(BL CHINESE) IAASFIAT

Chapter 1

The Profligate Prince

This was Xiao Shan's only thought as he opened his eyes. The sobbing, like needles, relentlessly pierced his brain, an unbearable torment for someone whose head was already muddled from illness.

However, when he saw who was crying, his intended words of "stop wailing" got stuck in his throat.

Because the person crying as if he had died was none other than his mother, Gu Rulan, the current Consort Lan.

Gu Rulan was beautiful but weak-willed. When faced with difficulties, she did nothing but cry, having no other opinions or solutions. If it weren't for the fact that the Empress Dowager was her aunt and the Empress her first cousin, she wouldn't have survived long with such a personality, let alone given birth to a child and been conferred the title of consort.

It was no different now. When Xiao Shan had his eyes closed, she cried softly. When he opened his eyes, she grasped his hand and began to wail loudly, all the while saying, "My poor child..."

Xiao Shan already felt unwell, his head a bit dizzy, and his body sticky with cold sweat. Her loud wailing made his head feel like it was about to explode.

Fortunately, although Gu Rulan was muddle-headed and indecisive, her chief maid, Cui Shu, was still clear-headed.

Seeing that Xiao Shan's expression was not good, Cui Shu quickly stepped forward to support Gu Rulan, gently and softly advising, "Your Highness, the prince has just woken up. Perhaps it would be better to wait until he has taken his medicine before speaking further."

She didn't voice the critical point: in this palace, their Jinglan Hall was like a sieve, leaking information everywhere. If her mistress's crying reached the ears of others, it could easily incur the displeasure of the Emperor and Empress, which would be a significant loss.

Only then did Gu Rulan remember that Xiao Shan was still ill. She hurriedly stood up, her tear-streaked face filled with anxiety. "Yes, he's still sick. Quickly, quickly, bring the medicine for the prince to drink."

Xiao Shan: "..." It wasn't that he wanted to overthink it, but he couldn't help feeling that this sounded eerily similar to the phrase "Da Lang, get up and drink your medicine," which gave him a bit of a chill.

Cui Shu personally went to the outer room to bring the prepared medicine.

He was the most impatient with drinking these concoctions. What used to be resolved with a single pill now required a large bowl of dark, bitter liquid. However, when he met Gu Rulan's tear-filled eyes, he steeled himself and drank the medicine in one go. Compared to drinking the medicine, he found Gu Rulan's crying even more unbearable.

Cui Shu had initially intended to assist Xiao Shan with the medicine, but seeing that he didn't need help, she quietly stepped back.

Seeing Xiao Shan drink the medicine, Gu Rulan's emotions calmed significantly. She sat by the bed, looking at Xiao Shan with a tone that carried a mix of reproach, concern, and grievance: "You really are something. Even if you don't like the marriage your Emperor Father arranged, you shouldn't take it out on your health. You were gravely ill when you were six, nearly losing your life. It took years to nurse you back to health, and now you're tormenting yourself again..."

Xiao Shan: "..."

Gu Rulan reminisced about the past and scrutinized the present. Judging by her tone, she could easily go on for at least an hour.

In truth, his illness had nothing to do with the marriage arrangement. He simply had a habit of kicking off his covers while sleeping, which led to him catching a chill. He felt unwell in the morning, and after paying his respects to Gu Rulan in the residence, he got up and felt dizzy, eventually fainting. Otherwise, a grown prince like him wouldn't be lying in a side hall of Jinglan Hall.