Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Seeking Medicine (5)

Hua Jinxian falls silent. Hua Yuxuan sits quietly, her gaze drifting until it lands on a hairpin under Hua Jinxian's pillow. Recognizing it, her heart jolts. She reaches for it, but Hua Jinxian stops her, "What are you doing?"

Seeing the familiar hairpin, Hua Yuxuan's emotions surge, recalling begging Leng Jiu, who remained cold and indifferent. Despite not wanting Leng Jiu involved with Hua Jinxian, seeing the hairpin reignites her feelings.

"That hairpin is the one she gave you, right?"

Hua Jinxian tucks the hairpin away, "It's none of your concern."

Hua Yuxuan looks at him with sorrow: "There are so many women in the world, why did you have to fall for the one you shouldn't? Don't think I don't know about your drunken frenzy with the hairpin in the military camp. If you hadn't been so distraught, how could you have been hurt?"

Hua Jinxian's eyes turn cold: "You've been spying on me?"

"If I hadn't had someone watch you, you could have been killed without anyone knowing!" Hua Yuxuan retorts slightly angrily.

Hua Jinxian stares at her seriously: "Hua Yuxuan! Mind your own business, and leave mine alone!"

An exasperated Hua Yuxuan: "I'm your sister, yet you treat me like an enemy. That heartless woman, you defend her at every turn. Do you have no conscience?"

Hua Jinxian glares fiercely: "Don't speak of her like that!"

Hua Yuxuan burst into an angry laugh upon hearing this, "You're so foolishly defending her, do you know she doesn't even care about your life or death? Today, I knelt before her in the palace, begging her for help. Do you know what she said? She clearly had life-saving medicine but made all sorts of excuses, claiming she was powerless. She even said she'd rather be branded a femme fatale and drag you down with her, not fearing if you were exiled or slandered by the whole world!"

Hua Jinxu's face turned furious upon hearing this, but then something struck him, and his expression changed, "What do you mean by life-saving medicine? Why would I need any life-saving medicine?"

Seeing his cold expression, Hua Yuxuan realized she had misspoken in her haste. She opened her mouth to backtrack, but seeing his demeanor, she knew she couldn't hide it anymore, "The sword strike you suffered nearly severed your tendons and shattered your bones. The imperial physician can only treat the wound; they can't restore your tendons and bones. Even if you heal, your leg will be practically useless!"

Hearing this, Hua Jinxu felt as if all strength had left his body, and only two words echoed in his mind: 'Ruined! I'm crippled!'

Hua Yuxuan, seeing his ashen face, hurriedly added, "But it’s not hopeless. If we get the Black Jade left by the legendary physician to the old general, your tendons and bones can be mended, and you can fully recover!"

Hua Jinxu's eyelids flickered slightly, "Is that why you went to her?"

"Yes!" Hua Yuxuan nodded, clutching her handkerchief, "She was cold and heartless. No matter what I said, she refused to give it to me, not caring about you at all!"

Hua Jinxu lowered his gaze, his expression filled with sorrow, murmuring, "Why would she care?"

Thinking he had lost his heart to Leng Jiu, Hua Yuxuan felt a surge of joy and eagerly stoked the flames, "Just now, our father also went to the palace, even pleading with the Emperor to join him. They knelt before her, but she still refused to give it up. I think she truly doesn’t have you in her heart. You should give up!"

Hua Jinxu closed his eyes, saying nothing more.

Hua Yuxuan, seeing him seemingly hurt, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It's good that he's hurt; it will help him forget that heartless woman, and everything will get better.

Not long after, Prince De returned with the Black Jade, his face full of excitement, "Jinxu can be saved, he can be saved!"

"Imperial Physician! Imperial Physician!"

Prince De called out excitedly. Several imperial physicians hurried out, the chief among them looking at Prince De with equal excitement, "Your Highness, were you able to obtain the Black Jade?"

Prince De nodded repeatedly, "Quick, quick! Use it on Jinxu immediately!"

The imperial physicians, also excited, knew the significance of this medicine, a rare treasure from the legendary physician, "Rest assured, Your Highness! We’ll use it right away, guaranteeing the young master's leg will be as good as new!"

"That is good news indeed!"

Prince De handed the Black Jade to the imperial physicians and entered the room, delighted to see Hua Jinxu awake. Thinking of the medicine that could save him, the gloom on Prince De's face vanished, replaced by eagerness to heal his son. He stood by Hua Jinxu's bedside and said, "Jinxu, don’t worry, your father will surely cure you!"

Hua Yuxuan, seeing his joy, couldn't help asking, "Did the Empress Dowager agree to give the medicine? She clearly refused earlier."

Prince De nodded, "It's the only divine medicine left by the legendary physician and was the life-saving remedy for the old general. It’s natural for the Empress Dowager to be reluctant to part with it. However, she is reasonable and finally bestowed the medicine. I have instructed the imperial physician to administer it to Jinxu immediately. He will surely recover fully!"

Hua Yuxuan carefully observed Hua Jinxu, worried that the Empress Dowager’s willingness to give the medicine might change his mind. But seeing him still in a state of despair, she felt somewhat relieved.

As the imperial physician administered the medicine to Hua Jinxu, he felt a burning sensation as intense as a knife’s cut. However, he was so numb that he didn’t even flinch, enduring the pain stoically. The physician praised Hua Jinxu for his strong will, unaware that it was his greater heartache that made him indifferent to the physical pain.

September was nearing its end, and golden leaves fell one by one, creating the most beautiful scenery of late autumn.

"Empress Dowager! It's chilly, don't catch a cold!" Zi Yu brought a cloak for Leng Jiu, advising her.

The autumn wind fluttered Leng Jiu's hair as she looked up at the sky, squinting slightly, "It’s going to rain."

"Yes! The sky has been overcast these days. It’s time for a rain."

Leng Jiu lowered her gaze and turned around, "Let's go inside."

Everything had been quiet lately, as still as a stagnant pond. Entering the room, Qingling followed behind, "Empress Dowager!"

Leng Jiu paused, "What is it?"

"I just heard that Prince Hua’s injury has greatly improved. He can walk now!"

Leng Jiu’s eyebrows twitched slightly, "Why mention these matters to me?"

"No, I just thought that since the Empress Dowager provided the medicine, you should know the outcome!"

"Heh, that’s true."

Qingling glanced at Leng Jiu and added, "However, I heard Prince Hua has been acting strangely. Perhaps affected by his severe injury, he has been silent and unresponsive. The wife of Prince De has been so worried that she's cried several times!"

Leng Jiu lowered her eyes, "No need to report such things to me in the future. By the way, what has Prince Xuan been up to these days?"

"The Emperor arranged for Prince Xuan to welcome the Regent of the Snow Country. Prince Xuan took it easy for a few days and has only just begun preparations."

"He is indeed thoughtful. It seems he truly intends to match Princess Lan Xiang with Prince Xuan," Leng Jiu said with a slight smile, turning to walk inside. Ah, that person will arrive in a few days. I wonder how much he has changed after not seeing him for several months. She lay down on the couch, reminiscing about the days she spent listening to him play the piano in that abandoned courtyard. Now, she found herself missing those moments.