Chapter 101: It Won’t Hurt If You Blow On It

Chapter 101: It Won't Hurt If You Blow On It

How could a man use such underhanded tactics to cling onto someone? It was utterly shameless and despicable!

As Ye Jiangbai criticized himself inwardly, the corners of his lips curled up in delight.

Initially, he thought he was angry—angry at her deception and her escape. But once he was back by her side, Ye Jiangbai realized that all his anger and fury paled in comparison to her embrace. Just one hug from her, and all his resentment vanished completely.

Pathetic!

"Master," Liang Ce whispered from behind the screen, glancing at him cautiously before interrupting, "The physician is here."

At the mention of this, the smile on Ye Jiangbai's face instantly vanished. He coughed twice and waved dismissively. "Tell him to submit his report casually, saying that I've already prescribed a remedy."

"But... it might be difficult to hide this from His Highness, the Prince."

"Even so, we must try!"

"…Understood."

Liang Ce was well aware of his master's fear of doctors, but with Ye Jiangbai's condition worsening by the day, he had no choice but to defy his orders secretly and seek help from Prince Qi.

Thus, as Ye Jiangbai dozed half-awake, he was startled by the sound of a doctor's medicine chest opening, along with the clinking of ceramic bottles. This roused him immediately.

Through half-open eyes, he saw Chang Nian standing with her back to him, beside a physician who was rummaging through his case. The doctor seemed to be retrieving something that was pressed beneath his supplies.

"Shouldn't you take his pulse first?" Liang Ce whispered.

The physician replied, "In the art of diagnosis, a mere glance is enough to determine the severity of this patient's condition. Acupuncture is necessary here, so I'll prepare it in advance."

Chang Nian nodded. "Doctor Liu's medical skills are exceptional."

"The prince honors me too much."

"..." Ye Jiangbai's face paled, and upon seeing Chang Nian turn around, he promptly closed his eyes, pretending to be unconscious.

Chang Nian came to the bedside with the physician to examine his pulse. Glimpsing Ye Jiangbai's tightly shut eyes, she smiled. "Doctor, if the illness is truly severe, would he still have any sensation?"

The physician shook his head in agreement. "Judging by the patient's current state, he seems to be in a deep sleep. Even with ten or so needles, there wouldn't be any reaction."

"So it is," Chang Nian muttered softly. "I thought he was pretending to be ill to deceive me. It seems I've wronged him."

After taking his pulse and examining his eyelids, the physician said, "With such a high fever, how could it be an act? Your Highness, please move aside. This old man will begin the acupuncture treatment."

"Please proceed, Doctor," Liang Ce said.

The row of gleaming silver needles made Liang Ce swallow hard. The physician was quick and precise, swiftly inserting the needles into the correct acupoints.

Ye Jiangbai strained to keep still, not daring to react in any way. But he was genuinely terrified. In his heart, he cried out repeatedly, Why would anyone use silver needles as a means to save lives? They were clearly instruments of torture!

Sharp pains erupted at each punctured acupoint. Not only that, the physician twisted the ends of the needles to push them deeper into Ye Jiangbai's flesh.

Unable to endure it any longer, Ye Jiangbai let out a muffled groan.

"Aiyo," Chang Nian gasped. "He's reacting!"

"Your Highness, there's no need to panic. This is a normal physical response. The patient won't awaken for a while yet," the physician said calmly, withdrawing one needle and picking up another to insert into a new acupoint.

Chang Nian clearly saw Ye Jiangbai's face twitch in pain.

For some inexplicable reason, she felt much better. She covered her mouth and giggled for a while before clearing her throat and asking, "How many more needles will there be?"

"There are five more. After three sticks of incense, we can remove them."

"That's great... ahem, that will be quite tiring for the doctor."

"Please don't mention it."

Chang Nian fetched a small stool and obediently sat beside the bed. Supporting her chin with both hands, she watched Ye Jiangbai's miserable state on the bed with an admiring gaze.

It was truly pitiful. A man who was so averse to taking medicine was now pricked all over like a hedgehog, yet he dared not move. Even his knuckles had turned pale.

"The patient has delayed seeking treatment for several days, hasn't he?" The doctor muttered. "If he had come earlier, there would have been no need for acupuncture."

"Yes, here's the prescription. Cook the medicine in two hours and give it to the patient."

"Understood." Liang Ce took the prescription, swallowed, and didn't dare to look in the direction of the bed. With his head down, he ran off.

The doctor checked Ye Jiangbai's forehead and then instructed Chang Nian, "The patient's fever hasn't subsided, so he might be a bit delirious and easily agitated. You'll have to take extra care of his emotional state."

"I see," Chang Nian nodded with a gentle smile. She waited for three incense sticks to burn before watching the physician remove the silver needles one by one.

It was as if she could hear the faint sizzling sounds of the needles piercing through his flesh.

With a compassionate gaze, Chang Nian looked at Ye Jiangbai. Once the physician had packed away his medical kit and left, she approached Ye Jiangbai, gently stroking his head affectionately. "Poor thing."

Ye Jiangbai's eyes suddenly snapped open.

Startled, Chang Nian jumped back and tried to run away. Ye Jiangbai spoke in a cold voice, "Stay where you are!"

Perhaps it was due to the relief he felt from the acupuncture, but Chang Nian actually obeyed and stopped in her tracks, turning to him with a grin. "What can I do for you, Duke?"

He shifted his body as if he wanted to sit up. Chang Nian quickly supported him, propping a pillow behind his back and tucking the blanket around him.

Ye Jiangbai lifted his gaze, his eyes filled with annoyance and grievance as he stared at her. "You actually let someone poke me with needles."

"You were ill. This is part of the treatment," Chang Nian explained earnestly, shrugging her shoulders. "I didn't do it on purpose."

Lowering his head in a sullen manner, he examined the needle marks on his hand and spoke in a hoarse voice, "It hurt."

Looking at his small, childlike demeanor, Chang Nian couldn't help but soften her voice to comfort him. "It doesn't hurt anymore, and once you're better, you won't have to be pricked anymore."

He looked at her in confusion and asked in a muffled voice, "If it hurts very, very much, will it still get better?"

"Yes, it will," Chang Nian replied. Taking his hand, she gently blew on it twice. "Just like this."

A glint flashed in his deep eyes, and Ye Jiangbai reached out to grab her shoulder.

Chang Nian froze, watching as he drew closer and lowered his head toward the spot over her left heart.

Her hairs stood on end, and Chang Nian struggled. "What do you want to do?!"

He didn't answer, holding her firmly as he fell silent for a moment. Then, mimicking her earlier action, he blew two breaths.

"Like this...," he asked, pressing his lips together, "will you also feel better?"

It was as if something had struck her heart, leaving Chang Nian breathless. She reached out to push him back onto the pillow.

Ye Jiangbai's grip didn't loosen; instead, he leaned back, pulling her down on top of him. He then embraced her tightly, lowering his head to whisper by her ear, "I've never been good at comforting people or knowing how to make things right when I mess up. Can Your Highness teach me again?"

Chang Nian pressed her lips together, and her eyes suddenly reddened.

It was better not to bring up certain matters; she could pretend that nothing had happened, burying them deeply beneath the sand. But once they were brought to light, the grievances in her heart only intensified.

"On that day, I was too impulsive," Ye Jiangbai said softly. "I offended Your Highness. Is there any way to make amends?"