Jiang Suizhou was indeed disconcerted by the silver needles on Huo
Wujiu's leg.
Before transmigrating, he was very healthy and hadn't even had a few IV
drips before, let alone acupuncture. The injuries on Huo Wujiu's leg weren't
healed, and after the needles were applied, they looked even more alarming.
With just one glance, Jiang Suizhou's eyes felt like they had been burned,
and he hurriedly turned his gaze away.
How painful must this be, huh?
He felt as if he was in Huo Wujiu's shoes. Although he only took a glance,
he felt like the needles were piercing his own body.
Beside him, Meng Qianshan helped him sit down on the couch beside Huo
Wujiu. He then poured Jiang Suizhou a cup of hot tea and placed it in his
hands.
However, Jiang Suizhou didn't spare him even a glance. His eyes only fell
on Li Changning at the side of the bed.
He watched as Li Changning waited quietly at the bedside for a moment,
until all the sand in the hourglass on his medical kit fell. Only then did he
step forward and skillfully but quickly remove the needles on Huo Wujiu's
legs.
After he wiped all the needles clean and stored them back into his medical
kit, Jiang Suizhou opened his mouth and asked, "Is it over?"
Li Changning nodded and said, "I just need to serve Madam with the
medicine, and then everything's done."
When Jiang Suizhou heard that, he asked, "Hmm. What medicine?"
Li Changning smiled and said, "They are for nourishing the body. Madam
hasn't been active these days, so I'm worried that he won't be able to
withstand the acupuncture. That's why I need to use some herbs to nourish
his qi and blood."
Jiang Suizhou nodded and did not ask any further.
Li Changning turned around and ordered his disciple to take the medicine,
but he didn't know what his disciple was thinking. His disciple remained
unresponsive even after he called him twice.
Li Changning hurriedly went forward, brought the medicine over, and gave
it to Huo Wujiu on the bed.
Huo Wujiu sat up on the bed and received the medicine bowl.
Jiang Suizhou couldn't help but look at him twice more.
But just like when he lived in his room, Huo Wujiu didn't lift his eyes. He
ignored Jiang Suizhou as if he didn't exist.
Jiang Suizhou felt rather relaxed and warmed by it, as if something that had
been missing this morning had finally returned to its place.
The corner of Jiang Suizhou's mouth couldn't help but curl up, and even he
didn't notice it himself.
Seeing that Huo Wujiu had finished drinking the medicine on his own, Li
Changning's thoughts turned. He turned around and knelt down in front of
Jiang Suizhou.
"Your Highness, the treatment for Madam is done for today," he said. "If
Your Highness has no other instructions, we'll be taking our leave first."
Li Changning was the most clear. His bowl of oral medicine worked
quickly, and it would take but one incense stick at most to take effect.
This effect was naturally not only on the restoring of meridians, but also on
the pain of flesh and bones.
Since he started his medical practice, he had treated several cases of the
same patients. When the medicine took effect, the pain was always
unbearable for them. He administered only half of the dose for the first few,
but each grimaced hideously and tossed all around. Some were lucky
enough to have fainted from the pain.
Jingwang, of course, mustn't witness this kind of scene, lest he'd be
suspicious.
After all, what he told Jingwang was that he was only able to relieve the
pain in Huo Wujiu's limbs. If Jiang Suizhou saw that the more he healed
him, the more he was increasingly pained, it would be difficult to explain to
him.
Therefore, he must be dismissed as soon as possible.
Li Changning had made plans. As soon as Jingwang let him go, he would
immediately pretend to remember something and ask Jingwang to return to
his room. He would then take his pulse and issue a prescription.
But then, he saw Jiang Suizhou, leaning against a throw pillow on the
couch.
"Well," he said indifferently, "How is the treatment today?"
Li Changning was stunned.
Why didn't Jingwang play his cards according to common sense?!
He carefully raised his eyes to look at Jiang Suizhou, then saw him leisurely
sitting there, short of lazy and relaxed. However, his face was
unfathomable, as he quietly looked at him.
…He didn't know if Jiang Suizhou really cared or if he was testing him.
