Chapter 411 Ah Heng (Two Updates)

Xiao Liulang's body stiffened.

How long had it been since he last heard that voice? Listening to it again felt like a lifetime ago.

He slumped to the ground, his back to Princess Xinyang, yet he could still feel her gaze upon him.

He dared not turn around or turn his back. He tried his best to control the trembling in his body and said calmly, "I'm fine."

"You..." Princess Xinyang heard him say that he was alright, but out of the corner of her eye she caught a glimpse of the cane that had been thrown away.

It's not quite a cane, more like a walking stick, suitable for people with mobility issues who aren't completely unable to put weight on their feet.

Princess Xinyang was unsure whether the other person was born with a disability or had just been injured recently; in either case, it seemed unlikely that he was alright.

She said, "It seems I tripped you just now. Can you get up? I'll fetch a doctor for you. Someone, help this gentleman up first."

As soon as she finished speaking, the maid who had been supporting her stepped forward and reached out to help Xiao Liulang.

Xiao Liulang quickly raised his sleeve to stop him: "Don't come any closer!"

The maidservant was taken aback and turned to look at Princess Xinyang in confusion.

Xiao Liulang composed himself and said, "I'm not used to being touched by others."

At fourteen, his voice hadn't changed yet; it was a youthful, innocent tone. Now that he's past puberty, he has a voice that's somewhere between a boy and an adult man—low, clear, and resonant.

Princess Xinyang didn't immediately notice the difference in the voice, but she clearly sensed the other person's avoidance and resistance.

Considering the taboo against men and women touching each other, and given that he was wearing the official robes of a Hanlin scholar and was near the Hanlin Academy, he should indeed be careful to avoid damaging his reputation.

Princess Xinyang did not make things difficult for him: "If you have anything to say, just go to Princess Xinyang's residence and let her know."

Although she did not live in the princess's residence, her servants there could still keep her informed.

Xiao Liulang tried hard not to turn around: "No need, I'm fine."

Princess Xinyang felt that this person was strange, and she herself felt strange, with inexplicable emotions: "Where are you going? I can have the guards escort you."

"No need," Xiao Liulang refused outright. "I can walk by myself."

After he finished speaking, he used his hands to support himself on the ground and stood up. Under the watchful eyes of Princess Xinyang, he limped to the door, bent down and picked up the walking stick that Gu Jiao had made for him.

He had never felt so disheveled. He knew she was watching from behind, but he didn't want her to see him like this.

His hand gripping the cane trembled slightly. He didn't turn around and quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Princess Xinyang watched his departing figure, a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Princess!"

Yu Jin walked in, panting.

Princess Xinyang regained her senses, glanced at her, and said, "Why did you get yourself all dressed up just to buy a pancake?"

"I..." Yu Jin opened her mouth, hesitating whether or not to tell her what she had just witnessed.

Princess Xinyang said, "Say what you want to say. When did you become so fussy?"

Yu Jin looked at her and mustered up her courage to say, "Princess, I think I just... saw the young marquis."

Princess Xinyang's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure: "Yu Jin, how many times do I have to tell you, he's dead."

Xiao Liulang fled back to the Hanlin Academy in one breath.

Ning Zhiyuan had just come out of the Hanlin Academy when he saw that Liu Lang seemed somewhat lost and dejected. He pulled him aside and asked in confusion, "Liu Lang, what's wrong? Didn't you go to the examination hall to give a lecture? Did someone bully you? I knew it! All those people taking the supplementary exams at the examination hall are officials who got their positions through connections, a bunch of troublemakers! Okay, I'll go in your place next time!"

"I'm fine, everything's fine at the examination hall." He could even keep the Crown Prince, that super troublemaker, under control, so there's no need to worry about the other troublemakers.

“But you look like you have something on your mind.” Ning Zhiyuan didn’t believe that Xiao Liulang was alright. He had known Xiao Liulang for so long and knew his personality well. Even when Yang Shidu was always making things difficult for him, he had never seen him so disheveled.

A thought flashed through Ning Zhiyuan's mind: "Is it... that you're worried about what happened this morning? Did I break the inkstone, or did I offend Princess Xinyang? Don't be sad, I'll go explain to her! I broke the inkstone, and this whole thing started because of me—"

Xiao Liulang said, "I'm really fine."

Ning Zhiyuan looked at him with suspicion: "But you look terrible."

Xiao Liulang casually replied, "Maybe he didn't sleep well last night."

Ning Zhiyuan asked suspiciously, "Is that so?"

Xiao Liulang nodded: "Mm."

“Well…” Ning Zhiyuan looked towards the end of the alley, “Since your wife didn’t come to pick you up today, I’ll find a carriage to take you home.”

"No need," Xiao Liulang declined his offer.

Xiao Liulang seemed easy to talk to in front of his friends, but once he became stubborn, no one could persuade him. Ning Zhiyuan had no choice but to let him be.

Xiao Liulang wandered aimlessly down the street, leaning on his cane. He practically fled from the clothing shop, not even glancing back at her...

But her voice was deeply imprinted in his mind, lingering and refusing to leave.

