Chapter 34

Many imperial physicians came to Jinxiu Hall. They knelt outside the hall, waiting at any moment for the chief imperial physician inside the bedchamber to summon them.

Several imperial physicians had also been arranged to diagnose and treat Su Yao, and they were handling the wound on her leg as well.

“Princess Consort, this may hurt a little. Please endure it,” one of the imperial physicians reminded her respectfully.

Su Yao gritted her teeth and said nothing.

They cooled Su Yao’s wound, disinfected it, then cleaned away the burned flesh bit by bit. Finally, they applied ointment and wrapped it with fine cloth.

“Miss, are you all right?” Lanxin asked worriedly. Ever since Miss had been rescued, she had not said a single word.

Su Yao lowered her eyes. “I’m fine.”

Rong Yang’s residence was in complete chaos.

The moment Rong Huan received the news, she rushed over and ordered, “Seal off the residence. Search carefully. Anyone acting suspiciously or refusing to cooperate is to be arrested and interrogated one by one.”

She entered Jinxiu Hall and, from afar, saw Su Yao sitting in the outer hall. She asked the imperial physicians about Su Yao’s condition.

After learning that Su Yao’s injuries were not serious, only that the skin of her left foot had been badly burned and would leave a scar, Rong Huan ordered, “Arrange another hall for the princess consort to rest in.”

“Yes.” The maid accepted the order and respectfully waited before Su Yao.

Su Yao did not move, refusing Rong Huan’s suggestion with silence.

Seeing that Su Yao was unwilling to leave, Rong Huan said nothing more.

After a while, several imperial physicians came out of the bedchamber and said that the princess was blessed with great fortune. Her injuries were not as severe as they had imagined. With such a large beam falling on her, anyone else might have already lost their life.

“When will she wake?” Rong Huan asked.

“Perhaps within a day or two,” the imperial physician replied.

Rong Huan nodded. Only after hearing this did she relax slightly.

“You may go rest. If she wakes, I will send someone to inform you,” Rong Huan said to Su Yao at the side, her brows furrowing faintly.

Only then did Su Yao raise her hand, and Lanxin hurried over to support her.

After seeing Su Yao being taken away, Rong Huan coldly called out, “Chunxi, Xiaqing.”

The two knelt in front of Rong Huan together.

“After this matter is settled, go receive punishment yourselves,” Rong Huan said coldly.

“Yes!” The two lowered their heads and accepted the order.

“There is one matter this servant feels should be reported to you,” Chunxi said, still kneeling, her heart lingering with fear.

Rong Huan said, “Speak!”

“To save the princess consort, the princess charged into the sea of flames without hesitation. Even before she fainted, she kept the princess consort tightly protected beneath her.”

The hand Rong Huan had wrapped around her teacup paused. “Seal off everything that happened in Rong Yang residence tonight. To outsiders, only say that a fire accidentally broke out and burned some unimportant things.”

“Yes.” After Chunxi and Xiaqing accepted the order, they went down to make arrangements.

Rong Huan walked into the bedchamber. Her gaze fell on Rong Yang lying on the bed. After a long while, she sighed.

We should not have weaknesses, Rong Yang.

When Rong Yang woke, it was already the middle of the night the next day.

In a daze, she looked around. She was still inside the bedchamber of Jinxiu Hall. It seemed she was still alive.

She moved slightly and felt a stabbing pain in the back of her head. Then she felt that her entire back hurt. Only belatedly did she remember that before she fainted, a beam had struck her heavily.

“Chunxi…” Because she had not spoken for a long time, Rong Yang’s voice was low and hoarse.

Chunxi, who had been keeping watch not far away, hurried over when she heard movement. Seeing that Rong Yang had woken, she said with concern, “Princess, you’re awake.”

Another maid hurriedly went to call the imperial physician.

“Mm. What about her?” Rong Yang asked, lying there unable to move.

Chunxi understood. “The princess consort is fine. Fanghua Hall has been destroyed. She has now been arranged to rest in Chixia Hall.”

Only then did Rong Yang’s suspended heart finally settle.

Chunxi also told her about Rong Huan later coming to the residence, concealing the matter of her and Xiaqing being punished.

Rong Yang quietly listened and admired Rong Huan’s swift and decisive methods.

“Send someone to tell Eldest Sister that I have already woken and am not seriously injured. Tell her and Mother Empress not to worry.”

“Yes,” Chunxi answered.

“Withdraw. I’ll sleep a little more. Let the imperial physician come tomorrow,” Rong Yang said.

“Yes.”

Rong Yang suddenly remembered what the book had said before she fainted.

Are you there? Are you there?

[Mm?]

You mean that within this year, unless the mission fails and the female lead kills me, I won’t die?

[In theory, yes.]

After doing this mission for so long, I finally heard something fairly good from you.

[…]

Then do you know who set the fire this time?

[I cannot say. You can only investigate within the plot.]

…

Since you can keep me from dying, can you also make my wounds stop hurting so much?

[Reducing half of the host’s pain.]

…That really works!

Rong Yang immediately felt that her [bailiantales.com]wounds did not hurt as much. She slowly moved her shoulders, hands, and feet. There was still some dull pain.

[This only reduces the pain. The wounds are still there. Pay attention to rest.]

So you actually have this kind of use. What else do you have that is useful to me?

?

There was no response from the other side.

It disappeared just like that?

Another day passed.

After Chunxi served Rong Yang her medicine and turned to withdraw, Rong Yang spoke.

“Chunxi, have the hidden guards help me search the foot of the mountain near Donglin Academy and see if there is a little black kitten there.” As Rong Yang spoke, she pondered. In the real world, there had also been such a black kitten in the hospital’s back garden. Back when she did not yet have to stay in an isolation room, she would often go there to visit it.

“If they find it, they only need to report back. They do not need to do anything else,” Rong Yang instructed again.

“Yes, Princess.”

After Chunxi withdrew from the bedchamber, she saw someone unexpected.

“Princess Consort.”

Su Yao wore a white dress, her complexion also somewhat pale. Lanxin supported her as she stood at the entrance of the bedchamber.

Chunxi asked softly, “Are you here to visit the princess? She has already woken.”

Su Yao did not answer.

Seeing that the princess consort did not answer, Chunxi tactfully withdrew to the side, leaving this decision to the princess consort herself.

Su Yao closed her eyes, then took a slight step forward. After that, she stopped there, as if frozen, not moving for a long time.

The surroundings were so quiet, so silent that she could only hear the sound of her own heartbeat. She could not help feeling restless. Fine beads of cold sweat also seeped from her forehead. An invisible panic inexplicably surged over her. In her heart, a voice kept clamoring: do not take this step. Do not go in.

It was as if beyond that door was a monster with its bloody maw wide open, waiting for her. If she went in, she would never again see the light of day.

No. I cannot go.

She took a few steps back, wanting to move farther away from that doorway.

Questions took root and sprouted in her heart. Countless times, she wanted to ask Rong Yang, yet she also felt it would be unnecessary.

At first, it had been to vent hatred and take revenge. Later, it had been to trample her dignity and aloof pride viciously beneath her feet. Then now?

What do you want to do now?

She signaled to Lanxin and let her support her as she turned and left.