045 Entering the Palace
Li Yang had been thinking all the way about how to bring it up with Song Xi.
The identity of being the Empress Dowager's son is like a wound that can never heal, firmly residing in Song Xi's heart. Even though he is a renowned physician, he cannot heal himself.
If she were to bring it up again now, it would be like tearing open a scabbed wound, leaving it bleeding, and even rubbing salt into it. Just thinking about it made Li Yang feel the pain.
Especially the look of surprise on Song Xi's face when she saw him coming.
"Yangyang, what brings you here? I was just about to go to the Li residence to find you. Has Li Ting's injury worsened? That shouldn't be the case; he seemed to be getting better these past two days."
Li Yang shook her head: "It's nothing. Li Ting is much better now and is resting at home. I came here to see you."
Song Xi greeted her as she entered: "Looking for me? What's up?"
"Ah? Oh, it's like this. You treated Li Ting for us without charging any fees. My parents wanted to thank you, but they didn't know what to give you, so they sent me to ask. Young Master Song, I'm really grateful to you for curing Jing Ge and Li Ting."
Song Xi smiled nonchalantly: "It's nothing, just a small favor, don't worry about it."
After he finished speaking, his expression turned serious again, and he said in a low voice, "I also have something I wanted to talk to you about today. This morning I asked Xiaohan to deliver some things to Qiuqiu, but I found that Qiuqiu and his mother were gone. Everything in the house was still there, and it wasn't messy. I suspect they were kidnapped."
Last time, Qiuqiu was coerced into sowing discord between Li Yang and Yuan Chongjing, and was tricked into going up the mountain, resulting in Li Yang's injury. After understanding the cause and effect of the matter, Song Xi locked Qiuqiu in a private courtyard elsewhere. Now that she has disappeared, he suspects that it is still related to Li Yang.
Song Xi said, "Qiuqiu and his mother are both from Chenzhou. Didn't you and Yuan Chongjing also spend four years there? Could there be some connection between you? Did anything happen to you in Chenzhou?"
Li Yang thought back carefully: "No, during those four years, Brother Jing was honest and upright, and he was fair and just in everything he did. He was the best man for the people and left absolutely no evidence against him."
"Maybe I'm overthinking it. Perhaps they wanted their freedom and secretly ran away from Kyoto." Song Xisong breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "Come, sit down. Since we have some free time today, I'll make you a pot of tea."
He hadn't yet changed into the old man's attire; his face was bare of makeup, his brows relaxed, and his long, curled eyelashes cast a soft shadow on his face. His long black hair was casually tied back with a jade hairpin, and he wore a simple greyish-blue brocade robe. Yet, in every gesture and movement, he exuded an air of noble elegance and natural grace.
Li Yang looked at him and called out softly, "Young Master Song."
"Hmm?" Song Xi responded, taking a spoonful of tea leaves from the tea canister. "What's wrong?"
Li Yang smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just think you're like a painting, so beautiful."
Song Xi was amused by her: "So what? In your heart, he's still not as good as your Jing-ge."
"You are different."
Li Yang had only said it casually, but Song Xi took it seriously. He put down his tea set and stared at her intently: "What's different? Tell me."
Li Yang felt a chill run down her spine under his gaze. She calmed herself down and thought for a moment before saying, "It's hard to say. Jing-ge and I are just like ordinary people, with flesh and blood, feeling pain and laughter. We live in the mortal world. You're different. You're like a banished immortal, high above, looking down on all living beings. You seem within reach, but in reality, you're far away, unattainable."
Song Xi chuckled, his voice growing louder until he leaned back in his chair and burst into laughter. As a tear welled up in his eye from his emotions, he wiped it away, seemingly talking to himself, yet also expressing his feelings to her: "Yangyang, your analogy really resonates with me. I disdain all the things you mortals desire. I am that aloof and proud, aren't I?"
"No, you still have a bit of humanity left," Li Yang added.
Song Xi smiled, his face flushed, a pink blush like rouge on his fair and flawless cheeks: "It's fortunate that I helped you cure Yuan Chongjing and Li Ting, otherwise you would have called me a cold-blooded and heartless little god."
As if he had actually witnessed the scene he described, Li Yang felt a pang of shame: "It's not that bad."
Song Xi stared at her meaningfully and smiled, "Alright, if you keep explaining, you really won't be able to explain yourself."
Li Yang awkwardly picked up her teacup, using the act of drinking tea to ease the embarrassment. After talking with him for a long time, she finally got up to say goodbye and leave.
Although Li Yang hadn't known Song Xi for long, she could tell he wasn't the type to care about worldly things. The throne, princes, power—none of these were matters for him. He valued freedom, a clear conscience, and an open mind. Given this, the likelihood of the Song family supporting him to the throne was much lower.
Li Yang walked briskly and returned to the Yuan residence without any major problems.
But then she saw Xiao Taozi playing with Xia He in the yard. Li Yang walked over and asked, "Where's Jing-ge?"
Xia He said, "He's in the study. He's been staying in the study ever since you left."
Since she hadn't come out for so long, she must have been busy. Li Yang didn't think much of it and squatted down to coax Xiao Taozi: "Xiao Taozi, what delicious food did you get from Grandma? Do you want to share some with your mother?"
Little Peach grinned and pulled Li Yang into the room, tilting her head up for praise, "Little Peach saved a lot for Mother and Father, Mother, come and see!"
The child's chubby hands, seemingly boneless, gripped Li Yang's index finger; they were warm and soft, softening Li Yang's heart. She pinched Little Peach's chubby cheeks and smiled, "Then Mother will thank our filial Miss Peach in advance~"
Upon hearing this, Little Peach pouted and huffed, "Daddy won't let Little Peach play. Mommy, we'll eat it all and leave nothing for Daddy."
Li Yang smiled and said, "Okay, we won't give him any. We'll eat it all."
Hearing that Li Yang agreed with her 'bad idea,' Xiao Taozi covered her mouth with her hands and giggled secretly, only revealing her pair of crescent-shaped eyes, which were extremely cute. Li Yang was so charmed by her that he patted her several times before leading her into the house.
Before the two had even stepped over the threshold, they heard Jinghe's somewhat flustered voice from the courtyard gate: "Young Madam, Second Young Master, someone from the palace has arrived."
Yuan Chongjing, who was in the study not far away, also heard her voice, quickly opened the door and came out, scolding, "Speak slowly, which palace has sent someone?"
Jinghe, holding her waist and catching her breath, said in shock, "It's the palace! A very imposing eunuch has come and said that His Majesty wants to summon the Second Young Master, the Young Mistress, and Miss Taozi to the palace. They're in the front hall. Master told me to tell you to hurry over there."
Upon hearing her words, Yuan Chongjing's heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong. For the Emperor to specifically request to see the family of three, there was only one possibility: Xiao Taozi's identity was about to be exposed!
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