When he knocked and came in, he saw Xu Jiaolong lying on the bed, rubbing her forehead. He quickly went over and asked, "Aunt Xu, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"Hmm, something's not right. My head hurts a bit, and I don't feel very strong. I don't know if I've caught a cold. Why don't you go and ask the physician to come and take a look at me?" Xu Jiaolong said.
"Alright." Feng Muting nodded slightly and then had someone summon the imperial physician.
After the physician came over and took Xu Jiaolong's pulse, he frowned and said, "Madam, this is not a cold, but a strange illness. My medical skills are insufficient, and I have no way to cure you."
Chapter 339 Good Intentions
After hearing this, Feng Muting said, "How about this, I'll send Aunt Xu to the palace. The imperial physicians there are naturally better than the physicians in my household."
Xu Jiaolong shook her head: "No, don't bother your father. Go outside and ask a doctor to come and take a look at me. We'll talk about it if it really doesn't work."
"Alright then, I'll go find a few doctors outside to take a look at Aunt Xu." Feng Muting wasn't in a hurry and did as Xu Jiaolong suggested.
However, several doctors came afterward, but none of them could do anything about it.
Feng Muting said, "Now Aunt Xu can go to the palace with peace of mind, right? If Father Emperor knew you were ill, he would definitely be worried."
"I just don't want to bother him or cause him any trouble."
“How can this be considered a worry? If Aunt Xu were sick and Father didn’t know, then Father would be very upset. Father… cares a lot about Aunt Xu,” Feng Muting replied.
Xu Jiaolong's eyes flickered, but she remained silent.
Feng Muting then sent Xu Jiaolong to the palace. When the Emperor saw the ill Xu Jiaolong, his eyes were full of concern: "What happened to you?"
Feng Muting cupped his hands and said, "Aunt Xu has suddenly fallen ill with a strange disease. The doctors outside the palace are helpless, so I had no choice but to send her into the palace so that Father Emperor can send an imperial physician to examine Aunt Xu properly."
"Someone, go to the Imperial Hospital and summon Imperial Physicians Tang, Chen, and Song to consult on Miss Xu's case!" the Emperor said urgently.
Xu Jiaolong blushed slightly: "I'm... I'm already this old, why are you still calling me 'girl'?"
The Emperor was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said, "You're still in your prime, how can you not be a young lady?"
Seeing the two of them, Feng Muting cupped his hands and said, "Then, Father, please take good care of Aunt Xu. I will take my leave now."
The Emperor glanced at him and said, "Wait a moment, do you see the memorials on the table? Move them all away."
Feng Muting glanced at the imperial desk and frowned slightly: "Move...move everything away?"
"Your Aunt Xu is not feeling well, and I have to take care of her. How can I have time to deal with so many memorials? Besides, aren't you supposed to share my burden?" the Emperor retorted.
“…Yes.” Feng Muting pursed his lips and had no choice but to go over and carry the mountain of memorials piled up on the table into his arms. However, he couldn’t carry them all by himself, so the Emperor “thoughtfully” sent someone to help him move them.
Feng Muting looked at the stacks of documents in his arms and sighed softly. For his A-Liu, for their future happiness, he would work hard!
Looking at him, Xu Jiaolong said, "Your Majesty shouldn't tire Shi'er out, he..."
"Stop defending him. He's still young. If he doesn't suffer a little now, what will he do in the future? I'm doing this for his own good. If you're not feeling well, you should rest. The imperial physician will come later and give you a proper check-up."
Xu Jiaolong said somewhat embarrassedly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, but there are just too many memorials. If I get busy, I'm afraid I won't have time to spend with you..."
“They’re already staying at his residence, what’s there to worry about them running away? It’s just a short visit, it’s no big deal. If a young man can’t even control himself, what will he amount to in the future?” The Emperor glanced at Feng Muting. “What are you still standing there for? Take all the memorials away and don’t disturb your Aunt Xu’s recovery.”
"…Aunt Xu, please take good care of yourself. Father, I will take my leave."
After Feng Muting left, Xu Jiaolong said to the Emperor, "Why is Your Majesty different from before? You used to be very biased towards Shi'er, but now you seem a bit harsh?"
"Is this too harsh? He didn't want to take this path before, so I naturally let him. But now that he has chosen this path, he has to adapt."
Xu Jiaolong said, "But we both know that Shi'er is capable enough to handle this task."
The Emperor shook his head: "I have never doubted his abilities. I am now helping him to maintain appearances. When the officials see that he is so diligent and ambitious and can handle these state affairs well, they will naturally feel more at ease. When the power is handed over in the future, the officials will support him more sincerely, rather than because of his temper or his favor."
"I see, Your Majesty's intentions are truly profound." Xu Jiaolong nodded, understanding the Emperor's purpose.
Chapter 340 Brother, is the candy sweet?
Su Fuliu was worried that things wouldn't go smoothly, so she nervously looked around at the gate of the mansion, waiting for Feng Muting to return.
Xie Chen stood expressionless to the side, holding his sword and guarding the area.
Su Fuliu paced back and forth, her gaze falling on Xie Chen. She gave an awkward smile and said, "Xie Chen, you don't need to follow me so closely, and you don't need to look so serious. I'm not leaving. I'll just stay at the door. Nothing will happen."
"I have my responsibilities to fulfill, young master, please don't worry about it," Xie Chen replied.
Su Fuliu looked at Xie Chen, who seemed a bit unapproachable, and didn't say anything more, continuing to look outside.
At this moment, Su Yan walked over and asked, "Young Master Su, has the Prince not returned yet?"
Su Fuliu shook her head: "No."
"Oh, but he should be back soon." Su Yan replied, then stood at the door with Su Fuliu, waiting for Feng Muting to return.
