Chapter 52 Plague (IV) In the end... I finally softened my heart towards him. ...
Hezhou Prefecture Government Office, Study
The plague in Hezhou has been basically brought under control. There have been no new patients for many consecutive days, and the number of recovered patients is increasing. The streets have regained some vitality. Although they are still dilapidated, the atmosphere of despair has been replaced by the hope brought by Xiao Wangshu.
He has been busy with the final work on the Hezhou plague recently, and his desk is piled with various documents.
He first compiled a list of deaths and survivors, distributed the pensions allocated by the court, and organized manpower to help families who had lost their labor force rebuild houses and resume production.
He also instructed the imperial physicians to write a detailed summary of epidemic prevention and control, including symptoms, prescriptions, isolation measures, water source management, corpse disposal plans, etc., and compile it into a book, which would be submitted to the Imperial Medical Bureau and archived for future reference.
Subsequently, local officials who neglected their duties, deserted the battlefield, or even engaged in corruption and malfeasance during the epidemic were dealt with swiftly and decisively. Those who should be dismissed were dismissed, and those who should be imprisoned were imprisoned. A group of low-level officials and backbone members who performed outstandingly in the fight against the epidemic were quickly promoted. Many of them were brought by Tao Meixiu or reliable people discovered locally. This temporarily stabilized the administrative system of Hezhou.
Finally, a detailed memorial was drafted, reporting the entire epidemic, the governance process, the results, the aftermath, and recommendations for rewards and punishments for relevant personnel.
Everything was going on in an orderly manner, but Xiao Wangshu was not relaxed, because there was still a biggest "trouble" that needed to be solved - His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Xie Xuanhui who stayed in Hezhou and refused to leave.
These days, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has almost become his shadow, guarding him obsessively, as if he would disappear in the blink of an eye.
That day, Xiao Wangshu finished dealing with most of the urgent official business, took a deep breath, and looked at the prince who was leaning on the couch beside him, flipping through a book out of boredom, but in fact, his eyes were always fixed on him.
"Your Highness," Xiao Wangshu said, his voice as gentle as possible, "the situation in Hezhou has been largely stabilized. Your Highness has been away from the capital for a long time, and I am afraid that something unexpected may have happened at court. For the sake of the overall situation, please depart for the capital tomorrow."
Xie Xuanhui, who was originally flipping through the book, paused, then lazily tossed the scroll aside. He glanced at Xiao Wangshu with his dark eyes, a barely perceptible coldness in them.
"Kick me out?"
"Your Highness, you know that this is not my intention. Your Highness is of noble status. It is neither proper nor safe for you to remain in this place that has just experienced the plague. If Your Majesty were to ask, I would be unable to explain."
With his eyes lowered, Xiao Wangshu just talked about the matter at hand.
"Oh,"
Xie Xuanhui sneered, sat up, stepped barefoot on the cold floor, and walked step by step to Xiao Wangshu's desk. He placed his hands on the desk and leaned over to approach him.
"Is it hard to explain? Xiao Wangshu, when did you start caring about these empty formalities? Or... are you tired of me? Do you think I'm getting in your way?"
This was truly unreasonable. His Royal Highness's aura was extremely oppressive, and a storm began to gather in his eyes.
Forced to look into the eyes of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Xiao Wangshu sighed and tried to reason with Xie Xuanhui:
"Your Highness is overthinking. This is the crucial moment in the fight for the throne. If the Crown Prince leaves the capital without permission and is discovered by the Sixth Prince, it will be disadvantageous to Your Highness."
"I'll be wherever I want to be!"
Xie Xuanhui slammed the table, his voice suddenly rising with anger.
"You are here! I am right here! What prince's position, what throne? I don't need the old emperor's charity at all. If he stops me, I will gather the army and unite with the noble families to attack the palace!"
"Your Highness!" Xiao Wangshu frowned, "It is the nature of aristocratic families to seek profit and avoid harm. Furthermore, the Zhongshan treasury is empty, and another dispute will be detrimental to the Zhongshan state.
Unless it is absolutely necessary, you must not form an alliance with the aristocratic families, otherwise Your Highness will be constrained even if he ascends the throne.
Besides, killing one's brother and father is not a good reputation after all."
"Oh, in your eyes, I am no match for the common people, nor for the country!" Xie Xuanhui's eyes became sharp and crazy, as if he had heard a huge joke. "I don't care about the throne or the country. I only care about you! Why can't you care about me a little more?"
"Your Highness, you're hurting me." Xiao Wangshu tried to break free, but found it futile. Once the prince's paranoia took hold, there was no point in reasoning.
"Pain? Do you know what pain is?" Xie Xuanhui's eyes were slightly red, as if he had suffered a great injustice, or was extremely frightened.
"When I thought you were dead... that was the pain! In my last life, I was crazy for two years. In this life, how long do you plan to keep me crazy?
"Xiao Wangshu, do you have a heart? I came all the way here, and I thought I was going to lose you again... and now you want to drive me away? Do you really not want to see me?"
His emotions changed extremely quickly, switching from rage to a fragile and aggrieved state in an instant. His voice was even choked with sobs, and he held Xiao Wangshu's hand tightly, like a child afraid of being abandoned.
The mist in His Highness's beautiful eyes, filled with undisguised dependence and fear, was like a fine needle, piercing the softest part of Xiao Wangshu's heart. He thought of the prince who had committed suicide under the pear tree in his previous life, and the crazy and desperate look in his eyes when he rushed into the government office.
All the prepared high-sounding rhetoric was instantly stuck in the throat.
In fact, Xiao Wangshu knew that the prince's grievance and fragility at the moment was somewhat a deliberate performance in order to soften his heart, but he... just couldn't harden his heart.
He sighed, the breath he'd been holding seemingly released. His tense shoulders relaxed slightly, and his tone softened involuntarily, with a hint of helplessness and...indulgence:
"I don't want to see Your Highness."
Xie Xuanhui keenly sensed the softening of his attitude and immediately took advantage of it, burying his face in the crook of Xiao Wangshu's neck and rubbing it. His voice was muffled and more coquettish:
"Then I won't leave... Brother Wangshu, I won't leave... I'll wait for you to go back together. Don't chase me away... I promise not to disturb you while you're doing your work. I'll just watch... okay?"
The warm breath sprayed on the side of the neck, with complete dependence and a barely perceptible tremor.
After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Wangshu finally raised his hand in compromise and very slowly and gently stroked the prince's back.
“…That’s all.”
He heard his own voice, as soft as a sigh,
"If Your Highness wishes to stay, then please do so. However... please be mindful of your safety and avoid taking risks."
In the end... I softened my heart towards him.
Where Xiao Wangshu couldn't see, Xie Xuanhui's lips curled up into a smile of success, satisfaction and dependence. He buried himself deeper in his arms, greedily absorbing the warmth and indulgence that he had lost and regained.
Outside the window, the Imperial Preceptor Chi Hua, who had almost no presence in the government office these days, seemed to be passing by unintentionally and happened to catch a glimpse of the scene inside the house.
He stopped, moved his fingers slightly, calculated silently, his brows gradually furrowed, and his gaze towards the prince became deep and complicated, but in the end he just shook his head and left quietly without saying anything.
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