Chapter 348: I’ll Listen to You
New Year’s Day.
The Crown Prince always felt that there was the sound of a guqin in his ears. He thought he was dreaming, so he went back to sleep. When he woke up, it was still there… So real!
He finally opened his eyes and felt that his head was unusually clear, as if he had a good night’s sleep, slept enough, and woke up naturally.
Looking at the ceiling, it felt a bit unfamiliar.
Turning his head, he was startled. There were people lying and sitting on the floor in the room. Blinking his eyes, he found that the closest to the bed was his son. With a thin face, messy stubble, and carelessly worn clothes, how did he become so disheveled?
Oh… Yes, I was sick.
Silly son, did he bring me to the villa? Then these few…
As soon as he made a slight movement, Qi Wu opened his eyes. Seeing that the Crown Prince had woken up, Qi Wu’s eyes immediately filled with surprise.
He quickly got up and was about to say something when the Crown Prince hurriedly put his finger on his lips, not allowing him to make a sound.
He had to think… How did he end up at the villa?
Qi Wu didn’t dare to speak and came over quietly, kneeling at the head of the bed: “Your Highness, you’re awake, how do you feel?”
Although his voice was low, Song Shang and Imperial Physician Huang, who was huddled in the corner, also woke up. The two of them also quietly came over and stood behind Qi Wu.
The Crown Prince looked at Song Shang, but didn’t recognize him. Also, who was this little old man? Looking at them one by one, he replied casually: “I’m fine, who’s playing the guqin outside?”
“It’s a friend of mine, named Yi Bai.”
“Then… He’s been playing for a long time?” The Crown Prince recalled.
“Yes, you slept for three hours.”
“Good guqin! Let him in. Help me up!” He stretched his head.
“Your Highness! You can’t get up…” Qi Wu quickly pressed him down.
“It’s fine, I’m tired of lying down!”
“Then let Imperial Physician Huang take your pulse first, then get up slowly, okay?” Qi Wu said in a coaxing tone.
“… Okay.” The Crown Prince agreed.
Imperial Physician Huang first solemnly saluted, then nervously stepped forward, knelt down again, and stretched out his hand, trembling a little. This was the Crown Prince…
Last night, all his mind was focused on the treatment, he didn’t even react!
The Crown Prince looked at him and smiled: “Don’t be afraid!”
Qi Wu went out and said to Yi Bai: “Thank you for your hard work. His Royal Highness has woken up and is asking for you to come in!”
Yi Bai hesitated a little: “I…”
“Don’t overthink it!” Qi Wu helped him up and slowly walked towards the room.
Imperial Physician Huang carefully examined him and said: “Your Royal Highness, yesterday’s medicine really had a miraculous effect. Your pulse is now much calmer and stronger than yesterday. Much stronger! The previous danger has passed. There are still two days of medicinal baths to soak in, and I believe that after soaking, you will be even better. Your Highness, please eat some easily digestible food. When you are feeling well, you can have someone help you get out of bed and walk around.”
“However… Your Highness, your body was damaged when you were young, and it has accumulated over the years. Just one pill may not be enough to completely transform it… So, you still need to recuperate well!”
The Crown Prince asked hopefully: “Then, can I recuperate slowly and stop taking medicine?”
At this time, Li Qihuan had already woken up. He heard his father’s voice, but he didn’t dare to move, afraid that it was all a dream…
Imperial Physician Huang thought seriously and carefully: “Uh… After spring, when summer arrives, if your body is in good condition then, you can stop for a while. But when Mid-Autumn Festival comes, you still need to start taking it again.”
“Hehe, that’s already very good. Then, can I drink alcohol?” The Crown Prince pushed his luck.
Li Qihuan closed his eyes, his eyes burning.
“Uh…” Imperial Physician Huang was troubled.
Qi Wu quickly changed the subject: “Your Highness, this is Yi Bai.”
“Your Royal Highness!” Yi Bai bowed respectfully.
The Crown Prince looked at Yi Bai, with admiration in his eyes: “Yi Bai? What a handsome bearing!”
Yi Bai’s face flushed slightly, feeling excited.
“Your legs and feet aren’t good, are they? Let him sit down!”
Yi Bai silently saluted and sat down.
“I vaguely remember that feeling…” The Crown Prince reminisced, “It was like being burned in fire until my skin was scorched and my flesh was rotten, and then being plunged into ice water. That kind of torment had no end. I was so tired, and evil thoughts kept coming to me. I kept asking Heaven, why, why do I have to go through this…”
“I angrily wanted to destroy everything, and I fearfully wanted to become demented. Until… I heard that guqin music. Quiet, peaceful, comforting, serene, understanding, as if telling me that Heaven knew everything I was going through, that it was wrong, but it couldn’t be changed. If I could let go of my son, let go, it would let me be reborn… But I, I can’t let go of him…”
“Father!” Li Qihuan cried and rushed over.
