LF Chapter 32

Chapter 32: Bedridden

Since Yan Wanzhi was representing the court on this visit, Jiang Yinghua naturally gave her full respect. As a result, the Zhenwei Army camp that day was filled with joyous singing and dancing over food and wine.

Jiang Yinghua was truly delighted that Yan Wanzhi had come. Having her here was better than anyone else from the court, who would have been heartless and emotionless.

Regarding the events of two years ago, even if Jiang Yinghua vaguely suspected that her actions in the Northern Territory might not have been revealed by Yan Wanzhi, she preferred to deceive herself in this way, rather than accept the Emperor’s suspicious and malicious true nature.

Amidst the clinking of cups, Yan Wanzhi, unable to hold her liquor, was already feeling drowsy. The large bowls of strong liquor in the military camp were simply too much for her.

Seeing this, Jiang Yinghua rose from her seat and walked up to her, waving her sleeve and saying, “Wanzhi, now that you’ve had your fill, how about returning to the manor with me?”

Yan Wanzhi raised her face, flushed with a rosy hue, and her gaze towards Jiang Yinghua was blurred with a mesmerizing charm. She murmured, “I’ll obey Your Highness in all things…”

As soon as she finished speaking, she struggled to get up, but her steps were exceptionally unsteady and swaying. After taking five or six steps, she was almost still turning in place.

Jiang Yinghua’s alcohol tolerance had been increasing year by year. Now, she felt like she couldn’t get drunk anymore. Seeing Yan Wanzhi’s wandering appearance, she couldn’t help but smile, beckoning a follower and saying, “Carefully carry Scholar Yan back to the manor for me.”

The people in the Zhenwei Army feared Jiang Yinghua like venomous snakes and tigers. Since she had arrived here two years ago, she had been unpredictable. They were used to her smiling happily one moment and then suddenly becoming murderous the next. Therefore, even though Jiang Yinghua’s instructions seemed cheerful, no one could guess her true intentions.

In the Zhenwei Army camp, Jiang Yinghua was secretly called the Female Rakshasa.

However, she inexplicably made them admire her. She was a person of flesh and blood, and she had done many chivalrous and righteous deeds.

They just treated her as a two-faced person and followed her instructions, and that would never be a mistake.

Jiang Yinghua had wanted to take advantage of Yan Wanzhi’s drunken stupor to extract some information on the way back to the manor. Yan Wanzhi’s poor alcohol tolerance was somewhat disappointing to her.

The people in the manor had received the news at noon and had prepared a residence for Yan Wanzhi to stay in. A group of soldiers carried her back, and servants led her into the inner courtyard’s boudoir.

Jiang Yinghua rode her horse back to the manor. Although she left later, she arrived sooner than them. She stood under the gallery and watched as Yan Wanzhi entered the room. Seeing the servant attending to her, helping her settle down to sleep, and extinguishing the candlelight, she turned and entered the main hall.

Jiang Yinghua coughed lightly, and a black shadow flashed out of the hall, bowed respectfully, and remained silent.

“Keep an eye on Yan Wanzhi’s movements. See if he makes any small moves, and who in the manor he contacts,” Jiang Yinghua instructed in a low voice.

The person bowed again, flashed through the window, and disappeared into the night.

That night, Jiang Yinghua, as usual, waited until everyone in the manor had gone to sleep before sitting at her desk, organizing the day’s official documents, reports, and secret intelligence. With a solemn expression, she wielded her brush and ink.

By the time she finished her official duties, it was already late at night. In the cold winter months, it was snowing again.

This year’s snow was particularly heavy, and this winter was particularly cold.

In the past, Jiang Yinghua had been most annoyed by the severe cold of deep winter, finding it unbearable. But she had been born in winter and felt a natural affinity for the refreshing and aloof joy.

Thinking of Yan Wanzhi’s plans mentioned during the day, a few struggles flashed in Jiang Yinghua’s eyes.

It was going to be the third year. With the Lunar New Year approaching, she felt a yearning for liveliness and missed the taste of dumplings made by the imperial chefs in the palace.

Standing in front of the window, she suddenly shook her head, raised her hand and rubbed her aching temples, her expression hardened, and she stepped forward, opening all the windows in the bedroom.

