Tan Hua - Chapter 15

“I’ll… I’ll go prepare the prescription for you right away, using the best blood-tonifying herbs. Don’t worry, the Imperial Medical Hospital has the most precious divine medicines and spiritual herbs in the world. I’m sure we can cure your illness. Also, my master… there is no illness in the world that he can’t cure. Just relax…”

 

Qi Miao was saying something, but Song Liqing didn’t hear it clearly. It was all words of comfort to him.

 

Song Liqing lifted the corners of his lips and said, “Alright.”

 

Qi Miao got up unsteadily and walked away, looking back every three steps.

 

“Doctor Qi.”

 

Song Liqing called him back, and Qi Miao almost stumbled back from the end of the garden.

 

“This matter is a secret between you and me. I ask you to keep it confidential and not tell anyone else, okay?”

 

“But… don’t you even want to tell General Song?” Qi Miao asked.

 

Song Liqing shook his head. “Forget it, I won’t tell him. If the treatment works, everything will be fine; if not, telling them will only add to their worries. They raised me, and I didn’t take good care of them, causing them to worry.”

 

“What about His Royal Highness the Crown Prince? He’s your confidant. Won’t you even tell him?”

 

Jun Qiyu?

 

Song Liqing hadn’t thought about it.

 

He couldn’t imagine how Jun Qiyu would react to this news. Would he pity him a little more and be a bit more gentle towards him? Or would he think he was faking his illness again? Or perhaps he would be ecstatic at the prospect of his death, thinking he could regain his freedom?

 

“I’ll think about it later,” Song Liqing could only say.

 

“Alright.”

 

Qi Miao nodded in agreement and disappeared from view.

 

The surroundings were quiet, the sky heavy. Song Liqing had just reached his prime, he knew his talents were limited, he didn’t have extraordinary foresight, couldn’t predict life and death, couldn’t understand love.

 

Only confusion remained.

 

Qi Miao returned quickly, holding a piece of paper in one hand and a food box in the other.

 

“This is the preliminary prescription I’ve come up with. I’ll give you the medicine as soon as I’ve prepared it, and I’ll deliver it to you today. You must follow the prescription and take it every day. Also… there’s something else, I can’t remember right now, I’ll tell you when I remember.”

 

Qi Miao was as flustered as he was.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Song Liqing was sincere. In this world, besides his parents, there was only one person who cared about him, and that was fortunate.

 

“Liqing, you don’t need to be so polite to me. You always seem so aloof with everyone, and it makes me uncomfortable.” Qi Miao lowered his head, remembering something. “Oh, by the way, these are the osmanthus cakes I bought early this morning, your favorite.”

 

He liked sweets, but osmanthus cakes weren’t his favorite.

 

It was because when he was young, Jun Qiyu had taken him out to skip classes, and they got separated on the street. Jun Qiyu had scolded him fiercely and then guiltily bought him osmanthus cakes to make up for it. Somehow, this little devil had insisted on licking the crumbs stuck to his mouth, saying they were the sweetest things on his lips, and he had even demanded that he stick more on his mouth to taste them again.

 

At that time, Song Liqing refused, and the little devil got angry and went to snatch the crumbs directly from his mouth…

 

Since then, Song Liqing had a special fondness for osmanthus cakes.

 

“You still remember. Is it from Lianxianglou? They make the best ones.”

 

“Yes!” Qi Miao took one out and said, “Try it first, is it the same taste as before?”

 

Qi Miao handed the golden osmanthus cake to him. Song Liqing took it and put it in his mouth, chewing a few times. It was fragrant and delicious.

 

“The osmanthus flavor is very strong, it’s delicious.”

 

“Right.” Qi Miao watched him eat with a dazed expression. “I’ve always thought the osmanthus fragrance is like you, rich but not gaudy, elegant but not aloof.”

 

Song Liqing was rarely praised like this.

 

“You’re flattering me too much.”

 

“Not at all,” Qi Miao retorted.

 

Song Liqing went to take the food box, but Qi Miao held onto it tightly, unwilling to let go. He buried his head, his shoulders trembling, suppressing his sobs.

 

Song Liqing was brought to melancholy by him, almost shedding tears himself.

 

“Hey, silly big guy, I haven’t cried, why are you crying?”

 

Qi Miao lifted his head, tears streaming down his face.

