Work Text:
Snow was piling onto Gan Luo’s already freezing body. He pulled at his chest, gasping for air as his vision blurred.
He didn’t know how long had passed before he heard a voice shouting along with the crunching sounds of hurried feet and finally, the feeling of himself being lifted into warm arms.
The next moments were a blur, he only gained semi consciousness when the warm light entered his eyes. He didn’t need to be fully aware to realize he was in the crown princes room, he’d recognize the warmth of this room anywhere.
Voices were flowing in the room, he had to concentrate hard to hear to what was being said.
“Your highness, I found Bizhi lying in the snow. He hasn’t been responding to anything I’ve been saying to him!” He recognized this voice as Wang Li, the commander of the imperial army.
“What! Give him to me, now!” A different pair of arms grabbed him, his vision faded for a moment and he only regained it when he felt himself being set onto a bed, his highnesses bed.
“Get the imperial doctor, now.” The sweet sounding voice entered into his ears, Gan Luo already knew it was his crown prince before he heard his voice. The smell of pine wood entered his nose, giving him away.
Gan Luo coughed hard, hands rushed to sit him up on the bed. He clawed at his robes, trying to force himself to breathe again.
Something warmed flowed down his mouth, he tasted iron in his mouth.
The prince gasped, reaching for his mouth to wipe the blood away.
Gan Luos coughing fit lasted for about 2 minutes before it finally subsided, Fu xus hands layed him back down on the bed. He covered him with the blanket.
Gan Luo didn’t want to look at him, he knew his highnesses face would be filled with worry. He didn’t want to see him worrying because of him.
However, when Gan Luo closed his eyes the man had shouted. “Keep your eyes open!” And shook his shoulders hard.
Gan Luo finally turned to look at his prince who was standing above him. The worry was etched across his face. He was frowning so much that Gan Luo couldn’t help himself, he reached his hands to his face, pushing at his brows. “D-don’t frown, don’t frown, your highness.” He laboringly got the words out.
Fu xus hands gripped Gan Luos, his hands shaking fiercely. A gasp was once again heard coming from his mouth. “Bizhi, wh-what is on your arms!?” He grabbed his arm, pulling up his sleeve.
Gan Luo narrowed his eyes, a cold a sweat coming from him. Fu xu found out his secret.
Gan Luo tried to turn his head away, however, it was grabbed and pulled back by the worried prince. He pinched his face, making sure he wouldn’t pull away from his grasp.
“Bizhi, I told you not to ever hide stuff from me. What is this?” His voice was seething, bizhi knew he was blaming himself for him getting hurt that’s why he didn’t want to say anything.
Since Gan Luo didn’t respond, the grip on him was tightened. “Bizhi!”
Gan Luo finally spoke, laughing bitterly to himself. “You remember Zhao Gao forcing me to swallow those pills?”
Fu xu dropped his hands in defeat. “He… this…” he couldn’t even form a complete sentence anymore.
The door to the room finally burst open as the imperial doctor sprinted to his side.
Gan Luo gave Fu Xu a sad look. “Your highness, I’ve been dying slowly for the last 3 years.”
Fu xus eyes went wide, he fell back onto the floor. Wang li sprinted to his side, hurrying to pick him up.
Fu xus mouth trembled greatly, Gan Luo feared that tears would spill from his eyes. “You… no that’s not true! That’s not true, you’ll be fine. You’ll be…”
Wang li got the prince up, dragging him away from the working imperial doctor.
Gan Luo shut his eyes, “I’m sorry, your highness, I shouldn’t have kept this from you for so long. I just hate seeing you worrying. Especially over something that can’t and won’t be changed, I’m dying and there’s nothing you can do to change that fact.”
The sound of glass shattering was heard, along with a voice shouting to the prince.
Gan Luos vision went dark, letting sleep take him at last.