Xiao Bao fell ill for the first time, and Qin Yuanxi had no experience dealing with it. He kept wiping the child’s hands and feet with a damp towel, staying by his side and not daring to leave for a moment. The little one was still too young; when he felt uncomfortable, he could only cry with soft whimpers. Qin Yuanxi tried to comfort him, holding the tiny bundle and pacing back and forth in the hall. He hummed an unfamiliar tune, the sound of which could make one’s nose tingle with emotion.
When a child gets sick, it hits the parents the hardest.
“Your Majesty, the prince’s medicine is ready.”
“Bring it here quickly.”
The dosage for the child was small, and the delicate medicine cup was filled to the brim. The first thing Qin Yuanxi did was taste it himself.
Bitter, still bitter. Though a tad better than what adults would drink, the bitterness was something a child, especially one so young, couldn’t endure. He wanted to say something, but held back.
Where were they, in what kind of place? How could there be medicine coated in sugar for Xiao Bao?
“Good boy, take your medicine. Once you’ve had it, you won’t feel uncomfortable, and you’ll get better.” Qin Yuanxi’s nose was a bit stuffy as he coaxed the little one with a small spoon in hand.
Feeding medicine to a child is the trickiest part. Kids don’t understand, don’t know how to swallow, and won’t cooperate when they feel uncomfortable. Qin Yuanxi’s little spoon had just reached the little one’s mouth when he tasted the bitterness. How could he possibly swallow it? Instinctively, he started refusing, wailing loudly, a heart-wrenching sound that made Qin Yuanxi’s hands tremble.
“Don’t cry, don’t cry, just take a sip.” Qin Yuanxi was anxious and helpless, but coaxing the child to take the medicine had no effect. The child cried intensely, and trying to feed him at this moment was risky, fearing that he might choke. There seemed to be no solution.
As Xiao Bao cried, Qin Yuanxi held the medicine cup, nearly on the verge of tears himself.
“Let me feed him.”
The medicine cup was taken from his hand, but Xiao Bao’s crying continued, leaving Qin Yuanxi even more anxious. “You, don’t choke the child. He’s still crying. We can’t force-feed him now; it might cause trouble if he chokes on it.”
“I understand.”
Qin Yuanxi thought he understood, but this guy was even worse. At least when Qin Yuanxi fed the medicine, the little one got a taste of the bitter medicine. But this person, the medicine cup was practically spilled all over the child. Thankfully, Zhao Tuo acted swiftly and retrieved it before the whole bowl of medicine could spill.
“Didn’t burn you, did it?” Qin Yuanxi’s tone wasn’t too good.
Staring at the now-empty medicine cup, suppressing the urge to scold Zhao Tuo for his clumsiness, Qin Yuanxi instructed a eunuch, “Quick, go brew more medicine. This time, prepare a larger quantity. We can’t afford any more spills.”
It was clearly directed at Zhao Tuo, conveying a sense of dissatisfaction with his incompetence. Not only did he fail to administer the medicine, but he also spilled the medicine cup. Truly, a case of being more trouble than help!
“I already anticipated it.” The eunuch hurriedly replied, “We’ve instructed someone to bring more. The Divine Physician mentioned earlier that it’s troublesome to feed medicine to a child, so we should be prepared for any unexpected needs.”
Qin Yuanxi’s expression improved slightly at this information. “Good, then go quickly.”
Once again, a fresh bowl of medicinal soup was brought over. Zhao Tuo was about to take it, but this time, Qin Yuanxi didn’t give him the chance. It seemed he couldn’t trust Zhao Tuo. However, when he took the medicine cup himself, the feeling of being utterly clueless returned. The medicine was so bitter—how could the little one possibly drink it?
“We need to come up with a solution.”
Qin Yuanxi sighed, looking at the child with even more heartache. “He’s still so young; how can he endure this suffering? If possible, I’d rather endure it for him.”
Zhao Tuo watched him, his expression shifting from restraint to uncontrollable emotion. Suddenly, he grabbed Qin Yuanxi’s wrist. “I’ll do it.”
“What?”
Qin Yuanxi’s attention was entirely on Xiao Bao, barely registering what Zhao Tuo had just said. After a moment, he understood Zhao Tuo’s meaning and couldn’t help but laugh and sigh, “Alright, if you can really do it, I’ll let you. I was just talking. Now, quickly think of a way to feed the child the medicine!”
