Chapter 33 Sweet Sweet Sweet

The bone-chilling water flow surrounded them. He greedily savored the softness on his lips, letting go of all restraint at this moment, truly clinging tightly to Qiu Shuzhi like a drowning person unwilling to let go.

Qiu Niang, Qiu Niang,

He kept his eyes tightly closed, his arms wrapping around her tighter like vines. Beneath the quiet water surface, one could seemingly feel his violent heartbeat.

“Protect His Highness!” The attendants who had been on the periphery saw Yue Guanyi fall into the water and hurriedly prepared to go rescue him.

“What’s the panic for?” Chang’an stopped the attendants with one hand.

“How can we not rescue when His Highness has fallen into the water?” The attendants said anxiously.

Chang’an’s eyes showed not a hint of worry, instead appearing completely calm: “No rush.”

He had seen clearly how Yue Guanyi had fallen into the water earlier, and he knew that Yue Guanyi was an excellent swimmer. Even if he had accidentally fallen in, he wouldn’t be in danger.

Moreover, whether it was ‘accidental’ or not remained to be seen.

Chang’an watched Qiu Shuzhi who had jumped into the water after him, Yue Guanyi’s little tricks were as clear as a mirror in his mind.

How could he interrupt the master’s carefully designed heroic rescue?

Just as those on the shore were anxiously pacing back and forth, about to call for some servants who were good swimmers to jump in and rescue, Qiu Shuzhi finally emerged from the water surface holding Yue Guanyi.

Everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Yue Guanyi’s snow-white summer clothes were soaked through by the pond water, water droplets rolling down from his brow, lingering at the corners of his slightly reddened eyes. A hint of panic still flickered in his moist phoenix eyes.

Feeling the chill emanating from his body, fearing he might catch a cold from falling into the cold water, Qiu Shuzhi immediately carried him back to the guest room, disregarding everything else.

“These are clean clothes, please trouble Young Master Chang’an to help His Highness change into them.” Qiu Shuzhi handed Qiu Qiushuang’s clothes to Chang’an.

After speaking, she prepared to leave, retreating outside the room to wait.

“Official Qiu… don’t go.” His voice was hoarse and trembling with vulnerability, fingers tightly clutching her clothes, leaning on her like a rain-soaked fledgling.

His phoenix eyes, slightly tinged with apricot blossom red after being soaked in cold water, looked at her pitifully. Where was the usual imposing manner of the Crown Prince now?

“His Highness must have been frightened. You are his lifesaver, so it’s only natural that he relies on you,” Chang’an interjected opportunely.

Qiu Shuzhi’s ears reddened slightly under his gaze, but propriety dictated that she couldn’t watch him change clothes, could she?

“Why don’t you wait behind the screen, Official?” Chang’an suggested, pointing to the landscape screen placed in the guest room.

Qiu Shuzhi still felt it wasn’t quite proper, but looking at Yue Guanyi, dripping wet and looking frail and weak, her heart softened immediately.

“Alright then.” She sat behind the screen, with her back to Yue Guanyi.

The sound of rustling fabric came from behind. Suddenly, a slight breeze blew from behind, mixed with a faint crisp floral scent. A blood-red camellia flower swayed down on the light white gauze, hanging by her cheek.

Chang’an had actually draped Yue Guanyi’s changed clothes over the screen like this!

Qiu Shuzhi’s ear tips reddened, her mind involuntarily conjuring up images of him changing clothes, causing her spine to stiffen immediately.

“Official Qiu……” Yue Guanyi called out to her softly, his weak voice carrying a hint of coolness.

Qiu Shuzhi turned her head, and Yue Guanyi had already changed into his clothes. However, he was only wearing a snow-white inner garment, his long hair, already wiped dry, half-wet half-dry, hanging down his back.

A lock of black hair slid from his shoulder, black as ink against skin as white as frost, sliding into the inner garment through the gaps in the collar, coy yet inviting.

“Does Your Highness feel any discomfort anywhere?” Qiu Shuzhi asked seriously, suppressing other emotions in her eyes.

Yue Guanyi’s brow furrowed slightly at the tail, seemingly disappointed at not seeing any unusual expression from her.

But he quickly recovered, covering his chest with his fair hand in a delicate pose reminiscent of Xi Shi cradling her heart: “I feel a bit uncomfortable in my chest, it’s a bit hard to breathe, my head feels dizzy, and I can’t muster any strength in my body.”

Chang’an was about to break out in goosebumps. When it came to affectation, His Highness was undoubtedly number one.

But affected or not, Official Qiu seemed to fall for it. The concern in her eyes was almost overflowing.

“Perhaps it’s due to catching a chill. Don’t worry, Your Highness, the doctor will be here soon.”

“Mm.” Yue Guanyi nodded obediently.

“Does Your Highness remember how you fell into the water?” Qiu Shuzhi asked probingly.

The Crown Prince falling into water was no small matter. By now, the news had probably reached Qingning Palace, and it wouldn’t be long before the Empress Dowager sent someone to inquire.

When Yue Guanyi fell into the water, she was talking with other officials and wasn’t paying attention to him and Qiu Qiushuang, so she didn’t know the circumstances.

At the time of the incident, only Qiu Qiushuang was by Yue Guanyi’s side. He only needed to say a few words against Qiu Qiushuang, and the consequences would be unthinkable.

“Is there any need to ask? There were only His Highness and your cousin by the pool. I saw with my own eyes him grappling with His Highness. If it wasn’t for him, would His Highness have fallen into the water by himself?” Chang’an said coldly.

“Chang’an, don’t be rude!” Yue Guanyi rebuked him softly with furrowed brows, then said in a gentle tone: “Official, don’t listen to Chang’an’s nonsense. I fell into the water by my own carelessness, it has nothing to do with Young Master Qiu.”

