Chapter 22 Kneeling for a Long Time
After Xiao Ji knew that his teacher's life was safe, he put his mind at ease and naturally had time to think about other things.
The first thing he had to do was naturally to find out why he fell off his horse and to treat his leg injury. This inevitably made him think of the lady from the Xi family who had dared to bandage his leg in public.
You must know that even the most skilled imperial physicians in the palace would be hesitant when treating princes and nobles, fearing that a single mistake would cause the princes' lives and even lead to guilt. Therefore, they often did not dare to use all possible means to treat the patients, and would delay the best opportunity to save them.
Yet, as a girl, she dared to perform first aid on him in front of thousands of people. Such courage is truly admirable. Not only that, the imperial physician who came to examine him before also said that her measures were appropriate and had the style of an orthodox and famous doctor.
Thinking about everything that had happened since he met her, Xiao Ji couldn't help but become more curious about Qing Wu, so he broke the rules he had set in the past and allowed the concubine to come in to visit.
Thinking of the misunderstanding that day, Xiao Ji's pale face felt slightly hot again. He decided to observe the two of them carefully. Could it be that the twin sisters were really exactly the same?
So ever since Xi Qingtong turned around the screen, Xiao Ji's eyes had never left her. Every move she made was caught in his eyes, and he kept comparing her with Qingwu.
Although he had never seen Qingwu walk, he had seen Qingwu bow to him. Her posture was graceful and very different from that of the well-behaved girls. He thought that she would not walk as slowly and slenderly as she did in front of him, without her skirt swaying as she did.
Moving on to the faces, it goes without saying that the makeup of the two is very different. Madam Xi's makeup is fresh and bright, while his concubine's is luxurious and bright. They can be distinguished at a glance, but makeup and clothes are just external things. What Xiao Ji wants to distinguish is the facial features of the two.
He was watching intently and naturally ignored Xi Qingtong's actions. When she came closer and sat down, Xiao Ji came back to his senses and couldn't help but frowned slightly. He was a bit of a mysophobia and didn't like others sitting on his bed, but he didn't say anything in the end.
Seeing that the prince did not scold her, Xi Qingtong felt even happier. After seeing that although he looked pale, his life was obviously safe, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, a eunuch brought in some medicine, and she took the bowl and sat down. "Your Highness, I'm here to feed you the medicine."
Xiao Ji was watching carefully, so he nodded briefly, his eyes still fixed on Xi Qingtong's face.
Seeing this, Xi Qingtong was overjoyed and quickly stirred the spoon and scooped a spoonful of medicine and handed it over.
Seeing the peach blossom eyes in front of her staring at her with a look of "obsession", Xi Qingtong couldn't help but lower her head in shame, feeling that she had come to the right place.
I think that once the Crown Prince recovers from his illness, she will truly become His Highness's woman, and may even give birth to a son or daughter before the Crown Princess enters the palace.
The more she thought about it, the more her heart burned, and her hands became more gentle and delicate. When the bowl of medicine was almost empty, and Xi Qingtong scooped up the last spoonful of medicine and handed it to the prince, the prince finally spoke.
She didn't hear clearly for a moment, and asked in surprise: "Your Highness, what did you say?"
"I think you two sisters really look very similar."
Based on just a few hasty meetings, and without both sisters being present, Xiao Ji really found it difficult to detect any difference between the two.
He was unaware of the conflict between the two sisters and spoke frankly and normally, but he didn't know that his words made Xi Qingtong's heart sink, and all her shyness and joy disappeared in an instant.
The spoon also fell to the bottom of the bowl with a "ding-dong" sound, and the medicine in the spoon splashed out, almost falling on Xiao Ji.
Xiao Ji frowned suddenly, he was a little unhappy, but when he saw Xi Qingtong's face, he shut his mouth again. After all, she was his concubine and her sister, so this little thing was just a small matter.
The eunuchs around hurriedly gathered around, and Xi Qingtong apologized while feeling extremely annoyed.
It’s Qingwu again, why is it her again!
Xi Qingtong thought that by marrying into the Eastern Palace and becoming the Crown Prince's concubine, her status would be so different from that of her twin sisters that she could completely cut off her position and no one would compare her with herself anymore. But now, even His Highness remembered her.
Moreover, these words were obviously caused by the twin sisters. His Highness must have remembered the rescue at the horse farm that day.
A mere traveling doctor from the countryside actually dared to treat the emperor and his nobles. He is really out of his mind!
Xi Qingtong not only did not thank Qingwu, but instead blamed Qingwu for stealing her limelight. She was furious, but her face did not show it. After she finished processing the medicine, she blamed herself and said, "It's all my fault that I was too surprised and spilled the medicine. I just didn't expect His Highness to suddenly think of my sister..."
