Chapter 83 Torture
Sun Wei entered the kitchen and personally brought a bowl of hot chicken soup, saying attentively, "It's hot, Master, drink slowly."
She thought about Zhou Chang's words again.
His point was that even if the Crown Prince focused on government affairs, it would not change the situation of being surrounded by wolves. Sun Wei agreed with this. Zhou Chang then said that resorting to force was one option, but the Crown Prince lacked experience in military operations, and now there would be no opportunity for him to gain experience, so this path was also not feasible for the Crown Prince.
"Then what do you think Ah Fei should do, Master?" Sun Wei asked.
Zhou Chang drank the chicken soup, touched his stomach contentedly, and then stuffed a chicken leg into his mouth, filling it up.
"There's no other way, just wait to die!" Zhou Chang said concisely.
Sun Wei choked, feeling rather unconvinced. "Grandmaster, you are wrong. There are many talented generals in the court. Even if the Crown Prince doesn't know how to command troops, there are still people who can offer him advice."
Zhou Chang slowed down his movements and smiled.
"But no one can replace him. Success depends on skill and luck. In my opinion, he has neither."
"How would the Grand Tutor know? He has been away from the court for many years. How could he know the current situation of the court?"
"Even though I've been away for years, the imperial court remains stagnant and has never changed. The fate of Crown Prince Huaixian is the same as the fate of the Sima family." Zhou Chang finished gnawing on a chicken leg and threw the bone on the table. "It's better to die. I can change my appearance and start over. Who says that the world belongs to anyone? After all, even idiots like Ah Fei were once in power!"
He then asked, "Where are my ducks? Go and help me get them to eat."
Sun Wei gave Aju a look.
After a while, Aju brought out a plate of duck.
Zhou Chang ate with great relish. Sun Wei looked at him, feeling somewhat incredulous. Zhou Chang looked so old, yet he actually had such a good appetite and teeth.
"I've told you so much, but you haven't answered me yet. Where should I go later?" he suddenly said.
"Of course he ran to the mountains. The Grand Tutor has been hiding in the mountains for so many years, he must have already known every corner of the place. Even if the Crown Prince mobilized all the troops of Jiangzhou Prefecture, it would take some time to search Lushan Mountain thoroughly."
Zhou Chang blinked: "You are such a smart woman."
"It's useless to ask this, Taifu. The princess will be here soon. You can't run away."
Zhou Chang smiled and said, "Now that you can't escape, are you just going to accept your fate?"
"Master, this is very strange. You told Ah Fei to accept his fate, but you yourself refuse to accept it."
"I didn't ask him to accept his fate. I just said he had a bad fate. Whether he accepts it or not is his business. Similarly, whether I accept my fate or not is also my business."
Just as he finished speaking, he heard a strong voice from outside: "I want to see today whether you accept this fate or not!"
Zhou Chang suddenly shouted and jumped up from his seat.
But he was still holding a duck leg in his hand.
Princess Wanshou hadn't seen him for many years. When she first saw him, she was a little bit unbelievable, and then two lines of tears welled up in her eyes.
“Look at you…”
She stepped forward tremblingly, "Look at you, you've tortured yourself into such a state!"
Zhou Chang stood still, staring at Princess Wanshou, but he no longer had the energy he had just now.
Sun Wei quietly retreated to the yard and saw Sima Jun coming towards him.
"Is the lady okay?" he asked.
He was obviously in a hurry and there was sweat on his head.
Sun Wei's heart moved.
"I'm fine." She smiled, but her eyes fell on the young man behind Sima Jun.
He was looking anxiously into the room.
Sima Jun then asked, "Madam, do you know this young man?"
Sun Wei said: "I don't know him."
Sima Jun was clearly unconvinced and said, "This is Ruan Zhongxuan, the disciple of Grand Tutor Zhou that Madam mentioned."
Hearing this, the young man showed a look of surprise and looked at Sun Wei.
Sun Wei smiled: "So this is Mr. Ruan."
Ruan Hui hurriedly bowed, "Ruan Hui greets the princess. I wonder how my master is doing."
"Taifu Zhou seemed hungry just now, so I asked someone to prepare some food for him."
"That's great." Ruan Hui thanked him again, "But Master, it's time for you to take your medicine. I wonder if you can take it first?"
Sun Wei saw that he was holding a clay pot in his hand, and thought that it was a boiled medicine.
Judging from Zhou Chang's thin appearance, he must be dependent on medicine on a daily basis.
As they were talking, heated conversations were heard from the room.
Sun Wei shook her head: "Sir, it is not appropriate for you to come in now. I will deliver the medicine."
She was about to take the pottery jar, but Sima Jun took it away first.
"I'll go."
After he said that, he walked straight into the house.
Soon, there was a sound of cups and plates falling to the ground in the room, and then Princess Wanshou screamed, "Quick, find a doctor!"
Sun Wei hurried in, only to see Zhou Chang had fainted on the ground.
There is a doctor accompanying Princess Wanshou on her boat who can take care of Zhou Chang for the time being.
Sima Jun had originally ordered a trip to Xunyang City, but Princess Wanshou refused to delay. She simply wanted to find the best physician in the palace and use the finest herbs to treat Grand Tutor Zhou.
After discussion, Sima Jun ordered the ships to change direction and return to Jiankang immediately while it was still daylight.
Zhou Chang's life was not in danger and he slowly regained consciousness.
Princess Wanshou had been staying by his side, her eyes swollen from crying.
"Are you really going to torture me to death?" Princess Wanshou asked. "You can either live a long and healthy life and outlast me, or die early. What's the point of being so half-dead?"
Zhou Chang panted lightly, his gaze fixed on Princess Wanshou, and said, "You're alive and well, why are you looking for me?"
"Who said I lived a good life! Who said I lived a good life!" Princess Wanshou couldn't hit or scold him, she covered her face and cried, "What did I owe you in my past life that you torture me like this? It happened ten years ago, and you still hold a grudge against me today. Is it going to never end?"
Zhou Chang sighed softly: "I don't hold a grudge."
"Then why don't you come back?"
"I have nowhere to go back to."
"Nonsense!" Princess Wanshou scolded, "You and I have been married for forty-two years, and we haven't divorced yet. How can you have no place to return to?"
Zhou Chang stared at the smallpox, exhausted. "Aci, my hopes and ambitions died the night Prince Huaixian passed away. I'm just a walking corpse now, so where can I go back to?"
Princess Wanshou said coldly, "Are you still blaming me? In your heart, I'm just an accomplice, not your wife!"
"I don't blame you. I haven't blamed you for a long time." Zhou Chang said, "I don't blame anyone. I'm just desperate about this world. Ah Ci, please let me go and don't look for me anymore."
"Don't even think about it!" Princess Wanshou gritted her teeth and said, "Don't even think about leaving me again. Even if you die, you must die by my side!"
After she said that, she quickly left the cabin.
As soon as she opened the cabin door, she saw a young man waiting outside.
Ruan Hui quickly straightened his clothes and bowed, saying, "I'm here to visit my master. Please grant me permission, Princess."
"Oh." Princess Wanshou wiped her tears and calmed down. "Are you Ruan Zhongxuan? You have worked hard to take care of the Grand Tutor over the years."
"Master has given me a new life, so it is only natural for me to look after him."
Princess Wanshou hummed softly and looked at Ruan Hui, as if she had an idea.
"Where do you work now?" she asked.
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