MLIAM Chapter 30
by VolareChapter 30 Flattering You, Big Brother, wake up, it’s time for your medicine!
Yu Shuli had just left the Palace Gates, and the imperial physician was urgently summoned to the side hall of the Golden Luan Hall.
Yu Shuli saw several people hurrying by, knowing something was wrong, and quickly turned back. He happened to see a group of frazzled imperial physicians and the Emperor pacing at the entrance of the side hall.
Yu Shuli hid by the bamboo forest. Once the imperial physicians came out, the Emperor left reassured, and the crowd dispersed one by one, he then flipped in through the window.
The person on the bed had a deathly pale complexion. The rosy color that had initially appeared due to the fever had now completely vanished.
The room was filled with a strong medicinal smell. Having smelled it for so long, Yu Shuli could distinguish that the dosage of the medicine had been increased.
He frowned and walked to the bedside, sitting down next to Wei Yan. He leaned over, scrutinizing Wei Yan’s tightly furrowed brows and downturned lips.
After a long time, he sighed and felt Wei Yan’s forehead.
The imperial physicians had administered acupuncture and then fed him medicine. Now, Wei Yan’s fever had subsided, but he was still unconscious.
Yu Shuli sat by the bed, waiting for a while. Someone opened the door and came in.
Yu Shuli quickly jumped behind a cabinet. Seeing that it was Gonggong Li, he then walked out again.
“Gonggong Li? Why have you graced us with your presence here?”
Gonggong Li was startled when he saw him. He quickly closed the door and lowered his voice, “Little General, didn’t you leave? Why are you still here?”
Yu Shuli pointed to Wei Yan by the bed, “What’s wrong with him?”
Gonggong Li sighed and said, “The imperial physician said it was caused by extreme anger. Now that he’s vomited a mouthful of stagnant blood, it’s actually a good thing.” He raised the medicine pot he was holding in his hand, “This is the hemostatic and blood stasis dispelling medicine ordered by the imperial physician. This old servant personally brewed it and brought it here.”
Yu Shuli looked at the drowsy Wei Yan and couldn’t help but feel guilty.
He knew Wei Yan was in poor health, so why did he always make him angry? He should just let him have his way.
The regretful young general subconsciously reached out to take the medicine pot and repeatedly thanked Gonggong Li, “Thank you for your trouble, Gonggong.”
“Oh my, Little General, why bother with such formalities in front of this old servant? Just let this old servant do such rough work.” Gonggong Li took out the medicine bowl, poured a bowl, and looked at Yu Shuli, “How about, Little General, you hold Prime Minister Wei up? This old servant needs to feed him the medicine.”
Yu Shuli pursed his lips and agreed.
Wei Yan’s body was light as a feather. Yu Shuli easily picked him up.
Gonggong Li held the spoon, scooped up a spoonful of medicine, and brought it to Wei Yan’s lips, but found that it wouldn’t go in. He subconsciously looked at Yu Shuli for help.
“Why are you looking at me? Can’t you think of a solution yourself?” Yu Shuli’s cheeks flushed red, and he immediately thought of the mouth-to-mouth feeding method described in the storybooks.
But there was no way he would use that method.
Gonggong Li sighed, he could only hold his breath, bringing the spoonful of medicine closer and closer to his own mouth.
Yu Shuli’s expression changed, stopping his wrist, “What are you doing?!”
Gonggong Li looked at him resentfully, “If Prime Minister Wei and Little General hadn’t saved this old servant back then, this old servant wouldn’t be where he is today… Now that Little General is estranged from this old servant, this old servant can’t just ignore Prime Minister Wei.” He sighed, “What a good child… How did he ruin his body like this?”
Yu Shuli clicked his tongue and quickly stopped him, “Where did I become estranged from you?” He was afraid that Gonggong Li would kiss Wei Yan’s mouth, and if that cleanliness freak Wei Yan found out, he would definitely flip out.
Yu Shuli scratched his head irritably, “Forget it, I’ll do it.”