Why should I think of her when I am right in front of you?
However, Xiao Ji didn't hear the hidden resentment in Xi Qingtong's words. He was surprised and asked, "You two are twin sisters, born exactly the same. How can you suddenly remember each other? And she braved the pressure to save me. I am very grateful to her."
This sentence made Xi Qingtong even more furious, and her fingertips couldn't help but dig into her palms. Had she painstakingly performed that scene just to make His Highness remember Xi Qingwu's kindness?
We should remember her kindness!
But how could one speak openly about such thoughts? Even though Xi Qingtong felt sick to her stomach, she still had to speak well of Qingwu.
"I am also very grateful to you, sister. If it weren't for me, how could you dare to take such a big risk?"
Her tone was extremely grateful, as if she was thanking Qingwu together with Xiao Ji, but the meaning of her words still contained a guiding tone.
Her intention was to make the crown prince think that Qingwu took action because of her, and he should thank her if he wanted to.
If he were an ordinary person, he would indeed be grateful to Xi Qingtong.
But how can Xiao Ji be an ordinary person?
Not only did he not notice the implication of Xi Qingtong's words, he even nodded and praised her sincerely, "Madam Xi is truly a person who values love and loyalty. I want to thank her greatly."
Hearing this, Xi Qingtong's words were completely choked in his throat.
At this moment, she wondered if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince had a brain injury.
She wanted to take all the credit for herself, but she was afraid the Crown Prince would bring up Qing Wu again, so she decided not to bring it up and changed the subject, saying, "It's not too late to talk about my sister once His Highness has recovered. Right now, His Highness should heal her wounds and not offend His Majesty again."
Xiao Ji was actually a little sleepy after drinking the medicine. Since he woke up, the severe pain in his legs kept him awake all night. He could only fall asleep after drinking the medicine.
He originally wanted to chase the guest away, but after hearing the concern in Xi Qingtong's words and looking at his face, he became more tolerant, but he couldn't help but be distracted.
That day he fell to the ground, and among the ochre and green, there was only her pink and white figure. During the period when his mind was confused, he seemed to see a blooming Zephyranthes in the green grass.
Zephyranthes, with its fading red color, grows in grasslands and mountains. It has experienced wind and rain, and is tenacious and unyielding. It is elegant and full of wildness, just like a hermit in the mountains, which coincides with her temperament.
Xiao Ji originally thought that his idea was very good, but when he thought of Qingwu's name, the Zephyranthes orchid in his mind quickly faded and turned into a tall, straight green tree. Although its branches were just beginning to grow, it could already provide shade for passers-by.
Thinking of this, Xiao Ji finally felt satisfied. After his mind was at peace, he naturally came back to his senses. When he raised his eyes, he saw Xi Qingtong looking at him steadily, as if waiting for a response. After two breaths of silence, he remembered what she had said before.
Xiao Ji unconsciously touched the tip of his nose, forced a smile, and responded, "Don't worry, Concubine Liang. I'm not a reckless person. Now that my teacher's life is safe, why would I contradict my father again?"
Seeing his calm demeanor, Xi Qingtong felt relieved. "That's good. Even if Your Highness wants to make plans for the Grand Tutor, you must consider it carefully. This time, we only need to send someone to protect the Grand Tutor on the road."
She felt that there was nothing wrong with what she said, but the prince's expression slowly changed in her sight.
"On the way? Protection?"
Doubts arose in Xiao Ji's mind, and he spoke subconsciously. His heart sank slowly, and he keenly realized that there was something he didn't know.
Xi Qingtong paused, but since the Crown Prince had asked her, she couldn't help but answer, so she asked nervously, "Will Your Highness not send someone to protect the Grand Tutor? That's three thousand miles away..."
Before he could finish his words, someone shouted, "Stop!"
Zhao Tong hurried in from behind the screen, but he was still a step too late. Xiao Ji's face was as cold as ice. He looked up at him and said coldly, "Let her speak!"
Zhao Tong knew that all this could no longer be concealed.
Half an hour later, Crown Prince Dayu was carried to the front of Zichen Palace again and knelt for a long time.
"Your Majesty, I beg you to revoke your order!"
This plea was heard deep inside the hall, but the emperor, lying on his side on the couch, only moved his ears and closed his eyes.
The eunuch beside him understood what he meant when he saw this, and leaned over to go out. After a while, the five doors of the Zichen Palace closed one after another, and from then on no sound could reach the inner hall.
Xiao Ji looked at the tightly closed door in front of him. The cold light reflected by the red and gold wood carving stung his eyes and completely broke his heart.
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