The Sickly Seedling Dresses Up As An Unfortunate And Muddled Monarch - Chapter 36

Qiu Jingming awoke in a wave of excruciating pain.

 

The injuries on his body made it impossible for him to sleep well; every inch of pain felt as though it penetrated deep into his brain, causing his temples to throb.

 

He hardly dared to move, because any movement would make his clothes rub against his skin, like fire burning, making him extremely uncomfortable.

 

In his extreme weakness, he moved his cracked, chapped lips and uttered the line that all people say when they wake up from a long coma:

 

“Water…”

 

His voice was hoarse and low, and outside the dim bed curtains, more than ten meters away, two palace maids and eunuchs stood with their heads down, nodding off. The hall was silent, and it seemed that no one could hear his weak call.

 

Just the act of slightly parting his lips and making a sound had exhausted all of Qiu Jingming’s strength, and he fell back into unconsciousness. When he woke again, the sky had darkened considerably, as if a storm was approaching.

 

He was now mildly dehydrated and parched, but the noise he made was still too faint for anyone to notice. They thought he was still asleep, so no one offered Qiu Jingming any water.

 

Just as Qiu Jingming was sinking into despair, thinking he might die of thirst, someone suddenly lifted the bed curtains, revealing a delicate, beautiful face.

 

The person who lifted the curtain seemed surprised that Qiu Jingming was already awake. Her fine eyebrows furrowed slightly in astonishment, and then she turned her head and called out to Qiu Junyao:

 

“Your Majesty, come quickly, Jingming is awake.”

 

Before Qiu Jingming could speak, a warm, familiar male voice came closer, soon reaching his ears:

 

“He’s been sleeping all day; it’s about time he woke up.”

 

With that, Qiu Junyao lifted the curtain on the other side of the bed, and his entire face appeared before Qiu Jingming:

 

“Feeling any better?”

 

Qiu Jingming had been in a drowsy state for the past two days, unaware of where he was or that Qiu Junyao had been by his side. He stared blankly for a long time before finally nodding with difficulty:

 

“Your son greets the Emperor Father.”

 

“At a time like this, you’re still being so formal.” Qiu Junyao couldn’t help but laugh. He gently propped Qiu Jingming up, letting him rest more comfortably on his thigh, and asked softly:

 

“Thirsty?”

 

Qiu Jingming nodded.

 

Seeing him nod, Qiu Junyao patted his hair, with an expression in his eyes that was either pity or a sigh, then called out, “Jingxiu, bring some water.”

 

“Coming!” A crisp, childish voice broke the slightly tender atmosphere. The next second, Qiu Jingxiu came bouncing over, carrying a bowl of water on his head, and poked his little head between Qiu Junyao and Ying Yuan:

 

“Father, the water is here!”

 

“You didn’t spill any—well done.” Qiu Junyao habitually praised him, taking the bowl of water from Qiu Jingxiu’s head, entirely unaware of the sudden change in Qiu Jingming’s expression:

 

“Here, drink.”

 

Qiu Jingming glanced at Qiu Jingxiu, who was crouched by the bedside watching him. In the month since they last met, Qiu Jingxiu’s clothes had become even more luxurious, with more intricate embroidered patterns. Even the necklace around his neck was a golden double-peony dragon coil, adorned with red and eastern pearls, which jingled softly with his breaths. The glass bangle on his wrist made his skin appear even more white and translucent.

 

“……”

 

Sensing the turmoil rising within him again, Qiu Jingming quickly lowered his gaze and tried to reach out for the bowl Qiu Junyao handed over, but Qiu Junyao gently held his chin in place:

 

“Don’t move.”

 

Qiu Junyao said, “Let me feed you.”

 

Qiu Jingming wasn’t used to being treated so gently by Qiu Junyao, having completely forgotten who had stayed up late caring for him just a few days ago. He awkwardly allowed Qiu Junyao to feed him the water and the meal. Afterward, he remained silent.

 

The imperial physician came daily to examine him and apply medicine. After hearing that the eldest prince was temporarily out of danger, Qiu Junyao tucked the blanket around the still silent Qiu Jingming and whispered:

 

“You look exhausted, so I won’t disturb you. Get some good rest.”

