"Mm." Ji Wushang nodded.
"Don't worry, if it's someone I know, I'll tell you," Nan Xuzong said, embracing her.
"good."
After returning to Moxuan Garden, it was already dinnertime, and Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong ate their meal leisurely. At this moment, a maid ran in from outside and reported, "Fourth Prince, Fourth Princess, the Prince is outside requesting an audience."
Upon hearing this, Ji Wushang looked at Nan Xuzong. Was he saying he wanted to scare the Prince of Jinnan? Only then did Nan Xuzong remember what had happened today. He smiled at Ji Wushang and then said expressionlessly to the bowing maid, "Please come in and have a meal with us."
"Yes." The maid immediately went to invite Prince Jinnan.
As Prince Jinnan entered, he bowed to Nan Xuzong, saying, "Nan Aogan greets the Fourth Prince! Greetings to the Fourth Imperial Consort!"
Ji Wushang looked at the Prince of Jinnan who immediately stepped forward to help him up, and said, "Father, what are you doing? How can a father bow to his children?"
"Your subject dares not," said the Prince of Jinnan.
Nan Xuzong dismissed all the servants and stepped forward to help Prince Jinnan up. "Please rise. Please don't take what happened during the day to heart."
The Prince of Jinnan wiped the sweat from his brow. "Fourth Prince..."
"Father, let's have a meal together!" Ji Wushang said with a smile. "Anyway, it's just the two of us who are having a meal, so please sit down and eat with us." As he spoke, Ji Wushang invited the Prince of Jinnan to sit down.
Looking at Nan Xuzong's expression, the Prince of Jinnan knew that although Nan Xuzong listened to Ji Wushang, this was a male-dominated world. Women could at most make men consider things, but the decision-making was still made by men!
Nan Xuzong placed a pair of chopsticks in front of the Prince of Jinnan, his expression less cold, and said, "Sit down and dine with us!"
The Prince of Jinnan paused for a moment before sitting down opposite Ji Wushang and Nan Xuzong with suspicion, saying, "I am truly terrified."
Nan Xuzong said, "Father, this matter should indeed be handled properly, otherwise if word gets out, our Jinan Prince's Mansion will be executed along with our entire family! The Zhao Minister's Mansion is the best example of this!"
"Yes, yes, Father knows..." Upon hearing Nan Xuzong's changed form of address and expression, Prince Jinnan knew there was room for maneuver and immediately said, "These are things Father found in various courtyards, Your Highness, please keep them!" He had no choice but to be honest with him, otherwise he wouldn't even know how he died!
Nan Xuzong took the letters. "Gong Shu." Gong Shu immediately stepped forward, took all the letters, and stood aside.
Looking at Nan Xuzong's expression, the Prince of Jinnan didn't know what to say.
"How are the Third Miss and Fifth Miss's conditions now?" Ji Wushang asked.
“They’re all much better now. Xian’er has woken up. I scolded her for a while. If the servants hadn’t stopped me, I would have killed her to make amends…” Prince Jinnan said, bowing his head.
Ji Wushang thought to himself, "He wants to kill Nan Xianxian? Is he really that ruthless?"
Nan Xuzong said, "Let's drop this matter. However, I urge Miss San to take good care of herself. Otherwise, if trouble arises later, it will be too late to cry!"
"Yes, yes." The Prince of Jinnan was practically begging for forgiveness.
Ji Wushang looked at the Prince of Jinnan and said, "Father, eat your food!"
Prince Jinnan dared not eat, and was about to decline when Nan Xuzong said, "Eat the dishes."
"Yes, yes." The Prince of Jinnan had no choice but to nod and pick up his chopsticks to eat, but his hands were trembling so badly that he couldn't pick up any food.
Ji Wushang watched, suppressing a laugh. This was something only Nan Xuzong could do. One moment he was a cold-faced Yama, threatening to execute the entire family, and the next he was all smiles, serving food to everyone. How could anyone stand up to that?
Nan Xuzong naturally started eating the food in front of him, and even casually put some food into Ji Wushang's bowl, saying, "Wushang, eat your food."
"Yes." Ji Wushang smiled, then picked up some food and ate it himself.
The Prince of Jinnan felt a cold sweat dripping onto the table. He felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. He managed to pick up a bite of food, but it fell back into his bowl. He looked up at Nan Xuzong and was relieved to see that Nan Xuzong didn't react.
But they had no appetite and eventually stopped eating.
"I'm not hungry. I have things to do in the courtyard, so I'll be going now. You can eat slowly." After observing the situation and confirming that it wasn't a big deal, Prince Jinnan stood up and said.
"Father, please take care." Ji Wushang immediately stood up to invite Prince Jinnan, while Nan Xuzong also stood up at this moment, saying, "Take care."
