Quick Transmigration: What to Do When the Male Supporting Character You Saved Becomes Obsessed with

Chapter 195 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (99)

"I won't drink," Ji Shumin shook his head.

"Have some..." Lu Liruan didn't know how to help him. She was worried that he wouldn't be able to hold on if he didn't eat or drink, but she was also afraid that her actions would upset him. She was caught in a dilemma and sat by his bedside, only sighing softly.

This kind of withdrawal involves not only the inability to control various physical reactions, but also the even more difficult hurdle of psychological addiction.

Any drug that can cause dependence will leave a deep mark on the mind of the user, making it extremely difficult to get rid of.

In the past few days, Ji Shumin gradually reduced the frequency and amount of pills he took, as instructed by the doctor, but he did not stop them completely.

Now, Ji Shumin wants to completely give up elixirs.

Lu Liruan had never taken this kind of medicine, but she had used medication to maintain her condition when she was sick, so she had a slight understanding of that kind of psychological dependence.

If I miss the time to take my medication, or if it's close to the time I need to take it, I can't help but worry that the pain will return, or that my condition will worsen because of this oversight. This makes me restless and unable to stop taking my medication.

Ji Shumin also suffered from real physical pain, which was far more difficult than what I had experienced...

When one is ill, it is hardest to control one's emotions, yet Ji Shumin still considers his own thoughts.

Seeing that he was standing there motionless, he slowly turned around and sighed softly, "Give it to me, I'll have a drink."

Lu Liruan fed him with a spoon.

The warm, sweet honey water, once it entered his throat, felt like salt water being poured on a wound, causing a burning pain in his throat.

He could no longer taste anything, but he forced himself to endure it and pushed the bowl back: "Don't worry about me, Li Ruan, get some rest."

Lu Liruan did not insist on saying things like, "I'm with you, how can I rest in peace if you're like this..."

Having spent so much time with Ji Shumin, how could she not see that he didn't want her to see him like this?

Ji Shumin was a very contradictory person.

He usually acts coquettishly and pitifully, wishing Lu Liruan could see all his flaws and accept everything about him, as if he doesn't care about self-respect at all.

But that's just the surface.

That was only within what he felt was controllable. He tentatively explored and sought, hoping to force Lu Liruan to express her indulgent and lenient love for him time and time again in this way.

Lu Liruan wondered if Ji Shumin was even deceiving himself.

She had heard Ji Shumin say coldly and calmly many times: "At this point, what's the point of having such empty dignity? It's better to put your face on the ground, let people step on it and hear the sound. If they're happy, they might even reward you a little..."

Just like that time when she asked to leave the palace, Lu Liruan was heartbroken and didn't know what to do, but Ji Shumin acted as if nothing was wrong.

But now his words and actions are inconsistent.

When things are beyond his control, he prefers to hide himself away, suppressing his usual wildness.

Lu Liruan wondered if it was just her imagination, but his behavior made her vaguely sense what the once peerless Crown Prince was like.

"Okay, if you need me, just call me. I'm in the inner room." Lu Liruan touched his face and instructed him earnestly and calmly.

Ji Shumin's brows were furrowed tightly, and it was unclear whether he had heard Lu Liruan's words.

The past few days were already so difficult, and the days that followed only got worse.

His entire body felt like it was being burned and gnawed at, from the inside out. Ji Shumin couldn't help but grab himself tightly, as if trying to tear open his flesh and take out the bones inside, but it was no use. There was a fire burning in his throat, and even the soft bedding rubbing against his body made him break out in a cold sweat from the pain...

The pain is relentless, with no end in sight...

If only this overwhelming pain could be quelled.

Ji Shumin had suppressed this thought for who knows how many times.

Even if things calm down, being controlled and tortured in the same cycle is like being a walking corpse. It's better to... better to die!

Lu Liruan didn't even dare to cry, afraid that if she cried, the anger she had been holding in would be released.

No matter how unbearable it was, Lu Liruan never heard Ji Shumin say a word about wanting to take the pills again.

Before the old doctor left, he told Lu Liruan that no matter what he said or did, he was no longer the rational person he usually was, so she should just bear with what he said and treat it as a fart!

Though his words were crude, the old doctor meant it sincerely: "Don't harm him out of pity. This is his only chance to quit. If he takes that harmful stuff again, his body won't be able to take it a second time..."

Lu Liruan made a firm promise at the time, but now, looking at Ji Shumin's appearance, she couldn't help but waver from time to time.

