The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

The man came out of nowhere. After inspiring panic in the crowd, he disappeared.

Shen Yu paused for a moment, but he could barely suppress the palpitations in his chest. He stepped back from Shang JunLin's arms.

"Your face isn't good. Let's go back," Shang JunLin said with distress, looking at Shen Yu's pale face.

Shen Yu had been carefully nurtured in the palace. He hadn't looked so unwell in a long time. The only other time Shang JunLin remembered was the night Shen Yu entered Yuzhang Palace, when he fainted.

Shen Yu leaned against Shang JunLin. His brows were knitted tightly. "Your Majesty, I don't feel well."

Before saying anything else, Shang JunLin bundled Shen Yu into his arms and carried him. "We'll head back."

Shen Yu nestled against Shang JunLin's body and didn't speak. He had an indistinct feeling that he couldn't breathe, and he gradually realized there might really be something physically wrong with him.

Shang JunLin moved quickly, carrying Shen Yu all the way to the carriage. When they were about to leave, Imperial Physician Gu emerged from the crowd.

Meng Gonggong had sharp eyes and pulled Imperial Physician Gu over. "Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Gu is here."

Imperial Physician Gu was accompanied by a young man. but Shen Yu couldn't pay any attention to anything else. His vision was dark and his heart felt like it was being squeezed by a hand.

He hadn't been this ill for a long time. Shen Yu had almost forgotten how it felt.

Shang JunLin sat down with Shen Yu in his arms. Imperial Physician Gu didn't dare to delay. He immediately came forward to check Shen Yu's pulse.

After a long time, Imperial Physician Gu released his hand and frowned. "Someone triggered the noble monarch's illness."

Shang JunLin's eyes were cold and deep. He remembered that the night Shen Yu entered Yuzhang Palace he'd fainted for the same reason.

Afterwards, Shang JunLin thoroughly checked everything in Yuzhang Palace. He thought there would be no more similar incidents. It now seemed that he was too lenient.

Imperial Physician Gu quickly wrote out a prescription. "Your Majesty shouldn't worry too much. The noble monarch has been in good health recently. There won't be serious harm. This official brought some medicine with me, but a few more items are needed. Your Majesty should send someone to fetch them quickly."

Shang JunLin ordered the Hidden Dragon Guard to bring the medicine.

Under the orders of Imperial Physician Gu, the palace servants set up a tent where they could take shelter from the wind. Shang JunLin walked inside with Shen Yu in his arms, and Imperial Physician Gu followed closely behind.

The young man who was following Imperial Physician Gu wanted to enter the tent with him, but Meng Gonggong stopped him. "Young master…"

"That's my didi. He might be able to assist me. Meng Gonggong shouldn't worry," Imperial Physician Gu explained.

Only then did Meng Gonggong allow the person to enter.

Shen Yu could vaguely sense things happening around him, as well as the worry and fear of Shang JunLin. He wanted to tell His Majesty that he was fine and not to worry, but when he opened his mouth, not a syllable came out.

"Don't worry, it will be fine." Shang JunLin brushed a lock of hair back from Shen Yu's face, but he didn't know if he was reassuring Shen Yu or himself.

"Your Majesty, this official needs to apply needles to the noble monarch." Imperial Physician Gu looked to the side and said, "Xiao Huai, get the silver needles from the bottom right of the medicine chest."

Gu Huai found the silver needles and came over.

Shang JunLin put Shen Yu on the makeshift bed. "Everyone but Imperial Physician Gu should go."

"Yes."

Meng Gonggong escorted the attendants out. Along the way he physically dragged a young man who didn't want to leave.

Under Meng Gonggong's urging, Gu Huai went outside. "But my gege is in there," he murmured.

Meng Gonggong took the young man aside. "His Majesty is keeping an extremely close watch on the noble monarch. Your gege is the one applying the needles, or he would have left with us too."

"May heaven preserve the noble monarch. I hope he'll be all right."

Mu Xi couldn't control her anxiety. "How could this happen to the young master again… He's been well for such a long time. This slave strictly followed the instructions of Imperial Physician Gu and urged the young master to rest. How could this still…"

Meng Gonggong felt troubled also. His Majesty's concern for the noble monarch was increasing day by day. If something happened to him…

No, no, no, nothing would happen. The noble monarch was worthy, and heaven would certainly help him.

Outside, people felt anxious. Inside, Shang JunLin could hardly control his emotions.

He couldn't bear it. The person who'd been talking to him with a smile a moment ago was suddenly lying on the bed with a pale face. His eyes were tightly closed, frowning from the pain even after he fell unconscious.

