"Qingnan hasn't returned yet?"
Inside the best inn in Pingyang County, an elderly man with gray hair lay on the bed, his eyes lifeless, as if he had used all his strength to utter those words.
The person serving nearby said
"Your Highness, please wait a little longer. The steward must have been delayed on the way."
The old man on the bed nodded. What else could he do but wait? Could he possibly pass away without seeing his grandson one last time?
—Knock knock knock
The door to the guest room opened, and the waiter spoke from outside.
"Sir, someone is looking for you downstairs."
Huo Xiaocheng and Erhei, both clad in full armor, were practically interfering with the business, so it's no wonder they were considered annoying. They had planned to take Chunying and Erya to see the night market lanterns today, but they were sent to pick them up, and with a ton of things to do at home, they probably wouldn't be able to go.
“Cen Ang from Fengyue Tower sent two of us to fetch your master,” the young general said to the old servant.
Actually, there was nothing else going on. It was just that the Prince of Zhennan felt he was about to die and wanted to see his grandson one last time before he passed away. The Prince of Zhennan's mansion was not safe, and Tingche couldn't go back, so he traveled a long way to come.
"Thank you both, Generals."
Inside the carriage, even the Prince of Zhennan didn't know what to say to his grandson when they met again, or if he should tell him that he was going to die.
Tingche hasn't even processed the deaths of his parents yet, and now... sigh...
"Grandpa."
The little boy's hair had grown much longer than before, but he still couldn't tie it up; he could only wear a headband to make it look less casual. Although he was using crutches, the chubby cheeks couldn't lie.
Cen Ang raised his grandson very well.
"Your Highness."
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Cen Ang and Hua Luan bowed in greeting. The Prince of Zhennan turned to look at the two women on the left side of the stretcher. Many years had passed, but they seemed to be the same as before, unchanged.
One is cold and deserted, the other is measured in its actions.
The old man nodded and said
"Thank you both for your hard work."
"I'm not suffering for the sake of the Crown Princess."
“Taking care of Tingche is what we should do.”
Under Cen Ang's arrangement, the Prince of Zhennan was carried into the room. The old man was now unable to move around much, and even walking was a very strenuous activity.
Years of fighting, coupled with the pain of losing his wife and daughter, this is a relief. But before the relief, he just couldn't bear to part with Tingche...
What if my grandson gets bullied after I'm gone?
“Tingche…”
"Grandpa, please don't speak yet."
The little boy felt that his grandfather was panting heavily even when he spoke. Once upon a time, his grandfather was a man who could wield the Overlord Halberd and fight his way in and out of the battlefield. Now he was lying in bed, which was heartbreaking to see.
"Aunt Cen has a miracle doctor here, with superb medical skills. Let him take a look at you first."
The crowd dispersed; those at the table drank tea, while those outside pondered their love. In the backyard, three children were catching caterpillars in a tree, preparing to feed the chickens later.
"Dr. Gu," the little boy said, looking at the old man whose beard was also white.
Gu Shilin was a few years older than the Prince of Zhennan, but his spirit and health were much better than his maternal grandfather's.
The only one who was nervous was Lan Tingche. Hua Luan and Cen Ang harbored some resentment towards the Prince of Zhennan. "I gave you the child, and you raised him into a pitiful little thing who was depressed, ran away from home, and almost lost a leg."
If he hadn't been lucky enough to be rescued by Long'er, the two of them would have regretted it for the rest of their lives.
"Tsk..."
Doctor Gu didn't speak, but only clicked his tongue.
It's not a big deal, but I've been overthinking and have too many hidden injuries, so I'm a bit exhausted. In the past, a good ginseng could have extended my life for several years.
But now there are ginseng pills. Gu Shilin took out a small porcelain bottle from his robes, poured out a ginseng pill, and placed it in the mouth of the Prince of Zhennan, saying...
"His body was indeed severely depleted, like a lamp running out of oil."
Lan Tingche pursed his lips, trying not to cry, until his upper lip was slightly bleeding from biting it. Then he heard Doctor Gu say...
"I think I can live for another ten years."
"...?"
The Prince of Zhennan thought this doctor was probably a fraud. "He's on his deathbed, yet he still has ten years left. Who does he think he is?"
Hearing this, Cen Ang and Hua Luan didn't care anymore. They bowed to him and walked out of the room.
Lan Tingche's face lit up with joy, and he looked at Doctor Gu with expectant eyes, asking...
"Really, Grandpa Gu?"
"Really, if your grandfather is in a good mood and takes good care of himself, he could live another twenty years and we could give it a try. The medicine has been finished, so I'll head back now."
The consultation fee at Fengyuelou is settled monthly, and ginseng pills and the like are free. The key point is that all the materials come from them, and if they run out, Huo Xiaolong will just give them materials to refine the pills.
Thank you, sir.
Lan Tingche followed the proper etiquette, loosened his crutches, and bowed to Gu Shilin.
This child is so well-behaved!
Doctor Gu stepped out of the room, lost in thought. He glanced at the three little girls hanging in the tree, their graying eyebrows almost touching. Was the one clapping and urging Huo Xiaolong to climb the tree his apprentice?
"Grandpa Gu, are you leaving?" Huo Xiaolong asked, sticking his head out.
"Hey, stop waving at me. Be careful, what are you doing climbing that high up?"
The little dumpling's difficult pose made Dr. Gu's heart tremble. If it fell, his old arms and legs wouldn't be able to catch it.
"It's alright. I suspect there's a caterpillar nest up there. We'll wipe them out in one fell swoop today."
"Anyway, you better be careful, okay?"
"Okay! Take care, Grandpa Gu! See you tomorrow!"
It's hard to say anything about other people's children, really. After seeing Huo Xiaolong, Dr. Gu felt that other people's children were all here to repay a debt of gratitude.
"Grandpa, Doctor Gu's medical skills are really amazing. You should rest well today. Uncle Nan will be able to come and take care of you tomorrow. Second Steward, you've worked hard today."
The old servant standing nearby waved his hand and said
"It's not bitter, it's not bitter. As long as the prince gets better, that's all that matters."
The Prince of Zhennan watched his grandson's retreating figure, bouncing away on his crutches without a backward glance, and looked incredulously at the old servant who had served him his entire life, asking...
"You believe him? I came all this way, and I felt like I wouldn't make it through today, and he's just gone? Gone?"
The old servant tucked the blanket around the Prince of Zhennan and said...
"I think you look much better."
"This is just a final burst of energy before my death!"
The old servant chuckled twice and said...
"A person who experiences a final burst of energy before death will not claim that they are experiencing a final burst of energy before death."
The moonlight was already shining on the willow trees, and the three little girls were still playing in the dirt on the ground. Lan Tingche walked up and asked...
"Little sister, what are you playing?"
“I just went up to look for it, but the caterpillar’s nest isn’t up there; it should be underground.”
Huo Xiaolong's hands hurt a little from digging, not because of his strength, but mainly because his hands were tender.
"Do you have anything hard? Bro, can I borrow it to dig some dirt?"
The little boy reached into his pocket, pulled out something that looked like a token, and handed it to the little dumpling, saying...
Here you go.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
