Later, without really understanding what was going on, I gave the new bed away, obediently had a bed rail made, and slept inside the bed.
Then... he watched helplessly as Xiao Lin went from being next to him, to squeezing him, to finally using both hands and feet to hug him like a pillow, rubbing against him for a long time before finally settling down.
What can Yutang do?
You can't drive them away, and you can't argue with them, so you can only put up with it.
Anyway, it's the middle of winter, and this way it's warm, so it's fine to let him hold me.
The eunuch couldn't stand the environment in the northern nine cities after staying there for more than a month.
Seeing that Xiao Lin was indeed listless and confined to his wheelchair, he was convinced that Xiao Lin was truly ruined. So he took a group of criminals and left the border, heading towards the southern capital.
After he left, Xiao Lin finally began to contact his subordinates.
When the guards arrived, he did not avoid Yu Tang.
Right in front of Yu Tang, he handed the written letter to the guard: "Take this letter to Scholar Wang of the Hanlin Academy, and he will know what to do."
Wang Ze is the son of the late Prime Minister's former student. He has long harbored resentment towards Emperor Xiao Sheng and has been dedicated to exonerating the Prime Minister. He is also one of the few people Xiao Lin can trust in the capital.
"Yes, Your Highness." The guard carefully placed the letter close to his body, his mask covering the upper half of his face. His gaze fell on Yu Tang, then shifted away. He took out a medicine bottle from his pocket and placed it on the table: "When I came here, I met Physician Lu. He asked me to give this medicine to you."
Yu Tang's gaze fell on the porcelain bottle, wondering what kind of medicine it was, when he saw Xiao Lin's expression change.
"How many times have I told you! I'm not sick!" He swept the porcelain bottle to the ground, scattering the pills everywhere. "Get out! Get out of here! Don't ever bring me this stuff again!"
The guard seemed used to his manner, sighed, and advised, "Your Highness, the Nine Cities of the North are not like the South. It's cold here, and it snows often. Your illness..."
Xiao Lin flew into a rage and roared, "Get out!"
The guards had no choice but to leave.
Watching the person walk away, Xiao Lin slumped into his wheelchair, supporting his aching head with his hand, trying to calm himself down.
Yu Tang was puzzled, but he knew it was best for him to remain silent at this stage.
So he squatted down and gathered up the fragments and pills, wrapped them in a cloth, and quietly put them in the drawer.
After waiting a while, Xiao Lin finally spoke.
"I'm sorry, General, you must have made me look foolish." He seemed to have returned to normal: "Don't take what that guard said to heart. I'm not sick, and that's not medicine I should be taking."
"I'm just angry that Dr. Lu always takes it upon himself to prescribe these unnecessary things for me..."
"Yes, I understand." Yu Tang didn't expose his lie, but said, "Your Highness, the end of the year is approaching, and the streets are bustling with activity. How about I take you out for a stroll?"
Xiao Lin twitched his fingers and nodded: "Mm..."
It was rare for there to be no war for two or three months, and with the Spring Festival of Xiao Kingdom approaching, Beijiu City finally began to show signs of prosperity.
The streets were full of vendors selling New Year's goods, with stalls every few steps, and vendors calling out to passersby to come and buy their products.
The people greeted Xiao Lin and Yu Tang warmly when they saw them.
Especially the vendor selling candied hawthorns, knowing that Xiao Lin loved this stuff, immediately stuffed a skewer into his hand.
Xiao Lin pursed his lips, as if he could hear that good-for-nothing's voice in his mind.
Like a child, I'm easily swayed by sweet things.
He took the candied hawthorn, thanked the man, and began to eat it. Strangely, his mood improved somewhat.
Yu Tang noticed the change in his emotions and breathed a sigh of relief.
I saw hairpins for sale by the roadside, both men's and women's styles.
But it was mostly young women who gathered there to pick and choose; very few men went there.
Yu Tang glanced at it and was about to leave when his gaze suddenly fixed on a simple wooden hairpin, and he unconsciously stopped in his tracks.
The tip of the hairpin was irregular, uneven, but the texture was clear, giving it a simple and elegant look.
After telling Xiao Lin to wait for him, Yu Tang walked to the stall, picked up the hairpin, and examined it carefully.
"General?" The vendor's eyes crinkled with a smile when he saw Yu Tang. "Buying a hairpin as a gift?"
"However, this is a men's hairpin. If you have a girl you like, you should give her a women's hairpin."
"You've misunderstood," Yu Tang said helplessly. "I wanted to buy it as a gift for a friend."
