Chapter 35 – The Prince Experienced A Moment Of Social Death.

After returning to the room, Jian Mei found that there was an additional package on the table.

Right next to the charger, there was a delicately packaged and technologically advanced parcel. It was adorned with a blue metallic casing and had some weight when picked up. The box had a button in the center. Jian Mei hesitated for a moment, then finally pressed it. The box made a “beep” sound and slowly opened, revealing its contents.

Jian Mei hesitated for a moment and then finally exclaimed in pleasant surprise, “Is it herbal medicine?!”

He had almost forgotten about the incident with All kinds of Medicine, but now he suddenly saw herbs appearing out of thin air on the table. It was both shocking and joyful, making him feel excited. In the past, he would have found it hard to believe, but after experiencing DaZhuang ge’s ability to teleport things with the charger, he became more accepting.

“Knock, knock.”

There was a knocking sound from outside.

Jian Mei was startled and turned around cautiously, asking, “Who is it?”

His father’s voice came from outside, “Mei Mei, it’s me.”

Jian Mei quickly put away the herbs and went to open the door. Outside stood his father, Jian Shencheng, holding a cup of milk. He was wearing dark-colored pajamas and looked at Jian Mei gently as he spoke, “You’re still awake?”

Jian Mei shook his head, “Not yet.”

Jian Shencheng asked, “Can I come in, Mei Mei?”

Jian Mei agreed with a sound and stepped aside, “You can.”

They walked inside, and Jian Shencheng placed the milk on the table. Then he sat down on the nearby sofa and asked, “What did you do with your brother today?”

Jian Mei honestly recounted what happened at the game center.

After listening, Jian Shencheng didn’t scold him but softly asked, “Did you have fun playing?”

Jian Mei thought for a moment and answered, “Yes.”

Just when Jian Shencheng thought that was the answer, he saw Jian Mei fall silent again, as if contemplating something. Then Jian Mei spoke up once more, “But not entirely.”

Jian Shen Cheng asked him, “Why?”

Jian Mei hesitated for a moment, “Because I don’t know if Mom is still angry.”

Upon hearing this, Jian Shencheng felt a pang in his heart. He looked at his well-behaved and understanding son, feeling a mix of emotions. Children were always hard to understand, but it was just that they had never taken the time to sit down and talk with them.

Jian Shencheng reached out and gently touched Jian Mei’s head. “Your mom isn’t angry. She’s just worried about you.”

“Did she do something or say something that made you unhappy?” Jian Shencheng’s actions were gentle. “I will apologize on her behalf, okay? Don’t hold a grudge against mom. It would hurt her deeply.”

Jian Mei lowered his head and said, “I’m not holding a grudge against her. I wasn’t home today because I was afraid of running into her. I didn’t want to make her unhappy.”

Seeing his child like this, Jian Shencheng couldn’t help but sigh. He said to Jian Mei, “It’s not right for you to disappear without a word when there’s a problem. If there’s anything you want to discuss, I promise that i’ll help you resolve it. Can you trust me?”

In fact, Jian Mei had spent more time with his father since he was young.

When he was a child, he followed his grandfather and father to learn about herbs. When he was hospitalized due to illness, his father acted as his attending doctor. In many stages of his life, his father had accompanied him through difficulties. From the bottom of his heart, Jian Mei trusted his father.

So he hesitated for a moment and spoke up, “Um… Dad, can you help me with something?”

Jian Shencheng asked, “Tell me.”

Jian Mei thought about it over and over again, and in the end, he took the herbs out of the drawer.He knew how shocking this would be for his parents, but he had to do it. He alone didn’t have the ability to make medicine for Dazhuang-ge at this moment. He couldn’t take a person’s life lightly and many things couldn’t wait.

Jian Shencheng glanced at it briefly and his expression changed, “Where did you get this from?”

Jian Mei didn’t want to expose the issue with the phone, so he thought for a moment and said, “DaZhuang ge sent it to me.”

