Despite her fever completely gone, for the following days, Jiang Yu acted like she was still severely sick. He monitored her movements with an intense gaze. She wasn't allowed to get up from the bed and if she as much as flinch a little bit, Jiang Yu would appear at her side right away. Wei Yi Yi lost count on how many times her fragile soul flew away in fear.
Even though Wei Yi Yi kept on hinting that he should return to his own office and give her peace, Jiang Yu played doctor with her till his heart content. Whenever it was time to drink her medicine, Jiang Yu would personally spoon feed her. Wei Yi Yi would then have nowhere to run anymore. She's torn between biting the hand that feeds her and trying to be grateful for the concern.
"You really don't mind?" Jiang Yu asked just for the sake of asking it. There are urgent matters in court and Xiao Lin Xi cannot avoid taking the memorials to the emperor. One after the other piled up at Xian Feng Palace. At some point, Jiang Yu felt bad at working busily in front of Wei Yi Yi when he promised to take care of her instead. Thus, he plan to return and let the servants take care of the empress instead.
Wei Yi Yi looked over her shoulders. Near her bed side, Jiang Yu sat not too far from her. A memorial in hand and then a pile of those around him. A brush set and grinded ink were prepared and left by Xiao Lin Xi at the small wooden table. He lived a busy lifestyle and yet he remained by her side.
'Just like Lan Zhuang,' Wei Yi Yi thought. That man has always been serious and hardworking. Even so, whenever she was sick, whenever she open her eyes, and whenever she search for someone, Lan Zhuang was the one who sat idly on her bedside. An inch. Just a small inch and she would be able to touch him. He would not utter a word nor let go of what he was doing, but the fact that she wasn't left alone despite the silence brought comfort to her anxious heart.
Thinking up to this point, Wei Yi Yi stopped trying to distract Jiang Yu so that he'll go away. "It doesn't matter. As long as you're here," she said. Shifting into a more comfortable side, Wei Yi Yi let go of her defenses as her expression soften and she closed her eyes. "Your presence alone is enough."
Wei Yi Yi doesn't need attention. She just wanted for 'them' to be there.
It's wasn't that Jiang Yu didn't want to return at the imperial study to properly do his job, but he didn't expect that Wei Yi Yi, instead of acting virtuous and talking selflessly, would asked for him to stay.
Jiang Yu pause, a bitter smile formed in his lips. Since they were young, Ye Ai Ning has always been understanding. Although fragile, delicate, and easily moved to tears, she never acted excessive when it counts and even when she does, it was never about his responsibilities at court. Urgent matters for an emperor are endless and Ye Ai Ning never held him accountable for spending most of his time away.
She never competed with national affair and even remind him that it was his utmost priority and that she supports him with his ambitions. Every time that Xiao Lin Xi appear with memorials for him, Ye Ai Ning would urge him to return and in the face of her beloved self-sacrifices, Jiang Yu cannot utter any dissatisfaction.
It's an actual fact that even when it comes to himself, Jiang Yu is as strict as he could be. But somehow, if Ye Ai Ning acted just a little bit more childish and ask for him to stay, profess of her desire to be with him more, and to pamper her, Jiang Yu would happily spoil her.
But she wasn't like that, and he should be proud of the amazing woman that he have. Ye Ai Ning was so rare and precious, beautiful and elegant, with a heart as pure as the snow, and yet, when their relationship reach towards unquestionable trust, Jiang Yu felt something missing. There was this empty feeling… like a void, unknown and unexplainable, and as time goes by, uncomfortable feelings took root within.
Respecting each other's space, Jiang Yu have forgotten when was the last time they tried to inquire about each other's daily affair. He wanted her to remain the same as she is, understanding and supportive as he cannot imagine her anything but that, and yet…
Remembering Wei Yi Yi's sincere words, Jiang Yu blink his thoughts away. Carrying the memorial that he was holding, he walked to her side and comfortably search for his place beside her.
For others, silence must be awkward and deafening but compare to the stiff atmosphere of the imperial study, Jiang Yu learn to treasure this small moment of silence between Wei Yi Yi and him.
Although the emperor was advice again and again by the palace doctors and his head eunuch to let them take care of the empress instead, and that the empress' sickness might pass on him, Jiang Yu only asked for the reports that urgent to be sent to Xian Feng palace and remained by the empress side.
It created a sensational rumor inside the inner palace. It will take a long while before the consort would stop talking about it while drinking tea. Even the person grounded at her palace was able to take hold of the details of the event. Ye Ai Ning was fuming mad and smash all the porcelain at sight. She could be anything that Jiang Yu wanted, but her patient towards his empress had long reached it limits.
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A/N:
Happy Valentine's! Another chapter before I return to sleep.
I suddenly feel sad for my characters as they kept searching for something not in front of them. Despite WYY trying to live at the moment, she kept clinging to any small things that will connect her back to what she lost. And JY, despite having what he loved, remain restricted, unable to fully experience the joy of loving and being loved. Both of these are because of where they came from. Dyem, what sin did I just commit!?!
I miss JL. With WYY, the two would just banter and banter and less inner thoughts.