A Forbidden Happiness

Chapter 44

The howling rain couldn't drown out the deafening thump of Jiayi's heart. Standing in the corridor waiting for Prince Han, the wailing of the storm echoed across the concrete walls and straight into Jiayi's brain. Thick, black clouds had blotted out the sun for days, dousing what little warmth the newly budding spring had brought. The chill had sucked the life from Xiang pin's bones and tethered her to the bed.

Jiayi told herself it was only the weather as Xiang pin became more listless and gray. That Xiang pin wasn't getting worse. That taking away her medicine was the right thing to do. Xiang pin wasn't dying.

She wasn't.

The rain pelted Jiayi's umbrella.

Xiang pin wasn't dying.

She wasn't.

A heavy hand gripped her shoulder and startled Jiayi out of her thoughts. Her clumsy fingers flinched, and the paper umbrella fell to the ground, letting the rain pierce Jiayi's skin.

"Sorry," Prince Han said, using his own umbrella to shield her from the rain, "I didn't mean to startle you,"

"Do you have news?" She asked, the shock of the rain frittering through her skin.

Prince Han nodded. He pulled out a tightly rolled piece of parchment, "This arrived today,"

Jiayi tore it open but adrenaline made her vision shake. She shoved it at Prince Han, "Read it. Tell me what it says,"

Prince Han's curled his fingers around her own to steady the paper, "It says that the doctor identified the herbs as safe. Xiang pin's prescription wasn't poison,"

Jiayi's lips quivered, "There was nothing wrong with it? At all?"

Her heart began to pound. Was she really the reason Xiang pin was so sick? Was she the one putting the final nail in Xiang pin's coffin by taking away the medicine?

"How can that be? There has to be something wrong with it. Read it again!"

"Jiayi–"

"Read it again! There has to be something wrong with it! If Xiang pin dies because of me–"

Prince Han held her hand tighter, "Xiang pin isn't going to die because of you. You could never do something like that,"

His voice traveled through the thrum of the rain and into Jiayi's chest. It calmed her, but only a bit.

"The doctor wrote more," Prince Han continued, "I sent the herbs out with a note describing Xiang pin's illness. He says that while the herbs would encourage vitality in a healthy person, someone afflicted with dampness, like Xiang pin should never take it. It causes festering and Qi blockage. It would take some time, years even, but Xiang pin's health wouldn't survive the blow if she continued taking it. Jiayi. You were right to take this away,"

"Then why isn't she getting better?" Jiayi asked, her voice trembling.

Prince Han wrapped an arm around her shoulder, "I suspect her Qi is already blocked. The doctor wrote another prescription–one that Xiang pin needs. I'll send it to The Imperial Hospital in my name and find some way to send it to you,"

Jiayi swallowed, "And Xiang pin will get better, right?"

"Of course,"

"What if we're too late?" Jiayi whispered.

"Jiayi–"

"Xiang pin was so sick she could barely get out of bed,"

"Jiayi–"