Thousand Miles of Bright Moonlight - Chapter 160.2

Sultan Gu withdrew his gaze, motioning for Yaoying to sit back down. He slipped off the animal-hide gloves from his hands, revealing long, slender yet powerful fingers with distinct knuckles.

Yaoying suddenly understood. She bent forward and sat down, rolling up her sleeve with her head lowered. In the firelight, her wrist was as pale as polished jade. She stretched it out before Sultan Gu, looking at him expectantly.

Had it been any other man, she would never have so openly extended her arm. Sultan Gu, however, was different. During the journey to Gaochang, a few cautious tests had made her realise that in his eyes there might truly be no distinction between men and women. To him, she was only a patient, and so there was no need for embarrassment or reserve.

Besides, he had taken her pulse every night these past days. She had already grown used to it.

Sultan Gu placed two fingers on Yaoying’s wrist, remaining silent for a long while. Beneath the mask, his brows drew together slightly.

Yaoying was worn out from the day, drained of both body and mind. Sitting by the brazier, she felt her bones turn soft, her cheeks flushed red from the heat, and her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. She waited for some time, her consciousness hazy, forcing herself to stay awake, her head nodding as she dozed. She did not know how long had passed when, all of a sudden, she jolted awake, startled, and found the ghost-faced mask so close before her eyes. She froze.

By instinct, she raised her left hand. Her fingertips brushed against the icy mask.

Sultan Gu did not move. From beneath the mask, his turquoise eyes lifted and met hers.

The two were very close, their gazes locking.

There was a question in Sultan Gu’s eyes.

Yaoying tilted her head upward, gazing at him from below. Her eyes glistened with moisture, their light blurred and wavering, springlike charm shimmering within. The arch of her brows, softened as though smudged, looked alluring and seductive, as if faint whiffs of fragrance drifted out from her.

The chamber was so silent you could hear a pin drop, the atmosphere strangely charged.

It was Sultan Gu who first turned his eyes away.

Yaoying came back to her senses and realised that her fingers were pressed against Sultan Gu’s face, still clutching his mask. Her whole body stiffened at once, and she dared not move. Her cheeks burned hotter still.

Yuanjue, standing in the corner, stared at Yaoying’s impertinent hand. The skin on his face twitched, his eyes bulging as though about to pop out.

The princess actually dared to touch him!

Yaoying kept her hand raised, not daring to shift, her gaze darting about in panic. She was now wide awake. Catching sight, out of the corner of her eye, of Yuanjue’s horrified and reproachful stare, the corner of her lips twitched twice. Embarrassment made her break out in a cold sweat.

Sultan Gu remained silent.

Why wasn’t he reprimanding her for this impropriety?

Her hand grew sore from holding in that position. Seeing that Sultan Gu still showed no sign of speaking, she steeled herself, leaned closer, and pressed her fingers against the edge of the mask. With a light push, she removed it.

“We are all our own people here. General, you need not wear a mask at every moment.”

With that, Sultan Gu’s face was revealed.

Yuanjue’s eyes went wide, his jaw nearly dropping to the ground.

Yaoying held the mask tightly in her hand. Her expression was of righteous conviction, yet her limbs were rigid, and her heart pounded like a drum.

Sultan Gu lowered his gaze without a word. He let her remove the mask, and quietly continued feeling her pulse.

As though an elder indulging a child’s wilfulness.

Yaoying lifted her gaze to study his expression.

His featured remained calm. In the glow of the firelight, the terrifying scars twisting across his skin seemed softened, almost gentle.

Yaoying secretly let out a breath of relief. Releasing the ghost-faced mask, she thought his scarred face looked far more pleasing than any mask.

Sultan Gu withdrew his two fingers and gestured for Yaoying to switch hands. After taking the pulse in both wrists, his brows furrowed. “The Princess is running a slight fever. Take two more doses of medicine tomorrow.”

A troubled look surfaced on Yaoying’s face.

When she had sent Yang Qian away, she had already felt heat coursing through her body. She thought it was only exhaustion and paid no attention, then collapsed into sleep. When she woke, she felt somewhat better, though dizziness struck as she stepped out of the carriage. She had planned to sleep well tonight and recover by morning, but she had not expected Sultan Gu to notice her minor discomfort.

Sultan Gu rose to his feet. “Since the Princess is unwell, it is best not to go out tomorrow. We will enter the palace the day after.”

Yaoying stood as well. At his words, she quickly shook her head. “There’s no need. I will be sure to take the medicine properly. Let us go to the palace tomorrow.”

Sultan Gu gave her a glance and spoke lightly. “The Princess was born with a weak constitution. You must pay careful attention to your health in later years. If you hide illness and refuse treatment, it may turn into something grave.”

Yaoying put on the appearance of an obedient pupil. When he finished speaking, she gave a small smile. “The General is right. Still, this is only an old ailment. After a good night’s sleep, I will be fine. Tomorrow morning, you may check my pulse again. If I am well, we will enter the palace at once. What do you say?”

She sought his opinion with steady eyes fixed upon him. Her voice, husky yet soft and lilting, carried a hint of coquettishness.

Sultan Gu lifted his head, gazing at the snow that drifted endlessly beyond the courtyard, then gave a slight nod. His eyes shifted briefly toward Yuanjue in the corner.

Understanding the signal, Yuanjue bowed and stepped forward. “Princess, it is late. Allow this subordinate to escort you back to your chambers.”

Yaoying turned and left the hall. Once she lay down in her room, a guardsman arrived with a steaming bowl of freshly prepared medicine. “The Regent says the Princess must drink this before retiring.”

She blinked, then thanked the soldier, drank the medicine, and lay back upon the pillow with her eyes closed, lost in thought.

Sultan Gu understood medicine. From whom had he learned his skills? Ashina Bisha had trained with him, yet had never studied medicine. So why had Sultan Gu?

Yaoying grew ever more certain that Sultan Gu must have cared for someone who was long afflicted with illness, someone who, like her, required constant medication. Only then could he be so well-versed in the matter of herbal prescriptions.

In her memory, it seemed that Tumoroga was the only person in the palace who took medicine daily…

But Yaoying was truly exhausted, and before she could sort out her thoughts, she had already sunk into sleep.