The Sickly Emperor Is Only Immune to Me

Chapter 188: Chapter 188 Close Friend

Sang Yan felt she had made a confidante in the inner chambers.

Each day after He Ying finished taking his medicine and rested, she would visit Sister Hong Zhao’s courtyard.

Sometimes, they would chat.

Sometimes, she would help her sort the herbs.

Most of the time, Hong Zhao did not talk much, just staring dreamily at Sang Yan’s back.

Qing Wu, caught between them, felt her heart almost shattering in fright.

One evening,

As Sang Yan picked up a basket to gather herbs, Qing Wu could no longer contain herself, “Miss, what are you thinking? With what we’re doing, how can you still allow the Empress to come here so often?”

She was too anxious: If they carelessly revealed anything, both of them would be doomed.

Hong Zhao’s cold fingers fumbled with the warm teacup, her gaze indifferent.

She did not answer Qing Wu’s question but seemed to talk to herself in a murmur, “Why?”

Qing Wu’s eyes filled with confusion, “What do you mean ‘why’?”

Miss had become more and more incomprehensible: it seemed that ever since she saw the Empress, Miss had started to indulge in daydreaming and talking to herself.

Hong Zhao did not respond to Qing Wu, her lips pursed, sadness evident in her eyes: Why indeed?

After spending the past few days together, she had come to understand a bit about Sang Yan: Sang Yan truly had an extraordinary appearance, was amiable, unpretentious, but she lacked the noble and elegant bearing, one could even say she had none of the Empress’s demeanor. How could Mr. Jiu like such a woman? To not mind that she was married and even contemplate killing Emperor He to take his place?

It did not make sense.

Mr. Jiu was such a perfect man.

“Ah Jiu, can you tell me the reason?”

Hong Zhao stroked Snow Monkey’s head.

Snow Monkey could not respond, seemingly sensing his master’s melancholy, and affectionately rubbed her palm.

Seeing this, Hong Zhao gently smiled and tenderly asked, “Ah Jiu, it’s been two years since we said goodbye at Cangcui Mountain. He gave you to me, time flies so fast, don’t you miss him?”

Was she too lonely?

That she had started to miss him.

That man who, when she was in seclusion at Cangcui Mountain, had waited outside her dwelling for three days and nights.

That man who had requested her to make poison for him, which she had repeatedly refused, yet finally, he had brought her Snow Monkey, hoping to alleviate her loneliness.

“Living alone in this deep mountain is inevitably bleak; this Snow Monkey was a fortuitous gift I acquired. I am giving it to you today as company, hoping you won’t be so lonely from now on.”

His gentle, raspy voice seemed still to linger in her ears.

She closed her eyes, feeling a bitter tightness in her chest, “Ah Jiu… Ah Jou…”

Whom was she actually calling out for?

“Sister Hong Zhao, I have to leave.”

Sang Yan approached, setting down the basket, her face pale as she held her stomach.

Hong Zhao eyed her and asked with a frown, “What’s wrong with you?”

“It’s nothing.”

Sang Yan, holding her stomach, gave an awkward smile, “It’s that… I think my period has started.”

She had felt a bit unwell when she got up in the morning, and looking at the dates, it wasn’t due yet, so she hadn’t paid much attention to it.

Now it seemed it had come early.

Considering her drifting life during this time, not only was she physically exhausted but also mentally strained, and had not rested well, she probably was going to suffer a great deal this time.

“I thought it was something serious.”

Hong Zhao gave a light smile and extended her hand, “Stretch out your hand. Let me check.”

Upon hearing this, remembering she was referred to as Divine Doctor, Sang Yan immediately handed over her hand.

“Your constitution is cold, and catching a chill recently probably made it hurt so much.”

Hong Zhao withdrew her hand and instructed Qing Wu, “Go gather Cornelian, cinnamon, motherwort, and angelica dahurica to make medicine for the Lady.”

After a pause, she added, “Put in some licorice as well. It’ll make it less bitter.”

“Yes.”

Qing Wu bowed her head and hurried off.

She actually did not want to brew medicine for Sang Yan, but dared not disobey the Miss’s orders.

Was the Miss too idle?

Why bother about her issues?

Unaware of Qing Wu’s thoughts, Sang Yan, hearing Hong Zhao’s words, felt a warm glow in her heart.

“Sister Hong Zhao, you are truly kind, even knowing I dislike bitterness.”

