Chapter 115 - 26: The Princess Who Refuses to Be Cannon Fodder (Part 26)

"Too hot! How many times do I have to tell you, I need warm water and medicine!"

With a "crash," the medicine bowl was knocked over, and the slightly scalding liquid splashed all over Luoyang.

Jiang Lai wasn’t satisfied yet, still frowning and scolding.

"What use are you to the Prince Mansion if even a maid can’t brew medicine?"

Luoyang stood straight and trembled all over, clutching one hand tightly, desperately resisting the urge to storm out, and lowered her head, speaking in a tight voice.

"Please calm down, Princess, I’ll prepare it again."

"You? Who are you?"

Luoyang’s heart clenched as she bit her lip and spoke.

"It’s just a maid, I’ll prepare it again."

Only then did Jiang Lai frown and nod, speaking in a dismissive tone.

"Leave now."

Luoyang cleaned up the scattered ceramic pieces and left the room. As soon as she lifted the curtain, she saw Murong Dun being wheeled over by a servant.

For a moment, she bit her lip, pale-faced and stubborn, as she walked past, and Murong Dun hastily instructed someone to push him after her.

"What’s the matter? Why do you look so pale?"

"She’s sick, so her temper’s a bit big; maybe she’s just tired of pretending when you’re not here. Be careful of her mood when you go in."

Murong Dun instinctively refuted.

"Jiang Lai shouldn’t be unreasonable like that; maybe it’s because she’s sick. What did she ask you to do?"

"To brew medicine, the previous ones were either too cold or too hot."

After saying this, Luoyang lowered her head and pursed her lips stubbornly, holding back tears in her eyes.

"If I were really only a maid, it wouldn’t matter..."

Seeing her aggrieved look, Murong Dun couldn’t help but feel heartbroken and hurriedly comforted her.

"Go and rest by the fire in your room first; I’ll have someone prepare it for you, then you can bring it over."

Luoyang returned with a cold face, and Murong Dun frowned and sighed. As he entered the room, he saw Jiang Lai, frail and lying on the bed, her small face flushed from the fever, her large, bright eyes even more striking against it.

All of Murong Dun’s thoughts of questioning vanished, leaving only a heart full of heartache.

"Why hasn’t there been any improvement at all? What did the doctor say?"

Jiang Lai coughed, shaking her head.

"It will get better slowly; you just have to endure some suffering to recover. What about you? Are you feeling better?"

Murong Dun held her hand and nodded with a frown.

"I’m a man after all; my body is somewhat better than yours. If you’re uncomfortable, just say it; you don’t have to endure it in front of me."

So Jiang Lai obediently leaned on his shoulder, whispering weakly.

"As long as you’re fine, I feel worse seeing you sick than being sick myself."

"Dear..."

The Heartbeat Value slowly rose a little.

"Ninety-one percent, not bad, not bad. Murong Dun is completely focused on you now, so focus on the Jiang Family, and let’s aim for speed and efficiency!"

"I’m sick, I don’t want to hear you talk, shut up."

"Aren’t you pretending? You can fool them but not me, give it up."

Jiang Lai found it obnoxious. If she could unilaterally mute this noisier-than-a-duck thing, she might be more efficient in completing her tasks.

——

Jiang Lai’s illness worsened, and Murong Dun immediately notified the Jiang Family.

Upon hearing the news, Jiang Xiong and Qin Feng rushed to the Prince Mansion, and at the sight of the weak Jiang Lai on the sickbed, Qin Feng started crying uncontrollably.

"Where are the doctors in your mansion? Are they all useless?!"

"We’ve already changed quite a few physicians, but the condition hasn’t improved. Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, do you know any doctors who can come and take a look at her?"

Jiang Xiong, who had been silent all the while, directly suggested.

"Prepare a larger carriage and send my daughter to the General Mansion to recuperate."

The facilities in the General Mansion are better than those in the Prince Mansion, and being right under the Emperor’s nose makes it easier to summon an Imperial Physician.

Murong Dun’s heart tightened upon hearing this.

He instinctively looked at Luoyang standing at the door, then at Jiang Lai, who had been ill for a long time, and suspicion arose in his heart.

Jiang Lai’s severe illness would certainly make Jiang Xiong, who cherished his daughter, take her away, and this way, Luoyang, as a personal maid, could naturally follow and enter the Prince Mansion openly.

As long as Jiang Lai’s condition didn’t improve, she could remain in the Prince Mansion...

Thinking of this, Murong Dun was filled with conflict and pain.

If it really were like this, how innocent Jiang Lai would be!

He was about to say something when Jiang Lai unexpectedly agreed first.

She gently tugged at Murong Dun’s sleeve.

"Prince, if so, let’s do this. Otherwise, with two sick people at home, you might recover only to be infected by me again. Besides, with my mother getting older, if she gets infected, it would be even worse."

To this point, she’s still thinking about others!

And him, as a man, couldn’t even protect his most beloved woman, watching her suffer, get ill, and leave him.

Murong Dun was extremely heartbroken. After seeing Jiang Lai onto the carriage, he saw Luoyang with a prepared package, ready to board the carriage behind, and he gazed at her heavily, full of disappointment.

Luoyang bit her lip but eventually followed Xiao Lian onto the carriage.

With this little bit of guilt and emotion, Jiang Lai gained a little more Heartbeat Value.

Once at the General Mansion, the level of service and treatment improved significantly.

The number of personal maids increased from two to six, and there were over a dozen others waiting to serve outside. Since Jiang Lai returned, aside from eating and getting dressed, she didn’t need to do anything herself; Qin Feng worried even when she spoke too much, fearing it would strain her voice.

During this time, Jiang Ling didn’t show up. Later, Qin Feng told her that Jiang Ling was sent to escort the Princess for a marriage alliance, which would take half a month for a round trip, and by their calculations, he should be back soon.

"Princess? The one who insists on marrying only him?"

"Isn’t it? That boy is unfortunate; he outright said he wants to guard the frontier for life. The Monarch couldn’t do anything about him and worried the Princess would actually run to the frontier to wait, so he decided to marry her to the Monarch of Ling Country, who is a newly enthroned young ruler, a better match than Ling."

Jiang Lai sighed.

"How affectionate is that? Doesn’t Ling have someone he likes?"

Talking about this made Qin Feng feel troubled.

"Haven’t you heard the rumors outside about him? Inclined towards men! He only likes those in the military, not women. Your father was angry when he heard this and forced him to marry, but the two stubborn bulls are at an impasse, and neither side benefits."

Jiang Lai nodded.

It’s a very typical male protagonist setup; before meeting the female protagonist, he’s either disinclined towards women or rumored to prefer men, or simply does not function in that aspect, all to keep his reputation intact.

Oh well.

Jiang Lai cupped her face, smiling a little.

It seems she also has the fate of being the female lead.

After arriving at the Prince Mansion, Jiang Lai’s condition improved a bit, but she still needed to lie down every day and required care.

Jiang Xiong’s first task after court every day was to visit her, bringing her all sorts of beautiful jade jewelry, each piece incredibly precious, treasures hard to find for any price.