Ji Shumin seemed even more resolute than the one next to her.

Lu Liruan sent letters to the old doctor several times. She was unsure of herself, but she would feel much more at ease if there was a doctor present.

To everyone's surprise, the old doctor only sent a verbal message back.

He said that he can't bear to see people suffer now. Whatever Ji Shumin is like now is normal. If he can get through it, he can get through it. If he can't get through it, he might die. If all else fails, he can just take the pills back. He can't help him make the decision.

Lu Liruan: ...

What a clever way to shirk responsibility.

He Pingyan came to visit once, but he didn't have much to say to Lu Liruan. He went in and looked at Ji Shumin.

After coming out, he remained silent for a while, then asked very seriously, "Your Majesty, may I bring the person back?"

Arrest someone? Who?

Lu Liruan was stunned for a moment before she realized that He Pingyan's stern face meant to bring the old doctor back to her.

Lu Liruan remained silent, realizing he was absolutely serious. General He was not good with words, but he was extremely capable in battle...

"No need. Since the doctor has said so, then... let's take another look."

Lu Liruan took out the letter she had written and handed it to He Pingyan: "Please help me send it back to Yuxun, young general."

He Pingyan took the letter and solemnly put it into his pocket.

“No need to return it. I’m about to return to the border. I can give this letter to Yu Xun in person. Is there anything else Your Majesty wants to bring her?” He Pingyan asked.

Lu Liruan's eyes lit up. If it were a messenger from the post station, Lu Liruan wouldn't bother, but if He Pingyan were to deliver it...

Lu Liruan returned to her room and took out a folded paper goldfish lamp.

“Last time, Yu Xun said she would miss the Lantern Festival in the capital during winter, so she asked me to look around for her. The other day, I went to the street and saw this lantern, which was the goldfish lantern she had mentioned, so I bought it. If possible, please bring it to Yu Xun for me.”

Lu Liruan smiled and said, "I hope she's happy, wherever she is."

He Pingyan took it and nodded: "I will tell Yu Xun."

He didn't leave his feet: "Today is the last time I'll visit Your Highness before I leave. I have orders from the army and can't go. Your Highness and the Empress promise that we'll meet again."

He bowed to Lu Liruan and left with his usual steady and firm steps.

After He Pingyan left, the mansion fell completely silent.

To make things easier for Ji Shumin, Lu Liruan told the servants not to attend to him personally, as Ji Shumin probably didn't want so many people to see him in his current state.

Moreover, with so many people involved, there's a lot of conflicting opinions. Although Ji Shumin is a capable ruler, he's currently the only one in the household who can actually manage things.

Lu Liruan, knowing she lacked Ji Shumin's abilities, was cautious in everything she did. Better safe than sorry. If Ji Shumin's current situation were known to those with ulterior motives, it would certainly not be a good thing, and might even bring him trouble.

Lu Liruan stayed with him in the house, counting down the days as they passed by.

Ji Shumin's waking hours varied each day, sometimes lasting two hours, and sometimes only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

When Ji Shumin is not in a conscious state, Lu Liruan can move him around without having to hide her powerful cheat ability.

The person she was carrying was getting lighter every day. Lu Liruan sighed, thinking that one day she might be able to carry him without any special abilities.

“General He set off yesterday.” Lu Liruan would tell Ji Shumin about what had happened whenever he was sober.

"It's already this late?"

Ji Shumin's voice was hoarse. His figure, half-hidden behind the bed curtains, slowly tried to sit up, but then collapsed back down, exhausted.

Lu Liruan tried to help her up, but he waved her off.

"How could you leave so decisively? I thought he would wait for you to get better..." Lu Liruan complained half-jokingly, but in reality, she was trying to divert Ji Shumin's attention.

“They probably think I won’t die…” Ji Shumin said in a voice that sounded like a sigh and a laugh, “Do they really think I can control life and death?” He was a little self-deprecating.

Lu Liruan fell silent.

“I was wrong…” Ji Shumin didn’t hear her reply and suddenly apologized: “I shouldn’t have said such unlucky things to Li Ruan. I have no strength now. Li Ruan hit me three times to ward off the disaster.”

Ji Shumin coaxed Lu Liruan, thinking that she was unhappy because of his words.

“They all think you’re omnipotent,” Lu Liruan said lightly, her tone neither sad nor happy.

"Who said..."

Ji Shumin was interrupted by Lu Liruan as soon as he opened his mouth: "No matter what others think, I am afraid."