"Oh, friend." The vendor's interest waned somewhat, but he remained enthusiastic. "If the general likes this wooden hairpin, just take it. I won't charge you..."
"You must take the money." Yu Tang handed the money to the vendor and said, "I also need to ask you to teach me how to carve a word on it..."
Night had fallen.
After finishing his candied hawthorn, Xiao Lin propped his head up and looked at the red lanterns hanging on the road, feeling a little dizzy.
It was as if I could hear a woman's mournful voice, choked with sobs, singing a heart-wrenching melody...
The winters in the north are really cold. Xiao Lin rubbed his aching temples, trying to resist the noise in his mind.
"Your Highness..." Yu Tang's voice suddenly came in, interrupting Xiao Lin's thoughts.
When he looked up, the man was already kneeling in front of him, handing him a simple wooden hairpin. His face was bathed in the warm light of the lantern, and the surrounding flow of people created layers of light and shadow.
She looked at him with a smile: "This is for you..."
Time seemed to stand still at that moment.
Xiao Lin's heart was beating a little fast, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
After a long while, he took the wooden hairpin from Yu Tang's hand and his gaze fell on the character "凛" (Lin) carved on the side.
It was clearly carved on the uneven wooden edge, so it should have been crooked and distorted.
Yet the strokes remain neat and orderly, revealing the care taken by the engraver.
“Lin…” Yu Tang said, “It is not that a harsh winter is coming, with desolate snow, but rather that the ruler is upright and honest, and the air is filled with righteousness.”
"Your Highness..." he said, "Happy birthday in advance."
Chapter 11
He died for the villain for the fourth time (11)
After the incident involving his maternal clan, apart from his mother, no one else had ever remembered Xiao Lin's birthday.
Since that incident eleven years ago, he has never celebrated his birthday again.
I even forced myself to forget that year and that day.
Now, unexpectedly, he was brought up by an outsider named Yu Tang, who even gave him what he called a gift.
"How did you know my birthday was in the next few days?" Xiao Lin gripped the wooden hairpin, his fingers lightly tracing the character "Lin".
He used to hate his own name terribly.
Because that beast, Emperor Xiao Sheng, gave him that name.
Rin represents the cold winter, and what he hates most is the cold winter and snow.
However, Yu Tang's words added another layer of meaning to the character "凛".
A wise and upright ruler, possessing an awe-inspiring righteous spirit...
They are all good words, but they don't suit him.
It's only suitable for that good-for-nothing.
Yu Tang's words were perhaps meant for that good-for-nothing, not for him.
Thinking of this, Xiao Lin felt a tightness in his chest.
"I heard..." Yu Tang's words pulled Xiao Lin back to reality.
He had just bought the hairpin and was thinking of a reason to give it to Xiao Lin. He asked the system and found out that Xiao Lin's birthday was coming soon.
Then it'll be a perfect birthday present.
Standing up, Yu Tang rubbed his fingers together: "However, this thing is not very valuable, and I hope Your Highness will not find it offensive."
Xiao Lin tucked the hairpin into his robes and softly replied to Yu Tang, "Thank you..."
He noticed Yu Tang's actions and pulled the man's hand over.
"Hey, Your Highness!" Yu Tang tried to dodge, but couldn't.
He could only let Xiao Lin see the bloody cut on his hand from the carving knife; it wasn't deep, but it still hurt.
"Did you carve it yourself?"
"Hmm..." Yu Tang felt a little uncomfortable as he held her hand: "After all, it's a gift for you, so I should put some thought into it."
Xiao Lin held his hand in silence.
Then, warm, slender fingers suddenly pressed hard on Yu Tang's wound.
"Hiss..." Yu Tang gasped, and when he looked at Xiao Lin again, he found that the boy's eyes were red, but not because of sadness, but because of anger and impatience.
"General Yu..." Xiao Lin's voice was filled with suppressed emotions as he asked him, "I want to ask you, if one day you find that I am not as you expect me to be, how will you treat me?"
I am not that good-for-nothing, I am the real Xiao Lin.
Struggling to survive in the deep palace, she vowed to vent all her suffering on those beasts.
Xiao Lin, gloomy and violent.
In my eyes, the country you love, the people you love, and everything you cherish are all insignificant.
Given my current situation, would you still be so accommodating and caring towards me?
These were Xiao Lin's thoughts, all contained within his dark eyes.
Yu Tang saw through it all.
The atmosphere froze.
After a moment, Yu Tang spoke.
"One day you are His Highness's servant."
"A person who will serve His Highness for life."
The handsome man's smile remained pure and warm, and his voice was firm.