229 My Only Regret
They were grateful to Zhao Chuchu from the bottom of their hearts. Zhao Chuchu had given them another chance at life. They no longer suffered from the pain of the disease.
Zhao Chuchu looked around her. She said, “I accept your gratitude but do not want your stuff. Your lives are difficult as well. Leave the stuff for your own use. From now on, take care of your hygiene. Do not drink water without boiling it first. That way, you will not fall sick so easily.”
The crowd pleaded, “Mrs. Xie…”
“I know what you want to say. Save the talk. There is nothing that needs to be said. All of you, head back to your homes. We also need to head off. I hope that the next time I see you all, you will be in better condition than you are now. Farewell.”
After she said this, she leaped onto the cart. She waved at the crowd and signaled the driver to embark.
The townsfolk chased the cart and tried to push the items onto it. However, they were no match for Zhao Chuchu.
Just like how the items were thrown onto the cart, they were thrown off.
“Thank you. I accept your gratitude,” shouted Zhao Chuchu as she asked the driver to speed up. The cart distanced itself from the crowd.
Only then did she sit down.
Xie Jun immediately shifted closer to her and asked, “Sis, are we returning to Lengshui Village?”
“That’s right,” said Zhao Chuchu as she nodded. “Don’t you want to go back?”
“I do. How long will it take?”
“It will take around half a month.”
Zhao Chuchu looked at Xie Jun. All this while, he had been traveling with her and Xie Heng. His skin was darker from being under the sun, but he had also bulked up quite a bit.
He no longer needed acupuncture daily but was still on medication. However, he had never complained about it.
“How about the crops in the field?” asked Xie Jun anxiously. “Brother, why don’t we rush back as soon as possible to check on them?”
Xie Heng patted his head with a smile and said, “Why are you worried about these things as a kid? Why don’t you tell me what you have learned from Sis on this trip.”
Hearing that, Xie Jun put on a serious expression as he told Xie Heng everything he had learned in detail.
Xie Jun was a smart kid to begin with. However, before this, Xie Heng had been overprotective of him.
He remembered everything Zhao Chuchu taught him and knew how to apply the knowledge.
Xie Heng glanced at Zhao Chuchu and saw the latter nodding in approval. He then patted Xie Jun’s head in contentment, saying, “Junjun, remember what you have learned. In the future, regardless of what you face or what decision you have to make, think of this experience in Qiaoyi Town.”
“Bro, I know. I will commit this to memory,” said Xie Jun as he nodded. He had always obeyed Xie Heng and would not doubt his words.
Given that this trip away from the village was hard to come by, Xie Heng was in no rush to return. He instead asked the driver to slow down. He planned to enjoy the sights along the way, allowing Xie Jun to broaden his horizons.
In this life, Xie Jun would no longer die young. He would have ample good times ahead, and his future was full of possibilities. Xie Heng certainly hoped that Xie Jun would become successful.
However, in Xie Heng’s mind, Xie Jun’s primary identity would still be his younger brother.
Even if the two of them eventually took on very different roles in the court, Xie Heng still intended to build Xie Jun up.
Two days later, they arrived in a town.
It was late in the evening, so they decided to spend the night here.
They booked a room to rest in.
All along the way, there were people following behind them in secret.
Zhao Chuchu and Xie Heng both knew this. However, they paid the people no heed and continued slowly on their journey.
When Xie Jun fell asleep, Zhao Chuchu changed into night clothes.
“Da Lang, take good care of Junjun. I will be back before dawn.”
Zhao Chuchu was going to visit the Third Prince.
She merely turned down Qiao Heting for Imperial Physician Zhang to see. She would be visiting the Third Prince. It was just that she had changed to doing this in secret.
Xie Heng said, “Be careful. Don’t let them discover you.”
“They will not discover me,” replied Zhao Chuchu confidently.
Even though the people tailing them were nimble, they were no match for her.
Zhao Chuchu quietly left the inn. After she was out of town, she dashed in the northwest direction.
Qiao Heting had vaguely mentioned where the Third Prince was. Xie Heng knew the spot the former was referring to, so he helped Zhao Chuchu pinpoint the exact location.
The Third Prince was tormented by sickness and was very weak, so he traveled at a slower pace than Zhao Chuchu and her group. Nevertheless, she soon found the place he was staying.
On the surface, the place appeared like an ordinary manor.
However, Zhao Chuchu could detect the breathing of close to 100 people in the manor. Moreover, all of them knew martial arts.
This was such a small manor, yet it was so heavily guarded.
Aside from the sentries who could be seen on duty, plenty of guards were hiding in secret.
Even a fly would not be able to enter the place unnoticed.
Going past this lineup was relatively complex for other people. However, in the eyes of Zhao Chuchu, this manor was no different from an uninhabited playground.
Zhao Chuchu carefully listened for movements and identified the exact room where the Third Prince was residing. Then, she headed straight there.
There were even more guards on duty outside of the Third Prince’s room.
Zhao Chuchu heard Qiao Heting’s voice from inside the room. “Third Brother, why don’t you rest early tonight? Let’s stop reading.”
“It’s okay. I can still manage this,” a feeble and gentle voice uttered. “I don’t have much time left. I want to find ninth brother as soon as possible. I’m sure that he’s still alive.”
“But so many years have passed, and we still do not know his whereabouts.” Qiao Heting sighed and continued, “If he is also like you, he most likely has…”
“Don’t say such inauspicious words. The heavens bless good people. Ninth brother will certainly be well.”
Qiao Heting said, “Before this, Zhao Chuchu was willing to take a look at your illness, Third Brother. However, after she argued with Imperial Physician Zhang, she turned me down. Should I go ask her again?”
...
“Don’t. You will get her involved. I have consulted various famous physicians from all over the world. All of them have diagnosed that I will not make it past the age of 20. I have long accepted this reality. I can accept anything that happens to me. Ninth brother is my only regret. I fear that I will never be able to see him again.”
“We will find him.”
“Back then, he was still so small. I even held him before. Who would have thought…”
As he said this, the Third Prince stopped and let out a long sigh.
Zhao Chuchu picked up a stone and threw it toward the wall opposite the room.
The guards outside the room immediately rushed forward to investigate the source of the sound.
Zhao Chuchu made use of this split second to enter the room.
Qiao Heting reacted quickly. Without hesitation, he stood in front of the pale and feeble man to protect the latter.
He glared at the intruder and was ready to call for help. Instead, Zhao Chuchu made a hush sign and whispered, “Hush. Mr. Qiao, do you want to let everyone know that I am here? I don’t want to die yet.”
When he recognized Zhao Chuchu’s voice, Qiao Heting was momentarily stunned.
Zhao Chuchu removed the cloth that hid her face, revealing her appearance.
...
When the Third Prince saw this, he asked, “Who is this young maiden?”
“My name is Zhao Chuchu,” she introduced herself while nodding slightly. “Mr. Qiao, is this the friend you were referring to?”
“Third Brother, this is Mrs. Xie,” introduced Qiao Heting. He paused for a moment before he turned toward Zhao Chuchu and said, “Didn’t you say that you were incapable of helping my friend? So why are you visiting us so late at night? What do you plan to do?”
Zhao Chuchu fell silent for a moment before she responded, “Mr. Qiao, I have a good temper. Otherwise, I would have beaten the crap out of you for what you have just said.”
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