’t seem to care. The eunuch who was announcing the decree also didn’t expect him to be so presumptuous. He reluctantly walked to the inner courtyard to read the decree.
“By the Emperor’s decree, Zhao Fangye, Prince of the Ning district, is absent from court without reason. Disrespectful to the Emperor and extremely arrogant. He is fined a year’s salary and confined to the residence for one month as a warning to others. Respect this!”