Chapter 127 Ghost

Because of the shadow of his childhood, Sui Yan was still a little afraid of Sui Xun. When his brother glared at him, his legs almost went weak.

Sui Yan was trembling with fear and thinking about how to fool around. Duan Mingchong, who was frightened and pale, turned around and said to Sui Xun: "General Sui, don't scare A Yan."

Sui Xun: “…”

I'm the one who's scared!

Duan Mingchong watched Sui Xun go out while suppressing his anger, then he turned around and looked at Sui Yan tenderly and sadly, and said softly, "Don't be afraid."

Sui Yan felt a little guilty: "I..."

Duan Mingchong forced a smile and said with difficulty: "I...don't be afraid, Daddy will protect you."

Sui Yan: “…”

Sui Yan was so frightened that he dropped the knife in his hand.

Duan Mingchong was probably afraid that Sui Yan would be upset again, so he continued with what he said. Seeing that Sui Yan was confused, he emphasized several times that "Daddy will protect you".

Sui Yan's pale lips trembled for a moment before he tried to put on a confused expression as if he had just woken up from a dream. He tilted his head and said, "Your Highness?"

Duan Mingchong was stunned for a moment, then he breathed a sigh of relief without leaving a trace, and said with a smile: "Ayan, you finally woke up."

Duan Mingchong took advantage of Sui Yan with a few words, and when he saw that Sui Yan didn't seem to be much different, he gave him a few quick instructions and turned to walk out of the inner room.

Sui Yan asked, "Your Highness, where are you going?"

Duan Mingchong left until only his back was left: "I'll be quiet for a while."

He sat on a soft chair in the outer room, resting his head on his hand and reflecting for a moment, before his red face gradually cooled.

Sui Yan had already put on his clothes and came out, holding a handkerchief in his right palm to block the small bleeding wound, which had stopped bleeding.

Sui Xun was sitting in the outer room, looking sideways at Sui Yan as he came out of the outer room. He was about to vent the anger that had been accumulating for a long time, but before he could say anything, he smelled a faint smell of blood.

Sui Xun was a soldier and was very sensitive to the smell of blood. He frowned and asked, "Are you injured?"

Duan Mingchong also hurried to see him.

Sui Yan threw the handkerchief casually, waved the small wound that had stopped bleeding at them, and said, "It's not a big deal, just a little bleeding."

He instinctively sat down next to Duan Mingchong and said to Sui Xun, "Brother, do you have something important to talk to me about?"

Speaking of this, Sui Xun recalled the time when his foolish brother grabbed Duan Mingchong and called him dad, and his face suddenly turned ugly. He didn't dare to glare at the prince openly, so he could only glare at Sui Yan fiercely and scolded him in a low voice, but Sui Yan didn't hear it.

Sui Xun put the previous scene out of his mind and said, "I have planned to take Jiang Ning to Jiangnan after your birthday."

Duan Mingchong was frowning as he looked at the wound on Sui Yan's palm. He raised his head slightly when he heard this.

If it were in the past, he would definitely not let Sui Xun leave the capital so easily. After all, the Ministry of War was a matter of great importance, and there were not many people in the court who could take on such a heavy responsibility. Once Sui Xun left, the court would definitely be in chaos for a while.

But now, Duan Mingchong lowered his eyes to look at the wound on Sui Yan's palm, and caught a glimpse of the blue marks under Sui Yan's eyes. It was rare that he did not say anything to keep him.

Sui Yan was heartless and said, "Okay, sure. Jiangnan is a good place to go. It has beautiful mountains and clear waters."

Sui Xun looked at Duan Mingchong who was thinking about something beside him, and saw that he didn't try to persuade her to stay like before. After hesitating for a long time, he sighed and said, "It's good that you know what's going on."

Sui Yan said nothing.

Sui Xun gave a few more instructions before getting up and leaving. Before leaving, she glanced at Duan Mingchong with a complicated expression and sighed inwardly.

As soon as Sui Xun left, Duan Mingchong asked, "Ayan, don't you want to go to Jiangnan?"

Sui Yan was handing a white veil to Duan Mingchong. When he heard this, his hands froze. Then he smiled and said, "Why would I go to Jiangnan? My second sister has always loved the Jiangnan landscape. My brother took her there to travel around. What does it have to do with me?"

Duan Mingchong pursed his lips, Sui Yan approached him gently, smiled slyly, and said, "Or does Your Highness want to accompany me to Jiangnan?"

The old emperor's health is getting worse day by day, and there is no way the prince would leave Beijing at this critical juncture.

Duan Mingchong frowned.

Sui Yan said, "If you don't go, what's the point of me going to Jiangnan by myself? It's boring."

Duan Mingchong said nothing.

