Chapter 160

C160 – Life Is a Man’s Life

Crown Prince Zhao rode his horse while Tang Yue engaged in a playful skirmish with Ping Shun and Zhao Sanlang on the carriage. Both of them exhibited remarkable audacity, entering the carriage under the Crown Prince’s keen gaze. Fortunately, Tang Yue managed to withstand the pressure.

“Why haven’t we seen Huangfu Chun around lately? Has His Highness confined him?” Zhao Sanlang had never held much affection for this lad. He always found him excessively vivacious. Honorable men like them remained oblivious to being deceived.

Despite no one ever openly admitting their honesty.

“I’m not sure. I’ll check on him once we return.” Tang Yue also found it peculiar. Given Zhang Chun’s disposition, he didn’t seem the type to keep such a low profile.

The group entered the Crown Prince’s Palace. Tang Yue guided Zhao Sanlang and Ping Shun to Zhang Chun’s residence. Following his noble title inheritance, Zhang Chun should have moved to his own Marquis’s Mansion. However, he continued to reside in the Crown Prince’s Palace, citing his youth as the reason.

“Where’s the young duke?” Tang Yue stepped into the courtyard and inquired of a servant boy attending to Zhang Chun.

The young lad appeared flustered, his legs nearly giving way when Tang Yue grabbed him. He remained silent for an extended moment.

“What’s happening? Where is he?” Tang Yue’s brow furrowed.

“I can’t... Would anyone in the Crown Prince’s Palace lose face?”

“I’m asking you a question. Are you daft?” Zhao Sanlang grasped the servant and gently slapped his cheek.

“No... young master, the young master is inside...”

Tang Yue regarded him with suspicion. “Are you certain?”

Without waiting for a response, he kicked the door open and entered the room. A waft of warm air enveloped the space. Beneath the covers lay a human-shaped figure.

“Could it be? You’re still sleeping at this hour?” Tang Yue chuckled and approached to pull back the blanket.

The individual beneath the blanket stirred, rolling over to continue sleeping, undisturbed.

Tang Yue frowned anew, sitting at the bedside and patting the figure’s back. “Hey, were you out thieving last night? Have you had your dinner?”

Tang Yue grew alarmed as Zhang Chun remained unresponsive. He gently tugged Zhang Chun closer and noticed the redness of his face, the sweat on his forehead. A basin of cold water sat beside the bed, its cloth handkerchief soaking within.

He placed his hand on Zhang Chun’s forehead, testing his body temperature. Then, he opened Zhang Chun’s eyes and examined his pupils. Only then did he ascertain that the lad was sick and running a rather high fever.

“What’s happening?” A concerned Ping Shun inquired from the side. His bond with Zhang Chun was peculiar—they hadn’t known each other long, yet their friendship felt remarkably deep, as if they had known each other in a previous life.

“He has a fever.” Tang Yue then called out, “Someone, come!”

Without delay, the four servants hurried into the room, keeping their heads bowed as they knelt on the ground.

“What happened? When did the Young Marquis fall ill? Can you provide any details?”

The servant, who had been seized by Tang Yue, stepped forward and spoke in a hushed tone, “Young Master, the Young Duke began feeling unwell the previous night, but he didn’t wish to trouble anyone.”

“Don’t you know you’ve had a fever for three days and nights? Do you have any common sense?” Tang Yue questioned, teeth gritted.

“It’s been... three days?” Zhang Chun’s expression shifted dramatically. Though his face remained flushed, some unhealthy pallor had crept in.

“What do you think?”

“Brother, hehe... Well, you’re a miraculous doctor, aren’t you? This little issue is nothing, right?” Zhang Chun wrapped his arms around Tang Yue’s and began to act a bit spoiled.

Tang Yue leaned in closer to his ear and hissed, “Cut it out! You, of all people, should know best whether I’m a miraculous doctor or not. And since you know I’m a doctor, why did you hide it from me?”

Zhang Chun rubbed his ears and edged away slightly. “Isn’t it the New Year season?” He was aware of Tang Yue and the Crown Prince’s recent busy schedules, where they often went without seeing anyone for days and nights. Besides, it was the New Year. Could it be that they wanted everyone preoccupied with his illness?

Ultimately, he was just using this place as a temporary residence. He was merely a guest. A guest ought to behave as such.

He had already been shameless enough to latch onto Tang Yue, a fellow villager. If he caused any more trouble, he’d end up hating himself.

“Can’t you take a break from treating patients during the New Year? Moreover,” Tang Yue continued, “it’s just a matter of taking some medicine. Do you plan to drag the Lunar New Year on forever? Is that fun?”

“Alright, brother. I know I messed up. Aiya, I’m feeling sleepy again. Can I sleep?”

“Still sleeping?” Zhao Sanlang hurried over and pulled him upright. “No, no. We heard you’ve been sleeping for three days. Come on, let’s chat. Play some cards; we can sleep later.”

Ping Shun spontaneously grabbed a deck of cards and placed a small table on the bed. He sat on one side, casting a glance at Tang Yue.

Tang Yue conceded defeat to them and sent someone to inform Crown Prince Zhao before joining the game.

Tang Yue diligently monitored Zhang Chun’s body temperature every hour and administered medicine four hours later. He only relaxed once the fever had subsided.

Zhang Chun observed the people around him and couldn’t deny feeling touched. After all, Tang Yue hailed from their hometown, and in his eyes, Zhao Sanlang was an aristocratic young master. Such a person should not treat him as a friend, despite their hometown connection.

This left him greatly flattered.

Ultimately, he struggled to assimilate into the role of the Loyal and Brave Marquis. He couldn’t grasp anything, lacked a sense of purpose, and found it uncomfortable to live there.

Before he departed, Tang Yue inquired, “Have you learned how to write?”

“Yes,” Zhang Chun replied. It had been a while, and not learning would label him as foolish.

“Alright then, starting tomorrow, you don’t need to bother with nearly everything. Just stay by my side. All those high-minded principles of governing the country and the Four Books and Five Classics are meaningless,” Tang Yue advised.

Zhang Chun chuckled inwardly. While his lips wore a smile, he retorted, “Let the Loyal and Brave Marquis run errands for you? Aren’t you afraid for your life?”

Tang Yue snorted, “If you’re running errands, I’d think your legs are too short. I’ll have you observe people and situations. That’s far more valuable than studying in seclusion.”

“You don’t need to be so literal,” Zhang Chun acknowledged, realizing that he was currently not very tall and uncertain how much he could grow.

Tang Yue curled his lips. Knowing that Zhao Sanlang and Ping Shun planned to visit him tomorrow, they left together.

Once everyone had departed, Zhang Chun lay in the quiet room, staring at the ceiling for a while. Eventually, he drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep, a welcome change from his previous restless nights.