Chapter 0281: Shen and Yu Barred Entry, Xie Chengze Who Has Made Peace

With Wuji guarding the door, neither Shen Yuan nor Xie Jinyu could enter.

Da Dangjia and Er Dangjia arrived late. They had set off together with Shen Yuan, but their lightness skill was rather poor, and their weight exceeded the standard. They had to change horses several times along the way before finally arriving in Zhuolu County.

Upon learning that Xie Chengze had suffered internal injuries and broken a rib, Da Dangjia scratched his head and said, “It just so happens I have an old friend in the martial world who lives in Jizhou. She has a miraculous medicine that can repair broken bones. It should help my junior nephew recover sooner, so he won’t be crying in pain even while eating.”

Hearing this, everyone’s eyes lit up, urging Da Dangjia to fetch the medicine quickly. Shen Yuan, however, remained more composed and asked, “A pill that can regenerate bones must be extremely precious. Would she be willing to part with it so easily?”

Shen Yuan thought that they must bring something of equal value to exchange for even a sliver of possibility.

His hand unconsciously reached for the Azure Sword at his waist. This sword was the final masterpiece forged by a reclusive blacksmith from Jiangnan during his lifetime. Though it wasn’t sharp enough to slice through iron like mud, it had accompanied him for two lifetimes and had clashed with numerous masters without ever breaking.

It could be considered a peerless fine sword.

Da Dangjia scratched his head again, “It’s not a big problem, just requires paying a small price.”

At that time, no one knew what this “small price” was.

Until Da Dangjia returned, walking ahead of a curvaceous, wind-striding woman with wheat-colored skin, holding a medicine box in her hands. The woman caught sight of Wuji guarding the door and couldn’t help but exclaim with interest, “Oh my, what a handsome young man! Are you married?”

Da Dangjia quickly used his imposing figure to block Wuji, “This is my junior brother! Don’t flirt randomly!”

The woman smiled slyly and glanced at him sideways, “Are you jealous?”

Da Dangjia hastily waved his hands in denial, “Stop talking nonsense! Didn’t you want to see my junior nephew? Hurry up!”

Then he turned to Wuji and said, “She’s the old friend I mentioned. Let her check on junior nephew’s condition first.”

Only then did Wuji nod and step aside from the door.

After entering, upon seeing the stunningly handsome young man sleeping on the bed, the woman raised her delicate eyebrows, “So this is your junior nephew who could supposedly be sat to death? He is indeed good-looking, but his frame is too thin. Feels like one punch could send him flying ten miles away, hahaha.”

Da Dangjia covered his face, “…Could you please hurry up?”

“What’s the rush? Want to go get our marriage certificate at the magistrate’s office sooner?” The woman giggled twice, looking at Da Dangjia with an “I understand” expression, “You used to avoid me at all costs, and it was all an act? It’s all my fault, my fault – I was too blind back then to see you were just shy~”

Wuhen, who was guarding by the bedside, couldn’t help but look at Da Dangjia in shock, his eyes conveying: Senior brother, so you…?

“San Niang, don’t talk nonsense in front of the juniors—!” Da Dangjia cried out desperately, grabbing his hair, “I genuinely don’t fancy you!”

He liked fair skin! Fair skin!

He wanted to have a fair-skinned baby like his senior sister, junior brother, and junior nephew!

“Tch.” San Niang rolled her eyes, “How boring.”

Sitting by the bedside, she pressed Xie Chengze’s wrist to check his pulse, then felt his bones. After pondering for a moment, San Niang said, “The internal injuries are indeed quite severe. As for the rib, fortunately his bones are harder than ordinary people’s. Only half is broken, probably inheriting your senior sister’s bone structure – durable and resistant to damage.”

Actions like catching someone mid-air or ramming doors with his body, while causing some physical pain, wouldn’t have any lasting effects.

“What about this medicine…”

“Take it, rest for six or seven days, and you should be able to get out of bed.”

After releasing Xie Chengze’s wrist, San Niang patted the medicine box beside her and declared energetically, “Let’s go get the marriage certificate! Once we have it, your little junior apprentice-nephew can take this medicine~”

Wuhen glanced at Da Dangjia. So this was the “small price” his senior apprentice-brother had mentioned—getting married.

Da Dangjia followed San Niang with a look of utter despair, not forgetting to tell Wuhen and Wuji, “Junior apprentice-brothers, when our nephew wakes up, you must make sure he knows his uncle sacrificed his lifelong happiness for him!”

Wuhen and Wuji nodded silently, deeply moved.

They truly didn’t know what to say, only able to silently wish in their hearts that their senior apprentice-brother would find love after marriage and have a sweet union with his new wife.

They would definitely give generous wedding gifts.

…

With the effective medicine, Xie Chengze’s bones healed rapidly, and the pain from inflammation subsided significantly.

To ensure proper callus formation, he had to spend the sunniest hour each day lying on a chaise lounge in the courtyard, absorbing sunlight for calcium and vitamin D.

Shen Yuan and Xie Jinyu were only permitted by Wuhen and Wuji to visit Xie Chengze during this time.

Wuji had even created a strict visitation schedule, forbidding both from appearing before Xie Chengze simultaneously to prevent arguments that might disturb his recovery.

Today was Shen Yuan’s turn to visit.

He arrived as expected, but why was he carrying bitter medicine? Xie Chengze closed his eyes evasively, pretending to be asleep to avoid the situation.

Seeing such childish behavior, Shen Yuan nearly laughed. He gently tapped the young man’s forehead and asked seriously, “Xie Chengze, are you there?”

Xie Chengze: …

Xie Chengze opened his eyes. “Shen Yuan, you’re so immature.”

“Your Highness flatters me.” Shen Yuan carefully helped him sit up, testing the temperature of a spoonful of medicine against his lips before bringing it to Xie Chengze’s mouth. “Take your medicine properly. No being willful.”

Scowling, Xie Chengze drank one spoonful before deciding to endure brief suffering rather than prolonged misery. He took the bowl and downed the bitter concoction in one gulp.

Shen Yuan applauded enthusiastically and handed him warm water to rinse his mouth. “Your Highness remains as valiant as ever when taking medicine. The children in the county who refuse their medicine should truly witness how magnificently their Prince Regent drinks his.”

Xie Chengze couldn’t help rolling his eyes, feeling both embarrassed and secretly pleased by this child-coddling praise.

He suddenly recalled his childhood, when other children taunted that he’d been abandoned by his parents for being too stupid. Determined, he studied hard and scored first in exams. Elated, he called his parents to share the news—but no one answered.

They were always busy.

When he finally reached them, just as he was about to announce his achievement, colleagues summoned his parents away. Seeing he wasn’t ill, they hurriedly offered a few words of advice before hanging up.

He suddenly found it all meaningless.

Being first wasn’t special. Praise wasn’t something he particularly wanted.

Well, he was lying to himself.

He still loved being praised.

That was why, despite claiming he’d slack off, he couldn’t resist working through the night to complete the heated kang design for Emperor Jian.

His imperial father adored lavishing him with creative compliments.

Even when he listed a hundred dish names in his memorials, his father would praise his excellent memory for remembering so many dishes, saying he was clearly destined for a life of comfort.

Thinking this, Xie Chengze reclined back on the chaise lounge, blooming like a peach flower that had basked in the sun and suddenly decided to unfold. Addressing Shen Yuan, who was tidying up bowls and spoons with the demeanor of a virtuous spouse, he cooed, “My dear Shen~ Praise me more~”

I love hearing it~