"Alright, alright, you don't need to see me off anymore. Please continue your meal." Knowing that everything was alright, the Prince of Jinnan relaxed and slowly walked out.
Ji Wushang watched him go, observing his slightly unsteady steps, and thought of his own father, Ji Dingbei. He wondered how Ji Dingbei was doing on the frontier. The frontier was always filled with sandstorms; he wondered if Ji Dingbei was taking care of his health.
Seeing her lost in thought, Nan Xuzong stepped forward and gently placed his large hand on her shoulder. "What are you thinking about?"
“My father,” Ji Wushang said, then smiled at Nan Xuzong, sat back down in his chair, picked up his chopsticks, and slowly began to eat.
Nan Xuzong looked at her, his lips slightly pursed. At least she had her father to miss, but what about him? He'd been stuck here for years, and his high and mighty father hadn't thought much of him. Oh well.
Nan Xuzong sat back down and said, "Eat more." He put some food into her bowl.
As night deepened, Nan Xuzong opened the correspondence between Jin Ruirui and Fusang at his desk, then wrote some letters and had them sent to the palace.
Ji Wushang entered the study at this moment, carrying a bowl of snow pear soup. "This is to nourish you. Eat it while it's hot."
Nan Xuzong smiled and immediately put down everything in his hands to take the tray from Ji Wushang. "Let Hongfei and the others do these things."
“I enjoy doing these things for you.” Ji Wushang smiled, sat down with him, and watched him finish eating the snow pear juice little by little.
"Is it good?" she asked.
"It's delicious." Nan Xuzong smiled and put down the bowl. He remembered the first time she made soup for him, it was practically inedible. But to encourage her and not let her be sad, he insisted on drinking all the soup. Thinking about himself, he admired himself!
Seeing the smile on his lips, Ji Wushang quickly stepped forward and asked, "What are you laughing at?"
"I laugh at myself for having such a good wife," Nan Xuzong said, smiling as he kissed her cheek.
Ji Wushang smiled and, seeing that he was about to cause trouble, immediately changed the subject, "Nan Xianxian has woken up, and I have no intention of letting her go!"
"Tonight is a good opportunity. How about letting Hongfei and the others help you? I might have some things to take care of tonight, but I'll be back soon."
"Okay." Ji Wushang nodded. "I'll go ask Hongfei to make some lotus seed soup!" With that, Ji Wushang kissed him on the cheek and immediately ran off.
Nan Xuzong laughed happily. Hearing Ji Wushang leading Hongfei and Cuiwu to make lotus seed soup in the distance, he knew that Nan Xianxian was going to suffer tonight.
Just then, a slight sound came from the window. Nan Xuzong put down the letter in his hand and looked at the kneeling shadow below. "How's the investigation going?"
After hearing this, Nan Xuzong waved his hand, "Don't disturb him, just keep an eye on him from a distance."
"yes."
Nan Xuzong sat at the desk for a long time, listening to Ji Wushang as if he had finished some work, before standing up. He looked at the night outside and said, "Protect the Fourth Imperial Consort well. If anything goes wrong, you will all die."
"Yes," a voice replied from the darkness.
Nan Xuzong took a step forward and disappeared into the night in no time.
Night fell, gradually enveloping the peaceful land.
In an abandoned house, a person huddled shivering in a corner. The night was still a bit chilly.
Nan Xuzong's footsteps landed on the ground as he walked up to the man.
The man was still somewhat wary. Hearing someone come in, he immediately tried to find a place to hide, but Nan Xuzong moved even faster and was already standing in front of him.
The man quickly turned around and left.
"Bei Gong Minhao." Suddenly, Nan Xuzong looked at his figure and said.
The man froze for a moment, then quickly ran away, shouting, "Don't hit me! Don't hit me!" as he tried to run off immediately.
Nan Xuzong stepped forward in one swift motion. "Beigong Minhao, where are you going to hide?" Nan Xuzong was somewhat angry. He grabbed Beigong's arm with one hand, forcing him to look at him.
Beigong Minhao froze, staggering backward. "No, I'm not Beigong Minhao! Beigong Minhao is dead!" He struggled to break free from his grip. "Let me go!"
Upon hearing his voice, Nan Xuzong immediately stepped forward. "Others can change everything, can become penniless, but only Beigong Minhao will not change! Minhao..." Nan Xuzong said, and then knelt down in front of him. "I'm sorry, Minhao."
"You did nothing wrong to me!" Bei Gongminhao looked at him and said, "Why are you kneeling? Do you look like a man? Kneel? Why are you kneeling to me?" He tried to pull Nan Xuzong up, but he was already weak and instead of helping Nan Xuzong up, he fell to the ground himself.
Nan Xuzong was startled and quickly got up to help him up, immediately placing one hand on Bei Gongminhao's pulse. Before Nan Xuzong could examine him, Bei Gongminhao forcefully pulled his hand away. "No need for that!" he said coldly, sitting down on the ground. "Go back now! She needs you." He lowered his head, refusing to look at Nan Xuzong.
