When Du Gu Luanyue walked into the inner room of the courtyard, she saw her parents. She stood at the door but didn't dare to take a step forward. Her eyes were red, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say first.
Zhao Minghua, the Queen of Southern Chu, was sitting by the bed in the attire of a common woman. She was holding a medicine bowl. When she turned her head, she saw her daughter whom she thought she would never see again in this lifetime. Her eyebrows tightened.
"Luan Yue!"
Du Gu Sheng, the Emperor of Southern Chu in the bed, also turned his head and looked over. "Oh, my little darling, why did you come so quickly! Hurry in. What are you standing at the door for?"
Du Gu Luanyue's eyes were filled with tears. She didn't dare to walk in. Instead, she lifted her skirt and knelt heavily on the ground.
"Daughter is ashamed to face Father and Mother.
The great cause is not yet accomplished. The plague almost flowed into Southern Chu and endangered the country. It's daughter's incompetence.
I also made Father, who is ill, wait in this border town for so many days. And I gave away the Nine - Life Golden Pill. Daughter... Daughter really deserves to die!"
Zhao Minghua quickly put down the medicine bowl and walked over to help her up. "Hurry up. No one blames you. You didn't do anything wrong."
Du Gu Sheng slowly sat up in the bed. The maid propped up his back with a soft pillow. He coughed softly a few times. "Your father isn't dead yet. If it's given away, then so be it."
Du Gu Luanyue found it hard to forgive herself, but at that time, she had no choice. If she didn't save Huo Wei, how could the South City Gate be defended?
Once the plague flowed into Southern Chu, all the previous efforts would be in vain.
In that position, between family and country, her choice was extremely difficult.
Du Gu Luanyue felt a tightness in her heart and couldn't say a word. She didn't dare to look at her father.
Du Gu Sheng knew his crown princess, who he had raised since childhood, very well. He smiled.
"You are the Crown Princess I personally trained. Yun Qi has told your mother and me all about that day's situation.
After much thought, I think my daughter is very outstanding and did the right thing.
You saved Huo Wei's life. It's like getting a trump card for yourself in Northern Yan. In the future, you won't be as isolated and helpless in the Northern Yan court as before.
Moreover, regarding the situation in Danyang City, if this Prince of Yuzhang really died, the army would be in chaos. Maybe the plague would have already flowed into Southern Chu by now.
Your father and mother don't blame you at all. I am the Son of Heaven, and my life is determined by fate. If God wants to take it away, how can a golden pill decide it?"
Zhao Minghua quickly said, "Yes, yes. Your father was seriously ill those days because he was worried about the plague and was also thinking about you in Danyang City. He was so scared that he fell ill.
But after Yun Qi brought back the news, your father's mood calmed down a lot. That day, when someone came to say that you would find a way to meet us, your father's condition got a bit better."
Du Gu Sheng got out of bed in his long robe, walked over, and tilted his head to look at his daughter.
"It's such a small thing. If you had stubbornly kept the golden pill for me and ignored the spread of the plague, then I would really be angry."
Du Gu Luanyue blinked her eyes. "Yes, Father. Daughter won't cry anymore."
Zhao Minghua suddenly asked, "Your father's secret guard said that the one escorting you here is not Mei Jiang, the commander of the Phoenix Feather Guards, but a young man. He doesn't look like a guard. Why doesn't he come in?"
Du Gu Luanyue looked back and found no trace of Huo Wei. She replied in a daze, "He is outside. Mother, send someone to invite him."
Outside the small courtyard, Huo Wei was standing under a tree, ready to hide a bit. For some reason, he felt that he was out of place. It was as if thousands of ants were gnawing at his body. He was extremely irritated and even felt a sense of panic.
Sheng Yun Qi had just returned from outside after gathering supplies. He saw Huo Wei under the willow tree in front of the small courtyard.
Huo Wei was wearing a jade - white brocade robe, and the front of his chest was heaving a bit more than usual. Sheng Yun Qi said coldly, "Huo Wei, what are you doing here?"
Huo Wei looked up. "What does it matter to you?"
This was Southern Chu, and Sheng Yun Qi's aura was different from when they were in Northern Yan. His gentle eyebrows and eyes were now frosty.
"Do you still have the nerve to come? There is only one Nine - Life Golden Pill in Southern Chu now.
Do you know that Luan Yue's father is ill and is on the verge of death?
But she still gave the golden pill to you. Do you know how self - blaming and sad she is? How did you provoke her that day and make her coax you to take it?"
Huo Wei's body stiffened on the spot. The arrogant and cold aura just now suddenly faded away. "What did you say? Her father is ill?"
Sheng Yun Qi sneered. "Humph, she is such a strong - willed person. Naturally, she bears everything on her own and never mentioned a single word to you.
Based on my understanding of her, she probably didn't give you the golden pill because she likes you very much. She was forced and was afraid that the plague would flow into Southern Chu, so she had to save you, a warrior guarding the city gate.
She must be extremely sad in her heart. That's why she went to great lengths to come to this border town to see her father. If I'm not wrong, she must be kneeling in front of His Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen to repent now.
Huo Wei, when you provoked her and arrogantly refused to take the golden pill, did you know how devastated she was at that time?"
Huo Wei's long and cold phoenix eyes instantly lost all their sharpness. He was stunned for a moment. He put his hand on the trunk of the willow tree, and his fingertips slowly sank into the trunk. The veins on the back of his hand bulged one by one.
Sheng Yun Qi glanced at him disdainfully.
"You should have no nerve to stay in front of this small courtyard, right? Don't you know your own identity? If Luan Yue's father and mother see you later, where will you let her put her face?"
Huo Wei, who was used to being tough, suddenly didn't dare to step forward and slap Sheng Yun Qi. He took a step back, retracted his gaze blankly, and said in a low voice, "Shut up!"
Sheng Yun Qi angrily flung his sleeve. "Aren't you leaving?"
Huo Wei, like a fierce beast and the God of Slaughter who had never admitted defeat, for the first time didn't confront Sheng Yun Qi this time.
There was a faint pain in his heart. Remembering the way he had forced Du Gu Luanyue when she took out the golden pill when he was ill that day, he suddenly felt that he was a complete scoundrel.
He silently turned around and left, planning to find a corner to hide. He still had to escort Du Gu Luanyue back after she finished her business.
At this time, the secret guard in the small courtyard came out and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, our Emperor invites you to enter the courtyard for dinner."
Sheng Yun Qi shouted, "What Your Majesty? What are you talking about? You're so presumptuous!"
Huo Wei walked away silently. Du Gu Luanyue walked out of the door and grabbed Huo Wei's arm. "Come in with me."
Huo Wei felt his breath catch. "No."
Du Gu Luanyue ordered, "Huo Wei, are you being stubborn again? My father and mother invited you in. What are you standing there for?"
Huo Wei was silent for a long time. He lowered his head very low and said in a very soft voice, "I... I dare not."