Jian Shencheng could hardly believe it. Each herb inside was extremely valuable, and if they were put up for auction, they could be worth a small fortune. And yet, DaZhuang casually gave them to his own son?

Jian Mei said, “Dad, take a look. Are these the herbs mentioned in the prescription?”

Jian Shencheng, being a doctor, immediately recognized which prescription his son was referring to. He verified it quickly and nodded solemnly, “They’re exactly the same.”

Jian Mei felt joy in his heart. He sat down beside his father and said, “Dad, can you help me, please?”

Jian Shencheng had always found it strange that his son suddenly started studying this prescription. Now he understood everything, and his expression became serious. “Mei Mei, what kind of person is the other party? Why did they ask you to make medicine? Are you being taken advantage of? You…”

Jian Mei quickly said, “No, it’s not like that…”

He wanted to explain that he took it upon himself to help DaZhuang ge with his illness and that he wasn’t being used. But the situation was too complicated, and he couldn’t explain it all. He could only repeat, “Dad, if you trust me, then he really isn’t a bad person.”

Seeing his child’s troubled expression, Jian Shencheng finally sighed. He looked at the herbs in his hand and then looked at his child. “Mei Mei, have you made up your mind?”

Jian Mei pursed his lips. “I’m worried that my decision will cause trouble for you, Dad.”

He truly cared about his friend. If he made this medicine, it would bring trouble and serious consequences to his father. He couldn’t be selfish and only think about himself.

Jian Shencheng smiled gently and rubbed Jian Mei’s head. “If it’s your friend, and you believe in him, then Dad believes in him too.”

Jian Mei’s eyes brightened. “Dad, are you really willing to help me?”

Jian Shencheng sighed. “What else can I do? I just said that I would help you solve the problem. It wouldn’t be right to go back on my word. That’s not how our Jian family does things.”

Jian Mei happily hugged his father’s waist, feeling the warmth and comfort. The pressure on his heart finally relaxed. He whispered, “Dad, thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for?” Jian Shen Cheng patted his back. “Even if he’s not your friend, as a doctor, I can’t turn a blind eye to someone in need.”

Upon hearing his father’s words, Jian Mei recalled the years of hard work his father and grandfather had put in. His voice became gentle but determined. “Dad, is it very hard to be a good doctor?”

Jian Shen Cheng’s movements paused for a moment, then he replied, “Any profession is hard. Just do what you love.”

“Can I become a good doctor too?”

“As long as you do what’s right for yourself and have a clear conscience, that’s enough.” Jian Shen Cheng looked at his child and said softly, “Dad believes in you.”

Jian Mei said, “I will study hard and get into a good medical school. In the future, I’ll become an excellent doctor, just like you.”

However, Jian Shencheng didn’t feel as happy as he appeared.

As parents, they had worked hard all their lives, not to make their children go through the same hardships, but to ensure their happiness. Jian Mei and Jian Changjia had not experienced a happy childhood, so they never placed high demands on their academic achievements. As long as their children were happy, it was enough. That was their mutual agreement. If their children could lead a healthy life, they would no longer ask for anything more.

The Next Day

Jian Mei secretly learned how to make a cake.

Today is DaZhuang ge’s birthday, and he felt that he should put in some effort. He decided to make a cake himself and give it to DaZhuang ge as a gift. It would be more precious than buying one from a store. There would be a sense of ceremony. At the moment, there was nobody at home during the day, and even the housekeeper hadn’t arrived. He held his phone in the kitchen, watching tutorials. The kitchen in Jian’s house was well-equipped, and the housekeeper had bought plenty of ingredients, including an oven. Jian Mei used to help his grandfather cook and light fires when he was at his grandparents’ house, so the difficulty of cooking wasn’t particularly challenging for him.

However…

The instructions in the video were straightforward, but the actual process was extremely difficult.

