Chapter 89: Bitter Medicine? Sweet Medicine?

Yang Yaozong slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a pair of bright, clear eyes blinking right in front of him. As his eyelids parted and his view widened, he caught sight of the Crown Prince running toward the door, calling out, “Aunt, Aunt, Yang Yaozong is awake! He’s awake!”

Moments later, Jing Yijun appeared, carrying a tray with several small bowls whose contents were unknown, hurrying to the bedside. Following her was the Crown Prince, who had just dashed out. At this moment, Jing Yijun’s face was unveiled—no gauzy veil covered her features, and her refined, transcendent beauty was fully displayed before Yang Yaozong. He stared at her in surprise at first, then smiled knowingly.

Jing Yijun noticed the change in his expression; a faint blush spread across her delicate cheeks.

Setting the tray on a small stool beside the bed, Jing Yijun naturally sat down at the bedside and spoke softly, “Let me help you sit up, eat a little something, and then take some medicine. You should rest afterward.”

Jing Yijun gently assisted Yang Yaozong upright, while the Crown Prince, with perceptive awareness, placed a cushion behind his back, then said apologetically, “Grand Tutor, I was too impulsive yesterday. I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have…”

Yang Yaozong dared not accept an apology from the future emperor himself, and replied in a hoarse voice, “Your Highness, I am unworthy. It was my fault for not explaining things to you clearly in time.”

Jing Yijun picked up a bowl and spooned out a small mouthful, bringing it to Yang Yaozong’s lips. “Drink some water first. Jing Sheng came to see you early this morning. But you were still in a deep sleep then, so he waited here, guarding you until you awoke.”

Yang Yaozong smiled at the nervous, apologetic Crown Prince. “Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I’m fine, I’m not that fragile.”

The Crown Prince, still frustrated, said, “Aunt told me this morning how you were captured by Jing Min. I didn’t know you still had wounds from yesterday. No, even knowing you were injured, I shouldn’t have… shouldn’t have kicked you. I… I…” While the emperor had been ill, the Crown Prince had mentally prepared himself for losing his grandfather, yet when it truly happened, he found himself unable to face reality. He recalled his impulsiveness yesterday, kicking Yang Yaozong and causing him to cough up blood. He had been terrified, then suddenly awakened to the seriousness of his actions. When he heard Yang Yaozong, before fainting, still speak out of concern for him and the Great Zhou, he knew he could not afford to lose Yang Yaozong. As Yang Yaozong collapsed, a panic even greater than losing his grandfather seized him.

He remembered that morning, when he had just come to visit Yang Yaozong, his aunt looked at Yang Yaozong with admiration and affection, and said to him, “He never thinks of himself. Even when wounded, he cares little for his own pain. His heart is always with you, with the emperor, with those he loves. Often I can't understand him, nor guess what he’s thinking. But whenever he speaks with conviction, I can’t help but trust him. As for whether you choose to trust him, I can’t decide for you, but in the absence of a better choice, he is now your only option.”

The Crown Prince knew he was wrong, but as heir apparent and soon to be emperor, he remembered his grandfather’s teaching: as emperor, even when you realize you’ve erred, as long as you learn from it, a mistake is no less than a lesson. Never easily admit fault, never utter the words “I’m sorry.” Now, knowing he had wronged Yang Yaozong yesterday and wanting to apologize, he felt embarrassed to say those words.

Yang Yaozong understood his meaning and smiled, “In fact, I ought to thank Your Highness.”

“Hm? Thank me?” The Crown Prince looked at Yang Yaozong, puzzled.

Jing Yijun, too, was curious, but kept feeding Yang Yaozong porridge.

Yang Yaozong nodded, “Yesterday I knelt for too long, my body was weak, my chest tight, short of breath—almost suffocated. Fortunately, Your Highness kicked me, I spat out some blood, and suddenly felt relieved. So I must thank Your Highness for saving my life.” His words, though sounding like flattery, were nonetheless his honest feeling at the time, and he wanted the Crown Prince not to dwell too much on the incident.

The Crown Prince stared at Yang Yaozong with wide, dark eyes, doubting, “Really?”

Jing Yijun rolled her eyes at Yang Yaozong for his nonsense, but her glance carried no hint of anger, only gentle allure. Yang Yaozong gazed foolishly at her, his heart fluttering wildly.

Jing Yijun blushed deeply under his enamored gaze.

Standing behind Jing Yijun, the Crown Prince watched Yang Yaozong staring blankly at his aunt, uncertain what he was thinking, and softly called, “Grand Tutor?”

Yang Yaozong, still lost in admiration, murmured, “Hm?” Then, coming to himself, exclaimed, “Ah!” and addressed the Crown Prince, “Yes, yes, truly.”

Suddenly remembering the matter of the emperor’s remains, Yang Yaozong turned to Jing Yijun. “Has the emperor’s body been properly settled?”

