allonlinenovel Chapter 170 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (74)
Chapter 170 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (74)
"That's it."
"Why? Haven't you been taking your medicine on time?" Ji Shuqin put aside the previous topic and focused on Ji Shumin's words, asking carefully and earnestly.
Ji Shumin looked at the face, seemingly casually but actually very seriously, with genuine concern on the face that did indeed resemble his own upon closer inspection.
His elder brother was like a gentle breeze, a mountain spring, and a bright moon; it seemed that all noble and pure images could be used to describe him.
Ji Shumin closed his eyes, swallowing the remaining sarcastic words that were stuck in his throat.
"Take your medicine properly."
“However, my body cannot be cured simply by taking medicine on time,” Ji Shumin replied softly, unconsciously pressing the string of Buddhist prayer beads on his wrist.
When Ji Shuqin saw his actions, his eyes suddenly lit up, and then he smiled, his gaze filled with the gentleness and warmth of an elder brother, without a trace of impurity or gloom.
"Didn't you write to me last time saying these prayer beads were broken?" Ji Shuqin pointed to them. "Have they been strung together again?"
Ji Shumin's expression stiffened, a fleeting hint of embarrassment flashing across his face. He lowered his sleeve to cover his slender wrist and the string of Buddhist prayer beads.
“Back then, Mother made two strings of beads by hand. She gave one to you and one to me. I can’t find mine now, but I still wear yours every day…” Ji Shuqin sighed.
When Ji Shumin heard him mention the past, his face turned as if covered with a thin layer of frost.
When he wrote back that time, it was in Ji Shuqin's letter that he talked about the feelings of reunion through the full moon, which made Ji Shumin angry. He then said that the string of Buddhist beads had been broken for a long time.
He hadn't expected to be caught red-handed by Ji Shuqin, which made him feel a little embarrassed.
“Min’er, don’t be discouraged. Look at me now, I’ve lived past the predicted ten years old. There are still many days ahead of us…”
"Where does it grow?" Ji Shumin clenched his fist, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, indicating that he had reached the limit of his patience!
“Min’er…”
"Who knows, I might die suddenly tomorrow. Sooner or later, my bones will rot into a pile of mud and be burned to ashes. What long days are there to live?" Ji Shumin said bitterly, slamming his fist on the table.
The unused vermilion ink from the inkstone splashed up, landing on his body and face, like a thick, malevolent blood color, making him look extremely mad.
"Min'er!" Ji Shuqin wanted to step forward to comfort him, but Ji Shumin's wary and cold glare made him stand there helplessly.
He pursed his lips slightly, looking at Ji Shumin with a probing and tolerant gaze, which only intensified Ji Shumin's annoyance, yet he was unable to express it.
What difference is there between him and the Empress?
While provoking yourself to the point of anger, calmly watch from the sidelines.
It's as if they're standing high in the clouds, looking down at themselves wallowing in the filth and mud. They scrutinize and consider, and then, as if struck by a sudden act of kindness, they extend a finger, pretending to help you up without offering any assistance.
They cover their faces and condemn you for being filthy, yet they refuse to admit that it was they who personally pushed people into the mire of worldly suffering. They pity the world's pain, worry that all beings walk a difficult path, and praise you for your propriety, filial piety, and integrity—how virtuous, how virtuous…
Ji Shumin, breathing heavily, stared at Ji Shuqin's approaching face. In a daze, his vision blurred, and he saw it twisted into a ferocious blue face with fangs.
"Min'er! Min'er!" The voice came from near and far. Ji Shumin swung his hand and pushed hard, losing his balance and falling to the side. His forehead throbbed with pain, and he was covered in cold sweat...
When he regained consciousness, Ji Shumin suddenly realized that he was already lying in bed. The silence around him was finally gone, and the constant tapping of the wooden fish and the muttering of someone else from his nightmare were no longer there.
The surroundings were very quiet. His body felt as if it were bound, so powerless that he couldn't move at all, and he didn't even know what time it was.
"Sister-in-law." Ji Shuqin stood in the study, looking somewhat nervously at Lu Liruan, who was silently wiping Ji Shumin's desk.
Lu Liruan held a handkerchief in her hand and wiped away the dried cinnabar marks bit by bit.
Qinghe wanted to step forward to help, but Lu Liruan shook her head and refused: "His Highness's sketches are here, I can do it."
Lu Liruan's slender fingertips clenched so tightly they turned white, seemingly oblivious to Ji Shuqin's gaze.
When Ji Shumin had the accident, the palace servants nearby quickly took him back to his room and reported to Lu Liruan.
Lu Liruan had been feeling uneasy ever since, sensing that something was about to happen, and she never expected it to come true so quickly...
From ordering someone to summon the imperial physician to having Xiao Xizi support Ji Shumin, and then personally prying open his clenched teeth to administer the medicine, Lu Liruan remained calm and composed throughout the series of actions.
