The carriage soon came to a stop at the entrance of the mansion. The coachman jumped down and stood with his head bowed, waiting silently, well aware of what was appropriate to hear and what was not.
The carriage’s soundproofing was poor enough that muffled, blush-inducing moans were audible. However, those who accompanied Shangguan Ye had long become desensitized to such things and were no longer surprised.
Before long, there was a muffled grunt, and then the carriage fell silent. A while later, Shangguan Ye emerged, holding someone in his arms. With a quick instruction to the butler to prepare things, he lifted the person and flew directly into the mansion.
The carriage door stood open, revealing a scene of chaos and a lingering, intimate scent.
Shangguan Ye took Murong Qiufeng to the hot spring area. He removed Murong Qiufeng’s outer robe carefully and placed him in the hot water, then quickly stripped off his own clothes.
Both were in disarray. Murong Qiufeng was relatively unscathed, as he had been mostly unclothed and had been wiped down by Shangguan Ye. Shangguan Ye, on the other hand, was quite disheveled, with his clothes stained.
The heat of the hot spring made Murong Qiufeng, who had fallen asleep, murmur contentedly. Without Shangguan Ye’s support, he might have slipped into the water.
Seeing Murong Qiufeng’s satisfied but exhausted state, Shangguan Ye decided not to disturb him further. He carefully cleaned him up, then attended to his own quick wash before carrying Murong Qiufeng to the secret chamber and back to his room. He dried both of them, laid Murong Qiufeng on the bed, and left him unclothed.
Though Shangguan Ye felt a strong urge, he refrained from taking advantage of the situation, viewing it as a form of self-punishment.
He put on a loose robe and tenderly stroked Murong Qiufeng’s slightly reddened face, his eyes filled with adoration and reluctance to let go.
A knock on the door interrupted him. Yang Bo entered with a tray, casting a knowing glance at the two on the bed before placing the hangover soup on the table and discreetly leaving.
Shangguan Ye took the hangover soup, tested its temperature, and carefully fed it to Murong Qiufeng, trying not to wake him.
Murong Qiufeng, exhausted, remained in a half-conscious state and did not wake up, falling back into a deep sleep.
After finishing the hangover soup, Shangguan Ye applied medicine to his body, taking extra care due to the rough handling earlier in the carriage. He wanted to avoid any suspicion and made sure to be meticulous.
As he applied the medicine, he gently massaged Murong Qiufeng’s body to soothe his nerves, then turned off the light and fell asleep contentedly holding him.
Shangguan Ye found himself increasingly fond of this peaceful life: without wind or waves, falling asleep each night holding him, waking up to his unguarded sleeping face. A smile and a kiss would make it perfect, but that was not possible for now.
The warmth in his arms stirred a growing weariness with the troublesome power struggles.
Despite his careful care, Murong Qiufeng fell ill, catching a cold and developing a fever, likely due to accumulated strain from the past few days.
This caused Shangguan Ye significant distress, and the mansion became somewhat chaotic. You Xiang, too, was exhausted by the stress, suffering under Shangguan Ye’s intense pressure. Although it was merely a cold, the situation was treated as a dire emergency. As long as Murong Qiufeng remained unconscious, everyone in the mansion was on edge, afraid to make a sound. You Xiang hoped fervently for Murong Qiufeng to wake up soon, finding Shangguan Ye’s reaction almost obsessive.
She wondered if Murong Qiufeng had poisoned Shangguan Ye to cause such a reaction.
Fortunately, after a day of feverish unconsciousness, Murong Qiufeng’s condition improved and he finally woke up.
You Xiang sighed with relief, leaving a bowl of medicine for Shangguan Ye before quickly making her exit, giving them some privacy. The mansion’s crisis was temporarily averted.
This incident made everyone in the mansion acutely aware of Murong Qiufeng’s importance to the prince. From now on, even if one were to offend the prince, they should avoid offending Murong Qiufeng. Some were even pleased, believing that with Murong Qiufeng around, the prince might not be as murderous.
Murong Qiufeng was unaware of any of this. Upon waking, he felt weak and groggy, unable to remember much.
Shangguan Ye, smiling gently, approached with the medicine and said softly, “You’re awake. Just in time. Drink this medicine first.” His voice was hoarse, likely due to a lack of rest and his stress.
Murong Qiufeng was startled, turning to see Shangguan Ye at the bedside. He attempted to sit up, but his strength failed him, and he had to lie back down.
“Be careful.” Shangguan Ye quickly supported his shoulder, adjusted the pillow, and helped him sit up slowly.
Feeling slightly embarrassed but compliant, Murong Qiufeng leaned back against the headboard, letting out a sigh. “I…”
“You’re ill. Don’t talk now. Drink the medicine first, and I’ll tell you more afterward.” Shangguan Ye held the spoon and brought the medicine to Murong Qiufeng’s lips, ready to feed him.
Murong Qiufeng stared at the medicine, his lips warming slightly, and snapped back to reality. He reached for the bowl, saying, “Your Highness, I can do it myself.”
“You don’t have the strength right now. Don’t be so formal; drink up or the medicine will get cold.” Shangguan Ye avoided Murong Qiufeng’s hand, gently reprimanding him but with concern, and brought the medicine back to him.
Murong Qiufeng opened his mouth reluctantly and let Shangguan Ye feed him, feeling a mix of emotions. Being ill made him vulnerable, and he was reminded of his solitary days of illness in the past.
This experience made him recall how he depended on Yun Feiyang for care, feeling a similar affection and reliance towards Shangguan Ye.
By the time the medicine was finished, Shangguan Ye sighed in relief and smiled at Murong Qiufeng. “How do you feel now? Are you hungry? I’ve had some plain congee prepared for you. It’s best to avoid oily or rich foods for now.”
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