A silver needle was pushed in, and Shen Yu's fingers curled up in pain. Shang JunLin sat to the side holding Shen Yu's hand.

"Is the trigger the same as last time?" Shang JunLin's voice was cold. He was truly angry.

Imperial Physician Gu answered affirmatively.

Shang JunLin's other hand was squeezed into a deadly fist. When he found out who was behind this, he would make that person's life worse than death!

Shen Yu's suffering must be repaid a hundred thousand times!

The purpose of the needles was to stabilize Shen Yu's physical condition. After an incense stick of time, Imperial Physician Gu removed the needles and said, "The weather has been relatively cool lately. Your Majesty should be careful not to let the noble monarch suffer from cold. After this episode, his body may be weak for a while. This official will adjust the prescription again and supplement it with a medicinal diet. This will help the noble monarch recover his strength as quickly as possible."

An illness could greatly damage the vitality of a healthy person, much less a person who was already weak. If Shen Yu wasn't carefully tended for two or three months, he might never recover to the state of health he was in before today.

Shang JunLin straightened Shen Yu's clothes and picked him up into his arms again.

Feeling the sudden warmth, Shen Yu instinctively leaned towards the source. Being approached by Shen Yu would normally have been a happy thing for Shang JunLin, but right now he didn't feel happy at all.

Shang JunLin's arms tightened, and he bowed his head and kissed Shen Yu's forehead.

Imperial Physician Gu put away the silver needles and didn't disturb them further. "This official will go and see to the medicine."

Soon after he came out, the Hidden Dragon Guard arrived on fast horses with the medicinal ingredients. Mu Xi assisted Imperial Physician Gu to prepare the medicine.

In a fit of rage, Shang JunLin had commanded the Hidden Dragon Guard to cordon off all of Cangqi Mountain. Until the man in gray was found, no one was allowed to leave.

Some people were dissatisfied, but Shang JunLin was in no mood just then to listen to complaints. Those who tried to disobey were arrested, and the more quarrelsome were punished. After that, the rest were too afraid to say anything.

The imperial guard soon arrived. After they showed up, everyone knew how serious the matter was and didn't dare to make trouble.

The wilderness wasn't a good place to recuperate. Shang JunLin intended to take Shen Yu back to the palace.

Mu Xi came in with the boiled medicine, followed by Imperial Physician Gu and a strong young man carrying a medicine box.

When Imperial Physician Gu heard Shang JunLin wanted to return to the palace, he gave him a suggestion. "Your Majesty should choose somewhere closer. It would be better to wait a day or two before returning to the palace. Let the noble monarch recuperate first.

"It's best to avoid bumping and jolting the noble monarch's body."

It was half a day's journey from Cangqi Mountain to the palace. Out of caution, they wouldn't be able to travel too quickly, which meant it would take even longer.

Shang JunLin took Imperial Physician Gu's recommendation to heart and instructed Meng Gonggong, "Find an estate nearby. This emperor will take the noble monarch to stay there for a few days."

When Mu Xi came in with the medicine, Shang JunLin reached out to take it. "Give this emperor the medicine."

Thinking of Shen Yu's plan, Mu Xi said boldly, "Your Majesty, the manor where the young master used to live isn't far. Why doesn't Your Majesty take the young master there? The young master always wanted to show Your Majesty his favorite places."

"How far is it?" Shang JunLin recalled that before leaving the palace, Shen Yu told him about the interesting things he did in the village when he was young. The ink in his eyes deepened.

They'd intended to go there in a few days.

"It will take less than an hour to get there."

That really wasn't far. Instead of finding a completely unfamiliar place, it made sense to go to Shen Yu's manor.

Shang JunLin took the medicine and fed it to Shen Yu. When the spoon reached his mouth, the unconscious young man pouted his lips and turned his head to the side.

After several more attempts, Shen Yu still didn't cooperate. The last time, the medicine actually spilled on Shang JunLin's clothes.

Mu Xi trembled with fear as she watched this from the side. She wanted to offer several times to do it herself, but when she saw Shang JunLin's eyes, she swallowed her words.

"The medicine may be more bitter this time," Imperial Physician Gu explained.

"Everyone can go," Shang JunLin ordered in a low voice.

After all the people left, Shang JunLin picked up the medicine bowl and sipped it without changing expression. Then he leaned over and took Shen Yu's lips, passing him the concoction little by little.

Shen Yu was firmly imprisoned in Shang JunLin's arms. There was no escape. All he could do was reluctantly swallow the bitter-tasting medicine.

