After Accidentally Marking the Cold and Elegant Eldest Princess - Chapter 50

Chapter 50: Cooling Down with Her Body

After one dose of medicine, Yan Yunti showed no signs of waking. The high fever persisted, and the cold towels pressed to her forehead were changed repeatedly, yet her body temperature showed no downward trend.

Though she no longer spoke incoherently, she gripped Yuan Jingxue’s hand tightly and refused to let go. Whenever she sensed Yuan Jingxue was about to leave, she would squeeze with all her might, let out a grieved hum, and occasionally mumble, “Don’t go.”

Yuan Jingxue was helpless against her and remained seated by the bed to accompany her.

Xiao Ran stood outside the partition of the inner chamber, reporting the findings one by one: “Those assassins hid in the water, breathing through bamboo tubes reaching the surface. They likely came upstream from the lower reaches of the Lu River. While this method is physically draining, they had previously taken pills to enhance their internal strength, allowing them to exhibit extraordinary martial prowess upon boarding. However, this medicine is extremely damaging; once the effects wear off, their internal organs are rapidly eroded, making survival impossible.”

Thus, regardless of whether the assassination succeeded today, those death warriors never intended to return alive.

Yuan Jingxue took a handkerchief handed over by a maid, placed it on Yan Yunti’s forehead, and asked Xiao Ran: “Was anything found on their bodies?”

Xiao Ran: “Reporting to Your Highness, these assassins have no tattoos or markings. However, the curved sabers they used are weapons commonly used by Southern Min soldiers, and their blade techniques are very similar. Furthermore, the Southern Min royal family is accustomed to using sleeve arrows. If this truly is the work of Southern Min, they likely intended to incite internal strife in our dynasty and take the opportunity to break through the border passes.”

This reasoning was all too logical.

Xiao Ran added: “Currently, all clues point toward Southern Min. However, your subordinate feels that clues which are too obvious should not be trusted blindly.” It would not be difficult for the mastermind to disguise everything as the work of Southern Min.

With all the assassins dead, the only breakthrough remained with Yuan Qi.

Yuan Jingxue: “Is Yuan Qi awake?”

Xiao Ran shook her head: “She is trapped in a nightmare and has not regained consciousness. The Imperial Physicians are at their wits’ end.”

This meant all leads were cut off.

Nothing could be found on the silver hairpin Yuan Qi used for the stabbing either. If there truly was poison, it had likely already integrated into Yan Yunti’s body, causing the persistent high fever.

Looking at Yan Yunti’s flushed face, Yuan Jingxue’s gaze turned cold: “Continue the interrogation. Tomorrow morning, take everyone who was on the imperial boat back to the Court of State Ceremonies (Dali Si). No one is permitted to visit.”

“Yes.” Xiao Ran took the order and withdrew.

Jin Si hurried in and whispered outside the bead curtain: “Your Highness, the Emperor has arrived and has entered the main hall.”

Yuan Jingxue had anticipated her Imperial Mother would come, which was why she had Yan Yunti placed in the side hall. Currently, the sleeping quarters were sealed tight, and no news could reach the outside. However, the true situation could not be hidden from her mother; Yuan Jingxue had already sent someone to explain the facts.

The feverish Yan Yunti had no idea the Emperor had arrived. She only knew Yuan Jingxue wanted to leave. She gripped Yuan Jingxue’s hand, her eyelashes wet with aggrieved tears, murmuring “Don’t go.”

The maids and Jin Si turned their backs.

Yuan Jingxue leaned down and coaxed softly in Yan Yunti’s ear: “Be good, I’m only leaving for a moment. I’ll be back to accompany you very soon. Our A-Yun is the most obedient, right?” While coaxing, she tried to pull her hand away. As if understanding, Yan Yunti loosened her grip slightly. Yuan Jingxue took the chance to withdraw her hand, tucked her in, and rose to go to the main hall.

Yuan Jingxue entered the side room of the main hall and bowed: “Daughter greets Imperial Mother.”

The Emperor, dressed in black and crimson imperial robes, stood before a soft couch, looking down at the white rabbit upon it that dared not move. Upon hearing her, she asked: “I did not know when you started liking such fragile things.”

Yuan Jingxue’s voice was steady: “This was something I obtained by chance while hunting in the forest. I tried to release it, but it refused to leave, so I kept it.”