After realizing what had happened, Lu Liruan breathed a sigh of relief. She suddenly realized that she was now a completely different person from the one who used to panic at the slightest unexpected situation.
I was a little distracted. They say that long illness makes one a doctor. People who stay by a patient's side for a long time will also become battle-hardened, gradually getting used to and learning to face things bravely and calmly.
It's not that I don't care anymore, but because I care, because I keep it in my heart, because I love it, I've become stronger.
Illness and suffering can teach people nothing, but they can make love stronger.
Lu Liruan knew that she loved and cared about Ji Shumin, so she hoped that he could live, not just for her own mission, but simply because she wanted Ji Shumin to stay by her side forever.
"Is there anything else you wish to say, Your Highness?" Lu Liruan asked in a calm tone, which sounded even a bit cold at first glance.
When the imperial physician came to examine Ji Shumin, he only diagnosed that Ji Shumin's sudden convulsions were caused by a sudden surge of blood and qi due to a sudden attack of anger.
When Lu Liruan reached into his coat, his undershirt was already soaked with cold sweat.
After things settled down, Lu Liruan left Xiao Xizi alone inside to serve him, citing the reason that she didn't want to disturb his rest.
Seeing that Ji Shuqin was unwilling to leave, Lu Liruan looked at him with a half-smile, her lotus-like steps graceful, and stepped forward one by one.
They silently and resolutely forced Ji Shuqin out of the house.
Ji Shuqin was worried about Ji Shumin, and even though he was treated coldly, he followed Lu Liruan back to the study.
Looking at Lu Liruan, who was cautious and somewhat naive when she was seen at the temple that day, she now completely resembled a prince's consort.
“I didn’t…” Ji Shuqin was somewhat annoyed, but he didn’t know why Ji Shumin had suddenly become so emotional.
"Why is Min'er like this?" he finally asked in a low voice, realizing that he didn't really understand his younger brother, whom he thought he was very close to.
That layer of affection he thought he had was suddenly torn apart at this moment, burning his heart with a searing pain, accompanied by Ji Shumin's anger.
“Because we are all ordinary people, unlike the Crown Prince who is so refined and otherworldly,” Lu Liruan said lightly.
Without even listening, Lu Liruan could roughly guess what the argument between the two stemmed from.
A few days ago, after Ji Shumin made those ambiguous remarks, Lu Liruan pouted and put the pen to her upper lip, saying vaguely, "In that case, whatever he says to you, just treat it as him talking nonsense."
Ji Shumin was taken aback by her vulgar language, then chuckled quietly.
Lu Liruan's mouth moved faster than her brain; she only realized what she had said after she finished.
"No, I'm too sensitive. If I don't tell the difference and retaliate, I won't be able to sleep peacefully at night," Ji Shumin said softly.
Lu Liruan thought to herself, "You have a very clear understanding of your own position."
But it's understandable. If Ji Shumin were to let others rub him and teach him a lesson, he wouldn't be himself. It's just that I didn't expect him to get so angry.
Only things you care about can truly make you lose your composure. Ji Shumin never pretends to be indifferent; he cares deeply, to the core!
“I don’t mean to make Min’er uncomfortable, but his self-destructive behavior is really…” Ji Shuqin murmured to himself.
"Oh? What did the eldest brother say to him?" Lu Liruan wiped the paint off the scroll.
“I told him that there are still many days ahead, why give up on yourself? Our bodies and hair are gifts from our parents. If he continues to be so depressed, causing others to worry about him, wouldn't you…”
Ji Shuqin repeated the few sentences that he felt Ji Shumin had reacted most strongly. He was upright and did not think that these sentences should not have been said or were wrong.
When he looked up, he saw Lu Liruan with a smirk on her lips, but her eyes were icy cold. Compared to how Ji Shumin looked at him, Lu Liruan looked at him with more unfamiliarity and indifference.
“The Crown Prince is absolutely right,” Lu Liruan echoed him, too lazy to say more. She was different from Ji Shumin.
Ji Shumin will be influenced by him, but Lu Liruan doesn't care, so he won't be greatly agitated by him.
“How could he be so stubborn…” Ji Shuqin was silently stung by Lu Liruan. He felt awkward being incoherent in front of a woman, so he subconsciously added another sentence.
“He cares about you, eldest brother.” Lu Liruan tossed the towel aside. “But it doesn’t matter, he won’t care for long.”
"Why?" Ji Shuqin's heart skipped a beat.
“He’s almost dead, what does he care? Are you going to haunt him in his grave? Mutter to his bones and pray to bring him back to life?” Lu Liruan frowned.
"You two...why do you keep talking about dying all day long..." Ji Shuqin must have never heard such strange talk about a husband and wife.
