Chapter 92

Chapter 92: Why Must You Leave Him

Song An Lan patted Song Wan’er’s head to comfort her, then said gently to Chun Zhi: “These last few days must have worried you.”

Chun Zhi said: “It is enough that elder brother is safe.”

Doctor Liang said that Song An Lan had already recovered about twenty to thirty percent of his strength, and with good care his life would not be short.

There were three petals of the Revival Blossom left, and they planned to give one to the often-sickly Song Wan’er, one to Huo Zheng whose body was filled with cold, and to keep the last petal safely stored for future need.

Chun Zhi said: “Then let’s arrange it that way.”

Chun Zhi nodded, because this Revival Blossom had been found at the risk of Huo Zheng’s life. Now that cold air had invaded his body, the Revival Blossom, which grows in extreme cold, was the best thing to drive out cold.

Song Wan’er had been weak since birth and feared cold the most, so the Revival Blossom would work wonders for her too.

It was a blessing that there were enough petals left.

Doctor Zhao and Doctor Liang spoke and went to handle it at once.

Song An Lan had just regained a little strength. He was still tired and needed a lot of rest.

Song Wan’er sniffed, wiped her tears, and held back her crying. She told her elder brother to rest well, then turned and helped Chun Zhi walk out.

Outside, the sunlight was bright and golden.

The maids were busy sweeping away the piled-up snow.

Supporting Chun Zhi, Song Wan’er walked slowly under the covered walkway and asked in a low voice: “How is that nobleman?”

When Huo Zheng came back with the Revival Blossom, he collapsed right in front of her elder brother’s bed, which frightened Song Wan’er badly.

Chun Zhi had people carry Huo Zheng back to the small courtyard and called a physician to examine him. Song Wan’er only knew that Huo Zheng had let cold invade his body to get the Revival Blossom. She herself had been keeping watch over her elder brother day and night and had no time to visit Huo Zheng, so she could only ask Chun Zhi how he was doing.

Chun Zhi did not want to mention that last night she and Huo Zheng slept on the same bed, so she only told Song Wan’er that the cold in Huo Zheng’s body was very heavy and that she did not know if one petal of the Revival Blossom would be enough to heal him.

Song Wan’er said: “If one petal is not enough, then use two. If two are not enough, then use three. If it comes to that, I will give up my petal.”

Song Wan’er had read many, many storybooks. They said that a drop of kindness should be paid back with a spring.

She feared Prince Chang’an, but he had searched for the Revival Blossom to save her elder brother’s life. That made him the best person under heaven.

Chun Zhi still did not know how many petals it would take to help Huo Zheng, but it would be best if two petals were enough, because Song Wan’er should keep her petal for herself.

“Sister,” Song Wan’er whispered: “I think Prince Chang’an only looks cold on the outside. He actually cares deeply. Why must you insist on leaving him?”

If it were someone else, being noticed by a prince and staying as his concubine would feel like the greatest good fortune.

Some people even used every trick to get close to such a nobleman.

But Chun Zhi did not care for it at all and only thought of ways to leave.

Chun Zhi was quiet for a moment, then said: “I am a commoner, and he is of royal blood. Our stations are worlds apart. It is destined to end badly.”

“That is true,” Song Wan’er said: “Men and women are supposed to marry within the same level. Those sons of the Imperial Clan must take wives from famous noble houses.”

In storybooks, the love stories were always between a scholar and a young lady, or a wanderer and a rich daughter. If a high-born man loved a common woman, or a noble miss loved a poor hero, no matter how grand and moving the process was, the ending was always a tragedy.

Chun Zhi had not expected that after she left, Huo Zheng would never give up searching for her.

Now he had found the Revival Blossom for Song An Lan and harmed his own body doing it. Even though Chun Zhi had not forced him to look for it, he had done it because of her.

She did not want to owe anyone, yet she owed him anyway.

Now Chun Zhi did not know how to treat Huo Zheng.

Chun Zhi said in a low voice: “I only want a peaceful, steady life. But he is destined to stir up storms and live at the very edge.”

The gap in status alone was hard to cross.

Besides, the emperor had not named a crown prince yet. As the emperor’s most outstanding son, Huo Zheng’s empress mother and his supporters would want him to choose a wife who could help him.

Chun Zhi knew her status was low. She could not help Huo Zheng and might even hold him back.

So even if Huo Zheng said he would marry her as his wife, Chun Zhi could not agree.

This was not just about the two of them.

Chun Zhi had thought it through clearly and saw it all very plainly.

Yet the one who should have weighed the pros and cons, Huo Zheng, became confused at this key moment.

Chun Zhi thought: [Maybe because I jumped into the river right in front of him, it shook him deeply.]

If she had known this, she would not have left so sharply back then. If she had chosen a gentler way, maybe Huo Zheng would not be so fixed on her and would have forgotten her long ago, returning to the capital to be the prince he was.

Only, at that time, Chun Zhi thought he treated her as a plaything. Frightened and angry, and afraid she could not keep the child in her belly safe, she had to leave.

That led to how things were now.

Song Wan’er did not really understand Chun Zhi’s firm choice and her worries, but even though she had never been in the deep palace or fought in a big household, she knew that Chun Zhi was not suited for that kind of life.

Some people longed for wealth and rank, wanting glory to cover them.

Some people preferred a quiet corner, wanting only peace all their lives.

People want different things and so they make very different choices.

Song Wan’er said: “Sister, do not be afraid. Song Manor will always be your home. As long as you want it, you may live here your whole life.”

Chun Zhi said: “A lifetime is long. No one knows what will happen later.”

Talking like this, the two of them returned to the small courtyard.

As soon as Chun Zhi entered the gate, she saw Huo Zheng wearing a fox-fur cloak, leaning against the door and waiting for her.

She froze for a moment and stopped.

Song Wan’er also saw him at once. After helping Chun Zhi stand steady, she stepped forward to salute and said: “Thank you, Your Highness, for finding the Revival Blossom for my elder brother. His life has been saved. There are three petals left, just enough to drive the cold from Your Highness’s body.”

Song Wan’er said many words in a rush.

The first time she saw Huo Zheng was on a mountain road when a runaway carriage was speeding. Huo Zheng had great strength and grabbed the crazed horse with one hand.

The second time she saw him was at elder brother and Chun Zhi’s wedding feast, when he arrived to steal the bride with sharp force and strong presence.

Both times, he had looked tall and strong.

But now, with cold heavy in his body and no color in his lips, he was still not lying on a bed to rest. Instead he stood at the door waiting for Chun Zhi.

Seeing the prince like this made Song Wan’er feel soft-hearted.

She noticed he did not really want to hear her chatter and stopped at once, saying: “I will go see how Doctor Zhao and the others are preparing the medicine with the Revival Blossom. You two, do as you please. I will go first.”

With that, Song Wan’er turned and left.

Chun Zhi did not even have time to speak before she was already far away.

In a moment, only Chun Zhi and Huo Zheng were left in the small courtyard.

Chun Zhi turned, planning to go back into the room.

Huo Zheng, who had been silent, suddenly began to cough.