Not to mention, he encountered a lifelong challenge in kneading the dough. When it came to separating egg yolks and egg whites, it would have been fine if there was a mixer, but he couldn’t find the egg beater anywhere. After searching for a while with no luck, he squatted in the kitchen and attempted to beat the foam with his hands. Although hand-beating was not a problem, he couldn’t control the consistency. So after putting the mixture in the oven, what came out was a soft cake…

Jian Mei felt frustrated. “Really?”

The tutorial seemed so simple. Why was it that it looked good when he watched, but turned out to be a failure when he tried it himself?

He had stayed up late talking with his father last night, and today he woke up early just to make the cake. But he wasn’t ready to give up just yet. He started beating the eggs again, slowly creating the foam. It might have been because he didn’t have enough time last time. This time, he sat on a small stool in the kitchen and beat it slowly, resting his hands when they got tired, and washing his face with cold water when he felt sleepy.

Starting again from scratch, the second attempt failed. Gathering his determination, he began the third attempt. Jian Mei encountered moments of discouragement along the way, but when he thought about how DaZhuang ge had bought him sweet fruit, making a cake for him didn’t seem like a difficult task.

“This should be about right this time…”

On the third try, as he looked at the well-mixed batter, the kitchen was in complete chaos. Flour and various mixtures were splattered all over the counter, and even he himself looked like a little cat covered in batter. Since baking the cake would also take about an hour, Jian Mei started cleaning up the mess in the kitchen. After finishing the cleaning, there was still some time left. He was both tired and sleepy, but he couldn’t bear to leave the cake unattended. He took a piece of scrap paper and practiced writing a birthday greeting. Initially, it was to distract himself, but as he continued writing, he became even sleepier. Eventually, he couldn’t resist the drowsiness and fell asleep.

The person on the sofa held a card paper and curled up in the corner, sleeping. The door was opened from outside, and someone happened to come in and was surprised to see the child sleeping on the sofa.

The person sighed. “Why are you sleeping here?”

The child sleeping on the sofa didn’t look very stable, but due to exhaustion, he has dark circles under his eyes and his sleep seemed troubled, as if he was having a nightmare, his brows furrowed.

The person grabbed a nearby small blanket and covered the child with it. They noticed the words “Happy Birthday” on the card paper and paused for a moment. Before they could think further, they saw the child next to them squirming uncomfortably due to the presence of the blanket. Their eyelashes trembled as if tears were about to fall. The person leaned closer and heard Jian Mei mumbling something in a low, heart-wrenching voice, “Mom…”

The person sitting beside them froze.

A sigh of helplessness seemed to dissipate from their mouth. Eventually, the card paper was put back next to Jian Mei.

Stan Star

Today is the birthday of the Third Prince, Lu Xingwang, but the entire palace is engulfed in an eerie silence and heaviness. Many people are well aware of the prince’s current condition, so celebrating his birthday seems ironic. But his

birthday was celebrated grandly before, especially since the Imperial Concubine Lan paid attention to tradition the most. In the past, the lively and boisterous preparation would have started several days ago, but now the whole palace was

terribly quiet

But…

There are always some people who refuse to be idle and want to cause some trouble.

The faction that had always regarded Lu Xingwang as a thorn in the flesh was the most unwilling to leave people alone. The empress rushed to put on a show of strength early in the morning. Only, she

waited for a long time but didn’t see a shadow of Lu Xingwang. In the end, she asked A Ruo with some annoyance and anger, “Where is His Highness?”

A Ruo hurriedly replied, “His Highness goes to the Hall of Serenity every morning to exercise. We have already sent someone to fetch him.”

The empress waited so long that her tea went cold, and she became impatient. “Why hasn’t he returned yet?”

A Ruo thought, why hasn’t he returned? Empress, don’t you have an idea in your mind? She didn’t dare to say it, so she could only make an excuse, “The Hall of Serenity is quite far from here. Your Majesty, please wait a little longer.”

