Chapter 265 – Enduring

Luo Wei had to lie in bed for another seven days. Sima Qingsha did not come again. The only people he saw every day were the old eunuch Wang and Imperial Physician Chu who was treating his injuries. Luo Wei and Eunuch Lao Wang had hardly spoken to each other. The old eunuch seemed to despise him a lot, giving Luo Wei disdainful looks all the time. Luo Wei had no energy to pay attention to this old eunuch. However, Physician Chu occasionally talked to Luo Wei, and it was only then that Luo Wei could learn some things about the outside world. From what Imperial Physician Chu said, Luo Wei learned that Qi Zi and Xiao Xiao had been clamoring to come to the palace to see him but were “persuaded” back by the Northern Yan side.

“These servants of yours look like they were spoiled in the Great Zhou Dynasty,” Imperial Physician Chu said to Luo Wei. “They speak as if they were masters themselves. My Lord, how did you teach them in Great Zhou?”

Luo Wei could only reply, “They will calm down after a while; they are still just children.”

Imperial Physician Chu didn’t know what to say to Luo Wei’s response. Looking at Luo Wei, he realized that Luo Wei was still just a teenager.

Luo Wei was worried about Qi Zi and Xiao Xiao, but he had no way to contact them now. Lying in bed, he could only watch the days pass by, counting the days, holding the half mandarin duck in his hand from time to time, finding solace in it.

On the eighth day, Sima Qingsha came again.

This time, Luo Wei had just finished eating a bowl of porridge while lying on his side in bed. When he saw Sima Qingsha, his body, which had warmed up a bit from eating, began to feel cold again.

“You should be better now, right?” Sima Qingsha stood at the head of the bed and asked Luo Wei.

Luo Wei replied, “Much better.”

Imperial Physician Chu had told Sima Qingsha yesterday that Luo Wei’s injuries were improving. Sima Qingsha glanced at the empty bowl that Luo Wei had placed on the edge of the bed. He was satisfied that Luo Wei had managed to finish a bowl of porridge; it meant that he was finally not half-dead anymore.

Luo Wei waited for Sima Qingsha to speak, unsure of what kind of anger he would have to deal with this time.

“Get up and accompany me for a walk,” Sima Qingsha unexpectedly said, “The flowers in the imperial garden are all in bloom.”

Luo Wei looked at Sima Qingsha for a long time, feeling that his mood today was not bad. He wondered what good news had come from Northern Yan in the past few days that had put Sima Qingsha in such a good mood toward him.

“Yun Qi,” Sima Qingsha finally called out Luo Wei’s name, “Get up.”

Luo Wei, emboldened, said, “I… I can’t get up.”

Sima Qingsha frowned again. Now he had to think twice about Luo Wei’s words, fearing being deceived by him again. “Don’t you want to accompany me?” he asked Luo Wei.

Luo Wei, still unable to move these days, how could he accompany Sima Qingsha to see flowers? “I… I really can’t walk,” he said to Sima Qingsha, “Maybe in a few more days.”

“I’ve only used you once,” Sima Qingsha grabbed Luo Wei’s arm forcefully, “Can I really cripple you?!”

As Luo Wei was pulled hard by Sima Qingsha, he fell off the bed and knelt beside it.

“Now you’re even wearing pants,” Sima Qingsha finally let go, “Why can’t you walk now? Get up, get dressed, I’ll take you for a walk.”

Luo Wei propped himself up on the bed, slowly getting up inch by inch, like a crumpled piece of paper that needed to be smoothed out, and it took him a long time to stand up, but his waist still couldn’t straighten up, bending over.

Sima Qingsha grew impatient, not wanting to wait any longer for Luo Wei to straighten up. He pulled Luo Wei and said, “Go to the clothes rack, hurry.”

Luo Wei stumbled along as Sima Qingsha dragged him a few steps, but then refused to move any further, freezing in place.

“What are you playing at?!” Sima Qingsha’s face darkened. He had been kind today, intending to take Luo Wei to see the unique flowers and plants in the Northern Yan Palace, but this man still didn’t know how to appreciate kindness.

Luo Wei’s face turned pale, his body bent, lips trembling, as he looked down at the ground.

Seeing Luo Wei like this, Sima Qingsha thought it didn’t seem like an act. A thought flashed through his mind. He walked back, reached into Luo Wei’s underwear, and felt a handful of blood.

The wound under Luo Wei had been bleeding all along. It had scabbed over just two days ago, but now, after Sima Qingsha forcefully pulled him along, the scab had cracked again, and blood flowed out once more.

Sima Qingsha lifted Luo Wei back onto the bed, his movements gentle but his words harsh. “You are utterly useless!” he scolded Luo Wei. “People like you, don’t they die every day in the brothel? How many days have I given you? Why are you still bleeding? I’ve only used you once, and your intestines are broken?”

Luo Wei didn’t want to cry out in pain in front of Sima Qingsha again. He gritted his teeth and endured silently, only his heavy breathing indicating the pain he was enduring.

Soon, Physician Chu was called again.

Seeing Physician Chu, Sima Qingsha asked, “What’s wrong with him? Did I break his intestines?”

Physician Chu didn’t know if he should laugh or cry. How could he break Luo Wei’s intestines? If that happened, how could Luo Wei still be alive?

Sima Qingsha glanced at Luo Wei lying motionless on the bed, feeling annoyed. Without waiting for Physician Chu’s reply, he pointed at Luo Wei again and said, “If his intestines are broken, I might as well use him again. I can’t let him die like this! Luo Wei, what use are you now? Even your lower body is ruined. Is there anything left besides a face for people to look at?”

Luo Wei still lay there motionless like a dead man.

Physician Chu looked at Sima Qingsha in disbelief. He had followed Sima Qingsha for many years and had watched this young monarch grow up. It was the first time he had heard Sima Qingsha uttering such obscene and insulting words.

“What are you looking at?” Sima Qingsha, unaware of his own inappropriate words, asked Physician Chu, “Check to see if his intestines are broken.”

In front of Sima Qingsha, Physician Chu removed Luo Wei’s inner clothes, inspecting his injuries while saying to Sima Qingsha, “Your Majesty, Prince Jin still cannot move. This wound has reopened, but it has nothing to do with his intestines.”

Seeing Luo Wei’s legs spread apart like a woman in labor, blood everywhere, Sima Qingsha finally felt a twinge of guilt. “When will he get better?” he asked Physician Chu in a lowered voice.

“The Prince’s health was never good,” Physician Chu said truthfully, “His wounds heal slower than ordinary people, and I can’t be sure.”

“Will his body be crippled?”

“After Prince’s injuries heal, he will be able to walk freely.”

“I’m not asking about his ability to walk,” Sima Qingsha said.

Physician Chu felt Luo Wei tremble slightly.

Sima Qingsha looked at Physician Chu as if he didn’t understand his words, then pointed at Luo Wei’s lower body and said, “Is he crippled there?”

Physician Chu awkwardly replied, “Once it heals, it’ll be fine.”

Sima Qingsha left in a huff.

“Hold on, Prince,” Physician Chu said to Luo Wei, “I need to remove the useless scab.”

Luo Wei tightly closed his eyes. He had endured for ten years before and had been able to survive it, and he could do so again. One year, Luo Wei told himself, it was only one year. Even if Sima Qingsha insulted him again, it wouldn’t be as painful as the suffering he endured during those ten years.