Chapter 111: To Visit the Huai King

Chapter 111

Prince Sun slowly paced into the room, murmuring: “Poor Fifth Brother is probably not feeling well either. Among all these princes, he and Prince Huai were the closest.”

Yuwen Hao went to Prince Huai's manor in the evening, and after coming back, he hid in the study without coming out, not even eating dinner.

Yuan Qingling didn't eat dinner either. She had accompanied Prince Sun for a meal in the afternoon, and was still full now.

Recently, she really had no appetite. Ancient meals were just too greasy.

Yuwen Hao was hiding in the study while she hid in her room, opening the medicine box and taking inventory of the medicines inside.

Antibiotic streptomycin, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide - these were four new additions.

She was conflicted.

For early-stage tuberculosis, the treatment period was three to six months, but there was no telling how long Prince Huai had been ill, much less whether the tuberculosis bacteria had infected other areas.

The medicines in the box could last him ten days at most. But once antibiotic treatment began, it could not be interrupted halfway, otherwise drug resistance would develop. Even if treated again, the chances of recovery would be slim.

She could not guarantee the medicine box would be continually restocked with tuberculosis drugs, because it was capricious and beyond her control. An interrupted course of medicine would still doom Prince Huai.

More importantly, it was unknown whether Prince Huai had developed complications from tuberculosis.

If Prince Huai had lived out his life's trajectory without her treatment, dying a natural death, she would have had little to do with it. At most, she would have offered a bolt of fabric at his funeral and lit some incense for this younger uncle.

By intervening with treatment, if Prince Huai still died in the end...

One should not rashly interfere in royal affairs. If unable to cure him, the physician's head would roll. Even if her head remained on her shoulders, she likely faced bleak prospects. She was reminded of when she had boldly treated the Retired Emperor, truly the recklessness of youth.

But if she stood idly by, it would be akin to watching him die. Could she rest easy?

Yuan Qingling sat at the low table beside the bed, hugging Duobao. "What do you think I should do?"

The wounds on Duobao's body had scabbed over, but the surrounding fur was starting to fall out in patches resembling vitiligo, still baring the scars.

"Woof woof!" Duobao nudged her palm with its nose.

"Do whatever you want? Nevermind, why even ask a dog like you?" Yuan Qingling said. CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

"Woof woof!" Duobao protested. Don't forget who saved you from Marquis Huiding's manor.

Yuan Qingling laughed and patted its head. "Alright, stop seeking credit. I'll get you a big chicken leg later."

Duobao happily turned in circles.

Yuan Qingling's injuries had basically healed, and the palace chef had also returned.

After a moment, she saw Prince Huai's mother Concubine Lu assisted out by palace maids, face ghastly pale and haggard, eyes and nose swollen red - clearly having cried for a long time.

She continued sobbing as she exited. "My poor child!"

Yuan Qingling could hardly stand to see the elderly grieving their young. She thought of her own mother, who knew how distraught she would be at her daughter's death.

She sighed softly.

"Lv Ya, let's go," she said.

Lv Ya asked, "Is the Princess not going in?"

"No." She was afraid she would act rashly once inside.

She could not keep getting lucky. If unable to cure Prince Huai, she could not shoulder this crime.

Better stay out.

She had just turned to leave when she saw someone run out from within, sitting on the stone steps and muffling heartrending sobs into their hands.

A name floated into Yuan Qingling's mind - Princess Changping Yuwenling.

Yuwenling was Noble Consort Xian's daughter, blood sibling to Yuwen Hao.

Yuan Qingling hesitated, wondering if she should go comfort her.

Just then, Yuwen Hao emerged from inside. Not noticing Yuan Qingling, he sat directly beside Yuwenling, stretching an arm around her shoulders. His voice was grieved. "Don't cry. He might hear you and be saddened. We shouldn't trouble his heart."

Yuwenling messily wiped her tears and forced out a difficult smile. "I know. I don't want to cry. It's just seeing him trying so hard to keep our spirits up despite coughing painfully...I really can't help it."

Yuwen Hao heaved a heavy sigh, raising his eyes to see Yuan Qingling standing awkwardly nearby.

"Why have you come?"

"I came with Second Brother," Yuan Qingling said, walking over. His appearance was haggard, complexion even worse than when injured.

"Sister-in-law!" Yuwenling hurriedly bowed, voice nasal with tears.

Yuan Qingling returned the greeting. "Princess!"

"Your injuries haven't healed. Don't run around." Yuwen Hao instructed Lv Ya, "Take the Princess Consort back to the manor."

"Yes!" Lv Ya acknowledged.

Yuan Qingling nodded. "Then I'll take my leave."

She had walked a few steps before turning back to Yuwen Hao, hesitating as if wanting to say something.