Chapter 3: Seeking Death

Sui Yan was extremely shameless, and even slightly tilted his eyes towards that person, thinking: "Oh my god, who is this person?"

Before he could figure out what was going on, Haitang's voice came from outside the door: "Young Master, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness the Third Prince are here."

Sui Yan was stunned, and then the door was opened rudely. He turned around and saw a young man rushing in with an indifferent look on his face, looking like he was going to chop someone.

Sui Yan blinked.

Haitang complained bitterly and said quickly, "Third Prince has also seen that the young master is really not well yet."

Sui Yan immediately pretended to be weak, coughed twice, and said, "Meet the Third Prince."

The Third Prince had a serious and cold expression, with some childishness still on his face. He was still a teenager, but he showed signs of being decisive and murderous.

He glanced at Sui Yan and frowned. Behind him was Song Xian, who had always loved to watch the hustle and bustle.

Originally, Song Xian came over to add insult to injury, but when he saw Sui Yan's obviously thinner figure and pale face, his face suddenly darkened, and he walked over and shouted: "How come you have lost so much weight? You look even weaker than before? Are those doctors just for fun? Rubbish!"

Haitang didn't give Song Xian a good look when she saw him. Seeing that he was about to slap Sui Yan's shoulder, she rushed over and walked to the edge of the couch to protect Sui Yan without giving him any face, separating Song Xian's hand.

"My young master is still seriously ill, so it would be better for Young Master Song not to do anything."

Song Xian: “…”

Song Xian was furious, but couldn't lose his temper in front of Duan Zhisu, so he just snorted and said nothing more.

Sui Yan coughed dryly and scolded, "Haitang, don't be rude."

Duan Zhisu had been staring at Sui Yan's pale face. Seeing him standing beside the couch and not daring to sit down because of his status, he quickly walked over to him and held his arm to let him lean on the couch. He said in a cold voice, "If you are not feeling well, don't move around. What were you doing just now? Blowing the cold wind by the window? Ha, you deserve it for not being able to recover after being sick for so long."

Duan Zhisu came from outside, so he inevitably brought some cold air with him. When he approached Sui Yan, he shivered all over. He then took off the hood that was stained with cold, helped Sui Yan to lean on the couch, and pulled the quilt over him.

Sui Yan smiled and said, "Thank you, Third Prince."

Duan Zhisu's eyes were gloomy and he said nothing more because he was afraid that once he opened his mouth he would uncontrollably say something unpleasant.

Because the Sui Mansion was deserted all year round, Sui Yan entered the palace and grew up under the emperor's lap. He grew up with Duan Shisu and they had a deep friendship. Otherwise, given Sui Yan's cold nature, he would not have spent so many years in the court to redress Duan Shisu's wrongdoings.

Duan Zhisu looked at him with a shameless smile and said coldly, "What are you thanking me for? Tell me why you haven't recovered after so long. Isn't it just a cold?"

Sui Yan said innocently: "How should I know? I'm not a doctor. I'm taking the medicine they prescribed."

As soon as he finished speaking, a muffled laugh came from outside the door. The dark-haired young man was standing in front of the door, looking at him with a smile.

Sui Yan was stunned.

Haitang just said that two guests had arrived, and Duan Zhisu recognized them. This one was probably the crown prince Duan Mingchong who died young.

Sui Yan was about to stand up and salute, but Duan Mingchong smiled and said, "Young Marquis is not feeling well, so there is no need to be polite."

Duan Zhisu tucked back the quilt that he had lifted.

Duan Mingchong had a good temper and looked like a gentleman. He smiled and said, "My father asked me to come and visit the young marquis. I happened to meet my third brother at Cheng'an Gate, so we came together."

Legend has it that this crown prince was gentle, prudent, and loved by the emperor. As long as he did not commit any serious mistake such as treason, he would have been the emperor's heir after the emperor's death. However, he did not even live to adulthood and was killed by a glass of poisoned wine.

In his previous life, Sui Yan was always concerned about Duan Zhisu and didn't spend much time on Duan Mingchong. Also, because he died early, he didn't have much contact with him, so he didn't recognize who this person was just now.

Duan Zhisu touched Sui Yan's forehead with a very intimate attitude, which made Sui Yan shudder unconsciously.

