Chapter 554: Chapter 521: People Like Us Are All Like This
Upon hearing this, Song Yuanbao fell into silence once again.
Wen Wan was about to speak again when Duan Yan, who was guarding outside, suddenly ran in and said, "Madam, Master has returned."
Wen Wan asked in surprise, "Itâs still early, why has Master returned already?"
Duan Yan glanced at his young master and whispered, "It seems the Crown Prince returned with him."
Wen Wan was startled and was about to get up to greet them when footsteps already sounded from outside.
Before long, Song Wei lifted the curtain and entered. Following him was a young man in a purple robe, with a jade belt and splendid boots. His black hair was smooth, his handsome face serious and meticulous. It was none other than Zhao Xi, the Eldest Prince, who was soon to be crowned Crown Prince.
"Your Highness." Wen Wan bowed, then turned her gaze to Song Wei, "Husband, why did you come back so early today?"
Song Wei replied, "The Divine Soldier Bureau has been busy for over eight months, finally transporting the mechanical beast out. The Emperor was considerate and granted us a three-day leave for the Mid-Autumn Festival." After a pause, he added, "His Highness heard that Yuanbao was ill and came specifically to visit."
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness." Wen Wan bowed again.
Zhao Xi nodded, "No need for such formality, Mrs. Song."
Wen Wan glanced at Song Wei, and the couple tacitly headed towards the door, leaving the room to the two young men.
Song Yuanbaoâs gaze lingered on Zhao Xi for a moment and then retracted, speaking softly, "Why did you come?"
Zhao Xi sat down in the round-backed chair, his cold gaze pressing over, "Have you forgotten your duties after staying home for a while?"
"..."
"Why havenât you gone to the Divine Soldier Bureau?" Zhao Xi rebuked, "Donât you know how busy it is these days with the mechanical beast being launched?"
"..."
For a moment, Song Yuanbao felt particularly aggrieved; everyone who visited him would first inquire about his illness, but Zhao Xi, upon entering, had nothing good to say, every word wrapped in frost, hitting his face mercilessly.
He was never one to hide things in his heart, directly furrowing his brows, "Iâm already so sick, donât you have any sympathy?"
Zhao Xiâs tone was indifferent, "We omnipotent people are like this, unable to have sympathy."
Song Yuanbao felt a surge of old blood stuck in his throat, gritting his teeth, "Zhao, Xi!"
Zhao Xi stared at the treasure cabinet by the east wall. On it was a redwood box with Kui patterns, containing the imperial edict sent by Mr. Cui a few days ago. He seemed to smile, "Young Master Xiao Yao, youâre too carefree, filling your mind with nonsenseâthatâs why you fell ill."
Song Yuanbao was furious, "Would it hurt you to show a little care for me?"
"No." Zhao Xi calmly said, "But you donât have a cold or a high fever nor are missing limbs or seriously injuredâitâs a mental sickness. How should I care for you? Encourage you to recover well, or urge you to take your medicine on time?"
Song Yuanbao: "..."
Zhao Xi ignored his angry glare, "Iâve already arranged everything at the Imperial College for you. You only need to attend classes in the morning, and in the afternoon, you must go to the Divine Soldier Bureau. After Mid-Autumn, remember to report to the government office daily on time."
Song Yuanbao ground his teeth, his face looking particularly poor, and growled, "Iâm still a student; youâre exploiting and oppressing me!"
Zhao Xi looked at him, "I just let you leave the palace. When did I ever say I wouldnât exploit you or oppress you?"
Song Yuanbao, enraged, grabbed the teacup on the low table and threw it over.
The force was as if he intended to smash a hole in Zhao Xiâs head.
Zhao Xi slightly turned to the side, effortlessly caught the teacup, placed it on the table, his handsome face still as calm as ever, "Idle people easily fall ill. Song Hao, youâre only fifteenânot suitable for retirement."
Song Yuanbaoâs chest heaved violently. He repeatedly suppressed himself to finally choke back the word "roll" in his throat.
As Zhao Xi walked out of the room, Song Wei and Wen Wan hadnât left yet and were sitting on a bench in the corridor. Seeing him, the couple slowly stood up.
Zhao Xi paused and said in a soft voice, "Heâs fine. In a couple of days, heâll recover."
Wen Wan widened her eyes, looking at Zhao Xi in disbelief.
Song Wei smiled, telling Wen Wan to go inside and check on Yuanbao while he escorted Zhao Xi out of the mansion.
Wen Wan returned to Song Yuanbaoâs room, seeing his entire face turning green. She was immediately stunned, "Yuanbao, how are you?"
Song Yuanbaoâs facial muscles twisted painfully for a while. After a long time, he squeezed out a word through his teeth, "Hungry..."
Wen Wan: "..."
