Chapter 318: This Is a Trap
Chapter 318: Chapter 318: This Is a Trap
The Emperor shot to his feet, but the movement was too abrupt, and a wave of dizziness washed over him.
Shen Ningning quickly supported him from behind with her small hands.
"Uncle Emperor, be careful!"
The Emperor rubbed his forehead, smiling weakly. "Alright, alright... Your Uncle Emperor just got too excited. Guards, quickly bring the Prime Minister and the Divine Doctor in."
A short while later, the tall figure of Xie Suzhi entered, leading the Divine Doctor, Sima Han.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." The two men bowed with clasped hands.
The Emperor hurried to help them up himself. "Divine Doctor, dispense with the formalities. Saving my son is what’s important. Quickly, examine his condition."
Sima Han accepted the order and immediately stepped forward to take the prince’s pulse.
Taking advantage of the moment, Xie Suzhi pulled Shen Ningning aside.
He straightened the little girl’s collar, adjusted her white fur cloak, and rubbed her small hands to warm them.
"Ningning, why aren’t you wearing more?" Xie Suzhi’s voice was filled with concern, his eyes brimming with deep, fatherly affection.
Shen Ningning felt a rush of happiness just seeing Xie Suzhi.
She gave a sweet smile. "I’m wearing plenty! In fact, I’m even a little hot."
Xie Suzhi glanced around. The main hall of Zichen Palace was indeed kept scorching hot by the braziers, all for Mo Lingwei’s illness.
A gentle smile touched his thin lips.
"Godfather has been very busy lately. Once I’m done in a few days, I’ll spend some proper time with you, Ningning."
"A friend of mine mortgaged a mountain to Godfather. Godfather didn’t think it was very useful, but then I remembered you’re raising a pack of wolves. I’ll take you to see it when the time comes. If you like it, Godfather will keep the mountain for you to raise other animals on."
The little girl’s eyes lit up. "A whole mountain?"
Xie Suzhi smiled and nodded.
’I have to go see it!’
After a while, Sima Han performed acupuncture on Mo Lingwei and prescribed a few potent medicines.
However, even after taking the medicine, Mo Lingwei showed no signs of waking.
Sima Han’s expression was grave. He called the Emperor aside and whispered to him in a low voice.
Shen Ningning sneakily tried to eavesdrop.
She only caught Sima Han’s words: "...incurable... won’t live long."
The Emperor’s face turned ashen. He looked as if he had been dealt a heavy blow, swaying on his feet and nearly collapsing.
Xie Suzhi immediately stepped forward to support the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, be careful of your health!"
The Emperor was in a daze. Xie Suzhi helped him to a nearby chair, and only after drinking two cups of tea did he manage to compose himself.
He immediately said to the Divine Doctor, "What you just said must not be repeated to a third person, and it absolutely cannot be spread outside this room!"
Sima Han immediately clasped his hands. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. The Prime Minister instructed me that I was to report the truth of His Highness’s condition only to you."
Shen Ningning didn’t know what they had said, but a sense of unease grew in her heart.
She trotted over to the edge of the daybed on her little feet.
Seeing Mo Lingwei lying on the daybed like a block of ice, a pang of heartache filled the little girl’s eyes.
"Big Brother," she said, her small hand taking hold of his fingertips. "Please get better soon. I miss you."
Mo Lingwei’s eyes were closed. His sharp, black brows, like swords, seemed touched with frost, accentuating the cold, serene look of his features even in unconsciousness.
The Emperor watched, his gaze filled with emotion, his eyes seeming to well up with tears.
"They are childhood sweethearts, aren’t they? Their bond is so strong."
Xie Suzhi’s tone was calm and devoid of emotion. He simply agreed, "Yes. Ningning has known His Highness since she was very young. It must be a kind of fate."
But if one looked closely into the depths of his eyes, one could see a chilling coldness, like snow under the moon.
Just then, Chen Shaobei rushed back with the Spirit Grass.
The Emperor quickly helped brew the Spirit Grass into a soup and fed it to Mo Lingwei.
Afterward, the group waited anxiously.
Time ticked by, second by second.
An hour later, Xie Suzhi and the Emperor had already left.
They went to a side hall to deal with urgent government affairs; the memorials could not be delayed for a moment.
Shen Ningning volunteered to stay behind and wait for Mo Lingwei to wake up.
By now, even though she had taken off her outer coat and small vest, the sweltering heat from the underfloor heating system made her cheeks flush red.
The warmth induced drowsiness. Shen Ningning propped her chin on her hand, leaning against the side of Mo Lingwei’s bed.
