Chapter 1321 - 1268: Giving Up
Xun Fan half-laying on the bed saw Zhao Hanzhang and the Little Emperor enter. He lifted the quilt to get up, and the attendants hurriedly supported him, intending to kneel. Zhao Hanzhang and the Little Emperor both stepped forward quickly to block them.
Zhao Hanzhang, strong as she was, took hold of Xun Fan’s hand and pulled him back, pressing him onto the bed, "Grand Tutor, there is no need for formalities. Your Majesty is benevolent, and having the Grand Tutor perform rituals while injured would cause unease."
The Little Emperor nodded repeatedly, Yes, yes, it would make him uneasy, "Grand Tutor, quickly lie down. Both I and the Great General are concerned about your health."
He glanced at his thigh, showing some curiosity, "Grand Tutor, is the injury on your leg?"
Why was the leg injury so severe?
Military generals usually suffer cuts on their bodies during battles, even Zhao Hanzhang has been injured before, yet with hardly any issues?
As the Little Emperor’s teacher and uncle, Xun Fan instantly understood his thoughts, bitterly smiling, "Indeed, with age, a mere slash on the leg is hardly bearable."
Zhao Hanzhang: "The thighs have many blood vessels, if the arteries are damaged, it is indeed dangerous."
The Little Emperor wanted to see the wound.
Xun Fan quickly glanced at Zhao Hanzhang, hurriedly reached out to cover the quilt, his old face flushed, "Your Majesty, your old servant is now okay, thanks to the Great General sending the Imperial Physician..."
Though the Little Emperor was eager to see, his nature forbade him from troubling others. Seeing Xun Fan’s resistance, he disappointedly dropped his hand.
Zhao Hanzhang observed, then stood up and said, "During the Grand Tutor’s absence, Your Majesty’s schoolwork has been vacant, now that he’s back today, why not assess Your Majesty and assign some work?"
Xun Fan instantly comprehended, realizing Zhao Hanzhang was giving him private time with the Little Emperor, deeply touched, he quickly bowed his head in agreement.
Zhao Hanzhang nodded to the Little Emperor, turned and led the ministers out, coincidentally meeting the Imperial Physician whom she called into the hall to inquire about Xun Fan’s injury.
Ji Yuan, Xiahou Ren, and other court officials followed, yet their ears unconsciously struggled backward, trying to catch the conversation of the three uncles and nephew in the main room.
As Zhao Hanzhang led the officials away, Xun Zu instantly became excited, hastily finding an excuse to send away the eunuchs beside the Little Emperor.
The others were alright, Eunuch Dong however was steadfast and also warned Xun Zu and Xun Fan with a glance.
The Great General is gracious; do not overstep, having deliberately given you space for private talks, dare you plot further?
Eunuch Dong looked at the Emperor.
The Little Emperor too did not wish for Eunuch Dong to leave, he simply wanted to share heartfelt words with his two uncles but didn’t want Zhao Hanzhang to suspect, thus said, "Let Eunuch Dong stay to serve."
Xun Zu was torn asunder, however, Xun Fan suddenly spoke, "Tai Zhang, go to the study and fetch a letter for me, it is tucked inside ’The Analects’ on the rightmost shelf of the third row."
Xun Zu gaped, glanced at the Little Emperor, hesitant to leave.
Xun Fan warned him with a look, "Hurry up, this is the schoolwork assigned to Your Majesty."
Xun Zu withdrew reluctantly.
He didn’t know what his brother intended to say to the Little Emperor, yet still instructed trusted aides to guard the doors and windows, preventing anyone from approaching.
After Xun Zu left, Eunuch Dong also bowed slightly and withdrew to the side. This spot was quite subtle, capable of hearing the conversation, yet not so clearly, with a gauze curtain partially blocking in front, making Xun Fan and the Little Emperor unable to see Eunuch Dong, providing Xun Fan and the Little Emperor a sense of security.
Yet Eunuch Dong only needed a slight glance to see the two on the bed.
Serving long in the palace requires learning to conceal oneself, not entirely ignorant.
The Little Emperor lifted the quilt to look at his thigh wound.
A piece of soft linen covered the wound, freshly applied medicine beneath, the wound was somewhat red. The winding needle holes and threads tightly holding the flesh together looked like a centipede, unsightly and tortuous.
The Little Emperor’s eyes grew warm, he choked, and asked, "Does it hurt?"
Xun Fan covered the wound, pulled up the quilt, and softly said, "Your servant was only slashed once; I heard that not only sword and knife wounds but also arrow injuries afflict the Great General’s body, that is the true pain that clings to one’s bones."
The Little Emperor wiped his eyes and said, "The Great General indeed has tremendous merits, if it weren’t for her, the Great Jin would have perished two years ago, even if uncle honored me as king, I would have been a king of a fallen nation."
Xun Fan sighed, holding the Little Emperor’s hand, said, "Your Majesty has always been clearer than us servants, whereas we linger on the past, causing Your Majesty to remain in constant danger."
The Little Emperor was surprised, looking at Xun Fan, puzzled by his sudden words.
Xun Fan held him, glanced at Eunuch Dong hiding behind the gauze, and quietly asked, "If Your Majesty is to relinquish this supreme throne, to be merely a son of a wealthy family, would you be willing?"