After Marrying the Disabled Prince (BG) - Chapter 16: Intoxicated

Bao Ning was wrapped in a blanket by Pei Yuan, who pushed her back to the west wing.

She was both shocked and scared. She had been sick for a while, and it was her strong will that kept her going. Now, with the illness surfacing, she quickly felt light-headed, weak, and as if the wind was leaking through her clothes. A cold sensation spread throughout her body.

Pei Yuan spread the blanket, settled her, and then turned to start a fire.

His leg injury had mostly healed, and he no longer felt pain when squatting, but it still made him feel exhausted. He forced himself to tend to the fire, making it burn brightly.

The bed slowly warmed up, but Bao Ning still felt uncomfortable. She pulled the blanket tighter, feeling aches all over her body, unable to sleep, and her head began to throb, making her want to cry from the discomfort.

Pei Yuan came over to check on her, sitting beside her and asking, “Still cold?”

Bao Ning nodded.

Pei Yuan looked around. “Do we have any medicine at home?”

Bao Ning shook her head.

“No medicine? That’s not good. We need to bring the fever down.” Pei Yuan thought for a moment and then said to Bao Ning, “Lie down properly, wait for me for a moment.”

Pei Yuan went to the east wing to fetch a jar of liquor. Ah Huang had been staying close to Bao Ning, barking, which annoyed Pei Yuan. He pulled the dog into the east wing, locking it inside and keeping it away.

Bao Ning watched as Pei Yuan heated the liquor, then took a bowl and poured some, asking her, “What are you doing?”

Pei Yuan glanced at her. “Giving this to you to drink.”

His hands were large, and the bowl appeared small in his grasp. He held it steadily with one hand and supported her back with the other, making her sit up. “Be good, drink a little, and you’ll warm up. I’ll wipe your body, make you some thin porridge to drink, and after a good sleep tonight, you’ll feel better tomorrow.”

When she heard she had to drink alcohol, Bao Ning already resisted, and when Pei Yuan mentioned wiping her body, her face went pale. She pushed his hand away. “I don’t want it!”

“Don’t move, or it’ll spill!” Pei Yuan frowned, holding the bowl to her lips and commanding in a stern tone, “Drink.”

Bao Ning shook her head, trying to pull away, but Pei Yuan blocked her neck from behind. “It’s medicinal wine, not strong, just a little alcohol. Don’t believe me? Smell it.”

Bao Ning sniffed it and realized there wasn’t much alcohol scent. Instead, there was a strong smell of ephedra, which was typically used for sweating.

But she still didn’t want to drink. She couldn’t handle alcohol well and feared making a fool of herself if she got drunk, so she didn’t dare take the risk.

Bao Ning refused to cooperate, and after Pei Yuan patiently tried to coax her, he finally spoke in a sharp tone, “Drink or not?”

“No…” Before she could finish her sentence, Pei Yuan pinched her chin and forced a mouthful down her throat.

Worried she might choke, Pei Yuan patted her back, coaxing her, “Doesn’t it taste good?”

The flavor was bitter and spicy, and Bao Ning nearly threw up. Pei Yuan pinched her nose and held the bowl in front of her. “If you do it yourself then I won’t force you.”

Bao Ning had no choice but to close her eyes and swallow the entire bowl. Pei Yuan was satisfied with her compliance.

“Once the sweat comes out, you’ll be fine.” As he spoke, he took a cloth, washed it with warm water, and pulled off her blanket. “Lie down, lift your clothes. I’ll wipe your body to cool you down.”

“No, I really don’t want it.” Bao Ning backed away, almost pleading, “Pei Yuan, please stay away from me. Don’t touch me.”

Pei Yuan grabbed her wrist and pulled her back. “You need to treat your illness. What are you thinking about unnecessary things?”

“I don’t want to treat it…” Bao Ning hugged her arms and was on the verge of tears. “Please go out.”

She truly didn’t want it. Pei Yuan couldn’t force her, so after a brief standoff, he finally compromised. “Alright, I’ll just wipe your face.”

