Tan Hua - Chapter 24

Jun Qiyu saw a scene of blood and bolted upright.

 

Song Liqing lay quietly in a pool of blood, his face eerily serene. His skin was so bloodless that sunlight could almost pass through it, his complexion pale and blue, clearly… clearly like he was already dead.

 

Jun Qiyu was momentarily stunned.

 

He had been rough last night, but how could some physical torment lead to death?

 

“Song Liqing…”

 

Jun Qiyu called him, but there was no response.

 

“Song Liqing! Get up!”

 

Jun Qiyu finally panicked.

 

He checked Song Liqing’s breath; it was faint, but Jun Qiyu was somewhat relieved.

 

“Someone!”

 

Jun Qiyu threw on his robe and shouted loudly.

 

“Someone! Go to the palace and call for the imperial physician!”

 

It was the first time the maids and servants had seen the Crown Prince in such a panic; he even forgot to put on one shoe as he got out of bed.

 

The Qilin Mansion was in chaos.

 

The physicians arrived quickly, several of them were summoned at once, including Qi Miao.

 

Qi Miao rushed to the front, looking worried. He went straight to the bedside, took Song Liqing’s hand, and upon seeing the messy scene, he had a vague idea of what had happened.

 

Without needing to diagnose, he immediately administered medicine and gave Song Liqing a red pill.

 

But in his current state, Song Liqing couldn’t swallow the medicine on his own. The pill was forced into his mouth but he couldn’t swallow it, and instead, he choked on the water, coughed, and spat out the pill.

 

Jun Qiyu frowned watching this.

 

“Why did he spit it out? Can’t you even feed him properly?”

 

Qi Miao was also angry. It was clear that Jun Qiyu was responsible for Song Liqing’s condition, yet he was acting so self-righteously.

 

“The Crown Princess is currently unconscious and cannot swallow the medicine,” Qi Miao said sullenly without turning his head.

 

Upon hearing this, Jun Qiyu’s expression turned fierce.

 

“What do you mean by unconscious? How can someone just not wake up?!”

 

Qi Miao then retorted, “Isn’t this all thanks to Your Highness?”

 

“Me? I was just a bit rough with him. Even if he was unwell, didn’t he visit you a few days ago? Qi Miao, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. If it weren’t for your master Bian Shenyi, do you think you’d have the right to stand before him?”

 

Qi Miao knew he had no standing to argue for Song Liqing, but he was heartbroken.

 

How long had Song Liqing been at the Qilin Mansion? His health had already deteriorated to this extent, and could Jun Qiyu even see him as a person?

 

“He’s almost dead, and Your Highness is still spouting such jealous words?”

 

“Get out of here!” Jun Qiyu shoved him aside, “Get out!”

 

He snatched the pill from Qi Miao’s hand, forcefully pried open Song Liqing’s mouth, and stuffed the medicine in, then poured a bowl of water.

 

“Swallow it! Song Liqing!”

 

Jun Qiyu ordered harshly, thinking Song Liqing would obediently wake up as usual at his command.

 

But this time was different.

 

“Drink it! Do you want to die from illness?”

 

The more things didn’t go his way, the more irritable Jun Qiyu became. He rudely stuffed several pills into Song Liqing’s mouth at once.

 

“Your Highness!” Qi Miao stopped him, “This isn’t saving him, it’s killing him!”

 

Jun Qiyu froze, unsure what to do. He had only ever received flattery and care from others and had never taken care of anyone himself.

 

Not only did Song Liqing choke on the medicine, but after a violent coughing fit in his unconscious state, he made a faint sound.

 

“Wu…”

 

“What did you say?”

 

Jun Qiyu bent down, pressing his ear to Song Liqing’s lips to listen.

 

Song Liqing couldn’t articulate clear words, but Jun Qiyu could hear intermittent sobs.

 

He… was still crying even in his unconscious state.

 

A tear had already hung at the corner of Song Liqing’s eye.

 

“Qi… Yu… let… me go, I beg you… please…”

 

Jun Qiyu grabbed his hand, feeling its coldness.

 

Only then did Jun Qiyu realize that Song Liqing’s hand was so small, his fingers shorter by a joint, and so thin and delicate, soft and boneless in his grasp.

 

This was the first time Jun Qiyu held Song Liqing’s hand.

 

“Song Liqing… I warn you, you are not allowed to have leave. I… I haven’t agreed yet!”

 

Jun Qiyu hugged Song Liqing, letting him lean against him.

 

“Song Liqing, you are not allowed to die, wake up, do you hear me? Song Liqing! … At worst, I’ll be a bit gentler with you in the future.”

 

To Jun Qiyu, this was already his greatest compromise.

 

He had already made concessions, so Song Liqing should stop sulking and take his medicine, right?

 

“You…” Jun Qiyu looked at the group of helpless physicians, “Whoever can cure him will be heavily rewarded, otherwise, get out of the imperial hospital!”

 

The physicians knelt down, declaring they would do their best.

 

A cacophony of voices offered no definitive conclusion, some even unsure of Song Liqing’s illness, suggesting exhaustion or excessive worry.

 

All day, Song Liqing remained unconscious.

 

Physicians were replaced one after another, all leaving after being harshly scolded.

 

Jun Qiyu sat by the door, feeling an empty void as if he had lost something precious. This overwhelming sense of helplessness left him at a loss.

 

“Your Highness, the Prince of Loulan requests an audience,” a servant reported.

 

Jun Qiyu had no desire to hear this name, and just hearing it ignited his anger.

 

“He dares come to the Qilin Mansion?! Tell him to get lost!”

 

“He said he heard the Crown Princess was unconscious and might have a way to save him.”

 

Jun Qiyu turned to ask, “Did he really say that?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Jun Qiyu waved his hand, “Bring him in.”

 

Pei Xingxu hurried in, a fine sweat on his forehead. He ignored Jun Qiyu, going straight to the bedside, placing his hand on Song Liqing’s forehead.

 

“Liqing… it’s my fault.”

 

Pei Xingxu looked at the mess of a person, his eyes filling with tears.

 

Yesterday, Song Liqing had been fine, but in just one night, he was on the brink of life and death!

 

He was so close… just a bit closer, and he would have missed Song Liqing forever.

 

Besides the heartbreak, Pei Xingxu felt hatred.

 

“Do you really have a way to wake him?”

 

Jun Qiyu asked from behind him.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Pei Xingxu responded lowly, then suddenly turned and punched Jun Qiyu in the face.

 

“You bastard, what did you do to him?!”

 

Pei Xingxu didn’t care that Jun Qiyu was the Crown Prince of Jingguo.

 

Caught off guard, Jun Qiyu took the punch. Pei Xingxu was skilled in martial arts, and the heavy blow nearly knocked Jun Qiyu off his feet. He spat out a mouthful of blood as he regained his balance.

 

Pei Xingxu, seemingly out of his mind, wanted to rush forward again.

 

This time, Jun Qiyu caught his fist.

 

“You save him, and I’ll let you have that punch. Hit me again, and I will fight back!”

 

“Jun Qiyu, you scoundrel! Come on! You’ve been bullying people for years, do you think I don’t know your notorious reputation? How many people did you kill in the Western Regions? You treated the Illyrian royal family as cheap slaves and male concubines! You even did this to your betrothed lover! Are you even human?!”

 

Pei Xingxu charged forward without hesitation, and he and Jun Qiyu started grappling with each other.