“I’m afraid you’ll be in pain, afraid you won’t be able to endure it. They treat you like a golden statue, but I’ve been watching you day and night. All I see is flesh and blood, that you can feel pain and suffer, and that you can die.” Lu Liruan slapped herself three times.

“I didn’t want you to say anything unlucky, but I’m the one saying it. But there’s no one else in this room except the two of us. I don’t know who to talk to. Ji Shumin… talk to me, I’m a little scared.”

Lu Liruan called his name.

“I’m with you, and Li Ruan is with me too…” Ji Shumin barely moved his hand, his cold fingertips touching the back of Lu Li Ruan’s hand, feeling the warm, damp sensation.

Lu Liruan had just wiped away the tears on her face with the back of her hand. She had been crying silently, without even a sob. Large tears fell, filled with sorrow.

"I can't do anything. I can't save you. I'm even too weak to stay by your side. I'm so useless..." Lu Liruan said calmly, as if judging herself.

There was nothing she could do. By Ji Shumin's bedside, she touched him and silently prayed countless times: "Let him get better. Even if he can't get better, it would be good to alleviate his pain."

But it's no use.

Through repeated attempts, Lu Liruan realized that her special abilities could not help Ji Shumin, because everything at this moment involved his life and death.

This feeling of powerlessness and emptiness almost crushed Lu Liruan in an instant. How could she possibly save him?

In this era that does not belong to her, what can she do besides falling in love with Ji Shumin?

Lu Liruan was clearly filled with deep self-reproach.

“Li Ruan is not afraid… not afraid.” Ji Shumin murmured, “It’s all my fault for making Li Ruan sad.”

Lu Liruan bit her lower lip hard until she tasted blood. Ji Shumin couldn't see her through the bed curtains, and Lu Liruan didn't want him to hear her crying.

Given Ji Shumin's current state, she shouldn't be adding to his troubles, but at this moment, Lu Liruan couldn't find anyone else who could share even the slightest burden with her—neither family nor friends would do…

Only Ji Shumin.

He was the person closest to him...

Seeing him lying there, Lu Liruan suddenly felt a sense of loneliness. What if, just what if, Ji Shumin was no longer in the world, how would she find him?

Where should we look for him? What should we do if we can't find him?

"I'm not sad, Ji Shumin, please don't let me lose sight of you, I beg you."

"it is good."

After a long while, Lu Liruan finally heard his reply.

Today, Ji Shumin seemed to be holding on for a long time, remaining lucid for more than two hours.

Just when Lu Liruan thought he was getting better, his condition took a sharp turn for the worse. Ji Shumin developed a high fever again and never regained consciousness.

Lu Liruan endured the ordeal without eating or drinking, losing track of how many days and nights had passed. Afraid of the cold wind blowing in from outside, she kept the curtains tightly drawn, leaving the room silent and dark.

Until finally the candle was lit.

Lu Liruan sat on the small couch, quietly looking at the two red candles, which were much thicker than usual.

It is engraved with auspicious patterns of dragons and phoenixes.

The candles being burned are a pair of dragon and phoenix candles.

Lu Liruan had just sent Qinghe to find it.

Qinghe didn't know what the Empress wanted to do, but now the Empress could do whatever she wanted.

The room was finally bright, and Lu Liruan was a little dizzy from the light, but she didn't look away.

On their wedding night, Ji Shumin said that if the two dragon and phoenix candles burned to the end together, the two of them would be able to stay together for life.

Lu Liruan had no other choice but to find solace in something else.

"Your Majesty, you should rest." Qinghe persuaded Lu Liruan to eat half a bowl of porridge.

"I'll watch over the candles for you, so you can go and get some rest." Qinghe helped her and led her to the inner room.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Liruan was suddenly awakened by a noise.

She opened her eyes; the room was still lit, and the dragon and phoenix candles were still burning brightly.

Lu Liruan got up and followed the sound to Ji Shumin's bedside.

He was gripping the bed railing, desperately trying to prop himself up, his long hair cascading down his shoulders, making his thin figure appear ghostly.

His handsome, sharp face was completely expressionless at that moment.

Turning his head, he saw Lu Liruan's bewildered face, not yet fully awake.

Suddenly, he curled the corners of his mouth into a smile. Having not drunk water or spoken for so long, as soon as he opened his mouth, fine cracks appeared on his lips, and blood spread out, staining his lips a luscious crimson.