Light and Shadow

34 - Progress

--- Hello dear reader, I apologize for taking a few days to update. Please accept this longer chapter as compensation. I hope that you are enjoying the story, and thank you for taking the time to continue reading my meager writing. Thank you so much, it really means a lot to me! Anyway, that's enough of my rambling. Please enjoy and take care! ---

Two weeks slowly passed by, and Xun Yu made a bit of progress in recovering. Although he was still relatively afraid of eating, he was now consuming a bit more than he previously was, but it was not by much. Nonetheless, Cao Cao was happy that the man was making some progress, and he did his best to ensure that Xun Yu was comfortable while recovering. In this time span of two weeks, Xun Yu read the book that Yang Xiu gifted him, and although he was not a poetry fanatic, he enjoyed the book and found himself dwelling fondly on a few of the poems that were included.

It was still winter, but it was now the middle of winter and the temperatures continued to grow colder. Snowflakes fluttered about outside, landing softly on the ground and covering it in a blanket of powdery whiteness. Sun shimmered lightly off the delicate blanket, reflecting a playfulness in the stillness of the early winter morning. Cao Cao approached the bed where Xun Yu was still sound asleep and proceeded to gently wake him. He held the medicine in one hand while he used his other to gently shake Xun Yu's shoulder.

"Wenruo, it is time for your medicine." Cao Cao said softly.

Xun Yu groaned and frowned as the bitter smell of the medicine assaulted his nose. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes before thanking the man and gingerly grabbing the cup. Thick clouds of steam rose from the cup, signifying that the liquid inside was scalding. Although he had consumed the medicine for two weeks now, Xun Yu still was not used to its strong earthy and bitter taste, and he frowned as he dreaded drinking the concoction. He waited for it to cool before pinching his nose shut and quickly drinking it to get the process over with. When he finished drinking, his face contorted in disgust and he released his grip on his nose. Cao Cao aimed to take the cup and wash it, but Xun Yu refused to hand it to him.

"My Lord, I am feeling much better. Please, let me take care of it." Xun Yu stated.

Cao Cao hesitated. An inkling of fear flashed behind his eyes momentarily before vanishing. I suppose it would not hurt, but I won't let him out of my sight. Although he has been fainting less recently, I will accompany him to ensure that he is okay and no harm befalls him.

"Okay, but I will accompany you." Cao Cao replied, earning a nod from Xun Yu.

Xun Yu slowly got out of bed and stood up, hoping that he would be less likely to pass out if he stood up slowly. He stood beside the bed for a few moments to ensure that it was safe to move, and, once he was certain that it was okay, he began walking with Cao Cao to the food preparation room in the palace. This room was separate from the other rooms, and it had six servants who regularly worked there, preparing dinners and various other meals for some of the staff. As the two walked together, briefly trudging through the snow outside of Cao Cao's quarters to make it to the entrance to the east side of the palace, Xun Yu shivered slightly as the freezing air caressed his skin. Cao Cao noticed and pulled the man closer to him by wrapping an arm around his waist.

"My Lord..." Xun Yu began to protest but was silenced when the man put a finger to his lips.

"I noticed that you were cold. Don't worry, it's just until we get inside." Cao Cao said softly.

Xun Yu focused his gaze on the ground but did not try to resist further. Although Cao Cao had wrapped his arm around his waist several times before, it never failed to trigger feelings of warmth and joy within him. Xun Yu did his best to resist smiling, and within a few short moments the two entered the palace, which was not that much warmer than outside. Cao Cao reluctantly released Xun Yu's waist, and the two moved to stand somewhat further apart as they walked down the hallways of the palace together.