Chapter 44: Little Changsheng’s Poisoning

Xu Nian looked around and found that the estate had two courtyards. Not only was there a stable, but there was also a small pond. What was even more remarkable was that the pond seemed to be connected to a running water source, as there were fish swimming inside.

She then inspected each room one by one. The furniture inside was complete and well-maintained. Other than some bedding and daily necessities, Xu Nian felt that there was nothing else that needed to be added.

“Nian’er, which room do I sleep in?”

Xu Nian pointed to a room in the first courtyard. “Little Uncle, move your things to the third room on the left in the west wing.”

Xu Weian cheerfully started moving his belongings.

After checking out the courtyard, the two of them went to inspect the fields. Since the tenant farmers lived outside the estate, they didn’t encounter anyone along the way.

Looking at the snow-covered land, Xu Nian felt a surge of ambition—she was ready to roll up her sleeves and get to work.

They didn’t walk too far. Xu Nian took a rough look around and made some mental notes. She had already decided what to plant in each section of the land. She planned to use the sweet potatoes and soybeans from her storage space for the dry fields. For the hilly land, she would plant vegetables that were not yet available in the Sheng Dynasty. As for the paddy fields, she intended to grow millet from the northern border.

She hadn’t chosen to plant corn or rice yet because she had too few seeds in her storage space and needed more time to accumulate them.

“Nian’er, are you heading straight home or going to the county office?”

“Home.”

“Alright, I’ll take you back.”

Xu Nian didn’t refuse. She really didn’t want to go through the trouble of renting a carriage to return to town.

“Little Uncle, when you have time, visit the county academy more often. Xiao Ji and the others will be on break soon.”

“Don’t worry, I know.”

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Purple Bamboo Courtyard, Ling Shan Temple

Mo Bai hurried into the courtyard and saw Mo Yu tending to two potted plants.

“Little Yu, what are you doing? These are our lord’s treasures! You’re pretty bold to touch them.”

Mo Yu turned her back to him, showing only the back of her head. She couldn’t help rolling her eyes. If the prince hadn’t told her to move them, would she have dared?

“Hey, don’t ignore me! Fine, I’ll go report to the lord first, and then we’ll talk.”

Watching Mo Bai walk away, Mo Yu quickly picked up one of the potted plants and carried it to the backyard.

Inside the study, Luo Jin’an and Guan Qingrui were playing chess. Seeing that the prince was in a good mood today, Guan Qingrui cautiously asked, “Your Highness, since your health has improved, will you be returning to the royal capital?”

“Did the prince send another letter urging me to return?”

Guan Qingrui hesitated, his chess piece pausing midair. He sighed and said, “The prince is just worried about you.”

The room fell into silence, except for the occasional sound of chess pieces being placed on the board.

“Your Highness, Mo Bai requests an audience.”

“Enter.”

As soon as Mo Bai stepped inside, he sensed that the atmosphere was somewhat strange.

“Your Highness, Miss Xu has returned home.”

“Hmm.”

Mo Bai, usually quick-witted, was at a loss for words after hearing just that one sound.

Luo Jin’an pushed the chessboard aside and finally looked at him. “Is there nothing else to report?”

Mo Bai’s expression stiffened. He hadn’t dared to get too close to avoid being discovered by Miss Xu, so he hadn’t overheard any of her conversations. However, judging by her expression, she seemed satisfied.

“Miss Xu really liked the estate. She couldn’t stop smiling the whole time.”

Luo Jin’an said nothing, merely sipping his tea in slow, small sips. Understanding the mood, Mo Bai and Guan Qingrui quietly excused themselves from the study.

“Master Guan, what’s going on with our lord this time?”

Guan Qingrui gave a bitter smile but didn’t answer. He simply turned and returned to his room.

Once inside, he took out a letter from his father, read it, and let out a long sigh.

He understood his father’s concern for the prince, but how could he possibly persuade the lord?

Guan Qingrui’s mother had been close friends with the princess consort, so he had frequently visited the Northern Prince’s estate as a child. Because of that, he often played with Luo Jin’an, who was two years younger than him.

He remembered that as a child, Luo Jin’an had been a soft-spoken and cheerful boy. Although he had been physically frail, he had never been one to cry or fuss.

But everything changed in the autumn when he was four years old.

At the time, Guan Qingrui had been six and had just gotten a soft, fluffy little rabbit. He had wanted to gift it to Luo Jin’an, but while no one was paying attention, the rabbit had escaped from the sleeping quarters.

It was while they were searching for the rabbit that they overheard an argument between the prince and princess consort.

“Shu’er, how much longer will it take for you to let this go? Changsheng is also my child. Do you think I want to see him suffer and his life hanging by a thread?”

“Then why did you use Changsheng as the poison decoy in the first place? Do you have any idea how cruel that was to me? I would rather have died from the poison myself. Every time I look at Changsheng, I feel like a sinner.

Changsheng, Changsheng… how is he supposed to live long?”

Guan Qingrui still remembered how his body trembled back then and how Luo Jin’an remained silent and expressionless.

At first, he thought that maybe four-year-old Luo Jin’an hadn’t understood those words. But three days later, news spread that Luo Jin’an was critically ill—he had been unconscious for three days.

Of course, he had understood. How could he not? He was a prodigy who could compose poetry at the age of three, a child whom the Astronomical Bureau had declared to be the Purple Star destined to bring a century of prosperity to the Sheng Dynasty…

Guan Qingrui lowered his gaze to the letter in his hands again. Perhaps only the princess consort could convince the prince to return to the capital.

Meanwhile, Luo Jin’an, sipping cherry-infused water in the study, also recalled that autumn.

From as far back as he could remember, his father and mother had adored him. Because of this, his elder brother often resented him. But seeing him drink bitter medicine every day, his brother would always soften and yield first.

He had once asked his mother why he always had to drink such bitter medicine. Each time, his mother would look at him with tear-filled eyes. It wasn’t until much later that he understood—that gaze was filled with guilt.

It wasn’t until that day, when he accidentally overheard his parents arguing, that he learned he wasn’t weak at all. He was poisoned. He was nothing more than a vessel to absorb and neutralize the poison.

For a moment, he deeply resented his early intelligence and, at the same time, was relieved that his mind was far sharper than that of an ordinary four-year-old.

But he never expected that simply pouring out his medicine in secret once would nearly send him to the underworld—and nearly cripple his mother’s legs in the process.

Did he hold a grudge? Perhaps at first, he did. But by now, he had long since let go of his resentment. He simply didn’t want to see those guilt-ridden gazes and cautious attitudes anymore.

He once believed that only by leaving this world could he free others from their burdens.

When did that belief change? It must have been the moment he saw that trembling figure standing in the pouring rain.

The bedraggled young girl stood in the storm as if nothing could break her. At that moment, he, too, wanted to gamble with fate.

That day, he had clearly felt the signs of the poison flaring up in his body, but he still hadn’t swallowed the antidote hidden in his sleeve. He wanted to see whether fate would claim his life.

But when he opened his eyes and saw that face, so close and magnified before him, his heart had never been so shaken. Perhaps… twenty-three years old was not his destined end.

Only when a sharp pain spread through his palm did Luo Jin’an snap out of his thoughts. At some point, the teacup in his hand had shattered from his grip.