Chapter 16 Survival
A moment later, Sui Yan was hurriedly escorted back to the mansion by servants.
It usually takes an hour for the stigma to take effect after entering the throat, but it took only three quarters of an hour to get from the Third Prince's Mansion to the Marquis' Mansion, and Sui Yan felt dizzy and almost stumbled and fell on the snow when he jumped off the carriage.
Haitang was outside changing the lanterns. When she saw him coming back, she hurried over to greet him in surprise: "Master, why are you back so early?"
Sui Yan was only wearing a small jacket with wide sleeves, which made him look even thinner. The cold wind and snow penetrated through his sleeves. He didn't know if it was because of the cold or something else, but he was shivering all over. He shook his head slowly and said hoarsely, "It's okay."
Haitang noticed that he looked unhappy and was about to help him up but Sui Yan waved her hand away.
"Young Master?"
Sui Yan lowered his eyes and walked towards his own yard: "No need to follow me."
Before Haitang could say anything else, Sui Yan had already quickly walked into the red plum forest leading to the yard. A gust of snow and wind came and he disappeared without a trace.
The snow in the plum forest had piled up to the ankles. Sui Yan staggered into it, panting slightly.
While he was in a trance, a plum blossom suddenly scratched his face. He dodged to the side a few steps, but his feet became unstable and he fell to the ground.
He was not wearing a cloak, his frail body lying in a snowdrift. He slowly sat up with his hands on the snow, staring blankly at a jade pendant that had fallen out of his sleeve.
——That was the birthday gift he intended to give to Duan Zhisu.
He had prepared the same jade pendant in his previous life, but he never gave it away because Duan Mingchong was killed halfway. He wanted to make up for this regret in this life, but he didn't expect that it would become the biggest joke now.
The more Sui Yan watched, the more ridiculous and sad he found it.
The pattern on the jade pendant was drawn by him personally before his reincarnation and he had it carved. I heard from the owner of the jade shop that the patterns on the jade pendant are usually magpies, goldfish, evergreens, osmanthus trees, peonies, and three-year-old cold. Whatever the meaning is, the pattern will be carved.
At that time, Sui Wanggui felt that the pattern was too monotonous, so he thought of combining several flowers with festive meanings and painting them on it. It turned out to be a weird mixture, but at least it was carved out.
But the next time he went to the jade shop, the owner refused to serve him no matter what, which made Sui Wanggui very puzzled.
Sui Yan stared blankly at the jade pendant on the snow, and then, as if possessed by a demon, he suddenly clenched his fist and smashed it hard at the jade pendant.
With a dull "bang", the jade pendant was smashed into the snow. It didn't break on the first hit, so Sui Yan knelt on the ground and smashed it twice more.
The jade pendant cracked and broke into several pieces, and the broken jade cut his frozen blue hands, causing them to bleed profusely.
Sui Yan stared at the shattered jade pendant absentmindedly, and thought to himself, "How on earth did I... turn myself into a joke?"
As he drank the wine, he could see Song Xianhe's solemn expression clearly, but the more clearly he saw, the sadder he felt.
Sui Yan's first reaction was: "Ah, so they all knew about this."
Only I don't know.
After the confusion, the uncontrollable collapse came completely.
Sui Yan didn't understand why Duan Zhisu and Duan Ruwang wanted to kill Duan Mingchong in such a situation. Duan Mingchong died at his birthday party. There were countless reasons for him to be blamed, and he was definitely the first one who could not escape the blame.
Duan Zhisu was not stupid to have survived in the court for many years. Why did he do this?
If Siu Yan in his previous life could have realized all this, he would have definitely considered the overall situation first.
But now, he didn't want to consider anything, didn't want to look at the hypocritical expressions of those two people, and didn't even want to stay at that disgusting banquet for a quarter of an hour.
Sui Yan covered his mouth. The collapse was like the breaking of a snowy mountain, destroying everything he had insisted on in his past and present lives, leaving only remnants on the ground.
I can't even pick it up.
He felt both desperate and wronged, he wanted to laugh but also wanted to cry, his lips curled up but no sound came out, his eyes were sore but not a single tear fell, only waves of dull pain in his heart, making him tremble all over.
Sui Yan recalled in a daze how he had thrown away his integrity and dignity to scheme in the court for so many years in his previous life. He turned himself into a sinister and vicious villain, sometimes even he hated himself, just to avenge Duan Zhisu. After he lived a new life as a non-believer, he suddenly realized that everything he insisted on doing in his previous life was in vain, and even... he was just trapped.
