"Uncle Qiu." When Xu Mingyi returned the courtesy, he looked towards the direction of the inner room and just asked, "His Royal Highness is resting," when he heard a boy's weak voice with a hint of joy coming from inside -
"But Sister Xu is here? Come in quickly!"
Xu Mingyi's visit today was not a sudden visit. It was agreed upon by sending a message two days ago. Otherwise, he would not have been directly invited to this residence.
The group heard the sound and walked in.
The boy was leaning against the head of the bed, wearing an indigo cloak. The dark clothes failed to cover up his weakness and illness, but instead made it appear that his face and lips were too pale.
But those eyes were bright, and the look in them made his whole person appear alive.
It's just that on this face, this vitality... is even unexpected.
"Empress - you are here too!" The boy was pleasantly surprised. He soon realized that the title was wrong and wanted to change it but it was too late, so he smiled uncomfortably.
Wu Jingying didn't mind, she just nodded with a smile and said warmly: "I heard that Zhao Zhao was coming over today, so I thought we would come and have a look. How about it? Are you feeling better these days?"
Prince Rongjun said hurriedly: "It's better. Thank you madam for your concern."
As she said that, she looked at the boy beside her and asked with some uncertainty, "But... is it A Zhang?"
Wu Ran grinned and nodded: "It's me. Your Highness the County Prince still remembers me."
When he was about six or seven years old, he went to Beijing to live for a few months. During those months, he often went to his aunt's palace with his mother, and Prince Rongjun, who was still the prince at that time, was raised in Yukun Palace.
After going back and forth, the two became playmates for a while, given that they were similar in age.
Because of this, he came here to visit with his aunt today.
To put it bluntly, since he was six or seven years old, his father would return to Ningyang every New Year's Eve. When he saw him, he would compare how much he had grown and always laugh and say that he looked different every year.
But it had been four or five years since he had seen him, and the boy sitting in front of him on the hospital bed didn't seem to have changed much compared to what he remembered...
Wu Ran felt sympathy in his heart, but he still had a smile on his face.
Because the other person kept smiling and seemed very happy.
Soon, Prince Rong's eyes moved to Xu Mingshi and asked curiously: "This must be Xu Shisun, right?" He looks quite similar to Sister Xu!
Xu Mingshi took a step forward, raised his hand and saluted: "Exactly."
Prince Rong on the bed quickly raised his hand to return the salute, and then said: "Everyone, please sit down and talk!"
The boy always had a smile on his face.
This is the first time this place is so lively!
He was really happy when so many people came to see him.
One moment the boy urged the servants to make tea, the other moment he told them to make some honey tea that girls liked, and the next moment he asked Wu Ran and Xu Mingshi what snacks, melons and fruits they liked, taking care of everything.
There is no shortage of anything in the prince's palace.
What should be included has never been deducted, and what is beyond the exceptions can be found everywhere, especially supplements and medicinal materials.
Even though the palace has never said anything about this matter, everyone can see that this is a reflection of His Majesty's kindness today.
"I heard that His Majesty has decreed a marriage between Sister Xu and His Highness the Crown Prince, but I haven't had time to congratulate Sister Xu yet." The boy said with a sincere smile, but he was a little ashamed.
He had thought about sending a congratulatory gift.
But I am also afraid that my identity and current situation will bring bad luck to such a happy event.
But today, Sister Xu came to see him in person, as well as the emperor—Mrs. Wu, Wu Shisun, and Xu Shisun.
Ever since he moved into the Prince's Mansion, except for Aunt Jingrong and Cousin Jiaojiao, all the powerful officials in the capital have tried to avoid him, and no one would normally set foot here.
He knew this was the right thing to do, and he never felt anything was wrong.
It's always better to avoid taboos, and he didn't want to cause any more trouble to anyone. Therefore, although Taifu Jiang and his assistants had their servants come to visit and inquire, he never even said a word of thanks in return.
Everyone just needs to avoid him like this and slowly forget about his existence, so that there won't be any more trouble.
As far as the Xu family and the Wu family are concerned, the word "taboo" between him is secondary...
Father... No, my father did so many wrong things to the Xu and Wu families during his lifetime. It is not an exaggeration to say that there was a blood feud. But no matter what, he is still his father's son. The blood relationship cannot be erased here.
…
However, not long after he moved into the Prince's Mansion, Sister Xu invited Divine Doctor Qiu to treat him.
