ABBLEIP Chapter86

This kiss completely consumed the little energy Shen Qingzhuo had left.

 

He lay on the bed powerlessly, thinking that his little disciple was as stubborn as a donkey. Now he could only pray to God that he had a cold instead of a fatal disease.

 

Soon, the imperial physician invited by Xiang Chen hurried over. When he saw the emperor, he knelt down and saluted: “Your Majesty.”

 

“Get up, let the Imperial Physician take a good look.” Xiao Shen suppressed his anxiety and urged in a low voice.

 

The imperial physician quickly got up, opened the curtain, and touched the wrist.

 

After a while, he asked again, “Grand Tutor, what are the symptoms now?”

 

“Headache, cough, weakness in the limbs…” Shen Qingzhuo replied with difficulty, “But at present, there are no red bumps on the body…”

 

Xiao Shen asked in a tense voice, “Is it nothing serious?”

 

The imperial physician wiped the sweat from his forehead and replied cautiously, “The symptoms are somewhat similar to the early stage of the plague, but not completely similar either. Most people who are infected with the plague will develop red bumps within two hours, so—”

 

“So it’s not an epidemic?” Xiao Shen interrupted him rudely, then excitedly threw himself to the end of the bed and held his master’s hand tightly. “Did you hear that, Master? It’s not an epidemic! Master is fine…”

 

The imperial physician wiped the sweat that kept pouring out, “To be cautious, Grand Tutor is better off drinking the medicine to prevent and treat the epidemic first.”

 

Shen Qingzhuo forced a smile. “Imperial Physician, let everyone in the mansion drink… just in case.”

 

“Nothing can happen!” Xiao Shen raised his master’s hand, put it on his dry lips, and kissed it continuously. “Don’t be afraid, Master, I’m here…”

 

The imperial physician left the room without looking back and went to make the medicine without delay.

 

After the treatment, Shen Qingzhuo finally couldn’t hold on any longer and fainted again.

 

Xiao Shen knelt down in front of the bed, looking at his master’s red face and wet temples, his heart and eyes filled with indescribable heartache and helplessness.

 

He took off his outer robe, fetched warm water himself, wrung out a towel, and wiped the sweat bit by bit, his movements were so careful as if he was afraid of damaging the porcelain doll.

 

After sleeping for an unknown amount of time, Shen Qingzhuo woke up again and found himself lying in a familiar embrace.

 

“Master?” Xiao Shen immediately realized that he was awake. “Master, let’s take the medicine first.”

 

Shen Qingzhuo was held in his arms like a child, and he fed him medicine with a spoon. Compared with the bitter taste of coptis chinensis, the taste of this medicine was not so bad, but he still vomited it out in disgust.

 

Xiao Shen’s heart was about to be crushed. His big hand kept stroking his back and brought warm water to slowly feed his master.

 

“You have to drink medicine too…” Shen Qingzhuo suppressed his disgust, grabbed the front of his little disciple’s collar with his fingers, and said in a hoarse voice, “Rest well and stay away from Master…”

 

Although his symptoms are not completely similar to those of the epidemic, but the possibility of the epidemic changing into a disease during the transmission process cannot be ruled out.

 

“Master, you are talking nonsense again.” Xiao Shen kissed his sweaty forehead, “It’s just a cold, it’s fine.”

 

Shen Qingzhuo’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Cold… cold can also be contagious…”

 

Xiao Shen stopped replying, his tongue tip wandered around his lips, pried open his teeth effortlessly, and stopped his master from speaking.

 

At night, Xiao Shen gently lifted his sweaty undergarment, and a rash quietly appeared on his flawless white shoulders.

 

With dark eyes that seemed to have no bottom, he put on his outer garment and ordered Xiang Chen to call back the imperial physician.

 

The imperial physician carefully distinguished it, glanced at the emperor’s gloomy face, and replied tremblingly, “Red rash plague is a large blood clot swelling. The rash on the Grand Tutor’s body doesn’t look like it…”

 

Xiao Shen finally took a breath. “It’s good that it doesn’t look like it, it’s good that it doesn’t look like it…”

 

“The Grand Tutor is weak and has been overworked for days. This time his illness is more severe.” The imperial preceptor himself was unsure and stammered to comfort him, “As long as we take good care of him, he will definitely recover.”

 

***

 

Lord Shen fell ill, the mainstay of Suzhou was gone, and the situation was in chaos.

 

Fortunately, Xiao Shen quickly took over the business, dispatching manpower and material resources with great efficiency while staying up all day and night to watch over his master.

 

The imperial physician reassured him, but his master’s condition did not improve. He kept having a fever and lay drowsy on the bed all day. He could not even take medicine.

 

Xiao Shen was so anxious that he could only hold the medicine in his mouth, pinch his jaw, and feed him mouthful by mouth. After feeding, he had to use his tongue to clean the bitter medicine juice left in his mouth.

 

His master is afraid of suffering.

