"I'm handing him over to you. You decide what to do with him. If you want him dead, let him die somewhere far away and not dirty this place!" Nan Xuzong's tone turned cold. "Don't drag the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion into this, or you'll regret it!"
Huangfu Xuan was displeased. He had always been tolerant of him, yet Huangfu Xuan always spoke to him in a harsh tone! What did Huangfu Xuan think he was, the Prince of Nan?
Once I ascend the throne, the first person I will kill is him!
"Where is my second brother?" Huangfu Xuan suppressed his anger and changed the subject.
"Get out of here and keep going down. You'll see the dungeon. I'll have someone take you there. He's unconscious now, so you can do whatever you like!" Nan Xuzong's expression was icy, making it impossible to get close to his heart.
Seeing that it was almost time, Nan Xuzong bid him farewell and left.
Just as Ji Wushang entered the house, he saw Nan Xuzong emerging from the secret chamber, so he naturally went over to help him push his wheelchair over. Looking at the wheelchair, he thought that once he contacted Beigong Minhao and retrieved the medicinal herbs, he could finally free Nan Xuzong from this wheelchair!
"Are you always busy?" Ji Wushang asked, looking at him.
"Yes, there are many things to prepare." There's not enough time!
Ji Wushang sighed, "Don't overwork yourself."
"I'm not tired," Nan Xuzong said, looking at her.
Just then, Gong Shu ran outside and shouted, "Master! Princess Consort!"
Ji Wushang glanced at Nan Xuzong, then went to open the door. "Gong Shu, what's wrong?"
"Someone from the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion has arrived. They said it's an urgent matter. With the Marquis's permission, I've invited them outside."
"Let him in and talk!" Ji Wushang said, glancing back at Nan Xuzong, who agreed.
As soon as the servant entered, he knelt down before Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang, pleading, "Young Master Nan, Young Master Nan's Consort, please save my young master!"
"Get to the point," Ji Wushang said calmly.
"The Crown Prince... his martial arts have been crippled!"
Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong did not react at all.
Seeing that the two of them did not react, the servant immediately continued, "I don't know what happened, but the Prince was drinking in the September Pavilion. When people found him, he had blood in his mouth, his eyes were lifeless, and his hands and feet were twitching... Please, please save him!" As he spoke, the servant kowtowed to Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong.
Gong Shu was so surprised he couldn't close his mouth. Who did this?
Ji Wushang couldn't describe her shock as mere words. What she remembered was his smile towards her. In this male-dominated world, only those with high martial arts skills could avoid being killed. But he had no martial arts skills... had he become a cripple?
Nan Xuzong slowly clenched his fist, then slammed it into the table beside him, causing the table to collapse to the ground and turn into a pile of rubble!
"Who did this?" Nan Xuzong stared coldly at the servant, his golden hair quickly wrapping around the servant's neck. "Speak!"
The servant was terrified. "Young Master Nan... spare my life..."
"Cong." Ji Wushang was terrified when she saw his horrifying face. "He's innocent!" She stepped forward and tried to grab his golden silk, but Gong Shu immediately pulled Ji Wushang away. "Princess Consort, don't touch the golden silk!"
Ji Wushang broke out in a cold sweat. Just as he was about to touch the golden thread, he felt a force pressing down on his chest. He didn't know what the consequences would be if he touched it!
Nan Xuzong was taken aback and pulled the golden thread back, realizing he had acted too impulsively!
The servant immediately fell to the ground.
Nan Xuzong's face was cold and stern. "Go to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion immediately!"
As he spoke, he walked out.
Ji Wushang looked at him and quickly chased after him.
Both were silent in the carriage. She wondered how to comfort him, and how to comfort Bei Gong Minhao. She wondered what would happen to Bei Gong Minhao? His martial arts had been crippled… Who had such power? Was it Huangfu Ting? Was it Huangfu Xuan? Was it Yi Yun Shangcheng? Or someone else?
Why treat him like this?
When they arrived at the Prince of Zhenbei's residence, no one greeted them with laughter. The two of them followed the servant directly to Bei Gongminhao's Dianxiang Garden. The Prince of Zhenbei and his wife were both in Dianxiang Garden, one with a worried expression and the other weeping bitterly.
