Chapter 4: Drinking Medicine

 

Inside Yang Xin Court, the furnishings were intricately placed, and every piece was worth a fortune. Inside the room, the ground dragon (ancient geothermal heating) was vigorously burning, and the entire room's temperature felt like spring.

In comparison, the Green Bamboo Court Wei Lian had been living in was rather desolate and unsightly. The palace attendants parted the bead curtain. Ji Yue carried him into his bedroom, lifted the tent curtain, and put him down on the dragon bed.

Once Wei Lian touched the soft bed, he didn't want to get up because it was so comfortable. He wanted to roll on the bed so badly.

What kind of godly life had the King of Qin been living?

The small wooden post bed in Green Bamboo Court was hard and uncomfortable. Wei Lian had trouble just trying to turn over. His mouth didn't say anything, but his heart had been resenting it for a long time.

Wei Lian felt his head was a bit heavy and dizzy; it was probably a cold. He did stay in the snow for too long; it was unreasonable to be completely fine.

Wei Lian still didn't know how he looked like in the king's eyes.

In Ji Yue's view, he enjoyed a painting of a beauty.

The beauty's eyes were closed. His eyelashes were long, his cheeks were red, and his black hair spread out on the bed. His slender fingers unconsciously clutched the bed covers. His eyebrows furrowed, looking miserable and delicate.

He gave off the appearance of a chronically ill, breathtaking beauty.

"Go call for the imperial physician." Ji Yue quietly ordered.

The palace attendant knelt down: "Nuo (yes)." (Addressed to superior status)

Ji Yue stopped him: "And also, prepare a bowl of ginger soup."

The attendant froze, then replied yes and kneeled again.

In the short period he turned his body, he thought: this Wei Shijun hit the jackpot.

He served His Majesty for so many years, but he never saw His Majesty care about anyone.

_

Wei Lian's body felt awful, but he hasn't burned up in confusion.

He's someone who grew up surrounded by the dangers of the deep palace. He would be able to retain a fraction of lucidity no matter what circumstances he was under just so he can escape from falling to a situation where he can be slaughtered by anyone.

But, he still acted as if his fever had muddled his mind. His eyes were closed and his posture was weak.

He didn't want to talk to the king at the moment.

In case he accidentally says something wrong and his tongue needed to be cut off.

His groggy brain isn't really bright now. He can't immediately think of a bunch of excuses to escape punishment.

The imperial physician quickly came and measured Wei Lian's pulse.

Wei Lian's hand is very pretty. His ten fingers were like jade, his wrist is thin, and even a woman's hand texture was not as tender as his.

What Ji Yue noticed are the calluses near the thumb in the palm of Wei Lian's hand.

Those are calluses that only those who knew martial arts can have.

Ji Yue's eyes darkened.

According to the sources he had investigated, Prince Lian didn't know martial arts.

Was he another assassin from the Chu Kingdom that came to kill him?

Or maybe a spy?

_

The imperial physician was quick to finish checking, and explained, "Your Majesty, Wei Shijun got a high fever from the cold air that entered his body. This official can prescribe a medicine for consumption."

Ji Yue quietly said: "Go take a look at his knees."

The imperial physician was startled, but still rolled up Wei Lian's pants, revealing a pair of white legs.

The knees were bruised green which looked startling on the snowy white skin.

The imperial physician was shocked; this was clearly an injury from kneeling.....

The thoughts of a king were hard to guess. The imperial physician didn't dare think deeply. After he lightly checked the injury, he turned and said to Ji Yue: "Although serious, it is good that they are external injuries. They can be healed by putting on some salve."

Ji Yue looked as if he were smiling, but also not smiling: "Then why haven't you applied any yet?"

Why was he looking at him; did he expect him to personally help someone apply medicine?

The imperial physician hesitated: "This kind of medicine will hurt when it is applied on, but if it is the jade complexion salve, it won't hurt and the healing effects are quicker."

Ji Yue's smile did not lessen and the words he said were hurtful: "A hostage deserves the jade complexion salve? Even this kind of medicine bestowed to him is high praise."