 

At the same time, the persistent high fever made Shen Qingzhuo unable to sleep at night. The rash on his back was itchy, and he groaned in pain while his consciousness was blurred.

 

Xiao Shen sought the advice of the imperial physician and jumped into the ice water to soak himself. After his whole body was cooled, he returned to the bed, held his master in his arms, and rubbed his rash-covered back with his cold hands to relieve the itching.

 

That night, Shen Qingzhuo had a violent cough.

 

“Master, Master…” Xiao Shen woke up as soon as he coughed. His big hands kept stroking his back. He didn’t know what to do to relieve his master’s pain.

 

If there were a way to transfer this disease to him, it would be great.

 

“Xiao Qi ah…” Shen Qingzhuo’s eyes were half closed, and his peach blossom eyes, which were always full of affection, lost their spirit. His voice was so soft that it seemed that it would be blown away by the wind.

 

“I’m here, I’m here…” Xiao Shen hugged him and coaxed him in a low voice, “Xiao Qi is with you, Master, don’t be afraid.”

 

“Cough, cough…” Shen Qingzhuo rubbed his hot cheeks against his slightly cool chest. “Xiao Qi, I dreamed of you when you were a kid, you were very fierce ah…”

 

He had been drowsy for the past few days and had many bizarre dreams. He couldn’t remember them clearly for the moment, but he vaguely remembered dreaming of his twelve-year-old little disciple.

 

Although Xiao Shen was extremely sad, he did not dare to show it and even smiled deliberately: “Master, get well soon, Xiao Qi will be obedient in the future and will never make you angry again.”

 

Shen Qingzhuo smiled lightly: “Xiao Qi, if Master doesn’t make it this time, you must…”

 

“No ifs.” Xiao Shen brushed away the wet hair on his master’s temples and kissed him. “I’ve said before, I will follow Master to the underworld. Even for my sake, Master has to get well soon.”

 

Shen Qingzhuo closed his eyes, and hot tears flowed out from the corners of his eyes again.

 

He was like a rootless duckweed, and there should be no one in this world who cared about him, but Xiao Qi’s love was like a heavy stone, pressing him firmly and filling him up.

 

After that, Shen Qingzhuo continued to sleep, but fortunately he stopped vomiting after taking medicine, and the rash on his back did not spread either.

 

Xiang Chen looked at the thin-faced emperor and could not help but say, “Your Majesty needs to rest, the subordinate will take care of Master.”

 

“No need.” Xiao Shen’s voice was filled with deep fatigue. “Has the divine physician arrived yet?”

 

Xiang Chen replied, “He will arrive tomorrow.”

 

The next day, the divine physician smoothly arrived at the official residence.

 

As soon as he entered the room, Xiao Shen didn’t even look at the other party but urged in a hoarse voice, “Hurry up and treat him.”

 

Miao Shou frowned, looking unhappy, but when he thought that the person lying on the bed was the one who saved the people from danger, he walked over.

 

Lifting the bed curtain, a thin and frail beauty came into view.

 

After more than ten days of suffering, the pale and thin face is still beautiful and charming, and the frail and sickly appearance makes people feel sympathy.

 

Miao Shou’s expression relaxed, and he sat on the edge of the bed and placed his hand on the skinny wrist.

 

Xiao Shen frowned, patiently answered Miao Shou’s questions, and let him lift up his collar to check the rash.

 

“It’s not a cold.” Miao Shou loosened his hand, pinched the pointed jaw again, checked the upper jaw and tongue coating, and confirmed, “It’s an epidemic.”

 

Xiao Shen’s breath was choked, and he suddenly took a step forward and shouted, “You are talking nonsense!”

 

“The disease has a very short duration, and most people will die after a few days of infection.” Guan Xuwen explained, “But Lord Shen has been infected for more than ten days. Although he has not recovered, but his condition has not worsened either.”

 

“Because there is a toxin in his body, it accidentally offsets the disease.” Miao Shou replied calmly, “So his symptoms are different from those of ordinary people infected, and the degree of infection is greatly reduced.”

 

“What did you say?” Xiao Shen was stunned.

 

Miao Shou glanced at him. “In layman’s terms, he already has anti-epidemic drugs in his body, and he received timely treatment, so the symptoms are extremely mild.”

 

A huge ecstasy swept over Xiao Shen, but the next moment, he frowned again, “Then why can’t he be cured even after a long time?”

 

Miao Shou impatiently replied, “This lord is weak and has been inhaling trace amounts of toxins for a long time. His foundation is almost broken. How can he withstand the cold and the epidemic at the same time?”

 

“Toxin?” Xiao Shen finally caught the word, “Where does the toxin come from?”

 

“How would I know this?” Miao Shou looked at the man who showed signs of waking up. “But it can be said that I saved his life by accident.”

 

“Cough, cough, cough…” Shen Qingzhuo slowly opened his eyes while they were talking.

 

“Master!” Xiao Shen walked quickly to the bed, half-knelt, and held his master’s hand.

