The Way of the Consort

After hearing the whole story, Princess Fuchen didn't know what to say.

When she came, she was in a hurry, but when she came back, the mountain road never ended, she dared not face Ji Zhao.

But Ji Zhao kept waiting for her, sending people out from time to time to see if the princess had returned, and those who came out to wait for Princess Fuchen even walked halfway up the mountain.

No matter how long Princess Fuchen lingers, the mountain road will end.

Princess Fuchen walked into Ji Zhao's bedroom slowly. Zong Zhen was lying on that bed now. Seeing her coming back, Ji Zhao rushed over immediately and asked expectantly, "What do you say?"

"Uh, my father said that I have to take the medicine for a month before my brother can wake up."

Ji Zhao secretly thought, will it take so long?Doctor Bai said that his medicine can wake up after three days and seven days after taking it, but after all, this medicine was obtained by His Majesty, and it is thanks to this medicine that Zongzhen's situation is getting better day by day, although It was very slow, and Ji Zhao didn't dare to question it.

He said again: "This journey is very tiring, you go and eat something quickly, and we will talk about it after eating."

Princess Fuchen nodded awkwardly, turned and left.

When she was about to go out, she turned her head to see that Ji Zhao was sitting by the bed, holding his brother's hand, talking softly, and without knowing what to say, he pressed his brother's hand to his face.

Princess Fuchen couldn't hold back, tears fell directly.

She thought, what should I do?

Ji Chongjin also lives in Zhuangzi these days, thinking that he can help out anyway. He heard that the princess came back, came to see her, saw her crying, and frightened: "What's the matter? Why are you crying?"

Princess Fuchen wiped her tears with her hand, Ji Chongjin sat down beside her, handed her the handkerchief, and said softly, "Tell me..."

"What should I do?" Princess Fuchen really had no one to talk to, and she couldn't bear it in her heart, so she poured beans into the bamboo tube and told him everything.

After hearing her words, even Ji Chongjin couldn't help being silent.

"How do I choose? It's too difficult, too difficult! Father said that the envoys had already gone to Yanjing, even if the fifth prince was not killed by Zong Mi, he died in Jinling! That fifth prince is said to be Emperor Liang's best friend." Beloved son! We are not afraid of the invasion of other countries, but after the last war between the two countries, it was hard to recover to this point, how can the people bear it?" Princess Fuchen was sad, "Ji Zhao is too pitiful, what should I do ?”

Ji Chongjin was silent for a long time, then said, "We should tell him."

"But, but this is too cruel!"

"No matter how cruel it is, it's better than letting His Majesty or others tell him."

Princess Fuchen knew this truth: "But, but—"

She couldn't say the second half of the "but" sentence, and Ji Chongjin made a decision: "If you can't say it, I will."

Princess Fuchen looked at him, thought about Ji Zhao, bowed her head and cried again.

Ji Zhao helped Zong Zhen wipe his body, and just after pulling the quilt for him, Chen Xing said, Ji Chongjin and the princess are here.

Without turning his head, he said, "Oh, you invite them in."

They were all from his own family. Ji Zhao didn't pay much attention to them. He tucked up the quilt and tidied up again before he turned to look at the two of them. These days, Zongzhen's situation is getting better, and he has a new medicine made by Doctor Bai. , he was in a rare good mood tonight.

With a faint smile on his face, he asked the two of them to sit down on the chair beside the bed, while he sat on the edge of the bed and said with a smile: "He's much better, maybe he can wake up this month!"

Princess Fuchen lowered her head, and Ji Zhao looked at her: "Princess, please tell me carefully, what does Your Majesty say? Princess——what's wrong with you——"

Ji Zhao has been focusing on Zong Zhen these days, so he is a little slow. It is because he is in a good mood today that he can find out what is wrong with Princess Fuchen.He looked at it and said in surprise, "Why are you crying...Could it be that something bad happened?"

Ji Zhao was also a little nervous, did His Majesty say something?

Princess Fuchen looked up at him, obviously trying to smile, but it was uglier than crying. Under the light, her eyes were red and slightly swollen, and Ji Zhao felt inexplicably uneasy.

Ji Chongjin said: "Third brother, I have something to tell you."

"you say……"

"You also know that His Highness was stabbed by Miss Wang Xi, and the knife was poisoned. When I found that shop, the shopkeeper had already run away."

