"What did you do during those days you stayed at Lanqi Palace?"
Si Xinian paused, holding his chopsticks. He placed them on the chopstick rest, as if thinking of the time when his elder sister had kept her doubts.
Instead of answering first, he said, "You mean you secretly watched her from the attic every night with a lantern, trying to cram for the last minute?"
Si Xitong: "You are always reckless in your actions. She has never blamed you, so why did you clash with her?"
Si Xinian's eyes darkened: "Have you ever thought about how you once made a wish in front of me, saying you wanted to marry a perfect husband? And have you ever thought about how when I woke up, all I heard were the rumors about you from the Xie family?"
He woke up to find his eldest sister facing a crisis and constant questioning. He seemed to be an unlucky person, as every time he heard news about his sister, it was bad news.
While his father was alive, he was highly regarded, which led his father to neglect his elder sister and only wanted her to live a peaceful life in the inner palace.
He knew that his talents were inferior to his elder sister's, but his status as the eldest son overshadowed her. His elder sister never complained.
But one's life is not something to be given away. So he chose to do things in the most annoying way to provoke his father and make him see his elder sister's talent. Over time, his father did notice his elder sister, but he also hid her in the backyard.
He, too, had always been willful and reckless, and had developed a bad habit.
"I'm sorry." I apologize for what I did in the past, and also for my current immaturity.
"Royal sister, I'm sorry."
Si Xitong couldn't bear to blame him. She put down her chopsticks, moved closer to him, and gently hugged him. She felt his body stiffen suddenly. Thinking that he only showed his soft side to her, she smiled faintly: "It's been a long time since I hugged you, Your Majesty."
"Does it feel strange? It's okay, just hug me more and you'll get used to it."
Si Xinian immediately lowered his head, his eyes filled with tears.
"I......"
“Lanzhi said she wanted me to be a little phoenix. I didn’t understand at first, but she told me this while holding me.” Si Xitong gradually lost her composure and recalled the events of not long ago: “The first time I heard that you were still alive, I rushed to her, and she held me and promised me that she would definitely find out about you.”
"Later, she comforted me several times, saying, 'You're still alive. Wait for news to confirm that you're still alive.' Then I told her about the plans we had worked out together."
Si Xinian listened silently.
"She said you don't value your life. And I also sensed that you were determined to die in carrying out your past plans."
"Afterwards, when she came to Tianjing, she was afraid I would worry, so she didn't tell me that you were poisoned and unconscious. She told everyone to keep it from me. I was angry with her for a while, but in just a moment, I realized her difficulties and knew that she had to do this."
"Because at that critical juncture, Tianjing was still unsettled, and there were many government affairs to handle and manage. It was only in just one month that Tianjing, and even the imperial court, began to function normally."
Si Xitong smiled faintly again: "After that, she took me to the Shenxing Division to kill Huang Mang to avenge my father. Then she let me strive to be reinstated and to advance to the ninth rank. She was thinking of me in everything she did. Just thinking about her love for me makes me unable to be angry, let alone ignore her."
"So much so that she has unknowingly entered my life and become an indispensable person in my life."
“A-Nian, perhaps to you she is just a stranger who suddenly barged into your life, but to me she is already my hero. We met someone we want to cherish for a lifetime at the wrong time, so we can’t let go and watch our happiness slip away.”
"Royal sister, I understand." Si Xinian looked up, wiped away the tears in his eyes, and as the resentment in his heart dissipated, he seemed to relax a lot.
Thinking that he had deliberately embarrassed Xie Lanzhi, Xie Lanzhi faced it calmly and never lied to him.
He couldn't help but clench his fist: "I will make up for the trouble I caused."
"I'm the one who wronged her."
Seeing that her younger brother was somewhat accepting, Si Xitong said happily, "She won't allow anyone to interfere in this matter. If you want to make amends, there's plenty of time in the future; she'll definitely give you a chance."
“She…” Si Xinian said with a troubled expression, “She’s a very difficult person to understand. She seems open-minded, but in reality, it’s all just a facade. Maybe she’s already planning something big behind the scenes.”
"Oh, you understand her so quickly." Si Xitong picked up another pair of chopsticks and served him food, her face beaming with happiness, as if she felt proud to hear her brother praise Xie Lanzhi.
Outside the palace, Xiao Xiu brought over the deceased's medicine bowl and instructed, "Fourth Prince, the imperial physician said that you must not delay taking your medicine. Please drink it quickly."
When Si Xinian heard about medicine, his face fell, and he refused.
At this moment, Xie Shangguang peeked in, sniffing around. Actually, he wanted to see if the mistress was in a good mood today, so he could write a report for the marshal and let him know.
There was a bitter taste coming in.
He pinched his nose and said, "Madam, are you feeling unwell?"
In response, Si Xinian drank the medicine in one gulp, then boldly placed the medicine bowl on the table.
Xie Shangguang: "Fourth Prince, it's you. You're so weak, yet you still competed with the Marshal and ordered me to do so many things."
Si Xi Nian: = =#
She ignored him. Si Xinian's mouth was full of bitterness and she didn't want to speak anymore. She felt that if she opened her mouth, that unpleasant smell would waft out.
Smelling the aroma, Si Xitong called out to Xie Shangguang, "Have you eaten yet?"
"It's already been used. The kid just wanted a cup of tea, but he probably doesn't want it now. The Fourth Prince's medicine smells awful." Xie Shangguang pinched his nose and shrank back.
Si Xinian gave him a cold look: "My medicine wouldn't affect your thirst quenching, would it?"
As he spoke, he picked up the teapot from the tea table, stuffed it into Xie Shangguang's arms, and then pushed him out of the hall.
