Chapter 116

Hearing this, Luo Qionghua turned her head in surprise and asked, “You really need my help?”

Fu Ping’an nodded.

For a moment, Luo Qionghua suspected Fu Ping’an might just be embarrassed to leave her idle and wanted to give her something to do.

But once she came over, she understood that Fu Ping’an truly did need assistance.

“To give her the medicine, Sister Yunping needs to open her mouth,” Fu Ping’an explained.

For some reason, she felt a bit embarrassed saying this to Luo Qionghua.

Especially when Luo Qionghua looked up at her with such earnest eyes, clear and bright like water.

Upon hearing this, Luo Qionghua bent down and drew closer. Since Fu Ping’an was already sitting on the bedside, she crouched down, resting her elbows on the edge of the pillow, and looked up. “Then I’ll just reach out and pry it open, alright?”

When she lifted her head, the stray hairs at her temples brushed against Fu Ping’an’s wrist—soft and ticklish.

Fu Ping’an gave a soft “Mm.”

Luo Qionghua’s gaze lingered briefly on the brown medicine bottle in Fu Ping’an’s hand, but she said nothing about it. Instead, she quickly focused her attention on Mu Tingyun.

She felt a little nervous; she’d never fed medicine to anyone before.

She reached out and touched Mu Tingyun’s cheek, finding it cool and soft. She suddenly remembered something from the past and spoke: “In the past, Sister Yunping often pinched my cheeks, but this is the first time I’ve ever pinched hers.”

At these words, Fu Ping’an’s gaze couldn’t help but fall on Luo Qionghua’s cheeks. She remembered how plump and round those cheeks used to be; they had indeed looked very pleasant to squeeze.

But now her baby fat had faded. Though the young woman’s cheeks still held a trace of softness, they were much thinner than before.

A twinge of regret rose in her heart—why had she never given them a squeeze back then?

Luo Qionghua quickly got the hang of it. She grasped Mu Tingyun’s chin and gently pushed downward. Mu Tingyun’s mouth opened, and Fu Ping’an seized the chance to pour the medicine in.

Luo Qionghua glanced at the medicine bottle again but still asked nothing.

Fu Ping’an put the bottle away.

Both of them, along with the viewers in the livestream, watched Mu Tingyun with intense, anxious focus. Within the span of a few breaths, Mu Tingyun’s eyes moved, and she opened them.

[Dreamer: Divine medicine!]

[Quail & Loach Soup: It’s medicine from our era. The only special thing is that it works fast.]

[Baby Is So Cute: So you can avoid affecting work the next day, right?]

[Little Dirty Master Your Highness Su Heng: Don’t say that. I’m about to cry.]

But at this moment, the awakened Mu Tingyun had no idea her improvement was due to the drug’s potent effect. She opened her eyes, feeling her body significantly lighter, and couldn’t help smiling. “Am I having terminal lucidity?”

She turned her head and, seeing Fu Ping’an and Luo Qionghua, smiled. “How wonderful. At the end of my life, you two are by my side.”

Fu Ping’an was startled and was about to speak when Mu Tingyun quickly continued. “Since I’m dying, Your Majesty, there are some things I’ve always wanted to ask…”

Fu Ping’an swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue and gazed quietly at Mu Tingyun.

Mu Tingyun reached out and grasped her wrist, choking back a sob. “Your Majesty, if I beg you to trust Fu Lingxian more… is that being presumptuous from favor?”

Luo Qionghua, whose gaze had unconsciously been fixed on Mu Tingyun’s hand gripping Fu Ping’an’s wrist, looked up in astonishment at these words.

Fu Ping’an looked down at Mu Tingyun, her eyes deep and emotions unreadable.

After a long pause, she spoke. “Do you truly not hate her anymore? Even though… it was indeed because of her that your father died?”

Mu Tingyun’s face was pale. The medicine was making her drowsy, but she couldn’t help suspecting her body was simply failing. She forced herself to continue, tears slipping uncontrollably down her cheeks, as if speaking these words caused her great pain: “I don’t know. I just… I just want her to live better. Perhaps it’s because I can understand why my father was willing to die for her. Just as I am willing to die for you. All men must die. If one dies for a true confidant, is that not a death of greater value?”

Mu Tingyun clenched her fingers, her gaze fixed on Fu Ping’an. Fu Ping’an stared at those pale fingertips, and memories drifted back many years, to that distant autumn day, to the great fire that had raged within the palace.

A young girl in thin clothing, standing barefoot on the cold floor, face smudged with ash, her tone soft as she spoke: “…If my life could be of some help to you, that would be good.”

Mu Tingyun was willing to die for her. She believed that.

