RMACAUH Chapter 60
by VolareIf he could go back to the past… maybe things would be different.
“You want to hear an explanation?”
“Explanation?” Feng Xilan smiled palely, “Evil is evil, what is there to explain? I just don’t understand why you did that in the first place.”
“You’re right, evil is evil, wrong is wrong.”
Si Mo leaned against the big tree and sighed for a long time, looking at the gray sky, about to dawn.
“Because I like you, I know you don’t believe it, and you think it’s absurd and ridiculous.”
“This isn’t love, Si Mo. If you truly love someone, you wouldn’t choose to hurt them.”
Si Mo: “No one ever taught me these things. I only knew that the person I loved was about to be snatched away, and I was very anxious. Moreover, I knew what kind of person Si Ming was. I didn’t understand. Si Ming stole my beloved, but didn’t treat them well… He already had so much. What would it have cost him to give you to me? I just wanted you!”
Feng Xilan didn’t know what to say for a moment. The doubt that had always plagued him had been answered, but not in the way he had imagined.
Perhaps this answer was easier for him to accept.
It wasn’t because he wanted to humiliate him, or to see him embarrassed, that he had done that.
Perhaps it was really because he liked him, liked him to the point of being at a loss, afraid that the person he liked would be snatched away… and other reasons.
He ridiculously discovered that he was actually trying to excuse Si Mo for the unforgivable crimes he had committed against him.
“I,” Feng Xilan took a deep breath, and after a long while, he regained his voice, “I’m not considering the matter between you and me for the time being.”
To face the feelings between him and Si Mo, he needed a long time to heal, countless times of facing it, until there were no more grudges in his heart.
Si Mo smiled in relief, “I’ve long stopped asking for any results. Being able to be like this now, I’m already very happy. I thought you would never pay attention to me for the rest of your life, and wouldn’t be willing to listen to anything I said.”
If it hadn’t been because Feng Yue suggested that he use Si Mo, he might not have had the chance to understand what kind of person Si Mo really was.
The mistakes he had committed were enough for him to hate for a lifetime, and be unable to forgive.
But human nature is such a complex thing. If he had never understood, he probably would never have had the softness of heart he had now.
“It’s dawn, let’s hurry and get on our way!”
“Okay.” Si Mo got up to lead the horse, and galloped alongside Feng Xilan towards the direction where the sun was rising.
*
Feng Xiao had been in Chu Ting for more than half a month, following Feng Chao around all day, and had suffered a lot of scornful looks.
The accompanying little eunuch, Lai Fu, comforted him, “Your Highness, don’t be angry. Anyway, there’s nothing to do until the end of the year, and the Emperor will let you return to the capital.”
Feng Xiao smashed a teacup, his eyes red, “Father has always been so biased. Third Brother was made a Prince, and First Imperial Brother received a good assignment. What about me? I didn’t get any benefits, and I even had to come here to be First Imperial Brother’s errand boy.”
Lai Fu: “Your Highness, you should think more positively. Who told First Imperial Prince and Third Prince that their maternal clans are so prominent?”
“Yes, their maternal clans are prominent, so they can seize the initiative. Forget it, thinking too much is futile.”
“I heard that First Imperial Prince hasn’t lived in the yamen these past few years. He has his own private residence. I just don’t know where this private residence is, or what it looks like.”
“Hmm?”
“Your Highness, think about it, if First Imperial Prince is embezzling official silver, lining his own pockets…”
Hearing this, Feng Xiao’s mind flashed with inspiration, “You’re right, how did I not think of that? He’s been in Chu Ting for so many years, and he’s bought a private residence. He must be living well.”
The next day, after handling some official business, Feng Xiao saw Feng Chao leave the yamen at the appointed time, and secretly followed him.
He walked in a very remote area, weaving through the alleys for a long time, and finally came to the front of a small, family-style courtyard gate.
It looked like just an ordinary household, not a mansion.
Feng Xiao frowned, “Can First Imperial Brother get used to living in such a house?”
Just as he was about to leave, he almost bumped into a father and daughter coming towards him.
“Father, I want to eat another piece of candy! Just one, really!”
“No, if your Daddy finds out, he’ll scold me, not you.”
The man lowered his head and coaxed his daughter a few times. Because the stone slab road was too narrow, they inevitably bumped shoulders. The two nodded in acknowledgment and passed by.
Feng Xiao looked back curiously when he saw him carrying a medical kit. With this one look, he saw the doctor leading the girl into the courtyard that First Imperial Brother had just entered.
Feng Xiao stood there in a daze, shocked for a long time.
“How could it be…” This man was clearly a *lang jun*, so who was the ‘Daddy’ they were talking about?
Feng Xiao took a deep breath, and a ridiculous and laughable idea flashed through his mind.
Using the moonlight, he hurriedly left the alley and returned to the backyard of the yamen.
“Your Highness, why are you walking so fast?” Lai Fu quickly poured him a cup of water.
Feng Xiao drank the water in the cup in one gulp, and then sat on a stool and began to stare blankly.
“Your Highness, what’s wrong? Did you encounter some difficulty?”
Feng Xiao suddenly smiled strangely, “Heaven is really helping me!”
“What does Your Highness mean?”
Feng Xiao thoughtfully poured himself another cup of tea, the corners of his mouth unable to stop from rising, “Now that Third Brother has gone to distant Guangling, I’m afraid he won’t be able to come back in this lifetime.”
“And this First Imperial Brother, he should be the most qualified person to inherit the throne. Presumably, Father sent him to Chu Ting to control the floods, wanting to give him a push, let him establish meritorious service, so that the court officials will trust him, and then smoothly pass the throne to him.”
