He stared at her for a while but Lingxi's gaze did not linger.
She walked up to He Yu and stood next to him.
"Prince Wen, you are famed for being valiant and exceptionally skilled in battle. Seeing you today, it seems your reputation is well-deserved", she complimented him even though it did not sound like a compliment but He Ming did not seem to get the message.
"I am merely doing my duty, you flatter me", He Ming said seriously.
Chi Yun and He Yu exchanged glances while Xin Xie and Xin Lan also got the message.
Qin Yan who was normally indifferent and was standing at a far end couldn't help but have a hint of disbelief on his face.
Lingxi smiled lightly letting out a short laugh.
"It seems Prince Wen is not only valiant but simple minded. That's a good balance", she said.
"What does grandaunt mean?" He Ming did not truly understand.
"It's fine. It's my first time personally meeting Prince Wen and Prince An, I have prepared a gift for both of you. Come with me", she said and walked past him.
They both followed her from behind.
He Yu looked slightly uncomfortable and he tried to breathe. His fist tightened as he tried to support himself lightly on the table.
Lingxi who was walking suddenly stopped and turned to him, "aren't you coming along?" she asked.
He Yu's head that was slightly bowed had already straightened up. He looked totally fine.
"I have something to do. You can go on", he said with a smile.
"Something to do? Right now?" Lingxi was a bit surprised.
"Some reports were sent to His Highness a while ago. He has to review them", Chi Yun answered before He Yu could say anything.
"Now?"
Chi Yun nodded, "now"
Lingxi studied He Yu for a minute. She did not seem satisfied with the answer but agreed anyways, "okay, don't forget to have your medicine on time", she reminded him even though the message was being passed to Chi Yun.
"I won't forget", He Yu assured her with a smile.
She hesitated for a second before leaving with both princes and her maids. He Yu watched her back as she left.
Immediately her back was out of sight, he could not hold himself any longer and coughed up blood.
"Your highness!" Chi Yun supported him.
****
"I had prepared these gift prepared earlier for Prince An. However, due to the events that occurred, I couldn't give it to your highness in time", Lingxi said handing him architectural set containing a compass and carpenter's square.
"Grandaunt, it's amazing. Thank you", He Zhen smiled happy.
He had just graduated from the academy and was interested in architecture. He was seventeen years old.
"Prince An is always welcome"
"There is no need to address me as Prince An. You can call me by my name, He Zhen", he said.
Lingxi gave a genuine smile, "I'll keep that in mind, He Zhen"
He Zhen nodded and sat down to admire his gift.
Lingxi picked up a small box and stretched towards He Ming, "this is for you"
He accepted it and opened it. His token appeared.
He looked at her with a blank expression.
He removed it. Underneath was a cloth. From the markings, it was clear that it was the map. He placed the token back and covered the box.
"Does Prince Wen like the gift?" Lingxi asked.
He Ming met her gaze, "I like it"
"That's good. I was worried you wouldn't like it", she said without the sense of relief her tone was supposed to carry. It was more like she expected the outcome.
"He Zhen", she called out to He Zhen who was seated, "grandaunt just finished archery practice and is tired. I would like to rest for a while"
He Zhen stood up understanding the message, he bowed, "I will come and see grandaunt on another day"
Lingxi smiled at him. He turned and left.
Lingxi watched him completely disappear from sight before turning to He Ming, "does Prince Wen not understand the message or do you have anything else to say?" Lingxi asked.
He Ming studied her for a second, "I just don't understand how someone could be so indifferent?"
"Is Prince Wen indirectly calling me indifferent?" Lingxi asked with the same smile.
"Much more than that - you have a very cold heart. You have such a pretty face but your actions tell a different story", he said looking directly at her.
"I simply don't like getting myself into unnecessary troubles. Does Prince Wen consider that as having a cold heart?" Lingxi asked.
There was a short pause.
