GSY Chapter61

The day Cen Yelan returned to the court was a grand occasion. The emperor sent people to welcome him in person ten miles outside the Jingdu city gate. Cen Yelan rode on a horse, and the soldiers in armor and armed with weapons followed behind him in a mighty manner, with neat ranks and a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

 

The city defense battalion opened the way, and the people lined the streets to welcome them, looking forward to the excitement.

 

Cen Yelan’s border troops have been on the battlefield for a long time, and their sharpness has been honed in bloody killings, like a sharp knife shining with cold light, which makes people afraid.

 

The people were originally whispering, but gradually they quieted down under the orderly footsteps of the Northern Army.

 

Cen Yelan hadn’t been back to the capital for a long time. He looked at the willows and painted bridges in Yandu. The wind in Yandu seemed to be soft and fragrant, unlike the coldness in the north. It was no different from what he saw when he came to the capital before. It seemed that in the palace, whether it is the change of emperors or the quarrels between brothers, personal joy, honor, and disgrace are insignificant and will not leave the slightest trace. But countless people, in order to climb to that supreme position, take every step carefully and make all kinds of plans.

 

Cen Yelan couldn’t help but think of Yuan Zheng, and he was absent-minded, with mixed feelings in his heart.

 

After returning to Jingdu, he and Yuan Zheng will meet sooner or later.

 

But now Yuan Zheng is crazy—Cen Yelan doesn’t know how crazy Yuan Zheng is. He thinks, If he is really crazy and doesn’t remember anything, it would be… Tsk, it would be easier. Cen Yelan thought so, but he felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.

 

As soon as Cen Yelan arrived in the capital, he went to the palace to pay homage to the new emperor.

 

This was the first time he had taken a serious look at the new emperor, who had ascended the throne, the third brother in Yuan Zheng’s mouth. Yuan Heng was born with clear features, elegant and dignified, and knew how to act. Although he was already the emperor, he did not have the slightest bit of arrogance but was rather polite, showing a great respect for the wise and humble.

 

No wonder Yuan Zheng admired him so much, but it was such a person, who had neither the favor of the emperor nor the support of his mother’s family, who became the biggest winner in the palace coup.

 

Yuan Heng’s mother was born in a poor family and was not favored. She was still a lowly noble until her death. Family background was important in Dayan, especially in the palace. Even among the royal family, there were distinctions of high and low status.

 

After the banquet, even Cen Yelan couldn’t find any fault with Yuan Heng. But it was probably because he was too perfect, and every word and action seemed to be carefully crafted, making it hard to tell the depth of his behavior.

 

Finally, Yuan Heng mentioned Yuan Zheng and said to Cen Yelan, “General Cen, Ah Zheng must have caused you a lot of trouble on the northern border.”

 

Cen Yelan lowered his eyes and said indifferently, “His Highness the Seventh Prince was just a teenager at heart.”

 

Yuan Heng chuckled and said, “Ah Zheng was spoiled by Emperor Father.” He looked sad and sighed, “Zhen didn’t expect that after Emperor Father passed away, Ah Zheng would become like this. At that time, Emperor Father was still thinking about him every day and hoped that he would come back safely… Zhen really felt guilty towards Emperor Father.”

 

Cen Yelan remained calm and said, “Your Majesty, don’t be too sad. I wonder if the assassins has been found?”

 

Yuan Heng said, “The Dali Court is already investigating.” He looked at Cen Yelan and said, “General Cen, has that young divine physician come to the capital?”

 

Cen Yelan said, “Physician Su has come to the capital with the minister and is now in the minister’s residence. The minister will ask him to see His Highness tomorrow.”

 

“That’s good.” Yuan Heng paused, his eyes fell on Cen Yelan’s face, and he said casually, “If General Cen has time, go see Ah Zheng with Physician Su tomorrow.”

 

Cen Yelan frowned slightly but still bowed and said, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

 

The next day.

 

“Ah Lan, is His Highness really crazy?” Su Chenzhao got off the carriage and couldn’t help but ask Cen Yelan in a low voice.

 

Cen Yelan nodded faintly.

 

Su Chenzhao’s face wrinkled, with a bit of disbelief, and said, “…How did he go crazy?”

 

As the two were talking, Cen Yelan stopped and said, “Miss Meng.”

 

Meng Huaixue stood a few steps away and said, ‘General Cen’ politely, she set her eyes on Su Chenzhao and said, “Is this the Divine Physician?”

 

Su Chenzhao blushed slightly and waved his hand, “I’m not any divine physician, I’m just a physician.”

 

Meng Huaixue smiled and simply said, “Divine Physician Su, I’ll trouble you to take care of Ah Zheng. You two, please come this way.”

