Chapter 24: You Enjoy Being Held by the Third Princess
“What the red fox symbolizes in ancient times isn’t important. What matters is what it symbolizes to the Third Princess.”
After pondering for a moment, Jiang Mei began her analysis. “Dreams reflect the world of inner imagination. You wished to move freely like Xixi, so you became Xixi in the dream. Then, in this special state where imagination shapes reality, would the Third Princess, who is in the same dream as you, also transform some wish into the red fox, thereby following and guiding you?”
Xixi was the name of Xie Xitong’s large white cat.
Jiang Xue suddenly understood: “Since the red fox has guided me twice to help the Third Princess, it means it also wants the Third Princess to be well. For now, it’s our ally, right?”
“Yes, but don’t dwell on its identity for now,” Jiang Mei said. “Perhaps it’s the Third Princess’s hidden desire, or perhaps some unknown entity… We just need to know that there’s such a helper in the ‘dream’.”
If they used their imagination, they could come up with some guesses, but Jiang Mei felt it was unnecessary to dig into the roots of goodwill. Tacit understanding saved time and worry.
Moreover, the red fox might not want them to know its true identity.
“Then I’ll draw the red fox and keep a record.” Jiang Xue moved the dishes to the nightstand, set up the small table on her bed, and got out of bed.
That being said, she still wondered if she could see the red fox again if she entered the dream next time, and perhaps learn something from it.
Back in her room, Jiang Xue held her drawing tablet and tried to recreate the red fox from her dream in the drawing software.
The fox was simply too beautiful and full of spirit. Jiang Xue revised it repeatedly, feeling that with her skills, she couldn’t replicate its charm. She saved the most satisfactory version, printed it out, and carefully stored it with the drawings the Third Princess had sent.
By the time she finished, it was very late. Fortunately, it was the weekend, and neither she nor her sister had to get up early.
During this time, she opened the diary several times and asked about the Third Princess’s condition, but didn’t see any replies. It seemed the Third Princess still needed to rest and wasn’t in a state to write.
However, after witnessing Shizhu’s meticulous care in the dream, Jiang Xue felt much more at ease.
With modern medicine and Shizhu’s care, the Third Princess should be able to get through the night safely.
Xiao Luohan, however, wasn’t resting.
Firstly, she had guessed the connection between the red fox and her elder sister, and the mixture of grief and joy made it difficult for her to fall asleep again.
Secondly, the head eunuch from the Crown Prince’s side had delivered many “gifts” late at night, including precious medicinal herbs, fine tea, incense, porcelain, fabrics, and silver silk charcoal. Due to her illness and the previous “manifestation of the ghost or spirit,” she didn’t have to get out of bed to express her gratitude, but after they left, she still had to carefully check and record everything with Shizhu.
Both she and Shizhu knew very well: This was the Emperor of Daying making offerings to the ghost or spirit!
During this time, Xiao Luohan was exhausted and unconsciously dozed off for about half an hour. When she was woken up, a slightly older female imperial physician, claiming to be sent by the Emperor, was sitting outside the bed curtains, ready to take her pulse and prescribe medicine.
But after the incident with changing prescriptions, Xiao Luohan had become more cautious. As soon as the imperial physician left, she quickly copied the prescription and sent it to Jiang Xue, reporting her safety and asking her to check if the prescription was safe.
“The spirits have blessed us! After this incident, His Highness from the Eastern Palace probably won’t dare to make trouble before your wedding!” Shizhu clasped her hands together in prayer, sighing with relief.
Xiao Luohan, however, frowned.
She had heard of many high-ranking individuals like the Crown Prince of Daying, and had even met similar people. Being so thoroughly humiliated wouldn’t necessarily teach him a lesson.
He would only temporarily retract his claws, lurking in the shadows, patiently waiting for a new opportunity.
Until then, she might be safe.
She would try her best to stay alive.
The next morning, Jiang Xue opened her eyes and checked the diary first. Then she jumped out of bed, took a picture of the prescription, and sent it to the family doctor. While waiting for a reply, worried that she might have missed something, she called the doctor and asked her to come over.
With her older sister present, she might be scolded less.
The family doctor’s surname was Qi. The Qi and Jiang families had been friends for generations, and Dr. Qi always spoke her mind.
As soon as she sat down in the Jiang family’s home, she gave the sisters a scrutinizing look. “What’s going on? What kind of online friend is so mysterious that you have to hide it from Ms. Jiang and Ms. Wei, and even the consultation doesn’t have a video call?”
Ms. Jiang and Ms. Wei happened to be leaving at that moment, and Jiang Xue had contacted Dr. Qi as soon as she woke up, so it wasn’t intentional concealment.
She would have to tell her mothers about the transtemporal pen pal sooner or later, but she hadn’t figured out how to explain it yet. Plus, her mothers usually went out together or were busy with work, so the matter had been put on hold.
And since she had decided to tell them herself, Jiang Mei hadn’t told their parents either.
The new prescription was more important now. The sisters exchanged a look. One opened the diary, and the other took out the plum blossom jade bookmark and placed them in front of Dr. Qi.
“It might sound unbelievable, but this is what we’re experiencing right now.”
Jiang Xue sat up straight, explaining as she carefully pushed the diary towards Dr. Qi.