Inexperienced as new parents, raising a child requires a bit of trial and error. Fortunately, Qin Yuanxi had a bit more experience. A spark of inspiration reminded him of those videos online where parents tricked their kids into taking medicine.
“Hurry, have someone prepare a tasty sweet drink, something really enjoyable.”
Zhao Tuo caught on this time. “Get the Honey Lotus Dew that Xiao Bao likes.”
Soon, a bowl of Honey Lotus Dew, crystal clear and emanating a sweet fragrance, was brought over. Qin Yuanxi directed Zhao Tuo, “First, feed him this sweet drink. Then, follow my lead.”
It was just about giving medicine to a child, yet the two of them were planning a strategy as if they were conspiring on a major operation.
Zhao Tuo started coaxing Xiao Bao with the sweet Honey Lotus Dew. The little one, accustomed to being soothed by his father, had no idea there was deceit involved. The sweet taste melted on his tongue, quickly erasing the memory of the bitter medicine. He opened his small mouth, eagerly waiting to be fed.
Seeing the situation turning in their favor, Qin Yuanxi gave Zhao Tuo a signal. The two of them carried out a fake move, swiftly passing by. Xiao Bao, looking at the sweet Honey Lotus Dew approaching his mouth, suddenly tasted the bitter medicinal soup. He seemed a bit puzzled at first, but as the bitterness spread in his mouth, he puckered his lips, ready to burst into tears.
Quickly, Zhao Tuo presented the genuinely sweet Honey Lotus Dew, and the crying threat dissipated.
It was quite entertaining.
Qin Yuanxi, having successfully administered the medicine, couldn’t help but relax a bit at the adorable expression on Xiao Bao’s face. As the saying goes, familiarity breeds ease. Afterward, the two of them engaged in a seamless cooperation, entertaining Xiao Bao, who remained clueless about whether the next spoonful held something bitter or sweet. Spoon after spoon, they finally finished feeding the medicinal soup.
Qin Yuanxi breathed a sigh of relief. “Taking the medicine is good; the illness will soon be gone. Xiao Bao will definitely recover quickly!”
“Indeed.” Holding the remaining half-bowl of Honey Lotus Dew, Zhao Tuo, for some reason, raised the spoon to Qin Yuanxi’s mouth.
Qin Yuanxi: ???
Although touching, what is happening now? Are you sure this is appropriate? Is this an attempt to please me?
Should I go along with this or not? Perhaps offer him a way out?
While his mind was still contemplating, his body had already acted a step ahead. Qin Yuanxi lowered his head and sipped the sweet Honey Lotus Dew from the small spoon. When he realized what he had done, a slight discomfort flickered on his face, pretending as if nothing had happened.
However, the Honey Lotus Dew was undeniably sweet, explaining why Xiao Bao liked it so much.
After taking the medicine, Xiao Bao’s fever had subsided, but the illness didn’t improve as quickly. Qin Yuanxi, with unwavering care, tended to the little one for three full days and nights. Due to the child’s illness, he even skipped the morning court session.
Being an emperor is a full-time, 24/7 job; skipping the morning session didn’t mean he could ignore state affairs. The memorials were brought directly to Xiao Bao’s bedside, where Qin Yuanxi, simultaneously guarding his son and reviewing documents, sometimes had to summon ministers to discuss some challenging issues.
As a result, everyone in the court knew that His Majesty cherished the Crown Prince dearly, contrary to the usual perception of the royal family being unfeeling. Observing how His Majesty, due to the Crown Prince’s illness, reduced his public appearances for several days, one could genuinely sense the depth of his affection for the little one. His care for the Crown Prince was evident, leaving an indelible mark in the hearts of the court officials.
After Xiao Bao’s illness persisted for a few days, Qin Yuanxi, who had been on high alert, finally witnessed the child’s recovery. Ironically, it was Qin Yuanxi who ended up exhausted.
“It’s nothing major. The liver fire is a bit excessive. The prescription I gave Your Majesty earlier, take a break for two days. Let the internal heat subside, and then we’ll see,” Yan Shaoning spoke subtly, casting a glance at Zhao Tuo, who was still watching over the Crown Prince. He signaled to Qin Yuanxi with a look before continuing, “Start by taking two pills. Keep them in your mouth regularly to soothe your throat.”
