Chapter 276 – Quiet Words

Luo Wei sat at the table with a bowl of water and a bowl of thin noodles placed in front of him. He watched as the light from the crack in the door gradually disappeared, signaling the end of another day. Reaching out, he felt for the water bowl on the table, lifted it to his lips, but found it empty. His hand dipped into the bowl, confirming that the water had been drunk long ago.

With no water to drink, Luo Wei had no choice but to lie down on the bed. As the last traces of light vanished from the room with the closing of the door, he was left in complete darkness. Fortunately, Luo Wei was familiar with the furnishings of the room, allowing him to move around, sleep, and use the facilities with ease. Once lying on the bed, he drew a line on the bed frame with a stone, marking the passing of another day.

Imperial Physician Chu and Eunuch Wang entered with lanterns in hand.

Once inside, old Wang quickly lit the candles he had brought along, illuminating the room. Adjusting to the candlelight, Luo Wei fixed his gaze on the flickering flames.

Imperial Physician Chu glanced at the table, noticing the empty water bowl and untouched noodles, which had turned into a dried cake. “Not hungry?” Imperial Physician Chu asked as he approached Luo Wei’s bedside.

Luo Wei shook his head.

“Thirsty?” Imperial Physician Chu asked again.

Luo Wei nodded this time.

Quickly, Imperial Physician Chu fetched a water jug and filled a bowl for Luo Wei.

Luo Wei sat up halfway and drank the water eagerly. The taste was bittersweet, infused with ginseng juice, but Luo Wei seemed unaware of any special taste. Within a few gulps, he finished the entire bowl.

“Slow down,” Imperial Physician Chu cautioned, patting Luo Wei’s back to prevent choking. He then took out today’s medicinal soup from the food box and said, “This is still a bit hot. Drink it slowly.”

Holding the bowl of soup in his hand, Luo Wei glanced at the light brown broth before looking up at Imperial Physician Chu.

“These are all to nourish your body,” Imperial Physician Chu said gently. “By drinking them, your body won’t deteriorate. It’s not bitter, it’s sweet. Try it.”

With a slightly happier expression, Luo Wei lowered his head and took a sip. The medicinal soup had a hint of sweet jujube flavor. Luo Wei began to drink the soup sip by sip.

Imperial Physician Chu sat aside, sighing. He also had two sons of his own. His second son was only a year older than Luo Wei. When he thought about his own son, who was a carefree and competitive youth, Imperial Physician Chu couldn’t help but compare him to Luo Wei. He felt a pang of guilt in his heart. The hatred had long faded away. Putting national grudges and family enmity onto such a young man seemed somewhat excessive.

After finishing the bowl of medicinal soup, Luo Wei placed the empty bowl in front of Imperial Physician Chu.

“Would you like to eat something else?” Imperial Physician Chu took the empty bowl and felt Luo Wei’s pulse while asking, “If you have any cravings, just let me know, and I’ll have the servants prepare it.”

Luo Wei shook his head, remaining silent.

Old Wang interjected, “Your Highness, shall I fetch some hot water for you and help you wash?”

Luo Wei watched Eunuch Wang’s mouth move but showed no reaction.

Eunuch Wang tried speaking to Luo Wei a few more times, but seeing no response, he sighed and said, “My lord, it’s been many days since you last spoke. Are you unable to speak anymore?”

“Go fetch some hot water,” Imperial Physician Chu instructed Eunuch Lao Wang. “His hair needs washing too.”

Old Wang left to fetch water.

“Do you really not want to speak?” After Eunuch Wang left, Imperial Physician Chu asked Luo Wei softly, “It’s just the two of us here. If you have anything to say, you can tell me.”

Luo Wei glanced at Imperial Physician Chu’s finger on his wrist pulse and withdrew his hand.

“It’ll be okay soon,” Imperial Physician Chu grabbed Luo Wei’s arm. “Your Highness, if you say just one word, I’ll leave this lamp for you, alright?”

Luo Wei remained silent, resting his chin on his knees, curled up on the bed.

