"What you did for him drives me insane with jealousy." Bei Gongminhao's tone was calm, but his heart was already churning with turmoil.
Ji Wushang was slightly taken aback, "I..."
"Don't worry, I didn't mean anything by it." Beigong Minhao smiled wryly.
"sorry."
Beigong Minhao shook his head, "It's enough that you're happy by his side."
Ji Wushang pursed her lips and lowered her head, not daring to look into his eyes, but thinking that she hadn't finished asking her question, she still raised her head and said, "I want to talk about something else."
"Go ahead and say it," Beigong Min laughed heartily.
"I would like to ask you to do something for me," Ji Wushang said earnestly.
"What is it?" Do these people think they're omnipotent? They keep asking me to do this and that. If I die, let's see what they'll ask me to do next! Bei Gongminhao narrowed his eyes.
"I've found a way to cure Cong's legs." Ji Wushang stared intently at Beigong Minhao. "Please, you must help me!"
"Found a way? That's great. How can I help?" Bei Gongminhao frowned slightly, but something was wrong. Things shouldn't be that easy. If it were easy, she wouldn't have asked him for help. If it were easy, Nan Xuzong would have healed his own leg long ago! However, if he healed his leg, he would have a greater chance of winning the final battle. If he won... would he still keep his promise to him?
Beigong Minhao was lost in thought.
"I need the blood of the North Sea dragon, the datura of the Western Regions, the withered fruit of the East, and the snow toad of the Bohai Sea. Please help me, okay?" Ji Wushang looked at him, gazing into his expectant eyes.
Her eyes reflected her own image, but sadly, it was only temporary; it would never truly reach her heart. Beigong Minhao knew that a woman confined to the inner quarters like her couldn't possibly go out to search for these things…
"I'll help you." Bei Gongminhao nodded. Actually, if Nan Xuzong had gone to find these things, he wouldn't have needed much effort either. Could it be...?
"Please don't tell Cong, please keep this a secret for me!" Ji Wushang said.
"Why?" Bei Gongminhao narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. "No, you can't do this! I won't help you!"
"Please!" Ji Wushang knelt before him. "I haven't done much, please promise me to help him fulfill his wish."
Beigong Minhao turned his face away, his eyes brimming with tears. He held back, he just had to endure it!
Seeing that he remained unmoved, Ji Wushang continued, "Your Highness, you don't know how much he longs to stand up... He thinks about how to stand up all the time. To be honest... he said he wants to stand up, stand and undress me, hug me, stand freely, or sit or lie down at will, instead of being served and helped by others all the time."
Because of his legs, he had always endured countless scornful looks and ridicule. From childhood to adulthood, he suffered the scorn and ridicule of the people in the Marquis's mansion, and the scorn of all the common people in the capital. I doubt I know how strong his heart must be to bear all of this... You know he was born a prince, yet he lived a life worse than even the Second Young Master Nan, all because of his legs!
Ji Wushang sobbed, suppressing her tears, and continued, "How can I, as his wife, bear to let him continue living like this? He deserves what rightfully belongs to him."
Yes, he was highly skilled in martial arts, but he was confined to that wheelchair for his entire life. His life was confined to that tiny space. I... I couldn't bear to see him like this! The loneliness and sorrow in his eyes have been tugging at my heart ever since.
I don't know how much I can do for him, but I just want to fulfill one of his wishes.
"I am but a woman confined to the inner chambers of a secluded courtyard. I cannot do what you great men do. All I can do is to do a little more for my husband. I do not ask for the luxury of growing old with him... But what I hope for is that he can smile again, that he can stand up like any other person. That is all." Ji Wushang covered her face and wiped away her tears with a silk handkerchief.
Beigong Minhao closed his eyes as he listened, but tears silently streamed down his face.
You love him so much, yet you say you haven't done much for him... Nan Xuzong, you win, you've always been the winner, haha! Ji Wushang, are you content with this? Are you willing to say such things to me...?
Bei Gongminhao flicked his sleeve, wiping away his tears in that instant, but not wanting Ji Wushang to see anything amiss. He squatted down, then helped her up, his hands trembling slightly as he held her shoulders, and helped her sit on a stool to the side. "But, the price you paid was too high. I don't want you to hurt yourself."
Ji Wushang shook his head, his eyes warming slightly. "My body is very cold, and I'm afraid I won't be able to bear him a son or daughter in this lifetime. I don't know when I will be divorced—even if he may never despise me. But I still have to think of him and help him take concubines and have his maids taken."
"I don't want to share him with others, but having no heir is a grave matter, and I don't want him to be childless... My position as the principal wife will have to be relinquished sooner or later." Ji Wushang smiled slightly. "Then it won't matter. When he can stand up again, many women will come to our door. I, the principal wife of a marquis without an heir, will choose the most beautiful and virtuous wife in the entire capital for him. Then, he will have a beautiful wife and an adorable baby."
