When Meng Chifeng saw him coming, he frowned, left the tea, and sent the man out. Then he wanted to hand the tea to Duan Tingzhen, but seeing that Duan was too weak to handle it, he simply fed him himself.
This man was known for his forthright and generous nature; helping was nothing more than a simple favor, and his gesture was perfectly natural. However, Duan Tingzhen felt rather awkward being cared for so gently by someone he had recently disliked, though not annoyed. He considered suggesting they find a eunuch, but the words caught in his throat and he couldn't bring himself to say them. He could only awkwardly continue drinking.
Meng Chifeng, however, didn't have so many thoughts. Looking at Duan Tingzhen's profile, he suddenly remembered the time Duan Cai had supported him. This person usually looked thin and slender, but when you actually touched him, you would find that he wasn't so weak at all. His waist muscles were supple and strong, and it felt quite comfortable to touch him.
He was lost in thought. The warm afternoon sun shone in, suddenly reminding him of a line from the Book of Songs.
A gentleman of noble character is like jade being cut and polished, like stone being carved and refined.
At first glance, I didn't understand its meaning; instead, I thought it was too pretentious to describe a man in this way. But now, I'm actually starting to vaguely grasp its significance.
Seeing that he had drunk enough, Meng Chifeng took out his handkerchief and handed it to him. When he saw that Duan Tingzhen looked at him with a bit of surprise, he suddenly realized that his actions were a bit impolite, so he had no choice but to awkwardly take his hand back.
"Thank you, Your Highness," Duan Tingzhen said.
He nodded hastily, and the two remained silent.
"Your Highness, the imperial physician has arrived," a young eunuch said from outside the door.
The visitor was an acquaintance of both of them, Imperial Physician Wang, the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, who usually treated the young emperor for any minor ailments. He came in, took Duan Tingzhen's pulse, and his expression gradually turned cold and stern.
"The last time I took Prime Minister Duan's pulse was about three months ago. At that time, the Prime Minister's stomach ailment was not so serious. Now that it has become like this, it seems that the Prime Minister has ignored my medical advice."
Physician Wang was a man of high medical ethics and advanced age. Duan Tingzhen held him in great awe, and when he occasionally reprimanded him, Duan could not say anything and could only listen with his head down.
Meng Chifeng couldn't help but laugh out loud, but Duan Tingzhen glared at him with slight annoyance, and he quickly stopped.
"Take the warming tonics, eat three regular meals a day, and don't eat food that's too cold or too hot." Doctor Wang lowered his head and wrote down the prescription, repeating the words he had said countless times. He also heard Duan Tingzhen say he understood once again, and couldn't help but sigh, "It would be good if the Prime Minister really understood."
"Imperial Physician, rest assured, Prime Minister Duan is a pillar of the nation, and I will certainly not allow him to ruin his health," Meng Chifeng said.
Duan Tingzhen had no choice but to agree, wondering what Meng Chifeng was up to all this time, suddenly acting out of nowhere. Then, remembering the blow he had just received, he said, "Prince Duan was hit by a heavy object, so please take a look while you're at it."
So the imperial physician Wang examined another patient.
Meng Chifeng felt he was mostly fine; such a minor injury wouldn't even require medicine on the battlefield. But for some reason, he cooperated with Physician Wang and exposed the affected area, which was indeed a dark purple.
"Your Highness, your injury is nothing serious. A little medicine will suffice. The Imperial Hospital has some ready-made; we can just have a palace servant fetch it in a bit."
The two agreed and thanked him before Chang Yongsheng saw Physician Wang out. Meng Chifeng then slowly and deliberately put on his clothes. His muscles were beautifully defined, and although only one shoulder was exposed, the half-concealed charm was captivating in a different way.
To onlookers, the way he's showing off his muscles looks a bit like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.
Thanks to that cup of tea, Duan Tingzhen finally regained some strength. He got up, sat down at the table, and slowly drank a newly served hot beverage. There was extra sugar in the drink, and although he didn't really like sweet things, he had no choice but to swallow it like medicine.
Meng Chifeng asked the eunuch and learned that Duan Tingzhen had not eaten breakfast, so he ordered someone to make something and send it over. When he looked at him again, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for him.
He did indeed prefer men and had absolutely no interest in women. The late emperor hadn't been able to compete with him while he was alive, and after the emperor's death, there was even less restraint. He had remained single all these years, neither marrying nor meeting anyone he liked, until suddenly he fell for someone like this.
He was lost in thought when he heard a commotion outside the door, which finally brought him back to his senses.
"Master!" The sound of a child running came from outside the door. It turned out that the young emperor saw the imperial physician coming and going, and after hearing a few words from the palace servants, he was so frightened that he almost cried. No amount of persuasion could stop him. He insisted on coming to see Duan Tingzhen.
Duan Tingzhen was sitting at that moment, and the little emperor was just the right size to fall into his arms. So the child clung to his waist, refusing to let go. He stroked the child's fluffy head and said softly, "Master is alright."
