Chapter 147: Awakening (Fifth Update)

The news of the Ninth Prince regaining consciousness did not spread out of the study immediately, because he had sworn everyone to secrecy, and Yan Yan had no objection to his decision whatsoever. Mother He and Wang Quaner did not raise any strong objections either, as they were already aware that the Ninth Prince had been poisoned.

However, with so many maidservants serving in the study, and with Lady Donggo, Lady Wanyan, and the others coming to pay their respects outside the study every single day, even if the Ninth Prince wanted to keep it under wraps, he could not hide it for long. At best, it would buy them one peaceful night.

Yet Yan Yan felt that even if it was just for one night, it was something immensely worth rejoicing over. Given that the Ninth Prince was now awake, his meals no longer needed to be as simple as plain congee. Therefore, Yan Yan personally went to the kitchen and cooked some easily digestible dishes, though congee was naturally still included.

Yan Yan moved swiftly, and within the span of an hour, four dishes and a soup were already arranged on the octagonal table. Yan Yan walked over, helped the Ninth Prince up, and asked with concern, "Is it alright for Your Highness to get up? I can have the table moved over here."

Leaning on Yan Yan's shoulder to stand, the Ninth Prince chuckled and said, "I thought you were going to say you would feed me yourself." Yan Yan instantly looked at him, somewhat puzzled, and replied, "Feeding Your Highness is no problem at all. Why did Your Highness use the word 'thought'? That's so strange."

Sitting down at the table, the Ninth Prince smiled with a hint of mischief. "Oh, you mean like how you fed me plain congee when I first fell ill?" Taken aback for a moment, Yan Yan looked into his mischievous gaze, instantly recalling the feeding method she had learned from television dramas. Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment, and she gave him a playful, exasperated glare. "Your Highness is incorrigible. You're not even fully recovered yet, and you're already acting out to bully people."

The Ninth Prince smiled faintly, taking Yan Yan's hand in his, and asked in a low voice, "How am I bullying you?"

"I don't know!" Yan Yan lowered her head, pouting in feigned annoyance and refusing to look at him. Her flushed, sulky little face appeared utterly adorable in the Ninth Prince's eyes.

The Ninth Prince sighed softly and asked again, "Where are the children?"

"I don't know!" Yan Yan replied once more, though her tone was heavy with a profound sense of desolation.

The Ninth Prince called out helplessly, "Yan Yan..."

Lifting her head, Yan Yan looked at him with tear-filled eyes and whispered, "I really just don't know! When I heard that Your Highness had collapsed and had contracted some kind of plague, I was terrified. My heart was entirely set on seeing Your Highness; how could I possibly spare a thought for the children? I don't even know if they've been eating well or sleeping well lately."

As Yan Yan spoke, tears began to stream down her face in a steady patter. Heartbroken, the Ninth Prince reached out and pulled her into his embrace. Wrapping her arms around his waist, Yan Yan whispered, "Please get better quickly, Your Highness. Don't scare me like this ever again. I really would break down—I truly would."

The Ninth Prince murmured softly, "My Yan Yan has done wonderfully, truly wonderfully. Tomorrow, let's ask the imperial physician. If my illness is no longer contagious, how about I move to the Qimeng Garden to recuperate?"

Yan Yan curled her lip and immediately asked, "Why can't you move to the country estate? There are hot springs there, which would be beneficial for Your Highness's health."

The Ninth Prince patted her head and gently reprimanded, "Don't push your luck."

Yan Yan gave him a disgruntled look, but burst into a smile almost immediately. "As long as Your Highness is awake, anywhere is fine with me."

Only then did the Ninth Prince smile with deep contentment. "Let's eat. I'm starving."

Yan Yan hurriedly began to ladle rice and serve dishes for him. Although she had prepared four dishes, most of them were soft enough to melt in the mouth. Furthermore, Imperial Physician Chen had instructed that since the Ninth Prince had just regained consciousness, his spleen and stomach were still very weak and it was best not to eat too much. Consequently, just as the Ninth Prince finished a small bowl of congee, Yan Yan confiscated his chopsticks, telling him she would keep the rest warm and he could eat more later when he felt hungry again.

This was clearly the modern concept of eating smaller, more frequent meals, but for someone like the Ninth Prince—an ancient man who had been accustomed to fixed meal times and sleep schedules since childhood—it was truly rather difficult to accept. Yet no matter how wide the Ninth Prince glared at her, Yan Yan simply refused to let him eat any more, leaving him both exasperated and amused.

After dinner, the Ninth Prince finally had the energy to summon Chen Dahian. Naturally, when the Ninth Prince met with Chen Dahian, even Yan Yan was not allowed to stay, so she had no idea what the two of them had discussed. She only knew that they spoke for nearly an hour. When Chen Dahian emerged from the bedchamber, his legs were visibly weak, yet his expression was one of immense relief. Although Yan Yan was terribly curious about what they had talked about, she ultimately asked nothing. She knew that many things were not meant for her to know, nor were they hers to question.

Early the next morning, the news that the Ninth Prince had regained consciousness spread throughout the entire Ninth Prince's Manor. Lady Donggo, accompanied by Lady Wanyan and Lady Jiogiya, rushed to the study shortly after, bursting into tears and wailing the moment they laid eyes on the Ninth Prince. Watching from the side, Yan Yan felt utterly outdone.

After weeping into her handkerchief for a while, Lady Donggo spoke with deep emotion, "His Highness has finally recovered. These past few days, all of us in the manor have been on tenterhooks. Now that it's over and Your Highness's illness is cured, our household will surely turn the corner and welcome better fortunes."

The Ninth Prince glanced at Lady Donggo, and driven by some thought, he said, "You've worked hard these past few days, Primary Consort. I heard that you fell ill as well; are you feeling better now?"

Tears immediately welled up in Lady Donggo's eyes. Looking at him with overwhelming emotion, her voice trembled slightly as she replied, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. This concubine has already recovered."

Only then did the Ninth Prince smile. "That's good. Since you are well, resume managing the affairs of the manor. Both Lady Wanyan and Lady Jiogiya must assist the Primary Consort diligently without any negligence." A surge of joy welled up in Lady Donggo's heart; she felt that the Ninth Prince still held her in his thoughts.

Seizing the moment, Lady Donggo hastily added, "Since Your Highness is now out of danger from the plague, you should return to my quarters—"

Before she could finish, the Ninth Prince interrupted directly, "Starting today, I will recuperate at the Qimeng Garden. You need not come to pay your respects unless there is an urgent matter. From now on, Yan Yan will also temporarily stop paying respects at the Primary Consort's quarters. I ask the Primary Consort to understand."

Lady Donggo's heart sank heavily, but she managed to regain her composure in the shortest time possible, forcing a faint smile to her lips. "What is Your Highness saying? Sister Yan caring for Your Highness on my behalf is something I should be thanking her for. Let Sister Yan stay by Your Highness's side to take good care of you during this time. We are all family at my quarters; there's no need for so many rigid rules."

Hearing this, the Ninth Prince smiled with a sense of gratification. "I am very glad that the Primary Consort is so understanding and broad-minded."

As Lady Donggo heard those words, a profound bitterness flooded her chest. Looking at Yan Yan, who sat quietly on the Ninth Prince's other side with a calm and poised expression on her face, Lady Donggo felt as though she had already lost something intangible. If she did not take action soon, she would only lose much more.