Qu Yunmie called for the doctor, which startled Chen Sheyu, who had only just gone to bed, and Xiao Yi, who was still up, working late.

After Chen Sheyu got older, she had gained a bit of weight, but even though she was a little heavier, in Xiao Rong’s eyes, she still appeared normal. The beauty standards of this era were quite different from the later obsession with thinness. People, regardless of gender, all pursued a slender figure, with men even more obsessed than women. Some men would go so far as to starve themselves for days just to appear delicate and fragile.

…

Chen Sheyu was the typical noblewoman, and naturally followed these principles. She only ate until she was about 70% full, and if she gained a little weight, she would feel distressed.

However, this was all in the past. Nowadays, Chen Sheyu, who had become a bit forgetful, could eat three large pancakes in one meal. Especially after coming to the royal manor, her expenses were all covered by Xiao Rong. He would never control her eating habits. He himself ate three meals a day, and Chen Sheyu, happily following his lead, also enjoyed three meals a day. There hadn’t been any noticeable changes to her figure yet, but since she could eat whatever she wanted, Chen Sheyu appeared much happier than before.

At this moment, Chen Sheyu had forgotten the excitement she felt when she had roasted suckling pig earlier in the evening. As soon as she saw Xiao Rong looking weak, she quickly ran over and grabbed his hand, insisting that she wasn’t going anywhere.

The doctor, who Qu Yunmie thought was useless, arrived and, under the intense gaze of the Northern King, sweat nearly poured from his forehead. After struggling for a while, he could only repeat the same old excuses.

After hearing him, Qu Yunmie crossed his arms and looked at Xiao Rong.

In truth, he knew that Xiao Rong might be pretending to be weak. After all, why was it that whenever he had something to ask of others, he always looked half-dead? But this strange illness was not a lie, Xiao Rong really wasn’t feeling well. However, it seemed that he had grown accustomed to it. He just lay on the bed, letting others arrange things for him. When they told him to take medicine, he obediently did so. When they told him to sleep, he immediately went to sleep without offering any resistance.

But it was precisely this behavior that made Qu Yunmie feel agitated.

He suddenly had a feeling that Xiao Rong didn’t care at all about what was happening to his body. His obedience seemed like a show for their benefit. Whether the medicine worked or whether a good sleep would cure him, Xiao Rong seemed not to care.

Qu Yunmie felt unsettled, but Xiao Yi and Chen Sheyu had already taken up positions by Xiao Rong’s side. Even the gap between them was filled by the young boy named Ah Shu, who stood behind the people closest to Xiao Rong, creating a barrier that even Qu Yunmie’s great strength couldn’t break.

Qu Yunmie watched as Xiao Rong and Chen Sheyu talked. Xiao Rong reassured Chen Sheyu not to worry, while she lovingly touched his hand and asked if he still felt unwell. This moment of family unity seemed to have nothing to do with Qu Yunmie. After a moment of silence, Qu Yunmie turned and left.

Xiao Rong saw Qu Yunmie’s departing back but, for some reason, didn’t call out to him or say goodbye.

Another bowl of bitter medicine was forced down, and Xiao Rong then told the others to rest. Xiao Yi was always sensible and knew that Xiao Rong needed to sleep, but Chen Sheyu was unwilling to leave. Sometimes, she would be so stubborn, and even Xiao Yi couldn’t change her mind.

If they forcefully took her away now, it would severely upset her. It was said that when Xiao Yi’s mother passed away, Chen Sheyu had fallen into a similar state. She didn’t recognize anyone and even seemed to forget the instinct to live. She would sit on the bed all day, staring blankly, refusing to eat or speak. Xiao Yi had been terrified, thinking his grandmother was near death, but fortunately, she gradually recovered and even forgot that her daughter-in-law had passed away.

Strangely, not only did she forget that her daughter-in-law had died, but she also seemed to forget she even had a daughter-in-law. But if you asked her where these people had gone, she would look at you with a completely confused expression.

Other people’s dementia was a disease, but for Chen Sheyu, it seemed like a form of protection—helping her forget the painful past so she could continue to live happily as an old woman.

….

In the end, Xiao Rong made the decision and allowed the old lady to rest there. After all, they were both elderly and young, so there was no need to worry about gender propriety. If Chen Sheyu changed her mind, he would have Ah Shu take her back.

