Chapter 172

Following Su Yan's instructions, Su Zhelan took her medicine, took medicinal baths, and rested daily, and her complexion visibly improved day by day. The paleness faded, and her cheeks gradually regained color.

He spent most of his time reading in Shuyu Courtyard, tending to herbs with Su Yan, or quietly daydreaming. He rarely suggested going out, as if he had truly isolated himself from the outside world.

Su Yan felt quite gratified to see his apprentice's "sensible and well-behaved" appearance. He assumed that the apprentice had finally calmed down after going through hardships and that the most important thing was to take good care of his health. So he let him be, taking care of him by examining his pulse and prescribing medicine every day.

However, beneath this tranquility, undercurrents are quietly surging.

As time passed, the day when General Sheng Chi's term as the border garrison commander was about to end and he would return to the capital with his brother Sheng Xuan drew ever closer. Similarly, as the crown prince, Xiao Qiyun could not stay in the general's mansion for long; there were many affairs in the capital, and his return was imminent.

The approaching separation made it difficult for Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun to remain truly calm.

Sheng Xuan's impatience was obvious. He went to Shuyu Courtyard more frequently, sometimes even lingering there, and at night he always wanted to squeeze into Su Zhelan's bed, holding her tightly. His rambling words began to increasingly include descriptions of the General's Mansion in the capital—

"Zhelan, the capital is so lively! It's much more prosperous than this city! There are countless delicious foods and fun things to do!"

“Our mansion is huge, and there’s even a plum grove in the backyard. I’m sure you’ll love it!”

“My brother… uh, Sheng Chi, although he looks serious, he’s actually a really good person, just stubborn but soft-hearted… and my sister-in-law is a really good person too!”

"Once you're fully recovered, I'll take you to the best restaurants in the capital and to see the most popular opera troupes!"

"You...you'll definitely like it there..." His tone always started with excitement, but in the end it inevitably carried a hint of cautious probing and barely perceptible anxiety.

He even began to pack his bags intentionally or unintentionally, casually stuffing some of Su Zhelan's usual small items and several medical books he often read into his trunk, as if this would make it perfectly reasonable to "pack" the person away with him.

Xiao Qiyun's impatience was more restrained, yet not entirely undetectable. He also spent more time in Shuyu Courtyard, but mostly in silent companionship. His gaze towards Su Zhelan grew increasingly deep and focused, carrying an unmistakable possessiveness. He inquired more frequently about the details of Su Zhelan's medicinal diet and daily life, and when arranging matters, he often unconsciously used phrases like "after returning to the capital" or "while in the Eastern Palace," as if Su Zhelan returning with him was already a foregone conclusion.

The things he brought also subtly changed. From the initial medicines and tonics, they gradually included more fashionable and exquisite clothing and accessories from the capital, or rare medical books unique to the Eastern Palace Library, quietly paving a path to his location that was full of allure and a sense of belonging.

The silent rivalry and tension between the two became increasingly apparent. Whenever they appeared together at Shuyu Courtyard, the air would become somewhat stagnant. One would enthusiastically circle around Su Zhelan, while the other would silently occupy Su Zhelan's other side in a protective posture. When their eyes met, although they weren't exactly at each other's throats, the scrutiny, defensiveness, and unwillingness to yield were clearly discernible.

Su Zhelan was not entirely unaware.

He remained quiet, obediently drinking his medicine and resting, responding to Sheng Xuan's rambling with a faint smile, and mostly acquiescing to Xiao Qiyun's arrangements. But he occasionally drifted off into thought for longer periods, his gaze becoming somewhat empty and complex as he looked at the desolate autumn scenery outside the window. When Sheng Xuan or Xiao Qiyun mentioned words like "returning to the capital" or "later," his lowered eyelashes would tremble slightly, and the fingers holding the medicine bowl would unconsciously tighten.

Beneath his docile exterior, he seemed to be silently weighing and struggling with something.

Just as Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun, almost simultaneously and with barely concealed anxiety, pressed Su Zhelan for an answer, "Who are you going with?", the courtyard gate creaked open.

