Chapter 54 Does Little Seventeen even know who you are...?
The surname Suga is very rare, but there is a village in the northern region where everyone has this surname.
Seventeen unearthed memories that had been buried for a very long time. Although entering the Dark Guard Camp meant forgetting the past, how could she possibly forget it?
"Are you from the North? Are you a native of the North? I'm from the North too, I'm from Shiqi in the North."
When Sugan heard him say that, her eyes lit up. The two boys from the same place seemed to have found kindred spirits and happily clasped hands together.
Just then, there was a knock on the door: "May I come in?"
"Okay! Sure!"
Long Zhaoming pushed open the door and entered. The first thing he saw was two hands clasped together. Mingyue, who was following behind him, also saw it. Her face darkened, and Long Zhaoming instantly felt a chill beside him.
The doctor following behind them was completely oblivious and respectfully asked, "Which one of you needs medical attention?"
Long Zhaoming stepped aside to let the doctor in, pointed to the boy lying on the bed, and said, "The one on the bed."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The doctor stepped forward, and Seventeen made way for him, but Sugan was a little nervous and held onto Seventeen's hand tightly.
Seventeen had no choice but to gently comfort him, "It's okay, I'm just checking you out."
Sugan relaxed a little, but Long Zhaoming felt that the temperature of the person next to him was so low that he was almost frozen into an ice sculpture.
He couldn't help but secretly scoff, "What's the point of my brother being so jealous? Little Seventeen doesn't know anything about this yet! Is he just being jealous for no reason?"
But he dared not say it aloud, for if he did, the next day he would be met with an imperial edict ordering him to be transferred back to Yejing.
The doctor placed his hand on Sugan's hand, carefully feeling her pulsating heartbeat.
"Hmm... malnutrition, a bit weak, but otherwise nothing too serious. She probably just fainted because she was too hungry."
Seventeen suddenly realized that they hadn't even thought to get something to eat for so long.
After thinking for a moment, he turned to look at Long Zhaoming, his tone somewhat pleading: "Your Highness, could you please prepare some food? Sugan is from my hometown."
Long Zhaoming raised an eyebrow. Fellow townsman? Both from the North?
Mingyue took a step back, her voice soft and indifferent: "Your Highness, I'll go to the kitchen and get some food to fill my stomach first."
Only after Mingyue left did Long Zhaoming breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, his elder brother still had some sense and did not cause trouble here.
"Write down some prescriptions and give them to Uncle Wang later."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After the doctor left, Long Zhaoming asked curiously, "What's his name?"
Seventeen replied, “The character is '菅柑' (jiān gān), which means to treat human life like grass, and '柑' (gān), which means tangerine.”
"Sug... that's a very rare surname."
Long Zhaoming waved his fan and laughed, "How did you get here? Do you know what kind of place this is?"
Sugan's golden eyes, like those of a small animal, stared warily at Long Zhaoming. Seventeen smiled and patted his shoulder, introducing him: "Don't be rude, this is His Highness the Prince of Huainan."
"...This humble subject greets Your Highness."
Sugan was not an impolite person, but he had encountered too many things on the way and dared not trust people easily. If it weren't for the fact that Seventeen was from the same hometown as him, he probably wouldn't have revealed himself so easily.
"I came all the way from the north to get here."
Long Zhaoming stared wide-eyed in surprise and asked incredulously, "You came on foot? From the North?"
No wonder he was surprised. The journey from the north to the south would take more than a month if the horse were to travel at full speed day and night. This child had actually walked all that way.
His gaze then fell on the other person's feet and hands, which were covered in numerous wounds. He sighed and said, "I'll have Uncle Wang get some medicine to apply to them later."
We still need to investigate the child's background, but it seems that Seventeen likes him quite a bit and shouldn't be too forceful in his attitude.
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Seeing the two peers in front of her becoming increasingly intimate, Mingyue's hand holding the chopsticks turned red. Long Zhaoming glanced at her and felt a little guilty, after all, he was the one who had taken the child in.
After tidying up, Sugan looked much cleaner and neater. Her black hair was tied up high and hung obediently behind her head. Her golden eyes were fixed on Seventeen, but the person being stared at felt nothing.
