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Chapter 547 Sleep Next to Me
When Zhu Yu changed his clothes and emerged from behind the screen, looking refreshed, he went back to the bedside to check on Lu Qing, who had already fallen into a deep sleep again.

Zhu Yu tried to take Lu Qing's pulse. She couldn't make an accurate judgment like Yan Daoxin, and could only roughly infer his basic condition from his pulse.

Lu Qing's pulse was slightly weaker than usual, but overall it was still stable.

It seems that what he said earlier wasn't just meant to comfort people. The guard really knew how to use the rod properly when he was being punished. Judging from the way it was done, it shouldn't have damaged his lungs or caused any life-threatening internal injuries.

Even without internal injuries, the amount of blood lost from the torn skin was considerable. People often become drowsy after blood loss, so Lu Qing was also in a daze and rarely conscious.

Not wanting to disturb him, Zhu Yu noticed a bookshelf next to the desk on the other side of the bedroom, with some miscellaneous books on it. He randomly picked one that interested him and sat down at the desk to read it by the light of the oil lamp.

As expected, Liu Yueyao had someone deliver a sumptuous dinner that evening. Zhu Yu woke Lu Qing up and had him prop himself up a little. She picked out some egg custard and other similar items and fed him a small amount.

Despite being so hungry before that she was almost dizzy, Zhu Yu didn't eat much at this meal. Perhaps because she had gone through too many ups and downs, and had already felt relieved after taking a shower, she felt even more sleepy now that she had something to eat.

She went to the bedside, wanting to cover Lu Qing's uninjured parts with a blanket so she could take another blanket and sleep on the daybed next to the bed. But as soon as she reached out to pull the blanket from the other side, Lu Qing stopped her.

“Sleep next to me,” he said to Zhu Yu.

"No, don't mess around." Zhu Yu's refusal was equally decisive. "You're so badly injured right now, what if I accidentally touch you tonight?"

"After everything that's happened today, and now you're covered in injuries..." Lu Qing looked up at Zhu Yu, her eyes and expression revealing a pitiful look she'd never seen before. "Only when you're by my side do I feel at ease..."

Zhu Yu, who had been holding back a righteous and firm refusal, suddenly found herself unable to say it after hearing Lu Qing's words. She looked at Lu Qing with some difficulty, then at the bed, which was simply not wide enough. Even if he were perfectly healthy, let alone with his injuries, it would be too cramped for two people to lie side by side on the bed.

Having no other choice, she went out again and summoned the two talismans and runes, asking them to help carry the Luohan bed to the side of the bed.

The runes and talismans seemed to have guessed the reason as well. The two of them had expressions on their faces that showed they wanted to laugh but dared not, and had to hold back their laughter. Even though they didn't say anything, Zhu Yu couldn't help but feel his cheeks burning and he felt a little awkward.

After the two people left, Zhu Yu closed the door, spread the extra bedding on the daybed, and lay down facing Lu Qing.

Lu Qing couldn't turn over, so he could only lie face down. The daybed was slightly lower than the large bed. He pulled out one arm and let his hand hang down along the edge of the bed, idly stroking Zhu Yu's hair that was scattered on the pillow.

"Don't move around." Zhu Yu frowned and glared at him, but didn't pull her hair out. She let Lu Qing twirl and play with it with his fingers, only saying fiercely, "If you don't take good care of your injury and ruin the wound that I stitched up so well, I'll peel off your skin and use it as a drumhead."

Lu Qing was amused by her harmless threat and shuddered again. She let go of the strand of hair and took Zhu Yu's hand in the process: "Okay, okay, I won't move. Let's sleep like this. I'll hold your hand so you don't skin me alive."

He spoke with such seriousness that this time it was Zhu Yu's turn to suppress a laugh. Zhu Yu didn't pull her hand away, letting him hold it like that.

In fact, after all these days, she felt exactly the same way Lu Qing had described, especially after witnessing the whole process of Lu Qing being beaten until his skin was torn and bleeding. Now, being gently held by his slightly cool fingertips, she felt exceptionally at ease.

Before long, Zhu Yu drifted off to sleep.

She slept very restlessly that night, waking up several times in a daze. In her half-awake state, she thought they were still in the prison. She even dreamed that men in black wanted to kill them, saying that Emperor Jin had already done his job of being kind and benevolent, and everyone thought they had left the capital, so there was no need to spare their lives.

When Zhu Yu woke up, his forehead was covered in cold sweat. He sat up and carefully checked Lu Qing's condition before he felt relieved.

They continued like this on and off until dawn. Zhu Yu got up and asked Fu Wen, who was already up, to bring in some warm water. He wrung out a towel and helped Lu Qing, who had also woken up, to wipe his face. He then changed the dressing on Lu Qing's wound.

For the next ten days, they stayed in this secluded courtyard. It was very quiet there, and none of the noise and commotion from the front reached them. In addition, thanks to Liu Yueyao's instructions, the guards of Yunyin Pavilion were also very diligent, so no one would accidentally break in without permission.

For ten days, Zhu Yu was responsible for taking care of Lu Qing's internal injuries, while Fu Wenfulu brewed tonics for her and Lu Qing every day.

"Where did this tonic recipe come from?" Zhu Yu asked Fu Lu.

“It was Physician Yan who told us this, when we were in the prison.” Fu Lu sighed sadly. “He repeatedly warned us that the damp heat of the Brahma Land was bad for our health, and on top of that, being in a prison cart and a prison, not being able to eat or sleep well, would wear even a healthy person down.”

He told us that we absolutely had to memorize this prescription, and that he would get the medicine and brew it for you and Grandpa after we finished.

At the time, I didn't think much of it. The doctor told me to carry him, so I did. But now that I think about it... something was definitely not right! It seemed like he was already quite certain back then that he wouldn't be able to leave the palace with us.

Otherwise, since my brother and I are both clumsy and not cut out to be doctors, why would he have made us memorize so many useful prescriptions?

Zhu Yu looked at Fu Lu, this burly, black-faced man, who now had a sorrowful expression and was almost in tears. He felt a little sad too. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he didn't say anything. He told Fu Lu to leave the medicine he had prepared and go out to rest.

About three days after arriving at the backyard of Yunyin Pavilion, the wounds on Lu Qing's back had all scabbed over. He no longer had to lie down all the time. Every day, he could slowly get up and, with Zhu Yu's help, walk a few steps in the house and courtyard to move around and get some fresh air.

She can now sit at the table to eat, instead of having to lie on the bedside and be fed by Zhu Yu.

Five or six days later, under the combined effects of internal and external treatments, Lu Qing's complexion improved significantly.

On the afternoon of the tenth day, Liu Yueyao came to see them again.