Since the entrance of the gisaengs, Xiu Ying excused himself to the kitchen. It's better to indulge himself in work rather than talking to strangers.
When he was in the kitchen, a female servant suddenly came running and told everyone about Prince Yang Lijun.
Feeling weird with the sudden news, Xiu Ying walked back to the hall. When he reached the hall, he saw the prince was lying on the floor with a physician checking on him.
Then, as he came closer to the scene, he heard the conversation between Li Na and Wu Zhang Wei.
From the way she spoke, Xiu Ying knew she was trying to push the blame onto him.
"Yes. Looking for me?" said Xiu Ying.
His voice that suddenly came behind them makes Li Na jolt.
Wu Zhang Wei turns to him and calmly asks, "Did you who ordered to prepare all this?"
"Yes, I did, Your Majesty."
"Then... Did you check on every meal prepared?" Wu Zhang Wei asked again.
"As for every bowl that's quite impossible for me to do so but I did check on every pot when the meals had been cooked. As for the process after that, it was done by the eunuch and Chief of the kitchen."
"Then are you trying to say that there is eunuch or maybe the Chief of the kitchen didn't do their work until a poisoned meal could pass their inspection?!" Li Na interrupts.
"When did I say that?" Xiu Ying raises his eyebrows.
"Just now you mentioned they're the one who checked it but at the same time Prince Yang was poisoned. Isn't that what you're trying to say?!" Li Na who acted all-mighty just now quickly shrinks her body when Wu Zhang Wei glares at her.
Xiu Ying sighs. He glances at the silver spoon then says, "Can I take a look at the prince?" He lowers his tone and gently asked permission from Wu Zhang Wei.
"Yes. You may. Go on. He's there."
Li Na grips her fist tightly. Xiu Ying bows then turn to the unconscious prince. "May I..?" Xiu Ying said to the physician and the empress dowager.
Wu Jiaying was surprised when Xiu Ying asked permission to check up on Prince Lijun, but she allows it nevertheless.
"He's out of breath before and his stomach was in pain. Then he just fainted." Wu Jiaying told Xiu Ying everything she saw in the hope it could help Xiu Ying to discover something.
Xiu Ying pulls up the prince's sleeves then he checks his face and pulse.
'Damn. What poison. He's just having an allergic reaction! Guess in this time they still didn't discover about this.'
"Let's transfer Prince Yang to a room first."
Wu Jiaying quickly asked a few manservants to carry Lijun to a guest room. Then she turns to Xiu Ying.
"Concubine Li, did you know what happened to Prince Lijun?"
With a smile, Xiu Ying nods. "He's just having an allergic reaction. I mean there's something inside the meal that his body is sensitive thus causing this kind of reaction."
Everyone in the hall was in awe hearing the explanation from him.
"Jing Yi, help me to prepare a decoction made from fang feng and xin yi hua. And another one, prepare a citrus drink."
[A/N: Fang feng = silver divaricata
Xin yi hua = magnolia flower bud
Both of these are Chinese herbal to help allergies. Source: Google]
For the second time, Xiu Ying shocked the crowd. Ignoring their looks, Xiu Ying bows, "Your Majesty, allow me to tend Prince Yang. I'll try my best to cure it."
"Ye- yes. You may." Wu Jiaying said.
....
Inside the guest room, Xiu Ying stands beside the bed. Wu Zhang Wei, Wu Jiaying, and also Xiao Qing are also present. The others are not allowed to enter, including Li Na.
The physician is currently applying acupuncture on several points of Lijun's body. From time to time, Lijun awakes due to shortness of breath.
A few minutes later, Jing Yi came with two bowls. Taking a sniff at the liquid, Xiu Ying passes it to the physician. "Please help him to drink this." The physician obediently did as he told.
In just a few minutes, Lijun's breathing is smoother. The physician quickly checks on his pulse and it surprised him that it is much better!
All of them breathe a sigh of relief.
"This one, give him when he's awake. As for the redness and scars on his body, I'll help to prepare some paste or ointment to make it fade faster."
Wu Jiaying walks closer to Xiu Ying and takes a hold of both Xiu Ying's hands. "Thank you Concubine Li. Thank you so much. We didn't know what to do if you're not here."
"It's my responsibility, Your Majesty. It is part of my fault too."
Wu Zhang Wei couldn't contain his smile. 'Seems like your mother is not lying about your medical skills.'
Xiu Ying excused himself in reason to prepare the ointment.
Meanwhile, in Yanxi Palace, all the servants didn't dare to move or even make a tiny sound. Teacups have been thrown to the floor, broken into pieces.
"Damn... Damn... Damn you Li Xiu Ying!!" Li Na shouts.
"So smart aren't you? Ha!" She slams the table.
A female servant crying and trembling while kneeling on the floor. She jolts when Li Na abruptly turns to her.
"You! What did I ask you to do?! I asked you to put the poison inside the prince's bowl! Why didn't you do it?!"
While sniffing, the girl said, "Bu- but My Lady. I- it was impossible to do so. The inspection was too tight. Con- concubine Li ordered eunuch to taste the meal in front of the person himself. I won't have the chance to do it."