After nightfall, Sui Yan wanted to do the same thing again, taking the bitter medicine to refresh himself, but when he got up in the middle of the night to look inside, he discovered that the secret compartment had been filled with candied fruits at some point, and there was no trace of any herbal medicine.

Sui Yan was so sleepy that he saw double images in front of his eyes. It took him a long time to react.

Duan Mingchong woke up at some point and sat quietly beside him, watching him rummaging through other secret compartments without saying anything to stop him.

Sui Yan flipped through several of them, and without exception, the herbs inside had all been replaced with preserved fruits.

The candied fruit is sweet, fragrant and soft. Not only does it refresh you, it’s good enough that it doesn’t make you sleepy.

Sui Yan turned his head with trembling hands and looked at Duan Mingchong with almost a bit of resentment.

Duan Mingchong had never been looked at like this before. He paused for a moment but said nothing.

Always haunted by nightmares, Sui Yan's temperament has changed a little. In the past, he would feel heartache when he glared at Duan Mingchong, but now he no longer has the strength to hide his inner resentment and anger.

He was angry and desperate.

After struggling for a while, Sui Yan trembled and stretched out his hand to Duan Mingchong, forced a smile to please him, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Highness, where are my herbs..."

Duan Mingchong placed his hand on Sui Yan's palm and said softly, "It's time for you to go to bed."

"Sleep? Sleep?" Sui Yan stared at him blankly, and suddenly shook off Duan Mingchong's hand, his face full of horror, "I don't want to sleep, I'm not sleepy at all..."

He struggled to get the small carving knife he had hidden under the pillow, and almost turned the entire bed upside down, but he couldn't even find the scabbard.

"Where's my knife?" Sui Yan was so anxious that he turned around and around. "Where is my knife? Where did you hide it?"

As he spoke, he tried to crawl over and turn Duan Mingchong over, but Duan Mingchong grabbed his hands and held them in his arms instead.

Duan Mingchong gently stroked Sui Yan's palm and said, "You mutilate yourself like this just to stay awake. Do you think I don't feel bad for you?"

Sui Yan immediately withdrew his hand from Duan Mingchong's palm, clenched it tightly and placed it behind his back, and with panic in his eyes, he tried to explain: "I cut myself accidentally - where is my knife? Your Highness, Your Highness, where is my knife?"

Duan Mingchong said nothing, and took out the small carving knife that Sui Yan had hidden on the bed from his sleeve. It was still stained with blood that Sui Yan had not had time to wipe off.

Sui Yan immediately breathed a sigh of relief and was about to reach out to grab him, but Duan Mingchong pressed him into his arms.

Sui Yan didn't understand why.

Duan Mingchong's warm hand gently stroked Sui Yan's neck, and pressed down lightly along the acupoints that Jun Jingxing had taught him.

Sui Yan's limp body trembled all over, and his already sleepy body could no longer hold on. He slowly slid down and was caught in Duan Mingchong's arms.

Duan Mingchong placed him on the couch, staring closely at Sui Yan's face, which was furrowed even though he was asleep, and after a moment he gently hugged him.

The Crown Prince has enormous power and can get whatever he wants. This is the first time in his life that he has felt powerless.

No matter how painful and desperate Sui Yan was, he could only watch from the sidelines. Apart from that, he could do nothing.

·

Sui Yan once again fell into a nightmare that had repeated countless times.

He continued running back and forth in the deserted palace as usual. After an unknown amount of time, he finally felt tired and staggered to the side, staring into the void in a daze.

Sui Yan lowered his head and looked at his hands. He felt as if something was missing from his white knuckles, but he couldn't remember where it was no matter how hard he tried.

He stared at his hands intently, and the cold wind howled around him like a ghost crying.

Sui Yan suddenly exclaimed, "My ring..."

The memory deep in his mind made him subconsciously remember that he should have a ring on his hand.

It is emerald green. I don’t know who gave it to me, but it looks so beautiful.

Now it is gone.

Sui Yan struggled to stand up, and began to search the huge yard for his missing things like a madman.

"Ring, ring..."

Sui Yan ran around the palace like a ghost. Whenever he saw something green, he would rush over to carefully identify whether it was the thing he had lost.

He put a jade bracelet on one of his fingers and hooked it, tilting his head to examine it for a moment before muttering, "It seems too big."

Having said that, he threw it away and continued to look for the lost object on his finger.

As he was searching, he suddenly looked down and was then awakened by fright.

——He has no feet.

Only real ghosts have no feet.

Sui Yan suddenly opened his eyes, covered his chest, and fell to the side, breathing rapidly, his face covered in cold sweat.

It was already daybreak. Duan Mingchong heard the noise and came in, raising the curtain: "Ayan!"

