LUO FAN
I sighed when the specimen I had been working on had completely disintegrated. This was the same specimen that Ruan Yanjun had brought back into life.
Two days ago, after I put a drop of the drug that I had refined with Ruan Yanjun's energy on this specimen, it had shown a positive result. For a whole day, it had remained firm and dry as if the destructive drug in its system no longer affected it, but the next day, it started to lose its elasticity and felt slimy. I had already repeated the process, but in the end, the specimen had succumbed to the destructive drug.
The drug that I thought would raise the body's defense against the destructive drug was a failure. The effect was only temporary.
I heard footsteps approaching, and I knew it was Ruan Yanjun. He probably came to check on my progress, and I had to tell him the bad news.
"How is it?" he asked in a lazy voice as he stood beside me. He always sounded like that, as if he was always sleepy. Any fool who did not know him enough would think his guard was down, and they would forever regret that.
That is if they are still alive for regret.
"Forgive me, but… there is no cure for the poison."
He did not move. I could not see his reaction, but I was certain he was not happy.
"This pill… only temporarily stops the spread of the drug in the body," I explained. "It does not cure it, and the crown prince's condition is already too severe. The damage to his internal organs has already rendered him paralyzed. His brain has already shut down. I'm afraid it's already too late."
"Regardless, wrap up one of those and I will personally deliver it to the palace."
I nodded and poured the potion into a small jar and secured it with a cork.
After I handed him the potion, he walked out of the laboratory. I also headed for the adjacent reading room to look for Xu Dong.
Unfortunately, my assistant was not around.
Someone came running in and I recognized Huang Wen. He was panting.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked.
He took three more gasps before he responded. "Terrible news, Priest Luo. The crown prince has passed away."
I dropped the stick in my hand. For a long moment, I was dumbfounded.
I just failed.
I had failed to cure the crown prince, and I had not even identified the destructive drug yet.
I was devastated.
Not long after, Ruan Yanjun walked in.
I could sense the sudden change in his temperament. It meant he had already heard the news, as well.
I feared he was already fuming in anger. I was worried he would blame me, but he just stood there, looking at me, while Huang Wen cautiously sneaked out of the room.
I waited but Ruan Yanjun remained quiet. I would rather hear him yell at me so I would know if I had to raise my guard. But seeing him so mysteriously quiet made me unsure of what to do.
I lowered my head. "Forgive me, my lord. I failed you."
He sighed deeply and settled on the chair. "Don't blame yourself. Continue what you're doing."
I looked at him in puzzlement. "What for, my lord?"
"For you, of course," he returned. "You have the same poison in your body as the crown prince had. Do you want to end up like him?"
I was even more confused. "I still fail to understand why should his lordship spend this much resources for the sake of an insignificant person such as myself."
"Do you think I'd even bother with you if I think you're insignificant?" His voice was suddenly rough, which was unusual.
I swallowed and lowered my head. I was flattered that he saw me deserving of a cure regardless of the expenses, time, and resources it might take, but I still could not understand why he would even care.
What exactly does he want from me? Why is he so desperate to find a cure for me?
So many questions that I could not bring myself to ask.
"It's my fault," I said softly.
He sighed to calm his anger down. "Continue what you were doing. Make that your only priority."
I nodded and returned to the laboratory.
A few minutes later, I heard his approaching footsteps. I did not turn to look at him as I focused fumbling on the sample.
I felt him stand close behind me. He was actually too close that I could feel the warmth of his body emanating through the layers of clothes between us.
He lowered his head and whispered behind my ear. "Do you need more of my energy?"
I shuddered, but I tried not to show it. "This will do for now, my lord."
Much more to my horror, his arms circled my waist and he pressed his front against my back. He felt so hot yet cold sweat drenched my forehead.
"We may have failed the crown prince, but as long as it can keep you alive, it will be worth it. We will find a cure someday."
I was frozen from head to toe. I wanted to wriggle out of his embrace, but I could not will myself to move.
He took a deep breath and pressed a kiss on my hair.
The more that I stiffened. Shivers ran down my spine.
"A-Fan," he whispered while he nuzzled my hair as if he was breathing in the fragrance that he found there.
A-Fan?
It was the second time he had called me that.
Are we that close already? Even Jinjing has not yet dared call me that.
I closed my eyes and tried to look at the awkward situation from a different perspective.
Could it be that he feels devastated by the loss of the crown prince, who I believe he cares so much about and is seeking some comfort? And since he does not have a wife to give him that, he seeks it from me instead?
It still gave me the shudders, but at least that would explain his sudden strange behavior.
With that in mind, I took a deep breath and willed myself to relax. "You look tired, my lord. You should take some rest."
The concern I had just shown him must have given him the impression that I was fine with what he was doing to me. His arms tightened around my waist and he lowered his mouth on the space between my neck and shoulder. He pressed his lips right on that spot. It was fortunate that my clothes had covered my neck halfway.
Wrong move. I should have thought twice before I opened my mouth.
"You're right," he whispered and finally lifted his head off me, but his arms remained around my waist. "I'm probably exhausted. Do you have something to help me sleep?"
"Of course."
He pulled his hands off me and I quietly sighed in relief. "Accompany me to my chamber," he ordered like such a thing was but a part of my duty. "Let's talk until I fall asleep."
With a sigh, I reached for the jar of pills and followed after him.
Has the death of the crown prince muddled this man's brain? He is acting really weird, even for someone who is depressed.
Besides, this is Ruan Yanjun. He has lived for decades and is probably the oldest man alive. He shouldn't be this vulnerable.