Ah Shu had been attending to Chen Sheyu for some time and lived in her outer room. Now, being able to sleep in the outer room of Xiao Rong’s bedroom again, he was quite happy, feeling like things had returned to the way they used to be.

Seeing that Xiao Rong was determined, Xiao Yi had no choice but to go back to his room alone.

The candlelight had burned halfway. Xiao Rong persuaded Chen Sheyu to lie down. Though it was early summer, sitting for an entire night would leave Chen Sheyu’s bones aching. However, she refused to listen, instead holding his hand and occasionally rubbing his hand with her slightly rough fingers.

Xiao Rong leaned against the bed board, not understanding what she was doing at first. After a while, he realized that Chen Sheyu was checking if his hand was still warm.

When a person dies, the coldness is different. A thermometer might show a body temperature of 35°C, and then it would drop to 30°C. In a comfortable environment, it only takes about an hour and a half to reach the ambient temperature. The environment itself may not be cold, but when that temperature is on a person, the feeling when touched is a chilling cold that no one can truly imagine.

Xiao Rong was silent for a moment before he turned his hand and held Chen Sheyu’s. He placed his palm over her aged, scarred hand. Chen Sheyu froze for a moment, looking at him. Xiao Rong smiled at her.

He gently shook her hand and whispered: “Grandmother, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

Chen Sheyu stared at him blankly. After a long while, she trembled, parted her lips, and slowly spoke: “Rong’er, I suddenly remembered something.”

Xiao Rong stiffened and almost pulled his hand away, but he held back, then smiled cautiously: “What did you remember, Grandmother?”

Chen Sheyu said: “I remember now. I don’t have a daughter. You don’t look like your aunt, you look like me when I was young. Oh! Look at your face, it’s exactly like mine when I was young!”

Xiao Rong: “……..…”

You people, can you stop pretending my face is your own?! My beauty is unique in this world, okay?!

…

After that, it wasn’t clear whether Chen Sheyu had forgotten about Xiao Rong’s illness or if his words had an effect, but she really did let go of his hand. However, she still sat there, seemingly prepared to stay by his side the whole night, as if guarding him like a young beast.

But seeing the people around him, Xiao Rong couldn’t fall asleep. Since he wasn’t tired, he leaned against the bed board and let his thoughts wander.

Usually, when he thought about things, he had a clear goal and plan, but when he was daydreaming, his thoughts would scatter and bring back all kinds of random ideas.

In the past, he used to have all sorts of strange thoughts, but tonight, all his thoughts kept circling around one person.

— Qu Yunmie.

Only he knew how he felt when Qu Yunmie yelled at him, saying that the reason he wanted to drive the monk away was that the monk didn’t care about him.

Indeed, Qu Yunmie wasn’t a good ruler, nor a good superior. Heaven… he wasn’t even a good friend or a decent person. He was too self-centered, doing whatever he pleased, relying on his extraordinary strength to cause trouble without caring about offending anyone with his words. Such a person was bound to suffer in the end, and it would be a huge loss.

But Xiao Rong couldn’t be angry with him. The fact that he could fly into a rage because of someone’s “supposed indifference” already showed just how much he cared.

Xiao Rong seemed to understand why Gao Xun, a person with great talents, still didn’t consider switching sides but chose to stay loyally beside Qu Yunmie, who didn’t seem likely to win in the end.

His thoughts about the Northern Army and his past relationships were secondary. The most important reason was that Qu Yunmie truly treated the people he cared about very well.

And this kindness was completely genuine. After Gao Xun’s death, Qu Yunmie’s behavior was no different from that of a person with mental illness. Yu Shaocheng crazily chased after him, while Qu Yunmie crazily pursued Nan Yong.

Because of this, he made many mistakes, and the world coldly criticized him, listing all the reasons for his failure. He became a negative example for over a thousand years, someone whom anyone could look down upon and despise—even Xiao Rong, who had casually flipped through history books before.

Although Xiao Rong lay in bed, at that moment, he seemed to clearly feel himself slipping, gradually sliding from a place called “Calm and Unique” down to a giant pit called “Qu Yunmie.”

