Chapter 121: Tugging at the Heartstrings

Chapter 121: Stirring the Heart

Qin Jiao was equal parts furious and helpless. Ever since he and Xie Nai started spending time together, both Luo Bei and Luo Yue had told him that the Prince of Lingnan rarely drinking was just for show—in truth, Xie Nai didn't touch a drop of alcohol.

Qin Jiao had, of course, asked why Xie Nai couldn't drink, but the two of them, just like Xie Nai, clammed up, only warning him to make damn sure Xie Nai never touched alcohol, or there'd be hell to pay.

And now, in the short time he'd been chatting with Jiang Qingrong, the Marquis of Pingning had already raised several toasts to Xie Nai. Seeing the Marquis lift his cup for another round, Qin Jiao rushed over to stop him.

"Your Highness, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Xie Nai looked at Qin Jiao with confusion. "What's wrong?"

"Oh... I suddenly have a stomachache. I'd like to ask Military Doctor Hou to take a look at me."

Qin Jiao saw that Xie Nai's eyes were still clear, with no signs of drunkenness—the fruit wine must just be slow to kick in. "Should we head back to the manor?"

Amid the clinking of goblets and glasses, Qin Jiao flashed Xie Nai a bright smile, his eyes sparkling and teeth gleaming. The young man stood tall and elegant, moonlight spilling over him like liquid silver. In that instant, all noise faded from Xie Nai's ears, leaving only the young gentleman's bright, radiant face, endlessly tugging at his heartstrings.

"Alright, back to the manor."

Once he got Xie Nai's answer, Qin Jiao said his goodbyes to the Marquis of Pingning while shooting Jiang Qingrong a few dirty looks on the sly.

At first, Xie Nai seemed fine, but little by little, Qin Jiao felt Xie Nai's hand getting colder and colder. By the time Qin Jiao walked Xie Nai out of the Marquis's place, his hand was as cold as a January ice cube.

Qin Jiao had no idea what Xie Nai was like when drunk, and he was already on edge. To make things worse, Xiaojiu had trailed after them and was hovering over Xie Nai.

"Brother Xie, why is your face so red? Are you drunk?"

Xie Nai hadn't said a word since leaving the banquet, and sure as hell wasn't about to answer Xiaojiu now. So Qin Jiao had to speak for him, "The Prince is fine. Young master, please head back to the banquet."

At that, Xiaojiu lifted his chin with a haughty air. "I don't take orders from you."

"Then suit yourself."

Qin Jiao didn't feel like wasting words on him right now. Luo Bei and Luo Yue were waiting nearby, and when they saw their two masters come out, they hurried over.

"The Prince accidentally had some wine, is there—"

"What!" Luo Yue's sudden shout scared the rest of Qin Jiao's sentence right out of him.

"Is it serious?"

Luo Bei's gaze darkened a little. "Not exactly critical."

Luo Yue made a face and sighed. "Yeah, he's just drunk. Don't worry, Young Master. It's fine, nothing serious, really, really fine..."

Qin Jiao: "..."

Really fine? Then why do you look like you're about to bawl your eyes out, Luo Yue?

Xiaojiu, overhearing that Xie Nai was drunk, immediately smelled an opportunity. "Brother Xie is drunk—Xiaojiu will come to the manor and take care of you! Can I spend the night at the manor?"

Xiaojiu's voice was soft and sweet, but it grated on Qin Jiao for no reason. "No." Qin Jiao said flatly.

Xiaojiu had never liked Qin Jiao all that much to begin with, and sure as hell wasn't about to listen to him now. "Who died and made you the boss of Brother Xie?"

Xiaojiu's tone was nasty, but Qin Jiao didn't have the patience to deal with him right then. Luo Yue, being quick-witted, didn't need Qin Jiao to say anything—he stepped forward on his own and politely blocked Xiaojiu from their path.

"Qin Jiao, you're being far too presumptuous!"

"Brother Xie, why aren't you saying anything? He's bullying me..."

Ignoring the furious Xiaojiu, Qin Jiao helped Xie Nai into the carriage together with Luo Bei, then gave a low command: "Return to the Prince of Lingnan's manor."

The weather had been warming up lately, and Military Doctor Hou had taken his newly accepted apprentice into the deep mountains. He had just returned, not even setting down his basket, when Luo Yue came rushing over in a panic, saying the Prince was drunk and in an unusual state, and he needed to come quickly.