Bao Ning had no energy left and reluctantly laid down. Pei Yuan was still a man, and although he tried to be gentle, his hands were still heavy. After rubbing her face a couple of times, Bao Ning winced in pain. Pei Yuan moved to another spot, rubbing her neck and then wiping her palms with the wet cloth.

He wiped all the areas exposed from her clothes several times. They felt less hot now. Pei Yuan reached under her clothes to pull off her stockings and wiped her feet.

Bao Ning curled her legs in fear, her deer-like eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. “What are you doing?”

At this moment, Pei Yuan truly had no other intentions.

Moreover, her clothes were covering most of her, so even if he did have thoughts, there was little to work with.

He was already exhausted from moving back and forth to serve her, and now seeing Bao Ning in such a state, his face turned cold. “Stretch your legs out, and don’t make me say it a second time.”

Bao Ning said, “I don’t want to…”

Pei Yuan finally realized that something was wrong with Bao Ning. She had pulled the blanket to her nose, her eyes were moist and bright, and her exposed cheeks were flushed.

Pei Yuan was surprised. “Are you drunk?”

He didn’t know what expression to make. “Just two sips of medicinal wine, and you’re drunk?”

Bao Ning replied, “I want to go home.”

Pei Yuan frowned. “Go home for what?”

“I want to find Concubine Ming,” Bao Ning’s voice was muffled under the blanket, “I’ll tell you, Concubine Ming is amazing. When I was little, I almost drowned, and I nearly died. Concubine Ming gave me soup, and I got better. This time I’m sick, she can definitely cure me with one dose of medicine. And your leg…”

“You don’t need Concubine Ming. I can cure you,” Pei Yuan interrupted, pulling the blanket away from her, “Pull it down a bit, or you’ll suffocate.”

“I won’t suffocate.” Bao Ning pushed his hand away, “Don’t touch me. I’m fine now.”

“Fine?” Pei Yuan reached under the blanket and felt her temperature. “It’s pretty warm, still burning?” After speaking, he stretched his finger to touch her forehead, but Bao Ning dodged.

Pei Yuan’s face darkened. Just as he was about to get angry with her, Bao Ning said, “Don’t move around. Let me talk.”

…Alcohol does embolden people, it’s true. She usually seems obedient, but now she’s daring to scold him.

Pei Yuan pressed his lips together, his voice cold. “Speak.”

Bao Ning blinked, “Your attitude is bad.”

“…” Pei Yuan was so angry that he almost laughed. He reached through the blanket and pinched her neck, “I’ll strangle you.”

He was joking, not using any force, just teasing her.

But Bao Ning took it seriously. Her mind was foggy, unable to distinguish between good and bad words. When she heard that, she froze, and her eyes slowly turned red. “You can’t.”

Pei Yuan panicked in his heart. He couldn’t follow her train of thought, didn’t understand what she was saying. He just saw her suddenly burst into tears. “What’s wrong? What can’t be done?”

Bao Ning didn’t answer, only the tears kept coming, looking like they were about to overflow.

Pei Yuan cursed softly, rubbing her tears with the back of his hand. “Alright, stop crying. You cry every day. What’s the point of crying?”

“You can’t…” Bao Ning hid in the blanket, sobbing, “You can’t strangle me.” After a few sobs, she said, “That’s against the law.”

Pei Yuan took a deep breath. “Did I say that?”

Bao Ning nodded. “You did.”

Pei Yuan recalled carefully and remembered that he had indeed said that.

“I was just joking. I won’t strangle you!” Pei Yuan gritted his teeth, cursing, “If I die one day, it’s definitely because of you. Alright, stop crying. You’ve rubbed your snot all over my hand.”

The topic shifted, and Bao Ning’s gaze followed. She looked at his hand, which was indeed shiny, not sure if it was water or something else.

She shifted her bottom down, burying her face in the blanket, leaving only a tuft of hair exposed. “I don’t know, it’s not my snot.”

Pei Yuan continued, “Yeah, it’s not yours, it’s the dog’s.”

“Don’t scold me.” Bao Ning poked her head out and said seriously, “It’s mine.”

“Are you sick?” Pei Yuan was dizzy from her behavior. He no longer indulged her, pulling the blanket off and shouting, “Your head is exposed now. Don’t move anymore, or I’ll throw you out. There are wolves outside, they’ll eat you. Understand?”

