As Lu Yunqi's voice faded, Princess Jiuli inside began to cough violently, causing the maids and maidservants in the room to become flustered.
Lu Yunqi quickly walked in, followed by the imperial physicians who watched as the girls patted and comforted Princess Jiuli, giving her some water to drink.
Under the light, Princess Jiuli appeared feeble and without makeup, looking somewhat haggard. After drinking some water to suppress the cough, she lay back down.
"How do you feel?" Lu Yunqi asked, not approaching, but standing a few steps away from the bed.
While the concern was genuine, the attitude was not that of an intimate husband's but more like that of a respectful attendant's.
This was actually normal, after all, his wife was a princess, and he was both a husband and a subject.
No one in the room dared to question this, let alone give it an extra glance.
Princess Jiuli waved her hands without speaking, tightly shut her mouth as if to avoid coughing the moment she opened it.
Lu Yunqi did not ask further, and turned to leave, with the imperial physicians hurrying to follow.
Discussing the illness, of course, meant avoiding the patient.
"There's no serious harm, just that the cold is somewhat severe," an imperial physician began with consideration.
The words were artfully phrased: not too serious, yet one cannot underestimate the cold.
Lu Yunqi's face was expressionless.
"So, what you are saying is, you don't know whether she can be cured or not?" he said.
This comment caused the imperial physicians to change color, looking nervous and uneasy.
Others saying this would have been fine, they had many possible responses, but in front of Lu Yunqi... Imperial Physician Jiang was still locked in the prison, his life and death unknown.
"Lord Lu, we can cure her," an imperial physician gritted his teeth and said, "but this cold isn't something that can be healed in a short period, especially now with autumn's approach which is not favorable for such conditions. We need to nourish the princess slowly."
Lu Yunqi gave a grunt of acknowledgment.
Is that it then? So easy to talk to? The imperial physicians breathed a sigh of relief.
"We will go prepare the medicine then," they said.
Lu Yunqi grunted again, and the imperial physicians quickly exited.
Lu Yunqi stood in the hall for a moment before entering the inner chamber. Princess Jiuli appeared to be asleep on the bed, and the maids and maidservants lowered their heads and withdrew.
"His Majesty has agreed to my departure from the capital," Lu Yunqi suddenly said.
Princess Jiuli opened her eyes.
"Is it for Miss Jun?" she asked, her voice even weaker as she suppressed coughs.
"She has been enjoying herself too much in the northern lands; it's not like the capital there, not safe," Lu Yunqi said.
Princess Jiuli laughed, which immediately led to a bout of coughing, and she hurriedly covered her mouth with her hand.
Lu Yunqi handed her some water, extending his hand without getting closer.
Princess Jiuli shook her head to indicate she didn't need it.
Lu Yunqi then put down the cup and stood silently.
"Lord Lu, for her, the capital is not safe," Princess Jiuli said with a smile.
Lu Yunqi remained silent.
There was a moment of silence in the room.
"I am ill, can you not go?" Princess Jiuli suddenly said.
Her voice was naturally soft, and now laden with illness, she looked downwards beneath the light, her voice feeble, like a pear blossom in the rain, pitiable.
The maidservant standing outside, behind the bead curtain, couldn't see the state of Princess Jiuli, but just hearing her voice made her heart tremble.
That's right, the princess was a woman, and Thousand-Man Commander Lu was a man. A woman should indeed behave tenderly and weakly towards a man, acting coquettish and clingy.
Moreover, this man was about to leave for another woman, even a princess wouldn't want her man taken away by another woman.
Such words should have been said long ago.
Lu Yunqi was silent and unmoving.
The maidservant involuntarily held her breath, nearly suffocating before finally hearing Lu Yunqi speak.
"Alright."
His deep and honest voice was incredibly reassuring.
The maidservant couldn't help but feel overjoyed, watching as Lu Yunqi sat down beside Princess Jiuli's bed, and quickly directed the maids standing by to exit, taking care to close the door behind them.
The brightly lit room became quiet and peaceful.
Hearing Lu Yunqi's response, Princess Jiuli smiled at him.
"Thank you," she said.
"No need to thank me," Lu Yunqi said, "It's all the same, all for her."
That "her" that Princess Jiuli knew he was referring to.
For her, he had constantly entangled with Miss Jun, even risking leaving the capital.
But also for her, upon hearing of his own illness, he stayed behind.
Princess Jiuli smiled.
"Thank you," she said again, this time there was more sincerity in her thanks, as well as a touch of melancholy.
Of course, this melancholy wasn't because whether her husband left or stayed, it wasn't for her.
Thinking of that "her," both of them fell silent for a moment.
"Was it her who entrusted you to look after us?" Princess Jiuli suddenly asked, "That must have been tough on you."
The existence of her and her siblings was an awkward one; to some, their death by sickness or accident would fulfill many wishes.
And the wishes of the emperor were surely the wishes of many; they would spare no effort to achieve them.
Fortunately, with Lu Yunqi taking over the management of everything, the sealed and isolated Prince Huai's mansion and Lu Mansion became both a cage and a shield.
With him around, no one could act rashly.
But for him, to act in a way that made sense without angering the emperor or arousing the emperor's suspicion was certainly not easy.
So now that she was sick, a sick person could encounter all sorts of accidents, and Lu Yunqi would definitely not leave. He had to personally guard to prevent any accidents.
Upon hearing her words, a flicker of sorrow passed across Lu Yunqi's face in the dim light.
"No, she did not," he said blankly.
Princess Jiuli looked up at him.
Not? Princess Jiuli didn't say those words?
But Princess Jiuli was known to have a very strong and proud nature; it would be normal for her not to say such things.
"Then I am even more grateful to Lord Lu," she said.
Lu Yunqi looked at her.
"Your Highness need not thank me," he said, "Just don't do such things again."
Princess Jiuli was momentarily stunned, apparently not understanding his words.
Lu Yunqi stood up.
"You once said she is not her," he said, his expression blank as he looked at Princess Jiuli, "How can you disregard her feelings for her? By hurting yourself for her, would she be pleased?"
This string of "she" and "her" would surely confuse anyone; Princess Jiuli paused momentarily then chuckled with a smile.
"Lord Lu speaks the truth," she said, as though she did not grasp his meaning, simply responding in agreement.
"I did not speak well," Lu Yunqi said, "But I can assure you, Gu Qing in prison will speak eloquently."
Princess Jiuli's expression changed, and she sat up from the bed.
"You.." she said and then chuckled bitterly, sitting back down, "Yes, I knew I couldn't hide it from you."
She watched Lu Yunqi intently.
"I was the one who sent a message asking him to find me medicine that would make me ill."
Having said this, she sat up on the bed and respectfully bowed her head deeply to Lu Yunqi.
"I apologize for taking advantage of your kindhearted goodwill, and also for implicating Mr. Gu. This has nothing to do with him."
Lu Yunqi's expression remained blank.
"Your Highness, please recover well," he said, as if nothing had been discussed earlier, and then turned to leave.
"Lord Lu," Princess Jiuli called out.
Lu Yunqi's steps halted but he did not look back.
"Your Highness, be assured, this is not a feigned sickness, you are truly ill, and I will not leave the capital," he said.
Princess Jiuli watched his retreating figure.
"Can you tell me how she died?" she asked, "Why she died."
Lu Yunqi's figure stiffened, his hand clenched at his side.