Just as the empress felt humiliated and couldn’t wait any longer, a figure finally appeared at the entrance.

Lu Xingwang spoke to her, “Greetings, Empress.”

“It’s not easy to see the Third Prince these days.” The empress forced a smile.

Lu Xingwang had an expressionless face. “I didn’t expect the Empress to come.I am sorry to have missed you .”

The underlying meaning was, “Why did you come here? Don’t you know you’re not welcome? Letting you wait here is already a courtesy.”

The Empress forced a smile that seemed a bit stiff, but she quickly adjusted herself. She had the attendant behind her bring forward the prepared gift and said leisurely, “Today is the Third Prince’s birthday. How could I not come? Lan’-er went early and left you alone. I feel sorry for you, being such a lonely child. As the mother of the nation, it’s my duty to take care of you.”

“This chain of divine beads is what I requested from the highest priest, Master Qi Luye. It can bless a person’s divine power to be stable and nourish the body. I thought, since your health is not good, it could be useful for you.” The Empress continued to smile. “It may be plain, but I also had some precious nourishing products from the treasure sent to you.”

It seemed as if she wanted to hit a sore spot, and she couldn’t even let it go on the prince’s birthday. She came to cause trouble.

Lu Xingwang stood there, sunlight falling on him through the palace gate, creating a long and lonely shadow. He knelt down on one knee, saying, “Thank you for your kindness, Empress.”

The Empress smiled proudly and deliberately added, “Then I’ll leave first. In less than half a month, it will be your brother’s coming-of-age ceremony when he turns 18. I’m so busy that I can’t spare any time, so I won’t disturb you.”

She felt satisfied in her heart, and by saying this, she intended to provoke Lu Xingwang. After all, for years, Lu Xingwang had always suppressed her son. Now, she finally had a chance to vent her frustration.

Just as she was thinking about it, she heard a voice from outside, “Disturb? Who’s disturbing?”

The Empress’s movement stiffened. In disbelief, she looked at the Emperor walking slowly in his imperial robe. This matter of Lu Xingwang’s birthday was never mentioned by the Emperor himself. No one expected him to appear at this moment.

Lu Xingwang seemed unsurprised and turned around to bow. “I pay my respects to Father Emperor.”

The Emperor responded, “Hmm, no need for excessive courtesy. It’s your birthday, and after finishing the paperwork in the Hall of Governmental Affairs, I came to see you.”

It was General Zuo who had reported to the Emperor about work earlier in the morning. Seeing how busy the Emperor was, he casually mentioned that he had seen Lu Xingwang in the Hall of Serenity and wanted to have a discussion with the Third Prince. The Emperor had originally not planned to come so early, but after being persuaded by the young general, he decided to come along. Little did he know that upon arrival, he would hear the Empress’s sarcastic words.

He naturally knew that the Empress didn’t like this third son very much, but usually, she maintained a superficial harmony. If he hadn’t come today, he wouldn’t have heard this conversation. Even if the Empress had sent so many nourishing products, he wouldn’t have suspected anything.

The Empress quickly said, “Your Majesty, you’re here. If you had mentioned earlier that you were coming, I would have come with you.”

“No need, Empress. Aren’t you busy?” The Emperor lifted his eyelids and glanced at her. “How could I dare to waste your time?”

The Empress didn’t expect that her conversation with the third prince would be overheard. She felt a sense of urgency and quickly stood up and knelt down, whispering, “Your Majesty, it’s not for my own sake that I am busy. Being able to share your worries is also what I hope for.”

The Emperor curled his lips and smiled. “Share my worries?”

Cold sweat inexplicably formed on the Empress’s back.

The Emperor didn’t say much more. Instead, he supported Lu Xingwang next to him and gave him some instructions. It was precisely because of the Empress’s actions that he felt even more guilty towards this child. The Imperial Concubine Lan, was also a woman he loved, and this child was his pride. Seeing him in such a state, his heart couldn’t help but ache.

