Chapter 52 Sweet Soup

What happened next, the three spectators had no idea, but as they quietly climbed out along the corner of the wall, they could still hear the emperor's angry voice in the fifth prince's bedroom.

Sui Yan whispered as he climbed up: "The Second Prince is in trouble this time. He murdered his own brother. This is a serious crime."

Song Xian followed him, ripped off the flower on her hair, and said, "I still want to know why that miracle doctor has been seeing the prince all the time?"

Jiang Enhe said unhappily, "Stop talking nonsense. Send Sui Wanggui back to the East Palace immediately. If the Crown Prince knew that I didn't send him away and brought him here to watch the fun, I'm afraid I'll be in big trouble."

When the prince was mentioned, Song Xian, who had been tricked, shuddered suddenly. Recalling Sui Yan's previous abominable behavior, he slapped Sui Yan on the back and said angrily, "This is all your fault!"

Sui Yan turned around and glared at him: "How come it's my fault? You better be careful. If you do anything again, I will complain to the Crown Prince. Then we'll see who will suffer the consequences."

Song Xian: "Have some shame!"

Sui Yan: “No no!”

The three of them ran to the East Palace on tiptoe with broken flower petals on their heads. Originally, Song Xian wanted to run away after watching the show, but Jiang Enhe grabbed him. He was afraid that he would be so tired that he foamed at the mouth if he carried Sui Yan all the way to the East Palace, so he naturally had to grab a strong man to do the hard work.

Song Xian desperately pried his hands apart and tried to run away: "I won't carry this bastard on my back. If you want to carry him, do it yourself!"

Sui Yan leaned against the wall, looking at his slender hands in boredom, and muttered nonchalantly: "Your Highness, someone named Song Xian pushed me today. Oh, yes, that's right, it's the Song who bullied me last time. This time, my forehead is swollen and it hurts...ah."

Song Xian put an arm into Jiang Enhe's arms: "Hold me."

Jiang Enhe hurriedly hugged his arms tightly.

Song Xian immediately struggled and vented his anger at Sui Yan, and rushed towards Sui Yan in a panic: "You idiot! Where did I push you? Explain yourself clearly to me!"

Jiang Enhe desperately hugged his arm: "Brother! Brother! Forget it!"

Sui Yan carefully touched his forehead which was red and swollen from being hit, took a hissing breath, and said vaguely: "If I say you hit it, then it is you who hit it. Let's see who the Crown Prince believes in."

Song Xian: "Year, forget, return!"

Jiang Enhe: "Brother! Brother! It's not worth it! Your life is more important!"

The two desperate men, swearing and grumbling, carried Sui Yan back to the East Palace without complaint. When the palace servants saw the three people stumbling in, they hurried over to greet them: "Young Marquis, what happened? Ouch, why is your forehead bleeding?"

Song Xian and Jiang Enhe realized that this person was the palace maid who always followed the Crown Prince, and they hurriedly went to see Sui Yan nervously - the person who controlled their life and death.

Sui Yan rubbed his head and was supported by someone. He frowned and said, "It's okay. I bumped into it accidentally. Just sprinkle some medicine on it."

The two of them breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that although Sui Wanggui was quite a mess, he could still speak the truth and do the right thing at the critical moment.

The palace maids hurriedly welcomed the person into the side hall.

Song Xian and Jiang Enhe originally wanted to retreat directly, but they were exhausted from carrying Sui Yan, so they decided to go to the side hall to have some tea before leaving.

Song Xian had just walked into the side hall and casually glanced at some miscellaneous things in the side hall. He could barely recognize that they were all from Sui Yanyuan and immediately cursed.

He approached Sui Yan and whispered, "Have you moved the entire mansion here? I originally thought you were just staying here for a while, but judging by your attitude, you plan to stay here permanently until the New Year."

Sui Yan groaned: "I plan to marry and become the Crown Princess, why do you care about me?"

Song Xian: “…”

Song Xian drank the tea in a gulp and was about to leave, but Sui Yan suddenly called him.

Song Xian turned around and said unhappily, "Just say it if you have something to say!"

Sui Yan sat on a chair with his legs crossed, a furry golden bear squatting on his shoulder, his posture extremely lazy and casual. He said calmly: "Go back and tell the Third Prince that it's best not to interfere in this matter, otherwise he might be the next one to be punished."

Song Xian's pupils shrank, and he finally understood why the miraculous doctor had been glancing at Duan Mingchong today.

He asked with difficulty: "Did you have any hand in this?"

Sui Yan smiled, winked at him, and said cunningly: "What do you think?"