 

Miao Shou repeated the diagnosis in a patient tone, which was completely different from his previous attitude towards Xiao Shen.

 

Shen Qingzhuo breathed heavily and coughed a few times before he replied softly, “Is it possible that this toxin was in the incense?”

 

In the past few years, his food, clothing, housing, and transportation were all separated, and the people around him were also loyal. The only possible source of exposure to poison was the incense sent by the Empress Dowager.

 

After all, the Empress Dowager had a history of poisoning the previous emperor.

 

“It’s possible.” Miao Shou nodded. “The toxins in your body have accumulated over the years. The dose is extremely weak and almost undetectable, but it is enough to weaken your constitution. If this continues, even a small cold can kill you.”

 

Xiao Shen bit his back teeth tightly, and the muscles of his cheeks twitched unnaturally. “Old poisonous woman…”

 

“So that’s how it is…” Shen Qingzhuo exhaled and closed his eyes again. “This can be considered a blessing in disguise…”

 

Miao Shou sighed: “For now, I can prescribe medicine for you to treat your illness, but in order to completely eliminate the remaining poison in your body, some rare medicinal materials are needed, which may be difficult to collect at the moment.”

 

Xiao Shen put down his master’s hand, stood up, and ordered in a deep voice, “Return to the palace.”

 

The most precious and rare medicinal materials in the world are hidden in the Dayong Palace. There is no place in the world more suitable for his master to recuperate than the palace.

 

***

 

The new governor of Suzhou officially took over the task, and other officials of various levels also arrived one after another. According to the instructions left by Lord Shen, they systematically prevented and controlled the plague and restored the post-disaster order.

 

On the way back to the palace, Shen Qingzhuo was still unconscious.

 

The carriage only travels on the spacious main road, and when they encounter a waterway, they change to a boat. Xiao Shen always holds his master tightly in his arms, not letting him suffer any bumps.

 

He really held him in his palms for fear of dropping him and held him in his mouth for fear of melting him[mfn]It sounds kinda awkward in English :3 This sentence expresses the cherishment and love for a person.[/mfn]. He wished he could cut open his chest and take out his heart and hide his master inside.

 

But Shen Qingzhuo was still shaken to the point of vomiting, and Miao Shou could only follow the two of them all the way, feeding him pills from time to time.

 

After traveling day and night, they finally returned to the palace before the end of the month.

 

The palace gates were wide open, and the carriage drove into the palace unimpeded. It stopped in front of the Chengqian Palace, and Xiao Shen got off the carriage holding his master.

 

“Greetings to Your Majesty.” As they walked in, the palace attendants knelt on the ground with their heads bowed, respectfully greeting the Majesty in unison.

 

Miao Shou was stunned for a moment and followed silently.

 

He had already guessed that this person must be extraordinary, but he did not expect that he was the most noble emperor of Dayong.

 

“Your Majesty!” Xiao Guizi came forward in a hurry, looking anxious. “Everything is ready. How is Lord Shen?”

 

“Take Miao Shou to the Imperial Medical, and give him whatever he wants.” The Majesty did not even turn his head and walked towards the bedchamber with fast and steady steps.

 

“En…” Shen Qingzhuo hummed softly the moment he was put on the bed.

 

“It’s alright, Master, we’re home.” Xiao Shen leaned over and kissed his forehead, then kissed his bloodless lips and moistened his lip lines with saliva. “Xiao Qi already took Master home.”

 

“Go home…” Shen Qingzhuo murmured repeatedly. He thought that he might never be able to come back home in this life, the home in another world…

 

A few days later, Shen Qingzhuo finally came to his senses.

 

At that time, Xiao Shen was stripping off his clothes and gently putting him into the bathtub for a medicinal bath.

 

His master was unconscious, so he also sat in the bathtub, carefully supporting his master to prevent him from sinking into the medicine.

 

The steam gradually lingered, making the pale face slightly red, and it seemed that there was a trace of life.

 

Xiao Shen stared at his master’s face intently. Suddenly, he seemed to find that his soft and wet eyelashes trembled.

 

The next moment, the slender and thick eyelashes opened.

 

The pair of peach blossom eyes was moist, as if they were still in some kind of ethereal fantasy, with a strange feeling in the eyes, which made Xiao Shen lose his mind and speechless.

 

With his lips moving slightly, Shen Qingzhuo stretched out his weak hand, trying to touch the handsome eyes through the mist, but soon fell into the water in vain.

 

Xiao Shen hurriedly held his master’s hand, but his master’s body lost its support and fell to him.

 

“Master…” He squeezed out a hoarse voice from his throat, not daring to confirm whether his master had fallen into a coma again or not.

 

Shen Qingzhuo leaned against him, his voice containing a hint of laughter: “Isn’t it a bit inhumane to react to the patient ah, Xiao Qi?”

 

The author has something to say:

The Master: Taking advantage of the illness, do whatever you want.

The Wolf Cub: I endured it, and I will continue to endure it!