Lingxi let out a short sigh with a faint hint of regret, "looking back, I shouldn't really have compromised my principles", she said walking past him.
She walked out of the main hall but stopped just at the entrance.
She turned back to face him, "Prince Wen is also known for being free-spirited and unrestrained. That should be all thanks to your older brother. But I still think you should be more careful with your words", she said.
She paused and thought for a second, "I'll take your words as a compliment", she added with a smile and left.
He Ming's gaze lingered at Lingxi before shifting to the box in his hand then back at the empty door Lingxi had passed.
[Evening]
Lingxi was seated by the window watching the dark sky with a hint of worry.
She was holding a book in hand but had long lost interest in reading it. Only the heavens knew how long she had been sitting there.
"Your highness, I don't think His Highness will return tonight. Why don't you rest first?" Xin Xie suggested.
"Her Highness has not eaten anything yet. She should eat something before sleeping", Xin Lan insisted.
She walked up to Lingxi holding a bowl of mung bean porridge.
"Your highness, the porridge is still warm. How about you have it before going to bed?"
"I am not hungry", Lingxi answered
"You just recovered from a strong heat toxin. You should keep yourself cool. Mung bean porridge is a must", Xin Lan kept on insisting.
Lingxi looked at it as though deliberating for a second.
"Actually, His Highness ordered us to prepare mung bean porridge for you. He also said you shouldn't wait for him", Xin Xie added.
Lingxi finally accepted it, "you may leave"
They bowed and left.
Lingxi looked at the food in her hand for a minute before proceeding to eat.
She took one spoonful first then after deciding that He Yu was not a child and could take care of himself and also had Chi Yun by his side to protect him, she finished her food.
She turned off all the lights and went to sleep.
****"
Late in the night, slow but light footsteps approached the room.
It stood over the bed for about second before lying back down. It was He Yu.
He shifted closer to Lingxi and held her close to himself.
"I thought you wouldn't come back tonight", he heard a voice.
Lingxi disengaged herself from his embrace and turned on the lights. She sat up and looked at He Yu.
She wanted to ask him why he came home so late but his look stopped her. He looked even paler than before. When he held her, she felt his hand surprisingly chilling. He looked weak and tired.
"Are you okay?" she could only ask softly because she had no other words to say to him at this point.
He Yu looked at her, knowing it was unable to even lie, he chose not to speak.
She held his hand. Her eyes shifted, "how come your temperature is even colder than before?" she asked.
"I'm fine", He Yu answered gently releasing his hand from her grip.
Lingxi watched him for a second and her hand suddenly reached for his chest as she tried to open his clothes. He held her hand just in time.
"Zhizhi, what are you trying to do?" he asked.
"What does it look like I'm trying to do?" she asked in return and proceeded to continue but He Yu stopped her again. His physical strength was surprisingly good.
"I understand if you want to do it, but now is not the right time. I'm unwell", he said with his eyes teasing.
Lingxi could not understand how someone sick could still have the strength to tease someone else. She had only wanted to check if he had acupuncture treatment and what type it was.
She pulled her hand away, "I only wanted to check your body"
"Check my body?" He Yu could not resist the urge to tease her a little more, "Zhizhi has already seen all of me. What else do you want to check?"
Lingxi could not believe her ears, "when did I...?"
Suddenly, her mind flashed back to when she had prepared a herbal bath for him and helped him undress when he was sick before.
She did not have the strength to argue with him, much less reason with him.
She let out a short sigh, "He Yu, teasing me is not going to hide your condition. Tell me what's wrong"
"I'm fine"
"He Yu, we're husband and wife, much more partners. You shouldn't hide things from me, especially your health. No matter what, I will stand by you and support you", she said looking serious while her voice carried a strong sense of reassurance.
He Yu looked at her for a long time and her eyes never left his.
He slowly sat up, "I went to see Physician Xu today", he paused to look at her for a second.
Lingxi did not interrupt him.
"He said I had just ten years left", He Yu completed.