By: Kia Lam

*****

As the sun reached its zenith in height and intensity, its rays began to beat down mercilessly upon the earth, on the trees, on the houses, on the people, and on Xiao Yian Zi.
Skipping around the bend and heading towards the doorway was Xiao Bua Zi. It was noon and it was her turn to go to the market to buy a few fruits for everyone. Upon seeing the unconscious figure of Xiao Yian Zi sprawled on the floor a few feet from the doorway, Xiao Bua Zi stopped frozen in surprise and horror.
"Xiao Yian Zi Jie Jie! Somebody come help QUICK!!!!" cried Xiao Bua Zi, already staring to bawl.
At once, a troop of children and adults came rushing to the doorway. They gasped.
"Come, help carry her inside and somebody go fetch for a doctor!" cried Hua Nai Nai, one of the schoolteachers of the children.
As they carried her inside to one of the huts, Xiao Bua Zi ran pelting into the city in search of Lin Dai Fu.
An hour later, a cart dragged by two horses reared to a stop by the doorway of the commoner’s house. Hurriedly filing out were Yong Qi, Er Kang, Zi Wei, Xiao Bua Zi, and Lin Dai Fu. They had met in the city and upon hearing what had happened to Xiao Yian Zi, everyone became extremely distressed. Yong Qi was near breakdown, while the dreaded feeling Zi Wei felt reached its peak. Er Kang, experienced in medical knowledge (thanks to Hu Tai Yi’s teachings in the palace), wore a heavy and grave face, as did Lin Dai Fu. Xiao Bua Zi, trembling, was on the verge of crying again.
They ran into the shack where Xiao Yian Zi was. Yong Qi was about to go over to Xiao Yian Zi when Er Kang restrained him.
"Let Lin Dai Fu look at her first." He told him.
With much difficulty, Yong Qi nodded and stood by watching helplessly.
The doctor reached under the blanket to take Xiao Yian Zi’s hand. It was pale and colorless. He placed his fingers delicately on her skin, which showed the veins that led to her wrist. He took her pulse carefully. Lifting her eyelids, he stared into her eyes. They rolled back effortlessly. Placing his hand on her forehead, the doctor was startled at the intense heat. Sighing, he turned to face the others.
"She has gotten a cold from last night’s exposure to the storm. Unfortunately, this was overtaken by a fever that has invaded her body. Prolonged heat exposure has made her fever worse, as well as causing her body to shut down." He began.
"SHUT DOWN?!" asked Yong Qi wildly.
"Yes, that does not mean she is dead. She is in a comatose state…and the fever has not left her body. This is extremely dangerous." Said the doctor slowly, shaking his head.
"What can we do?" cried Zi Wei.
"…There is nothing to do except to keep her body temperature stable. We will have to wait until she wakes up before we can try and get rid of that fever." He told them.
"How long will that take?" asked Er Kang.
"I do not know. There is no telling when one is in a coma, she could come around any second now or…" here the doctor paused. He stared apologetically at Yong Qi. "It could take years." He told him softly.
Upon hearing those words, Yong Qi’s legs failed him. He sank heavily on the floor, the wall his only support.
Zi Wei, her eyes wide with horror, shook her head vigorously.
"NO! That is not going to happen! I won’t allow that to happen!" she cried. "Jin Suoa, Lieu Hong, let’s use cold cloths to try and keep her temperature stable."
With that, the girls ran out, in search of spare cloths and to get some cold water.
"I will stay here as long as I can." The doctor told the group.
Thanking and paying him, Er Kang led him into one of the separate shacks for his future lodging.
As Jin Suoa, Lieu Hong, and Zi Wei ran hurriedly back and forth fetching cold cloths to replace the hot ones on Xiao Yian Zi’s forehead, Yong Qi sat on a chair opposite of Xiao Yian Zi’s bed and stared blankly at the girls.
Moments later, Er Kang returned. He slumped into a chair next to Yong Qi.
"You need to hold yourself together Yong Qi. This is the time when Xiao Yian Zi really needs you. You need to help her get through this because only the two of you together can do this. I will return to the palace and inform Huang Shang what has happened and send for Hu Tai Yi as well." Er Kang told Yong Qi calmly.
Getting up, Er Kang walked to where Zi Wei was and placed his hands on her shoulders.
"I’m going to the palace to inform Huang Shang and to bring Ho Tai Yi. I will be back." He told her gently.

