Chapter 138

He had never longed for a woman to be by his side every moment like this before, not even when he had wanted Huo Qiyun.

The atmosphere between the two of them was strange.

For some inexplicable reason, hot air was swirling in the room. Gu Ying didn't dare meet the man's burning gaze directly. She smiled and told him about everything that had happened at the Bo Residence recently.

Zhao Changdu listened attentively and didn't call her heartless again. On the contrary, the corners of his lips curled up into a faint smile. "Little fox," he said.

Gu Ying said in annoyance, "I'm a little fox, so the Prince is a fox spirit."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted them, feeling that she shouldn't tease him like this.

However, Zhao Changdu wasn't angry. He chuckled softly, walked over to her, bent down, and brought his fox-like handsome face close to her ear. It was bewitching and captivating. "Who said that, hmm?" he murmured.

The warm, scalding breath beside her ear made Gu Ying's earlobes burn crimson. "Doesn't the Prince know? That's what everyone in Bianjing says," she said.

Of course he knew about those joking words from the people of Bianjing.

Zhao Changdu's eyes fell on the girl's flushed earlobe. He paused briefly, and his throat rolled rapidly a few times.

The scent on the young girl's body was too sweet. It kept unintentionally luring him to taste it.

After all, he was a gentleman. He had promised not to touch her, so he wouldn't go back on his word. He moved away from her and stopped teasing her.

Just then, Imperial Physician Wang took out a few moxa sticks and said gravely, "Your Highness, Second Young Lady."

Gu Ying hurried over and asked about her brother's condition, "Imperial Physician Wang, how is my brother's illness?"

Imperial Physician Wang pointed at the moxa sticks in his hand, his tone heavy. "Second Young Lady, there is cinnabar in these." Gu Ying's brows furrowed. "What?"

Imperial Physician Wang said, "Cinnabar is cold in nature and poisonous. If moxa sticks containing cinnabar have been used long-term to moxibustion the patient, the toxins will invade the bone marrow through the wounds. Over time, it will become incurable."

"No wonder I didn't find any toxins in the Young Master's usual medications. The poison was hidden in the moxa sticks!"

Gu Ying's mind buzzed, and she felt as if her entire body had been put in an ice cellar, cold to the bone.

When she thought about how this was due to her own negligence, her heart stalled. She stood rooted to the spot, swaying like a leaf in the wind, tottering on the verge of collapse.

She opened her mouth but found her throat tight. She couldn't get a single word out.

It was Zhao Changdu who stepped forward with knitted brows and drew her into his embrace. In a low voice, he asked Imperial Physician Wang, "What is Gu Ning's condition now? Is there still a way to treat him?"

Imperial Physician Wang hesitated. "In response to Your Highness, fortunately the Young Master stopped taking the medicine some time ago. He can still be treated now."

Zhao Changdu narrowed his eyes. "No matter what method you use, you must cure Gu Ning's illness."

Imperial Physician Wang hurriedly agreed, glancing at the ashen-faced Second Young Lady in the Prince's arms. He hastily went into Gu Ning's room.

Gu Ying's mind went blank for a moment. But when she heard from Imperial Physician Wang that her brother's legs could still be cured, she relaxed somewhat. Lifting her skirt, she immediately went into the room.

She sat nervously on the round stool by the bedside and watched with her own eyes as Imperial Physician Wang removed the toxins from her brother's legs.

After sterilizing a knife over a flame, Imperial Physician Wang cut open the rotten, stiffened muscles on Gu Ning's legs to drain the poisoned blood.

Without any anesthetic, Gu Ning's face was taut and drenched in sweat, yet he didn't utter a single cry.

Gu Ying held Gu Ning's hand tightly the entire time. The room was eerily quiet.

Leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, Zhao Changdu watched the siblings with sweat pouring down their faces. His heartstrings stirred.

There was a time when he had endured pain alone like this.

Unfortunately, back then, he didn't have a good older sister like Gu Ying to shield him from the wind and snow...

Thinking of his own dark and bleak past, the man's expression sank. The corner of his mouth hooked up into a self-deprecating smile as he turned and left the room.

From the corner of her eye, Gu Ying saw the man's retreating figure but had no time to inquire. Her sole focus was on protecting her brother.

Only after Imperial Physician Wang had drained most of the poisoned blood did Gu Ning finally pass out from the pain.

Imperial Physician Wang wiped the sweat from his brow and smiled at Gu Ying. "Second Young Lady, don't worry. Now that we've found the source of the poison, there are ways to detoxify him. It's just that the Young Master has been bedridden and ill for a long time, so he needs some time to recover." Gu Ying wiped the sweat from Gu Ning's forehead, saying gratefully, "Alright, as long as Imperial Physician Wang can cure my brother, no matter how long it takes, I'm willing to wait."

Imperial Physician Wang pondered, then added, "This official needs to remove the toxins from the Young Master every day. I hope Second Young Lady can prepare a room for me."

How could Gu Ying refuse? Not only would she prepare a room for Imperial Physician Wang, even if he wanted her to buy him a grand mansion, she would be willing.

She immediately had Yin Lan prepare a wing room and assigned a servant to specifically attend to Imperial Physician Wang's meals and lodging.

As an imperial physician, Wang was loyal, compassionate, and skilled. He had an esteemed reputation in Bianjing.

With him caring for Gu Ning at Xiangfeng Studio, Gu Ying felt more relieved than ever. A trace of a smile appeared on her face. Her brother's illness finally showed a glimmer of hope. She had no other wishes, only hoping nothing would go wrong during the treatment process.

In her previous life, she hadn't gotten to see her brother grow up.

In this life, she would definitely protect her brother and watch him grow up with her own eyes, watching him get married and have children.

With heartfelt gratitude after making arrangements for Imperial Physician Wang, Gu Ying raised her head and suddenly realized the Prince had gone to the outer room at some point.

Outside, heavy snow was falling, swirling beautifully into a picturesque scene.

The man leaned against a column in the corridor near the doorframe. His dark green robes were casual and unrestrained, his jade belt noble. His tall, straight silhouette was imposing, yet somehow emanated a hint of indescribable loneliness.

"Your Highness," Gu Ying called out softly. She blew out a puff of white mist, clutched the tea thermos, and walked over to him. "It's cold outside. Have this to warm yourself," she said, offering it to him.

Zhao Changdu gathered his thoughts and accepted the tea thermos the girl handed over, chuckling lightly. "Everything's arranged properly?"

Gu Ying craned her neck to look up at him, her bright eyes meeting his sincerely. "Mm, thank you for helping my brother," she said with a true, heartfelt smile.

If not for him, she might still have to figure out how to deal with Prince Shu. That man's schemes ran deep, and she, in her lowly position, might not be a match for him.

Zhao Changdu's long lashes drooped, his gaze settling on the girl's exquisite, porcelain doll-like face.

Huo Qiyun had also once been so simply adorable, often craning her neck to look at him wholeheartedly like Gu Ying, smiling with eyes curving into crescents, remarkably similar to a lazy little cat.

But later, she had changed, just as he had changed.

Zhao Changdu's emotions were complicated. He pulled back his thoughts and stroked Gu Ying's hair. "What do you say to accompanying me for a stretch if you have time?"

Gu Ying stared blankly. She could still feel the residual warmth of the man's palm on her head.

Zhao Changdu looked at her with phoenix eyes. "Why haven't you caught up yet?"