It's ridiculous.
"Is there anyone in this world more stupid than me?" Sui Yan murmured, and then answered himself, "Of course there isn't."
Sui Yan knelt in the snow for a while, and the madness in his eyes gradually dissipated.
"I can't die yet." He staggered to his feet, holding on to the plum tree beside him. His eyes were blank as he muttered, "I lived again, not to die in such a miserable way."
After taking a bath, Jun Jingxing was reading a medical book under the lamp. In the silence of the snowy night, there was suddenly a faint knock on the door. He frowned and went to open the door wearing his coat.
The door had just been opened, and before Jun Jingxing could react, a person fell straight towards him. He instinctively tried to help him, but was shocked to find that it was Sui Yan, who was covered in snow.
Sui Yan grabbed Jun Jingxing's sleeve in a daze, opened his eyes reluctantly, and said intermittently: "Poison...you can cure it..."
Before he finished speaking, he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Jun Jingxing was startled and quickly carried him into the house.
Sui Yan had been holding onto his arm tightly, and had already lost consciousness at this time: "Yue, Yuejian..."
Jun Jingxing was almost frightened to death when he saw him vomiting blood. He stripped off Sui Yan's clothes that were soaked by snow, stuffed him into the warm quilt, and asked anxiously, "What happened? Are you poisoned?"
As he was about to call for help, Sui Yan grabbed him. Even though his throat was stinging, he still weakly warned, "Don't tell anyone else..."
After finishing these words with great effort, Sui Yan finally realized how shameless he was. He was still thinking about Duan Zhisu at this moment.
"Sui Wanggui, you deserve to die." Sui Yan thought.
Soon, the stigma began to take effect, and chills and heat swept through his entire body, burning him to the point of being dizzy and in so much pain that he wanted to roll off the bed.
Oh, yes.
Before he fell into chaos, Sui Yan suddenly remembered what Duan Zhisu had said to him that year.
He said, "Wang Gui, are you willing to believe me?"
At that time, Duan Zhisu's eyes were dazed as he stared at him blankly, looking absent-minded, weak and desperate.
The young boy Sui Wanggui had never seen Duan Zhisu like this before, so he immediately stopped caring and nodded heavily.
"Of course I believe you."
Of course...
Believe in you.
And what are you doing with my trust?
It snowed heavily for several days in a row. By New Year's Eve, the ice on the eaves had solidified. The snow on the roof melted in the sunlight and dripped slowly down along the crystal clear ice.
Early in the morning, Sui Xun tied his cloak around his shoulders, straightened his collar, frowned, and turned around and asked, "Are you still not awake?"
Haitang's face was full of worry. "Yes, Doctor Jun said that the young master had a cold in his body when he came back that night. He won't recover in a short time. He needs careful care for a few days before he can wake up."
After Duan Zhisu's birthday banquet, Sui Xun had been busy with New Year affairs in the army. He came back today on New Year's Eve and originally wanted to bring Sui Yan to the palace, but he didn't expect to be told that Sui Yan was still sick.
Sui Xun waved away Hai Tang's hand that was adjusting his waistband and said, "How come no one told me that he was so seriously ill? Let the driver wait for a moment. I'll go see him."
Haitang quickly said yes.
Sui Xun walked quickly to Sui Yan's yard in the east. Before he entered the door, he smelled a smell of medicine mixed with blood. He pushed the door open, but unexpectedly bumped into someone head-on.
Jun Jingxing took a few steps back and when he saw it was Sui Xun, he quickly saluted.
Sui Xun knew that Sui Yan had found a doctor in the martial arts world and lived in his house, so he didn't care. He lowered his eyes and looked at the blood-stained handkerchief in Jun Jingxing's hand. His eyes turned cold and he said, "Didn't you say you were sick? Why are you bleeding?"
Jun Jingxing said hurriedly: "It's just the blood that was vomited out, it's nothing serious."
Sui Xun glared at him as if he were a quack.
Jun Jingxing hurriedly took the basin and went downstairs to fetch new water.
Sui Xun ignored him, thinking that he would ask an imperial physician to come and check on Sui Yan when he went to the palace today. As he was thinking, he walked to the couch in the inner room and was shocked to see Sui Yan lying on the bed with a pale face.