*****

There came a shuffling of feet at the entrance of the commoner’s house an hour later. Heading straight to the shack that lodged Xiao Yian Zi was Qianlong, Hu Tai Yi, and a batch of servant girls carrying baskets.
Er Kang was beside the emperor, leading the way.
Although country matters and issues were first things on Qianlong’s priority list, the first thing on his family list was the well being of his daughter. He walked briskly, his face wearing that of haggard and anxious mask. As he entered the room, everything became a standstill. Seeing that Yong Qi and Zi Wei were about to make a move, he held up his hand to stop them.
"No, I am "Lao Ye". There is no need to use palace customs here." He told them. He then motioned for Hu Tai Yi to take a look at Xiao Yian Zi.
After finishing, Hu Tai Yi addressed everyone; " It is as Lin Dai Fu said. The cold she caught yesterday night has been taken over by a fever. Heat exposure as well as the added factor of the fever has caused her body to temporarily ‘turn off". " He explained. Catching the distressed face of the emperor and Wu A Ge, the Tai Yi quickly added, " But is not as severe as the doctor said. There is no need for extreme anxiety. Over my past years of experience, I have had a couple of cases similar to Xiao Yian Zi’s. All of them have made a recovery from this comatose state. This is a natural thing the body does in order to maintain homeostasis."
"Then what should we do?" asked Yong Qi.
"Keep her body temperature stable. There is nothing to do but wait until she wakes. After she wakes, I can then tend to her fever. She should be awake in about three days. There is no need for worry." Replied the doctor.

