Chapter 460 Return to Nanling?

Chapter 460: Back to Nanling?

Three days later, in the Qianqing Palace.

Fragrant mist wisped upward from the Boshan incense burner, swirling gently in the morning light before dissolving into a blur.

Cheng Ge's eyelids fluttered—they felt so heavy.

Like something was weighing them down, and he couldn't pry them open no matter what.

He struggled to crack them open, and the first thing he saw was the bright yellow canopy above, embroidered with subtle cloud motifs that gleamed softly in the morning light.

He blinked, his brain feeling like it was stuffed with glue, refusing to work.

His throat was so dry and scratchy, like he'd swallowed a fistful of sand. He tried to talk, but all that came out was a hoarse, breathy croak.

Cheng Ge shut his eyes again, his chest rising and falling softly.

Then—he jerked his eyes open again.

Staring at the same canopy as before, at the bright yellow cloud patterns, at the morning light filtering in through the window.

He blinked fast, several times.

It's not a dream.

Holy shit! I'm still alive!

Cheng Ge stared blankly for a while, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He slowly turned his head—someone was slumped by the bed.

Lin Nanshu.

He was hunched over the edge of the bed, face turned sideways, showing half a tired cheek.

His bun was loose, a few stray strands falling down and swaying softly with each breath.

The bags under his eyes were scary deep, and his clothes were wrinkled beyond belief.

His hand was still gripping the corner of Cheng Ge's blanket, holding on tight, his lips pressed firmly together.

Cheng Ge looked at him, and suddenly his eyes stung.

Just then—the door creaked open gently.

Zhou Yinyun came in with a bowl of medicine, treading so softly it seemed he was afraid of waking someone.

He'd changed into a simple, clean robe, but the tiredness in his eyes was impossible to hide.

He looked up and locked eyes with Cheng Ge.

His hand jerked, sloshing a few drops of the medicine out of the bowl.

Lin Nanshu snapped awake, instinctively glancing toward the bed—

"...Muyu?"

The voice was low, so soft it was like an unconscious whisper, as if he was checking something.

Cheng Ge didn't say anything, just looked at him, and Lin Nanshu's eyes went red in an instant.

He sprang to his feet.

"Muyu—!!"

The voice shook uncontrollably, full of the shock and wild joy of getting something back that was lost.

Cheng Ge's lips moved slightly. "...Yuli."

The moment the words left his mouth, a clatter of messy footsteps came from outside.

"Muyu—!" The voice was gut-wrenching, arriving before the person did.

Zhou Zhan stumbled in, hair a mess, eyes red and puffy.

He lunged at the bedside, nearly knocking Lin Nanshu aside, and grabbed Cheng Ge's hand with both of his.

"Muyu... Muyu..."

He called out, and the tears came, rolling down his cheeks and dripping onto the back of Cheng Ge's hand.

Cheng Ge's hand hurt from the grip, but he didn't pull it back.

He looked at Zhou Zhan's tear-soaked, blubbering face, and his lips twitched.

"Your Highness... my hand... it's about to break..."

Zhou Zhan froze, then quickly let go, but couldn't bear to fully release, just holding on loosely while the tears kept coming.

"You scared me half to death... do you know that... you scared me half to death..."

He started crying again as he talked, like a kid who never grew up.

Cheng Ge sighed. More commotion came from the doorway, and there was Cui Ji standing at the door.

He was still in the armor from that day, the bloodstains dried and dark, looking like he'd just come off the battlefield.

He just stood there, staring at Cheng Ge on the bed.

Cheng Ge looked at him. A haze of light seemed to wrap around Cui Ji, making him hard to see clearly.

Even though it had only been a few days, Cheng Ge felt like ages had passed—like several lifetimes had gone by.

Cui Ji's lips moved, like he wanted to say something, but nothing came out.

Cheng Ge gave him a slight smile.

Zhou Yinyun stood off to the side with the medicine bowl, looking at the room full of people, suddenly not knowing whether to come in or back out.

