"Sheng Jiu..."
After a long silence, Wanwan softly called out, but there was no response.
"Someone! Call the imperial physician!!!"
Without even turning around, Wanwan knew that the situation had become far more serious than he could have imagined. He shouted at the top of his lungs. Soon, Feng Yu and Cheng Mo rushed in in a hurry.
Seeing the situation on the bed, both of them fell silent.
Cheng Mo bit her lower lip. "Wanwan... it's no use."
"He has paved all the way for you. The imperial edict, the court officials, everything that needed to be handled, cleared, and arranged for you, he has taken care of it all."
"But I have some bad news for you. This child will probably have to be raised in the palace from now on. After Sheng Jiu's sudden death, there must be his heir to inherit the throne."
"I once told you that he had about a year to live, but that was on the condition that he took the medicine as prescribed. However, that medicine would disfigure the user, and he refused to take it. So..."
Wanwan stroked Sheng Jiu's still-warm cheek and softly asked, "But... why didn't anyone tell me? Why... didn't I know anything?"
Cheng Mo sighed. "You were pregnant at that time. Who would dare to tell you such a thing? He was set in his ways, and we couldn't dissuade him."
"In order to ensure that this child can ascend the throne smoothly, it will be publicly announced that this child is my own. If you really have a strong aversion to this place, you can decide whether to stay or leave. I will raise this child as if it were my own."
Wanwan pressed his forehead against Sheng Jiu's and slowly said, "I will stay here... I will raise the child myself."
"Feng Yu, please go back and tell my elder brother. Ask him to inform my parents. Just tell them that I'm safe here and no one can harm me anymore."
Feng Yu frowned. "It's definitely not okay for you two to stay here alone. Sheng Jiu once told me that he hoped I would assist the new emperor... Wanwan, I've made up my mind. I want to invite your elder brother here."
Wanwan was stunned and looked up at him. "Invite my elder brother here?"
Feng Yu nodded. "I know it's a bit difficult to get your parents here, but you should know that your mermaid clan can't be trapped in the water forever. You have to come out and see this vast world."
Wanwan thought for a long time and reluctantly agreed. "You can discuss this with my elder brother."
"You two go out first. I want to talk to him for a while."
The two exchanged a look and tactfully left the room.
Wanwan took out a handkerchief and wiped the blood off Sheng Jiu's face. Sheng Jiu had always been very concerned about his appearance in front of him.
That's why he refused to take the medicine. He wanted to die with dignity in front of him.
"You're always so willful. You've always done things according to your own will and never cared about what others think. Have you ever thought about how I and Yang'er could survive in this huge palace full of wolves and tigers?"
Wanwan held back his sobs, but tears kept falling on Sheng Jiu's face.
"Sheng Jiu, wake up... Sheng Jiu, I'm begging you. Wake up. I won't run away anymore. I'll never leave you again. Open your eyes and look at me, look at me."
But the person in his arms remained silent. Wanwan lay in his arms, but couldn't hear a single heartbeat. He closed his eyes tightly and gradually sobbed out loud.
Feng Yu and Cheng Mo stood outside the door and sighed deeply.
"The days to come will be long and difficult."
Cheng Mo squinted her eyes. "Let's just do our best."
On the day of Sheng Jiu's funeral, Wanwan didn't go. It was said that on the night of Sheng Jiu's sudden death, Sheng Jue committed suicide in the prison. The two brothers were buried one after another, a scene of infinite desolation.
In the end, Leng Yao still brought the child here. No one knew for whom.
On the day when Cheng Mo carried Sheng Yang to ascend the throne, Wanwan was playing with Feng Qiao in the lake. Feng Qiao was the little daughter of his elder brother. She was only one year old, but already looked very cute.
"Uncle, do you think little brother will be scared?"
Feng Qiao nestled in his arms and softly asked.
Wanwan was silent for a long time and then sighed. "What's the use of being scared?"
Feng Qiao tilted her head and asked again. "Then, Uncle, are you scared?"
Wanwan looked up at the sky and slowly shook his head.
"I'm not scared."
Because he knew that no matter what, there would always be someone watching over him from the sky, blessing him and protecting him.
As long as that person was there, he had the courage and didn't need to be afraid.
Feng Qiao wrapped her arms around Wanwan's neck. "Uncle doesn't need to be scared. Our whole family will stay with Uncle."
Wanwan patted her little body. "Go, swim one more lap. I'll wait for you here."
Feng Qiao nodded obediently and disappeared into the water with a turn.
"Wanwan!!!"
Wanwan turned his head and saw Cheng Mo holding a little figure in bright yellow.
"Yang'er!"
The little child babbled something and stretched out his arms to burrow into Wanwan's arms. Wanwan took the child and asked, "Are they giving you a hard time?"
Cheng Mo shook her head. "Now, Sheng Yang is the only bloodline of the Sheng family. Those who truly care about the country won't hold on to this issue. You can rest assured. I'll handle the affairs in the court. You should take good care of your body first."
Wanwan nodded.
Cheng Mo smiled. "When I came here, I saw your elder brother cooking. I have to say that since he had a child, he has become more and more virtuous. Oh~ He's still as handsome as before."
Wanwan raised his eyebrows and looked at her. "You're so bold. You still have feelings for him. Look, his child is already this big."
Cheng Mo snorted and shouted towards the water, "Qiaoqiao!!! Come back for dinner. Your father has cooked something delicious!"
Feng Qiao popped out of the water. "Coming!!!"
The two of them carried the child back. Feng Yu was complaining to Leng Yao about the affairs in the court.
"Hey, do you think that old guy is being pedantic? He insisted that it's inappropriate for Cheng Mo to sit on the throne and asked her to attend court behind a screen. The child is still so small and crawling around. Who can control him?"
Cheng Mo walked in and chimed in. "That's right. He's so stubborn!"
"Wow! This soup smells so good today!"
Leng Yao calmly said, "This soup is for nourishing Wanwan's body."
Cheng Mo sighed regretfully. "Can't I have even a sip?"
Feng Yu waved his hand at her. "This soup is for them. You can't have it, and neither can I."
Cheng Mo stared at him. "I can!!"
Feng Yu shook his head. "You can't!!"
Wanwan looked at the scene in front of him and let out a soft breath. This kind of ordinary life seemed quite nice. However, the face that seemed to be smiling but not always appeared in his mind.
Wanwan closed his eyes.
Wait for me a while.
Just wait until Feng Yang grows up.