In his opinion, the two of them had not seen each other for ten years. Even though they were close when they were children, he felt very uncomfortable when they were suddenly so close.

Duan Zhisu frowned even more tightly: "Are you cold?"

Sui Yan nodded and said with a smile: "It's cold, so cold, looking at the Third Prince's face, I am shivering with cold."

Duan Zhisu glared at him unhappily and said, "My birthday will be coming soon. My father has granted me permission to set up a residence in the newly built Prince's Mansion outside the palace. You must take good care of my health for me. Don't forget it."

When Sui Yan heard this, he suddenly glanced at Duan Mingchong beside him.

If he remembered correctly, it was on Duan Zhisu's birthday that Duan Mingchong was killed by the joint conspiracy of the Second Prince and the Fifth Prince.

Seeing that he was distracted, Duan Zhisu said coldly, "If I hadn't seen you by then, I would have sent someone to come and tie you up."

Sui Yan immediately came to his senses and begged for mercy in a flattering manner.

Even though he died from the poison drunk by Duan Zhisu in his previous life, he did not see the man's last scene with his own eyes, which still made him feel a little dreamy. As a result, he could not hate Duan Zhisu at all now. Instead, he hated the innocent Song Xian standing beside him so much that he wanted to beat him up.

Song Xian was puzzled by his almost biting gaze.

There were too many birthday matters to attend to, so Duan Shisu didn't sit there for long. He talked on and on with a sullen face, complaining a lot, and then left with Song Xian.

Sui Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Duan Mingchong had been sitting in a chair with a graceful posture, holding a cup of tea made from Begonia and looking at Sui Yan with a smile, as if he was very curious about him.

This crown prince was obviously one year younger than Sui Yan, but the way he looked at Sui Yan gave people a sense of indulgence, as if he was watching a child playing pranks.

Sui Yan shuddered again and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you have seen this, is there anything else you want to ask Wang Gui?"

The Crown Prince said to Haitang, "Go and make another bowl of medicine for your young master."

Sui Yan's face turned green.

Haitang didn't understand what was going on, but she dared not disobey the Crown Prince's order and ran away immediately.

When there was no one else in the room, Sui Yan's face fell and he said, "Your Highness, can you let me go?"

Duan Mingchong smiled and said, "I heard that the palace doctor Yu was helpless against the young marquis's illness, and I was really puzzled. I originally thought that it was because the group of people in the Imperial Hospital neglected the marquis, and that was why you were ill for so long. I didn't expect that when I came here this time, I would see such a good show."

Duan Mingchong always looks amiable and gentle, while Sui Yan is a thick-skinned person who is always friendly to everyone he meets. Seeing that Duan Mingchong did not expose him in front of Duan Zhisu, he felt that this man was really considerate and his words were not as reserved as before.

"Your Highness is right about neglect. The medicines prescribed by those doctors are so bitter that they can make people's tongues covered with weeds. If I had drunk their medicine, I would have died even earlier."

Duan Mingchong put down the teacup in his hand and said softly, "Good medicine tastes bitter. Young Marquis, you are a precious person, so don't be afraid of seeing a doctor."

As he spoke, Duan Mingchong seemed to remember something, frowned slightly, and suddenly asked: "Young Marquis, do you have any knot in your heart that you can't get over?"

Sui Yan almost choked to death on his own saliva: "Ah? Cough...what?"

Duan Mingchong pondered, "A few days ago, I saw you being rescued, but you jumped back into the water without saying a word. Now you are feeling unwell, but you refuse to take medicine..."

What he said made sense, and Sui Yan felt even more guilty—although he didn't know what he was feeling guilty about.

Sui Yan explained with a dry smile: "That time, oh, that time, thank you, His Royal Highness, for saving my life. I just didn't think clearly at the time, and I jumped down in a daze. And drinking medicine... uh..."

As she was talking, Haitang had already brought the medicine that was warm in the small stove outside, put it down carefully, and went down with great vigor.

Duan Mingchong personally brought it to Sui Yan's bedside table. Sui Yan quickly said, "Sorry for the trouble, Your Highness. I can do it myself."

Duan Mingchong handed him the medicine and looked at him with a smile.