She had even done it once before.

“I know,” she said. “I know…” she murmured under her breath.

“Your Majesty, all the gifts I’ve received these years and the names of those who sent them—I’ve recorded them all. They’re under my bed. Dongkui knows where. Once I’m dead, go find Dongkui.” Dongkui was Mu Tingyun’s personal maid.

“The gifts have all been sent to the Imperial Paper Mill. I normally have no use for them, so I’ve saved almost all of them…”

“Your Majesty, I just feel… Fu Lingxian doesn’t seem like someone with rebellious intentions. If you can trust Censor Tian, if you can trust the Duke of Ying, why can’t you trust her a little more? She truly isn’t any different from those others. She… she…”

“…She is actually a very soft-hearted person…”

“And Tanggao… Tanggao… has her illness gotten better? She’s just a child; it must be harder for her to endure than me… Your Majesty, can I see her before I die…”

The drug’s effects swept through Mu Tingyun’s body. She could no longer hold on. Her eyes slowly closed, and she fell asleep.

Luo Qionghua lay slumped against the bed. She didn’t know why, but her chest felt tight. Mu Tingyun’s words kept repeating in her mind.

The bond between Her Majesty and the Commandery Princess must be even deeper than she imagined.

She wanted to see Her Majesty’s expression, but didn’t dare. She even found herself closing her eyes, the rims feeling hot.

It was only after a good while that she realized the voice had stopped. She abruptly looked up at Mu Tingyun. “What’s wrong with her?”

“She fell asleep,” Fu Ping’an said. “The medicine causes drowsiness.”

Luo Qionghua finally lifted her head to look at Fu Ping’an.

To her surprise, Fu Ping’an’s face was expressionless.

But that blank expression made her even more uneasy.

“Your Majesty…”

“Let’s talk more when we’re back.”

[Chat Gives a Spring Branch: Once she wakes up, is she going to regret saying all that…?]

[Why Is My Hair Falling Out: I doubt it. She’s probably been waiting for a chance to say it.]

[Who Is Prettier, Me or the Regent King: Sigh. The child has grown up and been whisked away by the wolf-in-grandma’s-clothing.]

[Auntie Coo Coo Coo: Honestly, the Prince Regent really doesn’t seem that ambitious. Even Chen Songru said she’s overly cautious and indecisive.]

[Cute Love Freely-Giving Freak: Though right now, Ping’an can probably seize absolute power. Giving her a bit of trust shouldn’t be an issue.]

Fu Ping’an stared at the danmaku for a while, lost in thought.

After a moment, noticing no movement from Luo Qionghua, she realized the Empress was still crouched on the floor, eyes wide, biting her lip lightly as she looked up at her with a hint of timidity.

Fu Ping’an immediately snapped back to her senses. Realizing she might have frightened Luo Qionghua, she quickly said, “It’s just that talking here isn’t convenient right now. There are still people at the door.”

“Yes… that’s true.” Luo Qionghua forced a small smile.

Fu Ping’an stood. “Let’s go. She’ll likely sleep for quite a while.”

Luo Qionghua nodded. She braced her hands on the bed frame to stand, but the moment she straightened up, a piercing, tingling numbness shot from the sole of her foot all the way to the top of her head—her foot had fallen asleep.

Her legs gave way, and just as she was about to fall backwards, Fu Ping’an reached out and pulled her into her arms.

Jade pendants clinked softly; soft warmth filled her embrace.

“What’s wrong?” Fu Ping’an asked, surprised.

Luo Qionghua’s face flushed crimson. “M-m-my foot fell asleep.”

As if afraid Fu Ping’an wouldn’t believe her, she emphasized, “I really didn’t do it on purpose.”

Fu Ping’an just said, “Oh.”

Luo Qionghua lay in her arms. It seemed she wanted to stand but couldn’t, so she clung to Fu Ping’an’s shoulders tightly.

The first thought that inexplicably surfaced in her mind was—So wrapped inside those loose robes is such a slender, soft waist…

Even though they normally even shared a bed, when she thought about it, it seemed they rarely got this close. The last time they were this close… it had to have been five years ago, back when they were all still children.

[A-Hua Is Knifing Me Head-On: Is this real? At a moment like this, our Ping’an is actually expressionless?!]

[Picking a Lousy Name: Can’t say that. Ping’an might just have a blank face while actually being deeply affected inside.]

[Chang’an Flower: …Do I get the feeling she’s blushing?]

“…” Fu Ping’an was starting to want to turn off the livestream.

But she suspected if she turned it off right now, the next time she went live, she’d be cyber-bullied.

Just then, Luo Qionghua finally managed to stand up properly. Though still gripping Fu Ping’an’s arm, she said resolutely, “Even though it’s still numb, I think I can walk now.”