“I recently obtained several new mechanical products sent from other star systems in the palace. I remember you like them. I’ll have them sent to you later.” The Emperor thought for a moment and continued, “General Zuo also mentioned today that it’s not easy for you to meet and interact with others outside the military. You haven’t left the palace much in the past six months, and you must be bored. I’ll have someone issue a fast pass token to General Zuo so that he can come and accompany you regularly.”

Lu Xingwang always knew his limits and never became arrogant or discouraged. Even though he had gained some advantages now, he still followed the rules to express his gratitude, “Thank you, Father Emperor.”

He didn’t dwell on the favor bestowed upon him.

Lu Xingwang just looked up at his parents and whispered, “Father Emperor, you’ve been working early in the morning and should take care of your health.”

When someone who usually doesn’t care about others suddenly shows concern, it touches people’s hearts. The Emperor looked at the child who appeared even thinner than before, and of course, he noticed. Although he was the Emperor, his emotions were never too apparent. He simply nodded, “I’m aware. You should rest well. I have other matters to attend to and must leave.”

Lu Xingwang wasn’t surprised and once again bid farewell to his father.

From beginning to end, the Emperor didn’t reprimand the Empress, but it made her feel extremely uncomfortable. She couldn’t find a way to retaliate and ended up feeling restless. Today, she had come to trouble Lu Xingwang, but it had backfired, leaving her feeling like a fish on a chopping block. She hurriedly followed behind the Emperor.

…

Afternoon

A Ruo was busy sorting through the congratulations and meticulously extravagant gifts that had been sent from various places. The gifts were as abundant as flowing water. After finally finishing the handover, she walked quietly into the hall.

“Your Highness, there’s news from the front that originally, for the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony, the Ministry of Rites had planned for it to be quite grand. However, around noon, His Majesty suddenly decided to promote frugality and reduced the scale. I heard that even the meal sent to the Crown Prince’s residence at noon was left untouched. It was returned as it was.” A Ruo’s tone contained a hint of schadenfreude.(pleasure derived by someone from another person’s misfortune.(

Lu Xingwang’s birthday was kept simple, and the Crown Prince didn’t avoid it either. Moreover, the loss wasn’t just for a regular birthday; it was his coming-of-age ceremony at 18. It was an important event in one’s life, especially for the Empress and others. This was an opportunity for them to announce to the world that the era of the Crown Prince had arrived and establish their position.

They never expected such a turn of events. Now, the whole world would know that the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony was reduced to simplicity, making them a laughingstock. After saying this, A Ruo looked at Lu Xingwang but found that he wasn’t as happy as she had imagined. Arroh hesitated for a moment and said, “Your Highness, what would you like to eat for dinner? Shall I prepare something you like?”

“No need,” Lu Xingwang replied. “I have no appetite.”

Due to the effects of the toxin, his appetite had become smaller and smaller, and he had even stopped taking the medication during this period. Lu Xingwang had started receiving nutrition through liquid supplements and no longer consumed solid food.

A Ruo felt deeply distressed. “Then, what about…”

Lu Xingwang said, “I’ll go visit my mother tonight.”

In previous years, it was always the Imperial Concubine who invited him to the palace for his birthday. But this year, Lu Xingwang decided to visit the Imperial Concubine on his own. The Imperial Concubine’s tomb was located outside the palace and was difficult to access. When he arrived, he found that the tomb was closed off, so he sat on the stone steps in the inner hall, quietly gazing at the familiar grass and trees inside the tomb. In the past, he had resisted coming here because it meant facing his mother’s harsh demands and endless teachings. At this moment, the place was so quiet, yet he felt an unprecedented sense of desolation and sadness.

Every night, during the peak period of the toxin’s effects, his body would burn intensely, causing cold sweat to form on his back. However, his face remained calm.

