# Chapter 6: Radiant Splendor
Lan Xing handed over the medicine. Zhong Shan took a sip and said to Man Du, "Stop being stubborn. Take your medicine, and I'll take you to Yuyin Mountain this afternoon."
Man Cheng snorted a few times of laughter. "Don't lie to this kid. His legs still aren't better. How could he ride a horse?"
Man Du rolled his eyes at him, pouting and refusing to open his mouth.
Zhong Shan coaxed, "Ride with me on the same horse, isn't that fine? I'll call you Big King, okay? Whatever you want once you've taken the medicine."
"Every single day," Man Du said indignantly. "Every day, every day, every day. It's so bitter, I don't want to take it anymore."
Zhong Shan held the medicine bowl, forcing a smile. "When your sister went to the Deng Kingdom, didn't you promise her you'd take your medicine properly? Your sister will be back to see you in half a year. Should I tell her that you act like a little woman all day throwing tantrums and refusing to take your medicine?"
Man Cheng sat beside them, brow furrowed the whole time.
Man Du lowered his head. Zhong Shan quickly said, "Can't even endure this bit of bitterness? Be a man."
Man Du suddenly looked up, defiantly staring at Zhong Shan. "Do I have to take medicine for the rest of my life? I'm not young anymore, but I can't even go out by myself. I want to be like Brother and you, able to ride a horse and go wherever I want... Tell me, will I be like this forever? When can I stop taking medicine?"
His lively eyes flickered with hopeful light, so achingly familiar. Zhong Shan's heart clenched, yet he smiled broadly. "How could you take it for a lifetime? Just one more year, and you won't need to take it anymore. In the future, Man Du, you'll be healthy and can ride a horse wherever you want."
"Really?"
"Of course. In the future, I'll let you take the position of Protector General. Then there will only be the Big King and your brother up there. What else could you be dissatisfied with? If you don't take care of your body now, how can I hand it over to you?"
Man Du smiled with relief, his pallid face making him even more heart-wrenching.
"So are you going to take the medicine or not? If you don't take it, you won't recover. How can you become Protector General?" Zhong Shan continued coaxing him as he handed over the bowl.
Man Du took the bowl, gripping Zhong Shan's wrist with one hand, staring at him seriously. "Zhong Shan, I trust you. You have to keep your word!"
Zhong Shan nodded. "Of course! When have I ever let you down?" He watched him drink the medicine in one go, his heart aching unbearably.
Man Du drifted into a drowsy sleep. Zhong Shan left the room and found Man Cheng already sitting at the stone table in the courtyard. He walked over and sat down.
Man Cheng's face showed a lost expression. "Zhong Shan, I've coddled him for nothing. He trusts you instead of me."
"Are you jealous?" Zhong Shan smiled. "Your tongue is so clumsy, you can't even coax a child. I really don't understand how you charm women!"
Man Cheng smirked wickedly. "With my body."
Zhong Shan shot him a glance, his smile fading. "Man Cheng, if you had a child, maybe something could change."
"I'm afraid of responsibility." Man Cheng gazed at him, his words carrying deeper meaning.
Zhong Shan remained silent.
Man Cheng continued, "One Man Du is already enough to break my heart. And I won't live many years. When I die, my child would surely suffer."
"Man Cheng..."
"Did you see it? Man Du looks exactly like me. With a face like this, he'll never know peace in his life. Fortunately, Man Du will die before me. Otherwise, when I'm gone, no one else will protect him like I do." As Man Cheng spoke, a thread of sorrow crossed his brow. "Zhong Shan, it seems he has less than a year."
Zhong Shan nodded.
Man Cheng laughed bitterly. "I hope I won't die on some battlefield this year."
Zhong Shan consoled him. "Who in this world could take your life? Man Cheng, besides, I have your back. Who could possibly harm us?"
"Zhong Shan, we've never encountered our nemesis yet, but the one who can defeat us will come eventually."