"Yes..." Ji Zhao blamed himself very much for this. If he couldn't bear to speak harshly to Wang Xi, and even asked Zong Zhen to treat Wang Xi kindly, how could such a thing happen? !Zong Zhen was not happy for him to see Wang Xi that day, he was the one who asked Wang Xi to meet them in the forest, he was all to blame!

"The poison actually came from Liang Country."

Ji Zhao's heart is getting colder and colder, Pei Rong is no longer useful, and Liu Rui has been under their surveillance all the time, so he thinks there is nothing to be afraid of, but if someone wants you to die, how can you avoid it? ? !

Ji Zhao said seriously: "You tell me everything! I can bear it!"

Ji Chongjin said in a calm voice: "The medicine was given by Zheng Wang Zongmi. Wang Xi often goes to that shop. It is guessed that the shopkeeper should have been bribed by Zong Mi's method. That's how Wang Xi got the poison. How did Zong Mi get along with it?" What Wang Xi said, we don't know yet."

Ji Zhao was silent for a moment, then asked again, "Where did Zong Mi get the medicine?"

"Princess Qingyang of Liangguo fled to Jinling on her way to get married. Her elder brother, Liu Rui, the fifth prince of Liangguo, quietly found him, but was discovered by Zong Mi. In order to protect Princess Qingyang, Liu Rui was killed by Zong Mi. , Zong Mi found it from Liu Rui."

Liu Rui had obviously been with him all the time, and Princess Qingyang had only met Zong Mi once, and Liu Rui had colluded with Zong Mi a long time ago.

The truth of the matter was not the case, but Ji Zhao knew it, and it was not their fault, after all, only he and Zong Zhen knew about these things.Did Princess Fuchen hear Ji Chongjin's words from His Majesty?

Who did His Majesty listen to?

Liu Rui is dead?And who killed it?The prince of a neighboring country died in Jinling?

Is that Princess Qingyang dead?Did you do something?

Ji Zhao's mind became extremely clear at this time, and the lines were clearly stroked. He looked up at Ji Chongjin and Princess Fuchen.Princess Fuchen still avoided his gaze, while Ji Chongjin's eyes were full of sadness.

Ji Zhao smiled coldly in his heart, and said, "Brother, tell me directly. Who told His Majesty all this?"

"It's Princess Qingyang of Liang Kingdom."

Sure enough, Ji Zhao twitched the corners of his mouth, and said, "Tell me anything else."

"Princess Qingyang told His Majesty that she and His Majesty have the same heart, and His Majesty believed it. His Majesty found Liu Rui's body and sent envoys to Liangguo. He should arrive in Yanjing soon, and news may come out in a few days." Come. Prince Liang died in Jinling, according to Princess Qingyang, Zong Mi killed him."

Ji Zhao smiled and lowered his head slowly.

Ji Chongjin didn't say anything more, seeing Ji Zhao's smile, he knew that he understood everything.

At this time, the only thing that can prevent the two countries from going to war is the marriage between the two countries.

If His Highness the Crown Prince already has a Crown Princess, even a soft-tempered person like Renzong would probably not agree, and would rather try his best to negotiate, even if a war is really going to happen.

Helpless, Princess Qingyang obviously seized the opportunity, and Renzong believed that she really had a connection with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

As long as the matter can be solved by marriage, the two have "communicated minds", and everyone will choose this way.

Ji Zhao didn't speak again after that, and the two of them left quietly, feeling equally uncomfortable in their hearts.

Ji Zhao never thought that such a thing would happen to him.

Joining the family, and even falling in love with the prince of a country, but he always regards himself as an ordinary person. After all, he came from another world, and his deep-rooted thinking never allowed him to connect himself with the world.

Even if Zong Zhen did such things every day, he was also fascinated by them, and he never thought that these things had anything to do with him.

However, one day, a choice appeared in front of him, hold tight or give up.

As long as he chooses to give up, the sky will still be so blue, and the sun will still rise like that, no one will lose their lives or be displaced because of the possible war, and the world will be peaceful.

But if he chooses to hold on tightly.

He was born in a peaceful age and has never personally experienced war, but he has seen images of past wars on TV and the Internet, and he has seen those small and weak countries that were attacked even in his lifetime.

Numerous shells were blasted out, resulting in countless casualties, and the city was reduced to ruins.

In the flames of war, how many people have shed tears with the clear eyes of the scarred children?

Or maybe, the two countries may not necessarily go to war, but how much benefit does Xiguo have to "pay" for this matter?

After all, Liu Rui died in Jinling City.

