Chapter 9

Li Lian
Princess Le-anne
Dragon Palace Wellness Chamber

The Dragon Palace Wellness chambers was the emperor's designated place of recovery. He couldn't be treated in his own bed chambers because it was considered disrespectful that the treating Royal Physicians and assistants, alongside members of the royal family would be going in and out of his private space. He was also suffering from infection and this room was there for inhibiting uncleanliness. It was also made in a way that temperature could easily be controlled. The walls of the room were heat absorbent and when it got too cold, a fire was burnt against the walls.

Li Lian drew back the gold curtains. The chamber was themed white and gold. White was for easily spot dirt while gold honored his position. White was a plain color to be used alone on His Majesty.

She was at a loss for words. Yuwen Hong was not what she last saw him as. He lay still, radiating heat from his blood as his body was boiling in perspiration. Currently the windows were open, wind blowing in but it was like he lay under the scathing sun. His usual tanned skin was brimming red.

A wet cotton cloth rested on his forehead. Touching it, it was hot, so Li Lian rinsed it in the gold dish by his mattress. All of his bedding was white just like the loose robe he had on. His robe was untied to allow in air to cool him. Placing the cloth back on his forehead, she lifted the garment, exposing his torso.

She winced at the sight of his chest. On his heart there was skin engulfed, the appearance of tree roots knitted into each other. Then below was an old recovered wound, this was what she treated years ago.

If she still had any doubts, she was all the more convinced now. Yuwen Hong was her Luo Meng. And twice in this love had she been the cause of two marks on his body.

Padded herbs were mounted on his wound. She could smell their pungent scent, properties of drugs to alleviate pain, harbor against infection and scabbing the skin.

His hands were fisted, body violently shaking and breath quivering. He was a born fighter and seeing him there was enough reason to declare this without evidence of watching him on the battlefield.

She closed his garment, covering the exposed skin. Li Lian had a conundrum. She was to help him by cutting herself for blood, yet she could not be with the emperor as a scarred woman.

Reluctantly, she opened her mouth wide and stretched her tongue out to its extent. Her tongue rolled over to bare its base to her knife. No one would be able to tell she had a scar on the bottom of her tongue. Who examined that?

A white porcelain bowl with a spoon was next to the golden dish. It was empty of medicine that Yuwen Hong was maybe fed earlier. Bracing herself, she slashed the bottom of her tongue. It was excruciating but the pain was a small magnitude compared to the guilt that was demonizing her soul. Using her thumb and index finger, she pressed on her tongue to draw blood into the bowl.

Not much blood dripped, so she slit her wound deeper. More blood gushed into the bowl as she squeezed her tongue for as much blood as she could get. When a considerable amount was drawn, staining the bottom of the bowl red, she loosened.

A full spoon of scarlet was what she put into his lips. He was shaking like a leaf with his lips slightly open. Li Lian fed the blood into his mouth.

She didn't expect Yuwen Hong to spit it out.

Red oozed from the corner of his lips, trickling down his cheeks. Staining his clothes would draw suspicion. She wiped the blood by her hand, washed herself in the dish. He was unconscious yet not swallowing what was given to him?

She took another spoonful. "Yu'er, it is Muqin," she coaxed with an imitated voice of Grand Consort Shu. "Have your medicine that you may live on."

He murmured incoherent words in response. At this time, she was still not sure whether he was conscious or bubbling in nightmares. "Just one full spoon, Yu'er. Make Muqin happy."

A frown marred his looks of finesse. He was still as handsome even though he wrestled with the throes of hell. Another murmuring, though she understood the words this time around.

"Get out..."

Sorrow consumed her already depressed stature. Two words and she could comprehend the hate he felt toward her.

"Elora... get out." His eyes were squinted closed, and he could tell it was her. Such hate existed.

"I am not here to hurt you. I am here to make things right." Her eyes wet. What if these were his last words to her? Words of hatred and indignation. "Please, let me fix this mess." She had the spoon on his mouth.