Sui Yan panted rapidly, and when he was about to die, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Duan Mingchong was almost frightened, and rushed forward like a madman, hugged Sui Yan, and shouted loudly: "Mukou, Jun Jingxing!! "

Sui Yan struggled to push him away, and after spitting out a mouthful of blood, his face quickly turned pale like a dead person.

Duan Mingchong wiped the blood from the corner of his lips with red eyes, his voice trembling: "Ayan, don't scare me...Ayan!"

Sui Yan just lowered his head and fainted again.

On the day of the Flower Festival, the entire mansion was in chaos.

Sui Xun listened to Sui Yan's labored breathing in the inner room, and became so irritated that he almost wanted to go out and kill someone. He just couldn't sit still.

Jiang Ning sat beside him and gently held his hand, saying softly: "Wang Gui is still so young, nothing will happen to him."

Sui Xun didn't know what to say and could only nod.

Jun Jingxing was busy all day long, and Sui Yan, who was extremely uneasy in his dreams, finally fell into a deep sleep.

There was still a trace of blood on his lips, which was wiped away by Duan Mingchong with trembling hands.

Jun Jingxing looked at Sui Yan's face and frowned, "His health is not good to begin with. If he continues like this, he will not be able to bear it sooner or later."

Duan Mingchong grabbed Sui Yan's hand, his pupils shrank, and he murmured, "Is there no way to cure it?"

Jun Jingxing hesitated for a moment before saying, "When I was young in Jiangnan, I learned medicine from the famous doctor Qian Lao, but I only learned the basics over the years and it was not very useful. After Qian Lao passed away a few years ago, the clinic was run by his direct disciple. Since he was taught by Qian Lao himself, his medical skills are naturally better than mine."

Jun Jingxing looked at Duan Mingchong's expression and asked cautiously, "Does your Highness want to summon someone from Jiangnan?"

Duan Mingchong was stunned for a long time before he shook his head gently: "No."

Sui Yan's fate seemed to have been determined long ago.

Master Gengxue personally warned that he must stay away from the capital before the age of 23 to avoid the disaster, and Jun Jingxing mentioned the famous doctor in Jiangnan who might be able to save Sui Yan's life.

Jiangnan...

Maybe for Sui Yan, Jiangnan is really a good place.

Even if a famous doctor was summoned to the capital to treat Sui Yan, it might not necessarily help him get through this disaster.

Even if he manages to get through it, there may be more unbearable sufferings waiting for him in the future.

Sui Yan slept for a whole day and night, and only woke up reluctantly on the third day.

When he woke up, the room was empty.

Sui Yan could no longer distinguish reality from dreams. He huddled in a corner timidly, counting on his fingers, his eyes dilated and unable to focus.

After a long time, he finally found the ring on his finger that he had been searching for for a long time.

Sui Yan's lifeless eyes lit up slightly, he gently stroked the ring and murmured, "It's this one..."

It's like traveling thousands of miles and finally reaching the end.

Even though Sui Yan was drowsy at this moment, he instinctively held the ring and smiled vaguely.

Duan Mingchong opened the bed curtain and looked at Sui Yan who was curled up in the corner. He was stunned for a moment before saying, "Ayan."

When Sui Yan heard the noise, he immediately looked up at him with some fear.

Duan Mingchong was not sure whether he still recognized him, so he tentatively extended his hand and said softly: "Ayan, I am Mingchong, do you remember?"

Sui Yan moved his eyes downwards, staring at Duan Mingchong's slender fingers, and murmured, "Am I dead already?"

Duan Mingchong was stunned.

He recalled blankly that he seemed to have no legs and had long been a ghost. It didn't seem strange that the poisoned prince could see him.

He said "Oh" and said nothing more, still casually turning the ring on his finger, looking like he couldn't let it go.

Duan Mingchong saw that he really didn't recognize him. His heart ached. He tried his best to keep a gentle smile, handed the medicine in his hand to him, and said, "Drink it first."

Sui Yan looked at him doubtfully: "Do I still need to take medicine if I die?"

Duan Mingchong coaxed him: "You need to eat."

He waved his hands like a dragon and said, "They say ghosts and evil spirits have tremendous magical powers. I'm already dead, but I still have to take medicine. Which great immortal set this rule?"

Duan Mingchong said: "Just drink one sip."

Sui Yan was very easy to fool when his mind was not clear. After being coaxed by Duan Mingchong, he obediently took the bowl and drank in small sips.

Duan Mingchong took the bowl and asked, "Is it bitter?"

Sui Yan's face wrinkled: "It's bitter."

Duan Mingchong asked again: "Do you remember me?"

Sui Yan looked at Duan Mingchong with doubt, who had a hint of expectation on his face, and said, "Aren't you the crown prince? I remember you."