He remembered that his mother had first dressed him in the prince’s robes on these steps and said, “You, Xingwang, is truly outstanding and handsome. These robes fit you perfectly. When you turn eighteen and hold a ceremony in the hall, you will look even more handsome! Mother is looking forward to that day.”

At that time, Lu Xingwang had said, “That will take a long time.”

The Imperial Concubine smiled and said, “Time flies. It will arrive soon.”

In the blink of an eye, many years had passed, and that time had indeed flown by, changing many things.

“Mother.”

“So, you’re not keeping your promise either. You didn’t wait to see me hold my coming-of-age ceremony.”

Lu Xingwang’s voice was low and hoarse due to his illness. He leaned back against the stone steps, gazing at the moon, and chuckled self-deprecatingly. “I can’t even see it myself now.”

Time had passed quickly, but he couldn’t see it anymore.

Lu Xingwang looked at the courtyard, where the wind rustled the treetops, and whispered softly, “Now, I feel that time is passing very slowly.”

Pain and torment filled each day, and there was no sight of any end or hope in the future. The pressure weighed heavily, making it difficult to breathe. The extravagant gifts seemed cold and intimidating. The gift-givers surely knew about his current situation. Sending these items was nothing more than a deliberate stab at his heart. Lu Xingwang’s eyes were filled with a deep darkness, almost blending with the profound darkness of the night.

“Ding dong.”

Suddenly, a message sound interrupted his thoughts.

It was Jian Mei sending a message, sounding secretive. “Is your phone nearby? I have something for you.”

Lu Xingwang was somewhat surprised. Could it also be a birthday gift? It seemed that he had mentioned it to Jian Mei, but he hadn’t expected him to take it to heart. It felt strange to him. What kind of luxurious gift could it be? Although Lu Xingwang couldn’t help but think about it, he didn’t reveal much emotion and simply replied, “It’s nearby. What do you want to give me?”

The item transfer function activated, and a golden light slowly emerged. A string of candied hawthorns descended from above. Jian Mei’s voice message also came, filled with joy. “Ding ding ding! This is the candied hawthorn I mentioned before. It’s delicious!”

…

Lu Xingwang looked at the crimson hawthorns in his hand and fell into contemplation.

He thought it would end there, but unexpectedly, another golden light appeared, and this time, an extraordinarily ugly-looking cake, the opposite of exquisite palace desserts, appeared. Jian Mei’s commentary followed closely. “This is the birthday cake I made for you. It’s my first attempt. I don’t know how it tastes. I’m afraid it might ruin the overall experience. You can taste it and let me know.”

…

Lu Xingwang looked at the somewhat messy cake and fell into contemplation.

To his surprise, before long, another burst of golden light illuminated the room. This time, it was even more remarkable. Jian Mei had actually sent him a clay pot, and inside it was a strange-smelling concoction.

Jian Mei became even more excited. “This is the medicinal soup my father brewed for you. Drink it while it’s hot. It’s good for your health!”

…

Lu Xingwang couldn’t describe the taste of this medicinal soup that pervaded the air.

Just when he thought it was finally over, Jian Mei unexpectedly sent him something that resembled a tribute. Another burst of golden light flashed, and a small teddy bear descended from above, landing in his arms. It was a blue bear, very similar to the one Jian Mei had before. “I saved up my pocket money for a long time to buy this. You returned the previous toy I asked you to fix, but I’m sure you’ll want this one.”

He didn’t want it.

Jian Mei even prompted him, saying, “Quick, poke the bear’s buttocks. There’s a surprise!”

Lu Xingwang was already apprehensive, but since Jian Mei insisted, he became curious. He flipped it over and indeed found a button at the back. After hesitating for a moment, he clicked it. Suddenly, an embarrassingly cheesy tune resounded throughout the entire room and courtyard, causing secondhand embarrassment: “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday~”

For some reason, Lu Xingwang felt that time couldn’t pass any slower. Right now, he just wanted to go back and have another 300 rounds of confrontation with the empress. He didn’t want to listen to the bear singing any longer.