*****

For three days and three nights, Zi Wei, Jin Suoa, Lieu Hong, and the servant girls tended to Xiao Yian Zi constantly. Yong Qi never left Xiao Yian Zi’s side and stayed awake, hoping she would wake up any minute. He ate little, and on the fourth morning, it was starting to show. Come afternoon, Qianlong entered. Glancing worriedly at Yong Qi and then at Xiao Yian Zi, he asked Zi Wei, "Has she come around yet? Has she shown any signs of recovery?"
Shaking her head sadly, Zi Wei answered, "Lao Ye, it’s already the fourth day! Why hasn’t she come around yet?"
Taking Zi Wei into his arms, Qianlong patted her gently. "Do not worry, Hu Tai Yi said it should take three days or so, meaning it could take longer. It is said I am heaven’s child, I control the lives of others. I am certainly not going to let Xiao Yian Zi leave us." He told her gently.
Nodding Zi Wei drew away and walked over to Xiao Yian Zi. Feeling her forehead, Zi Wei gasped. Tears came to her eyes.
" Her fever has dissolved!!!" she cried happily.
Jolting out of his chair, Yong Qi rushed to Xiao Yian Zi’s side and felt her forehead.
Seeing Yong Qi’s overjoyed face, Qianlong laughed joyously, "Hu Tai Yi! Hu Tai Yi!" he hollered.
Instantly, shuffling in hurriedly was Hu Tai Yi, Er Kang, Jin Suoa, Lieu Qing and Lieu Hong. Crossing over, the Tai Yi proceeded to inspect Xiao Yian Zi. Smiling broadly, he said, "It seems that during the comatose state, the body was busy getting rid of the fever. Now that fever is gone, there is only the lingering trace of the cold. She should come around anytime now."
Just as the Tai Yi was reassuring everyone, a pair of bright round eyes slowly opened. She watched quietly, baffled as to why there were so many people here, why she was bundled up, and why there was a wet towel on her forehead. Her eyes fell on Qianlong and instantly she sat up.
"Huang A Ma?? What are you doing here?" she asked the emperor suddenly.
Shocked, the emperor was silent for a second, the burst into laughter. Relieved, everyone laughed along.
"What am I doing here? Do you know what has just happened, Xiao Yian Zi?" Qianlong asked, smiling.
Suddenly, the memory of yesterday’s storm and painful fission came back to Xiao Yian Zi with a punch. She was silent for a while. Slowly, her eyes searched the room. They landed on Yong Qi. He was smiling, but upon meeting Xiao Yian Zi’s eyes, he stopped and stared longingly at her.
"You were found unconscious on the floor of the commoner’s house. Xiao Bua Zi and the others quickly carried you here and Xiao Bua Zi went off to found a doctor. We met her and Lin Dai Fu on our attempt to find you, and we carried them here post haste. Er Kang, seeing that this matter was urgent, went to tell Lao Ye. Hu Tai Yi came along. He inspected you and told us to keep your temperature stable. We’ve been tending you for four days and three nights now, Xiao Yian Zi. Thank heavens you’ve come around!!!" Zi Wei told said, causing Xiao Yian Zi to turn her gaze away from Yong Qi.
Facing her, Xiao Yian Zi noticed that Zi Wei was thinner, her eyes were red from crying, and black rings surrounded them. Looking around, she noticed that everyone one else also had dark rings around their eyes. Suddenly feeling as if the world had just landed on her shoulders, Xiao Yian Zi drew a ragged breath of air.
"I feel so tired…" she told everyone quietly with a forced smile.
"That is normal, your body has been through a lot. I will go and prepare some medicine for you to take to help speed your recovery and give you strength." Said Hu Tai Yi.
"We should leave as well, Xiao Yian Zi needs her rest." Remarked Qianlong. He walked over to Xiao Yian Zi’s bed, and patted her hand. "I am very relieved that you are all right. Until you are better we should have a family talk. But for now, your recovery comes first." He said smiling. "Yong Qi, why don’t you stay here and tend to Xiao Yian Zi." He said.
"Yes, A Ma."
When everyone had exited the room, there was a still silence that was left behind. Sitting next to Xiao Yian Zi’s bed was Yong Qi. Both were silent. Upon hearing a muffled sob, Yong Qi immediately turned to face Xiao Yian Zi. Seeing that she was crying, he quickly tried to use his sleeve to wipe her tears.
"Xiao Yian Zi, I’m a so sorry for being so mean to you! I am this world’s biggest jerk! I hate myself so much I could just kill myself if that would make you feel better. Please stop crying, I’m so sorry!" he pleaded.
Suddenly, Xiao Yian Zi stopped. Then abruptly, she punched Yong Qi on the shoulder and fell into his arms, bawling.
"YONG QI!!! You’re so mean! Don’t you love me anymore?" she asked him, sobbing.
"I love you! I love you so much it hurts! Even if I die loving you, it’s all the same! I am this world’s meanest person! I’m despicable! Those are my mao bing (literal translation: "hair sickness", it basically means a bad and annoying habit someone has). Please Xiao Yian Zi, help me get rid of them! I’d rather lose them then lose you." Yong Qi told her.
"…But you’re my meanie, and I have the same mao bing as you do…hehe. I don’t think I’d be much help." Xiao Yian Zi told him, sniffing.
He smiled and kissed her forehead gently.
"I’m so sorry Xiao Yian Zi, please forgive me. I was only afraid that the Tai Ho would be enraged by your daring comment and would lock you up along with Xiao Jian. I don’t know what I would do if that happened." He told her gently.
"Huh, if she were, me and Xiao Jian would break out of there in a flash! With the two of us combined, we’re unstoppable!" said Xiao Yian Zi with mock defiance.
Just then, Hu Tai Yi entered, carrying a bowl. "Shao Yei, please make sure she takes this." He told Yong Qi, handing the bowl to him. With that, he left.
Yong Qi then began to stir the mixture with the spoon. Presently, he lifted a spoonful to his lips and lightly sipped it. Blowing at the mixture to cool it down, Yong Qi stirred it again. After a while, he lifted a spoonful to Xiao Yian Zi and fed her. Feeding her slowly, Yong Qi made sure she drank every spoonful. Only when there was no more mixture left did Yong Qi set the bowl down.
Smiling broadly, Yong Qi took Xiao Yian Zi’s hands and tucked them safely into his own.
"Promise me Xiao Yian Zi, if next time I do such a despicable thing like that again, please don’t run away from it. You can hit me, scream at me, throw things at me, even kill me, but please don’t leave me. I would be lost without you." Yong Qi told Xiao Yian Zi.
"Really? I can do all those things?" asked Xiao Yian Zi surprised.
"Yes, anything but leave me."
"Okay, I promise. I will bat your ears until they smart the next time you do such a despicable thing!" she told him cheekily.
Bursting into happy laughter, Yong Qi then edged over and sat next to Xiao Yian Zi on her bed.
"You better watch out next time Yong Qi!" she said, laughing along with him.
"ACHOOOO!"
Laughing harder, Yong Qi handed her his handkerchief.
Accepting it gratefully, Xiao Yian Zi blew her nose and snuggled closer to him, enjoying his warmth that she had so much wanted and needed.
In the main hall, Xiao Yian Zi and Yong Qi’s laughter could be heard through the closed door. Upon hearing it, Zi Wei’s eyes lit up and she smiled.
"I guess they’re ok now." She told Er Kang, shaking her head.

*****