Military Doctor Hou didn't dare delay a single moment. He hurriedly grabbed his medical kit and followed Luo Yue. On the way, Luo Yue found his pace too slow, so he scooped the old doctor up and ran. Poor Military Doctor Hou—at his age, by the time they arrived, his bones were nearly rattled apart by Luo Yue's sprinting.

"Slow down, slow down! My old back..." Military Doctor Hou was pulled into the room by Luo Yue. Qin Jiao was just about to rise to greet him when his wrist was yanked with force, and before he could prepare, Xie Nai pulled him back to his side.

Xie Nai said nothing, only gripping Qin Jiao's wrist with a gloomy expression. Up close, Qin Jiao could easily catch the rich fragrance of fruit wine emanating from Xie Nai.

At this moment, Qin Jiao and Xie Nai sat side by side on the small couch, appearing harmonious and peaceful—but whenever Qin Jiao made a move to get up, Xie Nai would furrow his brows in displeasure. Luo Bei and Luo Yue didn't dare come anywhere near either of them.

"Military Doctor Hou, the Prince's body is ice-cold after drinking. Please take a look."

From the Marquis's residence all the way to the Prince of Lingnan's manor, Xie Nai had been tightly gripping Qin Jiao's hand the entire way, so Qin Jiao could feel most vividly that from the initial burning warmth to the current icy stiffness, Xie Nai's body temperature had been dropping abnormally.

"Don't worry, let me take his pulse."

Military Doctor Hou already had a rough guess in mind, and after checking the pulse, he confirmed his suspicion. "The wine has triggered an old ailment in the Prince. You two go soak in the hot spring at the back for a while, and that should do it."

"The Prince has an old ailment? What kind?" Qin Jiao asked with a shocked expression.

"You'll find out soon enough." Military Doctor Hou waved his hand, signaling Luo Bei and Luo Yue to go prepare. But Qin Jiao was still confused. "Military Doctor Hou, did you just say I need to soak too?"

"Yes." Military Doctor Hou stroked his white beard while discreetly glancing at the Fengxue Bracelet on Qin Jiao's wrist. "You're indispensable. Don't delay—go on now."

With that, Military Doctor Hou grabbed his medical kit and hurried off, saying he'd return later to check the pulse again.

Before long, Luo Bei and Luo Yue came back. The moment Luo Yue called out "Young Master," Xie Nai turned a cold gaze toward him.

"Your Highness, you're awake?" Luo Yue asked cautiously.

"Mm."

Xie Nai nodded, then instructed Luo Yue: "Luo Yue, go to the northern outskirts forest immediately and catch five hundred wild pheasants and ducks."

Qin Jiao: "?"

In the middle of the night, Xie Nai was sending Luo Yue to do what? Catch wild chickens?

After finishing with Luo Yue, Xie Nai turned to Luo Bei: "Luo Bei, go to the palace immediately and tell His Majesty that tomorrow I will examine his and Lin Wen's horsemanship and archery. Oh, and have Wu Xianyi come as well—I'll test him too."

Qin Jiao: "??"

It was one thing for Xie Nai to test Xie Xuanran's riding and archery, but why bring Lin Wen into it? And Grand Tutor Wu was nearly seventy—if he got bounced around on a horse, his old bones would surely shatter to pieces.

But it didn't end there. After finishing with Luo Bei, Xie Nai happened to notice a squad of patrolling guards passing by outside the door, and immediately called out to them. "Go dig up some spring bamboo shoots. Bring back the best ones."

When Xie Nai mentioned digging bamboo shoots, Qin Jiao suddenly understood—the Xie Nai before him was clearly still drunk!

He turned to look at Luo Bei and Luo Yue, and sure enough, both wore expressions of agony and helplessness. "Military Doctor Hou really had foresight—he slipped away fast." Luo Yue muttered under his breath.

Qin Jiao: "What does Luo Yue mean by that?"

Just as Qin Jiao finished speaking, the young apprentice Military Doctor Hou had recently taken on arrived with medicine. The moment Luo Yue saw him, he helplessly pressed his hand to his forehead. Sure enough, the next second Xie Nai was giving orders to the apprentice: "Prepare a dose of mute medicine. Have Shen Fuqing drink it later."

Qin Jiao: "???"

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