Song Xian waited a long while before he asked tentatively, "Is this the idea you gave to the prince?"

Sui Yan was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help laughing out loud: "How can I have such great ability to influence the Crown Prince? Do you really think of me as the Crown Princess?"

Song Xian was thinking about this question seriously, and was so angry at Sui Yan's last sentence that he almost rolled his eyes.

He glared at Sui Yan and left the East Palace in a hurry.

While Sui Yan and Song Xian were talking, Jiang Enhe was eating cakes and drinking tea on the side. He didn't want to pry into the content of other people's conversation and looked heartless.

Only after Song Xian left did he put down the teacup in his hand, and said to Sui Yan in a serious tone, "I have decided to investigate Yin Lingfeng's case for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Sui Yan smiled and said, "You were scared by Duan Xichen today, how come you are so brave all of a sudden?"

Jiang Enhe thought for a moment and said, "I suddenly realized that I finally got into the Imperial Academy. If I continue to be so timid and inactive, I will never achieve anything great..."

Sui Yan kindly added: "...not to mention that no one is supporting you."

Jiang Enhe immediately glared at him.

Sui Yan bit his lip and smiled, took a sip of tea, and then said, "Okay, then I wish you a successful start. When things are settled, I will take you to my house and introduce you to a beautiful woman."

Speaking of beauties, Jiang Enhe immediately lost his temper: "No, I just want to see Yue Jian beauty. Since she was redeemed and left, I have never been to Wanhualou again. Other beauties are not pleasing to my eyes at all."

Sui Yan sighed: "What a foolish lover."

Then you must meet Jun Jingxing.

Jiang Enhe stayed in the East Palace for a while, then stood up to say goodbye. Before leaving, he stuffed the sachet with half a bag of peanuts left in it to Sui Yan, and said seriously, "I will never bring snacks to Hanlin again. This is for you."

Sui Yan: “Uh…”

This poor kid must know that the reason he took on this difficult case was because of the sachet last time.

Jiang Enhe looked at the sachet reluctantly before turning around and leaving with his face covered.

Sui Yan sighed again: "What a sin."

After saying this, he took out the peanuts inside and ate them, then threw the sachet into the charcoal brazier, which quickly burned into a pool of ashes.

Sui Yan said to himself, "I think His Highness will not ignore me this time."

He was feeling proud when, not long after, Jiang Enhe suddenly came back and shouted as soon as he entered the room, "I thought about it again and decided to give me the sachet. I'll put it on my desk and use it for self-reflection."

Sui Yan: “…”

Jiang Enhe blinked and looked at him expectantly: "Where is my sachet?"

Sui Yan tilted his head, pointed at the charcoal basin, and said innocently: "I didn't hold it firmly just now, and it fell in."

Jiang Enhe: "..."

Jiang Enhe was so angry that his eyes turned black. He scolded him for a long time and his voice was hoarse when he was helped away by the palace servants.

"Don't let me see you again, you bastard! You sachet thief!"

Sui Yan was not angry, because being scolded didn't hurt anyway. Instead, a palace maid beside him said in embarrassment, "Young Marquis, this young Master Jiang is too rude. He wants me and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to..."

Sui Yan smiled and said, "No, it won't cause any trouble. I'll leave the child alone."

The palace maids looked at him speechlessly, thinking to themselves, you are a few months younger than others, yet you still call others children.

Duan Xichen's addiction to the incense drug caused an uproar in the city. The emperor was furious and had Duan Ruwang brought to the emperor for a face-to-face confrontation.

Duan Ruwang followed the order and went to the Fifth Prince's bedroom. As soon as he saw the scene in front of him, he knew roughly what had happened. He glanced at the trembling miracle doctor, then looked at Duan Mingchong who had a calm face beside him. He chuckled and did not make any further excuses. He just accepted it without changing his expression.

The emperor was so angry that his chest heaved violently: "You...what on earth are you doing this for? Xichen is your brother, you...you even..."

Duan Ruwang smiled and said, "Father, I am also concerned about the health of my fifth brother. You have also heard what the miracle doctor said. If we delay any longer, Xichen may die of exhaustion."

The emperor knew exactly what he was planning. He was so angry that he was confused. He was afraid that he would do something irreparable in his rage, so he ordered that Duan Ruwang be placed under house arrest in the Second Prince's Palace until his crime would be punished later.

The emperor staggered away and was supported by someone.

Duan Ruwang stood there, staring at Duan Mingchong non-stop, and after a moment he suddenly smiled. He gently bowed and said, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is really a good tactician."

