Chapter 89: Clean It Up, Why Aren’t You Leaving Yet?

The carriage directly arrived at the Princess’s residence, stopping at the side gate on the north.

The two men, Shi Li and Shi Qi, dragged the person inside through the small door. After handing him over to the servants, they immediately rode back, leaving Li Yunli’s side.

Although the Princess hadn’t given explicit instructions, everyone in the mansion knew that Yun Shijun’s attempted rebellion had failed, and he had been caught by the Ministry of Punishments.

Fortunately, the servant who came to collect him had been working in the mansion for years and knew about the past incident from two years ago. After bringing him back, he arranged for him to be placed in the same little courtyard where Yun Shijun had been housed before.

The transplanted flowers had bloomed a lot, and many were in full bloom at this time of year.

However, Yun Shijun was completely unconscious and knew nothing.

When Dong Sheng came out to greet him, he was frightened.

He had served Yun Shijun in the mansion before, and even though Yun Shijun was often punished, he had never fallen to this state.

The young boy’s eyes turned red instantly. He tried hard not to trouble the other servants, running around by himself, and managed to move Yun Shijun onto the couch.

At this time, the atmosphere in the mansion was tense, and the servants had no good feelings toward Yun Shijun, the “instigator.” After placing him down, they immediately left the room.

“Big Brother, Big Brother!” Dong Sheng was both scared and anxious. “Please, can you find a doctor for Shijun?”

He was panicking, gesturing helplessly at the person on the bed. “I… I…”

Although the servant didn’t have a good opinion of Yun Shijun, he couldn’t say anything after seeing the tragic state he was in. The older one sighed, “Dong Sheng, little brother, it’s not that we don’t want to help, but the Princess hasn’t given permission, you know that.”

Dong Sheng was about to burst into tears, but he didn’t dare to stop them and could only watch them leave.

He was afraid Yun Shijun would have no one to care for him, so he hurriedly ran to the courtyard.

He desperately heated some water, wanting to clean Yun Shijun’s body, but when he looked at the injuries, he froze, completely at a loss for what to do.

He saw that Yun Shijun was unconscious, not knowing if he could survive.

Dong Sheng sat by the bed, crying out loud.

While crying, he wiped his tears with his sleeve, gasping for breath.

“How did it become like this… how did it come to this…”

“Shijun, Shijun…”

Yun Shijun, who was in pain, opened his eyes with all the strength he could muster.

His head ached terribly, and the crying sounds felt strange to him. When he opened his eyes, he found that he wasn’t in the dark, gloomy prison.

He slowly moved his arm. When the servant placed him on the bed, he was lying on his stomach, and his left hand was still light.

Who is crying?

Are they sad for him?

He reached out and gently touched the person’s head.

Dong Sheng immediately stopped crying.

“Don’t cry…”

Yun Shijun’s voice was hoarse.

It was only when the person raised their head that Yun Shijun realized who it was.

Ah, it’s Dong Sheng.

“Shijun! You’re awake!!” Dong Sheng cried out, but then his mouth tightened, and he cried even harder.

Yun Shijun felt bitterness in his mouth.

He looked behind Dong Sheng and, upon seeing the familiar room, a feeling of numbness washed over him, tinged with bitterness.

It seemed Li Yunli really had come to see him.

He had returned.

He didn’t know what arrangements she had made with the Ministry of Punishments, but today, despite the punishment not being completed, he had been sent back.

In any case…

Li Yunli hadn’t abandoned him; she had brought him back.

But…

What right did he have to receive this?

Dong Sheng quickly wiped his face and hurriedly went to Yun Shijun’s side. “Shijun, Shijun, does it hurt? Do you need anything? Water? Medicine? I’ll go get it!”

Yun Shijun closed his eyes and shook his head.

Dong Sheng cried, his tears falling nonstop.

Even if they had medicine, they didn’t have anything strong enough to treat such severe injuries.

“Shijun…”

Dong Sheng stammered, crying.

He wanted to ask why—why had Shijun angered the Princess again? Things had seemed fine before, hadn’t they?

But seeing the situation now, whether Yun Shijun would survive was still uncertain. Not understanding the full truth, he decided to keep silent.

Just as he was feeling sorrowful, footsteps suddenly came from outside the small courtyard, accompanied by a woman’s voice.

“This way, Sir. This is the courtyard.”

Dong Sheng wiped his face and looked up, his head turned back.

Yun Shijun immediately recognized the woman’s voice—it was someone he knew.

He wanted to prop himself up to see, but he didn’t have the strength.

Zhi Lan stepped into the courtyard, carrying a doctor with a wooden box slung over his shoulder. “This is the one. Doctor, please treat our Shijun well.”

Dong Sheng, seeing her, quickly wiped away his tears and stood up, overjoyed. He almost shouted for Zhi Lan.

She was the Princess’s personal maid, so this must be the Princess’s order!

Yun Shijun was even more shocked. As soon as he saw the doctor, his eyes widened, watching Zhi Lan direct the people inside.

“Shijun,” Zhi Lan finally turned to him, “You should rest and recuperate over the next few days. Don’t worry about anything else.”