The imperial physician shuddered, "Nuo." (Yes)

He thought the reason His Majesty called him over to examine Wei Lian was because his heart was affected/distressed.

Looks like he thought too much. Anyone's heart can be affected, but not his Majesty's heart. A pity that a good beauty like Wei Shijun met His Majesty this kind of heartless king.

The imperial physician was old, and he had grandchildren who were at Wei Lian's age. Even if he hated the Chu people, when he saw someone as young and unfortunate as Wei Lian, he subconsciously birthed some sympathy.

Wei Lian's eyes were closed, and he heard the conversation between the king and the imperial physician very clearly. His mind hatefully added another note to repay.

The imperial physician opened his medical box to take out the medicine and smeared a little on, carefully and softly touching Wei Lian's knee.

The very moment he touched him, Wei Lian painfully moaned; his eyebrows furrowed even tighter. 

The imperial physician's hands stopped. Observing that Ji Yue's expression did not change, he clenched his teeth, and smeared some more on.

Wei Lian immediately held some sobbing tone, clutched onto Ji Yue's sleeve, and unconsciously cried, "Mother, don't go....."

The suddenly upgraded to mother Ji Yue: "....."

The imperial physician's hands started trembling now, wondering if he would be suddenly murdered.

Ji Yue looked down and wanted to retrieve his sleeve. Who knew the sick youth gripped the sleeve pretty hard. It would be difficult to be released at the moment.

Ji Yue was a bit impatient, and wanted to use his strength to shake him off. The youth huskily cried another line:  ".....Ah'Lian hurts." (Ah in front of name is a type of endearment, reserved for those close to them)

"Mother, don't abandon Ah'Lian." The dreaming youth revealed an extremely weak and vulnerable appearance, "I miss you so much.....it hurts so much....."

Ji Yue's grapple suddenly loosened.

He let Wei Lian hold onto his sleeve, and coldly ordered the imperial physician: "Use the jade complexion salve and make him shut up."

Imperial physician: ".....Nuo." (Yes)

Did he just witness the birth of His Majesty's nemesis/rival?

_

The jade complexion salve was indeed painless and quick to heal. After using it, Wei Lian no longer wailed how painful it was, and the hand that was gripping the king also released its grasp.

The pain from applying medicine was within Wei Lian's pain tolerance. But there was clearly a way not to feel the pain, so why did he have to endure it? Wei Lian was very small when he realized people should be good to themselves. Anything good must be earned through his own hands.

In this case, if he could cry "mother" to affect the king, then why not.

It was only an acting performance. Wei Lian's skills were very professional.

This kind of skill in play production, he had already practiced to full points early on in the Chu palace.

With the jade complexion salve smeared on, the bruises on the knees were fading at a visible pace. They could be fully healed in a day or two.

Ji Yue observed the youth on the bed; his stare was somewhat scornful.

Since he had investigated Wei Lian, he knew that Wei Lian's birth mother had died early on and he only had an adopted mother Yan consort who had also birthed Prince Yan.

Prince Yan was ninth in line, and was born after Prince Lian. Ji Yue didn't even need to think to know what idea the Yan consort had in mind when she adopted Wei Lian. It could only be that she was searching a child to protect herself. Later when she had her own son, the adopted son didn't remain as important. Otherwise, Wei Lian wouldn't be sent to the Qin Kingdom as a hostage.

The kind of woman was in the youth's heart and mind.

Don't know if he's truly foolish or pretending to be.

When he was thinking, the ginger soup had arrived while the medicine was still brewing. Ji Yue helped the youth up, and mercilessly poured down the bowl of ginger soup down his throat.

"Kugh, Kugh....." Wei Lian couldn't continue to pretend anymore after this fuss, and acted as if he just started to wake as he coughed.

.....He would need to wake up even if he was asleep. With the crude way the King poured the bowl, he was clearly trying to straightforwardly choke him to death.

"You're finally awake." Ji Yue's skin smiled but his muscles didn't, "Drink down the ginger soup yourself."

