Chapter 59 – He Didn’t Dare Move Again

The carriage was heading all the way toward the capital.

Ling Guyong turned to look at Tang Chaoyang, who was sleeping soundly against the side of the carriage.

She was sleeping so deeply that her head kept slipping down, only for her to stubbornly lift it up again, only to have it slide back down.

“….”

Ling Guyong reached out, palm facing downward, and used the back of his hand to prop up her drooping head.

She contentedly treated his hand as a pillow and stopped trying to hold her head up.

After holding her like that for a while, his arm grew sore. He decided he would let her lie down properly in the carriage to sleep, while he himself would go sit outside.

He supported her shoulder and cradled her head to help her recline slowly.

Tang Chaoyang frowned. In her sleep, she felt a sensation as if she were falling off a cliff. Instinctively, she reached out and grabbed something that made her feel safe.

Ling Guyong: “….”

She was tightly clutching the waistband of his trousers.

And she was lying across his thigh.

Her face was buried in his lap.

Ling Guyong lifted his slender fingers and pinched the bridge of his nose. What sin had he committed to deserve this?

He didn’t dare to move again.

By now, the city gates had already been closed. The carriage stopped before the gate.

Ling Yi took out a token. When the gate guards saw it, they immediately opened the gate.

The carriage slowly entered the city and drove toward the General’s Manor.

By the time they arrived at the gate of the General’s Manor, it was already around 9 to 11 p.m.

Ling Guyong lightly nudged Tang Chaoyang’s head with his index finger and called her in a slightly hoarse voice, “Doctor Tang, we’ve arrived at the Su residence.”

Tang Chaoyang frowned faintly and slowly opened her eyes, blinking into view, “…?”

When she looked up, she was met with the man’s deep, dark gaze.

She immediately tried to get up. Her movement was so abrupt that she accidentally tugged her wound, and her head collapsed forward again.

And as luck would have it, her falling head struck a place it should never have struck.

She heard the man stifle a pained groan.

Tang Chaoyang was a doctor, not a fool—she knew she’d caused trouble.

She gave two embarrassed little laughs. Her sleepy mind snapped fully awake. “Are you alright?”

His expression didn’t reveal much. He simply helped her sit up and motioned for her to get out first.

“We’ve reached the General’s Manor,” he said calmly.

Tang Chaoyang’s gaze dropped slightly. “Alright. If something’s wrong, tell me. I’m a doctor.”

After saying that, she lifted her skirt and hurried out of the carriage as though fleeing. “Thank you for everything today.”

Ling Guyong sat there for a moment, pressing the place she had just accidentally hit. He lifted a corner of the curtain, looking out to see her practically sprinting away from the carriage. He couldn’t help finding it both funny and exasperating.

She really didn’t look like her injuries hurt at all.

Nanny Zhou had been specially sent by Old Madam Su to wait for Tang Chaoyang at the gate.

Seeing her young mistress alight from the carriage, Nanny Zhou quickly approached. “Miss, you’re finally back.”

“Nanny, has Grandmother gone to sleep?”

“The Old Madam is still waiting for you. How could she possibly sleep?” Nanny Zhou supported Tang Chaoyang by the arm, glancing curiously at the carriage before quickly withdrawing her gaze.

The two of them talked as they walked through the gates.

When they reached the doorway, Tang Chaoyang paused and turned back to look at the carriage. She pressed her lips together and smiled before turning to go inside.

Ling Guyong watched her glance back with that radiant smile. He let out a quiet laugh.

His gaze fell on the plaque reading General Who Pacifies the South’s Manor. The common folk actually preferred to call it General Who Pacifies the Nation’s Manor.

There had been several times when Jin Country faced grave threats from foreign invaders, and it was the Su family across two generations who had led the troops to defend the nation.

Old Master Su actually had three older brothers, all of whom had died on the battlefield.

Although Ling Guyong was wary of the Su family’s military power, as long as they harbored no treasonous intentions, he would protect them while he remained emperor.

He lowered the carriage curtain and ordered the driver to depart.

The carriage rumbled through the quiet streets.

Ling Guyong closed his eyes to rest, recalling what Old General Su had come to discuss in the imperial study after court that morning.

This year, Su Miao and Su Ling’s names were both on the selection list for the palace consorts. Although the selection had been postponed until the following year, before the process concluded, the candidates were not permitted to marry at will.

However, for influential families, those who were sure to be passed over could discreetly begin arranging matches in advance.

Old General Su did not wish for his granddaughters to enter the palace. Ling Guyong had granted this request. After the selection ended, the girls could return home and marry as they pleased.