Gonggong Li coughed a few times with a red face. Hearing this, he handed the medicine bowl to Yu Shuli as if passing a hot potato, but he looked excited, as if he had planned this all along.
Yu Shuli glanced at him, “You go out.”
Gonggong Li showed a disappointed expression.
This old thing.
Yu Shuli’s face darkened, “Get out! Don’t tell me you want to watch?”
“This old servant is leaving…” Gonggong Li looked back several times with regret, and finally gave up observing under Yu Shuli’s glare.
Yu Shuli held the medicine bowl in one hand and supported Wei Yan with the other, not knowing where to start.
He sighed, rubbed his forehead against Wei Yan’s neck, “Big Brother, wake up, it’s time for your medicine!”
Mouth-to-mouth feeding was impossible, absolutely impossible.
Fortunately, Wei Yan groaned, seeming to have some consciousness.
He moaned painfully and opened his eyes slightly, then closed them wearily.
“Ji… An?” His voice was low and hoarse.
“Mm.” Yu Shuli’s heart skipped a beat. He held up the medicine bowl as if trying to hide something, “Gonggong Li couldn’t feed you the medicine, so he asked me to help.”
Wei Yan “Oh”-ed and buried his head in his shoulder, obediently saying, “You feed me.”
Yu Shuli scooped up the medicine and carefully fed it to Wei Yan’s lips, as if facing a formidable enemy.
Wei Yan opened his mouth and swallowed it in small sips, without changing his expression.
Occasionally, one or two drops would fall onto his lips, and Wei Yan would stick out his tongue and lick them away.
Seeing this, Yu Shuli was stunned for a moment, his Adam’s apple bobbed, and his hand trembled, spilling some medicine on his hand.
Wei Yan lowered his head and licked all the medicine from his hand, drop by drop.
Yu Shuli held the medicine bowl and couldn’t move, but he observed his every move. When his fingertip was licked by his tongue, he couldn’t help but feel a bit shocked and inexplicably palpitated.
Only the hot and moist sensation remained on his hand, and his heartbeat was like thunder.
“Can’t waste the medicine…” Seeing his confusion, Wei Yan explained with a smile, “You don’t mind, do you?”
This sickly beautiful face was truly stunning when he smiled. Yu Shuli felt a stuffy feeling in his heart, unable to speak it out or get rid of it. “I don’t mind,” he replied softly.
“That’s good.” Wei Yan seemed to have forgotten the cold war between him and Yu Shuli. After Yu Shuli finished feeding him the medicine, he considerately took the medicine bowl from his hand, placed it on the bedside table, and then took a handkerchief to carefully wipe Yu Shuli’s hand.
Wei Yan wiped each of the places he had licked, carefully and gently.
Yu Shuli uncomfortably withdrew his hand, “What are you doing?”
“Can’t you tell?” Wei Yan said, “I’m trying to please you…”
Yu Shuli was speechless, “What?”
“I was wrong before…”
Hearing this, Yu Shuli’s expression turned cold, interrupting him, “Wei Yan, I’m not playing house with you. Don’t expect me to just let things go after you slap me and then give me a date.”
“Mm.” Wei Yan nodded, “Then I’ll pursue you again, until you’re satisfied with me.”
“No need, His Majesty already said the engagement is cancelled.”
A shadow crossed Wei Yan’s eyes, “I was just saying those things in anger…”
“Mm, I know.” Yu Shuli said seriously, “But I wasn’t saying those things in anger.”
Seeing Wei Yan’s face instantly turn pale, he explained, “Because of my amnesia, there are many things I don’t remember and can’t reconcile. My memory stopped three years ago, but in reality, many things have changed in these three years, not just you and me. I don’t want to get married hastily in this situation.”
Wei Yan nodded, “We can get engaged first.”
“Wei Yan, I know you probably like me.” Yu Shuli said, “But I don’t really understand my own heart yet. Can you give me some time? Let me think it through.”
Wei Yan was a little flustered, “How long… will it take?”
