Chapter 198: Ask for My Name

The auspicious words proved true quite swiftly.

After another night passed and morning arrived, Miss Jun, who had fallen asleep at the bedside, unaware of when fatigue overtook her, was nudged on the shoulder.

Instinctively, she grasped the hand that touched her.

"Miss Jun."

A gentle female voice sounded in her ear simultaneously.

Sister.

Miss Jun stood up, holding onto Princess Jiuli's hand, and the bracelet that was about to be activated dissolved back into nothing.

She stood up too quickly and felt momentarily dizzy.

Princess Jiuli's hand steadied her once more.

Miss Jun balanced herself and pressed her hand to her forehead.

"Princess, I'm sorry, I fell asleep," she said, with a touch of apology and unease.

"You have been watching over him for a whole day and night," said Princess Jiuli.

Which meant she didn't blame her for falling asleep.

Like all princesses and noble ladies, she too would only speak half a sentence.

To utter one's own forgiveness or resentment toward another was an act lacking in grace.

Before, she always disliked this and took any chance to oppose her sister.

But now, hearing such words felt incredibly heartwarming.

Miss Jun smiled and turned to look at Prince Huai.

Princess Jiuli would not awaken her without reason—nor would she blame her, the physician, for lazily falling asleep. It must be something regarding Prince Huai.

Prince Huai was still in a deep sleep, as always, but seemed to be resting more peacefully than on previous days.

Miss Jun quickly reached out to touch Prince Huai's forehead.

"I feel like he's not as hot as before," commented Princess Jiuli from the side.

It was more than just a feeling—it clearly was the case.

Miss Jun felt his pulse, her smiling face fading, and she couldn't resist leaning in to press her cheek to Prince Huai's.

Little guy, you've finally managed to get through a tough spot.

"Has the fever subsided?"

Lu Yunqi's voice sounded from behind, apparently tired too, for it had a slightly hoarse quality.

Miss Jun straightened up, and as she did so, Princess Jiuli retracted her gaze from her and looked toward Prince Huai.

"Yes, the fever has subsided," Miss Jun confirmed.

"Does that mean he's better now?" asked Lu Yunqi.

Miss Jun didn't respond but instead took the nearby medicine box and opened it.

Lu Yunqi watched as she took out a meticulously sectioned medicine box, not like the ordinary ones used by doctors. As Miss Jun pressed and touched it, a compartment opened, revealing a porcelain bottle inside.

The medicine box was so ingeniously crafted and concealed that it would likely confound anyone who got their hands on it.

Unconcerned by Lu Yunqi's scrutiny of her medicine box, Miss Jun poured out a pill and broke it in half, propped up Prince Huai, and as Princess Jiuli passed her water, she watched Miss Jun feed the pill to him.

"It really is much better, he can swallow the pill on his own now," she remarked. Though she spoke these words, her expression didn't betray much excitement. Accustomed to her calm demeanor, it seemed she had even lost the ability to feel excited.

"He's not fully recovered yet, but his life is no longer in danger," said Miss Jun. "It will take some more time for him to wake up."

With those words, she picked up her medicine box.

"I'll go prepare more medicine."

The news of Prince Huai's fever abating and his condition improving spread quickly.

The expressions of the imperial physicians were rather grim.

"A subsided fever doesn't necessarily mean he's cured," they said.

But three days later, the news that Prince Huai had awakened left them entirely speechless.

Could it really be that he was cured? It had only been seven or eight days, right?

"Your Highness?"

Miss Jun waved her hand in front of Prince Huai.

"Can you see clearly?"

Prince Huai's eyes moved, not to her hand, but to her.

"Who are you?" he asked.

His voice was weak and barely audible as he had just awakened.

Miss Jun looked at him, filled with both joy and sorrow, and couldn't help wanting to reach out and touch his face.

"This is Miss Jun, the physician who cured you," explained Princess Jiuli from the side, sitting down and stroking Prince Huai's forehead.

Miss Jun composed herself, that's right, she was a physician and could only show the comforting expression befitting a physician, not the deep sibling affection like that of Princess Jiuli.

Prince Huai didn't look at her again but turned his gaze back to Princess Jiuli.

"Sister," he called out, seemingly on the verge of tears, "I dreamt of you and... you were with me."

He had stumbled over his words, like a child might, but Miss Jun felt a jolt in her heart.

"Or perhaps he meant you and your second sister."