 

Cen Yelan thanked her and followed Meng Huaixue slowly. They walked through the flowers and willows and crossed the rockery. Su Chenzhao asked Meng Huaixue about Yuan Zheng’s symptoms. When Meng Huaixue said that Yuan Zheng didn’t remember all the people and things, she subconsciously glanced at Cen Yelan. Cen Yelan’s face was calm, and there was no sign of joy or anger.

 

Meng Huaixue smiled bitterly and said, “Not only has he forgotten everything about people and events, he also needs servants to watch him all the time, and he has also forgotten his martial arts. The entire Imperial Medical has come to diagnose him, but they can’t do anything.”

 

Su Chenzhao frowned, his expression showing a bit of solemnity.

 

As they were talking, they walked around the round archway and saw a figure lying on the stone table in the courtyard. He placed the delicious cakes on the stone table and drew with his fingers and just had fun on his own.

 

It was Yuan Zheng.

 

Meng Huaixue said, “Ah Zheng.”

 

Yuan Zheng seemed not to hear anything. Meng Huaixue raised her voice and called out again. Yuan Zheng seemed to be frightened. His fingers slipped, and he crushed a piece of cake. The crumbs stuck to his fingers.

 

Yuan Zheng looked at his fingers and licked it. Meng Huaixue hurried forward, held Yuan Zheng’s wrist, and wiped his fingers clean with a handkerchief.

 

Yuan Zheng said happily, “Sister, this is sweet.”

 

Meng Huaixue patted his arm and said, “Sit down and look at who is here to see you.”

 

Yuan Zheng then looked at Cen Yelan and Su Chenzhao behind Meng Huaixue. He pursed his lips and said, “Who are they?”

 

Meng Huaixue comforted him, “They are all your former friends.”

 

Yuan Zheng said, “Friends?” He looked at Su Chenzhao, “Ah Zheng doesn’t want friends.”

 

Cen Yelan had been looking at Yuan Zheng quietly, as if the two didn’t know each other. When he heard the words “Who are they”, he suddenly felt a dull pain in his heart.

 

Su Chenzhao couldn’t hold back his anger and asked, “You really don’t remember us?” He pointed at Cen Yelan and asked Yuan Zheng, “What about Ah Lan? Take a good look at him, don’t you recognize him?”

 

Yuan Zheng impatiently cast his gaze at Cen Yelan. When their eyes met, Yuan Zheng unhappily pushed Meng Huaixue away and said, “I already said that I don’t remember. Go away.”

 

He took two steps forward and was about to push Su Chenzhao, but a hand reached out and grabbed Yuan Zheng’s arm. The hand was icy cold, as if it had chilled through. Cen Yelan said, “Chenzhao, it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t remember.”

 

“It’s no problem.”

 

Cen Yelan said, “Come and check His Highness.”

 

Yuan Zheng felt the pain and tried to break free but couldn’t. He could only stare at Cen Yelan fiercely and said, “Let go!”

 

Cen Yelan looked at him coldly without taking a step back.

 

Meng Huaixue coaxed Yuan Zheng and said, “Be good, listen to Sister, wait for Physician Su to have a look, and it’ll be fine.”

 

Yuan Zheng said, “I don’t want them to have a look.”

 

He refused to cooperate. Su Chenzhao looked at Yuan Zheng at a loss, then looked at Cen Yelan, who looked cold, and was in a dilemma.

 

Suddenly, a kite flew up from somewhere in the distance. Yuan Zheng opened his eyes wide and shouted, “Butterfly!”

 

He pushed Cen Yelan away with all his strength. Cen Yelan was caught off guard and took two steps back before he could stand firm. Meng Huaixue quickly grabbed Yuan Zheng and said, “Ah Zheng, be obedient.”

 

Yuan Zheng became more and more impatient and angrily kicked the stone bench next to him and said, “I don’t want to be checked!”

 

Meng Huaixue said, “Be good, and when it’s done, Sister will buy you a butterfly.”

 

Yuan Zheng reluctantly sat down and said, “Alright.”

 

“Sister, don’t lie.”

 

Su Chenzhao glanced at Cen Yelan worriedly, but Cen Yelan was frighteningly calm. He only called Su Chenzhao as a reminder. He suddenly came to his senses and hurried over to examine Yuan Zheng.

 

The consultation didn’t last long before Su Chenzhao stepped back, but Yuan Zheng couldn’t sit still anymore and said, “Butterfly is going to disappear.”

 

“It’s gone, Butterfly.”

 

He was muttering to himself and walked out like a madman without even looking at the people in the courtyard. Meng Huaixue immediately ordered the palace attendants to follow him.

 

As soon as Yuan Zheng left, the courtyard suddenly became quiet, with an inexplicable sense of depression.