She thought about He Ying’s medicine, which was always so bitter that it numbed her tongue, and Hong Zhao never suggested adding licorice to his.

She believed this was Hong Zhao’s special treatment for her.

“Which lady isn’t averse to bitterness? Cough, cough—”

Hong Zhao coughed a few times, forcing a smile, “Meeting me was fate. Take this medicine for a few days, and you won’t hurt anymore in the future.”

“Thank you.”

Sang Yan sat down, waiting for Qing Wu to bring the brewed medicine.

About an hour later,

Qing Wu brought the medicine over: “Empress, please take this.”

Sang Yan thanked her, took it, drank it, and after a little while, the sinking pain in her lower abdomen gradually eased.

It was simply more miraculous than modern painkillers!

Sang Yan, both amazed and respectful, said, “Sister Hong Zhao, your medical skills are too amazing!”

Hong Zhao, having heard similar praises often, replied nonchalantly, “It’s passable.”

“You’re too modest!”

Suddenly, Sang Yan thought of something, firmly grasped Hong Zhao’s hand, and smiled slyly: “Sister Hong Zhao, can I learn medicine from you?”

In this strange world, having one more skill meant one more way to survive.

If she knew medical skills, perhaps He Ying wouldn’t have had to suffer so much!

But considering how Liang Xin had tried several times to discuss medical skills with her, only to be coldly rejected.

Clearly, her medical knowledge wasn’t for sharing.

Just as she felt she had been too presumptuous, she heard Hong Zhao say, “Yes, you can.”

She was overjoyed: “Really?”

Hong Zhao nodded with a smile: “Of course.”

In reality, she was thinking: Learn medicine? Does she think medical skills are so easily mastered by anyone?

Sang Yan didn’t notice her peculiarity and was immersed in the joy of learning medicine.

*

When He Ying regained consciousness, he found Sang Yan was not in the room.

He furrowed his brows, got out of bed, opened the door, and asked the palace maid at the door, “Where is the Empress?”

The palace maid answered with honest fear, “Empress went to the Divine Doctor’s house.”

“These days, when I wake up and Empress is not here, has she been going to her place?”

“Yes.”

The palace maid responded, sensing He Ying’s displeasure and quickly added, “Empress seems to really like that Divine Doctor. She’s been personally managing his diet and living arrangements these days.”

“I see.”

He Ying raised his hand, telling her to go call Sang Yan back.

He had wanted to remind Sang Yan not to get too close to Hong Zhao.

But seeing her return with a brilliant smile, he found himself unable to voice his thoughts.

“Sister Hong Zhao has agreed to teach me medicine, Xinyuan, you have no idea how excited I am, maybe one day I can become the next Divine Doctor.”

As He Ying’s injuries improved, so did Sang Yan’s mood.

When speaking, her eyebrows danced, and she carried a vibrant and adorable energy.

She rarely showed such girlish charm in front of He Ying.

He Ying really didn’t want to dampen her enthusiasm and joy.

So, after a moment, he reluctantly pinched her face, indulging her with a smile: “Okay, I’ll look forward to that day.”

Never mind.

Since she liked it, he would let her be.

Although he felt Hong Zhao was not as simple as she seemed, he would not let Sang Yan get hurt with him watching.

At night,

Sang Yan had her period and did not feel comfortable bathing. After asking for hot water to be brought, she washed up briefly.

After she had finished washing and dried off, looking at the palace-prepared nightgown, her cheeks immediately flushed.

That garment… was it too sheer?

Made of gauze, it was indeed cool to wear but was way too revealing, barely covering anything at all. If worn, even the details of the pink undergarment underneath would be clearly visible.

What would happen if He Ying saw her?

These days, she had thought about sleeping separately from He Ying, but he would knock on her door at midnight, squeezing in without any care for his imperial image—she was really put in a tough spot.

“Is there no other garment?”

“Lady, the weather has been bad these past few days, the washed clothes are still a bit damp, and wearing them would be bad for your health.”

“…”

Alright then.

After all, they were an old married couple. What shy should she be?

Besides, she was shielded by her period right now.

Resigned, Sang Yan put on the light gauze nightgown, her face red as she left the bathroom.

Upon entering the room, as expected, He Ying had sneaked in ahead of time, sitting on the bed pretentiously reading a book.

“Cough, why are you here again?”

She feigned displeasure.

Upon hearing the noise, He Ying looked up to see the blushing, charming lady.