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The Chasm Between Them—How Could It Be…?
“How is it?!”
Li Yunli didn’t realize the urgency in her tone when she spoke, startling Imperial Physician Zhao, who immediately turned around, knelt, and prepared to report.
Li Yunli quickly interjected, “Tend to him first! Just speak!”
Physician Zhao hurriedly replied, “The noble one suffered severe blood loss and further exhaustion, causing extreme depletion of his vitality. Additionally, all his wounds were scrubbed and cleaned two days ago, further damaging his constitution. Though his condition is critical, fortunately, there is still hope. I have prepared several medicinal prescriptions, along with medicinal baths to aid his recovery. He must rest and recuperate properly.”
Hearing this, Li Yunli felt slightly relieved but immediately frowned. “His wounds were cleaned?”
The previous physician that Zhilian had found immediately knelt and kowtowed. “It was when the Lord had just returned—he insisted on bathing to cleanse himself. This old one failed to stop him!”
Li Yunli’s heart trembled. “With such wounds, he still bathed?”
She turned back, her gaze sweeping over the two maids at the door and Dongsheng.
Ya Xiang and Jiang Xiang, unaware of the details, immediately knelt. Dongsheng, on the other hand, had already been reduced to tears, his eyes swollen as he sobbed and replied, “The Lord… he said he felt unclean, afraid that Your Highness would find him disgusting… He also feared scarring and insisted on using strong medicine to erase them…”
The physician quickly explained, “I did not dare to prescribe it. The Lord’s injuries were too severe—I only used mild tonics for nourishment and gradual recovery.”
Seeing the displeasure on Li Yunli’s face, Imperial Physician Zhao, as a man of compassion, quickly defended his colleague. “Yes, yes, this gentleman was cautious with his prescriptions and left room for adjustments. Your Highness can rest assured!”
Li Yunli furrowed her brows, pushing down her worries, yet an overwhelming exhaustion seeped into her bones.
She sighed lightly. “Ensure his survival—everything else can wait.”
Physician Zhao nodded. “Understood! As Your Highness commands!”
With that, he pulled Yun Chu’s hand out from under the blanket, found an acupoint, and inserted a needle.
Li Yunli stood silently behind him.
The only place on his body that remained uninjured was likely just this small patch on his palm.
He truly could endure pain.
As soon as the thought arose, a pang of bitterness followed.
Besides his endurance… she herself was cruel-hearted.
Li Yunli felt suffocated.
She acknowledged her current pain, yet she also knew—powerlessly and clearly—that at that moment, when she had encountered Yun Chu so abruptly at the city gate, she could not have made a different decision.
She could neither retreat nor be magnanimous enough to save him on the spot.
Now, even with clarity after struggling with her emotions, she still sorrowfully realized—if it happened again…
She would still end up here.
This was her helplessness.
The last time she had been in this position, she had suffered and sunk into despair because of too many helpless choices.
Having resigned to fate once, she would not do so a second time.
Even if it meant embracing helplessness.
Li Yunli lowered her gaze to the restless figure in bed. A decision had already formed in her heart.
When Yun Chu opened his eyes again, the room was filled with the bitter scent of medicine.
He turned his head slightly. The sky outside was bright and clear—the morning had arrived.
Inside, the room was silent, without the slightest sound of human activity. Only outside, in the courtyard, a few sparrows chirped lively, bringing a sense of vitality.
He quietly observed his surroundings, but from the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught a small movement.
A white cat had accidentally knocked over a medicine bowl on a low table, meowing before darting out into the courtyard.
Yun Chu widened his eyes in surprise and looked toward the foot of the bed—where he saw an unexpected figure.
“You’re awake?”
Li Yunli had been lightly resting against the desk, woken by the commotion caused by the white cat. As she opened her eyes, she happened to see him stirring.
Yun Chu’s eyes widened in disbelief at the scene before him.
“Last night, Song Tunan from the Ministry of Justice sent medicine—seems he brought out his best healing salve. He also brought your cat. When did you start keeping one?”
Li Yunli crouched down, picked up the overturned bowl, set the spoon aside, and spoke casually.
Yun Chu’s body was weak, but it was better than the day before. Supporting himself with one arm, he stared at her with astonishment, almost feeling as though he had entered the afterlife, trapped in an endless dream.
Li Yunli glanced at the small amount of medicine left at the bottom of the bowl and frowned.
“It spilled. I’ll have them make another batch.”
Yun Chu finally moved.
The pain in his body was real—so he was not in hell after all.
He suddenly flung the blanket aside, moving swiftly to get out of bed. The moment his feet touched the ground, he immediately fell to his knees.
His knees hit the floor with a dull thud.
Li Yunli’s face darkened.
“Your…”
Yun Chu tilted his head upward, facing her directly, his voice dry and hoarse.
Li Yunli’s expression turned colder.
“What did you just say?”
The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing, as if a bowstring had been drawn taut—ready to snap at any moment.
Yun Chu slowly lowered his head but was reluctant to shift his gaze away.
Li Yunli stared at him, her voice icy. “Get up.”
Yun Chu remained still, stubbornly keeping his head bowed.
His submissive posture ignited a nameless fury deep within Li Yunli’s chest. She turned her head, clenched her jaw—feeling both mockery and helplessness. But there seemed to be no way to break this deadlock.
She let out a cold laugh. “You prefer kneeling, is that it?”
She set down the medicine bowl, flicked her sleeve, and turned to leave immediately.
Yun Chu panicked, hurriedly crawling forward on his knees, his voice cracking. “Your Highness!”
He still needed support, using his elbow against the bedside for leverage.
Hearing the sound of his knees striking the floor behind her, Li Yunli felt her irritation flare even more violently.
Look at him—when it came to degrading himself, he never held back.
Yet after calling her “Your Highness,” he said nothing more.
Li Yunli stood with her back to him, expressionlessly gazing into the courtyard, unwilling—refusing—to turn back.
It was an unspoken standoff, though it lasted only a moment.
She stepped forward, never looking back, and walked out.
And she never returned.
That night, Li Yunli had ordered that she needed no attendants while she rested. Now that she had left, Dongsheng finally dared to peek into the courtyard.
He expected the Lord to be awake, but he hadn’t expected to find him kneeling by the bed in his plain robes.
Dongsheng hurried over. “My Lord! What are you doing?!”
Yun Chu stared blankly in the direction Li Yunli had left.
Concerned about his injuries, Dongsheng tried to help him up, but Yun Chu did not move.
After a long while, his handsome face finally showed a shift in emotion.
His brows furrowed slightly as he closed his eyes in silent regret.
Without tears.
“Dongsheng…”
“I’m here, my Lord!”
“Right now… do I look ugly?”
His voice was self-deprecating.
A long illness would certainly leave one looking haggard; long suffering would do the same. He knew he was pale and weakened beyond recognition.
But he also knew—between the chasm that lay between them—his appearance was the least of their concerns.
And yet… he still hoped.