Instantly, bone-chilling coldness rushed into the room in the whistling west wind, carrying with it scattered snowflakes, assaulting her face.

Snowflakes fell on Jiang Yinghua’s neck and collar, melting with the warmth of her body, and cool water droplets dripped down. A captivating smile bloomed on Jiang Yinghua’s face.

She sat casually on the floor under the window, abandoning her usual noble demeanor, and unknowingly fell asleep in a daze. When she woke up again, it was already dawn, and the sky was about to brighten.

Unnoticed, Jiang Yinghua peeked out. The manor was still quiet, and the snow-covered ground was smooth and untouched, with no one having gotten up or approached.

She quickly closed the windows, thoroughly sealing the temple again, then took off her clothes and lay down on the bed.

As the sun’s rays streamed over the eastern horizon, the manor also became busy. People came and went, walking briskly, but no one dared to make any inappropriate noises, wishing that all communication could be done with just a glance.

The master of this manor usually slept until late in the morning.

Yesterday, Yan Wanzhi had drunk heavily, and his head was dizzy. When he woke up, it was almost Chen time. He was shocked and scrambled up, throwing on his official robes and rushing out the door.

Just as his hand touched the door, he saw a group of maids and servants waiting outside, “Sir, you’re up. We’re here to help you wash and change.”

Yan Wanzhi was not used to such a formation. For many years, he had never allowed anyone to serve him closely, “No need to trouble yourselves, I can do it myself. Is Your Highness in the manor?”

“Sir, Your Highness is probably not up yet,” the little maid replied very naturally.

The panic on Yan Wanzhi’s face vanished, replaced by an incredulous expression. He sighed inwardly, “Does she sleep this much? It’s really a case of being far from the Emperor and having no one to control her.”

Yesterday, he had vaguely felt that Jiang Yinghua seemed to have changed. Something was strange, but he couldn’t put his finger on it.

Now, seeing and hearing this, Yan Wanzhi finally understood why the wording in the observation reports delivered to the Emperor by the secret agency was so bleak; why His Majesty had painstakingly made him her Long history. If this person continued to be so wild, she would have to be abolished.

Yan Wanzhi waved away the servants and wandered around the Prince Zhao Manor. The Northern Territory was extremely cold, and good weather was rare throughout the year, but Jiang Yinghua’s residence here was much more luxurious than the already vacant Prince Zhao Manor in the capital.

The landscape of the Prince Zhao Manor’s gardens was clearly crafted with great effort, with attention to detail everywhere. Even the stones seemed to have been carefully selected and transported from Jiangnan.

Not to mention the rare and exotic flowers and trees throughout the garden. Even in the cold winter months, one could move and change the scenery, with its own unique charm. One could imagine how much material and financial resources were spent on the daily repairs and maintenance of this garden.

Was she so concerned about these external pleasures? Yan Wanzhi believed that he had some understanding of Jiang Yinghua, and he didn’t think she was this kind of person.

After strolling leisurely for a while, it was almost noon. Yan Wanzhi reckoned that even if she were lazy, she must have gotten up by now, otherwise, she would miss the time for lunch.

He deliberately quickened his pace and walked towards the main hall in front, following the stone path into the cloisters, and after going around and around, he entered the veranda, only to see a row of maids lined up on both sides, holding washing utensils and waiting at the door.

“What’s going on? Has Your Highness not gotten up yet?” Yan Wanzhi stepped forward, stopped in front of a maid at the head, and asked in a low voice.

“Yes,” the little maid responded softly.

“Is it always like this?” Yan Wanzhi was even more puzzled.

“No, we’ve been waiting for a long time today, but Your Highness hasn’t said anything, and we don’t dare to go in,” the leading maid said somewhat helplessly.

Yan Wanzhi put his ear to the door, but there was no sound inside. Was this person really able to sleep so much?

“Where is the manor’s housekeeper or Your Highness’s personal female historian?” Yan Wanzhi was somewhat worried.

“Sir, I am, there is no housekeeper in the manor,” it was still the little maid from before.

“Go in and take a look,” Yan Wanzhi instructed, looking at her.

