Qiao Ci had woken up shortly after he opened his eyes, but she was too lazy to move.
It wasn't until his gaze was fixed on her that Qiao Ci felt restless. She finally looked up at him, her voice slightly nasal, "Have you rested enough? If you have, get down and give me back the bed."
"You've broken your fever. Go home quickly. Ha~ I'm going to sleep now. You're welcome."
Bounced out of bed, Su Mo stood by the bed, staring blankly at the sleepy Qiao Ci. He found her incredibly cute, like the lion Lan Yan raised by his eldest sister, noble and lazy.
Remembering his eldest sister and then his mother, Su Mo's eyes suddenly dimmed.
For some reason, he had come to this world where men were respected. His parents didn't love him, and his brothers didn't care for him. He felt out of place in this world.
Last night was the first time anyone had taken care of him so meticulously, feeding him medicine and coaxing him to sleep, just like his father empress.
He quietly watched Qiao Ci, who had her back to him on the bed, something growing in his eyes, sparkling.
She was a good person.
Qiao Ci didn't worry about this weakling causing any trouble. She treated him as if he didn't exist and peacefully drifted off to sleep.
Sensing her breathing gradually even out and her sleep deepen, Su Mo felt a strange sense of peaceful comfort, as if his lonely soul had found companionship.
His slender, fair fingers unconsciously tightened the cuff of his sleeve. Afraid of disturbing her sleep, he dared not make any large movements and tiptoed to the side, sitting down obediently.
The glaring sunlight streamed into the room, warm and inviting.
Qiao Ci woke up groggily, feeling thirsty and wanting to drink some water. As soon as she sat up, a cup of water was handed to her. Qiao Ci didn't think much of it, took the cup, and drank it all down. A drop of water slowly slid down her fair, jade-like neck, glistening slightly in the sunlight.
Su Mo snapped back to attention and quickly took the empty cup from her, asking solicitously, "Does Your Highness want more?"
???
Qiao Ci finally realized that she was in the cold palace and had no attendants. Who was this person...
"Why haven't you left yet?" Qiao Ci frowned. She had only taken him in for the night because he was good-looking and pitiful. She expected him to leave discreetly once his fever was gone, but now he was serving her tea and water.
"Her Majesty the Empress holds a high position and must surely be unaccustomed to being in the cold palace. His Majesty has not assigned any maids to serve you. Mo is grateful for Her Majesty the Empress's life-saving grace and is willing to serve you with his own person. Please, Your Highness, grant me permission." Su Mo's posture was extremely humble.
Since arriving in this foreign land, he had gone from being a beloved prince, doted on by his mother empress and admired by his people, to being the silently bullied second son of the Prime Minister's mansion, having experienced too much of the world's hardships.
Last night, his fever had been very severe. He himself felt he wouldn't survive. Her Majesty the Empress must have used some precious spiritual medicine to save him. Despite her own difficult situation, she was willing to help him, so he had to repay her kindness.
In any case, he had no attachment to this world and usually just drifted along. With such a benefactor, life suddenly had purpose.
She was the first person to give him warmth without asking for anything in return. The great general was imprisoned, and she, the Empress, was confined to the cold palace, yet she stayed up all night to help a stranger. Su Mo felt she was much stronger than him.
Kind and strong.
"It was a small favor, no need to keep it in mind. It's not suitable for you here. Go home early." Everyone liked gratitude, so Qiao Ci's expression softened slightly, and she waved her hand.
"It was Mo's presumption. As an outsider, I cannot stay in the palace for an extended period. I will leave now and will not cause you any trouble..." Su Mo had clearly thought of this too. He bit his lower lip, his face pale, and stood up to leave, like a small dog abandoned by its owner.
Watching his stumbling back, he looked so pitiful. Thinking that he would still be in trouble if he went out like this, Qiao Ci held her forehead and said, "Uh, stay and have lunch to replenish your energy before you go."
Su Mo's eyes lit up. He immediately stopped in his tracks and turned back.
"Then I shall impose." Su Mo smiled and nodded at Qiao Ci, his expression revealing the shyness of a young boy.
He stood there, a bit awkwardly. He looked around and asked cautiously, "Are there any ingredients here? I'm good at cooking. My father... my parents said it was delicious. Your Highness can try my cooking; I'm sure I can feed Your Highness until you're full."
A handsome youth with a picturesque face, looking at you obediently and softly asking to cook for you, was truly a feast for the eyes.
I want to pet him!
Qiao Ci tried hard to control her hands.
There were no more imperial guards outside the cold palace, and the palace servants who usually delivered food had all disappeared. Of course, she couldn't let someone who had just recovered from a serious illness cook.
But she didn't know how to cook either. After thinking for a moment, she asked Su Mo to wait there for a moment.
When Qiao Ci returned carrying a food box packed from the imperial kitchen, she found the cold palace completely renovated. The floor was clean, and the quilt on the bed was neatly folded.
She couldn't help but look at Su Mo with admiration. She really didn't expect such a noble young master to be so meticulous.
Men in this era who would actively do housework and do it so carefully were truly rare.
This was immediately followed by sympathy. He must have suffered a lot at home if he could do chores like cleaning and tidying the bed so proficiently.
In fact, despite being unfavored in the Prime Minister's mansion, the servants dared not assign such servant's work to him. He had learned all these things when he was a prince.
His father empress was of commoner origin. Even after becoming the Imperial Consort, he insisted on doing many things himself.
Influenced by his father empress, his temperament was also relatively gentle. Not only was he proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as a prince should be, but he had also learned most of these daily chores.
However, as a prince, he usually only did these as a pastime.
Now, tidying up Qiao Ci's room, he felt a sense of accomplishment. Especially receiving her appreciative gaze, his heart felt a secret sweetness. He didn't understand what this feeling was, but he liked it very much.
After they finished eating, Qiao Ci quickly stopped him as he stood up to clear the bowls and chopsticks, gesturing for him to leave.
Su Mo didn't want to leave.
He had observed for half a day and found that only the outermost perimeter of the vast cold palace was guarded, and it was extremely lax. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to wander in here in a daze.
If he were more careful and hid better, he wouldn't have been discovered.
Her Highness was now walking on thin ice in the cold palace, ignored by everyone. He was also alone and uncared for.
Wouldn't it be good for two people to depend on each other? He could also take care of her daily life. Kuaishuge.
Why was she so eager to drive him away...
Su Mo felt extremely wronged.
I don't want to leave!
Seeing that he looked dispirited, just standing there, not moving or speaking.
This guy thought for a moment and instantly understood.
Su Mo had stayed in the harem with her, a cold palace consort, for a whole night. Even with eight mouths, he couldn't explain it. He must have been troubled about how to get back.
Seeing his obedient and cute demeanor, Qiao Ci didn't mind seeing the task through to the end.
They gazed at each other for a few more hours. Qiao Ci asked the system for the location of the Prime Minister's mansion and, under the cover of night, escorted the very reluctant Su Mo back to his courtyard.
Looking at the small courtyard tucked away in a corner, far from the Prime Minister's main residence, Qiao Ci showed sympathy.
As expected, a little bit of misery in the world.
The little bitter gourd was still excited about flying. Now that he had returned to solid ground, his legs felt a bit weak, and he almost fell. Qiao Ci quickly steadied him.