 

With that, Qiu Junyao stood up to leave.

 

But just as he stood, someone tugged on his sleeve. Qiu Jingming, who hadn’t spoken a word since seeing Qiu Jingxiu, suddenly said:

 

“Father.”

 

He said, “Can I stay with you for a while?”

 

“I’m afraid to sleep alone.”

 

“……”

 

Qiu Junyao turned back in surprise, looking at Qiu Jingming, whose eyes were darting around, seeming a bit embarrassed:

 

“You…”

 

He was about to say, “Aren’t you too old for this?” but swallowed his words and instead said, “You want to stay with me?”

 

“…Yes.” Qiu Jingming mustered the courage to raise his head:

 

“Is that not okay?”

 

“…It’s fine, but today is your mother’s birthday. I planned to return to the palace to celebrate with her.” Qiu Junyao patted his head, speaking gently:

 

“How about I come back to be with you tomorrow, alright?”

 

“……” As expected, Qiu Junyao refused, just as Qiu Jingming had anticipated. Though he hadn’t had high hopes, he still felt like a puppy left out in the rain, lowering his head in disappointment.

 

He tugged at the corners of his mouth, as if trying to force a smile, but couldn’t manage it. After a moment, he buried his head in the covers and fell silent.

 

…But his hand still clung tightly to Qiu Junyao’s sleeve, refusing to let go.

 

Qiu Junyao: “……”

 

He looked up at Ying Yuan, who was also looking at him. After a moment, Ying Yuan nodded slightly at Qiu Junyao, silently mouthing, “Go stay with the child,” her usually gentle eyes conveying the message.

 

“……” Seeing Ying Yuan taking the initiative to step back, Qiu Junyao couldn’t say anything more. Besides, he was already worried about Qiu Jingming. Pausing for a moment, he was about to agree when a small, childish voice suddenly spoke beside him:

 

“Father, you should go stay with Mother.”

 

Qiu Jingxiu looked up at Qiu Junyao, his eyes round and bright, like those of a cute little kitten:

 

“I’ll stay tonight to take care of him.”

 

“…You?” Qiu Junyao couldn’t help but laugh. “Can you take good care of your brother?”

 

“I—I definitely can!” Qiu Jingxiu puffed out his cheeks as if he were angry:

 

“I’ve been studying a lot of medical texts with Physician Qi these past few days, and even he praised me for being good at it!”

 

“Is that so?” Qiu Junyao, always inclined to indulge his child, played along even though he knew Qiu Jingxiu was just saying words. He looked over at Physician Qi, who had just finished changing Qiu Jingming’s bandages, and asked:

 

“Physician Qi, is that true?”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said Physician Qi, pausing in his task of packing up the medicine chest. He bowed and replied, “I must admit, my son has spent these past few days with the Seventh Prince, and the special techniques of the Qi family have almost all been learned by him.”

 

No one dislikes compliments, especially when they’re about their own child. Qiu Junyao couldn’t help but smile, gently patting Qiu Jingxiu, who had his chin resting on Qiu Junyao’s thigh, and said softly:

 

“Our little Seventh is so talented.”

 

“Of course!” Qiu Jingxiu nodded vigorously, proud as could be: “That’s for sure!”

 

He grabbed Qiu Junyao’s fingers and shook them eagerly, as if pleading:

 

“Father, please let me stay with him, please!”

 

After speaking, Qiu Jingxiu clasped his hands together, his big, almond-shaped eyes shining, making it impossible for anyone to say no:

 

“Please, Father.”

 

Faced with Qiu Jingxiu’s plea, Qiu Junyao naturally relented, agreeing easily.

 

He repeatedly reminded Qiu Jingxiu to get along well with his brother. But Qiu Jingxiu, growing impatient with the nagging, half-pulled and half-pushed Qiu Junyao out of the door. He then ordered the eunuchs and maids to close the doors of the Lanzhu Palace, even blocking the door with his body to prevent Qiu Junyao from coming back in, determined to give Qiu Junyao and Ying Yuan an undisturbed evening together.

 

What could Qiu Junyao do in response to Qiu Jingxiu’s behavior but smile and let it go?