Jing Yijun, recalling her father, replied with sorrow, “Yes, rest assured. Last night his body was placed in an ice coffin, temporarily stored in the icehouse. The icehouse is guarded closely by the commander of the Inner Guard, Zhou Lieran.”

Yang Yaozong frowned, “Zhou Lieran?”

Jing Yijun nodded, “Yes, you’ve met him—he was the one driving the carriage when you and Jing Sheng went to Qin Haizhou. When I hadn’t returned to the palace, he was always responsible for Jing Sheng’s safety. He’s a man of few words, skilled, loyal to the emperor and Jing Sheng, and trustworthy.”

Yang Yaozong remembered the burly, bearded man, whom he’d only known as Zhou. Now he learned his full name. “Zhou Lieran—aptly named,” he thought.

After finishing the porridge, Jing Yijun fed Yang Yaozong the medicine. He noticed the taste was identical to the medicine Yin Ruxin had given him in previous days. He asked in confusion, “This medicine?”

Before Jing Yijun could reply, the Crown Prince spoke up, “Both the porridge and the medicine were made by Aunt herself. She didn’t know when you’d wake, so she kept reheating them over and over. You mustn’t refuse just because it’s bitter.” The Crown Prince hated medicine, thinking Yang Yaozong was avoiding it for its bitterness, but wanted him to know how much effort Aunt had put into preparing it.

Jing Yijun, understanding Jing Sheng’s intention and knowing Yang Yaozong’s question, replied shyly, “Earlier today, seeing your breath steady, I went to Yin Ruxin to report your well-being. She seemed to have been waiting for you. I told her there was much to do in the palace, and you’d return when finished. The medicine was brewed by her, and she gave it to me to warm for you.”

Yang Yaozong was deeply moved by Jing Yijun's care. Ignoring the Crown Prince’s presence, he pulled Jing Yijun close, pressed a gentle kiss to her rosy lips, then held her in his arms, whispering, “Must you be so considerate? You’ll spoil me!”

The Crown Prince stared in astonishment at Yang Yaozong’s gesture, then blushed and turned away. He recalled asking his aunt while Yang Yaozong was still unconscious, “Aunt, do you truly wish to marry Yang Yaozong? Or is it for the emperor’s comfort, for Great Zhou, and for me that you chose him?”

Jing Yijun replied serenely, “I know your grandfather wished me to marry Yang Yaozong so he would serve you even more loyally. He saw Yang Yaozong’s talent but not his temperament. If Yang Yaozong wants to do something, he’ll do it without being asked. If he doesn’t, no threat or inducement will sway him. We’ve spent every day together, and there’s been mutual affection, though neither of us spoke of it. Perhaps he thought me too lofty a princess, and I never considered marriage. Maybe he proposed to comfort your grandfather, but I know he did so because he loves me. Without me, he would have refused outright. With his confession, my heart opened in turn. Love is a mysterious thing—you may hate him one moment, and the next, you care, you fall in love. You’ll understand in time. I truly wish to marry him and am grateful to your grandfather. I have no resentment—he cared deeply for me as his daughter.”

Held in Yang Yaozong’s arms, Jing Yijun buried her head in his chest, listening to his heartbeat and feeling his tenderness. Her lips still tingled from his gentle kiss, her heart raced wildly. Though she cherished his embrace, the Crown Prince was still present. She straightened, shyly saying, “You haven’t finished your medicine—it will cool soon.”

Yang Yaozong admired her bashful expression, his heart overflowing with joy. He took the medicine bowl from her hand and downed it all at once, declaring, “So sweet!”

The Crown Prince watched, surprised. “This medicine is sweet?”

Yang Yaozong winked and nodded, “Yes, sweet.”

The Crown Prince dipped his finger in the bowl, tasted it, and immediately grimaced, spitting, “Yang Yaozong, you liar! It’s so bitter, and you say it’s sweet!”

Yang Yaozong replied innocently, “It’s sweet to me! Ask your aunt if you don’t believe me. Your Highness, you must be overheated, so everything tastes bitter to you, even the medicine.”

The Crown Prince was half convinced, though still skeptical, and looked to Jing Yijun.

Jing Yijun knew perfectly well the medicine was bitter, and gave Yang Yaozong a playful glare, “How are you supposed to be a proper elder—a Grand Tutor?”

The Crown Prince suddenly understood, “Oh! Oh, I see! Hmph, this medicine really is bitter.”

Yang Yaozong laughed, “As long as your aunt feeds me, even poison would taste sweet.”

The Crown Prince shuddered at Yang Yaozong’s words, sticking out his tongue in disgust. Yet seeing Yang Yaozong treat his aunt so tenderly, he was pleased. He was glad, too, that there was no longer any barrier between himself and Yang Yaozong.

Jing Yijun had long been lost in the sweetness of Yang Yaozong’s words and affection.