Having his martial arts skills crippled is tantamount to ruining Beigong Minhao's entire life.
Nan Xuzong stood outside, speechless, with Ji Wushang standing beside him.
The servant stepped forward to report, "Your Highness, Your Highness, the Prince and Princess Nan have arrived."
Upon hearing this, the Prince of Zhenbei turned around, his face grave. He strode forward. Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang immediately bowed, "Greetings, Prince of Zhenbei!"
"No need for formalities. Please help me persuade Minhao. He..." The Prince of Zhenbei didn't want to continue speaking. Instead, he looked at the person lying on the bed through the beaded curtain. Beigong Minhao stared blankly at the sky. He never moved or even thought of blinking.
And so, he stood there, like a statue.
Fate was too unfair to him.
Princess Zhenbei sat on the edge of the bed, weeping as she looked at Beigong Minhao. She knew Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang had arrived, but she was in no mood for anything.
They were Beigong Minhao's best friends, which is why the Prince of Zhenbei invited them.
Ji Wushang glanced at Nan Xuzong, who was also looking at Ji Wushang. The two nodded to the Prince of Zhenbei, "Yes."
Upon entering the inner chamber, the Prince of Zhenbei stepped forward and helped the Princess of Zhenbei to her feet. "Let's go. Let them persuade Minhao. It's just becoming an ordinary person, nothing to worry about. Minhao is very talented. He is still the pride of our Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, and still... the future Prince of Zhenbei!"
Yes, no matter how useless he becomes, he is still his son and the future Prince of Zhenbei!
The Prince of Zhenbei sighed, glanced at Nan Xuzong and Ji Wushang, and then finally looked at Beigong Minhao, hoping that he would hear what he said and react, but he did not.
Princess Zhenbei was pulled out by Prince Zhenbei while sobbing. After thinking for a moment, Prince Zhenbei decided to close the door behind him. Let the young people squander their world!
Ji Wushang quickly stepped forward, "Your Highness? Your Highness?" She called out softly twice, but Beigong Minhao did not respond at all. Ji Wushang immediately turned to look at Nan Xuzong, her cherry lips pursed.
"Help him up," Nan Xuzong said, then gently untied his golden silk. He needed to see how badly his martial arts had been ruined, and whether his heart and lungs had been damaged.
Ji Wushang quickly helped Beigong Minhao up from the bed.
Nan Xuzong stared at the two of them, a wave of sorrow washing over him. Watching the woman he loved help another man up right before his eyes—wasn't that a kind of tragedy?
But this is his best friend! Hah! Nan Xuzong sneered inwardly.
Ji Wushang only wanted to help Nan Xuzong with his diagnosis, so he released Bei Gongminhao's hand. That touch startled Bei Gongminhao.
She was so close to me.
Ji Wushang did not notice this and quickly stood aside.
Nan Xuzong expressionlessly rolled out a golden thread and looped it around Bei Gongminhao's wrist. Just as he was about to take his pulse, Bei Gongminhao used his trembling right hand to pull the golden thread off. "You can leave!" His voice was devoid of anger, resentment, or emotion.
--
☆、211 The results are in: She loves you very much!
There's nothing to be sad about; things are already like this. Even killing Yiyun Shangcheng wouldn't make up for it. I'll find a time to tell Ji Wushang the whereabouts of the medicinal herbs, and then my life will be at peace. As for the promise with Nan Xuzong, forget it. He probably won't continue with that promise, and I'm powerless to change it anyway.
I thought I still had the ability to take care of her, but now I don't even have the most basic right to do so, so what's the point of talking about taking care of her? As soon as I can get out of bed, I will leave, leave everything here.
Let everything return to its original tranquility! Life is just a series of endings, it's nothing.
It's good to be able to let it go.
At this moment, Nan Xuzong pushed his wheelchair forward angrily. He had a strong grip and grabbed Bei Gongminhao's wrist. Bei Gongminhao was startled and asked, "What do you want to do!"
"I'll treat you! You madman, do you think you can get rid of us just because you look like a dead man? You're delusional!" Nan Xuzong pressed his pressure points, rendering him immobile. This man, if he were to move, would still be quite strong, even though his martial arts were now completely destroyed!