Having only been sick for a few days, Sui Yan had become almost unrecognizable, with his brows furrowed as he rested his head on the pillow. His face was pale, but his lips were an unnaturally red.
Sui Xun sat gently on the edge of the bed, touched Sui Yan's forehead with his hand, and called softly: "Forgotten return?"
Sui Yan moaned softly, his lips moving slightly, and it was unknown what he was mumbling in his sleep.
At this time, Jun Jingxing came in from outside with a cup of hot water and looked at Sui Xun with an embarrassed look.
Sui Xun frowned, soaked a handkerchief in hot water, gently wiped the cold sweat from Sui Yan's forehead, and asked, "When will he wake up?"
Jun Jingxing thought for a moment and said, "Wait two more days."
"Two days..." Sui Xun rubbed his brows, a little irritated, "Can it be faster?"
Jun Jingxing seemed to want to roll his eyes, thinking that your brother's illness is not an ordinary one, he is poisoned, saving a life is already a blessing for the ancestors, and you want it to be faster? I can do it faster.
But before going to bed, Sui Yanhun warned him not to tell anyone else. Jun Jingxing rarely listened to him. Recently, people came to visit Tianhou Mansion, but he rejected them all by saying they had a cold.
It was already late, Sui Xun was in a hurry to enter the palace, and it was not appropriate for her to stay any longer. She spoke a few words to Jun Jingxing, and then left with a worried look on her face.
Today is New Year's Eve, and also the winter ceremony of offering sacrifices to the heavens.
In all dynasties, the ceremony of offering sacrifices to heaven was held on New Year's Eve. A dew sacrifice was held in the palace, red candles were placed on the altar, and sky lanterns were hung in the southwest. After the hour of noon, the emperor ascended the altar with the prince at his side, and they burned prayer boards and prayer texts, praying for auspicious snow and good harvests in the coming year.
Sui Xun, along with the civil and military officials, watched the emperor on the altar burning incense and kowtowing to his ancestors. Thinking of Sui Yan's illness, he couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed.
As he was bowing to welcome the Emperor, he absentmindedly took a wrong step. Duan Mingchong, who had just come down from the altar, looked at him strangely and whispered, "General, return to your seat."
Sui Xun finally came to his senses, frowned, and returned to his seat, kneeling.
He was somewhat absent-minded the whole time, and even Duan Zhisu, who was standing far away, noticed it. When the Taihe bell rang, he couldn't help but ask Song Xian, who was standing beside him, "Is Wanggui still sick?"
Song Xian whispered, "Your Highness, please keep silent during the sacrifice."
Duan Zhisu had no choice but to sit back down.
The elaborate sacrificial ceremony lasted for most of the day and finally stopped at noon.
Sui Xun was in a hurry to go back to see Sui Yan. After saying something to a few colleagues, he quickly walked out of the palace.
When he was leaving Cheng'an Gate, Duan Zhisu suddenly called him.
Sui Xun turned around and saw that it was him, and bowed.
Duan Zhisu seemed to be a little embarrassed and said, "Has Wanggui been ill these days? He didn't even show up for the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony today."
Sui Xun said, "Yes, I probably forgot to put on thick clothes when I returned home that day and caught a cold. The doctor said it's not serious and I will wake up in a few days."
Duan Zhisu finally breathed a sigh of relief and forced a smile, "That's good. I'll go see him in a few days."
Sui Xun said "hmm", said goodbye and left.
Song Xian came up from behind, looked at Sui Xun's hurried steps, frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
Duan Zhisu said: "It's just a cold."
Song Xian wanted to say something but stopped.
The two walked side by side on the way back to the palace. Halfway through, Song Xian suddenly couldn't help but speak: "Your Highness, why do you think Sui Wanggui drank that glass of wine for the prince? As far as I know, he doesn't seem to have much friendship with the prince. Do you think it's possible that he knew something?"
Duan Zhisu was stunned.
Song Xian said: "You and I both know what was mixed in the wine. Although we don't know what kind of deadly poison it is, according to Sui Wanggui's thoughts..."
Duan Zhisu whispered: "Shut up."
Song Xian shut his mouth, but the anger in his eyes remained.
Duan Zhisu took a deep breath and said, "I didn't think this through well. I'll go see him in a few days and explain this matter to him clearly. You, don't talk nonsense in front of him. Wanggui looks very thoughtful. If you say something wrong, it might cause a rift in his heart."
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