Master Su Yan and Gu Linzhao entered one after the other, clearly there for their routine pulse diagnosis and medicine delivery. They overheard Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun's urgent and confrontational questioning.

Su Yan's face instantly darkened, his brows furrowed tightly, and the veins on his forehead throbbed. His gaze swept like lightning over the anxious Sheng Xuan and the somber Xiao Qiyun, finally landing on the somewhat bewildered Su Zhelan in the middle. His voice suddenly rose, filled with undisguised anger: "What nonsense is this?! Who are you going back to?! What kind of residence are you going back to?!"

He walked a few steps to Su Zhelan, almost instinctively shielding her behind him, and then launched into a tirade against Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun: "He's not going anywhere! He's not fully recovered yet! He still needs to come with me for further treatment! What are you two yelling about?! Go back to your capital! Su Zhelan is naturally coming back to Medicine Valley with me!"

The air froze instantly.

Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun were taken aback by the sudden reprimand, and their faces turned somewhat ugly. However, faced with the furious Su Yan, they did not dare to directly contradict him.

Su Zhelan was already struggling with a difficult decision, and his master's shout left him even more bewildered. He instinctively gripped his master's sleeve, his lips moved, but no sound came out.

He hadn't fully thought it through yet. On one hand, he was drawn to the warmth and promises of the future that Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun had given him, but on the other hand, he knew his master's worries and that Medicine Valley was the place he had been most comfortable with for many years.

His master's firm refusal left him even more at a loss, and he could only subconsciously cast a pleading look at Gu Linzhao, who stood behind his master with a relatively calm expression.

Gu Linzhao received Su Zhelan's panicked and pleading look, then glanced at his partner's fiercely protective and agitated state, and couldn't help but chuckle. He stepped forward, gently patted Su Yan's back, and said in a soothing voice, "Alright, alright,"

He skillfully eased the tension before looking at Su Zhelan, then at Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun, whose faces were tense, and said to Su Yan in a calm tone, "Let the children discuss their own affairs. Zhelan is not young anymore, and he knows what's important. If he's recovered enough and wants to go to the capital to relax, that would be a good thing."

Su Yan suddenly turned his head and glared at Gu Linzhao, his tone still sharp: "Relax? What kind of good place is the capital? Besides, Sheng Chi..." He stopped abruptly, seemingly realizing he had misspoke, but the reluctance and worry on his face were clear.

Gu Linzhao naturally understood the unresolved issue in Su Yan's words—Su Yan seemed to have some inexplicable opinions and rivalry with the border general Sheng Chi.

He smiled helplessly, softening his voice with a hint of coaxing, and said in a low voice, "You... you worry too much. Sheng Chi is Sheng Chi, and Zhe Lan is Zhe Lan. The children have their own destinies and places to go."

He changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible nostalgia and warmth, "Besides, you... haven't been home to visit in a long time." He paused, noticing Su Yan's slightly stunned expression, and continued gently, "If you're really worried, we can come with you to the capital for a while."

Su Yan was taken aback by Gu Linzhao's words. He stared at Gu Linzhao, seemingly wanting to refute, but the words "go home" and the faint nostalgia in Gu Linzhao's words gently touched a corner of his heart.

His tense expression involuntarily relaxed a little, and his eyes flickered, as if he had fallen into a brief hesitation.

He glanced at Su Zhelan's still somewhat uneasy face, then at the two young people beside him who, despite angering him, were genuinely devoted to Su Zhelan. His anger seemed to have been punctured, and it gradually dissipated.

He remained silent for a long time before finally letting out a heavy snort, turning his face away. His tone was harsh, but he clearly relented: "...Whatever! Go wherever you want! I don't care about you!" After saying that, as if in a fit of pique, he shoved the medicine bag in his hand into Gu Linzhao's arms and turned to walk out of the courtyard.

Gu Linzhao quickly caught the medicine packet, gave Su Zhelan, Sheng Xuan, and Xiao Qiyun a reassuring smile, and hurried after them. His soft voice, coaxing Su Yan, could be faintly heard from outside the courtyard.

