Your Majesty, Please Be Obedient - Chapter 25

Pu Tingsong arranged the dishes from the food container one by one. Once finished, he sat to the side, resting his head on his hand as he watched Jiang Qiyan. Pu Tingsong did not realize that the gaze he fixed on Jiang Qiyan was becoming increasingly soft. A faint sorrow lingered in his heart.

Before his mother died during labor, at the very end of her life, she used all her strength to take off the jade from her neck and place it around his. This jade was a peace buckle. It represented her final protection. Pu Tingsong once thought he would never take it off in his lifetime. Yet now, he was about to give this protection to a puppet. It was somewhat absurd.

Countless obscure things flickered in those peach blossom eyes. What lay hidden in the depths of those pool-like eyes, perhaps even their owner did not know. Regardless, the boy was someone he had raised himself. He could not let him die before he even ascended the throne.

The little prince belonging to Jiang Beiwang and the new Empress was already five years old. He had begun to have his own thoughts and was reportedly spoiled and arrogant. At this point, choosing someone else to raise was clearly not a good decision. Jiang Qiyan had been under his care since the age of two and a half; his character and temperament had grown perfectly according to Pu Tingsong’s expectations. If this child died now, not only would all previous efforts be wasted, but subsequent matters would become much more troublesome.

Pu Tingsong spent a long time in deep thought before finally convincing himself with the reason of “considering the big picture.” It was not a softening of the heart, nor were there any extra emotions outside of the plan. The more Pu Tingsong thought about it, the more convinced he became that it was only for the sake of the grand scheme that Jiang Qiyan could not yet die.

As for that ridiculous teacher-student bond? Hah.

In six years, once the Xunhua Pavilion was ready, he would use the Young Heir of Prince Xu to trigger an irreconcilable conflict between Prince Xu and Jiang Beiwang. Given Prince Xu’s fiery temper and protective nature over his cub, he would surely bring his army to the city gates. When the tiger and the dragon fought, Pu Tingsong would profit from the sidelines. Not only did he want Jiang Beiwang to “die” in that “accident,” but he also planned to design a situation where Prince Xu would hand over the tiger tally and all military power.

When he announced to the world that Prince Xu had rebelled and that Jiang Beiwang was “dead,” and then pushed Jiang Qiyan onto the hollow throne, that would be the day of his true revenge against Jiang Beiwang. He wanted Jiang Beiwang to watch how a lowly “Pu leaf” toyed with the high-and-mighty “Jiang waters.” He would make Jiang Beiwang suffer endless mental torture while undergoing physical punishment, dying in regret and repentance. After death, he would not even have a funeral! He would burn him to ashes with a fierce fire and pour the ashes into the filthiest place, ensuring Jiang Beiwang would never find peace for all eternity!

Jiang Qiyan had no way of knowing his Teacher’s frantic thoughts. He only instinctively sensed that the Teacher was suppressing something, so he set down his bowl and chopsticks. Pu Tingsong retracted his gaze and picked up a pair of long serving chopsticks to serve him food.

“I am not eating anymore.” For some reason, he felt restless. It was as if a beast was staring at him from the shadows, making him feel a prickle on his back and losing all appetite. But when he turned his head, he only saw the Teacher’s brow furrowed tightly. An unshakeable worry seemed ready to condense into droplets and fall.

“Come closer. Let your teacher feel your stomach.”

He did not move, only shifting his hands away from his chest. A large hand landed on his small stomach. In an instant, the Teacher’s hand quickly left his skin.

“Is your appetite poor? When the shops open tomorrow, I will buy some hawthorn preserves.”

“Mm.” After all, he was a dying person. “Teacher, do not worry. It is just a small cold. I will be better in a few days.”

Pu Tingsong let out a sigh and pulled the boy onto his lap. “How about I give you a little trinket?”

Jiang Qiyan still did not answer, only clutching the Teacher’s collar tightly. Since he was small, the Teacher liked to ask him questions, even asking for his opinion before giving him a gift. If he had already decided to give it, why ask again? Why?

In the brief moment Jiang Qiyan dazed, a smooth little jade buckle appeared on his chest. The luster of the cold jade was a ghostly blue. Jiang Qiyan placed it inside his clothes. The cold jade touching his skin sent a shiver through him. The usually meticulous Teacher had his moments of oversight too, Jiang Qiyan thought. In the past, when the weather turned cool, the Teacher would even warm the chopsticks in his own hand before handing them over. Now, even though he said he had a cold, the Teacher did this.

Jiang Qiyan suddenly woke up to his thoughts. How could he have felt a flicker of dissatisfaction? Had he become so accustomed to the Teacher’s meticulous care that he took it for granted? How could he?

Jiang Qiyan pursed his lips again. Pu Tingsong sighed and touched his face. “Still unhappy after receiving a gift?”

He closed his eyes, his lips pursing even tighter.

“You don’t want to see your teacher?” Pu Tingsong acted casually, teasing him as usual. “Then should I go out?”

“No.”

“No what? No staying here?”

Jiang Qiyan lightly clenched his fist. “Do not go out.”

“You don’t like looking at me, so shouldn’t I go out?”

