Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 128 Extra: The Sixth Prince (2)

“Your mother’s illness has dragged on for too long. If I had been summoned earlier, there might still be a chance to treat her. Now…” Even the most senior physician in the Imperial Hospital, Dr. Zhuang, was somewhat helpless when it came to your mother’s illness. “This prescription will only make your mother feel more comfortable. As for whether she can pull through, that’s up to fate.”

After writing the prescription, Physician Zhuang handed it over. After thinking for a moment, he took the prescription back and handed it to his apprentice, Lin Yunze: "Yunze, you should get this prescription yourself, so those people won't make things difficult for you again... Keep an eye on these people and don't let them tamper with it. In particular, the dosage of ephedra must be controlled. Too much of it can even knock out a horse."

Yunze nodded obediently, packed up his medicine box, and left with the prescription.

"Sixth Prince, I'll head back now. Yunze will return with the medicine later and will inform you of the precautions for decocting it." Imperial Physician Zhuang slung his medicine chest over his shoulder, glanced at the Sixth Prince, and noted that although the thin boy was already twelve years old, he looked shorter than his peers. His worn and oversized clothes were drafty and swayed precariously, making him look pitiful. Clearly, the clothes were altered from adult clothes.

The sixth prince tucked his mother's blanket in, stood up, and, neither humble nor arrogant, gave Physician Zhuang a deep bow: "I will remember your great kindness and virtue."

Guo Xijing was the name of the sixth prince.

Imperial Physician Zhuang glanced at the child, who was about the same age as Yunze, and sighed: "Sixth Prince, I'll head back now. Today is New Year's Eve, and it's not my shift. If you need anything, you can come to the Imperial Hospital to find me tomorrow."

The sixth prince said respectfully, "I'll see you off."
-
At the corner of the alley, Physician Zhuang stopped and said to the Sixth Prince, "Sixth Prince, let's stop here. You should go back and take care of your mother."

The Sixth Prince nodded and was about to turn and leave when he saw two people in the distance. One of them was Qing Shu, the attendant of his elder brother, the Crown Prince. The other looked somewhat familiar, but he didn't know his name. He guessed that he was also someone from the Crown Prince's side.

The Sixth Prince's face lit up with joy, assuming they were bringing him food. He was about to go and greet them when Physician Zhuang pulled him aside and hid him in the shadows. Physician Zhuang had lived a long life; what kind of people hadn't he seen? Although the Sixth Prince was young, he wasn't stupid, so he stood there silently, only hearing the two men start chatting.

"Qingshu, are you really going to deliver food to the Sixth Prince later?" the familiar-looking servant asked.

"Pah! What sixth prince? He's nothing but a bastard child born to a lowly servant. When has the Emperor ever acknowledged him? Calling him the sixth prince makes him think he's a prince! He's not worthy! Let him wait if he wants!" Qing Shu spat out a mouthful of spittle, her face full of disdain. "It's only because our Crown Prince is kind-hearted that he gives him some face in front of the Grand Tutor, calling him 'Sixth Brother.' Otherwise, he wouldn't even be worthy to carry our Crown Prince's shoes! Mo Hua, don't you think so?"

"Of course. Hopefully, the Grand Tutor can put in a good word for His Highness the Crown Prince before the Emperor. Perhaps, if the Crown Prince is pleased, he might even be rewarded!" It turned out that the other attendant was named Mo Hua.

"By the way, did you know that a few days ago, that lowly servant girl offended His Highness the Crown Prince? He punished her by making her kneel all night. That was so satisfying!"

The Sixth Prince's face was extremely ugly. He hadn't heard a word of the conversation between the two men afterward. His head was buzzing. He lowered his head and gave a self-deprecating laugh. So it was all a lie! Of course, who was he? How could someone as high and mighty as the Crown Prince see even the dust? So it was he who had harmed his mother, and he had actually been grateful to him. How ridiculous!

"Sixth Prince, please take these loose silver coins and exchange them for some food." Imperial Physician Zhuang patted the Sixth Prince's head. After thinking for a moment, he couldn't help but say, "Sixth Prince, there are some things I shouldn't say, but... sometimes, you have to fight for many things yourself. The law of the jungle, that's how cruel the rules of this world are."

The sixth prince looked up at Physician Zhuang and nodded thoughtfully, though it was unclear whether he truly understood.
-
"Mother, you'll get better after drinking this medicine..." The Sixth Prince carefully brought a bowl of freshly brewed medicine to his mother's bedside.

The mother struggled to sit up and drank the medicine in one gulp. She knew her time was coming to an end, but this medicine was a token of her son's love.

“Jing’er…” Mother stroked the Sixth Prince’s face, her eyes slightly moist, “Mother is useless, I’m sorry…”

“Mother, it’s not your fault…” The Sixth Prince held his mother’s hand and shook his head repeatedly. “After I’m gone, you’ll have to rely on yourself for everything. Mountains will crumble, and people will run away…” His mother’s complexion became rosy, perhaps the medicine was working.

The sixth prince was somewhat pleased: "Mother, do you hate him?"

The sixth prince never dared to mention that person in front of his mother, but he really wanted to know what his mother thought.

Mother shook her head: "Without love, how can there be hate? The thing I regret least in my life is giving birth to you..."

The sixth prince leaned against his mother's chest, closed his eyes, and said nothing, but silently murmured in his heart, "Mother, I hate so much! I'm in so much pain!"
"Mother, why are you so hot?" The Sixth Prince felt his mother's body getting hot again and quickly sat up straight. Wasn't she just feeling much better? "I'll go find Physician Zhuang right now..."

“Mother, you know your own body…” Mother grabbed the Sixth Prince’s arm. “Don’t go… Let Mother stay with you a little longer… After the New Year, you’ll be twelve… a big boy…”

"Auntie!"

That night, the Sixth Prince learned about the cruelest thing in the world.

Heaven gave him the warmest love, but then cruelly took it away.

"Bang! Bang!" Loud noises came from outside the window; it was people staying up late to celebrate the New Year setting off fireworks.
-
"Why is he here?" The Crown Prince was having Qing Shu help him button his robe when he spotted a thin figure by the horse farm.

"Your Highness, perhaps I took your words seriously..." Qing Shu replied while speeding up his work.

"Which sentence?" the crown prince asked, puzzled.

"It's that line you mentioned, where you said you'd have the chance to teach him horseback riding and polo..." Qing Shu replied with a light laugh.

"Oh? Did I say that?" The crown prince sneered and shook his head.

Qing Shu lowered his head and remained silent, only smiling.

"I'll deal with it sometime; it's an eyesore." The crown prince's smile faded, and he touched the jade pendant at his waist.

Qing Shu nodded. He understood that this action meant the Crown Prince had murderous intent, which was normal; after all, who would want to share the same blood as such an ant?
-
"Giddy up!" The prince, dressed in a smart outfit, his clothes fluttering in the wind, swung his polo mallet and struck the polo ball hard. Goal! A thunderous cheer erupted from the stands.

Suddenly, the prince's horse reared up and neighed, its front hooves raised high.

"The horse is startled!" someone in the crowd shouted.