 

Meanwhile, lying in bed, Qiu Jingming clearly didn’t believe that Qiu Jingxiu would actually take care of him. After thinking it over, he decided to avoid looking at him and just drank the medicine before falling asleep.

 

Having been injured and taking sedative medicine, Qiu Jingming was very sleepy. When he woke up again, it was raining outside.

 

Thunder rumbled with the sound of rain, as if a herd of animals was trampling on the thin layer of glazed tiles atop the palace. Qiu Jingming opened his eyes to the pitch-black surroundings, his palms sweating as he clutched the blanket. For some reason, a sense of anxiety suddenly welled up inside him.

 

As the rain grew heavier and the thunder became more frequent, Qiu Jingming’s heartbeat raced as if it would explode. When the fourth clap of thunder boomed, his nerves snapped. He yanked the blanket over his head, trying to cover his ears, letting out a low, indistinct cry. His arms trembled nervously as if he were having a panic attack.

 

“…What’s wrong with you?”

 

Suddenly, a voice broke through the cold darkness. A moment later, a small flame flickered to life. Qiu Jingxiu gently pulled the blanket off Qiu Jingming’s head, looking at his pale face with confusion:

 

“Are you feeling unwell?”

 

Qiu Jingming swallowed, grabbed the pillow from Qiu Jingxiu’s hands, and was about to pretend that everything was fine. But in the next instant, another massive thunderclap shattered his pretense of calm:

 

“Ah!”

 

Qiu Jingming cried out in fear, clutching the pillow tightly and covering his ears like an ostrich:

 

“Close the windows!”

 

“…”

 

It took a moment for Qiu Jingxiu to realize that Qiu Jingming seemed to be afraid of thunder. He blinked his large, dark eyes, put down the candle, and ran to close all the windows in the Lanzhu Palace. He also instructed the maids and eunuchs to light more candles to create a warmer atmosphere:

 

“All done.”

 

Qiu Jingxiu was out of breath, his whole body covered in sweat as he spoke:

 

“All the windows are closed.”

 

“…” Qiu Jingming, sensitive to every sound, twitched his ears. Once he confirmed that the thunder had quieted a bit, he cautiously poked his head out like a snail, testing the air.

 

But the next moment, a thunderclap loud enough to pierce through any defense exploded, shattering the fragile calm he had managed to regain.

 

Seeing the signs of another panic attack, Qiu Jingxiu quickly reached out and covered Qiu Jingming’s ears, speaking softly:

 

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.”

 

He said, “Father is right next door. If you’re really scared, I’ll call him over.”

 

Qiu Jingxiu’s voice still had a hint of childishness, but it was steady and strong, much like Qiu Junyao’s. Hearing Qiu Jingxiu’s words, Qiu Jingming gradually calmed down, his body ceasing to tremble.

 

Seeing that Qiu Jingming had settled down, Qiu Jingxiu ran to fetch the soup that Qiu Junyao had instructed to be prepared, carefully feeding it to Qiu Jingming one spoonful at a time before finally feeling relieved.

 

“Are you feeling better?”

 

Watching the color return to Qiu Jingming’s face, Qiu Jingxiu rested his chin on the bed and yawned:

 

“The rain will last for a while longer. You should sleep; I’ll stay here with you.”

 

“…” Qiu Jingming hadn’t expected Qiu Jingxiu to actually keep his promise and stay by his side. Hearing this, he was too surprised to even feel afraid anymore. He raised his eyebrows in disbelief, hesitated for a moment, and then asked:

 

“Were you… here the whole time?”

 

“Why else do you think I noticed something was wrong with you so quickly?”

 

Qiu Jingxiu responded matter-of-factly, “Father and Mother took turns watching over you for several nights. I was worried they’d get too exhausted, so I came instead. And since I promised them, I’m going to keep my word.”

 

“…” Qiu Jingming felt awkward. “I thought you were just saying that…”

 

He paused, and for some reason, a strange, indescribable feeling welled up inside him. “…Thank you.”

 

He had thought saying “thank you” would be difficult, but when the words left his mouth, it wasn’t as hard as he had imagined.

 

After saying it, Qiu Jingming was momentarily stunned, and Qiu Jingxiu was even more surprised. The two stared at each other for a moment before, for reasons neither of them understood, they both burst into laughter.