The little maid looked up in surprise, then lowered her head tremblingly and shook it, “I dare not, please don’t make things difficult for me, sir.”

Yan Wanzhi was extremely puzzled. In his understanding, Jiang Yinghua occasionally made trouble, but she was not completely unreasonable. She had treated the previous servants in the manor well, but here, it seemed like everyone feared serving her as if they were serving the King of Hell.

Yan Wanzhi thought for a moment, thinking that Jiang Yinghua would give him some face. He had wanted to push the door open and enter, but ultimately, due to his official uniform, he was considered an outsider here, and if others saw him, it would be detrimental to Jiang Yinghua’s reputation. So, he instead reached out and knocked on the door.

Yan Wanzhi had even prepared himself to be woken up and be subjected to a round of her sarcastic remarks. However, the room was eerily quiet.

Yan Wanzhi deepened his strength again and knocked on the door again, “Your Highness, it’s getting late, would you like to get up? I have something to ask to see you.”

Having said that, all the little maids stared at the movements inside the door in fear and trepidation. Everyone waited for a long time, but still, there was no sound.

“Are you sure Your Highness hasn’t gone out?” Yan Wanzhi found it very strange.

“That should be the case,” the little maid was very certain.

With a turn of his gaze, Yan Wanzhi’s expression became somewhat grave, “Open the door and go in, I’ll take responsibility if anything happens, and the blame won’t fall on your heads.”

Hearing this person speak, the maids, who were already doubtful, plucked up their courage, gently opened the door, stepped into the hall, and walked towards Jiang Yinghua’s bed.

Behind the screen, inside the curtain, Jiang Yinghua was lying quietly in the soft brocade quilt, seemingly sleeping soundly.

The little maid stepped forward, bent down, and in a trembling voice softly called out, “Your Highness, Your Highness…”

Jiang Yinghua’s eyes under her eyelids turned, and her brows furrowed slightly, as if she was uncomfortable. At this time, the maid realized that Jiang Yinghua’s complexion was a bit unnaturally flushed.

She reached out, tentatively approaching, and just as her hand landed above her cheek, she vaguely felt that today, this person’s breath was somewhat abnormally hot.

She went out in a panic, just in time to see Yan Wanzhi had already ordered someone to call the steward, and the two were talking in a low voice.

Seeing someone come out, but without Jiang Yinghua’s shadow, Yan Wanzhi asked, “How is it? Is Your Highness awake?”

“Sir, Steward, Your Highness is not quite right, she seems to have a fever. I tried calling her, but couldn’t wake her,” the little maid said in a panic.

Upon hearing this, the tail end of Yan Wanzhi’s sword eyebrows rose, his expression suddenly becoming grave. He turned his head and asked the steward, “Is there a doctor in the manor? Go and fetch one.”

Upon hearing this, the steward immediately replied, “Yes, yes, yes,” and without finishing his sentence, he hurried away, quickly disappearing in a small run.

Yan Wanzhi disregarded the rules and etiquette, waved his hand, took a group of servants, and went straight into the room. Walking to the front of the screen, he could vaguely see Jiang Yinghua on the bed. With just one glance, his mind calmed down a bit. He pulled a chair and sat down in the outer room, instructing the maids to call her and to bring cold water.

Before long, the doctor was led into the hall. At this time, Jiang Yinghua had already been tidied up by the maids, although she was still confused.

After about a quarter of an hour, the doctor came out from the inner room, his face somewhat grave.

Yan Wanzhi hurried forward to meet him, “Doctor, how is Your Highness?”

The doctor cupped his hands towards him, “It seems that she was infected by evil wind and caught a cold. Please allow this old one to prescribe a prescription, we must reduce the high fever as soon as possible before we can think about anything else.”

Yan Wanzhi asked without concealing his worry, “Is the illness serious? How long will it take to get better?”

“The pulse is weak and floating, and she has contracted such a severe cold in the dead of winter. Moreover, Your Highness is a person with a cold constitution, so the medication must be especially cautious. This illness will probably require half a month of recuperation,” the doctor slowly explained while considering the prescription.

“Half a month? Then this year, Your Highness will not be able to return to the capital to reunite with her family,” Yan Wanzhi muttered to himself, looking at the snow-covered courtyard with some regret.