179 CARING FOR THE CROWNED PRINCE

Raigon was still lying on his bed with his eyes closed. Zoe stared at him with her lips partly opened. Different emotions stirred up in her heart.

She was glad that he escaped death and that she played a major role in his salvation. But looking at his vegetative condition right now crushed her heart. She knew that it would take a while before he could return to his responsibilities, which he had so much in his hands right now.

Thinking about all these things, she drew closer so she could check his condition. She brought out her medical equipment which she could not do so a while ago. Then she glanced at the door of his Chamber.

"Perhaps it will take the Queen a few more minutes before she comes back again."

She lifted his arm and put in the thermometer in his armpit. Since Raigon was not flinching, she assumed that he returned to sleep again. Her lips curved up knowing that it would be good for him to do so.

"I will just check your lungs, your Highness." She informed him of her next intervention in a soft tone. She pulled out her stethoscope and placed it on his chest. 

"I knew it." Zoe shook her head as she heard some crackling sounds in his lungs.

"I wish there were some antibiotics here so he would quickly recover." She uttered to herself as she put back her stethoscope on her Hebao.

After doing so, she pulled out the thermometer from his armpit and checked on his temperature. Her mouth twitched downward as she noticed that he even had a fever now.

She immediately went outside the Chamber to give him a tepid sponge bath, when the servants stopped her.

"Do you need anything, milady?" 

"Yes. I need a basin and a towel. But it's okay. You can just tell me where it is and I'll just get it." Zoe smiled at her even though the servant's head was bowed down and was not even looking at her.

"We will get it for you, milady." She answered before turning around to go. 

But Zoe stopped her and said, "It's alright. I can go and get it myself. You can just stay here and wait on the Crowned Prince in case he woke up."

The servant bowed to Zoe again and replied, "I apologized, milady. It is the Queen's order to not let you leave the Chamber until you are permitted to."

Zoe's eyes widened with her brows scrunched up. 

'Why would the Queen stop me from leaving this room? Is she afraid that I would roam around the Castle and see something?'

Zoe drew in a deep breath and disregarded it. Raigon's life is what matters right now. Even though she was still feeling hurt about his hiding about his upcoming marriage, she doesn't want him to die. 

She bowed to the servant and made a request instead. "If you could get a basin with water and a towel, it would be very helpful. And also, a pitcher of water for the Crowned Prince. If you can also ask Physician Sheng Tun if I could talk to him about his medications, I would appreciate it."

"Affirmative, milady." The servant bowed to her and bolted to obey her instructions.

Meanwhile, Zoe came back to Raigon's side and tried to check if there's anything else he missed. The servant quickly came back with the basin and towel and reported to her the answer of Physician Sheng Tun.

"Physician Sheng Tun said that he had to attend to some patients. If you need anything, you can just relay it to me."

Zoe nodded and told her what she needed. "The Crowned Prince has a fever. If he has some medications that could reduce it, please let me have some. And also a low dosage of cough suppressant and…" 

She was about to ask for antibiotics but she was afraid that he was not familiar with it and could trigger their suspicion on her. 

"That's it. By the way, a lady was with me when I went here. Have you possibly seen her?" 

"Yes, milady. That's what I will say next. She left me a letter as I was going back to the Crowned Prince's chamber."

She pulled out something from the sleeves of her Hanfu and gave them to Zoe.

Zoe quickly grabbed it and read. "Lady Asha, I have heard of the complicated situation of the Crowned Prince and that he needs your medical skills. I will leave now and go back to Liu's residence. Azra will take me there. I sincerely hope that the Crowned Prince will get well. Please take care of yourself too. Don't worry about me. Lady Selena."

Zoe's lips curved up at the independent attitude of her best friend and her desire to lessen her load.

She nodded and bowed to the servant. "Thank you." She grabbed the basin and the towel and immediately placed it at the table beside Raigon to lessen his fiery temperature. 

In a fraction of a second, she had bathed Raigon with the towel and the water. She checked his temperature again to see if the fever has subsided somehow. And as she did so, Raigon's eyes opened and gazed at her.

Zoe gulped as she didn't know if he could recognize her as he was disoriented a while ago. 

Raigon's face was blank as he stared at her but after a few seconds, his lips curved up as he uttered, "You're here…"

Zoe tilted her head in a bow and answered him. "Yes, your Highness. I will be your personal physician from now on. I will do my best to treat you so please do your best to recover as soon as possible, all right?"

She gave him a warm smile, which made Raigon nod in response.

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In the end of every pain, having a heart, being caring is so much rewarding.

Better to have a loving, caring heart than to have a cold and bitter heart.