Tan Hua - Chapter 42
Song Liqing had his shackles removed and stood outside the sky cell, feeling somewhat unsteady on his feet.
He extended a hand to feel the warmth of the sunlight.
“… Liqing.”
It was Jun Qiyu’s voice, sounding much gentler and less imposing than before.
Song Liqing almost mistook the person.
Jun Qiyu personally drove a carriage to fetch him.
“I’ve come to take you back.”
Upon hearing this, Song Liqing’s face remained expressionless. He didn’t show any sadness or happiness towards Jun Qiyu’s unexpected gentleness.
Everything had been revealed, hence Jun Qiyu’s change in attitude.
“Where’s my father?”
Song Liqing hadn’t heard Song Qing’s voice, so he wasn’t entirely at ease.
“He’s already returned to the Duke of General’s residence… um, he’s been exonerated, reinstated to his former position, and his title remains intact, everything is as it was before.”
As it was before…
It sounded easy, but Song Liqing felt that everything was different now.
“I want to go home and see my father.”
Although he said this, he wouldn’t be able to see him. Just hearing Song Qing’s voice would put Song Liqing at ease.
“Your home is in Qilin Mansion. Come back with me.” Jun Qiyu paused and spoke softly again, “If you want to see him, I can arrange for him to come to Qilin Mansion to see you.”
“But I want to go home.”
Song Liqing insisted stubbornly.
Jun Qiyu’s patience was slightly tested by his defiance, but he restrained himself.
“If you insist on going back to the General’s residence, is it because you don’t want to come home, or you don’t want to see me?” Jun Qiyu patiently said, “I was wrong before. I misunderstood you and shouldn’t have treated you harshly. But I was anxious because I care about you. If you’re upset, I’m willing to apologize to you right now. Would that be alright?”
“I’m not upset.”
Song Liqing replied calmly.
Where would he find the energy and time to be upset?
“Then come home with me obediently.”
Jun Qiyu walked over and took his hand.
Song Liqing furrowed his brows slightly and pulled his hand away.
Jun Qiyu felt a bit rebellious but managed to suppress it.
“Are you avoiding me? You said you’re not upset?”
“It hurts if you touch it.”
Song Liqing found a reasonable excuse.
Jun Qiyu glanced at his fingers half-curled into his sleeve, then said nothing more. Instead, he removed his cloak and draped it over Song Liqing.
“Are you cold?” Jun Qiyu lowered his voice, “Liqing, if you can’t forgive me for a while, I understand. Let’s not argue in public and embarrass me. Can we?”
When Jun Qiyu spoke, he was very close, which made Song Liqing feel uncomfortable. He moved forward to avoid him, but ahead of him were steps, and he stumbled forward.
Jun Qiyu, being skilled in martial arts for many years, reacted swiftly, catching him around the waist and holding him close.
After Song Liqing stabilized himself, he pushed Jun Qiyu away.
But in the vast world, it was impossible not to notice the steps. Song Liqing was steady by nature and not reckless. Jun Qiyu began to suspect something, looking into Song Liqing’s eyes. They remained unfocused, and Jun Qiyu initially thought he didn’t want to meet his gaze. Now, however…
“Liqing,” Jun Qiyu cautiously asked, “your eyes…”
“Yeah, I can’t see.”
Song Liqing turned his face away as he spoke, not wanting Jun Qiyu to stare at him and not seeking his sympathy in the slightest.
Jun Qiyu was shocked beyond belief. The most important things to Song Liqing were his hands and eyes—his hands for writing and his eyes for reading. Now… now they were both injured.
“If they… if they hurt your eyes during interrogation?!” Jun Qiyu questioned.
“Your Highness, don’t blame yourself. It’s my eyes deteriorating over the years, an old illness flaring up,” Song Liqing replied with a hint of self-mockery, as if recalling something, “I used to cry a lot before, and who knows if that’s what ruined them.”
“Before? Why didn’t I know? You never told me about your eye condition,” Jun Qiyu asked with concern.
Song Liqing smiled faintly but didn’t answer.
Jun Qiyu understood what he meant—he had never really cared.
“It’s… it’s okay. We’ll go home and get it treated,” Jun Qiyu comforted him, “I’ve already had Qi Miao wait at Qilin Mansion. He’s highly skilled; you trust him, don’t you?”
Before Song Liqing could respond, Jun Qiyu lifted him horizontally. Despite Song Liqing’s resistance, he couldn’t resist Jun Qiyu’s strength.
After Jun Qiyu picked him up, he stood still in place.
Song Liqing wasn’t used to being held like this by him, so he urged him, “Why aren’t we going? Am I too heavy for you?”
“You…”
Jun Qiyu didn’t say it out loud—Song Liqing was too light!
So light that Jun Qiyu stood still in astonishment. Song Liqing wasn’t short, but he weighed as much as a child, light as a feather, as if he might be blown away by the wind.
In the carriage, Song Liqing leaned against the back of the seat, keeping his eyes closed the whole way.
Jun Qiyu wanted to speak several times but couldn’t find the words, only keeping his eyes on Song Liqing.
His skin was very pale, but after coming out of the sky cell, it was tinged with blue, full of fatigue, his entire being languid, speaking and breathing softly.
Upon returning to Qilin Mansion, Jun Qiyu still held Song Liqing, gently placing him on **.