“Zhi Lan… miss,” Yun Shijun called out hoarsely, his tone urgent. He gestured to the doctor and asked, “… Is this… the Princess’s order?”

However, Zhi Lan shook her head.

“If it were the Princess’s order, she would have sent a palace physician. This is my personal decision.”

Dong Sheng quickly expressed his thanks. Whether it was the Princess’s decision or Zhi Lan’s, having a doctor treat Shijun was better than him, a half-grown boy, caring for him alone.

However, Yun Shijun nodded faintly, and the light in his pupils faded.

“Thank you, Zhi Lan.”

Zhi Lan, not knowing what he was thinking, smiled and reassured him.

“It’s best if Shijun can understand. I’ve served the Princess since she was young, and although her temper is quick, she is always straightforward. Since she brought you back, she won’t leave you to suffer. The past is past.”

These words didn’t offer much comfort.

Yun Shijun lowered his gaze.

No one knew that the distance between him and Li Yunli wasn’t just because of the rebellion, which was full of uncertainties.

“Moreover…” Zhi Lan lowered her voice and continued, “All these years, the Princess has been moving around, and you are the only one who has stayed by her side. Only you have stayed by the Princess all these years.”

Yun Shijun’s eyes widened slightly.

Zhi Lan’s words were clear, but she stopped just short of stating it outright.

Li Yunli bringing him back might not be because she had forgiven him, but because…

Because she was willing to have him as her companion in bed.

After all, Li Yunli had once told him that she liked his face and body.

This was also the real reason why Zhi Lan had arranged for the doctor to treat him.

As a servant to the Princess, she naturally sympathized with her, doing things for her that couldn’t be spoken of openly.

For example, making sure that he, who could bring the Princess pleasure in bed, didn’t die.

“Understood.” Yun Shijun nodded lightly, “Thank you, Zhi Lan.”

Zhi Lan didn’t know what he had been thinking but saw him calm down and smiled reassuringly.

“It’s best if Shijun can understand. I’ve left the doctor here. Only Dong Sheng will be in the courtyard serving you, so it may not be thorough. I’ve brought the incense for you, they’ll stay outside to serve. Please rest and recuperate.”

Zhi Lan waved, and two other maids, Ya Xiang and Jiang Xiang, bowed to Yun Shijun.

“Use whatever medicine you need, don’t worry about the cost. If anything is lacking, just tell me,” Zhi Lan instructed, “The Princess will reward you when you treat Shijun well.”

The doctor quickly agreed.

After instructing everyone, Zhi Lan returned to the front hall.

The doctor set down his medicine box and, seeing the severity of the injuries, immediately began to assess them.

But the more he examined, the more shocked he became.

The doctor had seen many kinds of wounds before, including those from punishment, but he was still taken aback by Yun Shijun’s condition.

“Sir, is this very difficult?”

Yun Shijun allowed him to do whatever he needed, and when the doctor tore open his back, his entire back was exposed to the air, causing him to tremble slightly.

Since Zhi Lan had just spoken, he had started to worry.

All these injuries were from the prison, the worst being the three days of whipping he had endured, which would likely leave scars.

If they left scars, after his clothes were removed…

How could he remain by her side with such an unsightly body?

The doctor stroked his beard, “It is indeed difficult. These wounds can be treated, but they will likely leave scars. If we treat them, it will be fine, but if we want to remove the scars…”

“No scars.” Yun Shijun’s voice was hoarse, but his tone was determined, “I can’t have scars!”

No man cared so much about having wounds or scars!

The doctor pressed his hand to his chest, raising an eyebrow.

When he remembered Yun Shijun’s identity, he shook his head and sighed.

“If we don’t want scars and want to heal the wounds, you’ll probably suffer quite a bit more.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Yun Shijun said, his voice growing weak, “Just use the medicine. Don’t worry about me.”

“Okay,” the doctor said, stepping back, concerned that he might not be able to finish his sentence, “I’ll first prescribe some tonic to restore your energy.”

He quickly turned and spoke with the two maids to prepare the medicine.

Dong Sheng, who had been nearby, was relieved when more people came to help.

Yun Shijun quietly called to him.

“Dong Sheng.”

“Shijun?”

Dong Sheng quickly nodded in response.

“Do you need anything?”

“Help me prepare some hot water. I just came out of the prison, and my body isn’t clean.”

“Ah…”

Dong Sheng was stunned.

Although Yun Shijun was still wearing prison clothes, no one in the courtyard seemed to mind.

Moreover, with his fresh wounds, how could they risk exposing them to water?

Even Dong Sheng understood this. He was anxious, “Shijun, you can’t touch water with these injuries!”

“I need to clean up.” Yun Shijun’s voice was soft but firm, “In addition to hot water, prepare some towels and a brush. Bring more water; I’m afraid it won’t be clean otherwise.”

When Dong Sheng heard about the brush, he was even more stunned.

In the past, although Yun Shijun kept things neat and clean, he had never been this obsessive!

“Use a brush… for what?”

“These bloodstains must be scrubbed clean.” Yun Shijun spoke calmly, as if he wasn’t aware of his own words. When he saw Dong Sheng not moving, he urged, “Why are you still not leaving?”