Thanks to the powerful insistence of Shang JunLin, the bowl of medicine was soon finished.

Shen Yu's mouth tasted so bitter that his entire face wrinkled up. Shang JunLin smoothed the creases on his forehead and laughed softly. "Even when you're asleep you still make so much trouble."

Cangqi Mountain was left to the Hidden Dragon Guard and the commander of the Imperial Guard to handle. Shang JunLin took Shen Yu and a group of palace attendants to the manor.

Imperial Physician Gu came with them.

Because there were two extra people, Imperial Physician Gu and Meng Gonggong sat in the same carriage.

On the way, Meng Gonggong asked curiously, "Why did Imperial Physician Gu come to Cangqi Mountain today?"

"It's Xiao Huai who wanted to go. I haven't been busy lately, so I decided to join him and see if there were any herbs I needed." Imperial Physician Gu pointed at the medicine box to one side. "I found a lot of useful medicines."

Meng Gonggong glanced at the young man who was seated close to Imperial Physician Gu. The young man was sitting calmly, but one could vaguely tell how much he depended on Imperial Physician Gu.

At the moment, Gu Huai was at a loss. He really had planned to see Shang JunLin, but he never thought it would happen like this.

He had no intention of involving Imperial Physician Gu. The moment Imperial Physician Gu decided to come with him to Cangqi Mountain, he gave up any idea of meeting Shang JunLin there. He could find another opportunity. There was only one Imperial Physician Gu. Even if there was only a one in ten thousand chance of something going wrong, Gu Huai didn't want to put Imperial Physician Gu in any danger.

He instructed his people not to do anything. He didn't know who injured Noble Monarch Shen. At the same time, Gu Huai was glad he hadn't been in a hurry to try anything. Given Shen Yu's importance to Shang JunLin, the moment he got involved, even if it was just to seek an opportunity to speak with Shang JunLin face to face, he would have no choice but to oppose the emperor of Da Huan in the future.

The estate knew Shen Yu intended to visit, so everything was prepared. Shang JunLin carried Shen Yu the entire way into the bedroom and set him down before coming out to deal with everything else.

"Your Majesty, it's a coincidence that Imperial Physician Gu was at Cangqi Mountain." While in the carriage, Meng Gonggong obliquely asked Imperial Physician Gu some questions.

"Hmm. As soon as there's progress, come and inform this emperor."

In the evening, Mu Xi brought in the freshly boiled medicine. Shang JunLin took the bowl and walked into the bedroom. Mu Xi knew better than to disturb him.

Shen Yu was still unconscious. Shang JunLin scooped up a spoonful of medicine and held it to Shen Yu's mouth. Not surprisingly, the young man ducked away.

After several more attempts failed, Shang JunLin took a mouthful of medicine and put the bowl to one side. He had no other choice but to restrain the young man with one hand, slightly part the tightly-closed mouth with his other hand, and bend down.

That was how Shen Yu was fed the medicine throughout the night.

Shang JunLin left the room with the medicine bowl and changed his clothes.

When Shen Yu woke up, the first thing he noticed was the bitterness. His mouth was full of a lingering bitter taste, his body felt heavy, and waves of chills swept over him. It was like he'd returned to his previous life.

The man sitting by the bed pulled him back to reality.

When he saw Shang JunLin staring at his mouth, Shen Yu licked his lips. "Why is Your Majesty looking at me like that? Or did Your Majesty do something bad behind my back?"

TL Notes:

apply needles – 施针 – e.g. Acupuncture, a component of traditional Chinese medicine in which thin needles are inserted into the body. In novels, it's sometimes used to treat a wide variety of conditions. In the real world, it's a pseudoscience used most often for pain relief (from Wikipedia)

May heaven preserve – 苍天保佑 – May Heaven preserve us!, God bless and keep you

(The noble monarch was) worthy, and heaven would (certainly) help him – 吉人天相 – Heaven stands by the good man.; Heaven helps the worthy (idiom)

an incense stick of time – 一炷香后 – An old timey way to describe a period of time. According to Baidu, it's about thirty minutes. Other sources say half a shichen, which is one modern hour. See also "the amount of time it takes to drink a cup of tea" previously mentioned in Ch 18

the more quarrelsome – from 刺头 – thorn head, prickly head – A person who is difficult to deal with and at odds with others, a person who is arrogant and causes trouble

Transliterated names, places, and titles—new in this chapter:

Xiao Huai – 小淮 – A nickname for Gu Huai

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