Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight - Chapter 156.2

She picked up the spoon and resumed eating. Just then, footsteps sounded at the doorway. A figure stood against the light, casting a shadow that fell over her and the bowl of meat broth in front of her.

Yaoying held the silver spoon, raised her head, and looked up at the man at the door.

Sultan Gu stood at the foot of the steps, looking down at her. He wore the Yaksha mask again, his figure tall and upright. A leather belt was strapped tightly around his waist, and the narrow-sleeved robe traced his lean frame, like a tautly drawn bow, his every movement brimming with force.

“General Su, you had to suffer last night on my account…” Yaoying said, gesturing to the large pot of meat soup on the table.  “Would the General care to join me for breakfast?”

Sultan Gu remained silent.

Yaoying straightened and ladled a bowl of soup for him, placing a few pieces of flatbread beside it on the empty side of the food tray.

Bootsteps thudded outside. A personal guard ran over from the other end of the corridor. He stopped beside Sultan Gu and whispered a few words into his ear.

Sultan Gu turned and left.

Yaoying watched his retreating back, shrugged, and went on eating.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Sultan Gu returned to the hall after speaking with the guard. Yaoying had already finished breakfast and gone back to her room. On the long table sat a soup bowl and a tray of food, with an overturned plate covering the bowl.

The guard lifted the plate. The soup was still hot, delicate wisps of steam curling up. The flatbread had been set to warm beside the charcoal stove, and was now golden and crisp.

“The Princess is really thoughtful,” the guard said with a smile.

Sultan Gu said nothing.

Back in her room, Yaoying found the bedding neat and clean; It seemed that Alanrou had come and tidied it up. Her head was still a bit dizzy, so she lay down to rest for a while, dozing off briefly, when a few light knocks came from the door.

She rubbed her eyes and got up to open it. A cold, piercing gaze fell on her.

“General Su? Is there news of A’Qing and the others?”

Sultan Gu didn’t answer and walked straight into the room, with Yaoying following behind. He glanced at the seating cushion, and Yaoying understood, obediently sitting down, and waiting for him to speak. He also took a seat and extended his hand. This time, he wasn’t wearing his usual leather gloves.

Yaoying looked at him, slightly confused.

Sultan Gu’s gaze landed on her wrist.

Yaoying paused, looked down at her own wrist, then up at him again. They stared at each other in silence for a moment. Then she suddenly realised his intent. She rolled up her sleeve, and extended her pale, snow-like wrist towards him.

Sultan Gu lowered his eyes and took her pulse. “How many times has the Princess delayed taking her medicine?”

“I usually take it once a month,” Yaoying replied hastily. “Including this time, I’ve probably delayed it for a few days about three or four times.”

That had been during their time in the Northern Rong camp. She’d feared that if Haidu Aling discovered her weakness, he would use it to torment her deliberately. So, she never dared to let him notice anything. She would only take the medicine when he was away from the camp. Once, he had returned right after she’d taken it. She’d been so anxious at the time that she forced herself to act normal, though her clothes had soaked with sweat.

Sultan Gu pressed further, “Was the medicine reaction always like last night?”

His voice was cold, with an oppressive weight that made it hard to hide anything. Yaoying had feared physicians since childhood, so she replied honestly, “More or less, but not as bad as last night.”

Sultan Gu remained silent. His two fingers remained lightly on her wrist, his head lowered in thought.

Unable to hold back, Yaoying asked, “General Su, over the past few years, as long as I took the medicine on time, I never had an attack. Why did it flare up suddenly this time?”

Sultan Gu withdrew his hand. “The Princess was born with a weak constitution. These past days have been filled with travel, and when combined with worry and fear, left your Qi and blood depleted, that is why the attack came on suddenly.”

Yaoying let out a soft hum of acknowledgement. She had been anxious that Li Zhongqian might do something reckless and get into trouble. She’d been eager to return to the Central Plains to reunite with him, but not wanting to be a burden on her personal guards, she often forced herself to endure any discomfort. This sudden attack was likely the result of all that accumulated fatigue.

Sultan Gu said, “If Your Highness ever feels unwell in the future, you must take your medicine immediately. Do not delay.”

Repeated delays could eventually lead to serious complications.

Yaoying snapped out of her thoughts and nodded, apologetic. “I understand. I’ve troubled you this time, General.”

Sultan Gu looked down at her.

She sat kneeling on the cushion, her head slightly lowered. Her black hair was thick and glossy, her cheeks pale as snow, her lashes trembling lightly. There was a hint of unease on her face.

She had once been a dignified princess, pampered and raised in splendour—she was never meant to end up stranded in a foreign land.

Sultan Gu stood up.

Yaoying followed suit, seeing him to the door.

Sultan Gu turned and said, “If the Princess feels unwell, simply inform me. There’s no need to hide it, no need to endure it, and certainly no need to delay taking your medication.”

Yaoying felt a faint warmth stir in her chest and responded softly, “Thank you for the reminder, General. I’ll remember that.”

An hour later, a guard appeared outside her room, carrying a steaming bowl of medicine.

“Alanruo took advantage of when the watch wasn’t strict to slip out and gather the herbs. The decoction was just finished. Please drink it while it’s hot. The Regent said the Princess hasn’t recovered yet, this medicine is necessary.”

Yaoying was stunned. She took the bowl and said, “Please tell the Regent that I’m fine. It’s best not to let Alanruo take such risks.”

They were still not out of danger. She didn’t want to cause trouble for Sultan Gu because of her own condition.

The guard smiled. “Your Highness is sick, so you need not worry about such things and just focus on recovery. Alanruo has lived in Gaochang for many years. He had just gone out to get medicine, it was not trouble at all!”

He paused, seemed to think for a moment, and glanced at Yaoying.

“Your Highness, during the days we left the royal court, General Ashina passed on the King’s orders. The King said that during this journey to Gaochang, we are to follow the Regent’s commands. And our task is to protect Your Highness. As for anything else, we need not concern ourselves.”

Yaoying was taken aback.

The guard gave an awkward little laugh. “The Princess fell ill because we didn’t take good enough care of you. You must get better.”

Otherwise, how would they answer to the King when they returned?

Yaoying held the hot bowl of medicine, dazed for a moment. Then, with a smile she thanked the guard, and returned to her room to drink it.

That afternoon, the lockdown in the city eased slightly. Alanruo went out to gather information, and a guard followed Sultan Gu’s orders to another meeting point in the city.

Yaoying asked the guard to make a trip to the marketplace. She and Xie Qing had agreed beforehand that if they were separated, they would pass on messages through the market.

That night, the guard and Alanruo returned to the courtyard, one after the other.

The guard was not alone. At the meeting point, he had encountered Yuanjue, and they had returned together.

Yaoying immediately went to see Yuanjue.

He had been injured, his face pale, one arm resting limply at his side. Upon entering the house, he first saluted Sultan Gu and quietly said, “Regent, King Yuchi did not go back on his word. The ambush that night wasn’t aimed at us.”

“Those soldiers belonged to Princess Ina’s personal guard.”