Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn - Chapter 157
The duel between those two men can only be interpreted as a battle between men, and the only woman connected to both of them is my mother… However, Marquis Qiyun is in love with Shen Tingxuan's mother, but unfortunately, she is Emperor Kangxuan's woman, and Marquis Qiyun cannot have her. Now, Shen Tingxuan and his mother are both in Marquis Qiyun's residence, and Emperor Kangxuan is dead. If Marquis Qiyun wanted to rekindle their relationship, it wouldn't be impossible. After waiting for so many years, why would he be so eager to die at this time?
What's bothering that person who's so aloof and withdrawn?
But thinking of that person now on the verge of death, I feel a strange sadness in my heart. This sadness is the pain of losing a loved one. But do I have feelings for Qi Yunhou? Have I ever treated him as family?
The answer was naturally no, but the pain in my heart intensified; the feeling was so unfamiliar that it frightened me.
"Mother is gone, and now Father is leaving too?" A sorrowful voice echoed from the depths of my heart. I grabbed Gan Lin in panic and cried out, "It wasn't me!"
Gan Lin was startled by my question and asked repeatedly, "What's wrong? What's wrong?"
"Father, can you really not hold me anymore?" That voice still lingered in my heart, and I could only grip Gan Lin's arm tightly: "She's there, not me!" But my mind was in complete chaos.
Seeing my abnormal behavior, Gan Lin was shocked. Ignoring the others' surprise, he picked me up and jumped out of the window, saying, "Don't panic, I'll go find a doctor."
As I listened to that voice calling "Mother" and "Father" repeatedly, I was terrified and drenched in cold sweat. Overwhelmed by wave after wave of sorrow, I finally fell into a deep sleep in Gan Lin's arms.
Do not lean against the west railing to lock in the clear autumn. Chapter 136
Chapter word count: 3644 Update time: 09-09-21 15:09
In the mist, Mu Huai'en called out "Father" and "Mother" again and again. In fragments of her memory, under the pear tree at Hongxiu Residence, a handsome man in brocade robes smiled and teased her, coaxing her to call him "Father." That man was clearly Marquis Qiyun. But when had she ever truly seen the happiness radiating from his face?
The pretty woman beside him, smiling gently, was his mother, Mo Ru. Unfortunately, Mo Ru only had eyes for Mu Huai En and never once glanced at Qi Yun Hou.
My heart felt incredibly clenched; many things might not be as I had imagined.
"We must save Father," Mu Huaien said. "Father cannot die. Huaien still has many questions to ask Father."
I couldn't help but frown. Had she remained inside this body all along? The thought sent chills down my spine.
“I’m so lonely. I can’t live without my mother. I’ve been sleeping all the time,” Mu Huaien said, as if sensing my thoughts. “If I can get some answers from my father, I can leave in peace and never come back.”
Having occupied this body for so many years, I roughly know what Mu Huaien wants to ask, because that seems to be what I also want to ask. Mu Huaien's memories from when she was a little over three years old are not very clear, but the fragments about Qi Yunhou and Mo Ru are so profound, they are beautiful memories that she has always kept in her heart.
Mu Huaien stopped speaking, but the sorrow welling up in her heart still affected me, making me feel heartbroken for the impending departure of Marquis Qiyun.
As the fog dissipated, no light appeared before my eyes, only pitch blackness. This boundless darkness was so familiar it was terrifying. For so long, I had been tormented in this darkness. Was it about to begin again?
In a daze, I could hear the footsteps of people coming and going, and someone calling out "Huai'en" earnestly. I shook my head and smiled bitterly; they were calling for Huai'en, not me.
Huai'en seemed to sense something again, urgently saying, "Save Father, save Father." I could hear her voice, but could others hear it?
"Sister, wake up, wake up..." Warm tears dripped onto my face. I wanted to wipe them away, but then gave up in despair. Was that Zinuo calling me "sister"? How old is he? Why is he crying again!
"Sister, you promised to wait for me, how could you go back on your word?" Zi Nuo whispered in my ear, accusing me. I wanted to defend and comfort her, but I couldn't make a sound. I was forced to bear the blame for "going back on my word."
I don't know when, but the surroundings became quiet again. I could only feel warm breaths on my cheeks, and in this ambiguous warmth, I slowly drifted off to sleep again.
The bitter liquid flowed into my mouth, and the unpleasant smell made me cough uncontrollably. The soft touch on my lips suddenly disappeared, and then I heard an urgent call: "Sister! Sister!"