✿✿✿
“Huan’er…” The Crown Prince held him with one hand, his eyes full of affection. “Father was sick, so he was confused, but I can also imagine how tired, anxious, and scared you were.”
Li Qihuan buried his head in the Crown Prince’s arms and sobbed.
Imperial Physician Huang hurriedly said: “Your Highness, you can’t agitate the Crown Prince, his emotions need to be stable, and he must avoid great joy and sorrow!”
Li Qihuan quickly wiped his tears, “Father, it was your son and a few close friends who pulled you back! You’re well now! You can stay with your son forever…”
“Good. Father will stay with you… Eh, didn’t you promise Father yesterday that he could drink alcohol?”
“No.” Li Qihuan shook his head decisively. “Father, you need to eat something…”
At this moment, Wen Yu said in the outer hall: “Your Royal Highness is awake? I have prepared some food, let him have a little something to eat.”
The Crown Prince immediately jumped up, “Father, have some porridge, and I will talk to you slowly. I’m starving too! Set the meal here, we will celebrate the New Year with you!”
The Crown Prince nodded: “Bring it in, let’s all sit down and eat together.”
The head steward was extremely excited, directing the eunuchs and palace maids to set up tables and chairs and arrange the food in a well-trained manner.
Wen Yu personally carried a steaming casserole and walked in, smiling brightly, looking exceptionally beautiful. Qi Wu saw her and quickly rushed over to take it.
Wen Yu said: “Your Royal Highness, I made some chicken porridge. Although it can’t compare to Zhu Zhu’s craftsmanship, it’s still pretty good!”
The Crown Prince looked at her, then at Qi Wu: “Fifth, you’re lucky to have such a good wife!”
At this moment, Li Qihuan found Wen Yu pleasing to the eye, but he still said: “Father, Wen Yu is not bad, she can be considered worthy of Wulang.” He still lowered her status by one level.
Qi Wu honestly said: “I haven’t eaten the food she personally made, this is thanks to the blessings of the two Highnesses!”
Wen Yu was annoyed with Li Qihuan again, thinking to herself, I didn’t cook this for him! What does he mean, worthy of Wulang? Look at his reluctant expression! If people didn’t know better, they would think Wulang was his son!
The Crown Prince smiled, “Let’s all sit down and eat.”
Imperial Physician Huang said: “For today and tomorrow, Your Royal Highness doesn’t need to take medicine, just sleep well. In the evening, I will prepare the medicinal bath, and I will give you a massage. After three days of recuperation, I will invite the Imperial Physician for a consultation to decide on the next course of treatment.”
Hearing that he didn’t need to take medicine for the next few days, the Crown Prince was genuinely happy.
Li Qihuan personally served the Crown Prince, “You haven’t eaten for several days, so you can’t stuff yourself, eat small meals frequently, and have another meal later.”
After finishing the meal, the Crown Prince said, “Qi Wu, Wen Yu, Song Shang… You’ve all done well! Go home and celebrate the New Year, just leave Imperial Physician Huang here.”
The few of them said a few auspicious words, got up, saluted, and retreated.
“Yi Bai is staying here?”
Li Qihuan said: “Yes, Father. He comes from the Bai family of Xijing, he offended a powerful opponent and is hiding here!”
“Good! Yi Bai, you go down and rest first, I will talk to you after I recover.”
A smile appeared on Li Qihuan’s face: “Yi Bai played the guqin all night, have a good rest, and let Imperial Physician Huang apply some medicine to your fingers. Father, I heard that Yi Bai is also very good at Go, he can play a game with you when you’re feeling well!”
“That would be great!”
Yi Bai saluted and was helped down.
The Crown Prince’s smile faded as he looked at Li Qihuan: “Son, is there anything you want to tell Father?”
“Father, that day, Grandfather came…” He explained the situation, “We need to inform the palace! As for what to say about the medicine, I haven’t figured that out yet.”
The Crown Prince sighed: “The Emperor, at his age, has also started to believe in some miraculous things. This medicine, if we don’t tell him and he finds out, it will be troublesome. But if we do tell him, he will most likely want it too.”
“Father, there’s only one pill of this medicine. I asked, and he said there is another one that is for having sons…”
The Crown Prince smiled, “After experiencing life and death again, I see things more clearly now. Are you hiding something from me?”
“No.” Li Qihuan said nothing.
“Father has been awake for so long, and you haven’t mentioned your mother once. You talked about informing the Emperor, but you didn’t even think about sending a message to her? What happened?”
“Father, really nothing happened, I’m just a little upset with Mother… I can’t let it go for now, it will be fine in a couple of days, just let your son be willful for once!”
As intelligent as the Crown Prince was, how could he not understand that something was wrong?
But he looked at his son silently, patted his hand, “Okay. Father will listen to you!”
Cloudy day, feeling sleepy.