Zong Zhen once said that what matters is not what one person thinks, but what most people think. Obviously, today's evidence has helped most people make choices.

Ji Zhao smiled bitterly, who on earth hated him so much and asked him to make such a difficult choice.

Is it God?

He asked himself that he had never done anything bad, why did God treat him like this?He is really just an ordinary person, and he really only has the most ordinary wish, he just wants to be with Zong Zhen for the rest of his life, why is it so difficult?

Why did such a cruel and heavy choice weigh on him?

Is this the price you need to pay for rebirth?

He looked at Zong Zhen who was still unconscious on the hospital bed. In fact, what does the world have to do with him?He came from outside, he doesn't even know whether this world is real or illusory, so let's take Zong Zhen away.

They no longer need to take care of the common people, no need to care about the so-called common people.

He just wants to be with Zong Zhen.

but--

Ji Zhao thought again of Zongzhen who was chatting with the villagers with a smile when he was in Meizhou, Zongzhen who often watched the memorials and saw the dawn, and Zongzhen who talked to him about his ambitions and ambitions in his heart with great interest. On the day Zongzhen was assassinated, the two of them sat in a row under the persimmon tree. Zongzhen picked two persimmons for him and told him that everything went well.

Ji Zhao's tears fell down.

Where did so many wishes come from.

Ji Zhao stretched out his hand and pulled La Zongzhen's hand under the quilt. He leaned forward and leaned on the edge of the bed, and said softly, "Brother, if it were you, how would you choose?"

"Wake up quickly, okay..."

"I'm a little tired, and I'm a little scared..."

After the conversation that night, Princess Fuchen and Ji Chongjin never talked about this matter again, never mentioned anything related to it.

Ji Zhao didn't bother to ask, he just pretended he didn't know what to do for the time being, and stayed with Zongzhen's bed every day, but he gave Zongzhen the antidote prepared by Doctor Bai every day, and Zongzhen woke up three days later.

Everyone was pleasantly surprised, and they all thought it was the effect of the antidote brought by His Majesty.

Even Princess Fuchen thought so. Princess Fuchen was more complicated and didn't know what to do. After all, the medicine was indeed given by Princess Qingyang.

Ji Zhao didn't explain, not because he was selfless, he was too lazy to explain.

He didn't know how long he could stay by Zong Zhen's side, and he didn't bother to say any extra words.

Zong Zhen woke up, his eyes were opened, but his consciousness was still not clear. Ji Zhao talked to him by the bed every day. Ji Zhao felt that he should be able to hear him, because Zong Zhen started to hold his hand behind his back. hands up.

Ji Zhao was overjoyed, he held Zongzhen's hand tightly, and promised softly, "Brother, you will wake up soon!"

Zong Zhen held his hand tightly and didn't let go.

As Doctor Bai said, you can wake up after three days of taking the medicine, presumably Zong Zhen will be able to wake up in another four days!

Another three days later, His Majesty came over.

Now the affairs of the court are all on him, and he has to deal with the doubts of the officials, as well as the affairs of Liangguo. , It can be said that this is also the most stressful period for him.

He finally found time to come over to see his son who was said to have woken up.

As soon as he entered the room, he saw Ji Zhao who was guarding the bed. He had lost a lot of weight and his face was not good. Renzong felt distressed for a while, and pressed Ji Zhao's shoulder: "Sit down, there is no need to talk about these empty etiquette outside the palace. .”

Ji Zhao's hand was held together with Zong Zhen's, and Ji Zhao wanted to pull it back, but Zong Zhen held on tightly.

Renzong glanced at their intertwined hands, said without further ado, "Brother Zhen also knows that you are always by his side, alas."

Ji Zhao forced a smile.

Renzong didn't ask Ji Zhao what to say, he had already asked the imperial doctor outside, and he and Ji Zhao sat by the bed in silence, looking at Zongzhen.

When Princess Fuchen heard that her father was coming, she hurried over, and when she came in, she saw the two of them in a daze together, and she froze in place.

Hearing footsteps, Renzong looked back.

"Father..." Princess Fuchen stepped forward. She was afraid that her father would say about Princess Qingyang. Although she would have to face it sooner or later, it would be better if it was a moment later, so she hurried over.

Ji Zhao also knew it in his heart, his palms were already sweating, and he lowered his head.

Renzong did have something to say, but seeing that his son was still not sober, he finally got up and went to the outer room with Princess Fuchen.