Feeling helpless, Imperial Physician Chu had noticed Luo Wei hadn’t spoken for two months. “Physically, you seem fine,” Imperial Physician Chu finished examining his pulse and smiled at Luo Wei. The more Luo Wei stayed silent, the more Imperial Physician Chu felt the need to converse with him. He couldn’t let Luo Wei continue to be so withdrawn.

Luo Wei turned his head and glanced at the lamp on the bedside table. The flickering candlelight was reflected in his pupils, as if there was a fire flickering in his gaze too.

“Here, take this,” Imperial Physician Chu took out several pieces of sugar cubes commonly seen on the streets of Northern Yan.

Luo Wei’s attention was indeed drawn to these few white sugar cubes, and he stared at them.

Seeing Luo Wei not taking them, Imperial Physician Chu grabbed Luo Wei’s hand, turned it over with the palm facing up, and placed the sugar cubes in Luo Wei’s hand. “I don’t know what you like to eat. These are something I loved when I was young. Give them a try; you might like them too.”

Luo Wei’s fingers curled up, as if wanting to grasp the sugar cubes.

“Oh,” Imperial Physician Chu quickly grabbed Luo Wei’s hand again, preventing him from closing his hand. Taking the initiative, he picked up one sugar cube from Luo Wei’s hand and brought it to Luo Wei’s mouth. “Try it.”

Luo Wei just looked at Imperial Physician Chu and didn’t open his mouth.

Imperial Physician Chu forcefully placed the sugar cube into Luo Wei’s mouth. “It’s sugar, we have it in Great Zhou too, but these are special Northern Yan sugar cubes with ginger juice inside.”

As the sweetness filled his mouth, Luo Wei’s face lit up with a faint smile.

Seeing that Luo Wei indeed liked it, Imperial Physician Chu became happy too. “Since you like it, I’ll bring you more tomorrow, with different flavors.”

Luo Wei put the sugar he was holding under the pillow.

“You can’t leave food here,” Imperial Physician Chu stopped Luo Wei again, saying, “I’ll give you a small box specifically for your sweets.” Imperial Physician Chu rummaged through the medicine box and found an empty lacquered wooden box, handing it to Luo Wei.

Still motionless, with the sugar in his mouth, Luo Wei just looked at the wooden box that Imperial Physician Chu had brought before him.

Imperial Physician Chu had no choice but to take matters into his own hands again, neatly placing the sugar cubes from Luo Wei’s hand into the wooden box.

Touching the wooden box in his hand, the sugar in his mouth made a “crackling” sound as Luo Wei bit down on it.

Imperial Physician Chu combed Luo Wei’s hair from his forehead to behind his ears and asked, “Your Highness, what kind of candy do you like? Do you have ginger candies like this in Great Zhou?” After asking this question, Imperial Physician Chu waited for Luo Wei’s response for a long time, but still didn’t receive one. Looking at Luo Wei’s face, Imperial Physician Chu could only sigh again. It was said that everything in the world should not be excessive. Such a beautiful face, too beautiful, was only a disaster, not a blessing.

Eunuch Wang carried two buckets of hot water and walked towards Luo Wei’s palace. From afar, he saw a person standing in front of the half-opened door. Old Wang was startled. Outsiders were not allowed in here. Who dared to be so bold? They were risking their lives! Eunuch Wang was about to shout.

“Shut up!” someone ran over from the side and quietly scolded Eunuch Wang.

“Chief Eunuch Qian?” Old Wang recognized the newcomer and hurriedly nodded and bowed deferentially.

“That’s enough,” Eunuch Qian waved his hand.

“There’s someone there!” Eunuch Lao Wang gestured towards the person standing in front of the door.

“It’s none of your business. Don’t meddle!” Eunuch Qian pulled Old Wang aside.

Perplexed, Old Wang stood with Eunuch Qian, carrying the two buckets of water. After carefully observing the person standing in front of the door again, he finally realized that this person looked remarkably like their lord, His Majesty.