Chapter 74: The Empress Dowager's Nephew Who Changed His Temperament
The person wearing the mask of pain became Qi Chengming.
But the young man lowered his head, composed himself, and clearly didn't intend to say the rest of his sentence. As if he had made up his mind, he said in a deep voice, "Once I've recovered from my injuries, I'll go back to the capital and join the army."
"So soon?" Qi Chengming was somewhat taken aback. He had heard his cousin say that he would go next year or the year after to spend more time with his wife, children, and relatives in the capital.
"..." Wang Shou listened to the question, gave the young man a deep look, and did not answer.
My cousin's secret, or rather... my cousin doesn't seem to be hiding anything at all.
If my grandfather knew about that incredible strength, speed, and reaction time, he would be overjoyed.
Such a promising martial arts talent, who should have lived a pampered life as a prince from a young age and had the best learning environment, and what happened? My cousin turned out like this.
Physically frail and isolated in Liuzhou, he was completely abandoned and left to fend for himself. One can only imagine the kind of life he led from childhood.
Wang Shou felt a sharp pain in his heart and a bloody taste in his mouth whenever he thought about it, despite being a member of his maternal family who was absent from his wife's side.
There was a hint of melancholy in the young man's eyes. He couldn't help but reach out his right hand and place it on the prince's head, which he shouldn't have offended, and gently rubbed it twice: "Chengming."
This was the first time Wang Shou had called Qi Chengming's name seriously.
“From now on, I’ll be your support.” He said this in a low voice, but his tone was very gentle. Qi Chengming, who was sitting closest, almost didn’t hear him. “So, you need to learn to live a better life—I mean, be good to yourself.”
My cousin grew up alone and destitute in the oppressive palace. They had no choice but to let him become like this. But now, Wang Shou has returned.
No powerful backer? As his cousin's blood relative and the eldest male in the family, he would take responsibility and strive to become his cousin's support, making his cousin's life as easier as possible in the future.
Many years ago, my grandfather, who was the Marquis of Weiyong, at the height of his power, led his troops to guard the borders of the country and protect peace in all directions. The title "Weiyong" was a tribute to his character and outstanding military achievements.
Unfortunately, the subsequent defeat... Wang Shou didn't know the details, but it led to their mansion being demoted to the rank of Marquis of Weiyong. Then came a series of lows, from which they never recovered: his father and brothers died, he himself lost his memory and became a wanderer, the Weiyong Army was scattered, his aunt passed away, and his grandfather stayed in the mansion.
Wang Shou was not clear about what happened during that period, but after inquiring about the situation at the time, he vaguely understood. The war gradually subsided in those two years, and the emperor no longer had the same thirst for his grandfather as in the past. If he continued to be so powerful, it would be the Wang family's turn to worry about how his achievements would overshadow the emperor.
Everything is in accordance with the changing times.
And now...
War broke out again, but no capable generals were found. The imperial army sent to suppress the rebellion suffered repeated defeats. After these crushing losses, the thirst for victory was even stronger; the emperor had no time to concern himself with anything else. Wang Shou's return was perfectly timed, and he intended to adapt to the changing times—to strive to become a formidable general.
Qi Chengming regained his senses, having been held captive for a full ten seconds. The shock in his heart was indescribable: "But cousin, even if you manage to rise above your station, a powerful military general has no connection with me, a prince..."
He frowned, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
Wouldn't this make Emperor Hongren extremely wary of him? Qi Chengming could easily guess how many open and covert attacks would follow, and how dangerous his cousin's situation would become. Qi Chengming was very worried that his cousin would have difficulty even protecting himself.
Wang Shou understood what he meant, but his face, marred by a hideous scar, remained calm: "Cousin, it's better for capable people to be feared than for those who are needed to be feared."
My cousin worries that even if he becomes a great general, he won't be a reliable backer. But at that point, Wang Shou will at least have value that is feared and used, which would allow him to help my cousin live a better life...
"Alright, the imperial physician should have finished his diagnosis." Wang Shou interrupted the young man's worried words, which he wanted to use to persuade him further, and looked at the person who came in through the door.
The young imperial physician bowed and reported to Qi Chengming, "Your Highness, everyone else has only minor injuries. They have been treated with medicine and sent away. Only the one who fell off his horse..." He hesitated, "...is still unconscious. We need to examine his injuries further."
"Who is that person? And what happened to the startled horse just now?" Qi Chengming asked the guards who followed the imperial physician in with a serious expression.
They were under Prefect Mu's command, and they patrolled the streets normally, doing things similar to the county government's yamen runners.
"A few of the followers who caught up just now recognized their young master. This is... is..." The leading soldier gritted his teeth, looked around at the crowded and chaotic environment, and tried to get closer to Qi Chengming, but was stopped by Song Gu with a quick step.
After confirming with his eyes, he quietly told Song Gu what was going on. Song Gu then went to Qi Chengming's ear and relayed the message to his prince: "That's a child from the Li family, a spoiled brat, who is also the Empress Dowager's direct descendant nephew."
Qi Chengming's smile froze slightly: "..."
Song Gu was still explaining to him with a furrowed brow, and Qi Chengming already understood.
He had heard the general situation from the original plot: the Empress Dowager's maternal grand-nephew was a lawless playboy and a minor villain during the original male protagonist's struggle for the throne. He was arrogant and domineering, and after making enemies, he made things difficult for them for a long time. In the end, of course, he did not have a good ending.
Why is this grand-nephew of the Empress Dowager running off to this godforsaken place of Liuzhou instead of staying in the capital?
Qi Chengming was puzzled.
To be honest, ever since he arrived in Liuzhou, he often felt like he had become a magnet, attracting many people to the place.