Not knowing that Jiang Suizhou just wanted to stay in the room a little
longer, Li Changning didn't dare to slack off in the slightest. He deliberated
his wording, and carefully but quickly reported to Jiang Suizhou.
He reported in a roundabout way, but watertight and very concise. Even if
Jingwang had suspicions, he couldn't possibly grasp at any clues.
After finishing his report, Li Changning lowered his head and counted the
seconds secretly while begging Jingwang in his heart to leave quickly.
Then he saw Jingwang on the couch raise his hand.
Li Changning was prepped to go. He was just waiting for this master to
swing his hand, so he could slip away, and while at it, fool this master away,
too…
But Jiang Suizhou only picked up the cup of tea on the table and took a sip.
What was more, he went on to ask more questions.
From how long the medicine would take effect, to whether the acupuncture
had side effects, and even what acupuncture points to pierce; he just had to
ask.
Li Changning murmured to himself, It's over.
He answered Jiang Suizhou's questions with trepidation while counting the
time.
An incense stick burned very fast, and the time was almost there.
Li Changning's heart jumped to his throat.
However, he watched an incense burning time pass, but the bed remained
peaceful. The time passed little by little, but except for the sound of the two
of them talking, no other movement was heard in the room at all.
Gradually, Li Changning relaxed.
Sure enough, this General Huo couldn't be judged by the standards of
ordinary people.
Since he had the stamina, then there was no need to cover up.
So, Li Changning talked to Jiang Suizhou with confidence, answering his
questions glibly and replying quite freely.
However, he didn't notice that Jiang Suizhou, who was sitting on the couch,
was a little distracted.
His eyes drifted towards the bed from time to time.
Huo Wujiu indeed usually ignored him, but not as bad as today. He just laid
there, as if there was no one else there but himself.
Since the showdown that day, Huo Wujiu seemed to have always shown
such an attitude toward him. Jiang Suizhou didn't know where he had
misspoken.
How about…finding an excuse to take care of him a few times?
Jiang Suizhou was talking to Li Changning casually, but he couldn't help
thinking about Huo Wujiu on the bed.
A few moments later, he made up his mind.
I'm already here. What else is there to be ashamed of?
With this in mind, he raised his hand, stopping Li Changning from
speaking.
Li Changning was describing to Jiang Suizhou what blood vessels his
acupuncture method could penetrate and what effects it would have, when
he was interrupted. He looked up at Jiang Suizhou.
He saw Jingwang stand up and walk over to the bed.
"How are you? Do you feel better?" He heard Jingwang ask.
Li Changning couldn't tell if it was an illusion, but he felt that when
Jingwang spoke to General Huo, his tone was a little milder than just now.
Then he heard General Huo on the bed giving a hum. His voice was a little
mute, but it sounded smooth.
At this turn, Jingwang must definitely not see what kind of pain the General
was enduring at this time.
Sure enough, Jingwang followed with a response.
Li Changning heaved a sigh of relief.
But at that moment, he saw Jingwang's back stiffen.
Immediately after that, he heard Jingwang's voice, like falling into an ice
cellar.
"Why is his face so pale?"
——
It wasn't until Jiang Suizhou walked closer that he discovered how
abnormally white Huo Wujiu's lips were. The latter's forehead was covered
with a layer of fine sweat. Huo Wujiu's eyes were shut at the moment, and
only when he walked in did he realise it as an afterthought, struggling to
open his eyes to look at him, still with that expressionless look.
But Jiang Suizhou could see at a glance that he was holding out despite the
pain.
Jiang Suizhou was so startled that he hastily dragged Li Changning over. Li
Changning stepped forward trembling, checked Huo Wujiu's pulse and said,
"Your Highness, there will be some pain after the acupuncture. This is
normal."
Jiang Suizhou didn't believe a word of it.
"Normal?" He questioned in a cold voice. "Then why didn't you tell me just
now?"
What was more, he didn't believe that this was only a 'little pain'. Huo
Wujiu was a person who could endure a lot. If he was sweating from the
pain, it was by no means a pain that ordinary people could withstand.
Before Li Changning could reply, he stepped forward, grabbed Li
Changning's lapel, and threatened in between gritted his teeth, "If
something happens to him, this Prince will kill you."