 

“I’m crying… because I can’t bear it. I originally wanted… I originally wanted to wait for General Song to come back from the northwest and then propose to you. Sob…”

 

Qi Miao choked up and couldn’t continue. He didn’t want to make too much of it, so he could only wipe away his tears with both hands haphazardly.

 

“Propose?” Song Liqing was shocked.

 

Qi Miao said unabashedly, “Hmm, I know you’ve always liked that rascal, so I didn’t dare to tell you. And whenever I went to your mansion to find you, you were always busy studying, so I was afraid to disturb you. Finally, when you finally made it through, Jun Qiyu returned… In the end, I missed my chance step by step.”

 

In fact, Qi Miao was no less tall than Jun Qiyu. He had a handsome and upright appearance, with a stable and cheerful personality, making him a very suitable husband.

 

“You will meet someone better than me in the future and have a good relationship.”

 

Song Liqing patted his arm, but Qi Miao still couldn’t look at him directly.

 

Suddenly, Song Liqing understood this cautious attitude. The person who loved more always had to humble themselves a bit, while the one being loved had the confidence to hold their head high.

 

He and Jun Qiyu were no exception.

 

After Qi Miao left, Song Liqing lingered in the small garden for a long time, feeling lost.

 

Just as he was about to leave the palace and return to Qilin Mansion, a white figure suddenly leaped down from the artificial hill. This person was agile, with swift and graceful movements, blocking his way.

 

“Prince Loulan?”

 

It was the man he had met briefly in the morning.

 

Song Liqing thought there were no idle people in the garden, but he didn’t expect someone hiding above the artificial hill.

 

“How can you, a foreigner, freely roam the palace?”

 

He replied, “I have been granted the favor of the Emperor of Jingguo, allowing me to read medical history books in the Imperial Hospital.”

 

“You’re hiding here specifically to eavesdrop on other people’s conversations?”

 

Prince Loulan raised a medical book in his hand and said, “Sir Attendant, you are mistaken. I found a quiet place to read, but I didn’t have the leisure to eavesdrop on others.”

 

Song Liqing suspiciously asked, “What did you hear then?”

 

“I heard you crying and laughing, that’s all.”

 

“You…”

 

Song Liqing had no time to banter with him and turned to leave.

 

But Prince Loulan took the initiative to catch up and said softly, “Since you are the Crown Prince’s attendant, you should at least behave yourself. Are you not satisfied with being close to a Crown Prince? Or are you naturally discontented…”

 

“We are upright and honest, not as open-minded as your Hu people.” Song Liqing quickened his pace. “Besides, what’s it to you?”

 

“I just think your appearance doesn’t match your behavior.” Prince Loulan continued to follow, “With such a cold and aloof face, you willingly become someone’s attendant, and you even flit between various men. I feel sorry for this body of yours.”

 

Song Liqing stopped and looked back at him.

 

“Do you know me well?”

 

“I want to know you.” Prince Loulan said bluntly, “Why don’t you give me a chance to tell me what kind of person you really are?”

 

“What if I don’t?”

 

Song Liqing’s arm was grabbed by him.

 

“Aren’t you afraid that the Crown Prince will find out that his attendant is secretly in cahoots with a young doctor? I even saw your lover crying on your shoulder.”

 

With these words, Song Liqing suddenly understood. Prince Loulan hadn’t heard the conversation between him and Qi Miao clearly at all; he had just speculated based on their behavior.

 

“Prince Loulan just lectured me. How can I get entangled with another man behind his back?”

 

Prince Loulan was left speechless by Song Liqing’s words and let go of his hand.

 

Song Liqing hurriedly distanced himself from him, only hearing him call out from behind.

 

“Sir Attendant, I will be staying in the Jingguo Imperial City for half a year. From now on, I will not disturb you… My Han name is Pei Xingxu. Don’t call me ‘Prince’ next time.”

 

“Absurd…”

 

Song Liqing saw that the sun was already past noon and hurried back to Qilin Mansion.

 

Pei Xingxu reluctantly withdrew his gaze.

 

Then he slapped his forehead in regret.

 

“I’m really confused. I came all the way to Jingguo to study, with heavy responsibilities on my shoulders, but I was easily led astray by beauty… Little Attendant, what kind of person are you? You didn’t even tell me your name.” 

 

Author’s note:

 

*Sob sob sob…*