“…Try taking a few steps.”

“Can you support me, then?” Luo Qionghua looked at her pitifully.

Fu Ping’an nodded.

With Fu Ping’an’s help, Luo Qionghua was indeed able to walk. The two reached the door and pushed it open.

The servants outside immediately fell to their knees. Fu Ping’an announced, “The Commandery Princess is asleep.”

The servants exchanged bewildered glances.

In their eyes, Commandery Princess Yunping had always been “asleep.”

Fu Lingxian also found the statement odd. She watched Her Majesty’s face unblinkingly, her gaze traveling downwards, catching sight of Luo Qionghua’s hand tightly gripping Fu Ping’an’s arm.

…The Emperor and Empress… are quite loving.

But Mu Tingyun was gravely ill. Could the two of them have been inside billing and cooing?

Fu Lingxian couldn’t help frowning.

Just then, she heard Her Majesty say: “When the Commandery Princess wakes, regardless of whether it’s good or bad, report her condition to me.”

“Your Majesty, Yunping, she…”

“Royal Aunt…” Fu Ping’an cut off Fu Lingxian’s words. She stepped forward, moving within just a hand’s width of Fu Lingxian, and lowered her voice. “Once I leave, only allow Dongkui to tend to her. No matter how her condition changes, do not allow outsiders to know.”

With this powerful medicine administered, Mu Tingyun would likely be fully recovered by the time she next woke. But the miracle drug was in limited supply. Fu Ping’an still wanted most people to use the herbal decoction Ren Danzhu prepared.

If outsiders learned Mu Tingyun had recovered so rapidly, it could cause an uproar.

Fu Lingxian froze, then answered blankly, “…Yes.”

“If certain matters cause an uproar, it will not be a good thing for Sister Yunping either.”

“Yes.”

Her Majesty seemed to be speaking in riddles. Fu Lingxian found herself not daring to say too much more.

“By the way, who is Tanggao?”

Fu Lingxian replied, “A child Yunping adopted along the journey… We all suspect this epidemic was passed on to her by this child.”

“Is she doing well?”

“…She was too young. Last night, she passed away.”

Fu Ping’an was stunned. “…People have already died?”

“…Also two newly purchased servants. It seems they were already ill and just forced themselves to endure.”

Fu Ping’an fell silent for a while before finally speaking. “All the deceased are to have their remains collected and prepared, then burned before being sent back to their hometowns… If a hometown cannot be found, bury them on the spot. Let them return to the earth and rest in peace.”

“Yes.”

Fu Ping’an looked back at the room. “Tell Sister Yunping about Tanggao later.”

Having said this, she finally walked away, side by side with Luo Qionghua.

It wasn’t until the figures of the Emperor and Empress disappeared beyond the courtyard gate that Fu Lingxian hurried into the room. Mu Tingyun was still lying on the bed, but even with her limited knowledge of medicine, she could tell at a glance that the other woman’s complexion was much better.

Profound shock filled her heart. Then, remembering Her Majesty’s instructions, she hurriedly turned and ordered: “Everyone else out. Only Dongkui stays to attend.”

By that evening, Mu Tingyun had even woken up and called out that she was hungry.

Although after eating, she asked, “Did Her Majesty visit?” and upon receiving confirmation, simply stared at the ceiling, lost in thought and pulling at her hair, it was clear her life was no longer in danger.

Fu Lingxian was truly shaken.

Just what kind of methods did Her Majesty possess?

And that same evening, the first batch of medicine decocted by Ren Danzhu was delivered to the various patients. The entire Qianliang Mountain was thick with the scent of herbs, making it seem even more like a Daoist abbey than before.

When the crescent moon was already high in the sky, Fu Ping’an finally returned to her room.

Earlier, after returning from Mu Tingyun’s place that afternoon, something had struck her as wrong—the recruited refugees were carrying disease. Didn’t that mean somewhere nearby, an epidemic was also spreading?

So she had immediately summoned Ah Zhi and ordered her to take Bo Mengshang and others to investigate the nearby counties. If any epidemic was found, they were to report back immediately.

After busying herself for another half day, she returned to her room, her head once again throbbing painfully.

But this time, anticipation dispelled the pain. She took the Universal Antidote out from her robes, closed her eyes, and gulped it down.

It was actually sweet.

From her chest to her throat, a tingling itch began. Her head swam, and she collapsed back onto the bed, exhaustion washing over her.

“I’ll leave the livestream on. You all keep an eye on me…”

[Ping’an, Mommy Loves You: Alright, alright, no problem!]

Fu Ping’an closed her eyes.