He is the person I trust the most. If he becomes someone who abandons me, how can I face the people around me?
Beigong Minhao listened to his words, closed his eyes, and let him do as he pleased without any reaction.
"Who hurt you like this?" Nan Xuzong asked coldly.
Beigong Minhao did not answer.
"I asked you who you are! Are you that bastard from Yiyun Upper City!" Nan Xuzong roared, grabbing his collar and forcing him to open his eyes and look at him.
"Whatever, whoever you say it is, it is!" Beigong Minhao uttered a single word. "I've let you down. You guys go! Don't worry about me."
Nan Xuzong was taken aback.
"Think carefully about your future path. Don't come looking for me anymore." Beigong Minhao closed his eyes again, no longer looking at him.
Ji Wushang stepped forward, "Your Highness."
"Let's go!" Bei Gongminhao said. What experiment did Yi Yunshangcheng talk about? Bullshit! He wouldn't do any experiments with him! He had crippled his martial arts. At first, he was very angry and desperate, but thinking about it, it was nothing.
Without martial arts skills, I no longer have to bear any responsibility.
Nan Xuzong wouldn't make a promise to himself, he wouldn't entrust Ji Wushang to him; Bei Gong Jueshi wouldn't entrust Yi Yun Muchen to him. Actually, this is for the best. With no way back, they will cherish each other even more and work even harder to protect the one they love.
As for myself, I'll just stay far away, which is fine too.
Silently.
I was indeed a coward from beginning to end. I never thought about how to fight. By the time I thought about fighting, others had already taken the first step, so there was nothing left.
When I think about helping out, when I think about silently protecting someone, all I do is wallow in self-pity. Why do I do that?
Letting go of everything isn't a bad thing.
Lying on this bed, I've thought about trying to get back on my feet, refusing to give up, and killing that bastard from Yiyun City—he's the one who caused me and Jueshi to end up like this! But thinking about it, isn't he the most tragic one? Where did that gentle Western Region prince go? Or is it that everyone has two sides, a devil on one side and a Buddha on the other? If you unleash the devil within him, then he becomes a completely despicable person?
So, I've come to terms with it. Love and not love are actually quite simple.
"Wu Shang, help him up," Nan Xu Cong said at this moment, "and then give me the pen and ink!" Regardless of his reaction, Nan Xu Cong just wanted Ji Wu Shang to do the work.
Ji Wushang nodded immediately upon hearing this, "Yes. He can be saved, can't he?"
"Try your best." Nan Xuzong looked at him and sighed.
Bei Gongminhao was also taken aback. "Nan Xuzong, I'm warning you again, I don't need your pity!"
Nan Xuzong grabbed his collar and said, "I have never pitied you!"
"Your Highness, you must think about this. The Prince and Princess are heartbroken. Please don't give up on yourself, okay?" Ji Wushang stepped forward and placed the brush and ink in Nan Xuzong's hands. Nan Xuzong immediately wrote a prescription.
“There’s also Jueshi, so don’t worry.” Beigong Minhao said, “To be honest, I’m not as smart as Jueshi, not as skilled in martial arts, not as capable as him, and not as cultured as him. He is the best candidate to become the future King of Zhenbei.”
“You can’t take your place in the hearts of the Prince and Princess. Perhaps the second prince is indeed more outstanding than you, but he can’t replace you either.” Ji Wushang looked at him. “I hope you won’t give up on yourself, okay? For your own sake, and perhaps, for the sake of all of us.”
Bei Gongminhao sneered without speaking. She always made her words very clear, never showing him the slightest concern. Even if she did show concern, she would clearly state that it was the concern between friends, unrelated to love. Ji Wushang, oh Ji Wushang, you are such a heartless person! Your love is truly selfish, yet unique. You gave all your love to Nan Xuzong alone, ignoring those around you who persistently expressed their love for you… What a cruel heart! Yet, you still love me as always. Is this just me being pathetic?
Nan Xuzong tore off a piece of Xuan paper and handed it to Ji Wushang, saying, "Wushang, go and tell the Prince and Princess that I need these medicinal herbs!"
"Yes." Ji Wushang nodded and immediately walked out. He stopped at the end, thinking of what to say, but ultimately didn't say anything.