He stubbornly nipped his lips together, prohibiting any access. He didn't trust her, and who could blame him?

There wasn't much blood in the bowl, another half a spoon is what she could afford if he spit this one.

In her mouth was the taste of blood from her seething, wounded tongue. Li Lian couldn't keep on slicing her tongue, her body should not be treated carelessly considering she had to be Empress.

She took a huge breath. "Forgive me, Yuwen Hong."

It was the hard way or he died. She seized his mouth by her free hand. Yuwen Hong tried to shake her off but her grip was stronger in his weak condition. Her hand tightened on his jaw, forcing his mouth to open. He coughed, which did nothing to stop her. She determinedly scooped off the contents of the spoon into his mouth. "Swallow it and I will let you go."

He was raging. His eyes snapped open, and she could see the anger brewing. She pushed his jaw further, forcing him to shut his mouth. Li Lian couldn't have him spitting on her face.

"Get out..." He weakly commanded after swallowing, his tired eyes closing.

Another stupid tear slipped on her face. She washed the blood off the bowl using the dished water. Li Lian just fed the lion that could have her as meat later on. He could kill her when he recovered, but she was more thrilled at the prospect of him being alright. She would die conscience free.

She turned to him to straighten his clothes and the wind was knocked out of her lungs. A tear slid from the corner of his eye, flowing down his temple. Yuwen Hong was heart broken when he found out she was Elora, he didn't cry. When he was sick and in pain when they first met, he never cried. His nightmare was not in anything else but being in a place of no control. He was at her disposal, she could take or spare his life. He was weak to defend himself. He was powerless.

And that was eating him alive.

She nudged herself up and caressed his pinned hair. He slowly opened his eyes again and they were moistened with oncoming tears. Yuwen Hong was vulnerable. She would nurse him with the little selfish love she had to give.

Li Lian smelt medicine, blood, sweat on him. It was not the exotic smells that normally swamped him but it made her warm. It was Yuwen Hong.

Her lips trailed his temple, kissing away his salty tears. Hers also dripped from her eyes, wetting his cheeks and mixing with his own. "I'm so sorry, Yuwen Hong. I never meant to hurt you."

He shook his head, squinting his eyes closed in pain. It was more of emotional pain than it was physical.

"For everything, I am sorry." She gave a light peck on his forehead. Grand Consort Shu was lucky, and Li Lian was envious the woman could stay by him all day, taking care of him. She pushed back a lone strand of his hair that was dampened by his sweat. "Unlike you I did not have a mother who taught me to freely give my heart. The person who was Mother left me before I could remember her, then another came who was like Mother, and she too abandoned me by pretending to be dead." Li Lian gulped her tears. "The only love I have known is using others, and being used. That... that is why the first time we met, I sought to use you by asking you to marry me."

"Didn't I tell you I didn't care?" His voice was rasp dry and edgy. She saw he wasn't trembling a lot anymore. And he could speak. Was her blood really capable of healing? "I was willing to fix your world, Elora. We would learn together, it's not like I am any perfect."

"I know, I know. I just was not aware I liked you until I was so close to losing you. I have never been so devastated and scared in my life."

"It's a little too late for that." His head turned to the wall. "I meant every word in that letter. Please, leave."

"Yuwen Hong, you have to understand―"

"I am pleading with you."

Her heart shredded into more pieces she did not know it could be scattered into. Maybe space and time is what he needed. She kissed his temple goodbye, taking advantage of the opportunity to smell him just once more.

Li Lian picked the dirtied dish, and as she made her way out she was set on not looking back. His resentment toward her was powerful and overbearing, it could be felt without seeing him. If she chose to glimpse, it would crash her.

Author's Note

I loved having our emperor vulnerable. Mostly, it's him bullying Li Lian so it was fun to watch turned tables.

This is the end of our first arch in this book. The first chapters till now were the foundation for our book 2 and now we start the drama. Yes, yes, yes.

Who loved this chapter? Vote to say yes.

Kisses,

S.V