CH 42.2

Meng Huan: “It’s time to eat.”

He picked up a bowl from the eight kinds of porridge on the table and sat before Lin Bozhou: “Want to eat tenderloin porridge?”

Lin Bozhou just nodded.

Meng Huan used a spoon to scoop up a spoonful, and after checking the temperature, he gently put it to his lips. “Your Highness, open your mouth.”

Lin Bozhou’s eyelids twitched. His lips were pale, and the white veil covered the upper half of his face, making his nose and lips look especially cold. It was hard to imagine that a heaven’s proud son* like him would one day be reduced to having someone feed him.

*Heaven’s proud son: A metaphor for a powerful nation, country, or talented person.

He once ate by himself when he lost his sight. Because his wrist was careless, he splashed soup on his clothes, but the subordinates only dared to shed tears beside him, not even daring to remind him.

Reminding him would only humiliate his self-esteem.

Lin Bozhou opened his lips, and the warm porridge was delivered to his lips. The spoon handle was square, and the spoon was round, scooping half of a spoon every time. His lips were pinkish-white, and when they entered his mouth, the porridge’s juice seemed to spill over.

Meng Huan was about to take a silk handkerchief to wipe him clean, but unexpectedly, Lin Bozhou poked out the tip of his scarlet tongue and gently licked at his lips.

“……”

Meng Huan’s hand paused, and his mind went blank.

For some reason, this blindfolded, spoon-licking look of Lin Bozhou made him feel a place in his heart move a little.

Dominance and Submission, especially the high-powered Lin Bozhou.

It seemed to give off a bit of sadomasochistic pleasure.

“…………”

Surprised by this idea, Meng Huan felt he belonged to the people who read yellow* text too much, and his mind was full of yellow scrap, tvt. He hastily dismissed the idea and returned the spoon to scoop another spoonful.

*Pornographic content.

Lin Bozhou hung his head and ate without saying a word.

After the initial burst of weirdness passed, Meng Huan only felt that Lin Bozhou listened to his words to the extreme.

Lowering his face before him, he had to slightly bend his spine to adapt to Meng Huan because of his height. When hearing Meng Huan’s movement, those eyes under the white veil would turn to him subconsciously, although they could not see anything.

–To find the only source of light in the pitch-black vision.

Meng Huan’s heart inexplicably softened.

As if something was clenched by him and faded in strength.

He also quieted down and fed him the porridge and dishes.

Halfway through the bowl of porridge, someone came in at the door.

“Your Highness, Elder Cui heard that Your Highness’ eye disease has returned and sent a hundred-year ginseng, asking Your Highness to take care of his body, and he is waiting for the day when Your Highness’ body heals and returns to the court council.”

With such a high-ranking official like Lin Bozhou being sick, a sensible official would come to visit. Even if Lin Bozhou closed the door and declined to meet visitors, gifts and concerns still need to be sent. This was the way of the world in the bureaucracy.

Meng Huan blinked and was surprised. “The relapse occurred last night, and he already learned about it this morning?”

Lin Bozhou: “I’m afraid he knew earlier.”

The court hoped Lin Bozhou would fall, and they knew all the information about him. Someone was secretly watching his movements at all times, and perhaps their spies were also in the prince’s residence.

Lin Bozhou’s eyes, except for the people in the prince’s residence looking forward for him to get better, people outside the house were burning incense and donating to the temple, each donating ten years of lifespan to pray for Lin Bozhou’s blindness, never be able to see again.

The attendant asked, “Your Highness, the ginseng–”

“Boil it.”

Lin Bozhou’s voice was calm, “Thank him for his kindness on behalf of this prince.”

The tone of voice, however, had no gratitude in it.

—

The weather was very hot.

Meng Huan immersed himself in writing by the lotus pond, lowering his head, and his expression was slightly gloomy.

“Among the fruits, the most precious ones are plums and crab-apple; mustard and ginger are inseparable from the vegetables in the daily diet. Sea water is salty, river water is fresh, fish play in the water, and birds fly freely in the sky.” Shan Shu looked stern, holding a demonstrative ruler in one hand as he read the words without the slightest hint of compassion in his expression.

–Even though Meng Huan’s husband, Lin Bozhou, sat beside him.

After lunch, Lin Bozhou had nothing to do, so he followed Meng Huan to listen to his literacy lesson.

Now, Lin Bozhou wore a plain white silk cheongsam*, his eyes were covered with a white veil, and he sat in a chair with his head hanging in silence, with a maid slowly beating a fan behind him. He closed his eyelids, and it was unclear if he was asleep.

*Cheongsam: Traditional Asian dress for men.

<<The Book of Family Names>> and <<Thousand Character Classic>> were learned by a boy when he started studying. Lin Bozhou could recite them backward at three, but he had to listen to his wife recite them when he was twenty-six.

Shan Shu: “Salty.”

Meng Huan: “…… I can’t.”

Shan Shu frowned tightly and slapped the ruler with a bang.

Meng Huan: qaq.

His scalp tingled, and he nervously pondered.

In his ears, Lin Bozhou seemed to laugh.

When he laughed, Meng Huan knew he wasn’t asleep but listening.

–A lot like the parent who sat at the back of the classroom to watch you in school. No matter how stupid you were, he wouldn’t blame you and would only be happy with your progress, even if only a little.

Lin Bozhou was really like a father.

Meng Huan mumbled, buried his head, and continued to write.

But thanks to this daily studying, he was now familiar with the structure of the strokes of traditional Chinese characters, learning to write faster than before and completing the learning task ahead of time.

Sitting in the shade, Shan Xing came along the corridor and bowed to Lin Bozhou before asking Shan Shu about it.

“Father, they sent me to ask, with the recent Lantern Festival, when are you free to make an appointment to drink together on the banks of the Jin River and see the beauty of the summer night and display of fireworks and lanterns.”

The Qingke, literati and elegant people, loved the most to go to a lively place, drink wine, sing, and read poems for reward.

Shan Shu twirled his beard, seemingly in consideration.

Meng Huan raised his eyes and remembered the Lantern Festival outside the prince’s residence.

Although Great Zong had a night curfew, it was slightly relaxed during the lantern festival, delaying the lifting of the ban until the third of the five-night watch periods*.

*Around 23.00 – 01.00

During this period, the city was relaxed and lively, filled with the beautiful scenery of lights and fireworks and the magnificent landscape of the bustling Great Zong.

…… It must be beautiful, right?

Meng Huan thought for a while and turned to Lin Bozhou.

His curved eyes contained starlights, revealing a little snaggle-tooth as he smiled.

His voice was full of expectation, “Your Highness, should we go out to take a look?”