Surrounded by gently lapping water, she made no sound.
Only stared fixedly at him. Pearls glimmered along her lashes, endlessly tugging free despite attempts at capturing each tear. The delicate pain echoing his heart…
Struggling onto one elbow despite swimming vision, he haltingly brushed her cheek in tender apology. Fingertips traced delicate skin, chasing thin trails along her jawline with utmost care. Each faint pass lighter than wind yet somehow slowly steadied her breathing once more.
Raising liquid dark eyes in question, his name shaped by her soft exhale. Another tear traced down to meet his futile efforts.
“Why so sad…?” His murmur rasped faintly. “Tell me who hurt you… I’ll make it better.”
One small headshake before she whispered something about spiders in a hope box – some silly childish fear from so very long ago…
He went very still, smile turning quizzical. “Truly…? Just an itsy bitsy bug could make my fierce knight bawl so…?”
Pausing thoughtfully, his next words held fond teasing. “Reminds me a bit of you actually. All tiny yet vicious swagger.”
She blinked at the non sequitur, momentarily diverted from morose thoughts. “Well… it has little knives for hands.” Matter-of-fact explanation while demonstrating a fierce pincer motion. “And the girl ones will straight up behead their mate right after…”
Arching both eyebrows eloquently, she concluded, “Rather like you I guess.”
His soft laugh held vestiges of someone else. Current fragile state left scant energy maintaining usual masks so both personas seemed to concurrently inhabit this vulnerable space. Yet she tacitly allowed it, subtly reassuring him of perceived normalcy.
“My betrothal gift was a death bug and you still wanted my hand…? Brave fellow.” Her solemn words invited conspiracy.
“Or just foolish.” Quiet amusement lingered around his reply. “I treasured that box greatly.”
She studied him intently for long moments until annoyance crept into her scolding. “Bizarre man… take nothing seriously.”
He didn’t bother responding, only leaning closer to gently smooth the last traces of her distress away until she relented with a grumpy huff.
“There we go… no more tears.” His voice held a smile. “I’ll rest easier without nightmare fuel around.”
“Jerk.” Jiang grumbled halfheartedly, refusing to meet his gaze.
Lips quirking, he watched her profile wearing the most endearingly sulky expression. But exhaustion still weighted his frame. “…Going to sleep a bit more,” he mumbled drowsily, slumping forward even as the quiet words left his mouth.
Jiang lunged forward in panic to catch his limp body before he sank beneath the gently undulating water. Carefully maneuvering the unconscious man until his head rested safely upon her shoulder, she felt the soft gust of each indrawn breath warm her neck – steady and measured. He would wake much sooner this time.
She tightened both arms in reaction. “You finally came back to me… I was so scared…”
He shifted ever so faintly against her, as though still offering comfort despite being deeply under. Silken hair brushed sensitive skin along her collarbone, somehow tickling unbearably that she desperately craved release from sensations hovering between laughter and tears.
“Impossible man…” She grumbled, exasperated tenderness underlying every syllable. Carefully moving him from the steamy pool onto polished wood floors, she tucked the slumbering patient securely beneath soft quilts – one hand lingering to stroke through his hair.
“Just a bit longer…” Another affectionate ruffle before leaning down to plant the lightest kiss atop silken strands. “…Be good.”
When Xie Wuyang next woke, buttery sunlight filled his vision – accompanied by cheerful birdsong drifting in from nearby gardens. He found himself meticulously dressed in fresh robes and securely bundled, a warming pan placed conveniently alongside.
“How long was I out…?” Still disoriented, his first instinct sought details.
“Hmm… approximately a fortnight initially. Then you managed a brief period of wakefulness for several hours until lapsing again.” Jiang contemplated the timeline absently. “So all told, about half a month recuperating here in secluded wing of Eastern Palace.”
Before he could react, she preempted further questions. “Officially the Crown Prince remains missing and authorities expend utmost effort searching riverbanks downstream after assassination attempt and subsequent immolation of your ship. Naturally Father Emperor flies into towering rages demanding the culprits. Meanwhile trusted aides like Prince Ruoheng administer necessary affairs under this guise.”
Xie considered gravely. “I should immediately write my brother to clarify events-”
“Your first priority is prescribed treatment.” Jiang cut him off impatiently. “No business matters or visitors permitted until showing marked improvement.”
She returned to his bedside bearing a steaming bowl. Obediently pushing upright, he reached for the medicine only to meet obstinate refusal. “Don’t strain yourself. I will administer this draught instead.”
Unsure how to respond, he tentatively tried suggesting, “But my lady need not trouble herself…”
“Was I unclear…?” Jiang enunciated dangerously. “Now open up and drink this instant.”
Meek as a lamb, the formidable crown prince closed both eyes and waited for his formidable wife’s attentions. But she still wasn’t satisfied, adding sharply, “Keep watching me.”
“I assumed you preferred otherwise when-” Self consciousness colored his awkward attempt at clarification.
“Oh hush…” Flustered by his penetrating stare, she hid embarrassment behind snappish impatience. “Hurry and finish this already!”
Xie obediently focused on swallowing the bitter concoction she carefully fed him mouthful by mouthful, unable to tear his gaze away. Heat slowly spread across her cheeks, unfairly enhancing porcelain complexion until gleaming. A few stray strands escaped their bindings, impishly dancing about one ear.
Before he realized, instinct propelled his hand to gently sweep aside the annoying wisps. But sudden contact with delicate skin shocked him from mesmerized trance. Hurriedly pulling back, remorse shaped apologies only to hear her murmur almost shyly, “Um… thanks for fixing my hair.”
He blinked rapidly several times. “Pardon-?”
“Helping with the mess and all…” Unruffled composure smoothed her reply once more. “Appreciate you tidying it.”
“Not at all…” Still bewildered by contrary reactions, his smile turned quizzical again. “Your face seems quite flushed though… Surely no fever-?”
“I should ask YOU that!” She huffed indignantly to hide flaming embarrassment. “Quit pestering and concentrate on your medicine already!”
Thus properly chastened, the Crown Prince meekly accepted each steaming spoonful she carefully measured out and blew on first – throat convulsively working to ingest every drop of the noxious brew.
Only after he drained the last dregs did she tentatively ask, “Bitter…? Would you prefer honeyed candies to cleanse the palate?”
“No need.” Xie somehow kept straight faced despite profound disgust roiling his stomach.
“If you insist-” Jiang shrugged carelessly. Before another word left his mouth, she unexpectedly popped a small confection past his lips.
An explosion of sweetly cloying winter melon candy coated his tongue. “Wha-?!”
“Reward for tolerating awful tasting prescriptions.” She avoided his startled eyes, calmly retrieving the empty vessel and stacking it atop the makeshift tray. “I know you enjoy desserts with tea.”
“Quite right…” Still struggling to reconcile her contrary behavior, he leaned back with a faint grimace.
Sweeping away the medical paraphernalia Jiang returned shortly after. Solicitously grasping one elbow, she assisted him towards the sitting area. “Knew it… Barely awake and already so impatient to work-”
“It’s nothing too taxing for now.” He tried unsuccessfully stifling laughter. “Since when clucking over my health so…?”
“I always worry for your sake!” She shot back peevishly. “Hmph. Ungrateful INVALID.”
They proceeded in compatible silence until she impulsively asked, “Way to make up stressing me…?”
“Ask anything of me.” Xie smiled gently down at her.
“…Just hug me a while.” Jiang finally whispered.
Leave a Reply