"I will never be naughty again," the young emperor said, raising his head with teary eyes.
This made Meng Chifeng, who was genuinely injured, feel a pang of sadness. Why didn't this child know how to please him?
However, seeing the young man gently comforting the child, the scene was exceptionally heartwarming, and he couldn't help but smile.
The young emperor glanced at him furtively, his eyes filled with a hint of ingratiation. So he stepped forward and, as usual, affectionately ruffled the child's hair.
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Chapter 6
Because of the royal physician's advice, Duan Tingzhen was advised by everyone to rest at home for a few days. However, he couldn't stay idle and went back to work as usual after resting for less than three days. Apart from being praised for his diligence, he did not receive any other benefits.
On the other hand, after the monument was erected, the people praised Meng Chifeng and his soldiers for their achievements, and his reputation soared. As a result, Meng Chifeng and Duan Tingzhen gradually became closer. Regardless of what Duan Tingzhen thought, Meng Chifeng genuinely treated him with sincerity.
Specifically, this manifests in the fact that Meng Chifeng can't forget any rare or unique calligraphy or paintings from previous dynasties that come his way.
Heaven help it, that person has always had a headache when it comes to books since childhood. Half of the calluses on his palms were from his teacher's beatings. He has some appreciation ability, but it is by no means high. Occasionally, he makes Duan Tingzhen both laugh and cry.
In short, the popular belief that the Prince of Jin favored the south wind made him increasingly convinced of it.
When Duan Tingzhen returned home after finishing his official business that day, he saw the butler, Uncle Quan, rushing over and couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"
"I just received the news. The Sixth Miss's ship should arrive in three days. Why didn't you tell this old servant?" Uncle Quan said, "You've always been the only master in the house. The rest of the courtyards are empty and messy, and there's no human presence. It's too cold and quiet. It would be impolite for the young lady to live there."
Duan Tingzhen immediately felt guilty.
The sixth daughter that Uncle Quan mentioned was his uncle's daughter, his very close cousin, named Zhi Rou. Last spring, Zhi Rou's husband died, and her mother-in-law was unkind, so her father arranged for her to come back to Beijing. Last month, she wrote to him, asking if it would be convenient for him to invite his cousin to stay in the capital for a while to relax. He agreed, but then forgot about it.
"Let Rou Rou stay at Chun Tang Xuan for now," Duan Tingzhen said after thinking for a moment.
Chuntangxuan was the second largest courtyard, and it should have been the residence of the mistress of the house. His wife, He Shi, had passed away before he even moved into this house, and Duan Tingzhen had no intention of marrying, so the courtyard had remained empty. However, Uncle Quan had always held onto hope for him, and thus often instructed people to keep Chuntangxuan clean. It was somewhat acceptable that his cousin was living there now.
Uncle Quan had no other choice but to agree. Before leaving, he added, "The Prince sent over some more things. This old servant asked Shi Mo to put them in the study."
"Mm." Duan Tingzhen nodded.
Today was a day off, so Duan Tingzhen, as usual, leisurely stayed in his residence, whiling away the day with a couple of books he hadn't had time to read before. He was quite a homebody, a habit he picked up the first time he transmigrated, where he lived as a tree for four hundred years without interacting with anyone. Since then, he had become quite taciturn.
Upon reaching the main courtyard, he noticed a large box on the table and knew it was a gift from Meng Chifeng.
He was feeling lazy and unwilling to open the box, so he simply asked the pageboy, "Have you looked inside? What's inside?"
Shi Mo said, "I looked. There were a few cans of tea and two books." Then he laughed, "You've been coming three times a day, just like eating."
Then Shi Mo opened the box, and Duan Tingzhen picked out books from the inner room of the study. When he saw the tea canisters, his eyes lit up. He put down the books and picked up a canister to read.
"I just noticed this jar looks dusty and gray. Could there be something else going on?" Shi Mo interjected.
Upon hearing this, Duan Tingzhen laughed and scolded, "What do you mean by dusty? This is called great skill appearing clumsy." After saying that, he said, "Find out my inkstone made of Bronze Sparrow Terrace tile as a return gift."
"Yes," Shi Mo replied.
He went out, and Duan Tingzhen picked up a small jar and examined it carefully. He couldn't help but chuckle, thinking, "This man is becoming more and more thoughtful."
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. When Duan Tingzhen arrived home in the evening, he heard someone say, "Sixth Miss has arrived." Sure enough, he saw Duan Zhirou in the main hall.
The last time he saw his cousin was before she got married, and now, upon seeing her again, he felt that she was very different from before. When Duan Zhirou was still a young lady, she was a cheerful girl who always wore brightly colored clothes and her hair was always adorned with gold and jade. She was always the focus of attention and stood out even in the circle of noble ladies.
But now she was wearing a moon-white dress, with only a hair ornament with glass beads in her hair and a white satin ribbon on her wrist to indicate her widowhood.