"Why do we still need to be so discreet?" Lu Liruan raised an eyebrow. "Eldest brother, you also escaped death, so you must be more open-minded now. He's almost dead, so please be kind and give him a few days of peace!"
Lu Liruan's temper flared up as well. This person was no different from offering a pancake to a hungry person or a sour plum to a thirsty person.
“Min’er wouldn’t… how could that be?” Ji Shuqin was at a loss after Lu Liruan’s series of “deaths”.
"When you were critically ill, the Empress stayed up day and night, seeking out renowned doctors for you. Over the years, she has carefully nurtured, guided, and cared for you, allowing you to live a carefree and peaceful life."
Lu Liruan finally couldn't hold back any longer. If Ji Shumin hadn't repeatedly told her not to leak anything, Lu Liruan would have already started cursing.
"Where is Your Highness? While you were enjoying the love of your mother in the Empress's arms, what was he doing? While you were practicing Buddhism, he was isolated and helpless in the palace, surrounded by enemies. His legs were crippled and he suffered from excruciating pain every day. He was so frail and thin that even I could carry him. What were you doing?"
Lu Liruan snorted coldly: "You're standing here lecturing him. Before you start, do you want to take a look at your own handsome face, your arms and waist that are almost twice as thick as his, and your legs that can still walk steadily?"
"Did he really hold onto the position of Crown Prince for so many years without any effort? Do you think that if he hadn't been there to keep the Crown Prince in the palace, you and the Empress could have lived peacefully?" There was no one else in the room, and Lu Liruan's words were sharp and incisive.
Watching Ji Shuqin's expression shift from composure to shock, and then to panic and a desire to explain, I felt a strange sense of pleasure.
You think you're so high and mighty? I'll pry open your eyes and let you see, pry open your ears and let you hear. You climb the ladder of human beings to the clouds, and you really think you're a virtuous and kind person?
Naive and foolish!
"Please, have some mercy. Before you order him to live well and serve the Empress, and force him to return his bones to his relatives, why not be more practical and persuade him to eat a few more mouthfuls of porridge and drink a few more sips of soup?"
"What, eldest brother, you didn't expect this, did you? You don't think His Highness is as worthless as a weed, that he can't possibly die, do you?" Lu Liruan bombarded the study with a barrage of questions, leaving it completely silent.
"It's not that Mother doesn't care about Min'er, it's just that... things from the past..." Ji Shuqin was suddenly struck dumb; he really hadn't thought about it.
“Father is also a loving man. The things between him and Mother will not affect Min’er…” Ji Shuqin stopped midway through his sentence.
really?
Does he completely believe that statement?
But these were the words of his mother herself. Despite the many entanglements between her and his father, she was still able to say these words, so Ji Shuqin did not believe them to be false.
"Oh? The palace is so nice, why doesn't Her Majesty the Empress let you come back to live with His Highness?" Lu Liruan pretended to be puzzled.
"Your illness was cured many years ago, wasn't it?"
"Mother thinks..." Ji Shuqin found himself unable to finish a sentence logically.
"Now that His Highness is so weak, why doesn't Her Majesty plead for him and take him in to care for him? Could it be that Her Majesty's love for her children is divided into different levels, and you are the first level, not only receiving it but also expecting the lowest level to be grateful to you? Isn't that a bit too domineering?"
Lu Liruan's logic was clear, and she directly addressed Ji Shuqin's words, word by word.
"Do you really not know what the Empress is thinking?" Lu Liruan asked, staring at him, only to see confusion and bewilderment on his face.
He really doesn't know.
With the Empress's cunning and ruthlessness, she could even be cruel to her own children. How could she have raised the eldest prince to be like this?
It wasn't until later that Lu Liruan gradually understood the reason.
My elder brother is indeed a good man. He gave alms during famine years, prayed for the people, helped the orphans and widows, opened a charity home, and traveled outside the mountains. He was moved to tears by the suffering he witnessed. He was not arrogant because of his high position. He is truly benevolent and kind, and has a compassionate heart.
Ji Shumin is like a sword, he is like water.
Lu Liruan was somewhat discouraged, but suddenly she could understand the reason for Ji Shumin's resentment.
If he were merely feigning concern, Ji Shumin would simply laugh it off. But he was genuinely sincere, genuinely sincere in his ignorance. The people and things he saw were so good, making Ji Shumin seem like a poisonous insect biting in a poisonous guinea pig.
"Forget it, you should say less to him," Lu Liruan sighed.
“I have heard everything you said, and it is true that I have not considered many things. I did not know… Min’er, Min’er’s thoughts. After Min’er wakes up, you should tell him that I will come to apologize to him another day.” He cupped his hands, and after being reprimanded by Lu Liruan, he was still not angry.
Her expression still showed care and tolerance for her younger brother, who knew nothing, but tried his best to reflect on himself.
Lu Liruan felt incredibly frustrated.