Weiyang entered the Zhongbi Residence and encountered Lan Xing迎面. Lan Xing quickly curtsied. "My lady, let me inform the general."
"Wait," Weiyang quickly stopped her. "I came to see Man Du. I brought him some snacks. I'll leave right away, no need to trouble the general."
"But Commander Cheng took the young prince to hunt at Yuyin Mountain."
"Ah?" Weiyang was caught between retreating and advancing, so she said to Ying Shan, "Give the things to Lan Xing." Just as she was about to leave, a voice came from the inner courtyard: "My lady has come but won't even enter the front hall?"
She turned to see Man Cheng emerging from the inner courtyard gate, walking toward her. He smiled and bowed. "Apologies, my lady. The Zhongbi Residence has few guests. The servants don't know the proper etiquette."
Weiyang quickly explained for Lan Xing. "I said there's no need to trouble you. I just came to see Man Du. Since he's not here, I'll take my leave."
Lan Xing tactfully curtsied and withdrew.
Man Cheng said, "My lady has barely stepped into the Zhongbi Residence and hearing Man Du isn't here, you're leaving. So unwilling to see me? I didn't realize you found me so detestable."
Listening to his voice, Weiyang's heart raced. She quickly said, "I thought the general must be very busy, so I didn't want to disturb you."
"My lady, what do you think I'm busy with? Hah, I'm completely idle. Since you don't dislike me, would you like to come into the inner courtyard for a seat?" Man Cheng smiled, leading her inside.
Weiyang didn't refuse, stepping up the stairs into the inner courtyard.
Weiyang still didn't understand what was happening with herself. Her feet moved不由自主地 following those dreamy, misty eyes. She felt she was doing something wrong, but she didn't want to think about what might come. All she could see now was his smile, all she could guess were his thoughts.
In truth, Weiyang knew that bringing snacks to Man Du was just an excuse she'd made for herself. These past days, she'd repeatedly wanted to step into the Zhongbi Residence—just to see this man. These past days, his clear, pure face kept flashing in her mind. She'd carefully analyzed every word he said. Even the dishes from the Anqing chef, she savored with care.
At this moment, conversing with him felt like a cool breeze迎面, her mood suddenly lightened. She forgot her worries. Her heart, her spirit were entirely focused on him.
And he, with his lively glances and spiritual demeanor, showed not a trace of shyness or hesitation. His bearing was generous and spirited.
Weiyang's heart marveled: How could there be such a magnificent man in this world?
The fifth month in Jinjing was growing increasingly hot, but this Yuanliao had changeable weather—sunny during the day, but sudden downpours at night. After the rain stopped, the air grew even colder, making people shiver.
Weiyang leaned on her bed, took the medicine Ying Shan handed her, drank it in one breath, then passed the empty bowl to Ying Shan. "Go close all the windows."
Ying Shan obeyed, rising to close the windows. Weiyang spoke again, "No, it would be too stuffy if I close them." With that, she pulled the quilt higher, sighing softly, her heart full of thoughts.
Ying Shan whispered softly, "Your Majesty, please sleep early."
Weiyang nodded. Ying Shan came forward to help her wash up, coaxing, "Your Majesty, please don't be so melancholic all the time. It harms your health."
Weiyang remained silent. She was about to sigh again when she heard a voice outside the door: "The King arrives!"
Ying Shan's face lit with surprise first. Weiyang was momentarily stunned, then her expression grew cold.
Zhang Zhou pushed open the door. Ying Shan quickly curtsied and withdrew. He walked straight to Weiyang's bedside, speaking gently, "I heard you caught a cold. How are you feeling now?"
Weiyang snorted coldly. "So you do remember whether I live or die?"
Zhang Zhou was taken aback, softening his tone. "Lately state affairs have been busy. I haven't had time to come keep you company. Please don't take offense."
Weiyang said resentfully, "I know you're very busy. So why do you have free time today?"
