Chapter 81 Good Child
The light in the hall is much softer.
Fine silver frost charcoal burns quietly in the exquisite lotus brass stove, emitting a gentle crackling sound. The furnishings are simple and elegant, and the understated heritage is revealed everywhere.
The main seat at the top was vacant. Princess Jieyou didn't rush to take a seat. She simply took off her cloak, handed it to the waiting maid, and walked to a cushioned armchair by the window and sat down calmly, casually and leisurely.
Mr. Chu sat on the right side below the main seat.
"Miss Luo, please take a seat." Old Chu pointed to the seat on the other side below the eldest princess.
Luo Zhaohan walked over as he was told and sat down half of his body on the sandalwood chair which was also covered with thick and soft brocade cushions, a little stiffly.
A steaming white porcelain teacup is placed on the carved table within reach, and the warm aroma permeates the nose.
She stood with her back straight and her hands folded neatly on her knees.
The room was as warm as spring, and the heat from the stove radiated continuously, dispelling the coldness lingering in the bones, but it could not warm the huge pressure and restraint hanging in the heart at this moment.
She lowered her eyes, trying not to look directly at the Princess who was sitting in the upper seat with a smile on her face and sipping tea. She also didn't dare to look at the deep eyes of the Imperial Teacher opposite her, which seemed to contain countless silent questions.
In the warm room, it was so quiet that you could hear the subtle crackling of the charcoal fire.
The charcoal fire is burning, and the tea in the white porcelain cup is clear and warm.
The slight warmth brought by the princess's gentle words and laughter had not yet dissipated, when suddenly, a completely different sense of tension suddenly surged through the warm curtains.
The voice came from the inner room on the left, separated by two layers of thick embroidered curtains. It was muffled, but every word pierced the ear:
"...The poison has penetrated the muscles, depleting both Qi and blood! I should have followed my plan and laid down at the exact hour of the twelfth lunar month to force the poison out! Now it's taking until the end of the midnight hour to finally pull out the arrow! Even if the poison is removed, it will take months of recovery. During this time, you can't strain your nerves! You can't get angry! You're incredibly weak! This is simply ridiculous!"
An old but powerful voice, filled with undisguised anger and fatigue, was obviously the doctor in charge of the treatment. "And what's wrong with that bite on the tongue? It's so severe! If you use any more force, it will probably break off! This is outrageous! Such a self-destructive act..."
Before he could finish his words, he was suddenly interrupted by an uncontrollable, heart-wrenching cough.
"Cough! Cough! Cough!" The cough was so violent that it seemed as if it was going to cough out all the internal organs. The sound was exactly Pei Ji's! It was clearly meant to force an interruption.
The air in the warm room froze instantly.
Luo Zhaohan's fingers holding the tea suddenly tightened, and his knuckles turned white.
She could almost imagine Pei Ji struggling in the drug mist and severe pain, the silent endurance with clenched teeth intertwined with the forced coughing.
Princess Jieyou, who was sitting at the top, also paused for a moment, her hand elegantly holding the tea lid.
A slight frown quickly appeared between her delicate brows, and a trace of deep pity flashed across her eyes, but was then covered by her usual grace and composure.
That trace of anger was forcibly suppressed by Pei Ji's desperate interruption.
The princess put down her teacup and her gaze returned to Luo Zhaohan. The turmoil caused by the inner chamber incident seemed to have never appeared. The smile on her face was still warm, like a spring breeze and gentle rain. "Just now, we were talking about that girl from Liuyang."
Her tone was gentle and peaceful, completely lacking the awe-inspiring air she had worn at the main seat at the palace banquet that day. Luo Zhaohan tried hard to banish the sounds from the inner chamber from his mind, listening intently with bated breath.
"Ever since she came back from the palace banquet, that girl has been constantly talking about Miss Luo. She says that Miss Luo is so elegant and gracious, and so humble and polite. If it weren't for the difference in social status, she would have wished she could see her more often."
The eldest princess's eyes were filled with a smile, her tone carrying the anger and doting of a mother speaking of her naughty daughter. "And that child, Wei Yu, who has always been arrogant and cold-tempered, also praised the young lady in front of me, saying, 'She is calm in the face of adversity and has quick wit.' These two little ones may be young and naive, but their perspective on people is relatively unbiased. Today, I have finally fulfilled a wish. I finally got to see the kind of girl who could draw such praise from these two little monkeys."
This praise came unexpectedly and was extremely significant!
Luo Zhaohan felt his face suddenly become hot, as if his cheeks were burned by the charcoal fire in the stove.
Her heart raced under the gentle yet penetrating gaze of that high-ranking figure. She hastily put down her teacup, stood up, and knelt down in deep respect towards the princess, saying, "Your Highness, thank you for your kind words! The princess and Sister Wei Yu are so kind and loving to me. I feel so ashamed to accept them! I truly do not deserve such praise from Your Highness!"