…

When the system had sent him here, although he was forced to serve Qu Yunmie, Xiao Rong knew his own thoughts. He never really thought he had been bound to Qu Yunmie. He was doing it for himself, everything for himself. If the system suddenly came back and told him this was a mistake and it would send Xiao Rong back to modern times, Xiao Rong would immediately abandon everyone and everything here, even if he had to look back and realize he was trapped in someone else’s body.

But now…

Xiao Rong sighed. He habitually looked at Chen Sheyu, but when he did, he froze, because at some point, Chen Sheyu had closed her eyes, and it seemed like she was already snoring.

Xiao Rong: “…”

After Ah Shu left, Xiao Rong hadn’t shared his feelings with anyone. The people around him suddenly grew in number. Qu Yunmie came to see him every day, and Gao Xun and Yu Shaocheng often stopped by. Even people Xiao Rong wasn’t familiar with, like Jin Qiao, Dan Ran, and Gongsun Yuan, would occasionally come to ask him questions. He was so busy that he hadn’t realized how long he had been keeping his thoughts bottled up.

Looking at Chen Sheyu’s head bobbing as she slept, Xiao Rong didn’t call her, but pursed his lips and whispered: “Grandmother, my life is really hard.”

Chen Sheyu didn’t respond. Xiao Rong then looked up at the beams: “My wonderful youth, just like that, was given to Qu Yunmie, this big fool. What a waste.”

This was something he had said before. Every time Qu Yunmie made him angry, he would mutter it in his mind. But today, saying it made Xiao Rong suddenly feel guilty.

Because, in truth, he no longer thought like that. If he kept repeating this, it would be like lying to himself.

Sighing, Xiao Rong’s expression darkened: “What am I saying this for? I’m just bored.”

He slapped his face, then shook himself up and gently nudged Chen Sheyu’s shoulder. She woke up, and seeing him, she asked in confusion: “Rong’er, why did you come to find your grandmother?”

Xiao Rong: “…Grandmother, it’s late. You should go back and rest.”

Chen Sheyu, for a moment, didn’t understand how she had ended up in Xiao Rong’s room. Perhaps she didn’t even realize it was his room. Xiao Rong called Ah Shu in, and with Ah Shu’s help, Chen Sheyu was led back, still dazed.

…

The next day, Xiao Rong did not sleep well the night before and got up late. When he woke up, it was still some time before lunch, but he was hungry, so he asked Ah Shu to prepare the meal early. When Gao Xunzhi came to see him, he found Xiao Rong sitting at the table without having changed his clothes. Gao Xunzhi could not help but scold him, saying: “You stay up all night and have irregular eating habits. How can you take care of your health like this?”

Xiao Rong smiled at him and replied: “Would you like to sit down and eat with me, Chancellor?”

Gao Xunzhi: “…”

When Gao Xunzhi sat down, he did not hurry to pick up his chopsticks. Instead, he looked at the elderly Madam Chen, who was eating heartily, and then asked Xiao Rong: “Where is Xiao Yi?”

Xiao Rong answered: “He only eats two meals a day, breakfast and dinner. He doesn’t have lunch.”

Gao Xunzhi fell silent. That was a normal routine, but the difference in their living habits as brothers was surprising. He didn’t realize that they were not real brothers, as Madam Chen’s presence gave the impression that Xiao Rong had inherited these eating habits from her.

He could scold Xiao Rong, but he didn’t dare to criticize the elderly lady, who was even older than him. He silently picked up his chopsticks, about to start eating, when suddenly, the sound of rapid, heavy footsteps came from outside.

Only one person in the Wang Mansion could make such footsteps. Xiao Rong and Gao Xunzhi looked toward the door, and before long, Qu Yunmie’s figure appeared.

Seeing that they were eating, Qu Yunmie was not surprised at all. He waved his hand, signaling the guards to bring him a chair.

This was a round table, and Qu Yunmie immediately took up half of it. His large size and exaggerated movements made it difficult for anyone sitting too close to avoid being accidentally hit or stepped on.

…

Xiao Rong habitually moved over to make room for Qu Yunmie. Then he asked in surprise: “Why has the King returned so early? Usually, he doesn’t return to the King Mansion until another hour.”

Qu Yunmie opened his mouth to answer, but Gao Xunzhi answered for him: “The King returned early today, not staying long in the military camp.”

Xiao Rong was puzzled: “Why? Did something happen?”

At his words, both Gao Xunzhi and Xiao Rong looked at Qu Yunmie, both of them confused.