Someone who is so perceptive because of their martial arts skills...
Seeing that his elder brother was about to lose his temper, Long Zhaoming coughed lightly, attracting the attention of Seventeen, who was chatting with Sugan.
"Your Highness, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Long Zhaoming shook his head and said, "Guan Gan, do you have anywhere to go?"
Sugan paused, head bowed, and remained silent. Seventeen keenly sensed her low spirits.
"Your Highness, the clothes for this young master have all been bought. Would you like to try them on?"
Uncle Wang came in from outside, looking at Sugan with a smile.
"Okay, take him downstairs."
After Sugan and Uncle Wang left, Seventeen turned to ask, "Has Your Highness investigated Sugan's background?"
Long Zhaoming raised an eyebrow and asked, "I thought Little Seventeen didn't care about this."
"Huh? How is that possible? The appearance of Sugan is suspicious, and her appearance is different. What if she is a hidden danger if we don't find out the truth?"
Seventeen looked at Long Zhaoming with a puzzled expression, seemingly not understanding why the other party would think that way.
"Well, Little Seventeen is right."
Despite being "scolded" by Seventeen, Long Zhaoming wasn't angry. Mingyue, who was beside him, calmed down a bit, clearly having been appeased as well.
Seventeen was completely unaware of the two men's complicated thoughts, and simply sighed, "If they were innocent people, I would only feel sorry for them."
“The situation in the North is complex. Although there are Northern Army troops stationed here, it is difficult to take full care of everyone, and some omissions are inevitable.”
Long Zhaoming also sighed. The northern lands were inherently cold and harsh, but no matter what, they were still the people of the Great Jing Dynasty, and it was impossible to abandon them.
"Seventeen knows, and doesn't mean to blame the Northern Army. I'm also from the North, and I know the situation there is complicated."
Just as the three were talking, Zero Five appeared in a flash, knelt on one knee, and reported, "Your Highness, the investigation is complete."
"Jiangan was from the Qiang town in the north. Both of her parents died at the hands of the Northern Rong. When the Northern army arrived, there were not many people left in the area, and Jiangan disappeared."
This matches what Sugan said.
The Northern Rong killed his parents and looted and burned in the town. Guan Gan was hidden in the shadows and survived by chance. Before the Northern Army arrived, he walked out step by step. No one knows how he walked, but he actually came to Jiangnan.
"Innocent?"
"Yes, there is nothing unusual. However, according to the locals, Sugan was born different from ordinary people. He was like a primitive northerner who had reverted to his ancestral ways. Although he was young, he was strong and had a good physique. He often helped them with their work."
Long Zhaoming seemed to be deep in thought. Recalling Sugan's physique, he suddenly realized that this might be the reason that had supported him to travel to Jiangnan.
People from the north are generally more robust and taller than people from other places, and the native people of the north are even more so. If this Sugan has a clean background, perhaps he can be kept by my side.
After Lingwu finished reporting, he paused for a moment, then continued, "They've replied from Yejing."
These words made Seventeen stand up immediately and look at Long Zhaoming eagerly.
"Give it to Little Seventeen."
Long Zhaoming smiled with narrowed eyes, glancing at Mingyue sitting upright beside him out of the corner of his eye, and felt that he was somewhat unlucky.
Is he the bridge between these two people?
Lingwu handed the letter to Seventeen, glanced at the surprised and eager Seventeen, and gave him a strange look.
Seventeen, unaware of what was happening, quickly opened the letter and read it at a glance.
"Your Majesty is alright...that's wonderful."
Seventeen lowered her eyes, her heart feeling a little hot. It was good that His Majesty was alright. Although she knew in her heart that this might also be part of the plan, she still couldn't help but worry.
Seeing Seventeen's expression, Long Zhaoming felt a pang of sadness, while Mingyue felt a pang of heartache.
If he hadn't hidden his identity... perhaps he could be openly with Seventeen right now...
But things have already come to this point, so we can only wait until everything is over before making any plans. I suppose Seventeen... won't blame him.
