I Don't Want to Take Medicine

Under Physician Zhang's meticulous care, Shen Tingjue's brain ailment had yet to heal, but after drinking all those prescriptions for nourishing the mind and replenishing vitality, his complexion had grown rosier and his spirits more vigorous. As a result, he had even more energy to torment people every day.

Xiao Hanye was so worried he was nearly ready to post an imperial notice seeking a miracle physician for him.

He couldn't handle it.

He truly couldn't handle it.

He couldn't hit him or scold him. Shen Tingjue clung to people like a plaster, teared up whenever he was criticized a little, or threw a tantrum and bounced around, yet the moment he was shown any kindness, he became utterly wild. He was practically an ancestor to be worshipped.

Shen Tingjue had actually remembered some things from before, but he had not said everything. He could sense that His Highness the Crown Prince indulged him only because there was something wrong with his mind. If he recovered, perhaps Xiao Hanye would no longer indulge him so much.

No.

He couldn't get better.

Shen Tingjue decided that starting today, he would no longer take medicine.

Steward Feng coaxed him for half the day to no avail. He wondered whether Physician Zhang's newly prescribed medicine was too bitter. The young master had clearly been so obedient before; whenever the medicine was brought over, he would down it in one go without needing anyone to coax him, not even needing candied fruit afterward.

The medicine had to be too bitter.

It definitely wasn't because the young master had become disobedient.

The servants swept away the accumulated snow in the courtyard. Shen Tingjue leaned against the window and casually snapped off a plum blossom branch.

Physician Zhang stood behind him and asked, "Why is Young Marquis unwilling to take his medicine?"

Shen Tingjue twirled the plum branch in his hand. "Why should I take medicine?"

Physician Zhang said, "Taking medicine will help you recover."

Shen Tingjue turned to look at him, his gaze innocent. "Why should I recover?"

Physician Zhang's beard bristled, as though he had been angered.

Shen Tingjue poked him with the plum branch. "How is your relationship with your wife?"

The topic changed too quickly. Physician Zhang froze for a moment, folding his hands into his sleeves. "Naturally, we are a devoted couple."

Shen Tingjue sat up a little straighter and asked sincerely, "Then if you lost your memory, would your wife despise you while indulging you, or would she take the family fortune and find a new lover?"

Physician Zhang: "..."

What the hell?

"Hard to say, right?" Shen Tingjue said. "Then let me change the question. If two people did that sort of thing—wait, that may be too subtle for you to understand. I mean, that sort of thing in bed..."

Physician Zhang blew out his beard and glared. "This old man understands!"

"Oh." Shen Tingjue leaned back against the window again, plucking at the plum blossoms on the branch. "If two people did that sort of thing without being mutually in love, they could still do it, right? For example, by accident or because one side forced the other, right?"

Physician Zhang felt the conversation heading in a deeply inappropriate direction. His expression was complicated as he reminded him, word by word, "I am an imperial physician."

He was here to treat an illness.

Not to analyze bizarre questions for him.

Shen Tingjue smacked his lips, completely ignoring him as he continued, "If you lost your memory and only remembered making love with your own wife, but as your memories gradually returned, you discovered that you and your wife had not actually been close, would you think that your wife did not love you at all? That what happened between you might simply have been an accident? Physician Zhang, put yourself in my place and think about it. Doesn't that make sense?"

The more Shen Tingjue spoke, the more agitated he became. He unconsciously leaned forward until he was practically shoving his entire face in front of Physician Zhang.

Physician Zhang: "..."

I don't know whether that makes sense, but I think your illness has gotten worse.

And you still dared to stop taking your medicine.

Unbelievable.

Physician Zhang took a deep breath. Relying on the fine composure he had cultivated over many years of medical practice, he remained calm and gently coaxed, "Be good. Take your medicine properly. Only when you recover can you be healthy."

Shen Tingjue was baffled. "I'm not healthy right now?"

Physician Zhang maintained his kindly smile and patiently said, "If your brain ailment is cured soon, you'll remember your family and friends. Doesn't Young Marquis want to reunite with them?"