Qu Yunmie: “…”

Not wanting to answer, Qu Yunmie casually replied: “Just personal matters.”

Xiao Rong was even more surprised: “The King has personal matters?”

Qu Yunmie: “…”

He was unhappy now: “Why can’t I have personal matters? In my spare time, I also do things unrelated to military affairs. Do you think I, Qu Yunmie, am just a warrior who can only fight and kill?”

Xiao Rong: “…”

He did think that, but he couldn’t say it out loud. He awkwardly smiled at Qu Yunmie, trying to cover up his words. However, before he could speak, Madam Chen, sitting opposite him, suddenly looked up from her meal as if triggered by something.

She frowned and said: “Qu Yunmie?”

Everyone at the table turned to look at her. Before anyone could react to her repeating the name, she continued: “Qu Yunmie is a big fool.”

The sound of Xiao Rong’s chopsticks dropping on the table echoed through the room.

Madam Chen did not notice the shocked expressions around her. She only stared at the chicken leg in her plate, looking serious as she said: “Rong’er’s best years were all given to Qu Yunmie. Rong’er’s life is really hard. Rong’er has nothing to do, it’s just not worth it.”

Gao Xunzhi’s eyes widened, and Xiao Rong felt frozen. How did he know that Madam Chen hadn’t slept last night, that she remembered every word he said, and that she repeated them like a parrot to Qu Yunmie?

Xiao Rong’s neck turned stiff, like a gear, and after a moment, he managed to look at Qu Yunmie. He trembled as he spoke: “This isn’t what I said. My grandmother has dementia…”

Qu Yunmie glared at him, raising his eyelids to look at him: “Because I didn’t let you go to Jinling, is this what you say about me in front of your grandmother?”

Xiao Rong was stunned and didn’t know how to respond.

Qu Yunmie sneered: “You still lie in front of your grandmother. If you think this is nothing, how many busy people are there in this world?”

Xiao Rong realized that Qu Yunmie was not actually angry, so he immediately lowered his head and admitted his mistake: “The King is right, those were just angry words. I didn’t mean it. I’ll never say that again.”

Xiao Rong was good at bending and stretching, much better than Qu Yunmie in this regard. Even when Qu Yunmie realized he was wrong, he would never apologize.

Seeing Xiao Rong’s attitude, Qu Yunmie snorted and moved on.

Gao Xunzhi, who had been shocked by the scene, followed Qu Yunmie out after the meal. He asked: “Does the King really not mind those words?”

Qu Yunmie, with no expression, walked forward: “Why should I mind? Xiao Rong is just like that. You know what kind of person he is. He must have said many bad things about me behind my back. These few words are nothing.”

Besides, he wasn’t exactly innocent either. Yesterday, in front of him, Xiao Rong had called him arbitrary.

Gao Xunzhi: “…”

Indeed.

This realization made him even more amazed. He quickly praised Qu Yunmie, and by the time they were nearly at Qu Yunmie’s residence, Gao Xunzhi carefully asked: “The King really doesn’t mind, right? Not even those three words…?”

He dared not repeat them. Just thinking about those words made him uncomfortable. He was a scholar; how could he say such words aloud? He only dared to think them in his mind.

…

Hearing Gao Xunzhi’s question, Qu Yunmie suddenly smiled mysteriously: “I don’t mind. Xiao Rong probably said those words because he was so angry when he found out I didn’t agree with something. But even in his anger, he could only call me a fool and didn’t even say a proper curse word. Don’t you think Xiao Rong is rather cute, like a little child?”

Moreover, when he complained about himself, he used “contributing his best years” as an excuse. Even behind his back, he said this, so it’s clear that Xiao Rong intends to stay by my side.

Therefore, for that one sentence, Qu Yunmie could generously forgive everything Xiao Rong had said.

Ah, what day is it today? One thing after another, all making him magnanimous. After actually practicing magnanimity, Qu Yunmie found that it didn’t make him feel constrained. On the contrary, he was quite happy.

With this new realization about life, Qu Yunmie smiled and returned to his residence.

Behind him, Gao Xunzhi was still in shock.

Cute?

Just the thought of that word coming from Qu Yunmie’s mouth made Gao Xunzhi feel a chill.

…

This was not the Qu Yunmie he knew! He must have been possessed by a ghost!

 

Edited by: Antiope

 

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