Qiu Shuzhi more or less understood. Even if Yue Guanyi wasn’t pushed into the water by Qiu Qiushuang, it was more or less related to him.

However, since Yue Guanyi was willing to help her cover it up, she was naturally grateful.

“This subject thanks Your Highness on behalf of my cousin.”

“No need, please rise quickly.” Yue Guanyi hurriedly helped her up, but momentarily forgot that he was leaning against the edge of the bed, and half his body instantly fell back.

Qiu Shuzhi, quick-eyed and quick-handed, caught him in one swift move. His slightly cold body was held in her arms, his wet hair brushing softly against her neck, his clear eyes flowing like water, reflecting her image.

The loosely tied sash caused the neckline at his chest to open, revealing delicate collarbones and slightly reddened skin.

Qiu Shuzhi’s ear tips reddened, and she turned her face away: “This subject has offended.”

“It’s nothing.” Yue Guanyi adjusted his half-open collar, his skin as white as frost tinged slightly red.

“Official, the doctor has arrived,” a servant said outside the door.

“Quickly invite him in.”

The doctor who had hurried over walked in with unsteady steps, his rough hand about to be placed on his wrist.

“Wait.” Yue Guanyi suddenly said, taking a piece of light gauze nearby and covering his wrist: “Continue.”

Qiu Shuzhi watched this, realizing that Yue Guanyi was indeed as the rumors said, disliking women approaching him, even for a doctor to check his pulse.

The old doctor tremblingly placed his hand on Yue Guanyi’s wrist, pondered for a moment and said: “Although His Highness fell into the water, fortunately there’s no major problem. Just drink some ginger soup to drive away the cold and it will be fine.”

Qiu Shuzhi’s heart, which had been suspended, finally relaxed: “It’s good that Your Highness is alright. I’ll immediately instruct the kitchen to brew some ginger soup.”

Seeing her hurriedly leaving, Yue Guanyi’s gentle and docile expression instantly vanished. His sharp phoenix eyes coldly glanced sideways at the doctor: “Does the doctor mean that this prince’s fall into the water is of no consequence?”

The old doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead, as if facing a great enemy: “Judging from Your Highness’s pulse-”

Yue Guanyi raised his eyes coldly: “Then why does this prince feel palpitations and dizziness?”

The doctor shrank back trembling: “Uh, after falling into water, some weak individuals may experience such symptoms.”

Yue Guanyi’s phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, showing no trace of viciousness yet already causing fear: “In a case like this prince’s, should one not leave the bed and rest for a period of time?”

The doctor’s voice trembled: “Indeed, as Your Highness says, you should rest for a few days and not leave the bed or be exposed to wind.”

Yue Guanyi’s lips curled slightly, the corners of his phoenix eyes lifting: “If that’s the case, the doctor should inform Official Qiu truthfully.”

The old doctor nodded repeatedly, hastily retreating from the room, grateful to have come out alive.

Encountering Qiu Shuzhi who was personally returning with ginger soup, remembering Yue Guanyi’s bone-chillingly cold eyes, he hurriedly grabbed her hand: “Official Qiu-”

“Does the doctor have something else?” Qiu Shuzhi asked carefully, protecting the ginger soup in her hands.

“This old one forgot to tell Official earlier, although His Highness’s fall into the water seems to have no major consequences on the surface, there’s an extreme danger of catching a cold. These few days, you must not let His Highness move about casually. It’s best to stay in the room. Remember, he must rest well, otherwise it’s easy for a high fever to occur.”

“Is it that serious? Why didn’t the doctor say so earlier?” Qiu Shuzhi frowned slightly. Falling into water shouldn’t be this severe, should it?

“This-” The old doctor’s eyes rolled: “His Highness was right there earlier. To avoid causing him excessive worry, I kept it hidden. In any case, Official must take good care of His Highness, otherwise once a fever develops, it’s extremely easy to harm the heart and lungs.”

Qiu Shuzhi nodded: “Thank you, doctor.”

In ancient times without antibiotics, once a high fever developed it wasn’t easy to cure, and it was very easy to lead to pneumonia. No wonder the doctor was so nervous.

Since the doctor said so, she must take good care of him.

“Your Highness, please drink some ginger soup to drive away the cold.” She entered the room carrying the still steaming ginger soup. The windows in the room were tightly sealed, airtight, and the slightly pungent smell of ginger soup quickly spread throughout the room.

Yue Guanyi frowned imperceptibly at the smell, but still lightly sipped like an obedient and docile little puppy. The spicy and slightly choking taste immediately exploded between his throat and tongue.

Qiu Shuzhi saw him frowning tightly and smiled apologetically: “It’s my first time making ginger soup, please forgive me, Your Highness.”

“You made it?” Yue Guanyi’s expression froze, muttering.

Qiu Shuzhi nodded faintly.

Yue Guanyi’s face immediately reddened, his gaze fixed tightly on the ginger soup before him. The spicy taste that had just seared his throat and tongue seemed to burn like a tongue of fire between his lips and teeth, burning all the blood in his body to boiling.

This was ginger soup that Qiu Niang had personally brewed for him.

The ordinary ginger soup instantly became like a priceless treasure in his eyes. He tilted his head back and drank it all in one go. The slightly overflowing ginger soup flowed from the corner of his mouth, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down, wetting his pure white collar.

“Your Highness, if it doesn’t taste good, you don’t have to force yourself to drink it.” Qiu Shuzhi took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the traces on his neck.

“No- not forcing at all.” He bit his lip tightly, his tongue frantically curling around the remaining ginger soup in his mouth, his heart nearly boiling with joy: “The ginger soup Official Qiu brewed… is very sweet.”