The courtyard returned to silence.

Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun both breathed a sigh of relief, but their gazes immediately focused on Su Zhelan again, filled with unprecedented tension and anticipation.

Su Zhelan stood there, watching her master's angry departure, her heart filled with mixed feelings.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze shifting between Sheng Xuan's bright, hopeful eyes and Xiao Qiyun's deep, calm gaze.

Finally, he took a deep breath, as if making some kind of decision; his voice was soft, yet exceptionally clear:

"...I want to go to the capital."

Sheng Xuan's eyes lit up instantly, and a bright smile spread across his face, all his previous anxiety vanishing. He cheered happily, took a step forward, and opened his arms, but paused before embracing Su Zhelan. In the end, he only gave Su Zhelan a restrained and gentle hug, his arms encircling her shoulders with just the right amount of force.

"Great! Zelan! Mr. Su agreed!" He quickly released his grip, but his smile remained bright, and his voice was full of joy.

Xiao Qiyun's reaction was also quite obvious. His tense jaw relaxed, a hint of relief flashed in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly, revealing a faint smile. The tension caused by uncertainty on his body disappeared, replaced by a calm and pleasant feeling.

He took a small step forward, looking intently at Su Zhelan, and said in a low voice, "Okay." His voice was steady, but the weight of his words was evident.

Surrounded by Sheng Xuan's embrace and Xiao Qiyun's joy, Su Zhelan felt some relief from the unease he had felt due to making the decision and the reluctance he felt for his master. Looking at their different reactions, a faint smile appeared on his pale face.

The two of them tacitly refrained from asking the question of "who to go back to the mansion with".

"Yes, yes, yes!" Sheng Xuan rubbed his hands excitedly, pacing back and forth in the room, and began to make plans.

"Luggage! Zhelan, you need to start packing! It's windy and dusty here, so you need to put your things away properly! You need to bring those thick fur coats, the winters in the capital are quite cold! And those medical books you often read, I've packed them all for you! And..." He rambled on, looking like he was going to take care of everything.

Xiao Qiyun listened quietly, not interrupting Sheng Xuan's excitement. When Sheng Xuan said "I'll help you tidy up," Xiao Qiyun looked at Su Zhelan, seemingly to confirm his thoughts, before calmly adding:

"No need to rush, just pack slowly. The capital has everything you need, so you don't need to bring too much stuff." He said this to both Sheng Xuan and Su Zhelan, his tone gentle yet firm.

Looking at the excited Sheng Xuan and the composed Xiao Qiyun, Su Zhelan's remaining unease was gradually replaced by warmth. He nodded gently: "Yes, I know... thank you."

As the return date approached, the general's mansion gradually became bustling with activity as people packed their bags in preparation for their departure. Su Zhelan didn't have much to his name, and Sheng Xuan always "casually" moved his small items and favorite books to his side, so his luggage was quickly packed.

As the Crown Prince, Xiao Qiyun naturally didn't need to concern himself with these trivial matters; his servants would handle them. However, he specifically instructed that no one else was allowed to touch the things in the inner chambers, and that he would tidy them up himself.

Su Zhelan's health gradually improved, and her mood seemed to lighten up a bit as the decision was finalized.

Having nothing to do that afternoon, he strolled around the mansion and unknowingly wandered to the entrance of Xiao Qiyun's residence. Remembering Xiao Qiyun's previous instructions, he hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. The servants in the courtyard, seeing it was him, did not stop him, but merely bowed in greeting.

Su Zhelan walked straight into the room and saw Xiao Qiyun sitting at the desk by the window, intently reviewing some documents. Hearing footsteps, Xiao Qiyun looked up and, seeing it was Su Zhelan, his cold and stern expression softened instantly, and he casually put down his pen.

"Why did you come here?" Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep and steady, yet carried a hint of gentleness that was barely perceptible.

