Wei Linxia remained silent, her heart racing as if it might burst. A faint, lingering bloody smell seemed to drift endlessly through the palace. Wei Linxia had a knot in her heart over this matter, with Xi Linxuan unwilling to provide a clear explanation.
However, Wei Linxia did not stay angry for long, not because she had let it go, but because Xi Linxuan’s health was deteriorating. She often heard his suppressed gasps at night, and after sharing a bed for many years, she could not miss such sounds.
“Qiushui? Are you asleep?” Wei Linxia listened carefully to Xi Linxuan’s movements.
No response.
Wei Linxia carefully got up and, in the soft candlelight, gently began to untie Xi Linxuan’s middle garment. Feng Shou had mentioned that the imperial physician would come to the palace to treat him soon, but why was there still no improvement? It made her anxious.
Just as she opened the collar, Wei Linxia was unexpectedly pulled down onto his warm chest. Xi Linxuan, smiling with open eyes, grabbed her hands over his heart: “While I’m still asleep, feel free to do whatever you want.”
“Hmm, I won’t be polite, but how can I not be polite when you’re holding my hands?” Wei Linxia replied.
“Reciprocity: I’ll be impolite to you first, then you can do the same.” Xi Linxuan turned over, changing their positions. Taking this opportunity, Wei Linxia peeked down his collar and discovered there was another layer underneath.
Something was indeed not right; wearing two layers of middle garments in this weather was peculiar.
“Everything should follow a proper order,” Wei Linxia decided not to argue, wrapping her arms around his waist and slowly moving her hand on his back. If there was a wound, it should be bandaged, and she should feel the medicinal cloth even through two layers of garments.
Behind the clothing, the back should be smooth. Wei Linxia’s heart sank. If the injury was not on the back, it must be on the front, and neither possibility was good.
“This is about who’s stronger,” he said, leaning down to seal Wei Linxia’s mouth before she could respond.
Wei Linxia began coughing, quickly moving her hands to Xi Linxuan’s front, but still finding nothing. What was going on?