Long Zhaoming made an excuse to go see Guan Gan and left in a hurry, leaving Shiqi and Mingyue sitting in the courtyard.
"What did His Majesty write?"
Mingyue was just asking a question he already knew the answer to. He knew best what he had written, but he just wanted to tease Seventeen.
Seventeen carefully folded the letter and gently placed it in his bosom, saying, "Just tell him that everything is fine and that I should stay by His Highness's side in peace until the matter is over, and that he will summon me back to the capital."
Mingyue nodded and said, "That's good. Let's just stay here and not think too much."
"Brother Yue..."
Seventeen was somewhat moved. Both His Highness and Yue-ge knew that he was worried about Yejing, especially His Majesty, it was more accurate to say that he was afraid.
Since being brought back by His Majesty, he had never left Yejing, and this was the first time he had traveled so far. Although years of training had enabled him to hide his emotions, he still couldn't help but have countless thoughts in his dreams late at night.
"What? Touched? What if I told you I'd take you to try some Jiangnan cuisine?"
Looking at the smiling Mingyue, Seventeen felt a strange flush on her face. After looking away, she said, "Brother Yue is naturally very good."
For a moment, the atmosphere between the two was quiet, yet it carried a different meaning. Seventeen was somewhat puzzled, but Mingyue knew exactly what it meant.
He took a deep breath, suppressed his impulse, pinched Seventeen's cheek, and smiled, "I'll go and ask His Highness for permission later."
He nodded at 5 p.m. and looked up at the clear blue sky.
It is unknown whether they will be able to embark on their journey home before the scorching sun arrives.
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Seventeen spent his days in Jiangnan quite well. He spent his days eating, drinking, and having fun, mainly following His Highness in those activities.
He felt he was about to fall into depravity, but in the end, His Highness assigned him a job teaching Sugan, which allowed his belly, which had become quite large, to gradually slim down.
The background of Sugan has been investigated and found to be clean, which puts Long Zhaoming at ease. He then begins to think about where to go.
Sugan may not have seen many important figures. Although she was polite to Long Zhaoming, she wasn't particularly afraid of him. When he asked her a question, she only said one sentence: "I want to stay by Seventeen's side."
Upon hearing this, Mingyue almost drew her sword, but fortunately Long Zhaoming stopped her in time and hurriedly explained, "You mean you want to learn martial arts from Little Seventeen, right?"
Sugan nodded, looking at the two people with a puzzled expression. What else could it be? But whether it was learning martial arts or something else, as long as she could stay by that beautiful person's side, that was fine.
But he didn't say it aloud; his keen intuition, like that of a small animal, told him that he couldn't say those words now.
Turning back, Long Zhaoming earnestly advised Mingyue: "What are you jealous about? Does Xiao Shiqi even know who you are? Does he know you like him? Why are you getting jealous like this? What if you and Jian Gan get together and Xiao Shiqi gets caught in the middle?"
Mingyue took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, calming down.
That makes sense. Right now, he can only feel jealous of someone who has no connection to him. Seventeen doesn't even know who he is.
This realization irritated him, so he kicked Long Zhaoming and turned to leave.
Long Zhaoming was speechless at being kicked for no reason, but what could he do? He had been bullied by his own brother since he was a child. Could he possibly turn the tables when he grew up?
Uncle Wang chuckled and darted over from the side, whispering, "Your Highness, is His Majesty...?"
He pointed to the receding moon, then to the direction of the small courtyard where Seventeen lived, and beckoned with his finger.
"Uncle Wang is so shrewd, how could he not see it?"
"Oh my, really? Oh dear, what a wonderful thing! This old servant must go and offer incense to Your Majesty later."
Uncle Wang was secretly delighted. In this Prince of Jiangnan's mansion, a memorial tablet for Consort Shu had been set up. In fact, this was not in accordance with the rules, but since the current emperor had tacitly approved it, who would dare to make trouble?
Long Zhaoming sighed softly, pondering the "bloody storm" between the three of them in the future, and felt that he might be able to avenge the defeat he suffered at the hands of his elder brother.
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Author's Note: Taking a day off tomorrow! No need to post a leave request, just relaxing. [Milk tea emoji]
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