Chapter 59
Yu She placed Zhong Wan lightly on the ground, leaving the compartment at an unhurried pace .
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Face pale and eyes bloodshot, Yu She looked straight at Xuan Rui as if he himself were a malicious spirit . In a hoarse voice, he said, “The poison in his body…”
The moment Xuan Rui had caught sight of Yu She, he was frightened to the point of kneeling . For a moment, he couldn’t react . “Y-Yu She?”
“I…” Incredulous, Yu She stared at Xuan Rui . He muttered as he fumed with rage, “Had I been mad back then? I had actually let him go on purpose, let him go to you . I… I obviously couldn’t bear to let him go, yet I actually indulged his desire to find you . I…”
Blood appeared in Yu She’s mouth . He really wished he could return to seven years ago and wake himself up with a slap .
He had been so stupid, submissively giving such a good Guiyuan to that thing .
Yu She did his utmost to restrain the evil thoughts in his heart . Before he came to this place, he had already crafted a great plan . One, he and Zhong Wan would enter this rural manor in secret . Two, he’d have people capture the two younger children of Prince Ning and bring them here . So as to let those two children see clearly just who was letting down whom . In this way, when he removed Xuan Rui’s position as a Prince of the Second Rank in the future, those children wouldn’t misunderstand Zhong Wan . And Zhong Wan’s painstaking efforts for so many years would not be in vain .
Yu She had obviously tried his best not to have Zhong Wan heartbroken .
Out of instinct, he touched the dagger hanging by his waist . In any case, since he had already made a mistake, making another didn’t matter . What if he just killed him directly now…?
Meanwhile, Tang Ming noticed that although people had arrived, they weren’t large in number . At first, he had been happy, but no matter where he looked, he couldn’t find Zhong Wan . The moment he had caught sight of Yu She, he paled . Absentminded, he said, “Why is it you?!”
Yu She closed his eyes . Turned to look at Tang Ming . He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, “Leave the people of Qian An and this old thing alive . Everyone else in this rural manor… Kill… Don’t let even one person live . Burn down the rural manor . ”
Frightened to the extreme, Tang Ming said, “Outside my manor, there’s still—”
“It’s already been settled . ” Yu She’s trusted aides and family soldiers all cupped their hands in obeisance . “Just a while ago, when we brought Young Miss and Young Master here, we subordinates leaked our location by accident . We feared alarming other people and messing up Heir’s plan, so simply killed those people first . There are seventeen people in the rural manor, and twenty-three outside it . On the road, providing support, were fourteen people . Right?”
“Yu She!” shouted Tang Ming, furious .
“Shut up . ” Yu She’s voice proved hoarse . “You better pray that Zhong Wan is alright . Otherwise… I won’t let anyone in this house escape alive . ”
Yu She turned around and returned to the inner chamber . He picked up Zhong Wan, thoughts frantic . “Let’s r-return home . ”
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Yu She wrapped Zhong Wan in his own cloak . Supported him up a horse . A few family soldiers escorted them back to the capital, not once glancing back .
Zhong Wan had a dream .
In it, he was an ignorant child, very naughty and mischievous . Every day, he and Lin Si stirred up trouble in Prince Ning’s estate . They’d climb trees and steal the eggs from bird nests . Went into the stream to catch carps . After they had worn a good set of new clothes for two days, those clothes would have to be repaired .
Every day, the older female servant taking care of him always had this task: to help them repair their clothes . But because she couldn’t keep up, she retrieved some durable and rough cloth from the storeroom . To use to make clothes for them instead . Princess Consort Ning couldn’t bear to see this, so she said…
Said that even if Zhong Wan was an adopted son, he was still the prince’s son . He must not wear clothes that had been patched up .
Princess Consort Ning chose the most densely woven silk to make his clothes . Then she specially ordered people to stitch pieces of tanned, thin, and soft animal hide at the cuffs . And for the knee regions of his clothes, both the interior and exterior . This way, his clothes were sturdy and would protect against falls . Even if he fell from those towering artificial mountains, and his elbows hit the ground, it still wouldn’t hurt .
Princess Consort Ning did not have any children of her own . Zhong Wan and Lin Si wanted a younger brother as a follower . He asked her a few times when he would have a younger brother, but she only smiled faintly . Then she would resume what she was doing, not a word escaping her lips .
Afterward, Zhong Wan by chance overheard the older servants discussing in private . They said that the emperor had bestowed Prince Ning a marriage to Princess Consort Ning, and at the start, the two were unwilling . However, one could not disobey an imperial decree . So they made do of a bad situation, passing their days together . At present, their relationship had eased up a little, but they had spent the past few years in indifference . And now, they both could not set aside their pride . In any case, they usually weren’t together .