Bao Ning stared at him in shock, unhappy with his tone. Her lips pouted, and she was about to cry again.

Pei Yuan glared at her. “Forget it.”

Bao Ning sniffled. “Alright…”

…If he had known earlier, he would have done this sooner. Yelling works better than being gentle.

Before long, Bao Ning fell asleep. Pei Yuan took the opportunity to make a bowl of porridge, let it cool a little, and went to wake her up to eat.

She woke up groggily, still not fully sober from the alcohol, ate two bites, and refused to eat more. Pei Yuan forced one more bite into her mouth, but when she really didn’t want it, he ended up swallowing it himself.

After she ate, Bao Ning seemed much better and said, “In a few days, I want to go home. Will you come with me?”

Pei Yuan helplessly said, “What do you want to do?”

Bao Ning replied, “Concubine Ming is really amazing. She knows many ancient formulas and remedies, and they are very useful. Concubine Ming’s second daughter married the third young master of the Chong Yuan Marquis family, and in the second year, she had a son. But the eldest daughter, married to the heir of the Chong Yuan Marquis family, has been married for three years and still hasn’t had any children. I heard from the servants that the eldest daughter is having a hard time in the Marquis’ residence now.”

Bao Ning, completely unaware that the topic had shifted, seriously thought about her previous words and asked, “Is having a son really important?”

Pei Yuan said, “The heir of the Chong Yuan Marquis wants a son, not your elder sister. So yes, having a son is important.”

“Oh.” Bao Ning didn’t quite understand, but she nodded and pretended to get it.

Pei Yuan asked, “Any more questions?”

Bao Ning suddenly remembered something else. “I want to go home.”

Pei Yuan felt a headache coming on, rubbing his forehead. “Alright, how do you plan to get back?”

Bao Ning thought for a moment, “I’ll take a carriage.”

Pei Yuan asked, “Where is the carriage?”

Bao Ning was stumped. Frowning, she thought for a moment and then said, “I’ll write a letter to Ji Yun and have him drive the carriage here.”

Pei Yuan asked, “How will you send the letter?”

“Oh my.” Bao Ning was surprised, her face turning red as she looked at him. “How are you so smart?”

She pouted and added, “But I’m even smarter. I can send it with a pigeon.”

Pei Yuan, holding back his frustration, asked, “Where’s the pigeon?”

“I don’t have a pigeon.” Bao Ning shook her head. She looked up at Pei Yuan and tugged at his clothes, speaking in a soft voice, “Pei Yuan, can I raise pigeons in the future?”

“Shut up!”

Pei Yuan’s veins popped as he pinched her cheek with two fingers. “Damn it, I regret giving you those two drinks! You were already stupid, and now you’re saying all this nonsense. Ji Bao Ning, listen to me, from now on, keep quiet, or else…”

Pei Yuan leaned down and whispered fiercely in her ear, “I’ll throw your Ah Huang out.”

Bao Ning, frightened, immediately closed her eyes obediently.

The light was bright, and it hurt her eyes. She cautiously opened her eyelids and peeked at Pei Yuan.

Pei Yuan was staring at her.

“Do you want to blow out the light?”

Bao Ning nodded.

Pei Yuan blew out the light with a “whoosh” and lay down in his clothes. “Go to sleep!”

After thinking for a moment, he turned around and threatened, “Don’t say another word…” He hadn’t finished his sentence when he heard soft, rhythmic breathing from her side. She had already fallen asleep.

Pei Yuan lay on his back, staring at the ceiling, and let out a deep sigh. He felt a knot in his heart after this long night.

But then, he turned his head to look at the small, rising, and falling figure beside him, and it didn’t seem so bad after all.

The next morning, when Pei Yuan woke up, it was already bright outside. Bao Ning was still asleep, curled up like a shrimp beside him.

Her long hair was tickling him. Pei Yuan closed his eyes and pushed her to the side gently.

Suddenly, a soft, somewhat aggrieved voice rang out in his ear, “Fourth brother, you’ve never hugged me like this.”