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Huangfu Xian fell to the ground in what he deemed a very embarra.s.sing manner. Even when Little Jing Kong slid down from the windowsill to help him, he coldly refused.
He struggled to sit back in his wheelchair, hands bracing against the armrests.
Whether out of anger or embarra.s.sment, his cheeks flushed red.
A strange feeling surged within him, like tides in motion, and he couldn"t fathom what was happening to him.
Little Jing Kong, with hands behind his back, tilted his head cutely and said, "Little big brother, are you shy?"
"I’m not!" Huangfu Xian retorted with a red face.
Little Jing Kong: “Oh."
Huangfu Xian: What’s with that little tone of disbelief?
Huangfu Xian asked in a cold voice, "Why are you here again? Didn"t I tell you to leave?"
Seriously, hadn"t this little guy already left? Why did he still come back after he said such hurtful things to him?
Little Jing Kong honestly replied, "I did leave, but I remembered something I forgot to tell you."
Little Jing Kong was a very planned child. Once he planned something, he had to follow through, just like when he was in the countryside and would be distressed every day because Gu Yan didn"t follow his lunch plan.
"What is it?" Huangfu Xian asked with a cold tone.
"Your legs." Little Jing Kong pointed to his amputated legs now covered by a quilt.
Huangfu Xian"s pupils contracted.
His legs were his taboo—— no one could touch them, see them, or even mention them.
Huangfu Xian"s aura turned icy.
Unaffected, Little Jing Kong continued, "JiaoJiao has a way to make you stand again!"
Huangfu Xian"s gaze flickered briefly. In that short moment, his heart tightened, but it was just a moment.
Soon, he returned to his calm state.
He had heard such words too many times. Even back on the border, countless shamans, physicians, and self-proclaimed miracle workers claimed they could heal him.
It was laughable that he, in his youth, actually believed them.
The ultimate result was always just comforting lies.
Finally, he accepted the truth that his legs weren"t branches. They wouldn"t grow back in spring after breaking in winter.
He would never have legs again, let alone the chance to stand.
Little Jing Kong earnestly said, "JiaoJiao said, as long as you work hard, you can definitely stand up!"
Huangfu Xian coldly laughed.
Even if he could stand, it would only be in dreams.
Ironically, being disabled for so long, he forgot the sensation of standing. He couldn"t even dream about that real feeling anymore.
Huangfu Xian didn"t bother to consider whether the JiaoJiao mentioned by Little Jing Kong was some kind of charlatan. Perhaps the person was just coaxing a child.
He said indifferently, "Don"t waste your efforts, little brat."
I can never stand up again.
Little Jing Kong confidently a.s.serted, "JiaoJiao says you can, so you can! I"ll bring JiaoJiao to see you next time!"
With that, he flipped over the windowsill and bounced away.
Little Jing Kong returned to Renshou Palace.
Eunuch Qin went on an errand, leaving Empress Dowager Zhuang alone in the bedchamber. Little Jing Kong, full of energy, walked in, looked at Empress Dowager Zhuang, and said with hands on hips, "Grandaunt! You"re sneaking snacks again! I"m telling JiaoJiao!"
Empress Dowager Zhuang almost choked on a piece of candied fruit!
Little Jing Kong walked over and confiscated her snacks.
Empress Dowager Zhuang firmly held onto the snack box, "These are the ones Aijia saved up these days!"
Little Jing Kong said seriously, "JiaoJiao said, snacks should not be h.o.a.rded!"
Previously uneaten snacks could not be reclaimed later! Besides, Grandaunt could only eat five a day! Grandaunt just had five!
Empress Dowager Zhuang vigorously defended her candied fruits. After all, it wasn"t easy for her to acc.u.mulate so many.
"Give it to me!" Empress Dowager Zhuang said forcefully.
"No!" Little Jing Kong replied unyieldingly.
The old and the young each held onto the box"s two ends, staring at each other. In an instant, the bedchamber seemed to become the battleground of an invisible compet.i.tion.
"Empress Dowager, His Majesty sent some snacks over."
At the door, a young palace maid reported.
Empress Dowager Zhuang glared at Little Jing Kong, "Let go."
Little Jing Kong, also in a stubborn tone, said to Grandaunt, "No."
Empress Dowager Zhuang took a deep breath and slowly released her grip, "Fine, it"s all yours, all of it."
Little Jing Kong raised an eyebrow, revealing a victorious little smile.
"Go see what kind of snacks they brought." Empress Dowager Zhuang said to Little Jing Kong.
"Okay." Little Jing Kong put the candied fruit box on the table and happily ran to the door to receive the snacks.
Empress Dowager Zhuang glanced at Little Nine, who was using its wings to sweep snow off the crabapple tree, and swiftly hid the candied fruit box, saying, "Oh! Little Nine took away the candied fruits!"
Little Nine, who was inexplicably framed once again: “...!!”
……
After the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the court meetings in the State of Zhao were set to begin again.
In preparation for the upcoming court meeting, the Emperor was meticulously getting ready in his study, reviewing memorandums submitted by the cabinet and various reports gathered by spies from the common people.
Among them, there was a high call to confer Princess Ning’an the t.i.tle of Grand Princess Protector, and among the common people, there was widespread praise for Princess Ning"an. It was as if she had become an indispensable force in the recent battle.
The Emperor favored Ning"an, so he naturally did not mind the public"s praise for her. However, thinking of the ambitious Huangfu Xian, the Emperor hesitated.
A young eunuch came to the door, and Eunuch Wei went out quietly. After listening to a few whispered words from him, Eunuch Wei waved to let the person step back.
Then he turned around and entered the study room, saying, "Your Majesty, Gu shizi is seeking an audience."
"Let him in." the Emperor said.
Gu Changqing had made significant contributions, and the Emperor now valued him highly.
Wearing plain brocade attire, Gu Changqing entered and saluted, "This official pays respects to Your Majesty."
The Emperor smiled and said, "No need for too many formalities. Are you here to report something to Zhen?"
"Yes." Gu Changqing said solemnly, "This official wishes to leave the capital for a few days to visit the families of Deputy General Zhao and Deputy General Qi. They have achieved great feats in this battle. They could have survived, but they chose to perish together with the generals of the State of Chen to save the soldiers under their command and the people of Lingguan City. This official wants to personally bring back their military tokens."
Wrapped in horsehide, a thousand miles away, never to return.
The only thing they could bring back to their hometown was a military token to prove their ident.i.ty.Raz P."s Thoughts
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