Duan Mingchong looked a little lonely.

Sui Yan just thought this person was very strange. He was so disappointed when he said he remembered. Should he answer that he didn't remember?

He played with his fingers for a long time, and his chaotic mind finally remembered everything in a flash.

Sui Yanhun shuddered, and his eyes became clear instantly.

“Your Highness…”

Duan Mingchong was stunned for a moment, then he suppressed his dejection and chuckled, "It's me."

Sui Yan didn't dare to think about what had just happened, he just felt a palpitation of fear.

He rolled and crawled from the bed onto Duan Mingchong, and said in panic, "Your Highness! Your Highness!"

Duan Mingchong patted his back and whispered, "I'm here."

Sui Yan held him tightly for a long time before letting go with red eyes.

Duan Mingchong looked at his guilty and frightened expression, and his heart felt as if pierced by a sharp knife, causing him to tremble all over.

He forced a smile and tried to speak softly, "Ayan, your brother will be going to Jiangnan in a few days. I may have something else to do and cannot always be with you. It will be difficult for you to recuperate in the capital. Why don't you..."

Sui Yan now hated most when others said this. He was stunned for a moment, pushed Duan Mingchong's chest and stepped back, Liuli stared at Duan Mingchong with dull eyes.

"You want me to go to Jiangnan?"

Duan Mingchong didn't know what to say. He thought for a long time before he said with difficulty, "Yes."

Sui Yan's expression turned cold and he said, "I'm not going."

Duan Mingchong didn't want the two of them to get so awkward over this issue, so he forced himself to calm down and said softly, "As you said, Jiangnan is a good place. You should recuperate there for a few years. When you recover, I will come to pick you up, without delay."

Sui Yan pushed him away, inexplicably angry, and said in a stern voice: "I said I won't go!"

Duan Mingchong was startled by his sudden anger and looked at him in astonishment.

"Ayan..."

Not only him, but even Sui Yan himself was frightened by this unprovoked resentment. He stood there in a daze for a long time before he raised his hands to cover his eyes and muttered, "I won't go."

"I'm not going anywhere. I don't want to be separated from you..."

Duan Mingchong was afraid of scaring him, so he said carefully: "It's only a few years, it will be very quick..."

Sui Yan supported himself with his hands and took a few steps back to the corner of the bed. He took a deep breath and lowered his hands from his eyes. A closer look revealed that his eye circles were already red and his eyes were full of pleading.

"You... why do you have to send me away?" Sui Yan pleaded, "I'm living well in the capital. Apart from the nightmares, what's wrong with it? You want to recover, right? I can recover in the capital. Those medicines from Jun Jingxing... I won't spill them anymore. I promise to finish them every time."

Duan Mingchong wanted to pull him.

Sui Yan broke free from his hand, his back pressed against the wall, with nowhere to retreat.

He asked Duan Mingchong: "Is it okay?"

Duan Mingchong met his sparkling eyes and shook his head gently after a while.

"no."

The light in Sui Yanman's expectant eyes gradually faded and became dim.

Duan Mingchong couldn't bear to see him like this. He stretched out his hand to Sui Yan and said, "Ayan, I don't dare to gamble with your fate, and I don't want to watch you torture yourself like this and be powerless to do anything. Just listen to me this time."

Sui Yan looked at him in disbelief, his body limp in the corner, trembling.

"You...you want to drive me away..."

Duan Mingchong said: "Only three years..."

Sui Yan murmured, "Can I trust you?"

"If you..."

He hesitated to speak.

Duan Mingchong knew Sui Yan's personality very well, and he always felt that someone as carefree as Sui Yan would not be so hypocritical and stupid as to risk his life just to be separated from Duan Mingchong for three years.

But he still couldn't figure out why Sui Yan was so determined not to leave the capital. When he heard this, he felt like he had grasped something, and hurriedly said softly, "What if it's me? Tell me, and I'll tell you."

Sui Yan looked at him blankly, and after a long while he whispered, "If I see you next time, will you send someone to bring me some wine?"

Duan Mingchong was stunned, not knowing where he was coming from.

"Duan Zhisu and I were such good friends before we broke up. I risked my life to redress his wrongdoings and worked hard for so many years..." Sui Yanhun's body was shaking, and his voice was getting weaker and weaker. "When we finally met again, we were left with only a stigma."

Duan Mingchong was stunned.

Sui Yan huddled in a corner, hugging his head. His long, disheveled hair covered half of his face, but it couldn't hide his despair.

"We are so good now, but if after three years, you..." Sui Yan said, "you want to kill me just like him..."

Sui Yan's voice finally took on a tone of fear and crying.

"Your Highness, should I drink the poisoned wine or not?"