“I see.” The Emperor’s voice betrayed no emotion. She leaned over to pick up the white rabbit, stroking its trembling back before turning to look at Yuan Jingxue. “It is a blessing that you were not injured. I heard the Yan girl has developed a high fever and is not yet awake?”

“Yes,” Yuan Jingxue hid nothing. “The silver hairpin that wounded her may have been poisoned. Since the components cannot be identified, we can only feed her doses of fever-reducing medicine and see if she can endure it herself.”

The Emperor: “Yan Qiao guards the southern border for the country; his only daughter must be saved. Have the Imperial Physicians brainstorm together. She must not come to harm.”

Yuan Jingxue: “Daughter understands.”

The Emperor stepped forward and handed the rabbit to Yuan Jingxue. “Since you like this rabbit, take good care of it. That Yan girl seems destined to be involved with you; having saved you twice, it is only right that you look after her more.”

Yuan Jingxue took the rabbit. Once in her arms, the rabbit immediately buried its face in her embrace, not daring to face the Emperor.

Yuan Jingxue picked up the thread: “To be honest with Imperial Mother, her current fever gives me the perfect excuse to feign illness. This way, I can travel to the Eastern Province without alerting the enemy, allowing me to clear out the vipers.”

Now, only Xu Yuqing was allowed into the sleeping quarters for treatment. To the outside world, it was said the Eldest Princess’s fever would not break; it would be perfectly natural for her to remain “ill” for a month or two afterward.

Hearing this, the Emperor’s expression eased: “It is good that you have a sense of propriety. Those assassins were audacious; investigate as you see fit. No matter who you find, Imperial Mother will stand behind you.”

“Daughter thanks Imperial Mother.” Yuan Jingxue bowed to give thanks.

The Emperor stepped forward to support her. “Why is there a need for thanks between mother and daughter? Be extremely careful on your journey to the Eastern Province. I expect you to return safely.”

Yuan Jingxue: “Daughter understands and will not disappoint Imperial Mother.”

After the Emperor left, Jin Si approached and said: “Your Highness, does the Emperor know something?”

Previously, the Emperor disliked the Princess keeping small pets. Today, her words repeatedly pointed toward Yan Yunti. Jin Si could sense the subtext.

Yuan Jingxue understood her mother’s intent even better. She placed the rabbit back on the couch, her gaze calm. “If Imperial Mother wants to know something, no one can hide it from her. Find two people to take good care of A-Ruan; do not let what happened today happen again.”

“Yes.” Jin Si turned to find maids to look after the rabbit.

Yuan Jingxue returned to the side hall. In the short time she was gone, Yan Yunti seemed to be in more pain, her brow tightly furrowed.

Xu Yuqing suggested: “Perhaps sponging her body with alcohol can help lower Miss Yan’s temperature.”

Yuan Jingxue: “Go prepare it.”

A silver tray filled with alcohol and clean cloths were brought in. The maids nearby prepared to serve.

Yuan Jingxue took a cloth and dipped it into the liquid. “Go and stand guard outside.”

The maids did not hesitate for a moment, turning to exit the side hall.

With no one else in the room, Yuan Jingxue pulled back the quilt, untied Yan Yunti’s inner garments, and used the alcohol-soaked cloth to meticulously wipe her body. This was physical labor that should have been left to a maid, but Yuan Jingxue did not want them to see the teeth marks on Yan Yunti’s left shoulder.

The wound on Yan Yunti’s shoulder had long since healed, but the teeth marks remained; it was obvious she had never applied medicine to remove the scar.

Yuan Jingxue had expected as much. She let Yan Yunti lean against her chest while she wiped her back with the cloth. In her unconscious state, Yan Yunti couldn’t help but rub against her cheek and neck, her arms wrapping around her. Her nose drifted lower and lower as she hummed the word “soft.”

Yuan Jingxue was helpless against the rubbing. She wanted to pinch the girl’s ear but couldn’t bring herself to do it to a sick person, so she simply let Yan Yunti continue. However, the rubbing became excessive, causing her own collar to loosen.

Yuan Jingxue couldn’t continue wiping her body. She could feel Yan Yunti’s craving for her body temperature. The feverish girl was scorching hot, while Yuan Jingxue, due to her chronic cold condition, had a body temperature lower than an average person’s.

Once Yan Yunti held her, she didn’t want to let go.

Yuan Jingxue recalled when her own cold affliction flared up, Yan Yunti had stripped to hold her and keep her warm. Now that the situation was reversed, could she use her own lower body temperature to help cool Yan Yunti down?

