Granny Cui found twenty-four people to persuade Wei Jingzhuo, but the first twenty-two of them returned empty-handed, leaving only the man Afu who could perform ventriloquism and the young girl Xiaoyi.
Before leading Afu into the bedroom, Granny Cui repeatedly gave Afu instructions.
"His Majesty has not eaten for many days, and his eyesight is almost failing. You must remember not to get close to His Majesty, but stay at a distance and imitate the Empress's words to persuade His Majesty to eat."
This was the first time Afu had been so close to the Emperor. His legs trembled with nervousness as he asked, "Granny Cui, did my imitation of the Empress's voice sound good just now?"
“It looks similar, but His Majesty would never be able to tell the difference.” Granny Cui looked at his trembling legs. “Don’t keep shaking, calm down.”
"I have never been so close to Your Majesty in my entire life."
"Just treat him like an ordinary patient."
After Granny Cui finished comforting him, Afu was still afraid and asked again, "What if His Majesty wants me to go?"
"Just say that His Majesty is unwell and that I will come after His Majesty has finished his meal and is feeling better."
What if His Majesty asks about the past?
"Just tell them we'll talk after His Majesty has finished his meal."
"What if His Majesty gets out of bed?"
“He’s so hungry he can only move his hands,” Granny Cui said anxiously. “Don’t ask so many questions, just go in and let His Majesty eat. That Xiao Yi is good at dancing, but His Majesty can’t see her. We can only rely on you.”
The two arrived at the door, where the guard commander, Lin Qingfeng, stood and asked, "Is there anyone else behind?"
Granny Cui said, "There is another woman, but I don't know which family she belongs to."
When Afu saw that Granny Cui had opened the door, his legs went weak, and he could only stand up by grabbing the door panel with both hands. He looked at Granny Cui.
Granny Cui dared not utter a sound, repeatedly gesturing with her eyes for Afu to enter. Seeing there was no way to avoid it, Afu had no choice but to force herself to walk into the bedroom step by step, with Granny Cui and Lin Qingfeng following behind. Afu didn't even dare to lift her head, straining her voice to try and imitate Su Wan's tone.
His imitation was indeed eight or nine parts similar to Su Wan's. However, due to his panic, he forgot everything that Granny Cui had taught him and blurted out, "This humble subject, Afu, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
After saying that, he was so remorseful that he wanted to slap himself.
Granny Cui was so angry that she kept slapping her thigh behind him. This was the only reliable one left, and he made a mistake in his very first sentence.
A weak, concise word floated out from behind the bed curtains.
"roll."
With the emperor speaking, the three of them had no choice but to flee the bedroom and close the door. Afu knelt down and said, "Granny Cui, I really can't do this."
Granny Cui was still not satisfied and said, "Stop trembling, rest for a while, and then go in and say a few words to His Majesty."
Afu pleaded, "I don't want to tremble, but I can't control my tongue."
"Let me try," a girl's voice rang out.
Granny Cui looked up and saw it was the last girl, Xiao Yi. She waved her hand and said, "I know you can dance, but His Majesty's eyesight is failing, so there's no use in you going in."
Xiao Yi said, "Let me try. I have a way to get His Majesty to eat."
Granny Cui was still hoping to get Afu inside, but Afu was completely collapsed on the ground, tears and snot streaming down his face, and Lin Qingfeng couldn't pull him up. Helpless, Granny Cui asked Xiao Yi, "Do you have any ideas?"
Xiao Yi said, "I'll know what to do once I go inside. But Granny and Commander Lin will have to wait outside."
Lin Qingfeng and Granny Cui exchanged a glance. Granny Cui shook her head and said, "No, His Majesty is seriously ill and bedridden. How can we let you go in alone?"
Xiao Yi said, "His Majesty has not eaten for several days. If this continues, his life may be in danger. I will go in, and you two can wait outside. If anything happens to His Majesty, you may cut off my head."
Most people are terrified of death, but Xiao Yi spoke of it as if it were nothing, leaving Afu, who was lying on the ground, stunned.
I'm a grown man, yet I'm not as brave as a teenage girl.
Lin Qingfeng was also impressed by Xiao Yi's composure and said to Granny Cui, "Granny, let her give it a try."
Although Granny Cui was unwilling, apart from Xiao Yi and A Fu, there was no one else who could persuade Wei Jingzhuo. If they were to go to the countryside to collect more people, who knew how many days it would take? Wei Jingzhuo couldn't wait that long, so he could only say, "Okay."
Xiao Yi received Cui Mama's permission and pushed open the door to enter the bedroom.
Upon entering the bedroom, she was greeted by a tall screen with a landscape painting directly opposite her. She walked slowly around the screen.
Behind the yellow dragon-patterned curtain, Wei Jingzhuo, in his drowsy state, seemed to sense something, suddenly opened his eyes, and said in a trembling voice, "Is it... A-Wan?"
His vision was blurry, and his ears were ringing. But he could feel it; it was a familiar feeling, the feeling of Su Wan.
“Ah Jin, it’s me,” Su Wan’s voice rang out from outside the curtain. “I’m back from that island. I knew you wouldn’t eat properly without me.”
He choked up, trying to reach out and lift the curtain, but he couldn't lift his arm.
"Ah Wan, I miss you so much."
Su Wan said from outside the curtain, "If you miss me, you should eat something. It hurts me to see you ruining yourself like this, you know?"
“I’ll eat, I’ll eat right away,” he said. “I just need you here with me.”
There seemed to be a knock at the door, followed by hurried footsteps. After a moment, the curtain was lifted, and a slender, jade-like hand held a spoon to his lips: "Open your mouth."
He obediently opened his mouth and swallowed a spoonful of porridge. After being fed a few more mouthfuls, he regained some strength and finally raised his hand to grasp that slender hand.
"Ah Wan, don't leave me, please don't leave me."
The hand trembled slightly, and Su Wan said from outside the curtain, "Let go of my hand first and finish your porridge."
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