Her movements were a bit hasty, and the pain from her knees rubbing against the stone steps in the tunnel caused her body to sway slightly, but she quickly steadied herself, her posture extremely respectful.
Seeing her embarrassed and frightened look, the princess chuckled softly and said nothing more. She raised her hand and gave her a light support: "Okay, get up and sit down."
Luo Zhaohan then cautiously rose, halfway seated, his heart still churning. Princess Liuyang's innocent praise was still ringing in his ears. Wei Yu—the silent and fierce female guard leader, who remained expressionless even before the emperor—had actually mentioned him in front of the princess? Luo Zhaohan didn't dare to contemplate the power behind this.
Princess Jieyou did not stay long. She stood up slowly and straightened her clothes.
"It's getting late. I should go back." Her voice was still gentle. Her eyes swept over Luo Zhaohan and finally landed on Old Chu's face, but with a subtle hint of solemn entrustment. "Uncle Chu, there are so many things going on outside. I'm sorry to trouble you to take care of me here. Pei Ji..."
She paused, not saying anything further. She only let out a very soft sigh, filled with complex worry. Then she turned to Jiang Xi, who was standing solemnly beside her. "Jiang Xi, please send Uncle Chu and Miss Luo off for me."
"Uncle Chu"!
These three words entered Luo Zhaohan's ears clearly, like a stone thrown into a quiet lake, suddenly stirring up huge waves in her heart.
Confirmed! On the way here, the eldest princess and the imperial tutor Chu Lao were not ordinary monarchs and ministers, but a nickname between the elders and the younger generation!
Elder Chu also stood up and replied respectfully, "Don't worry, Your Highness. I will do my best."
The heavy curtain of the warm room was lifted again, and Princess Jieyou walked out under the gaze of Old Chu and Luo Zhaohan.
The courtyard was brightly lit, and two tall figures, like door gods, silently approached, one on each side, guarding her from behind. They were none other than the Dongling female warriors, dressed just like Wei Yu! Their armor clanged, scimitars slung at their waists, their eyes warily scanning the dark corners, a stark contrast to the eldest princess's elegant demeanor.
They did not walk towards the main gate of the courtyard, but instead walked steadily and clearly towards the deep wellhead that they had just climbed out of.
The firelight danced on the edge of the bluestone well, reflecting the cold and damp bricks and stones. The eldest princess, guarded by two female warriors, bent down and sank step by step into the depths of the dark and deep entrance of the secret passage.
The heavy, specially crafted stone slab slowly shifted, silently sealing the entrance again. Everything fell silent.
This silent farewell is better than thousands of words.
Such secretive comings and goings clearly etched the importance and danger of this relationship into Luo Zhaohan's heart. A chill ran up his spine and up to the back of his head.
All the rescues tonight, the secrets of this place, the arrangements made by Old Chu and Pei Ji during the time when the eldest princess was away from Beijing, it turned out that from the moment the eldest princess set out to return to Beijing to deliver the message, a huge net had been quietly spread.
The warm room became quiet again, with only the crackling sound of the charcoal fire and the whistling cold wind outside the window remaining in the air.
Old Chu turned around slowly, his face still showing the fatigue of running all the way, and the worry between his brows added a sense of heaviness to Pei Ji's injuries.
But his eyes, which had seen the world, were now precisely fixed on Luo Zhaohan.
Luo Zhaohan stood there, her heart still pounding. Shock, suspicion, realization, worry... all these complex emotions surged fiercely in her eyes like boiling water, threatening to burst from her face, which was trying hard to maintain composure. She subconsciously clenched her sleeves.
Mr. Chu's eyes were gentle and understanding. He didn't try to avoid the question, nor did he directly address it. Instead, he spoke calmly with a hint of deep meaning, his voice remarkably clear in the quiet warm room:
"Miss Luo, you must have many puzzles in your heart, right?" He looked directly at Luo Zhaohan with a clear-eyed wisdom that reads people's hearts, yet also with a touch of the gentleness of an elder towards a younger generation. "But..."
He changed the subject slightly, and his gentle eyes became more serious. His gaze seemed casual, but he glanced towards the inner room with great clarity. "The one who can answer your questions is not an old man."
He paused slightly, then said in a low, firm voice, "The key to the truth is with him."
Luo Zhaohan's heart leaped, nearly pounding out of his chest! Elder Chu's gaze was unmistakable! It was Pei Ji!
Only Pei Ji!
A huge sense of relief and a deeper sense of urgency intertwined in an instant! Those days of groping in the fog, those flashes of speculation on the line between life and death, that longing and anxiety for everything behind the scenes, finally had a clear direction.
At this moment, the muffled cough coming from the inner room and the scene of the embarrassing struggle when forcibly interrupting the doctor's reprimand suddenly rushed into his mind!
