Several days passed, and the court continued with deceits and intrigues. While Duan Jing’an’s neck had recovered, his habit of kneeling in front of Duan Changchuan remained unchanged, and no one could change that.

The old fox, Bai Yanyuan, had drunk and rested for three days at home, followed by a full seven days of recuperation before finally returning to the court. As soon as he came back, he witnessed the scene of the Regent kneeling, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.

In any case, Duan Changchuan had been in high spirits lately.

Entering February, the weather gradually warmed, and shedding the heavy fur cloak made people feel much lighter.

Although they had agreed to test Bai Su, Duan Changchuan hadn’t implemented the plan. However, the fragrance master that Yun Xie knew was found.

Last night, he received a message, and early in the morning, taking advantage of not having to attend the morning court, Duan Changchuan decided to “fall ill.”

“Cough… cough…” At the beginning of the Mao hours, intermittent coughing sounds echoed in the room.

Chang Le, who knew the situation, immediately knocked on the door, “Your Majesty? Are you awake? Why did you start coughing…?”

Duan Changchuan looked at the bed near the window with a hint of hesitation.

During the days of cohabitation with Bai Su, he always went out to wash up after waking up. Although Chang Le was a eunuch, he was still a man. Therefore, Duan Changchuan had never allowed Chang Le to enter the bedroom before Bai Su woke up.

Fortunately, Chang Le was clever. Seeing that he didn’t respond, the knocking sounds became louder.

The quilt on the bed finally moved. The next moment, the woman lifted the quilt and got up.

“Why make such a fuss early in the morning.”

Uh… She had a strong temper and a very irritable tone. It was obvious she was unhappy about being disturbed. Duan Changchuan instinctively shrunk into the bed.

He heard Chang Le nervously responding outside, “Your Highness, this servant heard Your Majesty coughing and was worried about Your Majesty’s dragon body… Apologies for disturbing Your Highness.”

Realizing that he was pretending to be sick, he hurriedly wrapped himself in a blanket and continued to cough.

The figure blocking the door heard the sound and rushed over.

“What’s going on… Why are you suddenly coughing? Did you catch a cold? Chang Le, is there hot water? Pour a cup of water and help alleviate the cough.”

She spoke while pressing her hand against his forehead to check his temperature. Accompanying her action was the unique peony fragrance emanating from her. It was as gentle and pleasant as the one he had smelled before.

Almost reflexively, he rubbed his forehead against the palm of her hand.

For a moment, both of them were stunned.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, this servant is coming in.” Chang Le’s voice broke the awkward moment, and the two finally came to their senses.

“I’ll help you up first,” Bai Su said in a low voice.

“Ah… sure.” Duan Changchuan drank a small cup of water and began pretending to cough intermittently again.

Bai Su sat beside him, gently patting his back. Her movements were gentle and soothing, like comforting a small animal.

Moreover, for some reason, the peony fragrance he smelled from her body, which had made him involuntarily feel weak before, was now even more calming than the calming incense. As he sat there, he gradually felt drowsy. Unconsciously, he kept leaning towards her.

“Is it just a cough, or is there any other discomfort?” The woman’s voice sounded in his ear, gentle and pleasant.

Duan Changchuan lowered his eyes guiltily and said softly, “Body feels weak… cough… maybe caught a cold due to the recent fluctuating weather.”

The woman helped wrap the blanket again, asking “Do you feel cold?”

He shook his head, “Not really…”

“Well, it should be the changing seasons, coupled with being too busy lately, causing internal heat.”

Duan Changchuan wanted to ask, how do you know so much about these minor illnesses?

This time and last time too…

He glimpsed at the scar half-covered on her wrist and suddenly understood, perhaps she had to acquire some life skills because of growing up sick without anyone to care for her.

“Imperial Physician Fang is here!” The voice of the guards outside announced the arrival of the imperial physician.

Chang Le bowed and approached, asking, “Should Your Majesty and Your Highness change into proper clothes, or should the curtains be lowered for the physician’s examination?”

Duan Changchuan slightly pushed Bai Su, “Go put on some clothes.”

“Okay, as you wish.” She said.

After ensuring he could comfortably lean against the bed, she piled another layer of blankets on him before leaving to get dressed.

Once she was gone, a sudden chill surrounded him, making him uncomfortable. Duan Changchuan pulled the blankets, coughing intermittently.

When Bai Su finished dressing and sat beside him, the imperial physician Fang Moyan and his “medicine apprentice” came in.

Seeing a doctor was just a superficial process, the symptoms were discussed and decided from the beginning, and the consultation ended casually.

What Duan Changchuan cared the most about was the “medicine apprentice’s” diagnosis of the fragrance.

From the moment the ‘medicine apprentice’ prepared for the pulse examination, Duan Changchuan’s eyes had been following her from time to time,

“Rapid unstable pulse and an unusually high-frequency pulse. What does Ruan Qiao think?” Upon seeing this, Fang Moyan turned the question to her.

Hearing that, the woman stepped forward modestly and said, “A rapid unstable pulse indicates a common cold condition. Coupled with a higher pulse frequency, His Majesty is likely fatigued recently and caught a cold, but it’s not severe. This disciple thinks that drinking more hot water and resting for two or three days should suffice.”

Hearing this, Duan Changchuan couldn’t help but bite his lip and fell into deep thought.