Now everyone came to see him regardless of previous suspicions...
Thinking of this, the boy's eyes became a little hot, but thinking that he had just said the word "happy", he was afraid that the tears would bring bad luck, so he desperately held back the tears.
"It's not too late." Xu Mingyi looked at him and asked softly, "Has your cough been severe these days?" After all, it's easy to get dry in autumn.
The boy shook his head and said with a smile: "I don't cough much anymore, thanks to Doctor Qiu's tireless care."
Xu Mingyi nodded slightly, but there were some thoughts in his heart.
"That's good." Wu Jingying said softly: "Sheng'er, everything has been settled now, you just need to relax and recuperate."
This child is a worried child.
The evil things he had done in order to depose the emperor had taken a lot of effort and effort.
The boy responded in a respectful tone: "Yes, Sheng'er understands."
Xu Mingyi's heart became more and more worried.
Everything is settled and there is no need to worry about it anymore, which is certainly a good thing.
But what people use to fight against illness often requires not only good medicine, but also the word will as support——
The deposed emperor is dead and everything has settled. If the child suddenly relaxes, it may not be a good thing...
Children of similar age always have something to say.
Especially Wu Ran and Xu Mingshi would deliberately find some topics to talk about.
The two sat beside the bed and talked with each other. Prince Rong was very interested in all topics, so it didn't take long for the three of them to become familiar with each other.
When Wu Ran talked about what he had seen and heard in Beijing these days, King Rongjun was also quite surprised - before moving to Prince Rongjun's palace, he had never left the palace except to offer sacrifices. What was there like in the capital? He was not as good as Wu Ran.
But I know much more.
"When Sheng'er recovers, the three of you can go out for a walk together." Wu Jingying said with a smile.
Seeing the boy's eyes suddenly light up, Xu Mingyi said: "Where can I find delicious food and fun things in Beijing? Mingshi knows very well, ask him to lead you -"
When Xu Mingshi heard this, he subconsciously sat up straighter - how could he look like the kind of playboy who was good at eating, drinking and having fun? He was very motivated!
Sensing his brother's dissatisfaction, Xu Mingyi added another sentence: "...it's all based on the experience of running errands for me over the years."
Xu Mingshi's face softened a little: That's pretty much it.
"Then it's settled." Wu Ran settled on it first, and was very much looking forward to it. However, due to the awareness that children from aristocratic families should not be greedy for fun, he tried his best to be reserved and restrained, and did not show it too obviously.
Prince Rong was very happy and nodded repeatedly.
"His Royal Highness the County Prince likes to read military books?"
Xu Mingshi saw a few books placed on the small table beside the couch and couldn't help but ask.
"I like it!" Prince Rong nodded heavily, mentioning his favorite things, his eyebrows became more and more cheerful: "The person I have always admired the most is Old General Xu! Every battle he has fought over the years, big and small, has
I know it all!"
This is his secret. He didn't dare to reveal it before because of his father.
Although he didn't understand why poems and political commentaries were so difficult to memorize, he could never forget the achievements of General Xu...
Seeing that he was particularly interested in this, Xu Mingshi continued on the topic.
He talked a lot about his grandfather's deeds on the battlefield, and said that he had many military books that could not be found outside, and some were compiled by his grandfather. He could bring some over next time.
Prince Rong's face turned red with excitement when he heard this. He only thought about "Is it true!", "Is it convenient!", "Thank you very much!", nodding his head frequently.
When Xu Mingshi talked about the battlefield, Wu Ran also listened with rapt attention.
The twelve or thirteen-year-old boy already has his own magnanimity, and his appearance is handsome for the first time. Although he has a refined air, he is also very comfortable when it comes to using troops. Every word and every word reveals the aura of a general's disciple.
Wu Ran somehow understood.
He finally understood where the second brother's seeming perfunctory and dislike came from after he had stayed in Beijing before!
It turns out that I have a better brother outside!
He shouldn't just say this in his heart——
If it were made clear at this time, Xu Mingshi would have to say: This has nothing to do with whether he is good or not, it is just because his sister's name is Xu Mingyi, that's all.
Seeing that the three children were very attached to each other, Wu Jingying and Xu Mingyi left the inner room in a "sensible" way.
Children are always easily restrained when their elders are around.
Doctor Qiu also followed him out.