He's still injured! So badly!
Confirming Pei Ji's safety has become more urgent and important than ever before!
"...Yes." Luo Zhaohan didn't hesitate at all. His voice was not loud but very firm. "Mr. Chu, I will stay. Wait until he gets better."
"Good." Mr. Chu's eyes revealed genuine approval and a hint of imperceptible relief.
He wasn't forcing her, but rather seeing through her complex resolve and worries. Then, Old Chu's gaze was filled with the care and consideration of an elder. "It's getting late, the dew's heavy, and the young lady has been out for a long time. Should we send someone to inform you, so as to avoid worrying your father and mother?"
This question warmed Luo Zhaohan's heart. She quickly said, "Thank you, Imperial Master, for your concern. I've already told my younger brother, Jin Ce, about my departure. I think everything is fine at home now."
Elder Chu stroked his graying beard, his eyes growing more admiring. "Miss Luo is thorough and responsible, remaining composed in the face of danger." He nodded slowly. "That's good. Miss, please wait here for a moment. Once things are settled inside, I'll send someone to fetch you."
Luo Zhaohan nodded deeply in thanks again, but his heart had already flown past the brocade curtains and into the inner room.
The weight of the truth and the worry about that person's safety weighed heavily on her shoulders and hung heavily in the stagnant air of the warm room.
…
In the warm room, the only sound was the gentle simmering of a kettle on a small red clay stove. The warmth of the charcoal fire rose, but the air seemed stagnant.
Old Chu finally put down the hand holding the teacup, and his gaze withdrew from the dark night outside the window and settled on Luo Zhaohan across from him. The lightness in his eyes faded for a moment, becoming as deep as a pool.
"Pei Ji," Old Chu began. His voice was low, but remarkably clear in the silence, carrying the warmth and weight that an old man would always have when he was lecturing his beloved disciple. "He's good in every way, except that he's as stubborn as a donkey that won't turn back!"
He shook his head and sighed, his helplessness tinged with deep pity. "He has so much on his mind, so many concerns, and the baggage he carries is heavier than mine. But once he's truly determined, even with eight horses pulling him, he'll go that far. Even if his head is broken and bloodied, even if he's condemned by thousands of people, he'll never turn back."
Luo Zhaohan's fingertips resting on his knees curled up slightly.
She lowered her head, and her long crow-feather eyelashes cast a light shadow under her eyes.
Elder Chu spoke slowly, each word sounding as if it had been carefully considered. "Miss Luo is a smart person. There are some things I shouldn't have said. If Pei Ji knew that an old man like me had spoken without permission and dragged you into all the trouble he was planning... he would probably jump up when he woke up. Even if he lay still, his nagging would give me a headache for three days!"
Old Chu gave a wry smile, then fixed his gaze with an unmistakable sincerity. "But I'm quite good at judging people. He looks cold, his mind as complex as a deep pool, but his mind is truly excellent."
When the last few words fell, Mr. Chu's eyes, with a meaningful look, fell silently on Luo Zhaohan with a gentle encouragement and a clear understanding of the world.
boom!
A current of heat suddenly exploded from the tip of my heart without any warning, instantly burning through my neck and rushing straight to my cheek.
Luo Zhaohan felt as if her face had been fiercely smoked by a heater, burning incredibly hot. She almost ducked her head in panic, afraid to reveal the blush and panic that was inevitably visible on her face.
The only sound in the warm room was her own heartbeat, which was like a drum, hitting her eardrums and making her ears feel hot.
Mr. Chu saw her reaction clearly and understood it clearly.
The blush that suddenly surged onto the girl's cheeks and her silent embarrassment were better than any words of evidence.
"I'm getting old," said Mr. Chu, his voice becoming increasingly kind, with a barely perceptible smile and a hint of fatigue. "I don't have much hope for anything else. I just want to see young people have a smoother life, less wasted time, and find fulfillment. I'll leave the rest to you."
He stood up slowly. "After running around all night, my old bones are really tired. I'll go to the side room at the back to rest. Miss Luo, please sit here for a while. When Pei Ji is stable, he will explain everything to you."
After saying that, Mr. Chu said no more. He waved his hand to indicate that she didn't need to see him off. Then he dragged his slightly staggering but still upright steps and walked straight through the moon-shaped door on the other side of the warm room. His figure disappeared into the shadows of the long corridor in the back room.
In the inner room, the candlelight was deliberately dimmed.
The strong smell of medicine was like an invisible veil, heavily covering the space.
Jingchen hugged his arms and leaned against the beauty in the corner, breathing evenly. It was obvious that he could not bear the sleepiness and fell into a light sleep.
Jiang Xi leaned against the screen with a knife in his arms, his eyes half closed, his vigorous aura restrained like a leopard, like a silent statue.
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