A heavy rain began to fall from the sky, and pedestrians scrambled for shelter. Only Xiao Liulang remained oblivious, slowly walking through the downpour.

He was only brought back to his senses when a childish voice rang out beside him.

"Brother-in-law, what are you doing? Why aren't you using an umbrella?"

It is a small purification.

Xiao Jingkong held up a small yellow umbrella that Gu Jiao had made for him, and looked up at Xiao Liulang, who was soaked to the bone, with a puzzled expression.

Xiao Liulang then realized that he had unknowingly arrived at the gate of the Imperial College.

"Are you here to pick me up today?" Xiao Jingkong asked, holding up his little yellow umbrella.

It wasn't actually time for school to end yet, but Xiao Jingkong finished his homework early and was allowed to leave school early as an exception.

"Hmm." Xiao Liulang gave a faint "hmm" and said to the little guy, "Let's go."

Xiao Jingkong didn't move: "You didn't even use an umbrella!"

"I don't have an umbrella," he said, then paused and added, "I don't need one."

"Here you go." Xiao Jingkong handed him the umbrella.

"You hold it yourself." How could Xiao Liulang possibly take a child's umbrella? What would he do if he did? This umbrella is so small, it definitely can't hold two people.

Xiao Jingkong said, "I have a raincoat."

Jiaojiao made him a raincoat!

There's also a big red flower that he drew himself on it!

Xiao Jingkong handed the umbrella to Xiao Liulang, who held it for him. He took out his little yellow raincoat from his schoolbag, put it on quickly, then took off his shoes, held them in his hands, and started splashing around in the water with his bare feet.

Xiao Liulang: "..."

You just wanted to splash around in the water, didn't you...?

Xiao Jingkong splashed in the water the whole way, jumping into any puddle he saw. Since Jiaojiao wasn't around, he didn't need to worry about his tough guy image at all!

He stomped around with great enthusiasm, like a little frog jumping into a pond.

Who knew going home with my bad brother-in-law could be so much fun!

When they arrived at his doorstep, he said with great generosity, "Okay, from now on you can come pick me up on rainy days!"

Xiao Liulang: Hehe, as if anyone cares about coming to pick you up.

Liu Quan, who was next door, was on his way to pick up Xiao Jingkong when he saw the two people at the door and was slightly taken aback: "Eh? You're back?"

"Hello, Uncle Liu!" Xiao Jingkong greeted him politely.

The little guy was wearing the little raincoat that Gu Jiao made for him, along with the little hood of the raincoat.

He liked things that were golden, but Gu Jiao didn't have any gold dye available at the moment, so he settled for yellow instead.

The raincoat itself is pretty, but he drew so many ugly big red flowers on it, making it somewhat indescribable. It's only the good looks of his face that save it.

It's excessively ugly-cute.

It was Xiao Liulang, the Hanlin official, who looked rather comical carrying a childish little yellow umbrella.

Liu Quan said with a smile, "It's good that you're back. I'll go pick up the master now."

"Goodbye, Uncle Liu!" Xiao Jingkong waved politely to him.

Liu Quan then said to Xiao Liulang, "Liulang, hurry up and change your clothes, you're all soaked."

Xiao Liulang agreed.

The two, one big and one small, entered the yard.

No one in the family was home. Gu Jiao had gone out on a house call and hadn't returned. Yao Shi had been invited to Zhou Apo's house. Although they weren't far apart, both in Bishui Hutong, Zhou Apo was worried that Yao Shi might slip and fall because of the sudden heavy rain. So, she told Yao Shi to wait until the rain stopped before leaving.

Yu Ya'er and Granny Fang were also there.

As for Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun, needless to say, they both went to learn their craft.

One person wasn't enough for Xiao Jingkong to wade in the water, so he ran to the backyard and let out Xiao Ba, Xiao Jiu, and the seven chicks to wade in the water.

The nine mythical creatures in my household say they don't want to wade in the water!

Xiao Liulang went back to the west room to change into dry clothes, then went to the study to take out the arithmetic book from the Yan Kingdom and continued to study and calculate the ancestral formulas.

Little Jingkong waded in the water for a while, then shuffled into the study. He came to his desk, rubbed his tummy, and said awkwardly, "I'm hungry."

Xiao Liulang glanced at him: "Are you sure you want to eat what I made?"

Xiao Jingkong choked for a moment, then stammered, "Then...then I'd better not."

My brother-in-law's cooking is terrible; he can go hungry a little longer.

Little Jingkong's stomach was rumbling. Even after eating candied fruit and snacks, he wasn't full. After all, he was a child with a big appetite; otherwise, he wouldn't have fought with the other little monks for food.

Xiao Liulang still went to the kitchen and cooked him a bowl of vegetable and egg noodles.

Looking at the dark, unappetizing noodles on the table, Xiao Jingkong felt a sense of rejection.

Xiao Liulang handed him the chopsticks: "Eat."

Xiao Jingkong sat on his special chair with a small horizontal board in front of him. He didn't immediately take the chopsticks, but looked at Xiao Liulang very seriously: "I just want to ask you, can you eat this bowl of noodles by yourself?"

Xiao Liulang said calmly, "It's not me whose stomach is growling right now."

