Chu Yun was exhausted by the time the last minister left, this time without being dragged away by the overworked guards.
When all was said and done, the palace's holding cells must have been filled to bursting.
Chu Yun slumped in his chair gracelessly, stretching out his legs and rubbing the swell of his abdomen with a sigh. He was so tired he could fall asleep right away.
Xiao Yuan's hand touched his shoulder tentatively.
"You should rest," he said warily.
Chu Yun shook his head and got up to his feet. He couldn't rest yet. "There is something I need to do still."
Now that she no longer had the dubious honour of keeping guard with Gu Wei over the antsy ministers, has they had all been either arrested or sent out of the palace until further notice, Hua Nanyi met him on the hallway outside the throne room.
She fell into step with him easily, concern etched on her smooth features. "Haven't you done enough for today? Won't you rest unless you collapse from exhaustion?"
Chu Yun had a smart retort for her on the tip of his tongue. "I've been resting for a full week."
Hua Nanyi blew out a frustrated breath. "You're so aggravating, I'm going to go grey prematurely because of you."
"I'll buy you tincture."
She scoffed, bumping her shoulder against his. "You need to buy me a palace at this point."
Chu Yun gave her a pointed look from the corner of his eyes as they rounded a corner. "I'm sure Xiao Ziyi would be happy to buy you whatever you want."
She coloured deeply and cursed him under her breath.
Her annoyance buoyed Chu Yun all the way to the holding cells.
---
As soon as the guards opened the doors for them Chu Yun was assaulted by the memory of the last time he was there. He could almost see the ghostly shadows of Gu Wei and Xiao An talking for the last time from across the bars.
Could almost see Xiao An's defiant smirk as he swallowed the pill that would kill him.
Unlike at that time, now every cell was occupied, with more than a prisoner even.
All eyes turned towards Chu Yun as he walked into the prison, several of the ministers rushing to hold on to the bars and demand his attention. He ignored them all and made his way to the end of the narrow corridor, his steps muffled by the straw littered around by the prisoners shuffling in their cells.
Hua Nanyi was the one who brought everything but she left shortly after, noticing the mood Chu Yun was in.
He took a quick bath in the pools before eating his food next to Xiao Zai's bed, talking with him as he chewed, even though no answer was forthcoming.
"You should have seen their faces," he said, recalling the terrified reactions of each minister he told he had heard some incriminating evidence about. He could still picture their panicked gazes fixed on Xiao Yuan writing away in his corner.
Xiao Zai was still breathing heavenly under the covers, his chest rising and falling slowly.
The physicians had told him he swallowed when food was spooned into his mouth, but sometimes drinking water could be more difficult. It was important for him not to choke.
Chu Yun had dismissed all physicians and nurses for the night. Xiao Zai was his husband, it was his responsibility to look after him just as Xiao Zai had cared for him before.
He climbed up on the bed telling Xiao Zai to "scoot over" with a faint smile. He pulled him up against his chest, and fed him the soft congee with minced meat the kitchens had prepared. As the physicians said, he managed to swallow down the food as soon as it touched his tongue, perhaps in an involuntary reflex.
It was disconcerting for Chu Yun to see his closed eyes and still face, even as his muscles moved.
Once Xiao Zai had eaten all his food, Chu Yun cleaned his lips, and dipped a cloth into a bowl of water, to squeeze gently over his lips so the water could trickle slowly into his mouth without choking him.
As the physicians warned, it was easier said than done.
After a few frustrated attempts, Chu Yun got an idea. He poured a cup of water for himself and filled his mouth with it, before bringing his lips over to Xiao Zai's. He got Xiao Zai's lips to part for him just enough so that he could trickle the water directly into his mouth, supporting his neck up so it would go down his throat easily.
"It's always better when we work as a team," Chu Yun said, braced halfway on Xiao Zai's chest after he had taken all the water. He raised his sleeve to Xiao Zai's lips to dab away at the stray drops of water that had ran down his chin.
Xiao Zai didn't answer him, despite the constant flutter of his eyelids.
Chu Yun wandered if he was dreaming.
He shifted around and settled his head on Xiao Zai's shoulder, bringing their bodies close under the sheets. He rested one hand over Xiao Zai's chest and felt the fresh bandages underneath his hand.
Just a split-second had changed everything.
But Chu Yun refused to believe Xiao Zai wouldn't survive. He was the strongest person he knew. Of course he would come through this.
"You need to wake up soon," he said, whispering the words against the shell of Xiao Zai's ear, "I need your help to get rid of the scum who did this to you."
The ministers were one part of it, of course, but there was still they mysterious 'benefactor', the real mastermind behind the whole thing.
Chu Yun was going to make them regret ever touching a hair on Xiao Zai's head.