Jingwang was weak, and his hands had little strength. But facing that pair of
cold frightening eyes, Li Changning still couldn't help but shiver.
Doesn't this Jingwang detest the General? Why does he look like he really
will kill for the General…
He shivered and said, "Your Highness, don't be angry! It will indeed be
painful when the needles are first applied to unblock the meridians, but after
a period of treatment, the pain will be greatly relieved…"
But Jiang Suizhou asked again, "How long will this last?"
Li Changning replied, "About a month…"
Jiang Suizhou flung him away and laughed coldly: "So you're going to
torment him for a month in a row? Your acupuncture is only to relieve the
pain, but now it not only can't relieve it, it even worsens it. Yet, you still
dare to swindle this Prince with such words?"
Li Changning trembled, unable to speak, and scrambled to find words in his
head to deal with the situation.
Just then, a hoarse voice rang out from the bed.
"It doesn't matter."
It was Huo Wujiu's voice.
Jiang Suizhou raised his eyes and saw Huo Wujiu supporting himself to sit
up on the bed.
"That's how I'm supposed to be treated. No need to make things difficult
for him," Huo Wujiu added.
Li Changning thought he was finished.
He was worried about arousing suspicion of Jingwang. He just explained it
himself moments ago, and now even the General was helping him. This was
probably only adding fuel to the fire…
Li Changning's legs went limp.
He didn't dare to raise his eyes to look at Jingwang and only waited for him
to hit the roof.
Instead, he heard a slow, deep breath.
"Get lost," Jingwang said, "If after one month, it doesn't match what you
said, this Prince wants your head."
Li Changning knelt down on the ground, his face full of disbelief.
Er…the exposure's just like that?
——
Li Changning took Wei Kai and fled. In a blink, the room fell into silence,
leaving only Jiang Suizhou, who was standing by the bed, and Huo Wujiu,
facing each other.
Huo Wujiu raised his eyes and looked at him.
Jingwang seemed truly enraged just now, but at this time, his cold and
ferocious appearance was completely gone. He stood in front of the bed
against the light, and although his expression was still cold, Huo Wujiu
captured traces of helplessness in his eyes.
Those eyes, one after another, glanced at his legs.
For some reason, the irritation that had been pent up in Huo Wujiu's heart
for a few days gradually dissipated at this point, turning into some
compromise-like helplessness.
…No wonder I thought wrongly. Is this Jingwang confused about how to
treat his collaborators and someone he admires? Obviously, he got involved
with me because of his own interests. However, is it necessary to feel so
genuine? It made him feel as if his anger for his supposed bullying was his
care for him.
After a pause, Huo Wujiu spoke indifferently, "Do you need anything else?"
Standing at the side of the bed, Jiang Suizhou came back to his senses with
an, "Oh," then said, "This Prince…I just came to see if you're okay."
"I'm fine," Huo Wujiu's reply was dry and sharp.
Jingwang moved, as if subconsciously leaving obediently, but his feet
stopped in the same place.
After a pause, he lowered his eyes and looked arrogantly at Huo Wujiu,
saying in a cold voice, "Do you think you'll be fine if you say you're fine?
That day when it rained, you also said you were fine, but what happened?"
After saying that, he didn't wait for Huo Wujiu's response, then he looked
sideways at Meng Qianshan who wasn't far away.
Meng Qianshan understood and hurriedly brought a chair for him and
placed it by the bed.
Jiang Suizhou sat down on that chair with an unrelenting look on his face.
"This Prince will watch over you," he said.
Huo Wujiu glanced at him. "As you wish," he said indifferently.
Jingwang no longer spoke, but took the booklet handed to him by Meng
Qianshan and sat straight where he was, reading it.
Huo Wujiu's gaze faltered, and then he withdrew his eyes.
There was no question that Jiang Suizhou was unlikeable and even
extremely annoying, but he brought him doses of sweetness from nowhere.
Huo Wujiu felt annoyed with the mere thought of Jiang Suizhou, but after
seeing him, he couldn't control the corners of his mouth.
It was very strange.