Jiang Mei occasionally added a sentence, her attention focused on Dr. Qi’s expression, ready to answer any questions she might have.
To their surprise, Dr. Qi calmly accepted this “supernatural event.”
“The world is vast and full of wonders, and there’s no reason for you two to lie to me.” She solemnly closed the diary and returned it to Jiang Xue. “If it exists, then acknowledge it. Let me see the prescription.”
Jiang Xue hurriedly fetched the prescription and heard her ask, “By the way, are you really not going to teach her how to use a phone? At least take a picture or video so I can see her tongue coating and complexion?”
“I plan to teach her, and I even want to give her my spare phone, but she might not have the energy to learn recently…” Jiang Xue explained, feeling angry again. “Last night, that dog of a Crown Prince made trouble for her, making her kneel in the snow. She barely escaped danger. Let her rest for now.”
“Playing with a phone” also required energy. Although she felt that smartphones were easy to learn, the Third Princess was still someone from ancient times. It was best not to burden her unnecessarily.
“Alright.” Dr. Qi didn’t insist, taking the prescription and getting down to business.
“…This prescription is more reliable than the last one. I don’t see any problems. Use it.” She took out another prescription from her medical bag. “This is the new prescription adjusted according to the medical records you sent. It’s time to change the previous one. Send both over. After she’s almost finished with the medicine for the cold, she can start taking this new one.”
The prescription had to be converted into traditional characters. Jiang Xue went back to her room and carefully processed it. When she came out with the newly printed paper, before she even reached the bottom of the stairs, she heard her sister talking to Dr. Qi:
“Okay, if she can really come over, I’ll find someone to help immediately.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. This is more interesting than a medical miracle. Just consider it my own selfish curiosity.”
What were they talking about? Jiang Xue wondered.
But the conversation ended there. She didn’t dare waste any time, hurrying down the stairs to double-check the prescription with Dr. Qi, placing it on the diary in front of her, along with a message.
Three pairs of eyes stared at the prescription until it disappeared before them. Then the three of them breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Considering that the Third Princess, having just escaped danger, needed more rest, Jiang Xue, after sending the prescription and inquiring about her condition, controlled her urge to chat and placed the open diary aside, continuing with her study plan.
As she expected, the Third Princess was indeed resting. However, when her physical strength and energy recovered slightly, she drew a majestic white cat for her.
Jiang Xue was happily admiring the drawing when Xie Xitong arrived to study. Perhaps considering that bringing her cat would affect her concentration, she came alone this afternoon.
“Huh? Why did the Third Princess draw my Xixi?” She leaned in curiously to look at the drawing. “It’s so lifelike! Did you show her a picture?”
Jiang Xue almost choked on her water. Wiping her mouth, she replied, “Something big happened after you left yesterday! I haven’t had time to tell you yet.”
She concisely recounted to her friend how she learned about the Third Princess’s predicament, how she carried the Third Princess back to her room in her dream in the form of the white cat Xixi, and how she caused havoc in the emperor’s palace.
Her study plans were ruined again. With such an incredible adventure, Xie Xitong wouldn’t be satisfied with just a summary and pestered Jiang Xue for details.
“Why did you turn into a cat? If you felt you couldn’t walk in the dream, then don’t walk, just float.”
“Then I’d really become a ghost or spirit!”
“But you can’t keep interacting with her as a cat, can you?”
Jiang Xue blurted out, “It’s not impossible…”
With a cat-loving friend, she understood the joy of “just petting, not owning.” As long as she was affectionate when the cat came to her, that was enough.
“Since hugging the cat can help the Third Princess relax, why can’t I turn into a cat and let her pet me while I’m dreaming?” she countered.
“Do you know what you’re saying, Jiang Xue?” Xie Xitong’s eyes widened. “You seem to have discovered a strange kind of joy in this, and you’re even trying to convince me!”
Jiang Xue: …
“Alright, alright, I’ve said enough! Let me get back to my studies!” Afraid of saying too much and making things worse, she decisively chose to surrender.
In reality, there was another point that was even more difficult to admit—she found that she didn’t mind being held by the Third Princess.
This was so strange! But the Third Princess had a faint fragrance that she liked, which also made her feel comfortable. In a way, it was mutually beneficial.
Seeing her avoidance, Xie Xitong deliberately drawled, “Oh~,” and narrowed her eyes.
Under her friend’s probing gaze, Jiang Xue forced herself to finish a challenging problem.
“I guess…”
Half an hour later, Xie Xitong reached a conclusion.
Jiang Xue’s heart skipped a beat. “Don’t say it!”
“I guess you don’t just enjoy the convenience of being a cat and providing emotional support, but you like the feeling of being held by the Third Princess.” Xie Xitong still said it with certainty. “It’s a rare experience, something you can count on one hand, right?”
“But my older sister used to hold me like that when I was little!” Jiang Xue argued.
“But you can feel the difference between the two kinds of ‘being held,’ right?” Xie Xitong pressed.
Jiang Xue was speechless.
She had wanted to continue explaining, such as the various differences between “older sister” and “same-age girl,” and refuting Xie Xitong’s suggestive words, saying she didn’t mean it that way.
But looking at Xie Xitong’s mischievous eyes, she suddenly felt that she absolutely couldn’t start this conversation, otherwise, her friend’s gossip would never end!
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