Xie Jue was disturbed by Fang Chuning’s words before sleep, unable to rest, why would Fang Chuning say that? Was he not good enough to him? He always unconsciously paid attention to his joys and sorrows, trying to make him comfortable as much as possible. He could sense Fang Chuning’s unhappiness and tried to comfort him in the way Fang Chuning once did, though sowhat awkwardly. He racked his brains to be good to him, yet why did he seem unable to feel his affection? From his childhood, Fang Chuning was different from others in his heart; as long as he was by Fang Chuning’s side, he felt joy and peace, no matter how dire the situation was. As long as he was there, he wasn’t afraid at all.
Was it because he always forced him to take dicine, making him unhappy?
Taking dicine was for his health, Fang Chuning never liked taking dicine since he was young. Once during winter, he fell ill and didn’t get better for over a dozen days. Back then, he was young and weak; his parents wouldn’t let him see Fang Chuning for fear of spreading illness. After he went to the Imperial College, he skipped classes to secretly visit Fang Chuning. Mrs. Fang said Fang Chuning listened to the Imperial Physician and took dicine every day; the room was filled with the sll of dicine. He was forced to lie down for over ten days; upon seeing his young companion, he was overjoyed and carelessly shared with Xie Jue that he had poured his dicine into a vase. The large vase in the room was full of the dicine he poured out. He hated the bitter dicine, as well as attending Imperial College in the cold winter, so he simply stayed sick at ho, unconcerned as his condition worsened.
As soon as Xie Jue left, he reported this to Mrs. Fang.
Afterward, Fang Chuning was monitored by Mrs. Fang to take dicine for five consecutive days. Fang Chuning got angry with him for the first ti and didn’t talk to him for half a month.
Later, unable to bear it, Fang Chuning brought peach blossom pastries from ho to make peace. Xie Jue, too, was a bit angry, and Fang Chuning pleaded for reconciliation for five days, promising to take his dicine properly when sick in the future. Xie Jue reluctantly accepted his peach blossom pastries.
Since then, though Fang Chuning took dicine reluctantly, he never dared to be careless. Once he lost his mory, he returned to his old habits, thus keeping a watchful eye on Fang Chuning’s dicine consumption beca Xie Jue’s top priority along the way, fearing that a mont of inattention would lead to it being wasted again.
Xie Jue pondered all night and had a plan in mind. At breakfast, it was clear that Xie Jue hadn’t slept well. Breakfast in Pingnan County consisted mainly of various kinds of noodles; even when beautifully presented, they tasted quite similar. The small kitchen prepared porridge exclusively for Xie Jue, but he had no appetite at all. Seeing his tiredness, Fang Chuning frowned, "Did you not sleep all night?"
Xie Jue, staying awake all night, was extrely weary and found no taste in food. Fang Chuning put so side dishes in his porridge, leaving Xie Jue montarily stunned. He almost doubted that Fang Chuning had lost his mory. Previously, he used to take care of him ticulously in this way, spoiling him completely.
"Is it because I forced you to take dicine along the way, making you unhappy?" Xie Jue asked.
The question left Fang Chuning puzzled. He was indeed a bit unhappy about the constant supervision over his dicine taking, a reflection of his post-amnesia state. Naturally averse to dicine, constant monitoring made him a bit irritable, yet now he didn’t feel it at all. No matter what Xie Jue did, he wouldn’t get angry.
"It’s alright."
Xie Jue surmised it was indeed the dicine that upset him, thinking himself too strict and harsh. Xie Jue said, "Your body hasn’t expelled all toxins. If you don’t continue taking dicine to cleanse them, your body will only be attacked by toxins. If you truly dislike taking dicine, we might reduce the frequency to once daily."
Fang Chuning, "... You stayed up all night just to wonder if I’m upset?"
"You said you never felt my affection. I was thinking maybe it’s because I forced you to take dicine, causing your displeasure." Xie Jue spoke sincerely, willing to compromise for Fang Chuning.
"You... you..." Fang Chuning was montarily confused. Could it be that Ting Feng indeed cared so much about his emotions? Actually, speaking seriously, Ting Feng always cared about his emotions, hoping he wouldn’t be upset, always wishing for his comfort and pleasure. It was just that his expressions were subtle, never straightforwardly saying anything like ’I like you.’ That day when he, with reddened eyes, said not to leave him, it was already the most tender thing Ting Feng had ever uttered.
"Alright!" Fang Chuning gladly agreed, thinking if it’s once daily, then once daily it is. Since Ting Feng conceded, he naturally would. However, what Ting Feng said before sleep was not his actual intention; such a twist made Fang Chuning not know whether to laugh or cry.
After breakfast, Xie Jue went to deal with governntal affairs, while Fang Chuning, still recuperating, was free of duties and wanted to take Cui Lansong for a drink. Cui Lansong said, "Mr. Fang, go drink by yourself. I’m busy, the Prince assigned a lot of tasks. If I don’t finish, the Prince’s cold face is too scary. Don’t involve in your eating, drinking, and playing."
Fang Chuning couldn’t help but retort, "Why do you call it eating, drinking, and playing? I’m recovering, aren’t I?"
"Co on, I see your injuries are almost healed. No need to recover further. The Prince is busy like that; you’re drinking daily. Watch out, I’ll report you!"
"Then I’ll shave your head!"
Cui Lansong, "..."
Thus, several days passed in busyness. Calculating the ti, the officials arranged by the cabinet should have arrived. The county gentry in Pingnan County were wailing, but the people applauded, as the Ningzhou Iron Cavalry, with Xie Jue’s token, arrested many, overturning past injustices. The wealth and resources the gentry had plundered from the people were returned; lands were re-asured, property was redistributed, and the population registered. Xie Jue thodically guided Du Fang through these matters, mainly helping him get accustod to the way things were done in Beining, and letting the people recognize Du Fang’s face. All recent administrative achievents were credited to Du Fang. As long as the people knew there were good officials even among the Beiman who handled cases impartially, there would be no protests against Du Fang as County Governor. He would be able to secure his position in Pingnan County.
A batch of gentry had their households confiscated by Xie Jue, but he didn’t pursue it to the extre. Mostly, they faced exile or had their properties seized, as he’s never been one to ruthlessly slaughter the masses. If it wasn’t deserving of the death penalty, he’d spare them.
Each ti when he was this exhausted, spinning like a top, on returning from work one day, he found a large bath barrel in his room with servants pouring hot water into it.
Xie Jue frowned, "What are you doing?"
A servant said, "Replying to the Prince, General said that you’ve been overly fatigued these days and should take a soak to relax."
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