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That day was the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival . It was rare for the whole family to eat a meal together . Prince Ning and Princess Consort Ning felt somewhat awkward . They wanted to say something, but once they opened their mouths, they would feel embarrassed for some reason .
Zhong Wan was still very short . It was inconvenient for him to pick up his food . As such, Princess Consort Ning let him sit by her side and personally placed food into his bowl .
Zhong Wan looked at Princess Consort Ning, then shifted his gaze to Prince Ning . In a thoughtless manner, he said, “Mother, help me change my name . ”
Princess Consort Ning frowned . “Change it to what?”
Zhong Wan swallowed the food in his mouth . Said vaguely, “Zhaodi . Zhong Zhaodi . I don’t mind if it sounds bad . ”
After over twenty years of being a daughter of a noble house, she experienced laughing at the dining table until her stomach hurt for the first time . Prince Ning tried his utmost to suppress a smile . Rose to his feet and patted her back . And Princess Consort Ning blushed somewhat .
Ever since that day, Prince Ning and Princess Consort Ning were always together .
Less than a year later, Princess Consort Ning sure enough gave birth to a younger brother for Zhong Wan .
Then a few more years later, that younger brother sure enough became Zhong Wan and Lin Si’s follower, chasing after them every day . They teased him . Zhong Wan and Lin Si loved to bully Xuan Rui, yet also pampered him . When they climbed trees, and Xuan Rui was unable to do so, Zhong Wan would carry him on his back as he climbed . When they caught fish, and Xuan Rui couldn’t catch even one, Zhong Wan would give him the biggest one .
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It had been difficult for Princess Consort Ning to give birth to the twins . Before she died, she said a few words to Prince Ning . Then turned to Zhong Wan, in her eyes many unspoken words . With red eyes, Zhong Wan had knelt before Princess Consort Ning’s bed, holding her hand . In a low voice, he said, “Don’t worry, Mother . If Father remarries in the future, I will protect my younger brothers and sister . I won’t let our stepmother bully us . I won’t let them suffer . ”
Princess Consort Ning’s face was pale, and after hearing these words, she couldn’t help but smile . She stroked his head . Sighed . Then, after telling Zhong Wan to take care of himself, she breathed her last breath .
Half dreaming and half awake, Zhong Wan muttered in a hoarse and soft voice, “Princess Consort, I’m scared of… I’m scared of…”
By the bedside, Yu She held Zhong Wan’s hand . And after he had heard his words, his heart broke .
Yu She stroked his head . Said in a low voice, “Don’t worry . I’ve already handled the matters regarding Xuan Rui .
“Xuan Rui’s noble rank is gone . I will personally send people to escort him back to Qian An, and leave some people there to monitor him . He won’t be able to take one step out of his fief .
“When we were still in school, I remember that Princess Consort Ning had personally made all your clothes . I am well aware that she treated you well . I also know how you feel…
“For now, I have yet to handle the matter of Prince Ning’s noble rank . Once I have settled it, I will give this noble rank to Xuan Yu .
“After Xuan Yu inherits it without a hitch, he can bring Xuan Congxin back to Qian An . In the future, as long as he’s willing to pass his days well-behavedly, then his life will be smooth and steady .
“Guiyan… If you live well, then I’ll let them live . ”
Whether Zhong Wan could hear him in his dreams was anyone’s guess . Zhong Wan furrowed his brows, before falling back asleep .
Once he roused again, three days had passed .
Steward Feng was the only person by his side . Zhong Wan’s lips were pale . He opened his mouth and said, “Qian…”
Steward Feng rushed to explain everything to him . Then he said, “Heir did not relay all the details to His Majesty, leaving out half of the truth . Heir said that evildoers captured Xuan Rui, but never said who . Now, everyone from the rural manor is dead . Even if His Majesty wanted to chase after this matter, he won’t be able to find out anything . What a coincidence . ”
Steward Feng handed Zhong Wan a cup of hot tea . Said softly, “Recently, His Majesty has not been well, and basically doesn’t have the energy to take care of that matter . As such, he just let it go like that . Heir has already imprisoned that person named Tang whatever in secret . Heir said he still had some questions for him . ”
Zhong Wan closed his eyes . Nodded . “Okay . ”
“These past few years, you…” A sigh escaped Steward Feng’s lips . “Nevermind . Let’s not talk about this anymore . The two young masters of Prince Qian An’s estate have been wanting to see you, but Heir blocked them . The young miss of that estate sent some clothes over . I have placed them to the side . ”
Zhong Wan said in a raspy voice, “Heir…”
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“Heir is fine . Speaking of which, it’s strange . The more he has to do, the clearer his head is . Recently, he’s been very focused and diligent with his duties . Due to annihilating the traitors, he achieved a meritorious deed . His Majesty has even praised him . ” Worried, Steward Feng glanced at Zhong Wan . “But he still worries about you . ”
Zhong Wan forced himself to sit up . Said in a soft voice, “Very good . I… I want to be alone for a while . ”
Steward Feng sounded his agreement and retreated .
