Dr. Shen didn’t need to work tonight. After dinner, he was just about to study some medical texts when Qing Feng dragged him out.
On the way, Qing Feng couldn’t hide his eagerness.
"Dr. Shen, do you think, with my skills, His Highness would let me teach the little Noble Prince swordsmanship?"
"No, I’m too weak now. His Highness would definitely dismiss me."
"I have to train even harder! I must become the little Noble Prince’s swordsmanship instructor!"
Seeing Qing Feng so enthusiastic and full of anticipation, Dr. Shen assumed Nanli must be several months pregnant already. He was even puzzled why such significant news hadn’t been shared.
When they arrived at the Prince Yu Mansion and saw Nanli’s slender figure and flat stomach, Dr. Shen’s mouth twitched involuntarily.
Despite this, Qing Feng was still full of excitement and urged him, "Dr. Shen, quickly take the princess’s pulse!"
Chu Yan also had bright, expectant eyes. "Please, Dr. Shen."
The two stood on either side, reluctant to look away.
Ye Siheng, somewhat displeased, cleared his throat. Without context, one might think they were the ones expecting a child.
"Please examine carefully, Dr. Shen," said the Ninth Prince, his tone commanding. The added pressure made Dr. Shen more nervous.
Nanli placed her wrist on the silk-covered pulse pillow. Dr. Shen delicately placed his fingers on her wrist, first examining with his eyes open, then with his eyes closed.
Watching Dr. Shen so meticulous, the three men stared intently. When he finally withdrew his hand, Ye Siheng was the first to ask, "How is she, Dr. Shen?"
"Well... well..." Dr. Shen hesitated before deciding to tell the truth. "The princess is just a bit anemic. She seems to be overworked and needs proper care. If it worsens, it could become a serious issue."
Qing Feng’s face fell.
Chu Yan sighed softly.
Ye Siheng felt a mix of emotions. While this wasn’t the right time for a pregnancy, he couldn’t help but feel concerned. "A’Li’s health has always been good. How could she suddenly become anemic?"
Dr. Shen explained patiently, "Women naturally have weaker vitality compared to men due to their monthly cycles. Princess, I’ve seen how busy you are without a single day of rest. You must prioritize your health above everything else."
Nanli was also puzzled. Her health had always been excellent. Why was her vitality low this month? However, since Dr. Shen’s diagnosis aligned with her own observations, she nodded solemnly, "Alright, I’ll take note."
There was no need for Dr. Shen to prescribe medicine since Nanli could manage that herself.
After everyone dispersed, she took a short walk to aid digestion and then went to bathe.
When she returned, she found Ye Siheng sitting under the lamplight, engrossed in a book.
Curious, Nanli leaned over and noticed it was a book on cultivation techniques. Raising an eyebrow, she teased, "Your Highness, don’t you ever feel tired?"
Weren’t they busy the entire afternoon?
Ye Siheng looked up and replied, "I’m seeing if there’s any method to treat your anemia."
Previously, when she was gravely injured, he had immediately thought of a pain-relieving healing formation. But now, despite his anxiety, he couldn’t think of anything.
Nanli sat beside him, her bright eyes filled with reassurance. "It’s just mild anemia. A little rest and care will fix it."
Ye Siheng’s gaze was deep as he said, "You’ve barely had a moment’s rest these past two years. Rushing too much can backfire. From now on, don’t push yourself too hard. A’Li, for anything significant, I’ll stand at the forefront. You don’t have to worry."
He suspected she was overthinking matters, which had taken a toll on her body.
Nanli smiled, her tone light. "I understand. It’s getting late. You should go bathe too, Your Highness."
When he returned from bathing, he found her asleep on the daybed, leaning against a cushion with a book in hand.
His brows furrowed with concern.
Recently, things had stabilized, and there had been no activity from Penglai Island. Could it be that her body was simply relaxing after prolonged tension?
If not, Ye Siheng couldn’t think of any other reason.
He carefully took the book from her hands and carried her to bed.
It was already warm in early summer, and a thin layer of sweat covered her skin.
Despite his deliberate movements, she didn’t wake, though her brows furrowed slightly in discomfort.
Ye Siheng’s heart ached as he fetched a palm fan and gently fanned her. Only when her expression relaxed and she stopped sweating did he stop.
Fearing he might overheat her, he refrained from lying too close.
That night, Nanli slept soundly. She woke early the next morning and practiced a set of boxing forms.
However, it seemed her anemia had indeed taken a toll. After less than half an hour, she felt fatigued and had to stop.
She ate a hearty breakfast before settling down to draw talismans. Yet, she quickly noticed her spiritual energy seemed stagnant.
The morning didn’t go smoothly. By the time lunch approached, Ye Siheng came to find her. Seeing her looking dispirited, he rushed over.
"A’Li, what’s wrong?"
Turning to him, she allowed herself a moment of frustration, "I’ve relaxed for just two days, and now I feel like my talisman-drawing skills have regressed!"
Seeing her upset, Ye Siheng became anxious too. "How many did you draw this morning?"
"In one hour, I managed five Heaven Thunder Talismans, fifty Teleportation Talismans, thirty Ghost-Suppressing Talismans, and thirty True Word Talismans..."
She groaned in frustration.
The more Ye Siheng listened, the more stunned he became. "A’Li, that’s already quite a lot."
Nanli shook her head. "I used to draw much more than this. Fifty Teleportation Talismans aren’t nearly enough. And I haven’t even started on the formation talismans yet. But I’m already out of energy and just want to sit here."
Her body felt utterly uncooperative.
Ye Siheng, observing her closely, noted she seemed even thinner than two days ago. He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, though his brow furrowed slightly.
Calmly, he said, "A’Li, the capital is stable now. You don’t need to overwork yourself creating talismans for everyone. If your parents saw you , they’d surely be heartbroken."
Nanli replied, "But I didn’t feel tired before."
She could effortlessly finish a batch of talismans in no time.
"Even if you didn’t feel tired, you shouldn’t overdo it. Defensive talismans only require a few; there’s no need to flood everyone with Teleportation Talismans. You’re spoiling your brothers too much," Ye Siheng said.
He still remembered Chu Shuo casually using a Teleportation Talisman to visit a friend’s house for fun, which shouldn’t have been allowed.
Teleportation Talismans were rare and expensive, often selling for hundreds of taels of silver apiece.
After a moment of thought, Nanli relented. "Alright, I won’t draw so many for now."
Ye Siheng felt relieved and nodded.
But then she added, "Once I’m better, I’ll continue drawing more."
"..." Ye Siheng found himself speechless.
Suppressing his frustration, he said, "We should visit the Border Nation. If we can find a Bloody Enchanting Bug, it could help restore your vitality."