Duan Mingchong was looking at the window frame nearby. Hearing this, he looked at him in confusion: "Why do you say that, Second Brother?"

Duan Ruwang looked at his bewildered expression and laughed even harder. He lost in a very graceful manner. He saluted Duan Mingchong with a smile, and without saying another word, turned around and was taken away.

After Duan Ruwang left, the doubt on Duan Mingchong's face slowly disappeared. He stared at the petals that accidentally fell on the window frame, not knowing what he was thinking. After a moment, he said nonchalantly, "Get up. His Majesty has done you a great favor by not offending you. You can leave the prescription behind, and the matter will be settled. I will send someone to escort you out of the palace."

Doctor Qian, who had been kneeling on the ground as if forgotten, kowtowed again and said in a trembling voice, "Yes."

Trembling, he took the prescription out of his arms and handed it to Doctor Meng Yu who was waiting on the side.

Doctor Meng Yu opened his stall and glanced, then nodded slightly towards Duan Mingchong.

Duan Mingchong waved his hand casually, and the two of them bowed and left.

In the East Palace, Sui Yan was in a good mood, basking in the sun on a rocking chair, with the rabbit and teddy bear in his arms jumping all over him. The palace servants were afraid of touching the wounds that Sui Yan had just sprayed with medicine, so they bowed and advised, "Young Marquis, the sun is about to set, you should go back to the bedroom to rest, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince should be back soon."

Sui Yan was not very sleepy. He stood up and asked, "Have the crabapple flowers I moved from Yu Garden bloomed?"

The palace maid hurriedly said, "It's open, it's open, it's in the backyard."

Sui Yan thought of something and said, "Then I'll go take a look."

He rested for a whole afternoon and his legs had recovered a lot. He refused the palace maid's help and walked to the backyard alone.

It is spring now, and the transplanted crabapples are in full bloom, emitting waves of subtle fragrance that fill the air, making one feel pity.

Sui Yan was ruthless in destroying the flowers. He broke off a branch and gently turned it between his fingers, shaking off the water droplets on it.

He was gazing at the branch of flowers in his hand with great joy when he suddenly heard footsteps nearby.

Sui Yan turned around and saw Duan Mingchong walking towards him in a hurry.

Sui Yan was delighted: "Dear Lord..."

Before he could finish his words, Duan Mingchong strode over and hugged him.

Sui Yan: “…”

Sui Yanhun's body froze, and the branch in his hand suddenly trembled and fell straight to the ground.

Sui Yan took a breath and said with difficulty: "Your Highness?"

Duan Mingchong seemed to have just returned from the Fifth Prince's bedroom, with a strange medicinal scent still lingering on his body, and his arms were shaking slightly as he held Sui Yan.

Sui Yan then realized something was wrong. He tentatively reached out and hugged Duan Mingchong's back, whispering, "Your Highness, what happened?"

Duan Mingchong held Sui Yan's body, which was full of the fragrance of medicine and flowers, and panted rapidly. After a long time, he murmured: "If I don't take action, they will hurt me... and you."

Sui Yan was stunned.

Duan Mingchong buried his head in Sui Yan's neck and said hoarsely, "I have been giving in step by step for so many years, just because I don't want to fight with them. Why... do they think I am weak and can be bullied, and force me so hard?"

Sui Yan felt sad. He had become accustomed to relying on Duan Mingchong on weekdays and almost forgot that he was only a fifteen-year-old boy.

He had read so many books by sages, and the Emperor Taifu had taught him so many ways to govern a country and cultivate one's character, but no one had ever told him how to react when he was assassinated by his own brother.

Everyone in the palace is in turmoil, and he has no one to trust. He can only grope his way forward step by step, trying to find a solution that would have the best of both worlds. He could survive and also be a wise ruler like the emperor taught him, being gentle, respectful, and courteous to his brothers.

Later, a cup of poisoned wine was poured and he failed.

If he had drunk the cup of infamy, Duan Mingchong might not have been so decisive and cruel. The poisoned and weak Sui Yan was the last straw that broke his gentle mask.

Sui Yan suddenly felt distressed. He began to regret that he should not have been so rude in forcing Duan Mingchong to understand the schemes and strategies overnight and to learn from him to throw away his conscience. But after hearing what Duan Mingchong said, he began to secretly feel lucky that Duan Mingchong could see the true faces of his brothers earlier, so that he didn't have to die unclearly in the end.

He gently hugged Duan Mingchong's back and said softly, "Your Highness did nothing wrong. You just want to protect yourself, which is good."

Duan Mingchong said nothing.

