WangXian Forever Book 10

Chapter 71: Treatment

Li XiWang springs into action, stopping Prince Wu from hitting the floor. Her skinny arms are just strong enough to lower him gently onto the ground, and she grabs the nearest thing she can to try and staunch the flow of blood. It turns out to be the Emperor's sleeping robes, but right now, she can't bring herself to care.

The curved dagger that Prince Sheng hurled with all of his strength at his father, missed its mark, and embedded itself into Prince Wu's chest, just inches away from his heart.

Her small hands are already reddened with blood, and she must stop thinking in order to do her job properly. But the instant that Bai Hua takes over is a feeling she recognises every single time, and she gladly gives in to the hazy awareness of this secondary person, letting her expertise take charge as she slips into the background.

Wei Ying pulls Prince Sheng away from the injured boy but before he can do anything else, Hui Gai is there, binding his hands behind his back with not a single ounce of kindness, his actions rough and ungentle.

“I-” he starts to speak but the Emperor turns his angry glare towards him.

“You! You did this!” His finger is already shaking as it points at him. “I can forgive anything you do to me, but he's-” his face crumpled in pain, “he's innocent! What did he ever do to you?”

“I- father, you have to believe me! He got in the way! I would never hurt him!” Prince Sheng protests, but his words fall on deaf ears, on a person who is lamenting his existence.

“Get him out of my sight!” The Emperor roars, and there's a second where nothing happens. The Emperor has never shouted like this before. “Them, too!” He points to his former advisors.

Zago appears and whispers something in Hui Gai’s ear, and then she grabs the two traitors while Hui Gai takes Prince Sheng, and they vanish.

Seconds later, Hui Gai is back and this time, he returns with Healer Fei who looks angry at first but then his quick eyes take in the situation and he understands what to do without saying a word. He pulls out his medicine bag from his sleeve and goes to assist Bai Hua.

Bai Hua is fully present, feeding spiritual energy into the wound and getting it to stop bleeding first of all, and then slowly knit the skin together, healing the damage underneath.

As soon as Lan Zhan sees what they're doing, he goes over to help by pouring his own energy into the young Prince's body.

Wei Ying helps the Emperor sit down on his bed. He hasn't blinked from the moment he saw his child collapse, his hands trembling in his lap.

“He will be alright,” Wei Ying murmurs.

“You do not know that.” The Emperor doesn't look away from where his son lies on the floor in a shallow crimson pool of his spilt blood.

“I do know that. Bai Hua wasn't called the Healer of the Heavens for nothing.” Wei Ying sighs. “I've only ever seen two people in my life who are that skilled in applying medical assistance with superior results. One of them died a long time ago, and then there's her.” He looks fondly on towards his daughter, doing what she does best.

“Why does she look like that?” The Emperor refers to her pale white eyes and the strange lock of white hair that always, always breaks free from Li XiWang's guan.

Wei Ying thinks about how much his Little Rabbit likes pretty things but only lets herself indulge in this one excess - her silver guan that reminds her so much of her Father Zhan. Underneath it is a sliver of a red ribbon that she always insists upon, saying that It's a piece of her other father and that they should always be together there. Ever since she learned how to tie and style her own hair, Li XiWang has always preferred to tie it up into a high ponytail like Wei Ying.

“It's a long story,” Wei Ying says, his eyes crinkling gently at the corners. “Suffice to say, you can trust her. Your son is going to be just fine.”

The Emperor, tight-lipped and serious, gives him one nod.

They sit and watch as the experts apply a poultice at the end of giving the young boy an abundance of spiritual energy. It takes a good hour to undo the damage of Prince Sheng's sudden attack, and Wei Ying is positioned behind his daughter when she finally withdraws from Prince Wu.

“It is done,” she whispers, and then she passes out.

Lan Zhan carefully lifts the Prince up and places him on the Emperor's bed, making sure not to jostle him.

“A good night's rest will have him up and playing before you know it,” Healer Fei says, bowing to the Emperor. “Right as rain.”

“Thank you,” the Emperor startled as if remembering himself then. “You…both of you have saved my son's life. Whatever you want, it's yours.” And then, in a move that shocks them all, he kneels on the ground in front of them, his forehead touching the ground.

Healer Fei gently lifts him back up, his cheeks a vivid shade of red.

“Nonsense, Your Highness. I'm going to put that reaction down to shock. Perhaps it is time you also got some rest, hm?” He looks around and finds the cup of tonic on the Emperor's bedside table. “Here, drink this. It may aid restful sleep, and you'll also feel better if you are not plagued by nightmares.” He waits until the Emperor finishes every drop. “But you should know, people are different outside your Chang'An. Every interaction is not transactional. We as healers are obliged to help those in need irrespective of any payment, which is often the case. One might even be offended to be offered such a thing,” he adds, a sly wink making his words softer.

“I shall bear that in mind,” the Emperor replies, thoroughly chastised now.

“Good. See that you do.” Healer Fei throws one last glare at Wei Ying before leaving, no doubt because Hui Gai went and fetched him so fast and without warning.

“We should also go,” Wei Ying says, standing up with his daughter in his arms.

“Mn.”