His inner confusion didn't stop him from listening to the soldier continue explaining the situation: "The doctor just examined the horse; one of its front hooves is injured and broken... Because cement roads are very damaging to horses' hooves, regulations in Liuzhou stipulate that horses must ride on dirt roads, not on the cement sidewalks. That young master probably didn't know the regulations, so..."
Xiao Chengzi, standing to the side, looked displeased, his face tightly pressed together without a trace of a smile.
To put it mildly, the implication is that the young master was disobedient and rode his horse on the concrete, causing an accident where he not only fell and nearly died, but also endangered the young master and His Highness...
Heaven knows how terrified Xiao Chengzi was just now, and how much he hated himself for not running fast enough.
He had been training hard for the past few months, but he still couldn't catch up with His Highness just now.
"Your Highness, that young master's men have settled him in an inn. The steward keeps saying he wants to come and thank his savior." A guard who had come with them that evening hurried in to report the latest situation.
Because Qi Chengming kept a low profile and went out to dinner tonight, the people across the table didn't know that the person who saved the person was the prince himself and the prince's cousin—even if they said it out loud, most people wouldn't believe it.
Qi Chengming waved his hand without hesitation for a second: "Tell him it's not necessary. Keep an eye on that inn and wait for that young master to wake up."
Qi Chengming had a bad impression of the playboy from the Li family who only knew how to eat, drink, have fun, and do bad things. He also suspected that Li was not really there in Liuzhou. He was very wary and decided to keep an eye on him.
"Yes!" The Imperial Guards left without hesitation. Several soldiers who had overheard the conversation felt awkward; they couldn't afford to offend either side, so they quickly took their leave as well.
"Cousin, let's go back and rest too," Wang Shou said wearily, glancing at the late hour outside. Today had been overwhelming; so many things had happened that even Wang Shou himself felt aches and fatigue all over, and his eyelids were almost too heavy to keep open.
Sweetie, watching from afar with worry, was almost swaying. She was already exhausted from her illness, and tonight she had encountered so many things, causing her emotions to fluctuate wildly.
"...You'll have to work hard again tonight." Song Gu's drunkenness had completely dissipated, and he earnestly asked the young imperial physician in a low voice not to sleep too soundly, to wait for any movement from the courtyards, and preferably for the apprentices to be on standby as well.
Alas, the few masters of the Prince Rui's mansion are all in poor health. After tonight's events, a few more might fall ill. We must be careful that nothing goes wrong in the middle of the night.
"Don't worry, I know these things well," the young imperial physician replied with practiced ease.
He was no longer the same person he once was. When he first left the capital, he was a young man ostracized and lacking experience in the Imperial Medical Academy. Along the way, he served princes, handled emergencies, and in Liuzhou, he encountered all sorts of difficult and complicated diseases, insects, poisonous miasma, and a large influx of patients after a hurricane, keeping him working non-stop at high intensity. He even had time to consult the old and renowned physician, Doctor Bian…
The young imperial physician, though weary, remained calm and composed, having already become a seasoned veteran. Anyone who doubts or underestimates his age will suffer a great loss.
"Let's go back." Qi Chengming waved and led everyone back to the mansion. After his cousin pointed it out, he suddenly felt heavy-headed.
So much happened today...
Qi Chengming's consciousness gradually faded. His last memory was of his wet nurse, Liu, asking in surprise, and Xiao Chengzi whispering, "Something happened, wet nurse, come and lend a hand..."
A warm, smooth texture touched his face as he wiped it. His boots were taken off, and he was helped back to the familiar soft bed, still somewhat dazed.
I was plunged into a sweet darkness.
Because he was so tired, Qi Chengming slept very soundly. The cheerful chirping of birds in the morning did not wake him until there was a commotion at the door, which quickly subsided again.
Qi Chengming's eyelashes twitched before he slowly opened his eyes.
His first instinct was to touch his forehead—good, no fever. He then massaged his arms and legs—no weakness or aches from sudden exertion. His throat didn't hurt; he didn't feel the discomfort of eating spicy food and getting drunk.
Surprised.
The medicine produced by the system is quite reliable, and my body has become less weak after several months of maintenance.
I slept like a man dollop and felt like I was fully charged.
Qi Chengming was glad that no one disturbed him while he slept. He got out of bed, feeling refreshed, and opened the door to call out, "What were you arguing about earlier?"
"Your Highness!" Xiao Dezi and Xiao Chengzi were waiting at the door, happily leading the palace servants in one after another.
Palace servants brought washbasins, towels, and coats for the day. A new day began busily, surrounded by everyone.
A strange, complex expression appeared on Xiao Dezi's face, as if he had been waiting outside for a long time and was finally about to speak. He reported, "Your Highness, someone came to apologize early this morning. It was the injured young master of the Li family. He knelt down obediently and said he wanted to thank Your Highness for saving him yesterday."
Qi Chengming: "?"
He hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing his words: "...Xiao Dezi, have you been learning something from some teachers lately? The phrase 'bearing thorns to plead guilty'... isn't used like that."
“Your Highness, it is true that someone carried thorns on their back to apologize.” The young palace maid holding the coat was bold and added in a low voice, “...We secretly saw that the person was carrying a lot of tree branches on their back.”
Qi Chengming: "...Huh?"
Is this person here to apologize, to express gratitude, or a combination of both?
Most importantly, Qi Chengming simply couldn't believe that the spoiled brat from the capital, whom the Seventh Prince hated so much, had changed his ways and was now "kneeling obediently" in front of him. What kind of scheme was he plotting?
Completely bewildered, Qi Chengming became even more vigilant.
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