Xie Shangguang took the teapot out, muttering, "They didn't even give me a cup."
Soon, a cup flew out of the hall, and he immediately caught it with a swift movement.
Xie Shangguang was quite surprised: "Has this arrogant prince changed his ways?"
Inside the hall, Si Xitong looked helpless, seeing that her younger brother's personality was still so awkward.
She said, "Shangguang is a good boy."
"He's definitely a good kid," Si Xinian agreed. An easy kid to bully.
Si Xitong knew he wouldn't get along with Shang Guang peacefully, and she said with a headache, "After the meal, go back to Lanqi Palace and don't wander around unless you have to."
"I will listen to what my elder sister says." Si Xinian picked up a bowl of sweet cake. He scooped a spoonful into his mouth, and it still tasted the same as before.
A little while later, another old woman brought a bowl of milk to the table.
The one who spoke was Xie's old woman: "Mistress, this is the milk that the Marshal instructed you to take care of your health every day."
Xiao Xiu immediately looked up, her eyes shining: Full breasts!
No wonder Her Highness changed her undergarment recently. It's all thanks to the effects of milk.
Si Xitong nodded, picked up the milk, scooped up a mouthful, and slowly brought it to her lips.
"Wait a minute." Si Xinian reached out to her: "Royal sister, can I drink first?"
Upon hearing this, Granny Xie asked in confusion, "Your Highness, this is milk specially made for the mistress. If you like it, I will have someone make another bowl."
"No need, I'll just have a small bite. Please let me have a bite, Mother." Si Xinian reached for the bowl and said to Xie Shi in a gentle tone, "If the Marshal gets angry, she'll only come after me. It won't bother you."
The old woman was stunned by his fawning manner; this troublemaker had actually become kind. She had no choice but to nod and say, "Yes, but only a small bite."
He said it would be just a small sip, but he tilted his head back and gulped it down. The old woman's jaw dropped. She should have known better than to believe him!
Afterwards, Si Xinian cautiously tried to sense the changes in his body, but there were no changes. Instead, the mixture of milk and medicine made him feel nauseous.
The old woman was speechless. She took the bowl, then went back out and brought back a second bowl of milk.
Si Xinian was about to try again, but this time, Si Xitong held his hand down: "Alright. I know you're cautious, but this is Lanzhang Palace."
That's right, Xie would never harm the mistress.
Si Xi Nian breathed a sigh of relief.
Si Xitong picked up the milk and drank it slowly with a spoon, sip after sip, savoring its warmth and fragrance. After finishing, she gently wiped the faint stains from the corner of her lips with a handkerchief, then got up, seemingly intending to go out for a walk to digest her food.
Si Xinian hurriedly got up and followed him out.
At midday, Lanzhang Palace is quieter than usual. In the past, other palace servants would pass by, but now there are no birds flying over the eaves, and it is unusually quiet.
Si Xitong frowned slightly. Just as she stepped out of the palace, she suddenly felt unwell in her stomach. She was about to turn back into the palace when she bumped into Si Xinian, who had followed her out.
"Royal...Sister..."
The air around him seemed to echo with emptiness. His younger brother was right in front of him, and his voice sounded like it came from beyond the heavens. But when he looked at him again, Si Xitong's vision blurred rapidly. The next moment, the blurry scene spun around him, Si Xitong's pupils lost their luster, his body went limp, his knees buckled, and he was about to fall.
"Sister!!" Si Xinian cried out in horror as she helped her up.
Si Xitong tried to reply, but ultimately her head lolled to the side and she fainted.
"Marshal, regarding that official matter, I believe it should be handled this way. Your idea is also good, but there's no need to rush into implementation. We need to let the people below get used to you before promoting it further," Wu Qiu's voice came.
Xie Lanzhi then listened to official business, and she hurried along Lanzhang Palace without slowing down her pace.
I'm almost home.
Suddenly, a voice cried out, "Sister!!!"
Si Xinian's voice was filled with utter terror.
Xie Lanzhi rushed to Lanzhang Palace, her eyes filled with the image of that beautiful woman in her heart. She collapsed in her brother's arms, her eyes tightly closed, her lips turning blue.
Xie Lanzhi froze, her pupils contracting instantly, her wide eyes gradually crumbling with emotion: "Little Phoenix!!"
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 17:02:30 on November 30, 2021 and 19:28:57 on December 1, 2021!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: 迷1个;
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Passerby A, B, C, D, E, Xu (10 bottles); Xin Xin (2 bottles);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 37 The Antidote and the Declaration of War Against Life and Death
Si Xinian felt like he had found his pillar of support. He was on the verge of collapse and almost lost his mind, shouting at her, "Sister, brother-in-law, what...what should we do? What should we do about my royal sister?!"
"Send him to the Imperial Hospital!" She picked up Si Xitong and rushed towards the Imperial Hospital.
When the physicians of the Imperial Medical Academy saw the Marshal personally leading the princess in, they were all shocked.
Wu Qiu summoned the best physician.
Xie Lanzhi placed Si Xitong on the bed in the Imperial Hospital, warmed Si Xitong's left hand with one hand, and said in a trembling voice, "Quickly...quickly take her pulse!"
"Marshal, please release your grip and allow me to take your pulse." The physician disregarded the proper etiquette and took Xiang Siqitong's pulse. It was sometimes weak and sometimes strong. He also noticed that Xiang Siqitong's lips had turned from blue to purple, which was clearly a sign of poisoning.
Physician: "Marshal, the princess has been poisoned."
Xie Lanzhi immediately turned to Si Xinian and asked, "What did she eat today?"
Si Xinian's lips trembled, his expression panicked. He tried to calm himself down, remembering that his elder sister hadn't eaten much, but there was one thing she ate a lot of.