Chapter 4 004 Thousand-year-old well, forever peaceful
Chapter 4
Qi Jingyan touched Yi'er's head and looked at Mu Feng: "What are you talking about?"
Mu Feng took two steps forward and placed the pottery basin in front of Qi Jingyan. "Your Highness, this is the mutton stewed with wild bamboo shoots made by Miss Meng. Old Man Tang said it's delicious. Would you and your Highness like to try it?"
Qi Jingyan glanced into the basin, then raised his eyes to look at Meng Yuning beside him, and then looked back into the basin again, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
Mu Feng thought his Highness was wary of the Meng family, and hurriedly said, "Old Man Tang has already eaten it, it's not poisonous."
Meng Yuning nodded quickly: "It's not poisonous, it's not poisonous, I've eaten it before."
Qi Jingyan glanced at Meng Yuning again, then looked at Yi'er, "Yi'er, do you want to try it?"
The little boy held Qi Jingyan's arm and stood beside the bed. He was licking his lips while looking at the food in the pottery bowl. He nodded his head when he heard the words: "Yi'er, eat some meat."
Qi Jingyan patted his head and nodded to Mu Feng: "Give me a bowl."
Mu Yun quickly moved the table to the side of the bed and placed it in front of Qi Jingyan.
Mu Feng happily placed the pottery basin on the table. Meng Yuning also placed the pottery basin in her hand on the table: "Your Highness, this is shepherd's purse porridge. It's not poisonous. If you don't believe me, I can eat a bowl first."
Qi Jingyan raised his eyelids slightly: "...No need."
Then he stretched out his hand to Mu Yun, who quickly handed him an empty bowl. Qi Jingyan picked up the wooden spoon and scooped a few pieces of bamboo shoots into the bowl.
Yi'er stood aside, pointing at the mutton chunks in the basin with her little hand, and stood on tiptoe anxiously: "Brother, meat, I want meat."
Qi Jingyan agreed, and scooped all the mutton, which totaled about seven or eight pieces, from the basin into the bowl. He put down the spoon, picked up a piece of mutton and fed it to Yier's mouth.
The little boy ducked his head back, but refused to eat. Instead, he pushed Qi Jingyan's hand towards his mouth and said, "Brother, eat first."
Qi Jingyan paused for a moment, then said okay and ate the piece of mutton. After chewing it for a bite, he was stunned for a moment before continuing to chew.
The meat was soft and tender, with a strong aroma. It tasted completely different from the tough meat in the mutton porridge that Doctor Tang had cooked yesterday. If he hadn't heard Mu Feng mutter that there were only two pieces of air-dried mutton left, he would have thought that the girl from the Meng family had used some other meat.
Qi Jingyan chewed slowly and gracefully, but Yi'er beside him was getting anxious. His little mouth moved and he slurped his saliva. "Brother, is it delicious?"
Qi Jingyan nodded, picked up a piece and fed it to Yier. This time the little boy didn't refuse. He ate it in one bite without saying a word. He kept chewing, and his eyes were getting brighter and brighter.
Qi Jingyan raised the corner of his lips slightly: "Wait a minute, there's more."
---
Mu Yun looked at this scene, his expression suddenly became a little sad, and his eyes were full of worry.
According to the laws of this dynasty, when the Queen passes away, His Highness and the Little Prince should observe a three-year mourning period. During this period, they are not allowed to eat meat or drink alcohol, otherwise it will be considered extremely unfilial.
In exceptional circumstances, such as when the mourner is old or sick, the restrictions may be relaxed as appropriate. Children as young as the Seventeenth Prince can eat normally.
But adult men like Your Highness must strictly observe filial piety.
On the day the Queen passed away, His Highness, whose legs were broken and his body was covered with wounds, was released from the prison by His Majesty, thrown directly into a carriage, and hurriedly set off.
For the first three days, His Highness lay in the carriage without eating a single grain of rice. It was Doctor Tang who forced him to drink several bowls of rice soup mixed with medicine.
They thought that His Highness was observing mourning and not eating for three days, and they also wanted to starve for three days, but His Highness ordered them not to do so.
They wanted to eat vegetarian food, but His Highness said that if the meat went bad, it would be a waste of the Queen Mother's hard work, so they should just eat as usual and not have to follow him.
They didn't want to listen at first, but Doctor Tang told them privately that His Highness had just stepped down from the throne of Crown Prince, and if no one listened to such an order, he would probably be really discouraged.
Doctor Tang also said that His Highness's life was bought with the life of the Queen.
The road ahead is difficult and full of thorns. What they should do most is to eat well, sleep well, and escort the two young princes to Lingnan safely in the best condition. That is the greatest filial piety and loyalty to the Queen.
They didn't say anything at the time, but each of them swore to the heavens in their hearts that they would protect His Highness and the Little Prince with their lives.
They thought that His Highness would be a vegetarian until the three-year mourning period was over. However, on the fourth day, His Highness actually asked them for a bowl of mutton soup and a lamb chop, and while feeding the little prince, they also started eating.
Everyone was stunned at the time. Mu Feng even came close to him and asked in a low voice whether the prince had injured his brain while in prison, otherwise how could he have forgotten such a big thing.
