Chapter 8 Old Friends Remain the Same

This unexpected good news made Xiao Jingyan at a loss for words. The past scenes reappeared one after another, the young man of the past, and the Jiangzuo Meilang later. Even Xiao Jingyan couldn't tell which was true and which was false.

In the next two days, Xiao Jingyan just hurriedly told Tingsheng that he would take him to see someone, and didn't say much else. At that time, Tingsheng was still a little panicked by the episode a few months ago. He was in a hurry and couldn't take the messy things to heart.

Xiao Jingyan didn't bring many people with him. Including Tingsheng, Lu Yuan, and a few guards who accompanied him, there were less than ten people. Liuzhi Garden was on the outskirts of Jinling, and it took only two hours to ride a horse. Because he left in a hurry, Xiao Jingyan had to declare to the ministers in the court that he was not feeling well those days and needed to rest for two days. If there was a big event in the country, he would discuss it with Yan Hou and Meng Zhi.

After half a day, they arrived at Liuzhi Garden.

Liuzhi Garden is a place where most people in the Jianghu like to rest in their spare time. It is also one of the old industries of Jiangzuo League. Later, due to changes, it was given to others and started a business. The garden is very quiet. Although it is not luxurious, it is definitely not vulgar.

As soon as he entered the garden, Li Gang came forward to salute Jingyan, as if he had been waiting here for a long time. Jingyan waved his hand, suggesting that Li Gang should not reveal his identity. Li Gang nodded, and asked his men to lead their horses to the stable, and he took Jingyan, Tingsheng, and Lu Yuan to the innermost room.

Tingsheng and Lu Yuan were left outside the door, and only Jingyan walked into the room.

Before opening the door, Jingyan took a deep breath. Although he believed that it was Lin Shu inside, he was afraid that if it was not him, he would not be able to face it. As he thought about it, he was sweating profusely. It was not until Li Gang opened the door that Xiao Jingyan came to his senses and stepped forward.

Each step was extremely difficult, as if a thousand pounds were on his body.

The room was not big, and it was only ten steps from the door to the bed, but Xiao Jingyan walked for a long time, just like the twelve years at the beginning. Until he saw the person who was sitting on the couch, covered by a thick fur quilt, who seemed to be from another world.

Jingyan held his breath, fearing that a breath would blow away everything in front of him, but tears wet his eyes. The person sitting on the couch was much calmer, and although the reluctance in his eyes was strong, it was revealed between his eyebrows.

"You are not dead, you are really not dead, I thought..." Xiao Jingyan choked and couldn't speak.

The man in blue waited quietly for him to finish his words, without interrupting him, with a slight smile on his face.

Xiao Jingyan stepped forward and grabbed the man's hand, but found that his hand was as light as cotton. He frowned and wanted to speak, but didn't know where to start.

"Jingyan," the man paused, with a slightly embarrassed look on his face, "I can't be Lin Shu anymore, only Mei Changsu, who is less than half alive, is left."

Xiao Jingyan shook his head in panic, unwilling to believe the fact that Lin Shu had been paralyzed, but he couldn't ignore the joy of his friend's rebirth after death. In an instant, he was sad and happy.

"As long as you are alive," Xiao Jingyan emphasized, "As long as you are alive," repeated what both sides wanted to say most, "It's good, really, it's good."

Xiao Jingyan burst into tears, the feeling of losing and regaining is really good.

It took half an hour for Xiao Jingyan to calm down and slowly sit next to Mei Changsu, but his eyes were always fixed on him, as if he would disappear in the blink of an eye.

"Ahem." Mei Changsu felt exhausted after sitting for half an hour. Xiao Jingyan supported his shoulders and slowly laid him down. This touch was not a big deal, but he found that Mei Changsu was already skinny and weak. If it weren't for Jingyan's help, it would be impossible for Mei Changsu to lie down, let alone sit up.

Such a proud person has become like this now. In an instant, Xiao Jingyan felt heartache again. He didn't dare to breathe heavily, otherwise the tears that had just stopped would flow down again.

"Jingyan, don't be afraid, I'm fine," Mei Changsu said softly, word by word, with a very calm tone. Only Xiao Jingyan knew how long this person in front of him had suffered before he could pretend to be strong in front of him. How could the brightest boy in Jinling back then not care when he saw himself like this now?

After calming down, Jingyan asked, "I received the news that you had passed away that day. The memorial tablet and the list of victims were verified by many parties before being reported. How could this happen?"