Sui Yan said softly, "Everyone's life is not easy. If they want to harm you, do you really want to be killed? Besides, you just returned what they did to you. It can't be considered as brothers killing each other. They are only to blame for their own actions. They deserve it."

Duan Mingchong still didn't say anything.

The two of them hugged each other quietly for a while, and only after completely calming down did Duan Mingchong gently let Sui Yan go, lowering his head slightly, with his eyes and ears a little red.

"Ah, Ayan..."

It was the first time that Duan Mingchong showed weakness to others. After calming down his emotions, he felt a little embarrassed and lowered his eyes, not daring to look at Sui Yan.

Sui Yan bent down and picked up the crabapple branch on the ground, and said with a smile: "Your Highness always looked mature and stable before, I almost forgot that you are younger than me."

Duan Mingchong's ears turned even redder.

Duan Mingchong carefully recalled his expression just now and suddenly found it quite hypocritical.

Duan Mingchong thought, since it has been done, he should not be so weak and naive, because once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back.

This was the first time that Duan Mingchong plotted against his own brothers, and he killed two people with one move. Originally, he didn't feel too bad - when he knew that Sui Yan's body was damaged by them, Duan Mingchong had made up his mind not to be indecisive anymore.

But when he returned to the East Palace and caught a glimpse of the tall and graceful young man among the crabapple flowers, his heart, which had been forced to be cold in a short period of time, suddenly softened. Endless grievances and bitterness overwhelmed him, and he couldn't control himself and went forward to hug the young man who was talking and laughing in the sunset.

It seems that only by hugging him can I feel the warmth of the sunshine.

Duan Mingchong thought to himself: "I must protect him well."

After struggling for so long, it was getting dark, and the two of them returned to the side hall side by side.

Sui Yan was still thinking about the sweet soup that Duan Mingchong had promised him during the day, so he washed his hands and sat down at the table waiting, his hands resting obediently on the edge of the table like a golden teddy bear waiting to be fed, his body unconsciously swaying from side to side.

Soon, dinner was served one by one.

Sui Yan glanced at it expectantly, and his face immediately turned green - the whole table was filled with disgusting medicinal food, and there was a bowl of black boiled medicine placed in front of him.

Sui Yan's eyes followed the palace maids who were serving the dishes, and until everyone had filed out, there was still no sweet soup of his on the table.

Sui Yan stamped his feet anxiously. He wanted to ask but felt embarrassed, so he could only wait anxiously.

Soon, Duan Ming Chong cleaned his hands and walked into the side hall. Seeing his expectant look, he asked in confusion, "Why aren't you eating? Are you waiting for me?"

Sui Yan couldn't say that he was waiting for sweet soup, so he just nodded.

Duan Mingchong smiled. Anyway, as long as he saw Sui Yan, no matter how bad his mood was, he would instantly become warm and happy.

He put the dry towel aside, walked over and sat opposite Sui Yan, saying, "I'm here, eat quickly."

Sui Yan was extremely anxious, holding the medicine bowl in his hand and refusing to take a drink.

Duan Mingchong would eat whatever Sui Yan ate for every meal. Even the medicinal food that tasted terrible to Sui Yan was eaten by Duan Mingchong without changing his expression.

He asked in confusion: "Ayan, what's wrong with you?"

Sui Yan put down the medicine bowl, pushed it forward, and whispered, "Your Highness, is there something missing from tonight's meal?"

Duan Mingchong took a look and said, "Not less."

Sui Yan hinted for a long time, but Duan Mingchong didn't respond. He gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness mentioned it at noon...sweet soup..."

Duan Mingchong thought about it carefully, said "Oh", and smiled gently: "Then what did I say at that time?"

Sui Yan hurriedly repeated, "'We can still drink sweet soup in the evening', Your Highness said that, I remembered every word correctly!"

Duan Mingchong smiled and said, "What else?"

Sui Yan was stunned for a moment, and when he saw Duan Mingchong's half-smile, his body suddenly froze.

"Be good, we can still drink sweet soup in the evening, otherwise..."

If there was no sweet soup in the evening, it meant that Duan Mingchong knew that I had sneaked to the Fifth Prince's Palace.

Sui Yan immediately lowered his head guiltily.

Duan Mingchong asked: "What else did I say? Do you remember?"

Sui Yan lowered his head and fiddled with the sachet on his waist, mumbling something indistinctly.

Duan Mingchong: “Hmm?”

Sui Yan looked up at him cautiously and whispered, "You...you praised me for being well-behaved."

Duan Mingchong: “…”