But His Highness seemed not to notice their expressions. He just finished eating a lamb chop and drank a bowl of mutton soup.
No one knew what His Highness was thinking, and no one dared to ask.
Later, it was Doctor Tang who said that it was a blessing in disguise that His Highness had survived the disaster and was able to leave the capital alive. No matter what he ate, as long as His Highness could live well, the Empress would only be relieved and would not blame him.
These people were originally under custody, and it was not until His Highness was suddenly released that they learned that the Queen had passed away. However, those worse than pigs and dogs did not even give them the chance to buy mourning clothes.
Later, among the carts of things sent by the Empress Dowager, there were two mourning clothes, one large and one small. However, after His Highness saw them, he asked them to be put away and did not say to wear them.
After that, I seemed to have forgotten about it and continued to eat and sleep as usual.
The most terrifying thing is that His Highness has been very calm except for his red eyes when he was released from prison.
Even when the little prince cried for his mother at night, the prince just gently held the little prince in his arms and comforted him without shedding a single tear.
They felt that His Highness's condition was not right, but they did not dare to persuade him, nor did they know how to persuade him, so they went to find Doctor Tang again.
Doctor Tang sighed deeply and told them that since His Highness did not mention the matter of mourning for the Empress, they should pretend not to remember it and not bring it up deliberately.
That's why the group continued to do everything as usual. Even if some of them were sad or worried about His Highness, they didn't dare to show it at all.
But it really makes me worried to see Your Highness like this.
Meng Yuning looked at the two children, one big and one small, who were being fed, and thought of the descriptions in the book about mourning for the Queen, and couldn't help but sigh softly in her heart.
It was the Third Prince who followed the eunuch to the Heavenly Prison to deliver the imperial edict. The Third Prince said in a sarcastic tone that it was the Queen who sacrificed her life for Qi Jingyan's.
After hearing this, Qi Jingyan couldn't believe it. He laughed out loud at first, then burst into tears. At the end of his tears, he vomited continuously...
But after being carried out of the prison, he was like a mannequin without any emotions, and he has been always so calm since then.
Later, he killed his enemies with his own hands, paid homage to the Queen Mother's tomb, and personally helped his brother onto the throne. He was like a thousand-year-old well, extremely calm.
---
While they were in a daze, Qi Jingyan had already fed the little boy all the mutton. The little boy was not satisfied and looked into the basin. After not finding any, he said in a disappointed voice, "There's no more meat."
Qi Jingyan said gently, "If you eat too much, you won't be able to digest it. Come, have some bamboo shoots."
Yi'er nodded obediently and took a bite of the bamboo shoots. Her big eyes lit up again, "Brother, eat too."
Qi Jingyan put the remaining half into his mouth. The wild bamboo shoots were fragrant, tender, and had the aroma of mutton. They were very delicious.
The two brothers took turns eating, and soon finished the whole pot of wild bamboo shoots stewed with mutton, leaving not even the soup base.
Then Qi Jingyan poured half a bowl of shepherd's purse porridge and fed it to Yier. After Yier finished eating, she sat on the couch with her round belly in her arms and could not get up again. Qi Jingyan smiled and poured himself a bowl and ate it slowly.
Qi Jingyan's leg injury had not healed yet. Even though the carriage was padded with thick bedding, it was still bumpy when moving fast. Fearing that his leg would be injured further, they had been traveling slowly since leaving the capital.
It would have taken about two days to leave the capital, but because of walking and resting, it took seven days.
During these seven days, His Highness did not eat anything on the first three days, and only ate a little with the Little Prince in the following days. His appetite was not good. The Little Prince had suffered a series of frights and missed the Queen and the Empress Dowager. He did not eat much every day, and both of them were getting thinner.
But today, the appetites of the two princes are unprecedentedly large.
Mu Yun and Mu Feng exchanged a glance, and saw smiles in each other's eyes. As long as it's edible, that's good.
Meng Yuning also breathed a sigh of relief. Now that she had become a useful person, they would probably protect her more when she encountered assassination in the future.
Qi Jingyan finished the last mouthful of porridge, put down his bowl and chopsticks, took out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, and then looked at Meng Yuning. After a few glances, he ordered, "Leave."
Mu Feng responded happily, and swiftly put the used dishes and chopsticks into the empty ceramic basin, picked it up, and with his other hand picked up the half-basin of shepherd's purse porridge, and quickly left the tent.
Qi Jingyan looked at Mu Yun and pointed to the box beside the tent: "Bring me that bottle of white ointment."
Mu Yun agreed and did as he was told.
Qi Jingyan held the white porcelain bottle and stretched out his hand to Meng Yuning: "It can reduce swelling and blood stasis. Take it and use it."
Meng Yu was confused by the sudden gift of ointment and waved her hand subconsciously: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I don't need it."
Qi Jingyan didn't take his hand back, but just glanced at her legs lightly: "We will leave later, you should take the luggage cart."
Meng Yuning followed his gaze to her legs and instantly understood what he meant. She suddenly felt a little embarrassed, and her face inexplicably became hot. She hurried forward to take it: "Oh, okay, thank you, Your Highness."
The author has something to say:
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Here I am. Thanks to the babies for their messages, nutrient solution, and mines. Bow~
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