"If you didn't put it then how can the silver spoon turn black?!"
"I- I just soaked it into the poison then brought it with me. When I saw the prince collapsed I quickly put it on his table and pretend that he used it."
Li Na slaps the girl hard, making her fall to her side. "What an idiot. If you didn't put it then there's no need for you to mention it at all. Do you intend to make me look like a fool huh?!"
The girl begs, "N- no! My lady! It's not like that! I just- never thought Concubine Li could detect it. As you can see, even the physician didn't know what happened to Prince Yang. So, I'm just.."
Li Na laughs out loud. "Whatever. I don't want to care anymore and I also don't care what will happen to you. If you dare to mention my name, I'll make sure your family will be living hell."
She waves her hand, asking other servants to drag the poor girl out of her room.
......
The next day, Lijun wakes up with a sore body. It was because the allergy caused some damage to his immune system.
The first thing he thought when he opened his eyes is... He's already dead.
Why?
Because he saw an angel is sitting beside him on the bed. The angel is holding his wrist. When the angel puts his wrist down and is about to get off the bed, he quickly grabs the angel's arm. "Wa- wait!"
The angel looks at him and blinks his eyes repeatedly.
"*cough! Cough!* Ehem! Ehem!"
The fake cough makes Lijun realize he's still alive.
"Hmm. Prince Yang.. Can you please let go of my arm?" Xiu Ying said.
"But wait- who are... "
"CONCUBINE Li, let the physician check on Prince Yang." Wu Zhang Wei intentionally stressed on 'concubine'.
Lijun looked dejected when he heard it. He released Xiu Ying's arm reluctantly.
Xiu Ying walks away from the bed. Wu Zhang Wei quickly pulls him to stand beside him. "Remember your position. Don't you dare to spread your charm on another guy, a prince especially."
'When did I do that? I was born with charms, can't help it.'
"Yes, Your Majesty." Xiu Ying answered just to satisfy the petty emperor.
"Your Highness, you're getting much better. Thanks to the remedy prepared by Concubine Li. As for the scars, Concubine Li also has prepared an ointment to ease them. Later, a manservant will help you to apply it." The physician said.
"Can't Concubine Li help me to apply it?" With puppy eyes, he looks at Xiu Ying.
Thinking that it's normal for him to do so as he always did to his patients. But before he could say yes, Wu Zhang Wei hid Xiu Ying behind him and say, "Sorry Prince Yang but he's MY CONCUBINE. So it's inappropriate for him to do so. Don't worry, I'll ask a female servant to apply it. I'm sure she'll do it as gently as she can."
Before Lijun can say anything, Wu Zhang Wei said to the physician, "Please take care of him. I don't want anyone to die in my country. For the ointment, I'll send ten female servants so they won't miss any scars."
With that, Wu Zhang Wei grabs on Xiu Ying's hand and drags him to his room... bedroom.
The slams of the door make Xiu Ying flinches but he keeps staying calm.
Wu Zhang Wei stands in front of him, looking intimidating. Xiu Ying wants to take a step back but his chin was suddenly grabbed by the emperor. He was forced to look at the tall guy.
"I just said REMEMBER YOUR POSITION but you already forget the next second." Xiu Ying feels shivers in his spine.
"No. I didn't forget."
"Didn't?! Ha! Then why does it seems like you're eager to put the ointment on him? Can't stand the temptation to touch his body, huh?"
'.......what?! What is this guy talking about?! Does he think I'm a pervert, touching other people, a man on top of that?! If it's your sister or maybe your other concubines then yes! I'll fight you until I could touch them! But for God's sake! That prince is a man! I have what he has. Nothing else to explore!'
Watching Xiu Ying staring at him with frowns, Wu Zhang Wei also lost for words.
Xiu Ying sighs. "Your Majesty. There's no need for you to worry about that. I never have that kind of attention. Be it towards him or even another guy. I'm just happy when the person I tend will be cured under my care. It gives me some kind of satisfaction. That's all."
Xiu Ying glances at Wu Zhang Wei and continues, "No need for you to get jealous." He smirks.
Wu Zhang Wei turns slightly red. "Wh- who said I'm jealous?! I just don't want people to see me as a stupid king, letting my own concubine be with another prince. He's just an immature prince. There's nothing to be jealous of!"
Xiu Ying scoffs, 'Then why are you getting so worked up? I'm just kidding or don't tell me he..... '
'Well, whatever. I don't care he wants to be jealous or whatnot. It's not my problem. It didn't give the slightest effect on my life.'
"If Your Majesty doesn't have anything else to say, I'd like to excuse myself. I still need to make some more ointment for Prince Yang."
Hearing the name only already makes him feel annoyed, what's more, the name was mentioned by the tiny pink lips. It makes him wanna kill the name's owner.
Getting no answer, Xiu Ying bows then quickly leaves the room.
'Allow or not?
Permission or forbid?
Yes or no?
F**k all that. I'll do whatever I want.' thought Xiu Ying when he caught a glance of Wu Zhang Wei's solemn expression when he's about to leave.
What do you think about this chapter?
Any mistakes please point them out. Don't forget to vote.