This reaction was completely beyond Wen Wanâs expectations. She quickly instructed Duan Yan to have the kitchen prepare some food.
This time, Song Yuanbao didnât feel nauseous again, and his appetite seemed quite good. Moreover, his eating manner...
Even Wen Wan found it hard to look directly at him.
But itâs important that he can swallow it down.
Wen Wan personally served him a bowl of soup, with a gratified expression, "Eat slowly, here, drink some soup."
Yuanbao accepted it, too busy to say thank you, and scooped a spoonful into his mouth.
Wen Wan laughed seeing this.
Yuanbao seems to have noticed his unseemly eating manner, gradually slowed down, and explained to Wen Wan after swallowing the food in his mouth: "I havenât been able to eat well these days, I am really too hungry."
Wen Wan said: "Being able to eat is a blessing. You need to quickly eat back the weight you lost, or with your current physique, you canât muster the energy to do anything."
Yuanbao nodded embarrassedly, and asked Wen Wan: "Is Miss Ye still at our mansion?"
Wen Wan said she was.
"Iâm not feeling well today, itâs inconvenient to see guests. Please, mother, treat her well on my behalf and send someone to escort her back later," Yuanbao didnât want the young girl to see his haggard appearance, nor did he want to use this opportunity to gain sympathy.
Wen Wan nodded, "I invited her to the mansion under Jiaojiaoâs name, so naturally, she will be treated well. Right now, the most important thing is you, Yuanbao. Are you really okay?"
She didnât know what Zhao Xi had said or done before, or whether Yuanbao could recover within a few days, so Wen Wan still had some doubts.
Yuanbao drank another half bowl of soup and shook his head, "I donât know."
He didnât know when he got sick, naturally he didnât know when he could recover.
Even if he couldnât ask much, Wen Wan was still quite pleased, after all, Yuanbao could eat and was willing to speak.
Compared to the previous days, his condition had improved significantly.
After the meal, Wen Wan asked him what he wanted to do.
Yuanbao said he didnât have much energy and wanted to take a bath and have a good sleep.
Seeing his exhausted appearance, Wen Wan was indeed unwilling to disturb him further, so after leaving, she instructed Duan Yan to take good care of him. She went to the front hall where Ye Rong was still there, accompanied by Song Wei.
Thinking that everyone was worried about Yuanbao, Wen Wan didnât hide anything and honestly said, "Yuanbao just finished eating and wants to take a bath and rest to regain his strength."
Song Wei slightly furrowed his brows but didnât say anything.
Ye Rong: "..."
Ye Rongâs expression became somewhat twisted, as his earlier sympathy for Yuanbao instantly turned to dust. That little brat, after listening to jokes for so long, didnât react at all; the Crown Prince just arrived and he not only can eat but sleep as well?
After inwardly cursing Yuanbao countless times, Ye Rong finally asked, "So, Young Master Song is recovered?"
"Probably... not?" Wen Wan wasnât very certain either.
Ye Rong felt balanced now, that seemed about right!
Then he looked at Song Wei, "Actually, I donât quite understand why did he become like this?"
Last time during the hunting, he was lively and cheerful, all of a sudden became silent, there must be a reason for it.
Wen Wan was about to speak, but Song Wei said, "Heâs young, has a poor mentality."
Seven words summarized Yuanbaoâs illness cause.
Ye Rong let out a long "Oh," with an enlightened tone, inwardly thinking: What on earth is he talking about?
The Ye siblings stayed at the Song Mansion until late afternoon before returning home, even though Ye Rong can protect his sister, Wen Wan still arranged someone to escort them back according to Yuanbaoâs instructions.
After the guests left, Song Wei and Wen Wan returned to Qingteng Residence.
With no outsiders around, Wen Wan casually leaned on the long couch, turned to gaze at Song Wei who had just changed clothes, "Husband, how do you want to spend this Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Song Wei looked at her with a smile, "I thought you would ask me what His Highness said to Yuanbao."
Wen Wan wasnât interested in knowing, "Young people always have little secrets that adults canât interfere with, why dig into it?"
Song Wei agreed and nodded, steering the topic to the Mid-Autumn Festival, "With next monthâs due date, weâll hold a banquet for the full moon celebration, just our family for the Mid-Autumn Festival, then when the child is a month old, send invitations and have a grand gathering."
Wen Wan touched her belly, "Qi Bao, Mo Bao, which one does husband hope to be born first?"
Song Wei asked her, "If Mo Bao is born first, can there still be Qi Bao?"
"Thatâs true, if Mo Bao is born first, Qi Bao canât be called Qi Bao anymore." Wen Wan felt a bit silly because of pregnancy for three years, "Then I still hope Qi Bao is born first."
"Itâs all the same." Song Wei didnât have a particular opinion on this, "Whatâs important is the childâs health, as for the name, it can always be changed."