Ji Zhao struggled for a long time, finally took advantage of the slippery palm, withdrew his hand, went to the door to eavesdrop.

"It turned out that he wants to come!" Princess Fuchen exclaimed.

"Yes, alas—" Renzong sighed, "It seems that the fifth prince is indeed Emperor Liang's most beloved son, so he will send his confidant here."

"If he comes, what will happen..." Princess Fuchen was also a little uncertain.

"Judging from the letter sent back by Wu Zhi, the situation is not too good. Emperor Liang didn't say how to deal with the matter, but immediately sent someone to collect Liu Rui's body. I'm afraid that the confidant came here, first to take Liu Rui back, and second. , came for negotiation."

The father and daughter were silent.

"Father, will my brother really be engaged to that Princess Qingyang..." Princess Fuchen asked in a low voice.

Renzong came back to his senses: "Of course they will. Since they share the same mind, the emperor will let them be together, not to mention that your brother saved his life this time, thanks to the princess's medicine. I'm afraid, it is the one who is not willing to get engaged at this time." Emperor Liang, Liu Rui died in Jinling after all."

All in all, things went really badly.

After Ji Zhao finished listening, he went back to the bed silently, staring blankly at Zong Zhen who was sleeping.

A quarter of an hour later, Renzong and Princess Fuchen came in again, and the three of them said a few words one after another. Renzong said, "That's right—" he said to Ji Zhao, "I'm afraid Princess Qingyang will come tomorrow. Brother Zhao knows him too, right?"

"know……"

"She, oh, if I knew about it sooner, it wouldn't be like this, she—"

"Father, you came here in a hurry, haven't you eaten yet?" Princess Fuchen interrupted him quickly and dragged him out.

After a while, Princess Fuchen came in again, stood beside the bed, and said guiltily: "I'm sorry..."

What is there to be sorry for? For such a thing, there is no reason why anyone should be sorry for anyone else. It is fate.

Ji Zhao only said, "Can you prevent that Princess Qingyang from coming over?"

Princess Fuchen nodded immediately: "Don't worry! I will definitely not let her come to see my brother!"

Ji Zhao smiled wryly. Princess Fuchen might have misunderstood it again. If fate meant that Ji Zhao could only do this, Princess Qingyang would see Zongzhen sooner or later, but not at this time.

There must be something wrong with the medicine given by Princess Qingyang.

Princess Qingyang's lies are flawless, even Ji Zhao admires them, but a lie is a lie, and Ji Zhao is afraid that she will continue to use Zongzhen for her own benefit, so he will never allow it.

In the past few days, Zong Zhen could wake up soon, and he couldn't allow anyone to make trouble anymore.

He said: "Princess Qingyang is very scheming, you just need to know it in your heart, you don't have to tell others, let alone your Majesty."

Princess Fuchen nodded blankly.

Ji Zhao said again: "It will be fine when Zongzhen wakes up. Before he recovers completely, she must not be allowed to get close to Zongzhen. Don't eat any food or drink she brings."

"But, brother's antidote was given by her." Princess Fuchen was puzzled.

Ji Zhao smiled wryly again, and looked up at her: "Her medicine is useless at all. I showed her medicine to Doctor Bai, and Doctor Bai said that those medicines are not enough to cure a cat." Ji Zhao took out two of them from his sleeve. A porcelain bottle, and handed it to her, "This is the antidote, this is what he eats these days."

Princess Fuchen blinked dumbly, and looked at the porcelain bottle in Ji Zhao's hand: "This, this is—"

"This is made by Doctor Bai. He can wake up in three days and seven days. He will probably be able to wake up tomorrow."

Princess Fuchen cupped her mouth slightly, but bit her lips tightly, she was afraid that she would cry in front of Ji Zhao.

"After waking up, you still have to continue to take these medicines. You should keep these medicines well. The medicinal materials are hard to find."

The more Princess Fuchen listened, the more something was wrong. Ji Zhao's words sounded like he was leaving soon...

Princess Fuchen immediately said: "Why did you give me this medicine? Just put it in your place! Brother will wake up tomorrow! When he wakes up, everything will be easy!"

Ji Zhao didn't speak.

Princess Fuchen forced the medicine bottle into his hand: "Give it back to you!"

Ji Zhao received it, and Princess Fuchen asked again: "Speak, you will always be here, right? My brother is about to wake up, and Father will know that the princess is lying! You speak!"

