Romancing the Son of Heaven

Stratagem 22: Love Disturbs Even The Most Tranquil of Hearts (5)

The Heavenly Emperor rushed over to the pavilion, ready to shower his son with his love. As a result, he stopped in his tracks, taking a closer look at Jing He's face. After a moment, his brows drew together. "You ..."

Jing He was startled out of his thoughts and looked up, seeming a lot like a startled deer.

His father's expression darkened even further, making Jing He afraid that he had given something away. He hurriedly stood up and then lowered his head, hoping that whatever his father had noticed wouldn't point in the direction of the dragon king. "Father ..." His voice sounded a little quieter than usual, making him feel that his guilty conscience would be obvious.

The Heavenly Emperor stepped closer and then raised his hand, putting it against Jing He's forehead. "Aiya, I should've come earlier! You should get inside. I'm afraid you've gotten sick, child."

Jing He looked back up, not quite sure what to make of his father's words. "I ..."

"It's alright!" The Heavenly Emperor patted his son's arm and then put his own arm around his shoulder, leading him over to his palace. At the same time, he called out to the two guards at the front. "Mu Kun, you and put away the tea set. Huang Lan, you go and get the God of Medicine here."

There was an affirmation from the other side and the two guards started to run to do as they had been told.

Meanwhile, Jing He was brought inside and tugged into bed very much like a small child. He still didn't understand what was going on. Why would his father think that he was sick? Could it be that he still seemed too pale because he hadn't slept well last night? He didn't dare to ask for fear of exposing anything though and just stayed where he was, keeping his head down.

The Heavenly Emperor sat at his bedside, holding his son's hand, and patting it every now and then as if to calm him down.

A few moments later, the God of Medicine was already brought over, looking a little worried when he stepped into the palace. "What's the matter? How did something happen to His Highness?" Seeing the Son of Heaven in bed, his bushy white brows drew together and he hurried over, putting down his medicine kit at the side and then sitting on the edge of the bed himself.

Jing He wanted to say that he was alright or at most a little tired but his father was already speaking up for him.

"I think it must be because of that festival yesterday. Most likely, with everything going on outside, it was just too much for him. When I came to see him, his whole face was red as if he was running a fever. I'm afraid it's rather serious."

Jing He's cheeks flushed red once again when he realized just why his father had thought that he was sick. So he had actually noticed his reaction to what the dragon king had done just now.

Thinking of how awkward it would be when the God of Medicine checked him and realized that he wasn't sick at all, Jing He hurriedly spoke up. "Father, you're probably exaggerating. I'm not feeling bad. Maybe a little tired. But that would be all."

The God of Medicine merely nodded. Anyway, it wouldn't be unusual that the Heavenly Emperor was overreacting where his son was concerned but it was still better to check just in case. "Well, let me see if there's something wrong. I hope Your Highness won't mind." He reached out and lightly touched his cheeks and forehead before taking his pulse and then even probing his body with spiritual energy.

As for the results ... He really couldn't find anything that was wrong with him. Apparently, the Heavenly Emperor had really gone overboard again with this. "Well ..." Even if he knew this, he naturally couldn't say so out loud. "I guess a few hours of uninterrupted rest would do Your Highness very well. Other than that, I don't think we need to take any additional steps yet."