Mei Changsu's eyes were calm, and he said, "Lin Shu is indeed dead."

Looking at Xiao Jingyan's slightly puzzled look, Changsu said, "The Chiyan case has been concluded. The court cannot have any more descendants of the Lin family, otherwise it will be a thorn in the court. And I really didn't think I could survive that day. It was when I was dying that Lin Chen used other poisons to offset the toxicity of Bingxu Dan by 10%, so that I was lucky enough to survive."

Jingyan was filled with mixed feelings and remained silent.

"Jingyan, I called you here today mainly for two things. You must help me complete them."

Jingyan pondered for a while, probably guessed Changsu's thoughts, and said, "You tell me, I'll try my best."

Changsu could see Jingyan's stubbornness, and said tactfully, "First, no one else should know that I am still alive, let all this disappear forever in Jinling City with the past. That is to say, Nihuang is also unknown," Changsu paused, as if he was taking a break, and as if he was calming down his emotions, "Please grant her a marriage after a while. I think Nie Feng's brother, Nie Duo, is a talent."

"Xiao Shu!" Xiao Jingyan didn't want to listen anymore and stopped him.

Changsu tried to hold Jingyan's hand to comfort him, but he couldn't lift it up. His hands kept shaking, but he couldn't move. Looking at his useless hands, he said slowly and in a low voice, "Do you think I can still bring happiness to Nihuang like this?"

Xiao Jingyan was stunned, not knowing how to answer this heartbreaking question.

"Jingyan, Lin Chen only helped me offset 10% of the toxins of Bingxudan, but the remaining 90% of the damage was too severe for my body. I know that I am going to die soon. I can't let Nihuang marry someone who can neither give her happiness nor grow old with her, right?" Changsu's tone was calm as if he was telling someone else's story.

Jingyan tried to refute, "But how could Nihuang accept someone else?"

"Of course not now, but after a long time, she can get used to the days without me," Changsu said slowly, "Since I can't give her happiness, there is no need to give her hope and then make her sad."

"But I..." Jingyan tried to persuade again, but was interrupted by Changsu, "Jingyan! I don't want her to die alone."

At this point, Xiao Jingyan knew that no matter what he said, it would be useless. He nodded, but his face darkened again.

Changsu was not in good health, so he closed his eyes and took a short rest, while Jingyan added some charcoal to the brazier to warm up the room.

Another half hour passed, Changsu half-closed his eyes, watching his childhood playmate, now His Majesty, filling the coal for him, his heart warmed, and he sighed, "Jingyan, I'm sorry for you, I knew that I didn't have much time left, but I still wanted you to come, just to fulfill my wish." Jingyan was overwhelmed with grief, and he couldn't speak. Looking at Jingyan like this, Changsu tried his best to suppress his sadness, and instead joked, "You big buffalo, you are still so stupid." Xiao Jingyan, whose eyes were already red, laughed when he heard the three words "big buffalo", and tears fell from the corners of his eyes again. Changsu sorted out his thoughts and looked at Jingyan sincerely, "The second thing is Tingsheng." Jingyan nodded, he had guessed it a long time ago. "Tingsheng is a hardworking kid by nature, and he is very diligent and has good moral character. It's just that because of his early experiences, his personality is too repressed. If he can live without worries in the future, his personality will definitely become cheerful and he will definitely make progress. Although the conditions in the palace are good, they are still too restrictive and you have to be careful about everything. For Tingsheng, it is not the best choice. I thought about taking him away before, but it was the critical period of the Chiyan case. Now, although I don't have much time left, I hope to use the only time I have to cultivate Tingsheng and live up to the spirit of Brother Qi Wang in heaven." Changsu's words were sincere.

Jingyan was deeply moved, and when he thought of Tingsheng's dedication to mourning when he thought Changsu was dead, he felt relieved even if he was a biological child.

Seeing Jingyan's eyes gradually warming up, Changsu asked, "What's wrong?"

"I just thought that Tingsheng might really be destined to be with you. You're right, no matter how good my place is, it may not make him feel at ease."

Changsu didn't expect Jingyan to agree so readily this time, but he could tell from his expression that his judgment was right, and then he continued, "Whether to stay or go depends on Tingsheng himself, I will ask him in person later."

Xiao Jingyan nodded, and the two looked at each other, and the past reappeared, and they smiled at each other with a heart full of indifference.