After finally finishing coughing and catching my breath, I struggled to open my eyes. The light was dim, but I still squinted. What came into view was a smoky-colored canopy. It turned out I was back in the palace.
"Sister!" With a crisp sound of porcelain hitting the ground, Zinuo's face came into my view.
"Sister." Zi Nuo's hand touched my eyes and cheeks, her expression a mixture of joy and reproach.
"Sister, you scared me again." Zi Nuo hugged my head, her white wide sleeves covering my face.
"I'm sorry," I said in a hoarse voice.
A series of hurried footsteps echoed inside the hall, and then many familiar faces appeared before me: Gan Lin, Ruo Sheng, Bi Qiong... Before I could see everyone clearly, a heavy object pounced on me: "Auntie!"
She tried to force a smile, but instead cried out in pain, "You brat, you're pressing on my flesh!" The flesh on her arm was rubbed against him, and it hurt terribly.
Gan Lin stepped forward and lifted Chu Chen up. I felt lighter, but my arm still hurt so much that I gasped for breath. Chu Chen glanced at me timidly and then buried his head in Gan Lin's arms.
A palace maid brought over another bowl of medicine. Zinuo took it and handed it to me. Remembering the soft touch on my lips, and looking at Zinuo, my heart pounded with anxiety. I took the bowl from her, tested the temperature, and drank it all in one gulp. Zinuo then took a towel and wiped the medicine from the corner of my mouth. I lowered my head, my face flushed. So many people... I'm not a child...
"Where is Marquis Qiyun?" I asked. This was a question that both Mu Huaien and I were concerned about, and it was probably also the reason I had fainted this time. However, the thought that the real Mu Huaien was also lurking somewhere made me extremely uneasy, even though I was the one who had usurped his position…
Zi Nuo sighed softly and said, "I never knew that Qi Yunhou was so important to my sister. Even when she was unconscious, she still thought about saving him."
"Sister, rest assured, the Second Prince has deep feelings for Marquis Qiyun and has already moved him. Marquis Qiyun is currently recovering," Zi Nuo paused and then added.
Knowing that Marquis Qiyun's life was no longer in danger, I felt relieved. As long as he was alive, I should still have a chance to ask him the questions I wanted to ask later. However, Zi Nuo said that even while I was unconscious, I was still thinking about saving Marquis Qiyun. Did I actually say what Mu Huai En said? But why can't I speak even though I want to?
Seeing that I was alright, Zi Nuo dismissed everyone, leaving only him and Gan Lin in the room.
Gan Lin frowned and stared at me for a long time, making me feel uncomfortable. Only then did he relax his brows: "It's thanks to the Imperial Preceptor that you left medicine to protect your life for a while, otherwise you might never have woken up again."
"I've come back to life again, haven't I?" I chuckled, thinking to myself that I'm a combination of having suffered many misfortunes and being incredibly lucky.
Gan Lin shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Since the king has already told you the truth, we will no longer hide it from you. This time, I'm afraid we can't withstand any more accidents."
This was to be expected.
Zi Nuo glared at Gan Lin and said, "Sister, your poison can definitely be cured."
I just smiled indifferently. If even the Imperial Advisor couldn't cure this poison, who else in the world could? I really didn't want them to waste any more effort.
However, this time Zi Nuo was determined. Previously, she had only secretly sought out renowned doctors across the land for an antidote; this time, she posted an imperial edict seeking a physician to cure the Holy Maiden's illness. Once my strength gradually recovered, she settled me in a secluded residence outside the palace, making it convenient for physicians who answered the edict to treat me. But as I expected, even the Imperial Advisor couldn't cure the poison, so these people were helpless as well.
Zi Nuo's face grew paler day by day, while I became more and more diligent. Whenever Zi Nuo was away, I would lock myself in my room and write furiously, hoping to finish the gift I wanted to give him next April. Gan Lin would stay by my side all day, helping me grind ink or write a few words, adding a touch of elegance to my life. Of course, all of this was kept from Zi Nuo.
In the first month of the lunar calendar, Zi Nuo brought a traveling doctor to the house, which hadn't seen a doctor for a long time. He was said to be the successor of the famous "Loushan Divine Doctor" in the martial arts world, known as "Mr. Immortal" because no one who was treated by him could survive. He was dressed in a dark blue robe, with a few wisps of fine beard, and had a rather elegant demeanor. Behind him were two medicine boys, or rather, two young men who were quite tall. One carried a medicine box on his back, and the other stood empty-handed. Although they were dressed in coarse cloth, they were quite handsome.