Yan Si slowly stepped forward, and the person's image gradually came into view, instantly leaving him utterly stunned: "He..."
The man truly was... beautifully intoxicating to the soul; though he did not know how to describe it, those features, that countenance, caused a person to be genuinely infatuated...
This person was precisely the only recognized Male Imperial Consort of the Song dynasty, Song Shang Yuan.
Previously, Yan Si had thought that RongCheng was already the most beautiful, never expecting...
"This will not do... saving the person is what is important, what nonsense am I thinking about?" Yan Si shook his head faintly and immediately sat down beside the bed to check Shang Yuan's pulse, subsequently examining his entire condition.
The person's injuries were truly severe: his chest and both sides of his thighs had been tortured with incandescent steel multiple times; his frame was marked everywhere with whip lashes; all ten of his fingertips were crushed; furthermore, his interior had been infected by frosty winter vapors, causing severe pneumonia, and his breathing was exceptionally weak.
Perhaps RongCheng had returned just in time; a bit later, and it was to be feared that even the person's corpse could not be found... Yan Si involuntarily felt a wave of fear.
Even a noble Imperial Consort was harmed to this extent, so how could he possibly withstand it? Yan Si's confidence wavered violently, yet he still tried to reassure himself, forcing his person to cling tightly to a promise that he had always doubted.
"I must not think nonsense anymore... trust eldest brother... I resolutely must trust in him!" This was the single lifebuoy that Yan Si found amidst the murky, boundless sea; if his hand slipped, he would drown immediately.
RongCheng's head currently was nearly bursting into flames, yet he still strove to maintain composure, saying, "Little brother, see if you can save him? Eldest brother begs of you, please save him... At all costs, you must resolutely save him!"
RongCheng's earnest pleading left Yan Si momentarily flustered, and he hurriedly replied haltingly, "I... I will exert my utmost strength."
Yan Si examined Shang Yuan's pulse once more, then spoke again, "Eldest brother, lend me paper and ink."
RongCheng nodded immediately and said, "Very well... very well!"
Instantly, someone brought paper and ink over; Yan Si wrote down the necessary items, then handed it to RongCheng, saying, "Help me bring these things; a chance may yet exist to save him."
A tiny glint of hope having just flashed, RongCheng's heart felt an overwhelming joy, and he immediately ordered people to act according to what was specified on the paper.
Even if Yichang Hua refused to acknowledge him as a disciple, Yan Si was nonetheless the sole successor whom a divine physician like him had exerted his entire strength to foster and train.
In terms of medical expertise, even though Shang Yuan's condition was severe, as long as he strove to hold him back, then even the King of Hell would have no choice but to let go.
During the time spent waiting, Yan Si had the person swallow a medicinal pill, then quickly and carefully managed the wounds.
Half an hour later, a young eunuch brought the medicine over; Yan Si received the medicine, intending to tend to the person to drink it, but never expecting that his lips remained tightly sealed—whatever amount of medicine was poured in all overflowed.
Seeing this situation, RongCheng grew anxious and said, "Hand the bowl of medicine to me."
Yan Si nodded, delivering the bowl of medicine back into his hands, while simultaneously standing up to yield his spot.
RongCheng immediately sat beside the bed; he took a mouthful of the medicine into his own mouth, then lowered his head to touch Shang Yuan's lips, transferring it to the person bit by bit... persevering like that until it was finished...
The spectacle before his eyes left Yan Si momentarily speechless: "How can he act thus?"
Though finding it bizarre, he still gazed intently at RongCheng, his heart thrown into utter turmoil...
Having finished transferring the medicine, RongCheng stood up and urged, "Little brother, he has finished taking the medicine; quickly see how he is."
The shout was like dragging Yan Si back to reality; he nodded faintly and swiftly sat back down on the bed, continuing to treat the injuries...
Meanwhile, RongCheng walked back and forth unceasingly out of anxiety; it was only that now his fury had gradually subsided, and because Yan Si was here, he felt a slight bit of ease.
Nearly an hour later, medicine was brought over again; RongCheng continued to use the old method to transfer it for Shang Yuan to drink... At this time, the person's wounds had already been carefully managed by Yan Si, so he was also very sensible, standing aside to observe.
Time passed sluggishly; within RongCheng's heart, the worry never ceased. He gently lifted Shang Yuan's hand to kiss it softly, then pressed it close against his own cheek, his gestures exceedingly sweet and affectionate.
That action of RongCheng, for some unknown reason, caused waves to rise in Yan Si's heart... Though he did not understand, he experienced a sensation of wishing to be intimate...
A secretive yearning having just surfaced was instantly extinguished... Yan Si shook his head faintly, then stepped gently to the side of the bed, calling, "Eldest brother."
RongCheng had inherently been focusing his stare solely upon Shang Yuan; hearing the call, he suddenly snapped out of it, turned over, and asked, "Ah... what is the matter with you?"
Yan Si hesitated for a moment, then asked, "The Imperial Consort... for what reason did he end up like this?"
RongCheng suddenly let out a sigh... Indeed, the days he spent worrying in the cave were not unfounded; he spoke, "Someone plotted a scheme, accusing him of sending assassins to covertly harm me, therefore..."
At that thought, his frame suddenly shuddered, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "My Imperial Father and Empress Mother, in a moment of wrath upon listening to slanderous talk, immediately had the person seized and cast into prison... They took advantage of that matter to employ extreme torture to extract a confession."
This clearly was a venomous conspiracy directed straight at the Eldest Prince and further at the Imperial Consort...
When RongCheng returned and caught news of this, it was as if he had just been struck by lightning; he immediately rushed into the prison to rescue Shang Yuan. Immediately following that was a mad wrath brought down upon the heads of all those who intentionally abused punishments... In a single night, five heads rolled, causing those imperial physicians kneeling outside to be scared out of their wits, shuddering unceasingly.
At that time, in the face of RongCheng's executioner-like decisions, the two individuals seated upon the high thrones merely shook their heads and let out a sigh.
Their eldest son returning alive was already good; all remaining matters were simply left to him to handle.
Rongcheng harbored a belly full of resentment. This time, if he failed to uncover the truth, he swore he would never let it go. In his heart, he secretly made a firm vow: "Whosoever dared to plot a scheme to harm A Yuan, I will force your entire clan to pay the price!"
Standing before the man's towering rage, Yan Si shuddered faintly and shrank into himself... he felt that this elder brother was also truly far too terrifying.
Yan Si inherently did not know that within the palace, a saying was frequently passed from ear to ear: Do whatever you will, but you absolutely cannot act contrary to RongCheng's wishes.
Yet here, Yan Si was precisely clinging to him—a lifebuoy completely covered in thorns.