Su Zhelan walked to the desk and looked around: "Everyone in the manor is packing their luggage, don't you... need to pack?" His tone was a little curious.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell on Su Zhelan. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly spoke, "It does need to be cleaned up. Could you... help me?"

Su Zhelan was slightly taken aback, then nodded happily: "Okay."

Xiao Qiyun stood up and led Su Zhelan to the inner room. The Crown Prince's inner room was simply and elegantly furnished, exuding a calm and aloof atmosphere, which was completely different from the somewhat chaotic and lively atmosphere at Shengxuan's place.

Xiao Qiyun opened a heavy pear wood wardrobe, inside which hung a number of clothes neatly, not elaborate palace attire, but mostly fine-fitting everyday clothes and a few slightly formal robes. There were also several drawers and cabinets next to it.

“These,” Xiao Qiyun pointed to the wardrobe, “need to be sorted and packed.”

Su Zhelan nodded and stepped forward. He carefully took out the clothes one by one and laid them flat on the couch, avoiding any wrinkles. Xiao Qiyun's clothes were mostly dark in color, cool and silky to the touch, carrying a faint, cool aura that belonged to Xiao Qiyun himself. Su Zhelan arranged them meticulously, his movements gentle and focused.

Xiao Qiyun didn't leave; he stood to the side watching. His gaze fell on Su Zhelan's slender fingers smoothing out the wrinkles in her clothes, on her lowered eyelashes as she looked down, and on her earnest and quiet demeanor. The inner room was quiet, with only the soft rustling of clothes and their light breathing.

Su Zhelan would occasionally pick up a piece of clothing and look at Xiao Qiyun uncertainly: "This one... do I need to bring it?" or "Should I bring all these casual clothes?"

Xiao Qiyun always answered briefly: "Yes." or "Okay."

After packing her clothes, Su Zhelan began to look around the other corners of the room, preparing to pack other small items. Xiao Qiyun glanced at her, said with a word of caution, "Be careful, some things are sharp," and then turned and left, seemingly to pour Su Zhelan a glass of water.

Alone in the inner room, Su Zhelan's gaze swept across the simply furnished space, finally settling on a small, antique-looking cabinet with multiple drawers beside the bed. Curiosity drove him over.

He gently pulled open the top drawer, revealing some scattered strips of cloth of unknown purpose and a few unidentifiable trinkets, arranged somewhat haphazardly, quite unlike the meticulous style he remembered Xiao Qiyun as always. Su Zhelan was completely baffled, utterly unable to guess their purpose.

After hesitating for a moment, he crouched down and pulled open the bottom drawer. This drawer contained even fewer items, just a scroll tied with a dark ribbon.

Su Zhelan paused slightly, then carefully took out the scroll. The ribbon wasn't tied tightly; it came undone with a gentle pull. He slowly unfurled the scroll—

On the drawing paper was the profile of a young man, dressed in simple robes, his head slightly bowed as he looked at the book in his hands. The soft light from the window fell on him, outlining his quiet and focused profile. Those eyebrows, that expression... it was the portrait that Xiao Qiyun had painted last year, on his birthday, under the pretext of a "birthday gift," with Su Zhelan sitting by the window for an entire night as his model.

Su Zhelan remembered that after finishing the painting, Xiao Qiyun put it away and never mentioned it again. Su Zhelan thought the painting had long been forgotten somewhere, but she never expected...

The drawing paper is in excellent condition, without a single wrinkle or yellowing, which shows the care taken in its preservation.

Su Zhelan's heart inexplicably quickened. As if possessed, he flipped the painting over.

The back of the painting is not blank.

The densely packed writing almost covered the entire back!

The handwriting was sharp and familiar; it was indeed Xiao Qiyun's. The writing seemed to have spanned a long period, as the varying shades of ink and subtle differences in brushstrokes indicated that it was not written in a single day.

Some of the sentences are straightforward and explicit, filled with an almost obsessive possessiveness and a burning desire; others are subtle and implicit, leaving only a deep longing and an imperceptible tenderness.

All sorts of things are written, filling every inch of the paper, like a person's most secret thoughts and emotions, poured out without reservation.