This was the dialogue they had agreed upon…

If Fang Moyan and Ruan Qiao both smelled the fragrance of Bai Su, they would suggest “prescribing medicine”. But if both of them didn’t smell anything, they would suggest “drinking more hot water”. They didn’t smell it.

Chang Le and Yi Man also confirmed that there was no fragrance on Bai Su’s body, only the scent of her clothes washed with soapberry.

“I understand.” He murmured, “Chang Le, please escort Imperial Physician Fang and his apprentice back.”

“Yes.”

–

In the afternoon, due to feigning illness, Duan Changchuan stayed in the study all along.

The Empress Dowager came by midway, bringing a bowl of bird’s nest and pear soup, sat for a short while, and then left.

The room was quiet, with only the sound of flipping through books. After finishing his work, Chang Le returned, kneeling by the table and starting to grind ink.

Duan Changchuan turned his head to glance at him and received a small note.

The note had a red dark-patterned flower drawn on it, with just one look, he could tell it was something from Yun Xie.

He glanced at Bai Su, who was at the window holding a brush and writing and discreetly unfolded the note.

It read, “Bring her personal item. Meet at the usual place tomorrow.”

Personal item?

The young emperor hid the note in a small mechanism on the table, then shifted his gaze to the person by the window. These days, it seemed like she was learning to read. Every day, when Duan Changchuan dealt with state affairs or read in the main hall, she would sit on the other side of the couch, reading and writing.

Today, White Su was once again wearing a bright red dress with long earrings adorned with coral beads, making her appear cold and charming.

“Is she really the pitiful concubine child who endured endless bullying and couldn’t even seek death?”

Looking at the poised and noble figure by the table, Duan Changchuan’s heart uttered these words.

“Hmm? What’s wrong?” The woman seemed to sense something and looked at him, asking, “Is your throat still uncomfortable?”

“Ah… not uncomfortable, no, there’s no discomfort anymore.” He was obviously absent-minded.

She first raised her eyebrows, then let out a breathy laugh. Softly saying “alright,” she focused on writing again.

–

The next day, after attending the morning court, Duan Changchuan went straight to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.

The last time he came was over ten days ago, and the courtyard was bare, with only the plum blossoms vying for attention.

Now, even though the plum blossoms had withered, the willow trees which had been dry all winter, sprouted tender green buds, bringing some vitality to the courtyard.

The wind brushed against him gently.

Sitting in the center of the courtyard, a young man in black robes smiled and greeted, “Finally you’re here. Let me introduce to you, this is Miss Ruan Qiao, whom you met last time. Miss Ruan, this is our emperor.”

Ruan Qiao quickly stood up, bowing respectfully, “This humble girl greets Your Majesty.”

“No need too much courtesy, please sit.”

Once the three were seated, Yun Xie adeptly prepared tea.

“I heard from Miss Ruan Qiao that she and Imperial Physician Fang didn’t smell any floral fragrance on the Empress’ body. I’ll be honest with you, with Ruan Qiao’s nose, even a dog can’t compare. If she didn’t smell it, then there isn’t any. But Miss Ruan Qiao is more cautious and wanted to confirm again, so I had someone send you a message. Did you bring the thing? Let Miss Ruan Qiao take a look.”

Duan Changchuan took out a piece of red cloth from his sleeve and handed it to Ruan Qiao.

“Her personal belongings. I couldn’t smell anything… So I just cut a piece from her collar. The scent on it… um, the fragrance is still quite obvious.”

Yun Xie looked at the piece of cloth, obviously cut from an outer garment, he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Duan Changchuan: ???

Poking his elbow, Yun Xie said, “What are you laughing?”

Yun Xie, “Nothing, just thinking about you sniffing around her personal belongings. The image is a bit… hahaha. You even thought of cutting her clothes, why not just cut her undergarments? It would leave more fragrance and wouldn’t be so wasteful. Look, such a nice piece of clothing, the embroidery, the fabric, ayy, what a pity.”

The young emperor widened his eyes and vehemently retorted, “Why… Why would I want to sneakily cut a woman’s undergarments?! Your thoughts are so vulgar.”

Yun Xie opened his folding fan with a “snap” and crossed his legs casually, “Aiya, let me tell you a story about a little monk going down the mountain.”

Duan Changchuan, “… I don’t want to hear it.”

Yun Xie, “The little monk and his master went down the mountain and encountered a woman who wanted to cross the river, so the master carried her on his back and crossed. When both of them returned to the temple, the little monk asked, ‘Shifu, don’t you often teach us that monks shouldn’t touch any woman, why did you still carry her across the river?’ Your Majesty, guess what the old monk said.”

The young emperor sat upright, expressionless saying, “Of course he would say that when outside all beings are equal, regardless of gender.”

“Wrong. The old monk said, ‘But I’ve let go of that woman, the one who hasn’t let her go is you.’”

After saying that, Yun Xie picked a beautiful early peach blossom flower and held it in front of Duan Changchuan with one hand, “I just wanted to tell you the benefits of cutting undergarments. Why did it turn me having a vulgar thought? The heavens and the earth as the witness, my mind is pure and clean, but someone else’s mind may not be the same.”

Duan Changchuan, “…”

Okay, he’s mocking him in various ways!

He immediately picked up the entire vase to throw at him.

“Hey, hey, don’t get angry! Making a vase is not easy, and peach blossoms also bloom with great effort.”

“If you talk again, I’ll let your whole family’s efforts burned to the ashes.”