Chapter 374: If Xiao Shao Travels to When Qi Yan Just Fell into Misfortune 3

Chapter 374: If Xiao Shao Traveled Back to When Qi Yan First Fell into Misfortune (Part 3)

Seeing Qi Yan’s brow furrowed, Xiao Shao assumed he was uncomfortable and coaxed, "Just hang in there. We’ll be there soon."

Qi Yan closed his eyes, knowing he should express gratitude and offer some polite pleasantries. But his mind was foggy, his body exhausted, so he averted his face, unwilling to acknowledge Xiao Shao.

Yet the moment he did, Qi Yan realized his mistake.

His family’s survival in prison depended entirely on this prince. At this point, he had no right to act standoffish in front of Xiao Shao.

A heavier despair settled in, and the fear he had suppressed for days erupted. Already weakened by illness, Qi Yan thought it would be better to get it over with. Pressing his lips together, he tried to sit up, forcing himself to bow to Xiao Shao despite his frailty.

But before he could rise, Xiao Shao stopped him.

The second prince pushed him back gently onto the cushioned seat, then tightened the fox-fur cloak around him. Softly, he asked, "What do you need? Water? I’ll get it for you."

In a haze, Qi Yan felt the rim of a warm cup pressed to his lips—Xiao Shao was feeding him himself.

Staring at the steam rising from the porcelain bowl, Qi Yan was momentarily stunned.

After Xiao Shao’s special orders, the prison had not lacked food or water. But with so many people to care for, the jailer couldn’t always provide hot water. Even when ill, Qi Yan had mostly drunk it cold.

In the dead of winter, how much better was cold water than ice?

Noticing his hesitation, Xiao Shao frowned and tasted the spoon himself. "Too hot? No, I let it cool."

Satisfied with the temperature, he brought the spoon back to Qi Yan’s lips.

The spoon still damp from his lips—Xiao Shao had just drunk from it.

Qi Yan pressed his lips together, refusing.

—Sharing utensils with a prince broke protocol.

But as soon as the thought arose, Qi Yan reminded himself that he likely no longer counted as a subject.

Slowly, hesitantly, he parted his lips.

Yet Xiao Shao had already withdrawn the spoon.

At first, he hadn’t thought twice—in their past life, they had shared everything: utensils, food, clothes, even the imperial bed. When had Qi Yan ever refused him? But this Qi Yan wasn’t as familiar with him yet, so Xiao Shao had to consider his feelings.

He grabbed a fresh spoon and held it to Qi Yan’s lips. "Drink some warm water first. The imperial physician is on the way. We’ll have you treated as soon as we’re home."

"...Mm."

Qi Yan hadn’t expected Xiao Shao to be so attentive. Uneasy but compliant, he drank the water sip by sip from his hand.

The carriage pulled up smoothly into the prince’s residence.

As servants set down the steps, Qi Yan struggled to rise, but Xiao Shao said, "A patient shouldn’t push himself."

He wrapped Qi Yan tighter in the cloak, scooped him up—a motion so familiar from their past life, when he had carried Qi Yan twice daily. But for Qi Yan, it was anything but comfortable.

As his stomach lurched, Qi Yan instinctively reached to wrap his arms around Xiao Shao’s neck, only to freeze midair and let them drop limply.

He didn’t dare.

Xiao Shao glanced down, amusement bright in his eyes, his striking, handsome face all roguish charm. "You can hold on, Xiao Tanhu. However you want. It’s fine."

"......"

Qi Yan remained silent, and Xiao Shao chuckled again, "No need to hold on. I’ve got you—won’t let you fall."

He carried him steadily, just as promised, without a single bump. Once they entered the bedchamber, he quickly bundled him into bed.

—Fu Dehai, seeing his master rush out to fetch someone, had already lit the charcoal and prepared the warming stove, making the room warm as spring. Xiao Shao tucked the blankets in loosely before stepping out to ask Fu Dehai, "Has the physician arrived?"

Fu Dehai: "He’s been sent for, but hasn’t arrived yet."

Xiao Shao: "Are the necessary preparations ready?"

Now that Qi Yan was under his roof, he naturally couldn’t keep wearing prison garb. Xiao Shao guessed his size from their past life and instructed Fu Dehai to tailor a few new sets, along with other daily necessities.

Fu Dehai didn’t dare question why his master had come back from prison cradling a man—nor how he inexplicably knew his waist and build—and simply complied.

"The underclothes are ready in a hurry. The outer robes are still being tailored and should be ready by tomorrow."

As he spoke, a servant entered with a newly tailored silk sleeping robe for Qi Yan, ready to help him change out of his prison clothes, wash his face, and dry his hair. "Young master, His Highness had this robe made for you. Hot water has also been prepared in the back."

Qi Yan fingered the lightweight silk robe and asked expressionlessly, "Where and how am I to bathe?"

Noblemen could be particular about such things.

The servant froze, but Xiao Shao had already lifted the curtain and stepped in. "No bath for now, Xiao Tanhu. You’re burning up—you might catch cold. Just clean up with a damp cloth."

Qi Yan: "...Skip it?"