His eyes were red too, but he held it together, refusing to break down, and quietly moved aside.

Not long after, more footsteps came from outside the door.

This time, the footsteps were much steadier, unhurried, yet faster than anyone else's.

Zhou Mingqi appeared at the door, still in his court robes.

His bright yellow dragon robe was embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon, and he hadn't even had time to take off his court crown.

When the people in the hall saw him, they bowed one after another, but he raised a hand slightly to stop them.

He walked over step by step.

Cheng Ge saw him approaching and struggled to sit up.

"Your Majesty..."

His voice was terribly hoarse, but his movements were anything but sloppy.

The blanket slid off, revealing his chest wrapped in bandages. He clenched his teeth, trying to prop himself up to perform the ritual bow.

Zhou Mingqi stepped forward two paces and pressed a hand on his shoulder—the force wasn't heavy, yet it firmly pressed him back down.

"Lie down. In my presence, there's no need for such empty formalities."

The wound on Cheng Ge's foot hurt badly, and getting up was just for appearances.

Since Zhou Mingqi had spoken, he stopped struggling and lay back down with a clear conscience.

Zhou Mingqi had someone bring over some congee.

A young eunuch carried over a bowl of hot congee and carefully set it on the small table beside the couch.

Zhou Mingqi took it, sat down beside the couch, scooped up a spoonful, and blew on it gently.

He held the spoon to Cheng Ge's lips.

Cheng Ge froze, glancing up at Zhou Mingqi, then at the bowl of congee, thinking—is this my last meal before the execution?

"Your... Your Majesty..." He instinctively shrank back. "Your subject can do it myself..."

He raised his hand to take the bowl, but Zhou Mingqi brushed it aside without a trace and pushed the spoon forward again.

Cheng Ge glanced at the people around him and found everyone's eyes fixed on him.

Suddenly, his mind flashed back to that heartfelt "last words" speech he had given to these men a few days ago.

Fuck!

Cheng Ge's toes curled inward hard, and his scalp prickled.

I'm done for.

Now he remembered everything.

The poem he recited to Lin Nanshu—something about "I wish to hold the embroidered quilt and come to sleep by the Yue man."

What he said to Zhou Yinyun—"Caicai"; the words to Zhou Zhan; and to Cui Ji—"My Cheng Xiao"...

And what he said to His Majesty—"No fortune in this life, but if there is a next life, I will surely accept this heavenly grace."

Cheng Ge felt like a fish stranded on the shore, wishing he could leap up on the spot, hop out of this Qianqing Palace, hop all the way into the moat, and never come back up.

His hands clenched the blanket, thinking—if I pulled the blanket over my head and smothered myself right now, would that count as covering my ears while stealing a bell?

But then he thought about it—that would look even more fucking stupid. He hesitated for a second and gave up.

In the end, he gave up on himself, mechanically opened his mouth, and swallowed the spoonful of congee.

Zhou Mingqi scooped up another spoonful, blew on it, and brought it to him again.

Cheng Ge swallowed it too.

Third spoonful.

Fourth spoonful.

Cheng Ge chewed the congee, the atmosphere was especially eerie.

"Um..." he tried to make conversation. "How am I not dead? Did you find the Divine Physician Bai?"

The hall went quiet for a moment. No one answered.

Cheng Ge looked up and saw the dark, unreadable expressions on everyone's faces.

He looked at Zhou Mingqi.

Zhou Mingqi's hand paused for a moment, then scooped up another spoonful and brought it to Cheng Ge's lips.

"Want more?" His voice was even, as if he hadn't heard the question.

Cheng Ge looked down at the bowl, already nearly empty, and licked his lips.

"Then... I'll have another bowl."

The young eunuch hurriedly brought another bowl. Cheng Ge grabbed it with quick eyes and fast hands, lowered his head, and drank it himself.

"What about Wuliji?" he asked. "Did Your Majesty find him? Did he go back to the Northern Di?"

Zhou Mingqi looked at him and was silent for a moment.

"He was found." His voice was low. "He's recovering at the post inn."