Yu Shuli thought for a moment and said, “I’m going to go on an expedition soon. Can it be when I come back from the expedition?”
Wei Yan was silent.
Yu Shuli asked again, “Can it be?”
Wei Yan had no choice and didn’t dare to make Yu Shuli angry again.
After a long time, he finally mumbled, “Mm.”
*
The absurd engagement between the young General Yu and Prime Minister Wei was finally called off.
Discussions arose constantly within and outside the court. Even among the common people, gossip about the two of them spread, mostly saying that one of them loved but could not have the other because the other wanted to continue the family line and was unwilling to go against the conventions of the world.
Yu Shuli finished inspecting the troops at the training ground and went to visit Wei Yan at the Prime Minister’s Residence after getting off duty.
The relationship between the two hadn’t changed much due to the outside rumors, but the intimate gestures that had once been present between them had completely disappeared. Now, the two of them were like true brothers. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they treated each other with the utmost respect.
“Little General is here!” Chu Kai ran over, skillfully welcoming Yu Shuli into the house, “Today, the palace sent Suzhou hairy crabs. The Prime Minister was just about to send two to the Little General’s Residence.”
Yu Shuli wasn’t without these crabs. He knew that a high-ranking official was only allocated three or two to taste. Wei Yan was even giving him three or two, leaving himself with none.
Yu Shuli waved his hand at Chu Kai, “Tell them not to send them. Let him keep them for himself.”
“I can’t eat cold and fishy things. My grandmother is a Buddhist and has been vegetarian for a long time. My mother can’t eat them all by herself either. Why not give them all to you?” Wei Yan walked out from behind, speaking slowly.
Yu Shuli thought about it and nodded.
“This season isn’t really the season for hairy crabs. The crabs from Suzhou are frozen along the way and then transported over, making them even colder. You should also be restrained in eating them and not overindulge,” Wei Yan said, bending his eyes when he agreed. Afraid that he would eat too much, he earnestly persuaded him.
“Understood,” Yu Shuli followed him into the courtyard.
Wei Yan had lit the Silver Filigree Charcoal early, and the room was as warm as spring.
“When do you plan to go on the expedition?” He poured a cup of hot tea for Yu Shuli and turned to look at him.
Yu Shuli took the tea and sipped it, “The day after tomorrow.”
“So soon?”
“Mm. If this battle goes smoothly, Xizhao won’t dare to invade again for ten years.” Yu Shuli pursed his lips, “Also…” Yu Shuli hesitated, not knowing whether to tell Wei Yan.
Also, the military seal.
The Emperor was getting older and more muddleheaded day by day. He had to be ready to help the Second Prince ascend the throne at any time.
Although Wei Yan was not said to be a member of The Crown Prince Party, he had never made his attitude clear.
Yu Shuli didn’t know whether to gamble on him standing on his side.
But there was also the Third Prince…
The Third Prince spent his days idly, seemingly the least likely candidate for the position of Crown Prince. But the Second Prince had said that he was the one who should be feared the most.
This person hid behind the power struggles, ten times more treacherous than the Crown Prince.
What if… What if Wei Yan was with the Third Prince… The consequences would be unimaginable.
“You don’t have to say it.” Wei Yan smiled, “I understand, you don’t have to say it.”
Yu Shuli breathed a sigh of relief.
That was the benefit of dealing with smart people. He understood everything without him having to explain it himself.
“Yu Ji’an, remember, no matter what happens, I’m only on your side. Go to the front line with peace of mind. I will guard the Capital for you and wait for you to return.”
Wei Yan’s promise was worth more than a thousand gold pieces.
What he meant was that even if there was a palace coup, he would help him protect his parents and loved ones.
This sentence was far more meaningful than any pledge of love.
“Wei Yan, I don’t have any blood brothers. I’ve always considered you a good brother,” Yu Shuli said.
A shadow crossed Wei Yan’s eyes. He was about to say something, but he saw a lot of confusion on Yu Shuli’s face.
“Wait a little longer, and I’ll give you an answer.” Also… give myself an answer.