Zhang Zhou's face was full of guilt, unsure what to say.
Weiyang委屈得落下泪来. "So that means if I don't have a headache or fever, you wouldn't come? My father the King is busy, but he's never been so busy as to neglect me! Zhang Zhou, we just got married, and you're already avoiding me. What did I do wrong? What are you dissatisfied with?"
Zhang Zhou sat down, gently taking Weiyang's hand. His eyes were filled with歉意.
Zhang Zhou also knew that no matter the faults, they all lay with him. What wrong could she have? But seeing her was like seeing his own uselessness and weakness. At this moment, Weiyang sat before him, crying like a pear blossom in rain, looking so wronged and pitiful. It softened his heart. He sighed and spoke gently to Weiyang, "Stop crying." But he couldn't say anything else.
Weiyang ignored him. The more she thought, the more aggrieved she felt. In Jinjing, everyone treated her like a deity. Her father and several brothers doted on her endlessly. Who had ever dared委屈 her? Who had ever dared neglect her? She didn't know why, but these past few days, Weiyang had started to resent that she'd married the wrong person.
"Were you forced into marrying me?" Weiyang哽咽道. "If I knew you were this unwilling, I'd rather have died than come here! You find me so disgusting now. A year ago, you might as well have refused my father outright!"
Zhang Zhou didn't know how to comfort her. He moved closer and gently embraced her, being so tender.
Weiyang raised her tear-filled eyes to look at him. She saw beneath his heroic brows, his eyes like a deep sea—unwavering and earnest. His voice low, circling in her ear, "How could I possibly dislike you? I'm sorry. Don't be sad..."
Weiyang's anger instantly dissolved. Her whole body felt weak. She leaned against his shoulder, saying nothing.
Zhang Zhou gently sighed, stroking Weiyang's smooth hair, coaxing, "I'll come more often from now on. You... don't cry."
Weiyang stopped sobbing, quietly asking him, "Zhang Zhou, do you truly love me?"
A bitter coldness churned and twisted in his heart. Zhang Zhou's brow faintly creased. After a long, long time, like in a dream, he faintly said, "I... I love you."
With these words, what other comfort was needed? Weiyang smiled, satisfied: Even if he had liked Princess Jinyin before, that woman is now far away in another land. The one who will spend a lifetime with him is me.
Zhang Zhou felt the person in his arms was soft as nothing, making his blood boil. He slipped his hand to her waist, his touch upon her skin like smooth jade.
Weiyang's cheeks flushed, incomparably shy. She docilely lay back on the bed.
Zhang Zhou extinguished the lamp. In the darkness, he held this full, tempting body tightly. The union of yin and yang in this heaven and earth was so natural...
When the two had calmed and lay embracing each other, they were startled by a deafening explosion.
Then came continuous explosions, ceaseless, the entire city of Yuanliao trembling slightly.
Flashes of dazzling light alternated outside the window, illuminating the room in alternating brightness and darkness.
Weiyang felt the arm that had been tightly holding her shoulder loosen slightly. She turned her gaze from the window back to Zhang Zhou's face.
In the swirling light, his deep eyes revealed a kind of sorrow that Weiyang simply could not understand.
She didn't know how much time passed before those explosions finally stopped. A faint smell of gunpowder lingered in the air, slowly drifting into the room, swirling without dispersing.
"Zhang Zhou, who's setting off fireworks?" Weiyang softly asked in the darkness.
"..."
"Zhang Zhou, what's wrong?" Weiyang was somewhat confused. She reached out to touch Zhang Zhou's face, but felt his clenched jaw and furrowed brow.
"Zhang Zhou... what's really wrong?" Weiyang asked again, an inexplicable sense of helplessness rising in her heart.
Zhang Zhou pulled back the arm that had been tightly embracing her, turning over to face away from her. After a long while, suppressing endless desolation, he faltered and vaguely uttered two words: "Sleep."