“Now… hahahahaha, what if he’s not a *lang jun* at all, but a *ge’er*?”
Lai Fu’s breathing stagnated, thinking that their Second Highness was talking nonsense, “Your Highness, what are you talking about?”
Feng Xiao: “Wait and see, interesting things are about to happen next.”
The next day, Lai Fu went to the front of the yamen and asked Feng Chao for leave, “Greetings to the Great Imperial Prince.”
“How many times have I said it? There is no Great Imperial Prince here. Since you came here from the capital to handle affairs, be cautious.”
“Ah, right, right, right, this servant forgot again.”
“What matters do you have to report?”
“It’s my Highness. He caught a heatstroke, and he’s not feeling well right now, and can’t get out of bed, so he sent this servant to ask for leave.”
“Oh?” Feng Chao looked up from the official documents, “Did you find a doctor?”
“Your Excellency, rest assured, we already found one. He’s already taken the medicine and is resting.”
“Hmm.” Feng Chao nodded, “Then let him rest well. Anyway, there’s nothing much going on in the yamen these days, at most just going to the river embankment to supervise and inspect.”
“Okay, good.”
In fact, Feng Xiao was not resting in the backyard of the yamen at all. He put on a set of ordinary clothes, and following the road he remembered yesterday, came to the front of the small courtyard again.
After knocking on the door for a long time, a middle-aged woman came to open the door. Seeing that he was unfamiliar, she couldn’t help but ask, “May I ask who you’re looking for?”
“I’m looking for…” Feng Xiao smiled, “Isn’t there a doctor here? I’m looking for him to see a doctor.”
“Oh, you’re looking for Chu Doctor, right?”
“Yes! Chu Doctor!”
“He went out to see patients, and won’t be back until noon.”
“Can I come in and wait for him?”
“This…” The woman was quite embarrassed, “It’s possible, it’s just that Chu Doctor and his *fu lang* are both very kind people, but you can only wait in the courtyard.”
Feng Xiao smiled, “Of course, without the homeowner’s permission, I would never go into the house.”
“In that case, please come in!”
“Thank you, Madam.”
The woman let him into the courtyard, poured him a cup of tea, and then went back into the house to clean up.
When it was almost noon, there was movement at the door. Chu Lingqiao brought Ying’er home to prepare lunch. Seeing someone in the courtyard, Chu Lingqiao was stunned for a moment, feeling that he looked familiar, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
The woman stepped forward and explained, “Chu Doctor, you’re back! This person is here to see a doctor after hearing your name. He’s been waiting for you all morning. Now that you’re back, I’ll go back first and come back in the afternoon to cook dinner for you.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Chu Lingqiao sized him up, and for some reason, he felt a vague sense of discomfort in his heart, a discomfort he couldn’t quite explain.
Feng Xiao got up and made a bow to him, “I’ve long admired the name of Divine Doctor Chu. I actually came yesterday, but I searched for a long time and couldn’t find you. We even brushed past each other. I didn’t even know that the person I was looking for was right in front of me.”
“Please sit down.” Chu Lingqiao was thoughtful. At this time, his face was rosy, and his energy was good. He didn’t look like he was sick.
“What’s the problem?” Chu Lingqiao put down the medicine box and asked him.
“Actually, it’s not me, it’s my father at home.”
“Oh… then it would be better for your father to come himself.” Saying that, he led Ying’er into the house to prepare ingredients for stewing soup.
Who knew that Feng Xiao followed him, “Chu Doctor!”
“Is there anything else you need?”
“Nothing much. Is this your daughter? She’s really beautiful and lovely.”
Chu Lingqiao frowned, his whole body immediately on guard, “Who exactly are you?”
Feng Xiao didn’t panic, just smiled, “Actually, to be honest, I’m here to look for my elder brother.”
Chu Lingqiao’s heart skipped a beat. How could he know?
“Your elder brother?” Chu Lingqiao pretended to be puzzled, “I don’t even recognize who your elder brother is.”
“Isn’t my elder brother precisely your *fu lang*?”
“You’re probably mistaken. Please leave.”
“Why are you in such a hurry to drive away a guest?” Feng Xiao smiled lightly, “Why not sit down and have a good chat? Avoiding it won’t solve any problems. The difference in status between you and my elder brother is too great. There won’t be a good outcome.”
Chu Lingqiao felt a burst of stuffiness in his chest, “How I am with him is none of your business!”
“Chu Doctor has such a big temper. How can you not bear to hear the truth?”
“Get out!”
Seeing that he was serious, the smile on Feng Xiao’s face gradually disappeared, “Oh, right, please keep it a secret that I came to find my elder brother today, Chu Doctor.”
“A stranger running to my house and randomly claiming relatives, what’s there to keep secret? If you don’t leave, I’m going to report to the authorities.”
“It’s best for Chu Doctor to keep it a secret. Once it’s exposed, these peaceful days will come to an end. Things are far from as simple as you think. Think it over carefully! Since you’re not welcome, then I won’t bother you any longer. Goodbye!”
Seeing him leave, Chu Lingqiao seemed to continue cooking as if nothing had happened, but in fact, his heart was already in turmoil.
“Father, who was that uncle just now?”
Chu Lingqiao took a deep breath, his mood heavy, and said unhappily, “I don’t recognize this person. In the future, Ying’er, if you encounter this person, try to stay away from him, and come and call Father, remember?”
“Oh, Ying’er remembers.”
Chu Lingqiao saw that she was so sensible and well-behaved, and his heart melted. He couldn’t help but smile dotingly, gently stroking her soft hair, “Ying’er is good.”