Xiao Jingkong lowered his head. His bad brother-in-law made a lot of sense, and he had no words to refute him.

In the end, hunger prevailed.

"Sigh." Little Jingkong sighed, reached out his little hand to take the chopsticks, and resignedly began to eat.

It was actually not far from mealtime, but Xiao Liulang wasn't hungry. However, he didn't let Xiao Jingkong sit alone in the main room to eat.

He moved Xiao Jingkong, chair and all, directly to the study; he ate his own food and did his own calculations.

Halfway through his meal, Xiao Jingkong suddenly looked at Xiao Liulang with a bitter and resentful expression: "Can I ask you a question?"

"Speak." Xiao Liulang didn't look up and continued working on the arithmetic problems in his hands.

Xiao Jingkong, filled with curiosity, asked, "How do you manage to make every meal taste worse than the last?"

Xiao Liulang glanced at him and said shamelessly, "Just try your best and cook well."

Xiao Jingkong: "..."

Xiao Jingkong knew he couldn't learn this skill, because when he was three years old, the sweet potatoes he roasted were already better than what his bad brother-in-law made.

During his time at the temple, Xiao Jingkong developed a good habit of not wasting food; no matter how unpalatable the food was, he would grit his teeth and finish it.

"Are you full?" Xiao Liulang asked, looking at the dark, empty bowl in front of him.

Xiao Jingkong pursed his lips, his expression solemn: "You made it so badly, how could you expect people to eat a second bowl... Alright, congratulations, your wish has been fulfilled."

Oh well, there's nothing he can do if he's not full!

Xiao Liulang knew that the little monk's stomach wouldn't be filled so easily, so he also steamed vegetarian jerky, corn on the cob, and sweet potatoes in the pot for him, which should be cooked by now.

He took away the empty bowl in front of Xiao Jingkong and went to the kitchen to bring over the steamed vegetarian jerky, corn, and sweet potatoes from the pot.

Xiao Jingkong crossed his arms and turned his face away, saying, "I don't want this plate."

He has very beautiful tableware!

Xiao Liulang said indifferently, "You still complain? Take it or leave it, I won't indulge you."

Xiao Jing reluctantly picked up her chopsticks, pouting, and said, "A child without Jiao Jiao is nothing but a blade of grass!"

Xiao Liulang: "..."

Taking care of children is very tiring. Xiao Liulang felt tired after a short while, but this kind of tiredness seemed different from the usual kind. He felt a little dizzy.

After dinner, Xiao Jingkong went to the backyard to wash the dishes himself. The cupboard was too high for him to reach, so he had to stand on tiptoe to place the clean bowls and chopsticks on the stove.

He also took a damp cloth, intending to wipe his small table.

But as soon as he entered the study, he sensed something was wrong.

Huh?

My bad brother-in-law is asleep on the table?

It's not dark yet!

Little Jingkong walked over with a clatter, tilting his little head and calling to Xiao Liulang, "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law!"

No response.

Xiao Jingkong thought for a moment: "Aheng~"

Still no response.

Xiao Jingkong let out a strange "Eh," and took out a small hand that had just been holding a damp rag to touch Xiao Liulang's forehead: "Ouch! It's so hot!"

Xiao Liulang fell ill without warning; he developed a high fever and his mind went completely blank.

He began to have the same dream over and over again, in which he returned to the princess's palace.

Today, Zhuang Xianzhi came to teach Wen Linlang. Originally, the lesson was to be held at the Wen family's residence, but it was too far away, so it was changed to the Princess's residence.

Wen Linlang is his fiancée, and he accompanies her to class.

After Zhuang Xianzhi finished speaking, it was time for a break.

Wen Linlang complained, "Aheng, Mr. Zhuang's class is too difficult. How about we go out and have some fun?"

He nodded, knowing he could see his mother once he went outside.

The two went to the back mountain.

Wen Linlang spotted a rabbit: "Aheng, this little rabbit is injured. Shall we take it home?"

His mother's pet rabbit died not long ago, and his mother was saddened by it for a long time.

"Aheng, I want to eat dates. Can you pick some for me from the tree?"

His mother also liked to eat dates, so he climbed up and picked some.

"Aheng, could you go buy me some osmanthus cake?"

His mother also liked osmanthus cake, so he took a carriage to buy some.

When he excitedly went to find Princess Xinyang, carrying the rabbit, a bag of dates, and a box of osmanthus cakes, he was met with a cold and world-weary face.

"Aheng." She waved to him and smiled.

He walked over slowly: "Mother, are you feeling unwell?"

She looked at him meaningfully: "Aheng, do you like your mother?"

"like."

"Are you willing to do anything for your mother?"

"Yes!" he said decisively.

"Then you should die for your mother... Ah Heng, will you die for me?"

Do you remember the last few sentences? They were at the end of chapter "121 The Rich Man's Little Jingkong".

P.S. Regarding updates, I haven't stopped updating. I'll start stockpiling chapters this month, but I'll still write at least 4,000 words a day, which is at least four updates a day on the bookstore.

If the readers in the bookstore like it, I can divide it into chapters of 1,000 words each, updating four or five times a day.

(End of this chapter)