Watching the Imperial Physicians scramble away in a panic, Shangguan Liqian felt a suffocating mass of frustration lodged in her chest that simply would not dissipate.
Luo Wushuang was equally stunned; it was the first time she had ever seen her sister lose her temper in front of outsiders. After a brief moment of daze, she quickly realized the truth.
Sister must be this out of character because she’s so worried about me…
Though her knees still throbbed with a dull ache, an indescribable sense of satisfaction filled Luo Wushuang’s heart. It seemed her place in her sister’s heart was becoming more and more vital.
After reveling in her secret joy for a moment, Luo Wushuang glanced at the distance between them. She tentatively propped herself up and reached out, hooking her finger into Shangguan Liqian’s sleeve.
“I didn’t mean to hide it from you,” she pleaded in a small, defensive voice. “Please don’t be angry with me, alright?”
Sensing the movement, Shangguan Liqian lowered her gaze, her eyes landing coolly on the figure huddled on the bed.
It wasn’t that she wasn’t angry about the deception. In fact, if Luo Wushuang were standing perfectly healthy before her right now, Liqian would have been tempted to give her a sound thrashing. But seeing her lying there looking so pitiful, yet still offering a weak smile, Liqian found she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
Finally, under Luo Wushuang’s expectant gaze, Shangguan Liqian let out a soft sigh. She stepped forward and patted the Empress’s silly head, offering a word of comfort. “Don’t be afraid. If the Imperial Academy of Medicine is useless, we can seek out famous physicians from across the realm. You will be fine.”
Noticing that her sister’s attitude had softened, Luo Wushuang’s hand crept forward. She firmly grasped Liqian’s hand, holding it tight as she whispered, “I’m not afraid. And you shouldn’t be afraid either, Sister.”
As she spoke, Luo Wushuang suddenly remembered her previous negotiations with Lou Yanhui. She had promised to help Lou Yanhui search the world for renowned doctors. So much time had passed; surely the Princess Manor of Luo Yunjin was now teeming with experts.
She could certainly have someone “borrow” a few reliable ones from the manor…
Thinking of this, Luo Wushuang quickly added, “I have already sent people to find famous doctors. I’ll have them brought into the palace tomorrow.”
Shangguan Liqian rubbed her aching temples and nodded slightly. “Mhm. There are many great physicians in this world. You will definitely be alright, Wushuang.”
It was unclear whether she was comforting the Empress or herself.
Luo Wushuang’s grip on Shangguan Liqian’s hand tightened. While she desperately wanted her sister to care for her—ideally to have her sister’s eyes and heart filled only with her—she couldn’t bear to see her looking so troubled and anxious.
Excessive worry would surely take a toll on her health. How could she stand to see that?
Tracing the furrow of her sister’s brow and her tightly pressed lips, Luo Wushuang suddenly softened her voice, acting spoiled. “I’m tired. Will you stay with me while I rest for a bit?”
Shangguan Liqian looked down at the person feigning helplessness. She eventually kicked off her shoes and lay down on her side beside her.
Seeing her sister settle in, Luo Wushuang carefully avoided her injured leg and imperiously pulled the woman into her arms. “Sleep with me, Sister.”
Shangguan Liqian hummed in response, gently patting the Empress’s back as she coaxed her in a low voice. “If you’re tired, then sleep. I’m right here. I won’t leave.”
“Mhm.”
Luo Wushuang gave a soft reply and closed her eyes. She wasn’t actually sleepy; she simply felt that her sister’s nerves were stretched too thin and wanted her to relax.
However, even with her eyes closed, Shangguan Liqian couldn’t fall asleep. Hearing the irregular rhythm of the breathing above her, she knew the person who had clamored for a nap wasn’t sleeping either. After a moment’s thought, she understood Luo Wushuang’s intention.
With a silent sigh in her heart, Shangguan Liqian played along, consciously evening out her own breathing.
Unaware that her ruse had been seen through, Luo Wushuang felt the woman in her arms slip into a steady rhythm of sleep. She breathed a quiet sigh of relief and slowly extracted her numbed arm. With incredibly gentle movements, she slipped off the bed.
When she reached the entrance of the Inner Hall, Luo Wushuang looked back one last time. Seeing that the person on the bed was still sound asleep, she finally left with peace of mind.
Little did she know that the moment her silhouette disappeared, the Shangguan Liqian who had been lying on her side opened her eyes. Her gaze was clear and sharp, without a trace of drowsiness.
Catching a glimpse of the Inner Hall door left slightly ajar, she knew Wushuang had been afraid of waking her and hadn’t dared to close it fully.
Barefoot, Shangguan Liqian crept toward the door. Faint voices from the Outer Hall drifted in. They were hushed, the speakers keeping their tones as low as possible, making it difficult to hear clearly.
Yet, the few fragments she did catch were enough to make her eyes sting.
Wushuang was giving orders to her most trusted subordinates, telling them that no matter what happened, they must prioritize Liqian’s safety—even over her own! They had to ensure her protection at all costs.
Hearing this, Shangguan Liqian felt a lump form in her throat.
This fool… thinking of me even at a time like this. How can I not ache for her?
She didn’t listen to the rest of the instructions. Only when she heard the sound of the outer door closing with extreme care did Shangguan Liqian wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes. She hurried back to the bed and lay down before Luo Wushuang could return.
Luo Wushuang tiptoed back into the room. Seeing her sister still seemingly asleep, she let out a quiet breath of relief and climbed back onto the bed.
Her recently injured leg was still throbbing with a dull pain, but she couldn’t worry about that now. While she had been pretending to sleep, she had carefully reviewed her condition. These episodes of “knee weakness” were becoming progressively more severe, and since the physicians couldn’t find a cause, she had to make preparations for the worst.
However, if things truly took a turn for the worse in the future, she feared she would be doing her sister a great injustice.
At that thought, Luo Wushuang subconsciously tightened her hold on the woman in her arms. No matter what happened, this woman was hers. No one would be allowed to take her away.
Feeling the strength of the arms around her waist, Shangguan Liqian’s eyes reddened again, and she nearly let her tears fall.
Her Wushuang had already suffered so much injustice; why did fate have to toy with her like this? If it were possible, she only wished for her Wushuang to be safe and happy for the rest of her days, with everything following her heart’s desire.