"No need to say anything more." Bei Gongminhao looked at her with sorrowful eyes. "I've been trying to find a way to help you with your health. That time in the Imperial Garden, I saw the snow and ice in your hands not melting, and I knew your body was frozen for a thousand years, but there must be a way. You will definitely be able to have a child for him." Bei Gongminhao himself didn't know why he said such a thing. Shouldn't he be happy knowing that she couldn't have a child for him? But seeing her unhappy made him unhappy too... Ji Wushang, Ji Wushang, you've done so much for him, do you know that he might not be happy?
“Wu Shang, maybe he would rather not stand up than have you do these things for him?” Bei Gong Minhao called her by her name directly and asked, “Although he likes children very much, but, but, if you can’t have one or two, he might not care anymore.”
Ji Wushang shook his head.
“Many things are beyond our control. You understand the current situation better than I do. The Third Prince just spoke with him,” Ji Wushang smiled. “He is slowly gaining importance, and slowly, there will be pressure from all sides, and a lot of things will bother him. Perhaps, he will be recognized and become a prominent prince, and for me, watching him like this is enough. This is all I can do. I beg you to grant my request.” Ji Wushang was about to kneel again as he spoke.
Beigong Minhao grabbed her hand, but it was icy cold to the touch, so she quickly pulled her hand away.
Beigong Minhao was slightly taken aback.
"Isn't it very cold?" Ji Wushang smiled instead. "I don't know when I'll turn into an ice man. Hehe!" The corners of Ji Wushang's mouth widened. "I am the best medicinal ingredient, it's just that I lack heart blood. It's okay, it won't cause me any harm."
"It won't cause you any harm?" Beigong Minhao frowned deeply, shook his head, and shook his head again.
Nan Xuzong wanted her to live, so he constantly sought ways to improve her health, even giving her the only heart-protecting pill left to him by his own mother. To ensure the success of the decisive battle three months later, he dug countless secret passages in the imperial city and explained countless things to her. Anticipating that he might die in the battle, he made a pact with her... And now, Ji Wushang, for the sake of his legs, wants to use herself as a medicinal ingredient...
Beigong Minhao wanted to laugh, to laugh at the cruel twist of fate! To laugh at how foolish they were, each one more so than the last!
"Really, I won't." Ji Wushang thought he was worried about him, so he immediately said, "I'll be fine, I'll always be fine."
"It will always be fine... Haha, haha!" Beigong Minhao suddenly smiled. "I promise you, I promise you everything!"
"Thank you." Ji Wushang bowed deeply to him. "Thank you." she said again.
"If he dares to betray you, I'll make sure he dies a horrible death!" Bei Gongminhao sneered.
"Please don't hurt him, please help him, always help him." Ji Wushang pleaded. "Now, you are brothers, and you will be brothers in the future, you always will be."
"No need to say more, go! Go back to him! I'll find those things for you within a month." Bei Gongminhao waved his sleeve. "He should be looking for you soon, don't let him suspect anything."
"Yes. Thank you." Ji Wushang walked out, and at the corner of the corridor, she glanced back at him. His gaze remained fixed on her.
Ji Wushang turned around and quickly walked out.
Beigong Minhao suddenly felt as if all his strength had been drained away, and he collapsed to the ground, back to the ground, legs in the air, head looking up at the pavilion.
"You've done so much for him, but will he even live to enjoy it? Wu Shang, Wu Shang, his legs are healed, and he has a very good chance of winning. But what about me? What about me? Does our promise still exist? Does it still exist? What do you take me for? Haha, what do I take for you? Tell me, tell me!"
"Nan Xuzong, Nan Xuzong, you never expected this, did you? Hehe!" Bei Gongmin laughed heartily. "I understand now. You've always known how to cure her legs, but you've been bewitched by her. You've refused to use her, you've always thought of so many things for her, done so much for her, and didn't want her to suffer any harm. But you don't know, do you? She's willingly become your pawn. She's willing, hahaha! How laughable, how laughable!" Bei Gongmin laughed until tears streamed down his face.
“I promise you everything, I promise you everything! I will protect her, I will protect her slowly… protect our promise, protect her slowly… You win, you win…” Bei Gongminhao shook his head and laughed wildly a few more times.
Seeing that no one was around, Ji Wushang carefully wiped away her tears, then took out some rouge to touch up her makeup. Feeling that everything should be fine, she packed up her things and then went out.
Nan Xuzong was talking to Huangfu Xuan and Huangfu Ting, but he couldn't hear them talking to each other. So he looked around but couldn't see Ji Wushang.
Oh, right, she said she wanted to visit the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion. What a terrible memory! Nan Xuzong shook his head inwardly.
"Third brother, when did you meet the King of the Western Regions?" Huangfu Ting asked.
Nan Xuzong also wanted to ask this, so he turned his gaze to Huangfu Xuan. He had no intention of forgiving Huangfu Xuan for what he had just said to him!
"Hehe, after the Western Regions presented their alliance to us, I entered the Western Regions City and happened to meet him. At the time, I didn't know who he was. We drank together a few times, and that's how we got to know each other. Later, I found out that he was actually a prince of the Western Regions. Hehe!" Huangfu Xuan said with a forced smile.
Nan Xuzong nodded. "I see," he thought. "That fits the Western Regions King's personality. However, according to the investigation, his original personality wasn't like this..."