She reached out and pushed Ji Zhao, and Ji Zhao had to look up at her again, and smiled wryly again: "Even if everyone knows it's a lie, so what? No matter who did it, Liu Rui did die in Jinling. The evidence is conclusive." .Even if Zongzhen wakes up, what will he use to face the anger from Emperor Liang? Is there really going to be a war? Watching countless people die for this private matter? Maybe there will be a solution eventually, but Princess Qingyang dares to Gambling with the lives of the common people, dare not care about these things, I can't do it, and Zong Zhen can't do it."

"..." Princess Fuchen said in a hoarse voice.

Ji Zhao's voice was hoarse: "This choice is too difficult, I'll just choose."

Princess Fuchen lowered her head, tears fell to the ground drop by drop.

"Don't feel too sorry for me, I'll be fine."

Princess Fuchen opened her mouth many times, wanting to ask him if he was leaving, where he was going, whether he would come back, etc.After all, there is no further question, so what's the point?

"It's late at night, you go back." Ji Zhao urged her to leave.

Princess Fuchen wiped away her tears with her hand, turned and ran away.

Ji Zhao sat back on the bed, looked up at the beam above his head, and sighed leisurely.

When Renzong returned to the palace, the villa became quiet again, and it was already late at night.

Ji Zhao took out a porcelain bottle from his sleeve. It was the one Doctor Bai gave him for the first time. There was only one pill left in it. Take it today, and tomorrow, Zong Zhen should be able to wake up slowly.

He poured the medicine into the palm of his hand, looked at it for a while, and then went to Zongzhen.

He died at the age of 16, and started again at the age of 16. This year, his wish was to live a happy, simple and leisurely life.Later, he added another person to his wish.

He once thought that if the wish is so simple, God must treat him kindly and kindly.

Only then did I realize that the most difficult thing in the world is just the word "simple".

Ji Zhao put the pill near Zongzhen's mouth, pried open Zongzhen's mouth with his fingers, and wanted to feed the medicine in.

Zong Zhen, who used to be very cooperative and didn't respond, gritted his teeth, he couldn't feed it.

Ji Zhao's tears fell down "shua".

Does Zong Zhen, who is still unconscious, know that he is leaving?

Ji Zhao lay on Zongzhen's body, pressed his lips against his ears, trembling his lips, and said softly, "Brother, don't blame me... I can't help it... I don't know what to do... What else can I do? I really I don't know...don't blame me, okay..."

His cheeks were already full of tears, and he slowly pressed his face against Zong Zhen's, the tears were hot but cold.

He put the pill into his mouth and bit it with his teeth.

He carefully kissed Zongzhen, and the other party's jaw gradually opened.

Ji Zhao closed his eyes, his mouth full of salty tears.

With his tongue and tears, he fed the medicine into Zongzhen's mouth.

Ji Zhao led Yin Ming and Chen Xing, and left from the darkroom into the tunnel.

Before he left, he left a letter to his grandfather, telling them not to worry, he was just tired of life in Jinling City, and now he is no longer a son-in-law, he is free, and he just went for a walk, he brought enough money, don't worry he.

He didn't say when he'd be back, let alone if he'd be back.

Ji Zhao himself didn't know.

The tunnel is quite long, and the moment I walked out, the sky was still dark, and the sky was full of stars.

Ji Zhao stood there and looked up for a long time. Yin Ming came with the carriage hidden in the forest that he had prepared a long time ago. Seeing him watching the stars, he didn't call him.On the contrary, when he saw the carriage approaching, he immediately looked away, walked to the carriage, and got into the carriage neatly.

Yin Ming and Chen Xing looked at each other and sighed secretly.

In the dark night, Yin Ming was driving the carriage down the mountain, Chen Xing asked him, "Mr., where are we going?"

Ji Zhao didn't know.

Chen Xing couldn't bear to ask again, the carriage shook rhythmically, and Yin Ming said outside: "Mr. Lang, we are almost at the foot of the mountain."

Ji Zhao murmured, "So fast..."

He opened the curtains, leaned on the window and looked back, the sky was getting brighter, and behind him was the green hills that had just woken up.

Ji Zhao looked and looked reluctantly. He wanted to leave here so much in the past, but he didn't know until the day he left that he no longer wanted to leave, and he couldn't leave again.

Because his heart has already been engraved here.

Ji Zhao smiled, retracted his head, and said softly, "Let's go..."

The author has something to say: Tomorrow is the last chapter of the main text.