Qin Yuanxi nodded. He indeed had an overheated liver, perhaps due to stress. Not only did he have a sizable blister at the corner of his mouth, but his throat was also inflamed. Speaking was painful and uncomfortable.
Zhao Tuo clearly heard Yan Shaoning’s words. Though his face remained expressionless, his gaze drifted towards Qin Yuanxi. The phrase ‘overactive liver fire’ seemed to have entered Zhao Tuo’s ears.
That night, after calming Xiao Bao to sleep, Qin Yuanxi continued his imperial duties. Being an emperor was quite challenging, especially if one aimed to be a diligent and responsible ruler. Previously, he had the capable Prince Lu to assist him. Now, with Zhao Tuo avoiding responsibilities and indulging in playing with Xiao Bao, all the workload fell solely on Qin Yuanxi’s shoulders. In addition to his own overtime, there was hardly any other way.
He worked late into the night, dealing with official matters. After a while, rubbing his eyes, Qin Yuanxi noticed someone standing not far away, silently. It was unclear how long they had been there, but judging by the surroundings, it had been quite some time. Stretching lazily, Qin Yuanxi stood up, draped in his clothes, and asked, “Not sleeping in the middle of the night—why did you come to my quarters sleepwalking?”
The hoarseness caused by his overheated liver made his voice sound gritty. The once clear and resonant voice now carried a seductive hint of huskiness.
Zhao Tuo, holding his arms, stared fixedly at Qin Yuanxi, making Qin Yuanxi bewildered. “Hey, what’s wrong with you? Why are you acting so nervously?”
Backlit, Zhao Tuo appeared somewhat elusive, especially in his current state, giving Qin Yuanxi a strange feeling.
Just as Qin Yuanxi was puzzled, Zhao Tuo suddenly flashed to his side, clasped Qin Yuanxi’s wrist, and pulled him closer. Leaning down, he asked, “Your Majesty, is your liver fire overactive? Excessive internal heat with no way to release it?”
This nonsensical talk made Qin Yuanxi’s expression change. Without dissecting the details, he could sense the underlying meaning in Zhao Tuo’s words. He attempted to step back, but before he could, Zhao Tuo, in that position, weakened Qin Yuanxi’s momentum.
Trying to maintain his composure, Qin Yuanxi raised his head and retorted, “What does it have to do with you whether it’s overactive or not?”
“Really?” Zhao Tuo’s expression carried a hint of provocation. “So many innocent palace maids have disappeared from the palace. Your Majesty’s liver fire is still raging. I guess they couldn’t handle it, serving Your Majesty.”
This remark sounded sour no matter how one interpreted it, and it was undoubtedly filled with sarcasm. Zhao Tuo first thought Qin Yuanxi was choosing a consort, and then he suspected something more sinister related to those missing palace maids. Was he unable to endure it anymore?
“They couldn’t handle it. Can you handle it?” Qin Yuanxi’s heart raced, but he had to endure, pretending to be composed. He knew too well that tonight was a crucial turning point. If Zhao Tuo couldn’t endure it any longer, then the floodgates would open.
“Your Majesty is well aware, aren’t you?” Zhao Tuo’s confidence was palpable. Before Qin Yuanxi could react, Zhao Tuo pressed him against the waist and kissed him. Qin Yuanxi didn’t resist, going with the flow to assert his dominance. Soon, their exchange disrupted the rhythm.
One kiss, passionate and unrestrained, but there was a slight issue.
Just when it was about to reach a critical moment, Qin Yuanxi dodged Zhao Tuo and nearly kicked him off the bed. Disheveled, with a touch of panic in his tone, he said, “Wait, no! Not today!”
“Why not?” Zhao Tuo was unwilling to accept it.
Even more flustered, Qin Yuanxi stammered, “It’s just not possible today! Xiao Bao is sleeping next door. You, you need to leave, anyway, not today!”
His ‘thing’ wasn’t working properly yet, making the situation awkward. In the midst of kissing and touching, it hadn’t shown any signs of arousal. It seemed that Yan Shaoning’s medicine wasn’t very effective. Qin Yuanxi was in a real bind now, how could he explain this clearly?
Hello, everyone ヾ(＾∇＾). I hope you enjoyed the story! If you’re feeling generous, please buy me a coffee, share/comment on my translated works! Check out the link below for early chapters. (๑>ᴗ<๑)