Her little head bobbed back and forth, and she squeezed her eyes shut, overcome with sleepiness.
Suddenly, she felt someone lift her into their arms.
Shen Ningning rubbed her eyes with her small hands. "Mmm?"
Her blurry vision gradually cleared, and she found herself looking at Mo Lingwei’s sharply defined jaw.
"Big Brother!" The little girl was instantly wide awake and overjoyed. "You’re awake!"
Mo Lingwei was wearing a thin inner robe, clearly having just woken up.
He had been about to carry Shen Ningning over to his bed to let her rest.
Hearing her voice, Mo Lingwei set her down, a clear smile breaking across his sharp, dark features.
"Why are you also keeping watch by my bed? Have I been unconscious for a long time? Did I scare you?"
Shen Ningning shook her head decisively. "I wasn’t scared! It’s good that you’re okay, Big Brother!"
Mo Lingwei looked at her little face, flushed red from the heat like a ripe apple.
He couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch her little cheek, then gently wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead.
"It seems you’ve really had a hard time. But... I think I heard you say you missed me. Is that true?"
Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes. "Of course it’s true! Big Brother, you have to recover properly. When you’re all better, I’ll take you to my home to eat the delicious food my grandmother makes!"
Mo Lingwei laughed, his expression relaxing into handsome ease. "Alright."
However, the little girl’s smile was a bit strained.
She had just overheard the Divine Doctor’s words.
She was worried that Mo Lingwei’s illness would only get worse.
Just then, the Emperor, who had been in the side hall, heard the news and hurried into the main hall.
"Ling Wei, my son! Thank heavens you’re alright!" He was crying with joy.
Heedless of the others present, the Emperor threw his arms around Mo Lingwei in a tight hug.
Mo Lingwei, on the other hand, furrowed his long brows. He was now as tall as the Emperor, and with a look of slight disdain, he pressed on the Emperor’s Jade Crown, pushing him back a couple of times.
"Let’s talk properly. Don’t just grab me for a hug."
The Emperor didn’t reprimand him for his cold attitude. Instead, he just laughed heartily.
Shen Ningning watched from the side, blinking her big eyes.
’Big Brother doesn’t like the Emperor hugging him, so why did he hug me just now?’
Knowing Mo Lingwei was alright, everyone finally felt relieved.
Mo Lingwei had Shen Ningning stay until evening, only then instructing Chen Shaobei to escort her home.
After the little girl left, Mo Lingwei leaned back against his bed, a faint, soft smile still lingering on his thin lips.
’I really do want to keep Shen Ningning here as a female official. That way, I could see her every day.’
’Unfortunately, that would restrain the little girl, and she probably wouldn’t be willing.’
’Forget it. I should just focus on getting well. That’s the only way I can be with her, year after year, month after month, day after day.’
「A few days later.」
Shen Ningning heard something strange from Wanchun.
"Commandery Princess, this servant heard from Qiulan of the Second Courtyard that Second Madam Xie previously had a strange illness. When it acted up, she would become cold and stiff all over, and only drinking hot water or tea could alleviate it."
"Later, the attacks became more severe, and she would even lose consciousness. It took a Herculean effort to cure her."
Shen Ningning was surprised to hear this. "She had a cold syndrome too?"
’It’s exactly the same as Mo Lingwei’s illness.’
Wanchun nodded. "Qiulan also said that the reason Second Madam Xie recovered was that she sought medicine from a Divine Woman."
"She also said that only the Divine Woman can treat this kind of illness. This servant isn’t usually friendly with Qiulan, which is why I find it strange. Why would Qiulan tell me all this?"
At that moment, Wanchun was accompanying Shen Ningning on a stroll through the rear garden of the Xie Mansion.
A cold wind wove through the plum blossoms, sending flurries of red petals dancing with dustings of snow against the gloomy sky.
Shen Ningning pondered for a moment and figured out why Qiulan had done it.
She let out a laugh, full of childish innocence.
"She obviously wanted you to tell me. She knows I’m worried about Big Brother’s cold syndrome, so she wants me to go find that Divine Woman."
Wanchun immediately waved her hands in protest. "That’s out of the question, Commandery Princess! The Master detests these charlatans from the streets."
"Second Madam is too malicious! She knows the Master hates them, yet she’s encouraging you to go. Isn’t this clearly setting a trap?"
On Shen Ningning’s fair and pretty little face, her large eyes were clear and bright.
She thought for a moment, then said in a somewhat sly tone, "Actually, I think I might just pay her a visit."