Zhong Wan fell into a daze for a while, a robe draped over his shoulders . He slowly climbed down the bed, making his way to the desk .
He picked up a brush . Somewhat cold, he curled up for a moment . Chest in pain due to all the anxiety .
Many years ago, after learning in the prison that Prince Ning had died, Zhong Wan had spat out a mouthful of blood . But back then, he had still been young . Without eating any medicine or resting, he recovered . Now, when he recalled that moment, he didn’t find it too unbearable . But this time, it was a different story . Zhong Wan felt as though someone had stabbed him in the stomach more than ten times . Just a twitch, and it were as if someone had stabbed his five viscera and six bowels .
Zhong Wan rested against the desk for a moment . Then he unfurled a roll of paper . He picked up a brush and wrote the word “son . ” Laughed in spite of himself . Then crushed the paper into a ball, throwing it aside .
Then he started on a new sheet of paper, writing, “Wan kneels and reports .
“Father should know what happened to Xuan Rui…”
Zhong Wan clutched his hands into fists, knuckles glowing white . He lowered his head and sucked in a breath . And he crushed this sheet of paper into a ball as well, tossing it to the side .
For a moment, Zhong Wan took his time . Then he picked up the brush once more .
“Wan kneels and reports .
“Prince and Princess Consort should already know what happened to Xuan Rui from the heavens . ”
Zhong Wan’s eyes reddened . He gritted his teeth . Endured .
“Wan traveled from the capital to Qian An and squandered many years . For the sake of self-preservation, I did not stop at anything, doing all kinds of contemptible things . Prince and Princess Consort should know already .
“Many years ago, the estate fell into ruin…
“In those seven years, I’ve completely failed to repay Ziyou’s kindness…”
“You…”
Startled, Zhong Wan lifted his head . Yu She had returned who knew when, and stood right behind him .
Yu She stared blankly at the letter Zhong Wan was writing to Prince Ning and Princess Consort Ning . Quietly, he read aloud, “In those seven years, I’ve completely failed to repay Ziyou’s kindness…
“Completely failed to repay Ziyou’s kindness . Completely failed to repay Ziyou’s kindness…” murmured Yu She . In his heart was a sorrow that could not be put into words . He closed his eyes . Holding Zhong Wan’s hand, he crossed out that sentence . And he said in a raspy voice, “You haven’t let me down . ”
All of a sudden, Zhong Wan dared not look at Yu She . There was pain in his heart . He lowered his head . “Didn’t you hear it from Xuan Rui?” he asked in a low voice . “Back then… I almost poisoned you . ”
Yu She kept silent .
Zhong Wan said, voice still low, “Just a bit more, and I would have taken your life . You don’t blame me?
“Xuan Rui thinks that because of you, I did not take revenge for Prince Ning . What do you think? You should understand more than he does, right? Should be more clear on the matter . The reason why I didn’t act against you was for the sake of Prince Qian An’s people . Just a momentary slip, and I could have poisoned you…”
Zhong Wan shifted his gaze to his own hands . Said near whisper, “If another Tang Ming appears in the future, to be honest, I actually—”
“Shut up,” said Yu She with indifference . “I don’t care who you did it for . No matter what you say, no matter what other people say, in my heart… you did not poison me because of me . ”
Zhong Wan’s heart trembled . He forced himself to say, “You…”
“I’m not Xuan Rui . No one can lead me astray . And neither can you,” said Yu She apathetically . “As long as I’m in your heart… I will not believe what anyone else says . ”
The Zhong Wan who already agreed not to cry anymore did his utmost to force the tears back in . Even his voice had changed . “How do you know how I feel…”
“That day…” Yu She choked with emotion . “When you left, you slipped the self-selling contract I had returned to you, silver tickets, and travel permits into a book . Do you remember the title of that book?”
Zhong Wan clenched his teeth .
Yu She said, “It’s the ‘Book of Songs . ’
“It’s the ‘Odes of Zheng . ’
“It’s… ‘Zi Jin . ’"
Yu She looked at Zhong Wan, gaze bordering on resentment . “On that day, you knew you couldn’t stay, so you didn’t want to tell me . Didn’t want to let me know…
“But you just had to leave behind an unfinished message for me . ‘O…’” Yu She stared at Zhong Wan, gaze unwavering . Eyes reddening . “‘O you with the blue collar, prolonged is the anxiety in my heart . although…’”
Finally, Zhong Wan broke down, tears flowing down his cheeks, choking with emotion . “’…Although I do not go to you, why do you not come to me?’”