Volume 1, Chapter 21: The Tacit Understanding Itself Is Problematic!
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Liu Chengye charged toward the rear courtyard, practically rolling and scrambling his way there, with Su Qingxue close behind.
The moment he pushed open the door to the inner chamber, the sight before him brought tears to his eyes.
Liu Yuexue was leaning against the headboard, holding a bowl of warm water and taking tiny sips. Her pretty face, once as pale as paper, now held a faint flush of color.
“Yuexue! My good daughter!”
Liu Chengye’s voice trembled with excitement. He rushed to the bedside in a few quick strides, raising his trembling hands as though he wanted to touch his daughter’s cheek, yet he hardly dared exert any force.
“Father…”
Liu Yuexue called softly. Her voice was still somewhat weak, but compared with her previous, deathly appearance, she seemed like an entirely different person.
“Is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable? Are you dizzy? Do you feel any tightness in your chest?”
Liu Chengye questioned her anxiously, wishing he could examine his daughter from head to toe.
Liu Yuexue gently shook her head, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
“Father, I feel… I feel more comfortable than I ever have before.”
She slowly set down the bowl and carefully sensed the changes within her body.
“Whenever my illness flared up before, even if the symptoms were temporarily relieved, that bone-chilling cold would remain in my body, as though ice spikes were moving through my veins.”
“But this time is different. I feel that most of the cold qi inside me has actually dispersed. Even breathing has become much easier.”
Tears streamed down Liu Chengye’s face as he nodded again and again.
“Good! Good! As long as you’re all right, that’s all that matters!”
At that moment, Liu Yuexue’s gaze fell upon Su Qingxue by the door. Her already lively eyes instantly widened, her face filled with disbelief.
“Cousin Qingxue? You… what are you doing here?”
When Su Qingxue saw her expression, the usual coolness on her face vanished at once, replaced by a warm smile she had not shown in a long time.
She hurried to the bedside and gently stroked the back of Liu Yuexue’s hand.
“Yuexue, you finally woke up. You frightened your cousin half to death.”
“I was passing through Cloudpeace City. Since it had been so long since we last saw each other, I thought I would come visit you.”
“I never imagined that the moment I arrived, I would hear that you were seriously ill and unconscious. My heart nearly leaped into my throat.”
Tears welled in Liu Yuexue’s eyes as she tightly clasped Su Qingxue’s hand.
“Cousin, I thought… I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
Su Qingxue pretended to be annoyed and lightly tapped the back of Liu Yuexue’s hand.
“You’re still just as prone to wild thoughts as you were when you were little.”
“Still, your complexion is better now than it has ever been. I imagine this illness must truly be cured.”
Liu Yuexue nodded, then suddenly remembered something and turned to look at her father.
“Father, to tell the truth, even I thought I wouldn’t survive this episode.”
“The pain was as though countless icy needles were piercing through my bone marrow. Every breath was agony.”
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“But now I’ve not only awakened, I also feel more relaxed than ever before. What exactly happened?”
Upon hearing this, an excited expression appeared on Liu Chengye’s face.
“Yuexue, the heavens have surely favored you!”
“Today, a divine physician happened to pass by our residence. Having heard of your condition, he came especially to help.”
“That physician possesses medical skills that border on the miraculous. He not only identified the root of your illness at a glance, but also brought you back from the gates of death!”
Shock flashed through Liu Yuexue’s eyes.
“A divine physician? What sort of physician could possess such ability?”
“Even the imperial physicians in the capital were helpless against my Cold Marrow Syndrome, yet he was able to…”
“Yuexue, you have no idea!”
The more Liu Chengye spoke, the more excited he became, waving his hands as he described the events.
“That Divine Physician Ye is so young, yet his medical skill is unfathomable!”
“He merely felt your pulse, yet he described your condition without the slightest error!”
“More astonishing still, he casually inserted a few needles into you, and you immediately began to improve!”
Liu Yuexue listened in stunned amazement, then struggled to sit up.
“If that is so, I must personally go and thank my benefactor!”
“No! You have only just awakened, and your body is still weak!”
Liu Chengye quickly pressed down on his daughter’s shoulder.
“Besides, your cousin has already gone to thank him on your behalf.”
“That divine physician also said that you need to rest properly. We can discuss everything else once your body has fully recovered.”
Su Qingxue nodded in agreement beside them.
“Yuexue, your father is right.”
“The most important thing for you now is to recuperate quietly. Nothing else is urgent.”
“That… Mr. Ye truly possesses extraordinary medical skill. He also instructed you to get plenty of rest.”
Seeing that both her father and cousin were saying the same thing, Liu Yuexue could only give up.
“All right, then. Once I’m feeling better, I must personally visit him to offer my thanks.”
“Such a tremendous kindness cannot be brushed aside lightly.”
Su Qingxue smiled gently and stroked Liu Yuexue’s hair.
“All right. The most important thing now is for you to rest properly.”
“Your cousin still has some matters to attend to, so I won’t disturb you any longer.”
“Once you have completely recovered, the two of us can have a proper reunion.”
Liu Yuexue nodded reluctantly.
“Then you must stay in Cloudpeace City for several more days, Cousin. You’re not allowed to leave secretly.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t.”
Su Qingxue gently tucked the covers around Liu Yuexue, then left the room together with Liu Chengye.
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After closing the door, Liu Chengye let out a long sigh of relief.
“Qingxue, my niece, we truly owe you our thanks this time.”
“If you hadn’t reminded me to go and thank Divine Physician Ye, I, as her father, might never have realized what a grave mistake I was making.”
Su Qingxue smiled faintly.
“You flatter me, Uncle Liu. Yuexue is my cousin; it was only right that I do this.”
“Now that Yuexue is out of danger, I can rest easy as well.”
“Exactly, exactly!”
“Qingxue, it is already late today. Stay the night for now. I’ll immediately have dinner and a guest room prepared. Whatever you do, don’t stand on ceremony with me!”
“Then I’ll trouble you, Uncle Liu.”
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Liu Chengye departed first, while Su Qingxue walked out into the main hall.
She raised her head and gazed at the sky, her thoughts in turmoil.
Ye Xuan… the Eighth Prince…
Just how many secrets was this man hiding?
Why was his medical skill so extraordinary?
He had said that he could cure her illness. Was that true?
The night passed in silence.
At dawn the following day, as the rising sun bathed the world in light, the sound of birdsong drifted through Listening Rain Pavilion.
Ye Xuan slowly opened his eyes, bringing a night of meditation to an end.
He rose, washed, and prepared to visit Liu Yuexue’s room to check on her recovery.
He had just stepped outside and was about to head toward the rear courtyard when he saw a familiar figure approaching from the opposite direction.
Su Qingxue.
Today she had changed into a long, pale-blue dress that made her skin appear as white as snow and lent her an even more refined elegance.
The two met in the courtyard. The instant their eyes crossed, both of them froze.
Then, with remarkable understanding, they looked away from each other, as though they had never met.
Ye Xuan’s expression remained calm and his steps unhurried, as if he were merely an ordinary physician making a follow-up visit.
Su Qingxue wore an indifferent expression and carried herself with graceful poise, like a noble young lady concerned for her cousin.
Thus, one before the other, they walked toward Liu Yuexue’s room.
A subtle atmosphere hung in the air.
They both knew the truth perfectly well, yet they had to pretend to be complete strangers.
The very fact that they shared such an understanding spoke volumes.