Xiao Shao: "Skip it. Even if you’re uncomfortable, wait till you’re better."

Qi Yan frowned, still trying to figure him out when Xiao Shao clapped his hands. Servants hurried in with basins of water, wringing out damp cloths to wipe his face.

Qi Yan leaned away and spoke first, "I’ll do it myself."

He pressed his lips together, eyeing the cloth and then the sleeping robe before adding stiffly, "I can handle it myself. No need to trouble Your Highness."

Xiao Shao raised a brow. "Fine."

He handed the cloth to Qi Yan. Used to each other like an old married couple that it didn’t occur to him to step away. Qi Yan looked up at him, then lowered his gaze to the blankets, fingers twisting the edge as he muttered, "Your Highness, may I have some privacy?"

Xiao Shao: "Very well."

It was the first time Qi Yan had asked for anything since coming back—of course he’d oblige.

He strolled out.

After a while, Fu Dehai reported that the physician had arrived.

Xiao Shao knocked on the door, amused. "Xiao Tanhu, may I come in now?"

After years of intimacy, this was the first time he’d been shut out.

A long moment later, a quiet "Mm" sounded from within.

Xiao Shao entered to find Qi Yan dressed but swaddled in blankets at the head of the bed, wrapped tightly. He couldn’t help but laugh. "Why all wrapped up? The physician’s here to examine you."

As he spoke, he drew the bed curtains shut, sealing them tightly, and explained to Qi Yan, "Given your status, you can’t openly see the physician. Bear with it—play along—act like my favorite attendant so he can check you."

Dazed with fever, Qi Yan didn’t catch the implication. Once this matter was settled, he was supposed to become Xiao Shao’s inner attendant—the "favored" part wouldn’t last if Xiao Shao lost interest.

But before he could make sense of it, an old physician with a medicine case entered through the layered gauze curtains. After exchanging greetings with Xiao Shao, he took a seat by the bedside.

Xiao Shao: "Imperial Physician Wang, someone under my roof has taken ill with a high fever. Please take a look."

As he spoke, he reached into the quilt, grabbed Qi Yan’s wrist firmly, and pulled it out.

Qi Yan: "..."

The heat from his fingers was scalding, leaving Qi Yan deeply unsettled.

—Back in his childhood, when he roamed the capital’s streets, his mother would yank him back just like this.

He wanted to say he could extend his hand himself without Xiao Shao having to pull it, but after holding back repeatedly, he still couldn’t bring himself to resist.

Behind the gauze curtain, the old doctor stole a glance, inwardly startled.

The Second Prince had said someone in his household was ill but hadn’t specified whether it was a man or a woman. This patient was in the Second Prince’s own bed, yet the hand extended was unmistakably that of a man.

His stare was heavy with meaning. Qi Yan curled his fingers slightly but was held firmly in place by Xiao Shao, pinned in place.

The physician composed himself and began the examination.

He completed the diagnosis swiftly, left a prescription, and took his leave.

And so, Qi Yan found himself with another bowl of bitter medicine, personally fed to him by Xiao Shao, along with a small pastry from Tongxing Hall.

His protests were ignored as he drank it sip by sip from Xiao Shao’s hand, stealing looks at the Second Prince as if bracing for what came next.

—His clothes had been changed, his illness examined, medicine administered, and even pastries given. For a man of his rank to go to such lengths was generosity itself. Next would come the demand for repayment.

But then Xiao Shao rose and snuffed the candle in one motion.

Under Qi Yan’s bewildered gaze, he said, "Turn in early tonight. The medicine will make you sweat, so rest well. I still have some matters to attend to. If you feel unwell in the night, send Fu Dehai to fetch me."

As he spoke, Xiao Shao couldn’t help but sigh and rub his temples.

—Juggling court intrigue and saving a life, Xiao Shao was truly busy—too busy to even cradle his lover and sleep.

And so, Qi Yan watched Xiao Shao leave with great unease, then slept in the prince’s bed until dawn.

Nothing happened.

For the next several days, nothing continued to happen.

Xiao Shao remained occupied with affairs of state but always made time each day to ensure Qi Yan ate his meals and took his medicine. Rumors painted the Second Prince as unruly and arrogant, yet in Qi Yan’s presence, Xiao Shao was gentle and patient, never losing his temper. Gradually, Qi Yan grew less afraid of him.

Lazing day after day on the plush divan in the prince’s bedchamber, nourished by good food and medicine, inevitably left him lulled into carelessness—even with the executioner’s blade still hanging over his head. His prison-worn body regained much of its strength.

But no matter how unwilling he was, the blade eventually fell.

With the charges finalized, that evening, a eunuch came bearing an imperial summons: Qi Yan was to enter the palace by order of the Emperor.

Xiao Shao timed his return precisely. Before boarding the carriage, he tousled his lover’s hair and smiled. "I’ll come for you in a month."

By convention, execution, recovery, and preliminary etiquette training would take about a month.

Qi Yan nodded, bowed respectfully, and bid Xiao Shao farewell with genuine sincerity. "Alright."

He thought to himself, *Though I don’t know how I earned Xiao Shao’s favor, being his cherished companion might not be so terrible.*