 

They had no idea what they were laughing about, but perhaps blood ties have a certain magic, enabling two people who had never interacted before to naturally coexist under the same roof.

 

“It’s cold outside. Why don’t you come up and sleep here?” Seeing Qiu Jingxiu always resting his head on the edge of the bed, Qiu Jingming’s heart, not made of stone, softened. After thinking for a moment, he invited Qiu Jingxiu to join him:

 

“When I was little and sick, no one stayed by my side like this.”

 

The smile slowly faded from his face, replaced by a hint of bitterness. “Father was always in the alchemy room, and Mother didn’t care about me. Every time I got sick or during thunderstorms, I was so scared, afraid that I would just quietly die, with no one to care about me.”

 

“Me too.” Qiu Jingxiu climbed into the bed, lying beside him and playing with the hair on his shoulder, speaking with a calmness beyond his years:

 

“When I was in the Cold Palace, I was also scared that I might die like that.”

 

“I didn’t have enough food or warm clothes. It was my sixth brother who always took care of me. He even found a wolf cub that was on the verge of death to keep me company and gave me the food that wasn’t spoiled…”

 

Qiu Jingxiu’s tone gradually became somber: “But my sixth brother died too, and I don’t even know where he was buried.”

 

“If Father hadn’t brought me out of the Cold Palace, I would have died just like him.”

 

“…” Qiu Jingming was dumbfounded. He wasn’t sure how his little pity party had turned into a competition of miseries. After thinking about it, he realized that Qiu Jingxiu’s situation was far worse, and suddenly, he felt a bit better. So, awkwardly, he reached out and patted Qiu Jingxiu on the back:

 

“Don’t be sad.”

 

He said, “You still have other brothers, don’t you?”

 

Qiu Jingxiu didn’t respond, lying on the bed with his hand covering his eyes, his shoulders shaking slightly.

 

Qiu Jingming thought he was crying and grew anxious. Without thinking, he blurted out:

 

“You still have me! Aren’t I your brother too?”

 

He scratched his head in frustration, blurting out, “I—I’ll take care of you too!”

 

Qiu Jingming seemed to realize how wrong he had been before. After enduring such a severe punishment, he didn’t dare to provoke Qiu Jingxiu again. His words became more careful, though he wasn’t sure if he was being sincere or just trying to sound nice. He stammered, “About what happened before… I’m sorry. I was just… jealous of how much Father cares about you, so I… I’m really sorry…”

 

Though he was still a bit jealous, Qiu Jingming didn’t dare to admit it. Having tasted the bitterness of jealousy, he was genuinely beginning to regret his actions.

 

Upon hearing this, Qiu Jingxiu’s shoulders stopped shaking. After a long pause, he finally raised his head, looking at the visibly uncomfortable Qiu Jingming with reddened eyes, and suddenly smiled.

 

There was something inscrutable about that smile, which Qiu Jingming, with his simple mind, couldn’t quite understand. He just felt a chill down his spine and asked:

 

“Why are you smiling?”

 

“It’s nothing.” Qiu Jingxiu acted as if nothing had happened, wiping away his tears, lying back down, and closing his eyes, as if he didn’t want to say anything more.

 

Qiu Jingming scratched his head, unable to understand this six-year-old with seemingly countless thoughts. Now that neither of them was speaking, Qiu Jingming finally felt a delayed sense of embarrassment about his frantic, blushing apology earlier. His face flushed hot, and he didn’t dare to look at Qiu Jingxiu’s teasing expression, quickly turning his head and pretending to sleep.

 

Just as his pretend sleep began to turn real, and he was drifting off into slumber, he suddenly heard a soft voice, as if someone had leaned close to whisper in his ear:

 

“Brother.”

 

Warm breath brushed against his ear, making Qiu Jingming shiver involuntarily. He instinctively opened his eyes to see Qiu Jingxiu leaning close, smiling innocently like a harmless lop-eared rabbit. The light reflecting from the necklace on his neck was dimmer than the sparkle in his eyes, and his voice was soft, carrying a tender, childlike purity:

 

“Let’s shake hands and make up, okay?”