bookrebus Chapter 707 Condolences
Chapter 707 Condolences
Aunt Jing also started to cry again: "Perhaps Mr. Zhong had already sensed it last night, but he didn't want to be distracted, so he didn't disturb the prince. He did say something to me last night, asking me to help take care of Madam Wang. I will make arrangements for this, so the prince doesn't have to worry about it."
Feng Ming clenched his hands tighter.
Aunt Jing didn't know what she was thinking of. "Alas... Actually, for so many years, Mr. Zhong and Madam Wang were just a couple in name only. It was only because Madam Wang and Mr. Zhong were from the same hometown and introduced each other to Prince Yi's Mansion. Madam Wang was a widow living alone outside, without anyone to rely on, and Mr. Zhong wanted to return the favor and take care of Madam Wang more, so they became husband and wife. Later, it was Mr. Zhong who asked Madam Wang to adopt Duofu and Duobao so that she would have someone to rely on in the future. Madam Wang had no one to tell about these things, so she told this old servant about it. Mr. Zhong never let anyone know. He is such a good man, a good man this old servant has never seen in my life..."
Zhou Chang had never heard of these things.
Prince Yi had never paid much attention to the details of Zhong Yu's life before.
Zhou Chang also thought that since she became Prince Yi, every time she saw Zhong Yu, she had questions to ask or things to explain, and she never really cared about Zhong Yu's life.
She ignored Mr. Zhong too much and owed Mr. Zhong too much.
Aunt Jing kept talking, as if only this could ease her sadness: "Mr. Zhong is such a simple man. He secretly buys medicine to make pills, and gives the rest of his monthly salary to Madam Wang and the two children. He also uses the extra money to help his classmates and the poor. Whenever he hears that someone is in trouble or something has happened, especially those scholars, he can't help but feel sorry for them."
Feng Ming was so heartbroken that he had difficulty breathing and clutched his chest tightly.
Aunt Jing said whatever came to her mind: "Remember the last time when the plague broke out in Jindu West City, the prince was seriously ill and had to go to the scene. Mr. Zhong kept saying that the prince was kind and virtuous, and would do more for the people in the future. He didn't want you to worry about anything else, so he worked hard to stay there almost every day and night... But it was also for the prince. So the prince should mourn more and take care of himself, which is not to disappoint Mr. Zhong's kindness."
"Yes, Mr. Zhong's lifelong ambition is to seek welfare for the people." Feng Ming's tears dried up and he held Zhong Yu's hand tightly.
Aunt Jing followed suit and lamented: "Alas, Mr. Zhong did not take the imperial examination to become an official, but wanted to do more to save the people from disaster. Later, he came to our Prince Yi's Mansion, not only to help the prince, but also to help more people."
Feng Ming placed his forehead against Zhong Yu's already cold hand: "Sir, you are worthy of being my teacher. If it weren't for your step-by-step guidance and instruction, I would not have been able to do so many things. I would still only want small favors... I think I'm smart... I'm not as good as you, no one is as good as you... Sir... Teacher... My teacher... You are... You are... the real great benevolent..."
As soon as he finished saying the word "Da Ren", Feng Ming's eyes turned black and he fainted.
It was four days later that Zhou Chang woke up again.
During these four days, Feng Ming's consciousness was groggy and Zhou Chang was wandering between dreams and reality.
The two were conscious most of the time in dreams, talking to Zhong Yu in their dreams, and constantly crying to Zhong Yu, expressing their self-blame and guilt.
I woke up occasionally, and my body was either scalding hot or freezing cold. I wanted to open my eyes, but I couldn't. I could only feel someone pouring water and medicine around me, wiping my body and putting ice towels on it.
There were many people moving around overhead like a revolving lantern, and from time to time someone was whispering in my ears, but I couldn't hear clearly what they were saying.
Now, when Zhou Chang opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Yuan Yun, who was sitting beside the bed with a haggard face.
Yuan Yun was very happy to see Prince Yi wake up: "Your Majesty, you finally woke up, thank God."
Zhou Chang moved, and the wound on his waist seemed to have scabbed over.
"Your Highness, go slow..." The skinny monkey popped out from the bedside and put another soft pillow under his head. "The military doctor said the wound is healing. If you wake up, try not to move as much as possible."
At least Zhou Chang raised his eyes and glanced around to confirm that he was still in the tent.
Just as he was about to speak, he felt his throat become very dry: "Ahem..."
The skinny monkey hurriedly turned around and brought the ginseng soup.
Yuan Yun took it with one hand and fed it to him with a spoon: "Your Highness, this is ginseng soup. It also contains honey that Lord Jiang got from somewhere. He said it can moisten the throat."
Zhou Chang's throat was burning, so he took two sips from Yuan Yun's hand before he could speak: "Where is Mr. Zhong? What time is it now?"
The thin monkey paused, and lowered his voice: "Your Majesty, you have been unconscious for three days and three nights. Mr. Zhong's body has been placed in the coffin, and a temporary mourning hall has been set up."
"Coffin? Mourning hall?" Zhou Chang didn't expect that he would be unconscious for so long.
The skinny monkey had two big dark circles under his eyes, and it was obvious that he had not rested well in the past few days. "Yes, General Jiang sent people to find the best coffin, and also set up a temporary mourning hall. We will wait for the prince to wake up before deciding whether to carry the coffin back to Jindu or cremate it on the spot."
The weather in June is still very hot, making it difficult to preserve corpses, so cremation is the best option.
But when I think of Zhong Yu, I still feel heartbroken.
Zhou Chang was undecided and asked again: "Has everything been okay in the past three days?"
The skinny monkey rushed to answer: "It's all good. Lord Jiang said that as long as the prince wakes up and his injuries are stable, the army can return victoriously."
"That's good." Zhou Chang nodded, but he still looked exhausted and had no strength at all. He thought of Yuan Qi again and was about to ask something.
Yuan Yunze scooped another spoonful of ginseng soup and fed it to him.
Zhou Chang had to drink it to moisten his throat. He thought about what he had wasted in the past few days while unconscious, so he asked again, "Did Gao Yuan keep a close eye on Prince Rong and not let anyone else get close?"
"No." The skinny monkey continued to answer.
"That's good." Zhou Chang nodded again. Yuan Yun, who was sitting next to him, didn't know where to put her eyes. "By the way, where is Jiang Meng? Go and invite him over. I want to see him."
There was a "pop" sound.
Before Shouhou could agree, Yuan Yun slammed the porcelain bowl of ginseng soup on the low table beside her.
Ever since Zhou Chang woke up, he hasn't taken a serious look at Yuan Yun, mainly because he doesn't know what to say to her.
Yuan Yun put down the porcelain bowl and stood up suddenly: "I know that the first person the prince wants to see when he wakes up is not me. Since the prince doesn't like to see me, then I will take my leave first. But the prince must not forget that I am the upright Princess Yi."
After saying this, he brushed past the skinny monkey, left the two of them behind, and left by lifting the door curtain.