The youth woozily stared at him with a dazed expression: "You are....."

Looks like he still isn't fully awake yet.

Ji Yue coldly demanded: "Drink. If you don't, then get out and kneel another two hours."

The youth was startled and made a bit of a wronged expression, but he obediently took the bowl, and drank it in one gulp as if he was really afraid that Ji Yue would punish him to kneel again.

He was born very good looking. His actions looked graceful and elegant even if he largely gulped the soup. A bit of soup was left on the corners of his mouth, and he carefully licked it up with his tongue, looking like a cute and lazy cat.

Ji Yue felt his mouth go a bit dry.

At this time, a palace attendant entered while holding a bowl of medicine, and said: "Your Majesty, the medicine is ready."

Ji Yue picked up the bowl of medicine: "Withdraw."

"Nuo." (Yes)

The palace attendant left, and Ji Yue turned his body to see the youth retreat in terror: "I don't want to drink this!"

Ji Yue narrowed his eyes: "What did you say?"

No one ever dared to say no to the King of Qin before.

The youth shook his head and curled up at the bedpost: "I smelled medicine.....medicine is bitter; I don't want to drink it."

Ji Yue threatened: "If you don't drink, then you kneel."

The youth continued to shake his head: "I don't want to."

Ji Yue's voice turned cold: "Four hours."

Four hours would be the entire night.

The youth's eyes were red as he spoke: "Then let me kneel! I'd rather kneel to death than drink the medicine."

Ji Yue was almost angered into a laugh.

He didn't know Wei Lian would be so childish after getting sick. It was certainly different from the gentle and quiet youth he saw during the day.

Truly, his fever burnt him into a muddled mess.

_

Wei Lian wasn't really addled, and neither was he really unable to drink the medicine.

He suffered so much before, so how could he be afraid of a bowl of medicine?

He was just courting death in an acceptable manner. (TL: Chinese phrase doesn't exist in English)

He had to be very careful when he was lucid. Only at these times can he reveal a different side of him to attract the king.

Wei Lian was also testing the king's bottom line towards him to fight for a larger amount of freedom for his future self.

Once he crossed the line, he naturally knew to accept and retreat.

Looks like.....the king seemed to eat this style pretty well.

At least he didn't really make him go and continue to kneel.

_

"You're like this, you want Gu (me) to personally feed you?" Ji Yue asked.

Wei Lian didn't speak.

He didn't think the King of Qin was so kind-hearted.

As expected, Ji Yue's next line was: "Since you won't drink the medicine, your tongue doesn't really have any use. It might as well be cut off."

Wei Lian: "....."

He just knew!

He can't probe anymore.

He felt if he continued, the lightly smiling king would immediately change face, and cut off his tongue.

He had the appearance of a beauty, but a snake and scorpion heart. (Ji Yue)

Wei Lian looked as if he was frightened. He pouted his face, and lifted the spoon, drinking the medicine one small scoop at a time.

Right after he was finished, he couldn't wait to show his bowl: "Look, I finished drinking."

Ji Yue quietly "uh-huh" as a response and gave Wei Lian the already prepared piece of candied fruit.

Wei Lian: Heh (scorned laugh), slap a beating then give a sweet date. Do you think you can erase my determination to kill you with just that?

Wei Lian: "One piece is not enough; I want one plate."

Ji Yue froze, and then started to chuckle.

"You are more interesting like this than before."

Wei Lian pondered in his mind: The King of Qin likes this type?

A bit stupid, white (pure and naive), and sweet.

No problem, he can act like this too.

Wei Lian earnestly looked at Ji Yue: "Then, is there more?"

Ji Yue contained a laugh, "There is."

"But, you need to bathe first. You can eat when you return."

A freezing body needed a warm bath to remove the cold.

Wei Lian was docile as he said: "Ok."

Translator's Note:

Ji Yue: Go kneel for four hours.

Wei Lian: Imma kill you!!!

Ji Yue: Here, eat this date.

Wei Lian: Hold on, Imma eat this date then kill you.

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