Gong Juechen, though he had never experienced a plague before, had seen the medical books left by his master. Some records of plague were there in the books, but the symptoms did not seem nearly as terrifying as those that Su Chengyu now suffered from.
Xiao Changyi stood beside the bed, watching Su Chengyu cry like a child, clearly showing the symptoms of the plague. He felt somewhat distressed by this, yet his face showed no hint of emotion.
His lips slightly parted, he said indifferently, "We are here; you don’t need to worry about anything. Just focus on recovering."
Su Chengyu’s cries became even more intense. All the emotions he had been holding back were now released in this moment.
Xiao Changyi, whether Su Chengyu was crying or not, turned to instruct Gong Juechen to examine Su Chengyu.
Gong Juechen, though reluctant to check on Su Chengyu, stepped forward and carefully examined Su Chengyu’s body.
Since they needed to remove Su Chengyu’s clothes to check on him, and Su Chengyu was a man, An Jing temporarily excused herself to wait outside.
Some of the pustules on Su Chengyu’s body had burst, which was quite horrifying and disgusting. Both Gong Juechen and Xiao Changyi frowned deeply. This plague seemed like it might be a journey with no return.
After Gong Juechen had thoroughly examined Su Chengyu, and after Su Chengyu had finished crying, though he was still hiccupping,
Gong Juechen only felt that, sometimes, Su Chengyu did not resemble a Crown Prince at all. Of course, Su Chengyu only let down his royal facade in front of Xiao Changyi.
Or rather, Su Chengyu only showed his most genuine side to his imperial brother, Xiao Changyi.
Su Chengyu, how much do you trust this imperial brother?
...Alright, I also quite trust this imperial brother, whose loyalty and sense of brotherhood make me want to get rid of him with a single stroke!
Gong Juechen admired and resented Xiao Changyi in equal measure.
"How is it?" Seeing Gong Juechen just looking at Su Chengyu without speaking, Xiao Changyi took the initiative to ask.
Gong Juechen said gravely, "It’s tricky," he paused, "It probably exceeds my medical skills." In other words, I am powerless to help.
Xiao Changyi’s complexion turned somewhat ugly.
In history, plagues were resolved by massacring the affected cities; no one had ever cured a plague. Su Chengyu, having seen that Xiao Changyi brought Gong Juechen, a doctor of great medical skill, still held no hope.
Therefore, upon hearing Gong Juechen’s words, Su Chengyu remained calm, only saying, "Brother Yi, you and Sister-in-law should not have come here..."
Xiao Changyi scolded him coldly, "You are supposed to rest and recuperate; why are you having such foolish thoughts!"
Reprimanded, Su Chengyu was not at all angry and instead smiled at Xiao Changyi. He knew that his Brother Yi cared about him.
Gong Juechen only felt it was tragic. These two, who were not biological brothers, had such strong feelings for one another—one, even knowing it might be a death sentence, made the long journey to save the other, while the other wished deeply that no one had come...
What about him, their blood brother?
The person lying here, the one deeply tormented by the plague, was his biological brother... his half-brother who shared the same father...
But he really wanted Su Chengyu to die!
If Su Chengyu died, Su Haoyu would surely be devastated! Just the thought of Su Haoyu’s unbearable grief thrilled him!
Thinking this, Gong Juechen kept his face expressionless and merely said, "Though it’s beyond my medical expertise, I am here, and I will naturally try every possible method to treat him."
He wished for Su Chengyu’s death to bring Su Haoyu to the brink of despair, but he did not plan to let the people of Nanshen City die, and above all, he wanted to survive and continue to protect his naive sister.
His sister was so pure, without a hint of cunning, and he was genuinely worried that should he die, she might be bullied by others.