Xie Chen looked at Su Yan, then silently changed his position and stood next to him.
Su Yan glanced at him, then his gaze fell on the longsword in his arms, and he couldn't help but take two steps to the side.
Xie Chen was slightly taken aback, then hung the long sword on the other side of his waist. After hanging it up, he took two steps closer to Su Yan.
Su Yan looked at Xie Chen, who was clinging to him, and wanted to say something but felt it was inconvenient to do so.
There was nothing we could do but let him stand there.
Suddenly, Su Yan felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned his head slightly and saw Xie Chen's open hand with a piece of candy in his palm.
Su Yan was stunned for a moment, then glared at him, but ignored him.
Xie Chen moved even closer and stuffed the candy in his hand into Su Yan's hand.
But Su Yan wouldn't answer, and even gestured with his eyes for him to stop making trouble, since Su Fuliu was still there.
However, Su Fuliu was focused on the street, waiting for the Prince's carriage to return, and didn't pay any attention to what they were doing.
Seeing that Su Yan refused to accept the candy, Xie Chen simply unwrapped it and stuffed it into his own mouth before turning around.
Before Su Yan could react, Xie Chen suddenly turned around and stood in front of him. By the time he realized what was happening, the candy was already in his mouth.
Before he could blink, Xie Chen was already standing back beside him, as if nothing had happened.
As Su Fuliu turned around, she casually glanced at Su Yan and Xie Chen, and was taken aback. Then she asked, "Su Yan, why is your face so red?"
Su Yan, with a candy in his mouth, shook his head: "No, no, right?"
"Why not? Your ears are all red. Are you feeling unwell?" Su Fuliu said, preparing to come over and take a look.
Xie Chen took the initiative to touch Su Yan's forehead and replied, "He doesn't have a fever."
Su Yan also said, "I'm really alright. Look, the Prince is back!"
Upon hearing this, Su Fuliu immediately turned around and saw the Prince's carriage slowly approaching. He quickly went to greet it.
Su Yan breathed a sigh of relief, then glared at Xie Chen with annoyance.
Xie Chen smiled at him and asked softly, "Brother, is the candy sweet?"
Su Yan, with a candy in his mouth, gritted his teeth and said, "Xie Chen, if you dare to feed me like this again, I won't let you get away with it!"
"So how do you want to punish me, brother? How about you feed me like this too?" Xie Chen leaned closer to him, his smile somewhat malicious.
The thought of the guy in front of him plotting how to eat him made Su Yan feel a sharp pain in his back. He quickly pushed him away and said, "The prince is back. There's no need for you to stay here and guard Young Master Su. Go, go, go!"
Chapter 341 It's still my Ah Liu who feels sorry for me.
Xie Chen smiled and said softly, "I bought a lot of candy, it's all in the room. Remember to come back and eat it when you're done. But don't overindulge, or your teeth will hurt."
After saying that, he turned and went back to his residence.
Su Yan glared at him irritably, then bit into the candy in her mouth. Although Xie Chen was despicable, the candy was quite sweet.
He then quickly went to greet them.
Feng Muting got off the carriage carrying a pile of folded documents. He was delighted to see Su Fuliu waiting for him at the door. Unfortunately, he couldn't even hold Su Fuliu's hand, let alone hug her.
"Your Highness, why are there so many memorials?" Su Fuliu asked.
“It’s the task my good father entrusted to me,” Feng Muting replied.
“But this is too much…” Su Fuliu said, offering to help carry some.
Feng Muting avoided the question, saying, "No need."
Su Yan hurriedly came over and said, "Shall I help Your Highness with this?"
Feng Muting nodded slightly and stuffed all the documents into Su Yan's hands. Then he added, "There are more in the carriage. Have someone bring them in."
"Yes..." Su Yan was carrying a mountain of documents, and he didn't dare to bend over, because if he did, they would all fall.
Feng Muting was finally able to free his hand to hold Su Fuliu's hand.
But Su Fuliu was still eager to help: "I'll help carry some."
As he was about to go over, Feng Muting stopped him: "No need, Su Yan will find someone to help. There's no need for your help. Come on, spend some time with me. Once all the documents are moved in, I'm afraid I won't have time to spend with you."
Su Fuliu looked at all those memorials, felt sorry for Feng Muting, and nodded.
After Feng Muting led him back to the room, he hugged him tightly and refused to let go: "Father really 'cares' for me. There are so many memorials. Even if I forget to eat and sleep, it will take me two days and two nights to finish them."
Su Fuliu was genuinely heartbroken. He nestled in Feng Muting's arms and said, "The Emperor didn't say that Tinglang had to hand it in within two days, did he?"
No, not at all.
"Then Tinglang should review them during the day and get some rest early at night. How can he be so engrossed in reviewing them that he forgets to eat and sleep?"
"I was thinking of finishing as soon as possible so I could have more time to spend with you. Otherwise, grading a little bit every day is too much work and it would interfere with my time with my beloved A-Liu."
Su Fuliu shook her head: "Can't I stay with you tonight? You can't work so hard, finishing all of them at once. What if your body can't handle it?"
Feng Muting laughed and said, "That's great, my Ah Liu still cares about me the most."
"Tinglang is working so hard because of me, I..."
Seeing him like this, Feng Muting interrupted, "A-Liu, don't blame yourself. I did it willingly. I would give my life for you..."
"Tinglang!" Su Fuliu interrupted Feng Muting, not wanting to hear any more of what he was saying.
He was afraid to hear it.
"Okay, okay, I won't say, I won't say," Feng Muting coaxed.
At this moment, Su Yan said from outside, "Your Highness, the memorials have all been moved to the study."