As for the triennial selection itself, Ling Guyong intended to amend the system eventually. From his perspective, too many women in the harem only led to chaos.

However, he wasn’t planning to change it right away. With no heirs yet in the harem, the ministers would certainly oppose any reform.

When he returned to the palace, he was busy reviewing memorials.

By the time he was pressing a hand to his aching head, his entire body feeling unwell, he realized his addiction was flaring up again.

Calmly, he summoned Ling Yi and ordered himself to be tied up.

Ling Guyong thought darkly, if the people behind all this someday discovered that his opium addiction had been cured, he wondered what kind of expression they’d show.

**

Tang Chaoyang didn’t want her grandmother to see she was injured. She first returned to Lanting Courtyard to change into clean clothes and freshen up before heading to Rong’en Hall.

Old Madam Su and Old Master Su were already waiting for her.

When the Old Madam saw her safe and sound, she couldn’t hide her delight.

She lovingly took Tang Chaoyang’s hand. “Little darling, are you hurt anywhere? Your grandmother has worried all day long.”

Tang Chaoyang shook her head and smiled. “No injuries. I’ve made you worry.”

As she spoke, she discreetly took the old lady’s pulse.

The pulse was somewhat shallow, her qi and blood unsettled.

Tang Chaoyang’s eyes reddened a little. “Grandmother, I’m sorry for making you all so worried.”

Old Master Su saw she was standing there whole and unharmed. He finally relaxed, but then snorted coldly. “In the future, if you see Fei Yan or any of his people, get far away from them immediately.”

Tang Chaoyang nodded, feeling the same way. “I understand.”

She wanted to take Old Master Su’s pulse, but he glared at her. “What pulse? You think today’s nonsense could make me faint? I’m not that feeble. Go and rest.”

Tang Chaoyang observed his complexion and saw he wasn’t bluffing. She bowed and left Rong’en Hall.

After the granddaughter departed, Old Madam Su gave the old man a sidelong, cold laugh. “Who were you calling feeble, hmm?”

Old Master Su grumbled, “I wasn’t calling you that.”

So old and still so quarrelsome.

Old Madam Su chuckled twice. She stood, Nanny Zhou supporting her arm, and the two of them went into the inner chambers. Arguing with that old man was less worthwhile than going to bed early.

*

Tang Chaoyang returned to Lanting Courtyard.

Nanny Wu had already instructed the servants to prepare warm water.

Tang Chaoyang couldn’t let her wounds get wet, so she only wiped herself down.

Nanny Wu looked at the injuries on her mistress’s body and silently prayed to the Buddha for protection.

Tang Chaoyang gave a faint smile. She asked Nanny Wu to help her apply medicine. When the wounds were dressed, she went to check on Liu’er.

Liu’er had been stabbed in the abdomen. Luckily, the blade had missed her vital organs. It was a small blessing amid misfortune.

“Miss, are you alright?” Liu’er tried to sit up but was stopped by Tang Chaoyang.

“Lie down properly. I’m fine.”

Tang Chaoyang felt her pulse, then wrote a prescription and handed it to Nanny Wu. Nanny Wu would arrange for someone to fetch the medicine and brew it for Liu’er.

She was truly exhausted. After examining Liu’er, she dragged her tired body to her son’s room.

Tang Chaoyang sat on the edge of the bed, watching her son’s adorable sleeping face, reluctant to leave for a long time.

She had almost died today.

For the first time, she realized something.

If she really were to die someday before An’an grew up, who would protect him then?

Ling Guyong flashed across her mind. But she had no standing to ask him for such a favor.

She gently tucked the quilt around her son and quietly left.

Some matters, she needed to plan carefully.

“Nanny, does the coachman have any family?” Tang Chaoyang had already lain down but still forced back a yawn to ask.

“Miss, the coachman has no family. You should sleep now.” As soon as Nanny Wu finished speaking, she saw that Tang Chaoyang had already closed her eyes and drifted off.

She tiptoed out.

Nanny Wu drew in a cold breath. The air felt so chilly that she hunched her shoulders and quietly instructed the maid on night duty before leaving to rest.

Thinking about the calamity her mistress had suffered, Nanny Wu silently cursed Dong Xinrui and Fei Yan for always bringing harm to her lady.

No matter how the world mocked her mistress—

Her mistress truly had a good heart. If you gave her a bit of kindness, she would return tenfold.

That Fei Prime Minister didn’t know how to cherish her. Someday, there would be someone who could see how wonderful her lady truly was.