The Emperor’s words echoed in her ears: “It is only right that you look after her more.” On the surface, it meant to care for Yan Yunti; in reality, it was a warning not to let her private feelings go too far.

But now, Yan Yunti was stuck to her and could not be pushed away. The medicine being fed to her was ineffective. Xu Yuqing’s meaning was that it depended on whether Yan Yunti could endure it herself.

Could she really push Yan Yunti away and let her suffer alone?

Yuan Jingxue found she could not do it. Yan Yunti had become like this to save her; she couldn’t ignore her. This had nothing to do with private feelings; it was a debt of karma she had to repay.

Casting all complicated thoughts aside, Yuan Jingxue untied her own sash and removed her clothes layer by layer.

Yan Yunti held her so tightly that undressing was difficult. The moment the inner garment was loosened, Yan Yunti pressed against her with zero gap, her nose nuzzling down to the softest place. Her tightly furrowed brow actually smoothed out.

Yuan Jingxue pressed her fingertips to the gland at the back of the girl’s neck. It was scorching, even hotter than her body temperature. With such a fever, the greatest fear was the gland being damaged. If she released her pheromones, she might feel better—or even a mark…

“A-Yun, can you hear me?” Yuan Jingxue spoke softly to the nuzzling Yan Yunti. “Can you look at me?”

Yan Yunti’s body felt as if it were being roasted by fire. Her dreams were grotesque and multicolored, with scorching flames burning through flickering images. Only fragmented voices echoed in her ears.

“This commoner is incompetent. The poison in Her Highness’s body has reached her lungs and marrow. Although her life is not in immediate danger, the damage to her body cannot be mended. Perhaps… it will affect her lifespan. And as time goes on, the headaches will become more frequent and intense; acupuncture can only provide slight relief.”

“If we had started removing the poison a year or two earlier, it wouldn’t have come to this, or if there hadn’t been a secondary accumulation of toxins…”

“The Marquis of Jingning was headstrong and acted alone, causing Great Qi to suffer repeated defeats. Now that he has lost his life, let him go down and apologize to those soldiers who died in vain!”

“Yan Qiao, if I had known it would come to this, I should have spoken plainly with you the last time you returned to the capital. But there is no medicine for regret in this world.”

“Your Highness, I must go to this war against Southern Min. Wait for me to return; I will definitely return to be your Consort.”

“A-Xue, I can no longer use a sword to protect you. Will you despise me?”

All sorts of noises swirled around. Yan Yunti was trapped in the flames, her headache so severe it felt like her skull would explode.

Suddenly, at a certain moment, she felt a soft coolness approach her. Like grasping a life-saving straw, Yan Yunti held onto this coolness tightly. Above the flames, a voice pierced through the chaos, calling her “A-Yun” more gently with each breath, asking her to look up.

A weak light pierced through the blood-red sky. Her eyelids felt as heavy as a thousand pounds; she couldn’t open them.

Her lips pressed against a soft place. A woman’s low, soft words pierced her eardrums clearly: “A-Yun, release your pheromones. If you want, you can bite me now.”

A temporary mark would cause the gland’s temperature to rise for a short time, but afterward, it would start to cool down. Perhaps it would work.

Yan Yunti became vaguely aware of where her lips were pressed. It was so soft, so hot—it felt like the back of a Kunze’s neck.

Yan Yunti pressed forward, her hands tightening around the Kunze’s waist.

Yuan Jingxue let her hold her tighter and tighter, her hands resting on Yan Yunti’s arms, indulging her: “A-Yun, do what you want to do. I am right here beside you.”

The flames and fragments vanished from her sight, leaving only those overheard fragments of conversation in her mind. Yan Yunti no longer had the heart to think about those words. Her physical senses became sharp; the coolness her palms touched, and the high heat in the gland at the back of her neck had long since become unbearable.

She desperately needed to do something to bring down the heat in her gland.

Her lips pressed against the back of the Kunze’s neck. The heat of her lips made the Kunze’s neck turn hot as well. After only a short moment of nuzzling, Yan Yunti’s fangs emerged and she bit down.

During the two nights in the tent, although there had been marks, they were only shallow nips, for fear that an eruption of pheromones would be impossible to manage.

But now, they were in a palace with doors and windows tightly shut. There was no longer any need for restraint.