Duan Tingzhen looked at her for a long time, then said silently, "Why are you doing this to yourself?"
Duan Zhirou said, "My sister didn't feel bitter. She just did what she thought in her heart. It was all according to my wishes, so how could it be bitter?"
The words lingered on his lips for a moment, but he ultimately didn't say them. He didn't know the extent of his sister's pain, and offering grand pronouncements would only sound sarcastic, so he changed the subject.
"How is Ah-Xi?"
“I haven’t seen him in a long time, my mother-in-law won’t allow it.” Duan Zhirou’s expression remained indifferent when talking about her son.
So Duan Tingzhen could only say, "If you need anything, just tell your brother."
At this moment, a faint smile finally appeared on Duan Zhirou's lips. She was grateful for her brother's thoughtfulness, and her gloomy mood finally improved a little. She teased, "Let's not talk about me. My sister-in-law has been gone for several years. Does my brother have any plans?"
Duan Tingzhen coughed and said, "Didn't a master say that I am destined to be childless, so what difference does it make whether I marry or not?"
Duan Zhirou finally burst out laughing.
For some reason, when his sister told him about this, he suddenly thought of Meng Chifeng.
And so Duan Zhirou settled into their household. Since she had only been a widow for a little over a year, she didn't want to go out much. Firstly, she was afraid of being gossiped about, and secondly, since she had moved out of her husband's family home just a year after her husband's death, some people might say she was heartless.
Therefore, Duan Zhirou rarely went to talk to her old friends in the capital. Most of the time, she would go out to the suburbs for a spring outing or to burn incense. Occasionally, she would find a corner to sit down at a poetry gathering and not speak. It was impossible to tell that she had once stood out on the stage several years ago.
That's a story for another time.
The next day, Duan Tingzhen finished his official business and, as planned, went to check on the young emperor's studies. Coincidentally, Meng Chifeng also planned to teach the young emperor riding skills that day, so he was a little late. When he arrived, the young emperor hadn't returned yet, so he waited for a while, and soon the two of them returned together.
The young emperor, rarely able to ride a horse, was extremely excited. He chattered incessantly the whole way, and upon returning, he kept pestering Meng Chifeng, "Uncle, when will Xun'er be able to ride such a big horse?"
"You can ride it when you're as tall as your uncle."
"Does that mean the master will never be able to ride again?"
Duan Tingzhen was nearly an inch shorter than Meng Chifeng, but that was by no means an exaggeration; in fact, most people were not as tall as him.
Meng Chifeng looked around and felt a strange sense of guilt. When the child kept pestering him with questions, he would stammer and give vague answers, wondering what he was afraid of.
The uncle and nephew entered the hall, and Jin Bao hurriedly went to greet them, saying, "Prime Minister Duan has arrived and is waiting in the side hall."
The young emperor, of course, knew why Duan Tingzhen had come. His late return wasn't just because he was having fun, but also because he was deliberately delaying. Now that he couldn't avoid it, he looked at Meng Chifeng pleadingly. But Meng Chifeng himself had ulterior motives, so he couldn't help him. He could only pretend not to see him, give a stern nod with a stern face, and lead the dawdling young emperor inside.
The child had sharp eyesight and immediately spotted a stack of papers on the small table in the side hall. His heart nearly jumped out of his chest with nervousness. Regardless of how well they did, most students are particularly resistant to having their homework checked.
"Your Majesty, this homework you did..." After bowing, Duan Tingzhen picked up the top sheet of paper. Seeing the child's pouting and terrified expression, he chuckled inwardly. He paused briefly, whetting the child's appetite, before continuing, "Not bad."
The child immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, go take a shower. You're all sweaty, don't catch a cold." Meng Chifeng, who had been watching the whole thing, spoke up at the right moment. The little emperor didn't think much about questions like 'Why didn't my uncle let me take a shower earlier?' which would be detrimental to their relationship. He happily skipped out, leaving the two adults with their own thoughts.
Meng Chifeng had known for a few days that a woman would be moving into Duan Tingzhen's house, but since Uncle Zhong managed the household, he hadn't found out anything. The question had been lingering in his mind for days, and now, half-probing and half-sarcastically, he asked, "I heard that Prime Minister Duan has a beautiful woman by his side these days?" He immediately regretted his words.
Duan Tingzhen chuckled inwardly, but remained outwardly calm as he asked, "I heard? Where did Your Highness hear that?"
He assumed Duan Tingzhen was displeased by the question and quickly explained, "I just happened to see your servants buy light blue cloud-patterned gauze, saying they were going to make curtains, so I took a guess."
“You guessed right,” Duan Tingzhen said.
Meng Chifeng sensed something and vaguely understood that what Duan Tingzhen was about to say might be what he wanted. His heart started pounding. If he were to speak carefully, he would probably be even more nervous than the young emperor Duan Cai. He waited for him intently, his eyes filled with eagerness that warmed the heart of anyone who saw him.