“Thank you, Your Highness,” Song Liqing said.
Jun Qiyu frowned, “We are like one, don’t say such polite words in the future.”
Qi Miao had been waiting for a long time, and he quickly checked Song Liqing’s pulse.
In just a few breaths, Qi Miao raised his head in shock.
“Liqing!” Qi Miao exclaimed in surprise, then quickly corrected himself, “Your Highness, you…”
“Shh…”
Song Liqing shook his head slightly, gesturing for him to keep quiet.
“You…” Qi Miao struggled to contain his shock.
Song Liqing grasped Qi Miao’s wrist back, pleading, “I know, there’s no need to let others hear.”
Qi Miao understood that by “others,” Song Liqing meant Jun Qiyu.
“You know everything?”
“Yeah.”
Song Liqing nodded. He understood his own body the best—his blood stasis disease was already at its worst, nearing the end.
Qi Miao couldn’t maintain the same composure as him. Suppressing his grief, the more he held it in, the redder his eyes became.
“Why?” Qi Miao asked softly, “Liqing, you’ve suffered so much. You should tell him. At least he would treat you better.”
“He doesn’t deserve to know.”
Song Liqing said firmly.
Jun Qiyu didn’t deserve to know his days were numbered, nor did he need his pity to continue living.
In the end, Qi Miao complied with his wishes.
After taking a sip of tea, Jun Qiyu walked over, and Qi Miao quickly wiped away his tears.
“How is it?” Jun Qiyu asked, “Can Liqing’s hand be healed?”
“Superficial wounds heal easily, and even injuries to the tendons and bones can recover over time.”
But… Song Liqing didn’t have “over time.”
“That’s great! Liqing, did you hear that? Your hand won’t be wasted; you can still write with it.”
Jun Qiyu was very happy to hear this, smiling brightly.
“And what about the eyes?” Jun Qiyu asked again.
“They… they can be healed.”
Qi Miao couldn’t lie. He feared that any more words might give him away.
“Your Highness, I will return to the imperial medical office now. I want to find some blood-nourishing and energy-replenishing medicines. Maybe the crown princess will soon recover completely.”
“Alright, once you cure the crown princess, I will reward you.”
As soon as Qi Miao left, Song Liqing was left alone with Jun Qiyu. Xiaodi came in to clean Song Liqing’s wounds, but Jun Qiyu insisted on doing it himself.
However, his hands were quite clumsy at such delicate work. Having been pampered all his life, he had never taken care of anyone before.
When Jun Qiyu rolled up Song Liqing’s sleeve and saw the brand on his arm, his expression froze.
“Does it still hurt?”
Jun Qiyu felt a bit guilty.
“Yes.”
Song Liqing only said one word, but his tone was so indifferent it was as if he were not talking about himself.
Jun Qiyu felt frustrated and his face darkened.
“I’m tired. Your Highness, please let me rest for a while.”
“Alright, you sleep.” Jun Qiyu said, sitting by the bed, “I’ll stay here and watch over you.”
Song Liqing turned away, unable to argue with him.
Jun Qiyu felt a bit lost, looking at Song Liqing’s thin back, feeling dejected.
He still avoided him.
“Liqing, you can be angry with me or hate me, but the situation is irreversible. What do you want me to do to compensate you? Just tell me, and I’ll do my best, alright?”
“I know you’re not sleeping, you just don’t want to face me.”
“Liqing, I have humbled myself and sincerely apologized to you. Can’t we just move on from this?”
“What does your silence mean? You know I hate being ignored.”
“Alright, it’s all my fault. I’ll wait for you to calm down.”
Jun Qiyu couldn’t keep quiet, but with Song Liqing silent, it was like talking to himself.
Song Liqing wasn’t avoiding him as he thought. He was genuinely exhausted. In the dungeon, he had been tortured daily, always on edge, completely drained. He barely heard Jun Qiyu’s words before falling into a deep sleep.
Song Liqing woke up the next day around noon. Although he couldn’t see, he sensed the white foggy light indicating daytime.
He groped to get out of bed and accidentally touched Jun Qiyu’s face.
Jun Qiyu had indeed stayed by the bed all night.
Jun Qiyu woke up immediately, rubbing his eyes, “Liqing, are you hungry? I had the best medicinal food prepared for you. Qi Miao also said you need to nourish yourself.”
Jun Qiyu forcibly brought Song Liqing to the table and placed a piece of meat to his lips.
The chefs at the Qilin Mansion were the best in the capital, but Song Liqing was too sensitive. As soon as he smelled the meat, his stomach churned, and he began to retch.
“Liqing!” Jun Qiyu panicked and patted his back, “Is the food too bad? I’ll call the chef here immediately!”
Song Liqing pressed his chest, taking a few breaths before he could speak.
“I can’t stand the smell of blood. Please don’t punish the innocent.”
“Take all the meat dishes away!” Jun Qiyu instructed, then ladled a spoonful of medicinal porridge, “Then have some porridge, please, open your mouth.”
“I can’t eat. Your Highness, please eat by yourself.”
Jun Qiyu put down the spoon, looking at Song Liqing’s indifferent expression, finally losing his patience.
“Liqing, I’ve done my utmost for you. Your injuries can all be healed. Why can’t you forgive me?”
**Author’s Note:**
Hmph