At this moment, Bei Gong Jueshi was seen being escorted onto a tall horse, and he bowed with his hands clasped in thanks to everyone for their kindness.
But when they saw his strange eyes, none of the guests dared to approach him, because those eyes were just too eerie!
Huangfu Xuan looked over, his eyes narrowing slightly. It was indeed a ghost eye unlike any other!
"I'll go see off the second son of the Prince of Zhenbei!" Huangfu Xuan said, immediately stepping forward.
Huangfu Ting's eyes turned cold. He was quick, clearly gathering his own power! The Consort Yuan had just died; she should be observing mourning in her own palace, yet she came here. Did he have to be in such a hurry? He was still in mourning, yet he was offering such congratulations to the newlyweds—wasn't he afraid of bringing them bad luck?!
Huangfu Ting's lips curled up in a smile.
Nan Xuzong looked at them and said, "It's getting late, I'll go take a look elsewhere. Please enjoy your meal, Your Highness!"
"Hmm." Huangfu Ting nodded slightly, then looked at Huangfu Xuan.
Huangfu Xuan stepped forward, "Second Prince!"
"It is the Third Prince!" Bei Gong Jue Shi reined in his horse and looked down at Huangfu Xuan.
"Congratulations to the second son of the king! May you have a long and happy marriage!" Huangfu Xuan said, his tone still slightly cold.
Bei Gong Jue Shi cupped his hands in thanks, "Thank you for your kindness, Third Prince!"
"Then we won't delay the second son of the Wang family!" Huangfu Xuan went to the other side.
Bei Gong Jue Shi's eyes darkened, and then he led his entourage toward the post station.
Finally, I'm going to welcome her, finally, I'm going to give her a grand wedding. Although I can't do anything for her, I'm willing to spend my whole life protecting her.
Mu Chen, I'm here.
As Nan Xuzong watched Beigong Jueshi and his entourage walk away, he turned back to search for the figures of several people. However, Beigong Minhao was nowhere to be seen, and he hadn't gone to help with the wedding procession... Nan Xuzong's eyes narrowed slightly, and he turned his wheelchair towards the courtyard.
Ji Wushang turned the corner and looked up to meet Nan Xuzong's gaze. He was already pushing his wheelchair toward her. "Wushang, where did you just go?"
"I'm lost, I'm just wandering around!" Ji Wushang laughed, walked up to him and pushed his wheelchair. "Take me out of here!"
"Yes, this way." Nan Xuzong nodded, but his gaze swept over everything around him. There was no one there. He was just being paranoid... hopefully not.
Ji Wushang pushed his wheelchair and said, "I think today is actually quite peaceful, there shouldn't be anything wrong!"
Nan Xuzong sighed softly, "I hope I'm just overthinking it."
"Let's go out. After we pick up the bride, we'll give them gifts. I hope they'll like them."
"good."
The two returned to the main hall and had just drunk a cup of tea to calm their nerves when they saw Beigong Minhao walking in from outside, his figure nimble and agile. The direction he was heading was outside the mansion.
Nan Xuzong narrowed his eyes. When did he leave the manor?
Ji Wushang looked at him, thinking about what had just happened, lowered his head, smiled, and poured Nan Xuzong a glass of wine, "These Hundred Flower Dews are quite good."
"Drink less," Nan Xuzong said, his gaze fixed on her glass.
"Actually, it's only half a cup, it's fine." Ji Wushang smiled and drank the wine.
Bei Gongminhao glanced at them, then walked directly towards the Prince of Zhenbei and his wife, saying, "Father, Mother, everything is ready."
"That's good." The Prince of Zhenbei nodded, and the Princess of Zhenbei also nodded with a smile. It had been a long time coming, and finally Jueshi could marry the princess. If only Minhao could settle his life's major event and marry a virtuous wife, even if she didn't have to be from a high-class family like Gao Fengfen! It would be great if she could bear him a son or daughter!
Beigong Minhao stood to the side and said, "It'll be ready in a moment."
The crowd was drinking and eating, waiting for the bride to drink with the groom.
Nan Xuzong pulled Ji Wushang's hand, held it tightly, and transferred his warmth to her, looking at her with eyes full of love.
Huangfu Lan's gaze drifted towards them. Seeing the two of them so affectionate, she lowered her starry eyes, thought for a moment, and then said to Princess Qinlian and Princess Qinxiang, "Let me tell you, Father and Mother actually intend to hold a selection banquet for imperial concubines soon. You should both prepare well!"
"Ah?" Princess Qinlian exclaimed in surprise.
"It's true, I overheard it. You all need to prepare well, there are unmarried women who could be your wives! But what about my three brothers? I also hope that you could become my good sisters-in-law!" Huangfu Lan whispered.
Princess Qinlian blushed, while Princess Qinxiang was a little nervous, "I, I'm only thirteen."
"What's there to be afraid of at thirteen? Let's get engaged first. When you come of age, you can consummate the marriage. It's alright to marry first!" Huangfu Lan laughed.
"Is this...is this alright?" Princess Qinxiang asked somewhat timidly.
Huangfu Lan smiled and said, "You guys chat, I'll go take a look over there first."