Nan Xuzong sat down beside him, then looked out at the night sky as well. "Why won't you let me see? What happened?"
“It’s alright. I shouldn’t have been here in the first place, so why did you come looking for me?” Beigong Minhao said.
“The Prince and Princess Zhenbei are very worried about you. I’m sorry, Minhao, I didn’t take good care of Jueshi and Princess Muchen.” Nan Xuzong looked at him. “Jueshi is now missing, and Princess Muchen is also nowhere to be found.”
“I know where they are, they… are alright.” Bei Gong Minhao said, “The King of the Western Regions made Jue Shi make a choice, and Jue Shi was willing to become his executioner for Princess Muchen. Alas! What a misfortune for Heaven, what a misfortune for my Bei Gong family!”
“I’m sorry, Minho…” Nan Xuzong lowered his head. “I… I’m incompetent.”
“No, it’s just his choice… If you can defeat the King of the Western Regions, all of this can be resolved,” Bei Gongminhao said.
Nan Xuzong smiled as he looked at him. Some of his observations were the same as his own before, but unfortunately, things had changed. His greatest enemy wasn't Yiyun Upper City, but himself!
“I will defeat him,” Nan Xuzong said, turning around and immediately striking Beigong Minhao’s pressure points.
Bei Gongminhao frowned, then his anger flared. "What are you trying to do? Nan Xuzong, I'm warning you, if you dare to mess around, I will definitely not let you off!"
Nan Xuzong grasped his wrist and examined him, saying, "How did you escape from my master? Didn't they know your body wasn't fully recovered and you needed to practice your skills slowly? With some time, your injuries can heal!"
“It’s no use,” Bei Gongminhao said. “I’ve been practicing according to the old man’s method, but my broken meridians can’t be restored. I can no longer practice martial arts. You should give up! Besides, I only have thirty years left to live. Why do you have to worry so much?”
"You...you knew all along?" Nan Xuzong looked at him in surprise, then checked his pulse. Sure enough, all his meridians were broken; to practice martial arts again would be nearly impossible. Moreover, his heartbeat had slowed considerably. Nan Xuzong looked at him. "There must be a way. I won't allow you to wander around!" He sneered, picked up a small stone, and threw it.
"I don't care what you're saying, as long as you're not dead, you have to do what I say!" Nan Xuzong sneered.
"Heh, Nan Xuzong, aren't you being a little too arrogant?" Beigong Minhao sneered. "What do you take me for? Do you think I have to do whatever you say? Dream on!"
“Yes, you must do as I say!” Nan Xuzong insisted, taking out a small bottle from his pocket and opening it.
"What is that?" Kitamura Minho asked as he held the pill in his hand.
"Good medicine." Nan Xuzong was too lazy to answer. After pouring the medicine into his mouth, he channeled his internal energy into him for a while before withdrawing the pressure points.
“There are some things you still don’t know,” Nan Xuzong said, looking at the night outside.
"What is it?" Bei Gongminhao sneered. "I have no intention of making you fulfill our previous agreement. Don't try that on me!" He was no longer capable of protecting anyone, let alone Ji Wushang! He had no leverage left! The reason he chose not to see anyone was because he had become a cripple! His only purpose in living was to watch her and Nan Xuzong together, and after more than a month had passed and everything had calmed down, he vowed to disappear from this world immediately!
The reason I returned to the capital was simply to inquire about them in the streets. I just needed to know if she was doing well... I never expected to see them on the street!
How could I appear before Ji Wushang in such a wretched and pathetic state? I'd rather be dead in her heart than let her see me like this!
As long as she and he are happy, that's enough!
Nan Xuzong looked at him for a long time before saying, "You must pull yourself together, we need you!"
"Why? You're powerful enough! You could even seize the throne!" Bei Gong Minhao smiled slightly, smoothing his messy hair before bursting into loud laughter. "I'm already a piece of trash! Bei Gong Minhao is trash!"
☆、264 The Final Strike of the Prince of Jin's Mansion! (Climax by Zaiwen!)
"Minho!" Nan Xuzong looked at Beigong Minho with a helpless expression, "Your actions have made everyone worry!"
"I'm fine!" Bei Gongminhao stopped laughing and looked at Nan Xuzong. "Bei Gongminhao will appear when you need him and disappear when you don't. Don't you think that's a beautiful thing?"
“No, that’s not it, Minho. I owe you a debt I can never repay in my lifetime, but it’s definitely not like what you’re saying! We’ve never thought that way. We consider you a friend, a brother. You’re my only brother! Minho, if you wanted to take my life, I, Nan Xuzong, wouldn’t even bat an eye!” Nan Xuzong looked at him. “Many things aren’t as you imagine. You still have a long way to go.”