Princess Jiuli seemed not to notice, simply caressing his face.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid," she said. "Sister is here."

There was no joyous crying or laughter from regaining what was lost; the siblings nestled together as if nothing had happened, with Prince Huai being a child who had awoken from a nightmare, being soothed by his sister.

Upon learning of Prince Huai's awakening, the people in the palace immediately came to visit. Miss Jun allowed them to express the emperor's and the Empress Dowager's concern for Prince Huai, and then she suggested it would be better for the nobles not to visit.

"His Highness has only just awakened, he is not yet well, and it would be unfortunate if the nobles were to catch an infection," she said.

This made the eunuchs busy themselves with making their excuses to leave Prince Huai's mansion.

Prince Huai's spirits were getting better and better because it became more convenient to medicate him after he had awakened.

When it entered the twelfth lunar month, Prince Huai was able to get out of bed and walk a few steps. Princess Jiuli sat by the bed, watching him walk a few steps, turn back, and then wear a smile.

"Sister, I'm hungry," said Prince Huai, taking hold of Princess Jiuli's hand.

Princess Jiuli, smiling, took his hand and slowly walked to another bed that already had a heated brick bed-table set up.

"Serve the meal," she ordered the palace maids, and then sat down.

Whether mealtime or not, during these days, Princess Jiuli always ate and lived with Prince Huai.

Watching the food being served, Princess Jiuli first picked up her bowl and chopsticks. Prince Huai, also happily preparing to eat, was interrupted by Miss Jun who came in with a bowl of medicine.

"Your Highness, let me check if this food can be consumed," she said.

The palace maids at the side glanced at each other.

Ever since Prince Huai had been able to eat, this Miss Jun had to inspect and taste every meal.

What did this mean? Was someone afraid of poison?

"His Highness is on medication, so it is best to avoid any contraindications," Miss Jun said.

"Could Miss Jun tell us what to avoid? We can be careful not to include those things," a palace maid couldn't help but say.

Miss Jun, intently tasting each dish brought in with her chopsticks, glanced at the palace maid.

"There are too many," she said, "They change every day, it's hard to tell."

She was the Doctor, so what she said went, and the palace maid had no choice but to stay silent.

"It's fine now, you can eat," said Miss Jun with a smile after checking everything, placing the bowl of medicine on the table, "You can take the medicine after the meal."

Princess Jiuli just smiled. She did not interrupt or praise Miss Jun's actions, as if everything was natural or it did not matter.

After the meal and medicine, Prince Huai soon fell into a drowsy sleep, while Princess Jiuli sat by the bed, as ever, picking up her needlework.

It was the same as before, doing needlework every day, and yet after a year it seemed like she had not produced much at all.

Miss Jun stood to the side, watching Princess Jiuli lost in a slight trance.

But really, what else could a sister do besides needlework?

"What is your name?" Princess Jiuli suddenly asked.

Miss Jun, lost in thought, was taken aback by the question and met Princess Jiuli's gaze.

Princess Jiuli only gave her a glance then continued with her needlework, as though it was just idle chit-chat.

In these days, they had seldom engaged in idle chatter. Princess Jiuli was not one for talking, especially about others, and Miss Jun would keep silent if she could, after all, they were under the emperor's and Lu Yunqi's watch, facing a relative she so longed to remember each and every day.

Hatred can be disguised, but warmth and longing are truly difficult to conceal.

Unexpectedly, on the occasion of idle talk, Princess Jiuli would ask this question.

Why did she want to ask her name? Did she also sense something, looking to confirm something?

And what about her? Did she need to disguise anything?

No need.

After all, she used this name for today, to let those who wanted to forget and those who did not want to forget remember this name once again.

Miss Jun looked at Princess Jiuli.

"My name is Jiu Ling," she said.

Princess Jiuli, holding her needle, paused and looked up at Miss Jun.

"Miss Jun Jiu Ling," Miss Jun continued.

Princess Jiuli looked at her and slightly smiled, then lowered her head to continue her needlework.

"What a coincidence," she said, "I have a sister named Jiu Ling too."

"Is that so, what a coincidence," said Miss Jun, lowering her gaze.

Princess Jiuli's voice paused.

"However," she said, and sighed, "She was not as obedient and well-behaved as you are. She was a child who really caused headaches."

Ridiculous, that's not true at all, talking ill of her again.

Miss Jun lowered her eyes and pouted, but her eyes were rimmed with moisture.

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