Shen Tingjue tilted his head. "What if I have no family or friends, and my life before was not good either? If remembering only brings more sorrow, then why should I take medicine and recover? Wouldn't amnesia be better instead?"

Physician Zhang rubbed his forehead.

You brat!

Why do you insist on arguing with me?

Wouldn't it be better to obediently take your medicine and cure your brain ailment?

Even if your life was bad before, you are now the noble and precious Young Marquis. What are you afraid of?

Shen Tingjue rested his elbow on the windowsill, sitting lazily. "Physician Zhang, you still haven't answered my earlier question. If you discovered your wife did not love you, and everything was merely your own wishful thinking, what would you do?"

Physician Zhang's expression changed several times. His beard trembled as he gritted his teeth. "That would never happen."

"I said if. If." Shen Tingjue scattered the plum petals he had torn off through the window and watched them drift away in all directions. "Or is it that your relationship with your wife is not good, and you still do not understand what love is, so you cannot truly put yourself into the example I gave? Is that it?"

"..."

Physician Zhang felt a tightness in his chest. After taking two deep breaths, he dearly wanted to crack open Shen Tingjue's head and see what chaotic nonsense was inside. Pressing a hand to his temple, he said,

"Read fewer storybooks in the future. Reading too many of those things makes people overthink, worry over gains and losses, and become trapped in the bitter sea of love and hatred. I came today to ask why you refuse to take your medicine. Is it because the new prescription is too bitter, or is there another reason?"

Shen Tingjue tucked his hands into his sleeves and let out a long sigh. "I am troubled by love. I do not want to take medicine."

Physician Zhang: "???"

No.

What did taking medicine have to do with love?

Could it be that his heart was bitter, so drinking a bowl of bitter medicine would make it even more bitter?

Shen Tingjue propped his cheek on one hand. "Sigh."

Physician Zhang looked at his utterly sorrowful expression and found himself at a loss for words. He could not follow the thought process of someone with something wrong in his head at all. He could only rummage through his medicine chest, pull out several bottles of Jade Dew Pills for replenishing vital energy and nourishment, stuff them all into Shen Tingjue's arms, and lovingly urge, "Be good. You must actively treat your illness. Take these bottles of Jade Dew Pills. Replenishing your qi and blood will do you good too."

Shen Tingjue frowned and said unhappily, "I'm not sick."

Physician Zhang dismissed him. "Mm, mm, mm."

Sick people always said they were not sick.

Forget it. My head hurts. I should go brew some chrysanthemum tea to cool down my liver fire.

Whenever people of the martial world felt unhappy, they liked to drown themselves in drink. That was how it was written in all the storybooks. While Steward Feng was not paying attention, Shen Tingjue swiftly scaled the walls and slipped out of the residence. He bought two jars of the strongest liquor from a tavern, then carried them to the Imperial Guard camp, declaring that he would get thoroughly drunk.

Wen Jingkong's right eyelid twitched wildly. "If you want to drink, can't you find some quiet place with no one around and drink to your heart's content by yourself?"

Shen Tingjue tore open the wine seal. "Why?"

"Big brother, ancestor." Wen Jingkong was distressed. "If you drink yourself to death here and something happens to you, the Imperial Guard camp will be finished. Besides, with that pathetic alcohol tolerance of yours, you won't get to experience drowning your sorrows in drink."

Shen Tingjue fell silent for a while. Thinking it over, he felt it made sense. He then stuffed the wine jar into Wen Jingkong's arms. "Fine, then you drink. I'll watch you drink."

Wen Jingkong: "?"

Shen Tingjue said eagerly, "Hurry up. I want to see what it feels like when you drown your sorrows in drink."

Wen Jingkong's head began to ache. He took two steps back, rubbing his hands together as he gave an awkward laugh. "Well... I'm on duty right now. Drinking counts as neglecting my duties. I can't, I can't."

"It's fine. I'll take responsibility for the crime of neglecting your duties." Shen Tingjue dragged him back, rolled up his sleeves, and raised the wine jar as if to force it down his throat. "Don't you like drinking? I specifically bought top-quality wine. We can't waste it."

Wen Jingkong: "..."

Why? Why don't you go force the Crown Prince to drink instead?

Help!