The three of them left the outer hall and came to the corridor. Xu Mingyi just asked in a low voice: "Uncle Qiu, how are you?"
She asked simply, and Doctor Qiu's response was also simple.
He didn't speak, just sighed and shook his head.
He has tried his best.
In the past two months, he had tried every possible method. But this boy, who seemed so weak that he could be knocked down by a gust of wind, was much more tolerant than he imagined.
Regardless of the treatment, I never heard the child say a word of pain.
The child is a good child, but he cannot be kept in this world...
Xu Mingyi's heart tightened.
In fact, there is not much surprise in this answer.
It is also a serious illness, and emergency medical treatment is the best. For example, the fetal belt is an old disease that has been more than ten years old, which is the most difficult - freezing three feet is not a day's cold. After so many years, such a small body
Here, the foundation has been exhausted.
The same heavy medicine, which others can use, is no longer useful on him.
After a moment of silence, Wu Jingying asked: "How much time is left?"
"It could be as long as half a year, or as little as two or three months..."
Hearing this, Wu Jingying clenched her fingers in her sleeves.
Is it so fast?
Such a good child will not even have a year left in his life.
"Does Your Highness the County Prince know this himself?" Xu Mingyi asked.
Doctor Qiu nodded.
"..." Xu Mingyi's heart dropped heavily. She turned her head slightly to look in the direction of the inner room, as if she could still see the boy's eyes that had seen the end but were still full of energy. What she saw in her sight was,
But outside the inner window, a maple tree had just turned yellow.
Unlike other plants and trees, the maple tree's change from green to yellow is not the end. There is still a bright future waiting for it.
But the emergence of this brilliance is not a miracle or a turning point. After the brilliance passes, it will eventually be the real withering and loneliness.
The red color of autumn is only for a moment in four seasons and cannot stay for a long time.
"Although this child was once a prince, he has been suffering since he was born. He suffers every day..." Wu Jingying's voice was slightly hoarse.
She still remembered that when her child was five or six years old, she heard the saying from somewhere. During a high fever, she once asked her seriously - Madam, was it that I was disobedient in my previous life and did something wrong, so the Buddha punished me?
What about mine?
She was stunned for a while, then touched the child's head and said softly: That's not the case.
If there is such a thing as cause and effect, it must be his father who was wrong.
This retribution should also come to his father. The child was innocently affected.
Thinking of this, Wu Jingying's eyes turned sour and she said: "Let him spend the rest of his days as he wishes, and live as happily as he wants..."
Doctor Qiu nodded.
The rest did not seek medical treatment.
No need to bother your children anymore.
The next thing he has to do is to alleviate the child's pain as much as possible so that he can suffer as little pain as possible.
Several people stood quietly in the corridor for a long time, then returned to the hall and sat down.
The movements of young boys could be heard in the inner room, with occasional sounds of surprise and energetic laughter.
No one urged Wu Ran and Xu Mingshi.
It wasn't until the two of them saw that the boy leaning there was still smiling but tired, that they ended a topic in a tacit and natural way without starting a new one.
The two of them asked to leave, and then Xu Mingyi and Wu Jingying walked in, giving the boy a few words before leaving.
King Rongjun felt quite reluctant to leave, but when Xu Mingshi said he would come back in three days, Wu Ran also agreed, indicating that a specific date had been set. It was obviously not just a polite word, and the boy felt hopeful again.
.
He was unable to get out of bed and walk around, so he sent the hospital steward to see him off.
The steward sent the person out of the front hall and down the stone steps. Just as he was about to leave the residence, he saw a boy coming carrying a black lacquer tray.
On the tray is a bowl of steaming medicine, which appears to have been freshly fried.
The boy knew the rules very well and his movements were quick. When he saw the noble man in rich clothes approaching from a distance, he lowered his head and bowed respectfully to one side.
He is just an ordinary boy. If he were ordinary, no one would take a closer look.
The steward wanted to show off his meticulousness in doing things in front of Xu Mingyi and the others. He paused for a moment, looked at the tray in the boy's hand, and said, "Send it in quickly. Your Highness is tired.
It’s better to take the medicine while it’s hot and rest.”
The boy said "yes".
Hearing this voice, Wu Jingying, who had already passed by the boy, suddenly stopped at her feet and immediately looked back.
After hearing the steward's words, the boy straightened his hunched waist slightly and was about to deliver the medicine. In this way, half of his face could be clearly seen.