His heart was acting up again. Was it the heart fire burning? Jiang Qiyan opened his eyes but lowered his head. “I like it. Do not go out.”

He did not dare to look anymore. He wondered if his internal organs were about to be burned through. Otherwise, why was even his skin burning hot?

Pu Tingsong also sensed the rising body temperature of the person in his arms. His heart suddenly ached. Was the heat poison in the child deepening again? After a long time, he spoke softly. “How did you manage to give yourself a fever?”

His voice carried a hint of undetectable trembling. “It is because your teacher did not take good care of you. From now on, I must keep a closer eye on you.”

Perhaps if he looked closer, perhaps if he were more careful. Perhaps.

But this was the son of his enemy; he was merely acting. Why was he panicking? Was he afraid the plan would fail? True, after all, he had waited nine years for that day.

Pu Tingsong forced himself to calm down and called for water as usual, preparing to bathe Jiang Qiyan. Over the past five years, Jiang Qiyan had grown accustomed to this. He offered no resistance, allowing the Teacher to untie his belt and carry him to the bath. Previously, he had been indifferent to being naked before the Teacher, but perhaps due to the illness, his heart had been racing frequently lately. Moreover, when being watched, his skin would turn red inch by inch following the Teacher’s gaze. Especially when the Teacher scrubbed his body. His whole body would become very, very red.

Pu Tingsong leaned over, seriously making bubbles. He felt somewhat sad. His fingers became increasingly gentle. Previously, he thought it was because the child was too pale and had tender skin, causing him to turn red from the warm water. Now, it was clear that the fire poison had obviously spread into the blood. This was a redness burned out by boiling blood!

After the washing was done and the boy was coaxed to sleep, Pu Tingsong walked out of the room. He took out an envelope and handed it to Qin Shizhi. “Go into the palace now. Have the people at the Imperial Academy of Medicine look at the Crown Prince’s symptoms. You do not need to return tonight. Do not come see me until you have researched a prescription and prepared the medicine.”

“Are you serious, Little Family Head?” Qin Shizhi had a bitter face. “Where will I sleep after I enter the palace?”

“Wherever. That is your business.”

Qin Shizhi was choked for words. With a leap, he jumped onto the roof beam. He whispered under his breath, “Why not go yourself? Is having a higher seniority that great? This is clearly elder abuse.”

“This official has never seen a twenty-year-old elder. If you do not move, this year’s leave.”

Qin Shizhi did not expect Pu Tingsong’s hearing to be so good that he could hear that. He shook his head with a sigh and leaped again, disappearing.

After waking up the old men at the Imperial Academy of Medicine and relaying the Little Family Head’s instructions, Qin Shizhi wandered through the palace out of boredom. As he wandered, he suddenly saw a suspicious figure approaching the Imperial Study. He smirked. Good, he had not even looked for fun yet, and fun had delivered itself to his door. His mind shifted, and he took action immediately.

Fang Hongxi, who had finally returned to his original body and was preparing to find some evidence, had just slipped to the door of the study when the sound of hollow footsteps came from behind him! Fang Hongxi turned around quickly, but there was no one behind him!

Whew. He let out a long breath. Just scaring himself.

He crept into the study, carefully searching through the drawers.

Clack.

The sudden noise nearly made Fang Hongxi jump. He turned around again; it was just a book that had not been placed properly and fell to the floor. His heart pounded. With his heart in his throat, he had just pulled open a drawer when he suddenly felt someone blow on the back of his neck!

“Ah!”

The crown of his head nearly flew off from fright. He had only let out half a scream before he quickly covered his mouth. This was the Emperor’s study, after all. Although the Imperial Preceptor was currently in power, Jiang Beiwang still held some measure of authority. Those great figures might not care, but a small fry like him was terrified! Jiang Beiwang could crush him like an ant. After all, his entire Fang family had already been killed.

He did not dare think about killing the Emperor for revenge, but at least he could deal with the shaman tribe where his uncle was. Fang Hongxi turned around tremblingly, wanting to see if it was a person or a ghost blowing on his neck. But as he turned, a chill went straight to his head, and his fear peaked!

He, behind him. There was no one behind him!

“It is, it is the wind, right?” He comforted himself while shaking. “It is fine, it is fine, do not scare yourself. It is just the wind. It is fine.”

“Right! It must be the wind!” Fang Hongxi calmed down and searched the drawer. Suddenly, an object caught his attention. What was this? It looked like a key. Hidden so deeply, could it be the key to Jiang Beiwang’s private treasury? He became excited instantly. Even if he could not kill Jiang Beiwang, he could still disgust him! Decided! Once he found the key evidence, he would go steal. Ahem, for a scholar, can that be called stealing? That is called borrowing!

He was getting excited when, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw a white cloth flutter past the window!

Ah! Mother! Fang Hongxi was so scared he could not even scream! Did a white-clothed female ghost just float past? Could that be the vengeful spirit of the late Empress who had passed away? Ah! So terrifying!

Fang Hongxi scrambled under the table, hugging his knees and shivering. The hollow footsteps from before sounded again, coming closer and closer. The terror in Fang Hongxi’s eyes grew, reaching the point of total desperation!

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