Sui Yan felt uncomfortable being stared at, so he had to take a sip of the medicine and swallow it with difficulty.

Before Duan Mingchong could breathe a sigh of relief, he saw the face of the person in front of him suddenly turn pale and vomited all the medicine he had just drunk.

The medicine bowl in Sui Yan's hand fell and spilled onto the brocade quilt.

He leaned over the head of the bed and coughed violently. The sound was extremely terrible, as if he was going to vomit out his internal organs.

Duan Mingchong seemed startled and quickly walked forward and gently patted Sui Yan on the back.

Half a day later, Sui Yan finally stopped coughing violently, exhausted.

Duan Mingchong asked in shock: "What's wrong with you?"

Sui Yan coughed until his mouth was full of the smell of blood. He forced a smile and said, "It's an old problem. It's nothing serious. I'm sorry to have embarrassed you, Your Highness. I hope you won't tell the Emperor about this, so that your uncle won't worry about me."

Duan Ming Chongyi was the crown prince, but he was not arrogant at all. He picked up the handkerchief beside him and wiped the medicine stains from the corners of his lips without any concern.

He finally realized that the man in front of him was not arrogant and presumptuous, nor did he have a hidden grudge and want to commit suicide. He just really couldn't drink the medicine.

Duan Mingchong looked at his pale face covered with cold sweat and frowned, "How long has it been like this?"

Sui Yan's breath was barely moving, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Half a month."

Duan Mingchong's brows furrowed even more tightly. He was so seriously ill that he couldn't take medicine for half a month. How could his body bear it?

No wonder his wrists hanging on the edge of the bed were so slender, looking like they could be circled by one hand.

Sui Yan looked at the boy in front of him. He was obviously younger than him, but he insisted on acting like an adult. He couldn't help but laugh.

Duan Mingchong asked: "What are you laughing at?"

Sui Yan shook his head and said, "Your Highness, are you going to the Third Prince's birthday party this time?"

Duan Mingchong paused while wiping his face, and asked in confusion, "Brother Sanwang has already sent the invitation to the East Palace, so of course he has to go. Why did the young marquis say this?"

Sui Yan thought to himself, I can't just say that's where you'll be buried. If I really say it, Duan Mingchong might think he's crazy.

Sui Yan was naturally cold-tempered, and this was his limit. Seeing that Duan Mingchong had no intention of listening to him, he shut up and stopped talking.

Duan Mingchong had lived in the East Palace for a long time, and it was rare for him to come out. He stayed in Sui Yan Courtyard for half an hour and then got up and left.

Sui Yan forced himself to walk with him, and only looked away after he had left the corner.

Li Zhao walked out of the room, put a cloak on him, and said disapprovingly: "Young Marquis, it's freezing outside, you should go back and rest."

Sui Yan shook his head listlessly: "It's too stuffy in this room, I'm going out to get some fresh air, don't worry about me."

Li Zhao wanted to say something, but when he saw Sui Yan looked troubled, he left.

Sui Yan lowered his eyes and looked at the knee-deep snow outside the corridor. He stood at the edge, leaning against a pillar, and kicked outwards from time to time.

"This seems a bit crazy?" Sui Yan thought boredly, "Are there any knots in my heart that can't be untied? I don't think so. It's because I'm too open-minded that I find the world too boring."

Sui Yan sighed: "It's not worth it."

Then he closed his eyes and rolled directly from the corridor into the snow, burying his entire body.

There weren't many servants in the side courtyard of the Marquis's Mansion, and no one noticed when Sui Yan fell into a snowdrift. He was happy and at ease, gazing at the gloomy sky with his eyes slightly closed.

"It's so cold." Sui Yan thought to himself, then changed his mind and realized that death seemed to have always been that cold, so he felt relieved.

The coldness crept in inch by inch, and just when Sui Yan finally felt that he was going to fall into eternal sleep again, a hand suddenly stretched out from the snow pile and pulled him up.

Sui Yan was weak to begin with, and was unexpectedly dragged out from his eternal resting place. His eyes were so frozen that he could not see clearly, and he could only vaguely see darkness in front of him.

Just before he fell asleep, he heard Duan Mingchong's voice ringing in his ears.

"Forget about returning home!"